Hsinchu-style Hong Kong tea restaurant: Crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside pineapple buns, freshly made tofu pudding

Text & Photos /Daku

Ever since I got back from my trip to Hong Kong last time, I’ve been longing for Hong Kong-style dim sum. Recently, I finally got the chance to have some again. Located on Wu Zhuoliu Road in Zhubei City, “Star Star Hong Kong-Style Tea Restaurant” is very close to Guangming 1st Road, and there’s also a small free parking lot nearby, so it’s super convenient if you’re driving. It’s said they offer a wide variety of dishes at reasonable prices and great flavors. Without hesitation, I immediately gathered some friends from Hsinchu to come try it out with me.

The “Star Star Hong Kong-Style Tea Restaurant” offers an incredibly diverse menu — whether it’s roast meats, seafood, clay pot rice, seasonal vegetables, cheung fun, small, medium, or large dim sum items, drinks, or desserts, you’ll find whatever you’re craving. The tea fee is just NT$9 per person (kids are free), and there’s no service charge (though a 10% service charge is applied during the Lunar New Year period). There’s also a kids’ play area nearby — how thoughtful is that?

%The restaurant is located on Wuzhuoliu Road in Zhubei City’s bustling commercial area, making it very prominent. In fact, it’s right next to Guangming 1st Road, which is also a popular dining hub in Zhubei. “Star Star Hong Kong-Style Tea Restaurant” covers a large area, with a simple yet imposing exterior. There are small parking lots on both sides of the restaurant, making it super convenient whether you’re biking or driving.

%During lunchtime, the place gets pretty crowded, but we arrived early, so it wasn’t too bad. They offer seating for four, six, and larger groups, making it suitable for all kinds of gatherings, big or small.

%Since we came as a family, we were glad there weren’t too many people when we arrived. Aside from regular square tables, there are also round tables, which are perfect for family gatherings or colleague meals.

%The distance between the tables is quite decent, so you won’t feel cramped even if you’re sitting close to others. The chairs and tables also have a minimalist design, giving the whole place a clean and comfortable vibe.

%In addition to the tea, there are also side dishes, cold dishes, and hot dishes, which you can choose according to your personal preferences. You can also pick between jasmine or oolong tea — we went with oolong, which pairs perfectly with dim sum, warming and cutting through the richness. The best part? The tea is only NT$9 per person (kids are free)! What’s more special is the kids' play area, so parents can enjoy their meal in peace while the little ones have fun.

%The tea service is excellent, and the pricing is actually quite reasonable. The tea fee is NT$9 per person (no charge for kids), with no service charge (though there’s a 10% surcharge during Lunar New Year). You can also adjust the spice level or taste to your preference.

%We started with the San Xian Drunken Chicken, Roast Duck, and Char Siu (NT$499). Both the roast duck and char siu are freshly made by the chef before serving and are limited in quantity — once they’re sold out, that’s it, so go early if you want to try them. You can also call ahead to reserve. They’re served with plum sauce, which complements them nicely.

%You can tell the portion sizes are quite generous, and each dish is fairly large. The drunken chicken is even boneless, so it’s super easy to eat.

%The meat is tender and juicy, and the flavor really shines through. The char siu isn’t greasy at all, with a firm texture and a hint of sweetness that gets more delicious the more you chew.

%The Stir-Fried Beef with XO Sauce (NT$179) comes in a good portion and is quickly stir-fried with XO sauce — it’s one of the restaurant’s signature dishes and a staff favorite for late-night meals. The beef is savory, tender, and flavorful, and it goes really well with the wonton noodles and other toppings.

%The noodles are smooth and slippery, with a mild spiciness that’s super satisfying to slurp up.

%The Pan-Fried Radish Cake (NT$59) is pan-fried until slightly crispy on the outside, yet you can still taste the radish fibers inside. It’s chewy, refreshing, and delicious, especially with the slightly sweet and salty soy sauce that enhances the flavor.

%The Crabmeat-Style King Oyster Mushroom (Small/NT$199) was surprisingly creative — whenever you hear “Crabmeat Style,” you’d think of crab fried rice, but here they’ve applied the technique to king oyster mushrooms. And Crabmeat Style is actually a pretty advanced dish that requires skill — it’s easy to burn if you don’t get the timing and heat just right.

%The mushrooms have a rich umami flavor with a nice kick of spice and garlic crunch, making every bite savory and delicious.

%The Shrimp Cheung Fun (NT$125) has two big shrimp hidden inside each piece — you can actually see them through the wrapper.

%The silky smooth cheung fun paired with the Q-textured, sweet and fresh shrimp, plus the mildly sweet and salty sauce, makes it impossible not to fall in love with it at first bite.

%The Braised Beef Brisket Clay Pot (NT$259) has an incredibly fragrant aroma, and the portion is quite generous. The glistening oil on top is seriously mouthwatering.

%The brisket is tender and juicy, and there are also some radishes inside. After cooking, the radishes absorb all the flavors.　

%The radishes are soft and flavorful, soaking up all the essence of the stew, and pair perfectly with the tender beef.

%The beef brisket is incredibly tender, almost melting in your mouth. It’s sweet, flavorful, and addictive — you just can’t stop eating it.

%The Pork Meatball (NT$69) uses fresh pork, so there’s no unpleasant porky smell. The firm, Q-textured pork filling is sweet, juicy, and super satisfying — one bite and you’re done.

%The Pumpkin Clam Har Gow (NT$99) was actually the first time I’ve seen pumpkin, clams, and har gow combined into one creative dish. The har gow is coated with sweet pumpkin paste and then placed on top of clams. It’s Q-textured, smooth, sweet, and delicious, with the briny flavor of the clams — the combination is surprisingly great.

%The Clay Pot Rice with Crab (NT$109) fills the air with an enticing aroma as soon as it’s served — it looks amazing.

%The rice grains are distinct and slightly chewy, not overly sticky like regular rice. They’re paired with fragrant, firm, and savory Chinese sausages.

Even the back of the store that’s 70% full still has a cozy vibe, making it a great place to enjoy a meal slowly.

The pineapple buns (65 NTD) are made with free-range eggs and fresh cream—how amazing is that? Their cream is even kept chilled in ice cubes, which is such a lovely touch. When the buns are still warm, spread the cream inside—it’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a hint of creamy fragrance and cool texture, paired with the sweet crunch and warmth of the bun itself. The taste is absolutely delightful.

The shrimp rolls (125 NTD) come as a set of three, and the portion is quite generous.

The steamed custard buns are flavorful, and you can really taste the sweetness of the filling. They’re quite nice when eaten hot.

The pork dumplings (69 NTD) have a wrapper that’s somewhat like mochi—chewy yet soft. When you bite into them, they offer a layered texture with a sweet and delicious taste.

The crystal dumplings (99 NTD) come as a set of three, and their translucent appearance is really pleasing to the eye.

The shrimp dumplings are juicy inside—you can still taste plenty of shrimp paste. The flavor is fresh, delicious, and refreshing.

The milk custard buns (59 NTD) are different from the flowing-sand buns. Milk custard buns are more solid, with a soft exterior and sweet filling inside, making them a great dessert after a meal. The shark fin dumplings (79 NTD) have thin, translucent, and chewy wrappers, filled with sweet and slightly savory stuffing. The pork filling, made from fresh pork, is plump and springy, offering a rich variety of textures.

The cheese cabbage (79 NTD) fills the air with a strong cheesy aroma as soon as it’s served. Paired with the tender and silky cabbage cooked inside, it’s sweet and delicious, giving off a heartwarming feeling.

The tofu pudding is super cute too. We ordered the wooden bucket tofu pudding (89 NTD), and when it was served, the staff brought out a timer, teapot, and other tools, which felt quite magical. Later, we saw them pour hot soy milk into the wooden bucket—their soy milk is made by grinding non-GMO organic soybeans, and after resting for 15 minutes, it turns into tofu pudding. Magic!!

The way this tofu pudding is made makes it feel smoother and softer. It’s somewhat similar to traditional Chinese tofu pudding but even softer and more tender.

After mixing the sweetened condensed milk into the warm tofu pudding, the taste becomes even richer. This method gives the pudding a silky texture, a bit like Chinese tofu pudding but a little softer and springier.

The dining environment at “Xing Shang Xing Hong Kong-Style Dim Sum” is clean and spacious, offering various seating options such as four-seater tables, six-seater tables, and round tables. It’s very convenient whether you’re here with friends, colleagues, or family. There’s a wide selection of dishes—like the roasted meat platter, pumpkin clam siu mai, ice-fire pineapple buns, braised beef brisket pot, and golden flowing-sand balls—that left a deep impression. The other dishes were also quite good. Here, you can really feel the restaurant’s dedication to carefully selected ingredients and the meticulous effort put into making each dish. It’s love at first bite. The prices are reasonable, and there’s even a kids’ play area, so parents can dine with peace of mind. Once your little one grows a bit older, you can bring them along too. Highly recommended—check it out when you can, and you might find yourself just as enchanted as we were.

Xing Shang Xing Hong Kong-Style Dim Sum (Zhubei Branch)
Address: No. 77, Wu Zhuo Liu Road, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County (with a small free parking lot)
Phone: 03-5585517
Business Hours: 11:00–14:00, 17:00–22:00 (Monday to Friday); 11:00–16:00, 17:00–22:00 (Saturday to Sunday)
FB Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/star.hsinchu

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