Coi Je Cafe: New Hong Kong-style cafe in Chinatown
Hong Kong cafes, also known as cha chaan tengs, are best known for their budget-friendly, no-nonsense, yet comforting dishes delivered in a bustling urban setting — something we were craving for when we popped by Coi Je Cafe in Chinatown to check it out.
This is a new eatery that opened just a few weeks ago, on Jun 2.
Nestled in a convenient location, Coi Je Cafe (pronounced “choi ye”) is easily espied on the busy Upper Cross Street, with its bright red sign. The eatery’s name means “god of wealth” in Cantonese, as befitting the auspicious hue of its sign and walls.
Besides its eye-catching exterior, though, it also stands out from its spot among an enclave of northeastern Chinese restaurants.
Having opened earlier this month, Coi Je’s digs are spanking new, neatly organised and welcoming.
When we wrapped up our meal on a weekday around lunch, the space was still almost full of solo diners, couples and groups of co-workers. A promising start for a business barely two weeks old.
Coi Je Cafe’s menu
It offers a variety of signature cha chaan teng dishes to savour, ranging from rice dishes to snacks and desserts.
We started the meal with the bestselling dish thus far, the sweet and sour pork rice (S$12.80). Digging into the dish, we found that the pork slices were fried to a crispy crust on the outside while remaining moist and juicy within. The sweet and sour sauce may taste a bit too tangy for some, but we found it paired well with the plain rice.
Our top pick of the day would be its curry omelette with pork tenderloin rice (S$13.80). The pork tenderloin was thinly sliced, yet quite meaty and not overly dry. Meanwhile, the curry sauce was simply irresistible and highly addictive — we polished off every grain of rice with the help of this rich and aromatic gravy.
Chef-owner Fan Tat Ki, 45, who hails from Hong Kong, says that he uses over 30 spices in making the curry, including cloves, thyme and star anise. Having spent 18 years of his career working in cha chaan tengs, he is keen on bringing authentic Hong Kong flavours to the local dining scene.
We also tried the satay beef noodle soup (S$9). This Hong Kong staple is usually served with instant noodles, but at Coi Je you can also choose from bee hoon, hor fun or egg noodles.
Chef Fan adds that they will adjust the flavours based on patrons’ feedback during the first few weeks of operation. They ultimately hope to deliver a taste of Hong Kong that locals will love.
Coi Je also offers an ensemble of cha chaan teng drinks, too.
The HK-style milk tea (from S$4.50) can be served either hot or iced. The iced version featured an adorable bear-shaped ice cube made with tea, while the hot one was served in the iconic Black & White milk tea cup — a staple of Hong Kong coffeeshops.
For something more refreshing — especially in this weather — go for salty lemon 7-Up (S$4) or salty lemon cola (S$4) for that delightful blend of zest and salt.
This was a hosted tasting.
Loving the Hong Kong retro vibes? Do look up our top picks for authentic Hong Kong-style cafes or visit this quirky tapas bar.
You can also book a ride to Coi Je Cafe to savour your favourite Hong Kong delights.
Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.
Coi Je Cafe
6 Upper Cross Street
Nearest MRT station: Chinatown
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)
6 Upper Cross Street
Nearest MRT station: Chinatown
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)
Chang Qi
Author
Chang is in an everlasting relationship with food and tries to have fun every now and then.
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