Hong Kong Cha Kee: Beloved cha chaan teng at Novena launches day-and-night concept

On days when you’re craving comfort food with familiar flavours, Hong Kong-style cuisine is the way to go. Its traditional, classic staples — prepared and seasoned with love — always remind one of home. 

The newly rebranded cha chaan teng, Hong Kong Cha Kee at Novena — formerly known as Hong Kong Day Cha Kee — is one of those nostalgic, household diners in Singapore that we can always count on for authentic Hong Kong-style fare.

Tucked away at the buzzing Goldhill Shopping Centre, the beloved Hong Kong Day Cha Kee (before its recent rebrand) was known for its moreish brunch fare, which was available all day. 

While undoubtedly yummy, we suspect that the brand hoped to set itself apart from other competitors — after all, most run-of-the-mill cha chaan tengs in Singapore tend to serve a similar (albeit pedestrian) brunch menu. 

That’s why Hong Kong Cha Kee’s latest move — an eclectic, new concept with an extended menu range — makes sense. It’s a refreshing identity revamp, while creating a dynamic dining experience that would consistently draw in the crowds. 

The new latest day-and-night concept launched in August, with new additions to its menu.

According to the team at Hong Kong Cha Kee, they hope to offer a bona fide slice of Hong Kong through their food. You can expect a comprehensive list of dishes served fresh, from morning till the night, with breakfast, lunch and dinner staples all in one place. 

If you’ve never visited Hong Kong Cha Kee before and are sceptical about the quality of its fare, trust that its dishes won’t disappoint. The brand is opened by a pair of Hong Kong-born siblings, Vocan and Kennith, who have earned their stripes in culinary school. 

They’re well-trained in Hong Kong-style recipes, specialising in dishes that are well-loved at cha chaan tengs — think bolo buns and egg tarts, among many others. The pair takes great pride in their craft and have built a reputation for replicating an authentic cha chaan teng experience at Hong Kong Cha Kee.

New additions to the menu

New to the range of menu offerings is the homemade prawn toast (S$8.80). At first glance, it may not appear like much, but it’s a delectable brunch dish that’s packed with a serious ton of flavour — it’s one that you shouldn’t skip out on if you like savoury toasts. 

Fresh, succulent prawns are layered on a crispy-edged, golden-hued toast for a burst of robust umami. We liked that the latter had a slightly fluffy and dense middle, which contrasted with the crispiness on its sides. 

It also comes with a serving of sweet and tangy mayonnaise, which you can slather (or dip) the toast with for a vibrant pop of flavour.

Another prawn-centric dish that found itself on the revamped menu is the braised fresh prawns with glass noodles and garlic (S$15.80). It sees silky strands of glass noodles steeped in a claypot, then crowned with sweet, juicy prawns and topped with slices of garlic. 

This is Hong Kong Cha Kee’s rendition of the classic stir-fried dish, made all the more tantalising with the smoky, drool-worthy tinge of wok hei lingering on the prawns and noodles. If you’re not keen on peeling the prawns, the protein is cooked well enough that the meat slides out from its shell easily. 

Signature delights

If you’re looking to savour Hong Kong Cha Kee’s bestselling items instead, a timeless favourite (and also ours) at the diner is the signature homemade roasted char siu and scrambled eggs on rice (S$13.80). 

This isn’t your typical char siew-with-rice pairing that you’d find at garden-variety hawker centres — it’s an elevated treat laden with a bed of scrambled eggs and chunky, caramelised slices of char siew. 

The char siew — sliced into thick, decadent strips of tender meat — takes centre stage. But the highlight is its honey-sweet, caramelised coat that balances the savouriness of the protein well. It also touts a lightly charred skin for an added smokiness.

Save some tummy space for the peanut butter French toast (S$5.80), which is an indulgent delight that will undoubtedly steal the hearts of both the young and old. 

Five large cubes of French toast are fried to a crispy, flaky perfection, topped with a gooey chunk of butter and accompanied by a secret syrup that’s specially imported from Hong Kong. 

Nestled between the layers of each fluffy toast is a generous dollop of velvety peanut butter filling. It’s a familiar, nostalgic combination that takes us back to our younger days of snacking on homemade peanut butter sandwiches.

Our thoughts

Hong Kong Cha Kee presents dishes crafted with love and heart, and they’re classics that you can’t go wrong with. If you’d like to savour a meal at an old-school Hong Kong-style restaurant — without jetsetting overseas — in Singapore, then this is the place to go. 

This was a hosted tasting. 

For the latest eats, read about hidden Japanese bar Shako-Ba at Boat Quay or BreadTalk Group’s latest hotplate concept PepperGrill. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

Hong Kong Cha Kee is on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off with GrabUnlimited). 

You can also book a ride to Hong Kong Cha Kee at Goldhill Shopping Centre to savour its fare. 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.