Some people head to Shenzhen for modern Chinese cuisine, but plenty of visitors go for that "Hong Kong-style taste": milk tea, pineapple buns, rice plates, iced lemon tea. Hong Kong-style cha chaan tengs have been opening faster and faster in Shenzhen over the past two years, from malls right next to the checkpoints to Nanshan and Qianhai. Prices generally run ¥40 to ¥100 per person, noticeably cheaper than similar cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong, and many shops accept WeChat Pay/Alipay, so there are zero obstacles for travellers heading to Shenzhen. Below they are grouped by the three main checkpoint areas — 8 shops in total (based on OpenRice Shenzhen data as of September 2026).
Luohu Checkpoint Area (4 shops)
1. Cha Fan Bing Sutt (茶飯冰室) (Luohu Commercial City) — Step off and you're there
Located in Luohu Commercial City, directly opposite Shenzhen Railway Station and right at the exit of Luohu Station on Line 1 — just a few minutes' walk after clearing customs. The menu follows a Cantonese plus seafood line, with Hong Kong-style rice plates, congee, noodles and roast meats. Per person ¥41–100. Its unbeatable advantage is location: your first meal after crossing needs no transport at all.
2. Hak Ming Bing Sutt (克茗冰室) (Sun Plaza branch) — A mid-snack-stop break while exploring Dongmen
Hak Ming Bing Sutt is one of the most talked-about Hong Kong-style cafes in Shenzhen. The Sun Plaza branch sits in the Dongmen Old Street area, within reach of Laojie Station on Line 3 — after walking Dongmen you can sit down for a milk tea. Per person ¥41–100, with the classic cafe lineup: instant noodles, butter toast, French toast, iced lemon tea.
3. Hak Ming Bing Sutt (克茗冰室) (Sungang MixC Food Market) — New mall, new branch, tidy setting
Sungang is one of Luohu's newer commercial districts. The branch inside the MixC Food Market mall has a large space and relatively quick seating, near Sungang Station on Line 7. If you want a comfortable meal without the Dongmen crowds, pick this one.
4. Youfan Restaurant · Hong Kong-style Cha Chaan Teng (優帆餐室·港式茶餐廳) (Shum Yip Tower branch) — Huangbeiling neighbourhood prices
In Luohu's Huangbeiling, near Huangbeiling Station on Line 2, this is a neighbourhood-style cha chaan teng at ¥41–100 per person. The upside of places like this is no influencer-shop queues and fast table turnover — good for a simple family meal.
Futian Checkpoint Area (2 shops)
5. Wanglai Kong · Hong Kong-style Cha Chaan Teng (旺萊港·港式茶餐廳) (Century Plaza branch) — Next to the Huaqiangbei electronics market
After browsing SEG and Manhar in Huaqiangbei, if you want a cheap meal, head into Century Plaza for this one — under ¥40 per person, one of the cheapest options in this whole list. Near Huaqiangbei Station on Lines 2/7, so transport is easy.
6. Hong Kong Tung Sing Bing Sutt (香港東升冰室) (1368 Cultural District) — Hong Kong flavours inside Shuiwei Village
In Futian's Shuiwei 1368 Cultural District, near Huanggangcun Station on Line 7, ¥41–100 per person. Shuiwei itself is a famous late-night food village in Shenzhen — a cafe plus a late-night stall means two meals in one day is no exaggeration.
Shenzhen Bay / Nanshan Checkpoint Area (2 shops)
7. Fanglan Tea Room (芳蘭茶室) (Shenzhen Bay MixC) — Inside the mall, most convenient
Shenzhen Bay MixC connects directly to Exit B1 of Houhai Station on Lines 2/11/13, one ride on Line 13 from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint. Fanglan Tea Room follows the Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng/cafe route, ¥41–100 per person — after shopping or a film you can sit right down.
8. Lao Qi Bing Sutt · Roast Meats · Hong Kong-style Cha Chaan Teng (撈起冰室·燒臘·港式茶餐廳) (Qianhai) — Roast meats plus cafe
New malls keep opening around Qianhai. This one focuses on roast meats plus a Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng, ¥41–100 per person, near Qianwan Station on Lines 5/9 (directly connected to the basement of malls such as Qianhai Kerry Centre). If you want a roast meat rice and a Hong Kong-style milk tea, one shop covers both.
Price and taste reference
| Shop | Area | Metro | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cha Fan Bing Sutt (Luohu Commercial City) | Luohu · Railway Station | Luohu Station, Line 1 | ¥41–100 |
| Hak Ming Bing Sutt (Sun Plaza branch) | Luohu · Dongmen | Laojie Station, Line 3 | ¥41–100 |
| Hak Ming Bing Sutt (Sungang MixC Food Market) | Luohu · Sungang | Sungang Station, Line 7 | ¥41–100 |
| Youfan Restaurant (Shum Yip Tower branch) | Luohu · Huangbeiling | Huangbeiling Station, Line 2 | ¥41–100 |
| Wanglai Kong (Century Plaza branch) | Futian · Huaqiangbei | Huaqiangbei Station, Lines 2/7 | Under ¥40 |
| Hong Kong Tung Sing Bing Sutt (1368 Cultural District) | Futian · Shuiwei | Huanggangcun Station, Line 7 | ¥41–100 |
| Fanglan Tea Room (Shenzhen Bay MixC) | Nanshan · Houhai | Houhai Station, Lines 2/11/13 | ¥41–100 |
| Lao Qi Bing Sutt (Qianhai) | Nanshan · Qianhai | Qianwan Station, Lines 5/9 | ¥41–100 |
How to choose based on your checkpoint
- Luohu Checkpoint: Luohu Commercial City is right after you clear customs, so start with Cha Fan Bing Sutt; if you want to shop, take Line 3 to Dongmen, where Hak Ming Bing Sutt's Sun Plaza branch awaits.
- Futian Checkpoint: Line 4 takes you into the city centre, then transfer to Lines 2/7 for Huaqiangbei or Huanggangcun — both shops are in the same district.
- Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint: One ride on Line 13 to Houhai Station, and the Shenzhen Bay MixC branch is the most convenient; the Qianhai branch requires a walk from Qianwan Station.
Bonus: a few more around Luohu's Renmin South (2026 update)
The stretch from Shenzhen Railway Station to Renmin South is the densest area for Hong Kong-style cafes — a few minutes' walk after crossing and you can eat:
- Jingdou Cha Chaan Teng (正斗茶餐廳) (Renmin South Road branch): 1/F, No. 2043-1 Renmin South Road, Luohu District (near Luohu Primary School), focused on traditional Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng fare — rice plates, milk tea and French toast all available.
- Ah Fei Bing Sutt (阿飛冰室) (Renmin South Road branch): Xilong Building, No. 2059 Renmin South Road, Nanhu Street, Luohu District. A cafe chain with two-person and group sets, around ¥40–80 per person.
- Mong Kok Bing Sutt · Cha Chaan Teng (旺角冰室·茶餐廳): a branch at No. 2119 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District (1/F, Baifu Building), plus one on Renmin South Road in Luohu; retro Hong Kong-style decor.
- Banyan Tree Bing Sutt Cha Chaan Teng (榕樹頭冰室茶餐廳) (Liantang): No. 43-3 Panshan Road, Liantang Street, Luohu District, about 50 metres from Exit A of Liantang Station on Lines 2/8 — handy if you're heading to Yantian/Dapeng.
These few are concentrated around Luohu Railway Station, Renmin South and Liantang, ideal for "eat right after crossing". Shop names, addresses and opening hours change, so refer to Amap and the shops' latest announcements.
Practical tips
- Most Hong Kong-style cafes open only after 11:00, so breakfast options are limited — for breakfast go to a congee shop or a mall chain.
- Ordering is mostly by phone QR code or self-service machine, so set up WeChat Pay/AlipayHK in advance.
- Afternoon tea hours (14:00–17:00) usually have discounted sets, better value than ordering a rice plate at full price.
- Shenzhen cafe portions are generally bigger than in Hong Kong — two people ordering one rice, one noodle and two buns is already enough.
- Queues are longest on holidays and weekend dinner service (after 18:00); for a quick meal, sit down before 17:00.
FAQ
How different do Shenzhen's Hong Kong-style cafes taste from Hong Kong cha chaan tengs?
Basics like milk tea, French toast and rice plates are already very close; the differences are mostly in how ingredients such as char siu and roast goose are handled and in the sauce flavours. Shenzhen shops are generally a little sweeter, so you can ask for less sugar when ordering.
Roughly how much per person?
The 8 shops in this article are listed on OpenRice at ¥40 to ¥100 per person, depending on how many items you order; drinks are generally ¥15–25 and rice plates ¥30–45.
Do I need to book?
Most cafes don't take reservations — you just queue. Around holidays you can check live waiting times on Meituan or Dianping first.
Which is best for a first trip to Shenzhen?
If you cross at Luohu, Cha Fan Bing Sutt (Luohu Commercial City) saves the most time; if you cross at Shenzhen Bay, choose Fanglan Tea Room (Shenzhen Bay MixC) — you arrive as soon as you get off.
Opening hours, prices and branch locations change, so refer to each shop's on-site prices and the latest OpenRice/Meituan information.
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