Capital Cafe and their Black Truffle Scrambled Egg Toast

Capital Cafe (Hua Xing Bing Shi 華星冰室)

English Address: Shop B1, G/F Kwong Sang Hong Building, 6 Heard Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Chinese Address: 灣仔克街6號廣生行大廈地下B1號舖

Opening hours: Mon – Sun 7.00am to 11.00pm

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Introduction

The first thing you will notice about Capital Cafe is their walls are decorated with giant signed posters of various Hong Kong stars congratulating them on their opening. If you wonder why, Capital Cafe was opened by the ex-management of a Record Company, Capital Artists (華星唱片).

Capital Artists was in it’s prime from the 1970s to the early part of 1990s which Mega Hong Kong Pop Stars like Leslie Chueng, Anita Mui, Sammy Cheng, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Tony Leung, Aaron Kwok and Eason Chan etc were signed under them. Due to poor sales, Capital Artists ceased music production in Year 2011.

On the left wall, lots of signed giant posters are hang up including stars from the “Young and Dangerous”

Capital Cafe started their business back in 2010 and is popular since then. Many praised Capital for it’s good service and it was said that Capital Cafe is one of Eason Chan’s favourite hangout.

Capital Cafe’s success came from mimicking the operating model of a very successful Cafe, Australia Dairy Company (Click to see review). They admitted that they are copying Australia Company openly and envisioned to be like them – to sell quality food at an affordable price.

Click on menu to enlarge

Black Truffle Scrambled Egg Toast

Capital Cafe even manage to mimic the signature Scrambled Egg Toast of Australia Dairy Company and topping up with black truffle. I was a bit sceptical initially but realised that the taste is indeed comparable with Australia Dairy Company. The texture is really good and almost exactly the same but there is a slight difference in taste. Capital’s scrambled egg is not as rich in flavour but i consider this as a very good alternative. A Scrambled Egg Toast cost HK$15 (S$2.50) at Australia Dairy Company while it costs HK$20 (S$3.30) at Capital Cafe.

However, Capital Cafe up their ante by dishing out a black truffle version. But the price don’t come cheap as it cost a HK$38 (S$6.30) for egg and toast. I find satisfaction in savoring this smooth creamy scrambled egg that is infused by the slightly pungent (in a good way) black truffle. This is definitely something worth trying in Hong Kong.

The Devil’s Pork Chop Bun

Apart from the traditional dishes of a Hong Kong Style cafe, Capital offers new fusion dishes that seems to target and appeal to youngsters. The black truffle scrambled egg is one and the Devil’s Pork Chop Bun is another. Instead of the ordinary mayonnaise, they added wasabe into their mayonnaise to make it more more interesting and giving it more “punch”.

I thought it taste very proper. Not awful, not fantastic. Their pork chop is lightly breaded and it goes very well with the wasabe mayonnaise.

Principal Toast

Capital Cafe also offers another interesting dish known as the principal toast (校长多士). They pledge that the price will remain at HK$25 every year. The story behind this toast is actually a tribute to a Hong Kong Star Alan Tam (谭咏麟) whose nick name is Principal Tam (譚校長). Alan Tam always cheekily says that he is forever 25 years old and this toast that forever cost $25 is a tribute to him.

Piglet Bun with Condense Milk and Butter (奶油豬仔包)

Capital Cafe actually label it as “Toasted French Bun” in their menu. Piglet Bun is actually a short version of French Loaf and it got this name due to the shape of the bun. I like the generous amount of butter spread on the loaf and toasted to crisp. Moreover what can go wrong with applying condense milk onto a toast?

Conclusion

I happen to come across Capital Cafe from an article of DanielFoodDiary and decided to pay a visit. Wan Chai is only two stops away from my hotel and Capital Cafe opens really early so naturally it became my ideal breakfast place. Note that it’s a short walk from Wan Chai Station.

I visited Capital twice in the morning at about 8 and 9 am and there is no monstrous queue like Australia Dairy Company and in fact, I got a table immediately. I didn’t encounter the fantastic service that people talked about (it’s just normal) but I favour the food rather much, only the price is slightly more expensive than Australia Dairy.

I feel that it is a good alternative of Australia Dairy when you don’t feel like queuing for an extended period of time for a meal. To end this, I am quoting from Eason Chan’s Weibo – “来香港，沒去过华星冰室，就等同白來”. It translates to “It is a wasted trip to Hong Kong if you never been to Capital Cafe”.

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Map and Directions

1. Come out from Wan Chai Station A4

2. Walk against the traffic and walk along Henessy Road

3. Keep walking for about 5 to 8 minutes

4. Keep a look out for a petrol station on your right. It’s about time to turn.

5. You should be able to see Heard Street. Turn in to the right and walk for about 30 seconds and it’s on your left.

Australia Dairy Company and it’s Legendary Scrambled Egg

Australia Dairy Company (澳洲牛奶公司)

English Address: 47-49 Parkes St, Hong Kong

Chinese Address: 佐敦白加士街47-49號地下

Operating hours: 07.30am to 11:00pm Closed on Thu

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

Introduction

Australia Dairy Company (澳洲牛奶公司) is voted (by public) as the top eatery in Hong Kong at OpenRice Hong Kong, defeating all 5-star Hotels and 3-stars Michelin restaurants. They are famous for two things, their variations of egg custard pudding and their scrambled egg.

When I first visited Australia Dairy at Jordon 6 years ago, I don’t remembered there was such a monstrous queue. It was crowded, but not THAT crowded. But despite the long queue, the waiting time is only 20 minutes due to the mega quick turnover. I bet they won’t take more than 5 minutes to serve your food.

Click to enlarge – Menu in Chinese (as of 26 Apr 14)

And Australia Dairy has basically nothing to do with the country Australia and it’s a 100% Hong Kong style cafe. It was said that this name came from the boss of Australia Dairy, who once worked in Australian farm in the 1940s.

The queue is really long, but the waiting time is only 20 minutes.

Scrambled Egg Toast 炒蛋多士

When i visit this place, i always go for their scrambled egg toast. So far it’s the best scrambled egg that I had in term of both texture and taste (despite so many brunch places that sell scrambled egg in Singapore). Remember, a trip to Australia Dairy Company without ordering their scrambled egg toast is a wasted trip.

I thought what makes this scramble egg so popular, even to the extend of legendary, is for it’s non-runny but yet milky moist texture. No additional seasoning is required as it’s already bursting with flavours. Comparing with western style scrambled egg, it is slightly saltier and richer.

They had maintained a good standard for the past few years without fail. One portion of scrambled cost HK$15 (S$2.50). Be sure not to mistakenly order their sunny side up toast instead. Look for 炒蛋多士 in the menu.

Almond Steamed Egg Custard (杏仁炖蛋奶）

For first-timer, you may want to try their custard Amond Steamed Egg Custard. This taste very similar to the custard of egg tart with a tinge of almond but the texture is much softer. At first bite, you can taste the aromatic eggy taste, then the sweet milk, and then the almond. This dish is market as one of their signatures with their Steamed Egg White Milk Custard.

I love it’s texture, not-so-sweet taste and it’s egg fragrance edges other similar custard puddings found in Singapore. I like this dish, but not to the extent that i need to order it for every visit. It’s a worth-the-try dish.

Other dishes

I tried their macaroni and instant noodle breakfast set before and the taste is forgettable. If you do not have enough stomach space, just order their scrambled egg toast, and I always accompany it with a hot glass of fresh milk. Nothing warms heart like a glass of hot fresh milk in the morning.

Conclusion

Of the service, speed and quality triangle, i can say that Australia Dairy Company excel in both aspects of speed and quality. I simply love the quality of their scrambled egg and at a rather affordable price. That is the reason why Australia Dairy is always on the top of my to-return list in Hong Kong and will always remain as one of my favourite cafes in Hong Kong.

Click here to view my full Hong Kong Food Itinerary and the 8 must-know about Hong Kong Cafe Culture

The interior

Maps and Directions

It’s rather easy to navigate to Australian Dairy. I forgot the Exit is C1 or C2 (One of them is not reflected on the google map). Just bear in mind that you should not see the main road (Nathan Road) when you come out from the exit. If it’s facing the main road, then go back down and come up from the other exit C.

The rest is pretty easy. After you exit, just walk straight and turn right and walk for 20 seconds and you will see Australia Dairy Company.