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G/F, 10 Ma Wan New Village, Tung Chung, Hong Kong
MTR Kwun Tong Line at Prince Edward Station
Tue - Sun 07:00 - 18:00 (Closed on Mon)

SBG Coffee

Cafe & Cha Chaan Tang in one place

The “Cha-Chaan-Tang” (Hong Kong Style Restaurant) selection changes from time to time, including mostly local and
is a deep-rooted in Hong Kong culture. It’s like a fast food some foreign roasters. I enjoyed the Ethiopian washed coffee
shop: quick, budget friendly, but serving local foods. Mean- which was well-balanced, had a really floral aroma, with crispy
while, we usually visit cafes for a more wind-down experience. nectarine acidity, and Oolong tea finish.
You might also be a bit skeptical at first when you imagine Cha-Chaan-Tang food is really diverse in style, and satay
your local breakfast pairing with a hand drip coffee, but I beef noodles is for sure one of the top 10 Hongkonger’s fa-
certainly changed my mind after trying this cafe. vorites. A Hong Kong style satay also adds peanut butter to
Strong Bitter Gate, which is both a cafe and Cha-Chaan- enhance the texture and flavor, and the beef is usually mari-
Tang. It was located in Ma Wan Sun Tsuen on Lantau Island. nated with soy sauce and some seasoning. Here in Strong
When you walk in, it definitely feels more like a Cha-Chaan- Bitter Gate, the satay beef is really intense in peanut butter
Tang-ish than a cafe. When you look at the coffee bar with flavors, with beef that is great in texture, meaning that it is
professional espresso machines, grinders, and hand drip not over-marinated. This might not be the perfect match with
equipment like all specialty coffee shops have, you know they hand drip coffee since it covers some of the subtle notes from
aren’t a Cha-Chaan-Tang disguised as a cafe. the coffee. But pairing with a rich cappuccino, they would
In fact, the coffee bar is dedicated to just specialty coffees, make a great pair.
and the barista focuses mostly on the coffee instead of the Traveling there wasn’t quick and easy, but certainly it
Cha-Chaan-Tang drinks, which were made inside the kitchen was worth the hassle to get there. And with more and more
instead. The espresso blend is a medium dark blend with cof- people needing a quick dose of quality caffeine in the morn-
fees from Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala. In a latte it’s really ing, I could see places like Strong Bitter Gate being a viable
sweet, caramel-like and packed with body. For filter coffee, the option for some. At least for me, it totally works!

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