Shanghai: Cha's Restaurant

When i 1st read the review and the description of this place, i was like ok. I must try and explore this. The prices is right, the food is right, the place is right and everything else seems secondary. The name is Cha's.

I got to know this cafe from SmartShanghai's radar. Cha is located right behing H&M store in Huaihai Lu. The full address is 30 Sinan Lu by Huaihai Lu. It is opened from 11am to 2am. Perfect time for tea during the weekend or supper after clubbing time in Fuxing Park.

Head there during the daylight mast shopping in Huaihai Lu for a butter toast, head there knowingly that there is a decent joint to "lepak" at. Some might prefer ice Lemon Coke though! I prefer Ice Coffee x2 with a Dunhill Lights between my fingers for a chill cool puff under the aircon! Freaking fantastic.




Not Char Siew Pao. But rather Cha Chan Teng's that is famous in Hong Kong. Everyone that speaks cantonese would like to hangout here i think. Its decor is classic with a twist. Its waiter/waitress are dressed like one that serves you drinks in Hong Kong as well. The tiles on the floors resembles one from there too. Even the menu board is a LCD TV disguises as a black board with wood frame. How cool!



Well. The food is reasonably cheap in the current Shanghai standard. Where can you find a set meal with a ice cool coffee/tea, with a slice of butter toast, scrambled eggs with ham/bacon and either a nissin/macaroni with ham for a measley RMB30 kuai. Its like a long lost heaven appear out of nowhere to save our soul from Bi Feng Tang and Xin Wang.



I personally think its cool and classic. Its a superb place for hippies-ala-cantonese speaking crowd in Shanghai to hang out here. Its called yum cha, btw. In Guangzhou, they yum cham with dim sum with chinese tea. In Kuala Lumpur, they drink at mamak stall that serve teh tarik and roti prata or known as India Fly Pie here.



How do they served something in between? Cha Chan Teng in a Hong Kong style mode! We have such restaurants in Kuala Lumpur during the booming days. You can see Kim Gary and a few others that have same Hong Kong style cafes mushrooming all around town. Only then, came the Old Town coffee hyperbole later.

Back to the this restaurant, go on and try it. A very reasonable affair with nice touch from the owners of this Cha's. Everything is new here. Aircon is cold. Smoke is in the air. Nissin is served on the bowl. You know you have a satisfied customer when they clear up the table in 10. Not even left over a single strand of noodle!

Check out this link for Cha's further info. They even have a good decent review done less than 1 month open. Personally, I rate this place A MUST Return! Gawd! Should i head there again soon? I know i need and i will.

For Cha's, keep up the good work and improve further!