Fans of Good Luck Hong Kong Cafe now have an extra option for all their cha chaan teng cravings. The team’s latest concept, MABU Cafe, serves up all the same nostalgic favourites and more, thanks to a larger space that accommodates more creativity in the kitchen and more diners at the tables.
While the team’s first restaurants—MABU Generation and MABU Station—showcased modern Taiwanese flavours, their expansion into the cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafes) tradition with Good Luck Hong Kong Cafe was a huge success that attracted long lines of eager visitors.
With the new MABU Cafe, the team is finally bringing their Hong Kong-style food venture back under their established brand.
“The MABU team is excited about the new MABU Cafe, which brings together expertise and experiences from our brands and our very popular Hong Kong cafe-style menu,” says Queenie Lin, Director of MABU. “We’re excited to bring our fan-favourite menu to a new community, and with a bigger space to serve more of our guests.”
Like Good Luck Cafe, the interiors of MABU Cafe are inspired by Hong Kong’s culture and casual food traditions, including an extra-large print of their menu that takes you back to mornings at cha chaan tengs, where diners would be busy flipping through the day’s newspapers. The bar, meanwhile, is modeled after old-school theatre box offices featuring classic Hong Kong films.
Throughout the restaurant, you’ll also spot a handful of recognizable memorabilia such as neon street signs and mahjong tiles, recalling the lively era of Hong Kong from the ’80s to the ’90s.
The food at MABU Cafe includes all of Good Luck Cafe’s greatest hits, from cheesy baked rice dishes to a wide variety of instant noodles.
Their take on the Pineapple Bun turns the classic pastry into a loaded burger concept with layers like Satay Beef, Black Truffle Scrambled Eggs or Pork Cutlet.
While you’ll find many of Good Luck Cafe’s best items here, the team has also introduced some newer dishes that add a modern twist to the traditional experience.
Amongst these is a series of fried snacks—think chicken wings, shrimp and milk custard—all delightfully served on retro plastic scales reminiscent of those used by fresh market vendors in Hong Kong.
Another dish you won’t find at Good Luck Cafe is the Crispy Grilled Steak with Black Truffle, the team's own fusion take on the classic Beef Wellington.
While cha chaan tengs are meant for quick, casual meals, MABU Cafe aims to extend that experience with more hearty items like Chicken Hot Pots, served with your own stove so your meal can last as long as you’d like.
The team’s ability to experiment at this new kitchen has also resulted in some intricately staged desserts, like the adorable Bunny Milk Pudding.
Get a taste of old Hong Kong with a modern twist at the new MABU Cafe located at 2361 Brimley Rd., Unit D2. True to the spirit of cha chaan tengs, their all-day menu is available seven days of the week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
