The Cha Chaan Teng That Time Forgot

喺旺角一條窄巷入面，有間幾十年歷史嘅茶餐廳叫「新華冰室」。周圍嘅舖頭一間間執笠，得佢仲堅持營業。老闆陳伯已經七十幾歲，每日凌晨五點開門，親手沖奶茶、煎西多士。

hai2 wong6 gok3 jat1 tiu4 zaak3 hong6 jap6 min6, jau5 gaan1 gei2 sap6 nin4 lik6 si2 ge3 caa4 caan1 teng1 giu3 san1 waa4 bing1 sat1. zau1 wai4 ge3 pou3 tau4 jat1 gaan1 gaan1 zap1 laap1, dak1 keoi5 zung6 gin1 ci4 jing4 jip6. lou5 baan2 can4 baak3 ji5 ging1 cat1 sap6 gei2 seoi3, mui5 jat6 ling4 san4 ng5 dim2 hoi1 mun4, can1 sau2 cung1 naai5 caa4, zin1 sai1 do1 si2.

In a narrow alley in Mong Kok, there is a decades-old cha chaan teng called Sun Wah Cafe. Surrounding shops have closed one by one, but it persists. Owner Uncle Chan, already in his seventies, opens at 5am every day, personally brewing milk tea and frying French toast.

佢話：「啲後生仔鍾意去連鎖店，覺得我哋呢啲小店老土。但係我沖嘅奶茶，用絲襪袋沖嘅，佢哋飲一啖就知唔同。」

keoi5 waa6: di1 hau6 saang1 zai2 zung1 ji3 heoi3 lin4 so2 dim3, gok3 dak1 ngo5 dei6 ni1 di1 siu2 dim3 lou5 tou2. daan6 hai6 ngo5 cung1 ge3 naai5 caa4, jung6 si1 mat6 doi2 cung1 ge3, keoi5 dei6 jam2 jat1 daam2 zau6 zi1 m4 tung4.

He says: Young people like chain stores and think our small shops are old-fashioned. But my milk tea, brewed with a silk-stocking bag — one sip and they know the difference.

有日，一個YouTuber拍咗條片介紹新華冰室。條片一夜之間爆紅，吸引咗大批年輕人嚟排隊。陳伯既開心又擔心：「多咗客當然好，但係我怕失去嗰種街坊嘅感覺。」最後佢決定唔加價、唔擴張，繼續做佢嘅街坊生意。「錢唔係最重要，重要嘅係每一杯奶茶都有靈魂。」

jau5 jat6, jat1 go3 YouTuber paak3 zo2 tiu4 pin2 gaai3 siu6 san1 waa4 bing1 sat1. tiu4 pin2 jat1 je6 zi1 gaan1 baau3 hung4, kap1 jan5 zo2 daai6 pai1 nin4 hing1 jan4 lai4 paai4 deoi2. can4 baak3 gei3 hoi1 sam1 jau6 daam1 sam1: do1 zo2 haak3 dong1 jin4 hou2, daan6 hai6 ngo5 paa3 sat1 heoi3 go2 zung2 gaai1 fong1 ge3 gam2 gok3. zeoi3 hau6 keoi5 kyut3 ding6 m4 gaa1 gaa3, m4 kwok3 zoeng1, gai3 zuk6 zou6 keoi5 ge3 gaai1 fong1 saang1 ji3. cin2 m4 hai6 zeoi3 zung6 jiu3, zung6 jiu3 ge3 hai6 mui5 jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4 dou1 jau5 ling4 wan4.

One day, a YouTuber filmed a video about Sun Wah Cafe. It went viral overnight, attracting crowds of young people. Uncle Chan was both happy and worried: More customers is great, but I fear losing that neighbourhood feeling. In the end, he decided not to raise prices or expand — just continue his neighbourhood business. Money is not the most important thing; what matters is that every cup of milk tea has soul.