Farewell to Hong Kong Oldest Tea House Lin Heung
Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House, an icon of the oldest Chinese restaurant, will close down soon. What are the charms and history of Lin Heung?
Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House will say farewell to customers by late this month. It’s one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong serving traditional dim-sum and Chinese dishes.
Lin Heung’s current venue is on the junction of Wellington Street and Aberdeen Street in Central. Its signage 蓮香 (Lin Heung) represents a part of traditional culture and restaurant history of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House – bakery shop in restaurant entrance selling traditional lotus buns, lotus seeds and Chinese tea
About Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House
Lin Heung Tea House was first in Guangzhou China in 1889. Its original shop in China is still there.
Hong Kong Lin Heung is currently owned and operated by Yan’s family. Mr. Yan has worked for the restaurant owner of Guangzhou Lin Heung before he set up Hong Kong Lin Heung.
The first Central outlet of Lin Heung Tea House was on Wellington Street 117-121. This popular Chinese tea house was then relocated to current venue on Wellington Street 160-164.
Lin Heung took over the space which was originally occupied by Standard Chartered Bank. SCB rented the shop for 25 years since the building was built in 1970.
It’s pretty rare in Hong Kong that only two tenants have rented for a shop for almost 5 decades.
Charm of Lin Heung Tea House – an oldies Chinese Restaurant in HK
Charms of Hong Kong Lin Heung Tea House
Lin Heung is one of few Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong serving authentic dim-sum in oldies style.
The traditional way of serving food and Chinese décor in Lin Heung attract a number of customers, especially for those who are looking for the ambience of Hong Kong oldies restaurants.
Charms of Lin Heung is not only on its authentic dim-sum, but also the its traditional way to serve customers and the restaurant character:
- No host to arrange seating for customers
- Customers are required to share table with other people
- From kitchen to trolley, then trolley to table: customers will take their dim-sums from the trolley’s ladies walking around on the restaurant floor
- Waiters with traditional Chinese uniforms
- Waiters pour water into traditional tea pot in front of customers
- Traditional Chinese calligraphy and landscape paintings on walls as restaurant decor
- Bird’s cages hanging on ceiling: can tell the story of the oldies days when customers brought their bird’s cages into the tea house
- Noisy, crowded and friendly ambience: the way of oldies Cantonese restaurant culture
- Bakery shop in restaurant entrance selling traditional lotus buns, lotus seeds and Chinese tea: Guangzhou Lin Heung originally operated as a bakery shop
HK Oldest Tea House Lin Heung – menu of traditional dim-sums
HK Lin Heung Tea House – Customers choose dim-sums on trolley themselves
Farewell to Lin Heung Tea House
Insider source told Lacrucci that Hong Kong Lin Heung could operate for another year. But the restaurant owner chose to terminate the lease earlier. What’s a shame!
If you’d like to try this traditional tea house again, do go there before 28 February 2019.
Salute and farewell to Hong Kong Lin Heung, an icon of Hong Kong oldies tea house!
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