If you’ve ever wanted to eat your way through Hong Kong without booking a flight, Joys’ Cafe in NYC’s Chinatown is a pretty good place to start. Located at 60 Bayard Street, this modern Hong Kong-style café is serving the kind of comfort food that makes “just grabbing a quick bite” a dangerous promise.
Joys’ Cafe, also known as Joys’ Cafe 幸福茶記, specializes in classic cha chaan teng fare—the casual Hong Kong café tradition built around inexpensive, satisfying meals, strong tea and food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The menu covers everything from wok-fried noodles and baked rice dishes to Hong Kong-style milk tea and pastries.
One of the biggest draws is the Portuguese egg tart, featuring flaky pastry and creamy custard. If you somehow possess the self-control to stop at one, congratulations. The café also gets attention for its Thai-style beef chow fun, where high-heat cooking brings that coveted smoky wok hei flavor to the wide rice noodles.
Then there are the classics: pineapple buns with butter, Hong Kong-style French toast, baked pork chop spaghetti and baked rice dishes. Wash it all down with Hong Kong milk tea or one of the café’s creamy coffee drinks, and suddenly Chinatown feels like a very affordable vacation.
The vibe is casual and lively, with a takeout counter in front and a dining room in back. Prices generally sit in the $10–$20 range, making Joys’ Cafe an appealing option when you want a substantial Chinatown meal without turning dinner into a financial planning exercise.
And don’t leave without checking out dessert. The Joys’ House Special Grand Dessert, a shaved-ice-style creation topped with things like red beans, boba, grass jelly and taro, is designed for serious sweet-tooth activity.
Basically, Joys’ Cafe NYC is bringing Hong Kong café culture to downtown Manhattan—and proving that sometimes the best way to travel is simply to order another egg tart.
