Very fast paced service so you better know your order before approaching the hard working ladies in the front. The food came out fast and very hot so you know everything is made as you order. The storefront is easily missed unless you're looking for it. It's always a good sign when you see a lot of regulars coming in and the ladies already know what order to place in. There are a few tables and chairs but definitely not meant for a crowd at all. The food is delicious and cheap, very hard to find a place that will provide a full meal and drink for less than $8 now. I wish they open earlier than 7am for the super early birds like me!

Nothing fancy here. The service and environment might even feel a little bit intimidating. BUT this is by far the MOST AUTHENTIC Hong Kong café I've found in NYC. Tucked away on the basement of Chinatown, S Wan Café is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant offering nostalgic and super wallet-friendly cha chaan tang food. This is my family's go-to spot when we miss the taste of home. ＊Breakfast Set B2 $6.50 For just $6.50, you can enjoy a full breakfast set, including macaroni soup with your choice of protein, an egg sandwich/butter toast, and a drink. I could go on and on about their HK-style milk tea. After trying so many across the city, this one is hands down the best. The balance between tea and milk is spot-on, and the bold, aromatic Ceylon black tea base stands out. ＊Corned Beef & Egg Sandwich $4.00 This is my favorite breakfast sandwich from a HK café. I always ask for it "toasted." The combination of scrambled egg, savory corned beef, and buttered toast--simple ingredients that come together perfectly.

Great price in this economy if you want to get a Hong Kong breakfast. Not much service to speak of, you order and wait till you're called to pick up your food and find a seat with all the mostly older folk chatting. The atmosphere is like that as any other cafe, mostly just old ladies chatting about grandchildren or trying to find a partner in Cantonese.

We love the milk teas from here. Surprisingly it's the best milk tea we ever had in NYC! The soy sauce noodle looked amazing from the pic, but it was just okay for me. Not much of service but food was cheap! You know this is a good and authentic place when it's full of Chinese people

Actually infatuated with this spot. The price, quality and quantity, and the nostalgia make the perfect trifecta for HK breakfast & comfort food. The aunties here speak cantonese & mandarin and the seating is a free for all! Cash only and try everything! The congee and chicken chop and eggs & toast are my favorites. SWan also makes some of my favorite iced yuenyueng (milk tea w coffee). Love love love. Tip from the lovely grammas - Chicken chop over Pork chop!

CHeap Chinese food! The food is good portion size. My wife and I shared the porridge, noodles, and fish balls. Food comes out quick and there's a small area for you to sit and eat!

This spot is honestly a gem!! Everything is so affordable and tasty. The staff move quickly and it feels like home here. You can find authentic Hong Kong cafe staples here and they serve anything ranging from macaroni soup, sandwiches, stir fried noodle dishes, and rice dishes. This is a great breakfast and lunch spot for you to gather with your friends to have a hearty breakfast. Their breakfast combos are so worth it and come with a sandwich, entree, and a drink. You can also upgrade them and add new things to the set order. They have a cozy space for you to sit and eat your food as well and the staff is so friendly here :)

Real HK style cafe, with the speed and 'tude that you'd also get in HK. We went for brunch and the congee was already sold out. This was one of the best milk teas I've had in a long time and I was visiting from LA -- I also lived on HK for years and this was the closest one I've had. I'm not sure what the specialty item is here but the breakfast combos were a deal, you don't really see prices like that any more. The portion was not huge but filling enough if you eat all the components. Each of my party ordered a combo and none of us finished everything. The only extra item we shared were curry fish balls (totally recommend). Very limited dine in seating capacity. Regardless of dining in or taking out, all food served in disposable containers.

I once spent a summer in Hong Kong and the simple classic Cantonese dish of soy sauce chow mein with thin noodles and a smattering of bean sprouts is one of my all-time favorites for a quick breakfast or lunch. S-Wan Cafe serves a big portion of a faithful rendition of this dish for $3.25, in 2024. I am somewhat glad I don't live near here because if I did I'm quite sure I would become enormously fat.