VIP Coffee & Cake Shop in Chinatown is a cozy Hong Kong-style cafe where you can indulge in massive portions of baked goodies and rich milk tea amidst a nostalgic vibe.
"Walking into this Hong Kong-style cafe in Chinatown is like going back to the pre-Bluetooth era. It’s easy to spend a couple of hours forgetting your notifications exist in the cafeteria-style booths, with a cup of extra strong milk tea in one hand and a warm pineapple bun in the other. If you’re here for a full-on meal, the salt-and-pepper wings are always a great choice, as is the macaroni soup. But we usually like to swing by for a jolt of caffeine and a pastry, best enjoyed while overhearing some nuggets of juicy neighborhood gossip." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez
"VIP Coffee & Cake Shop is a Chinatown cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafe) with Jurassic-sized portions. You'll devour food that could feed a linebacker three times over, and nurse a cup of fantastic hot milk tea alongside daily regulars who are here to catch up over lunch. Are these dishes the best things you’ll eat all year? No, but it doesn’t matter since the cafeteria-like place is a castle of comfort. Pay attention to the case full of egg tarts and pineapple buns with crumbly toppings. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, lani conway
"Dish: V.I.P. milk tea (Hong Kong-style) and pineapple buns The Hong Kong-style milk tea at VIP Coffee & Cake Shop in Chinatown is the best you’ll find in the city. This version is thick, creamy, and sweet with an intense black tea taste that will wake you right up if you're not used to it. You can get this hot or cold (but getting a piping hot mug of this liquid gold is our favorite way to go) and pair it with one, two, or maybe even three plump pineapple buns. The buns are soft on the inside, crispy on the top, and most importantly feed a primal lust for a warm pastry that pairs excellently with the rich milk tea. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"V.I.P. features the kind of eclectic menu that’s typical of a Hong Kong-style cafe including baked pork chops over rice or red-sauce spaghetti; hot, sweet milk tea; stir-fried noodles; and fried chicken wings. It’s also a bakery, with a full selection of cakes and pastries." - Paolo Bicchieri, Dianne de Guzman
"With its old-style big booths, giant pictures of food on the walls, and a relaxed staff that's in no hurry to take your order, VIP Coffee and Cakeshop is like stepping into an 80s Hong Kong cafe. Since opening in 1985, this spot has served as a gathering spot for egg tarts, pineapple buns, and macaroni soup, and a healthy dose of neighborhood gossip. Sure, it’ll take about 10 minutes to flag down a server, but your patience will lead to the best Hong Kong-style milk tea in the city. It's rich, creamy, and has an intense black tea taste. Plus, you can hang out for hours without anyone asking you to leave." - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1
