The year 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Also it has been 10 years since Hong Kong tea restaurants landed in Shanghai.

When the eateries first arrived, Shanghainese diners didn't know much about the Hong Kong-style dishes listed on the menu. Before they dined their friends in a Hong Kong tea restaurant, they would phone the restaurant first to figure out the cost and what the dishes were like.

And now, Hong Kong tea restaurants can be found on every corner of Shanghai and they have become popular dining places for Shanghainese people.

When dining in a Hong Kong tea restaurant, each diner is served a cup of free tea the minute they sit at the table to prepare their taste buds for the meal. And afterwards, they will be served with another cup of free tea again for them to cleanse their palates. This is why Hong Kong tea restaurants have the word "tea" in its name.

Unlike big Cantonese seafood restaurants which often cost diners a lot of money and can be lavish affairs, Hong Kong tea restaurants offer a more casual dining environment and they're less expensive. So it's a nice place for big family gatherings. Dishes at these establishments are quite cheap. For 5 yuan, diners can either get a set of steamed pork dumplings with crispy skin and juicy stuffing, preserved chicken feet, or spicy beef stomach.

Yet Hong Kong tea restaurants are also different from small local small eateries whose sanitation standards are often called into question. Instead, these Hong Kong-style eateries offer a more decent dining experience.

So these places have become a favorite of Shanghai office workers, who consider Hong Kong tea restaurant as an easy-going retreat from the busy city life. Shuangpinai (double layered milk custard), a kind of pudding made with milk and egg whites, is a favorite with the ladies for its delicate texture and low fat content. Sweet Boluobao (pineapple bun), a steamed sweet bun stuffed with a slice of butter, is a classic Cantonese dessert. During the summer red bean ice is ordered frequently for its cooling effect.

The Hong Kong tea restaurant has also become a symbol of the city's unique culture. These eateries have been used as the setting in many Hong Kong movies. In director Wong Kar-wai's film 2046, there's a scene where the married female character has a rendez-vous with her date privately? Apart from offering delicious eats, Hong Kong tea restaurants also easily arouse people's taste for nostalgia and style.

Some restaurants for your consideration

Pujing Tea Restaurant
Location: B1, Great Shanghai Times Square, No. 99 Huaihai Zhonglu, Luwan District
Tel: 021-63910866

Xinwang Tea Restaurant
Location: No. 309 Haikoulu, Huangpu District
Tel: 021-63605008

Wangjiao Tea Restaurant
Location: 2/F, No. 1 Tianyaoqiaolu, Xuhui District
Tel: 021-64686264