One of the cha chan teng that's been pretty strong on their IG game is Mabu Cafe in Chinatown, NY.
They totally played up the kitch of the Hong Kong time of the old.
Yet play up the new mix of culture.
For example, they know these are buzz words for Chinese playing mahjong.
Cool neon signs for wishing you plenty of wealth.
Each table has mahjong tiles designs like this one has a heart.
More nods to what Hong Kongers love, being wished to have great luck.
This one wishing you get rich - and who wouldn't like that?
Even wall art and wall paper and the like. Totally kitch.
These are signs for Minibus in Hong Kong. You can also get these at El Dage.
No, this is not a giant fridge, it's the door to the bathroom.
Even the table ware are nods to the time of old in Hong Kong.
Of course, must get, Curry Fish balls, it's really fish paste made into the ball shape, it's a well known street snack. Back in the day, they would sell them in a skewers style.
Also got some Cheung Fun - and they provided Plum sauce mixed with Peanut sauce for dipping. Truly a nostalgia thing.
Popular on-the-go dish, Spam and Egg over instant noodle. Served in a hot pot bowl.
Oven baked macaroni - this is truly Mac and Cheese with spaghetti sauce.
Then we have little bear in a spa...
...er, I mean, in Lemon Tea. My only complaint about this is that albeit is super cute, the cup is super small. Poor bear is not melting fast enough and took one sip and need to re-fill. So, cute for the 'gram', not practical whatsoever. The tea is fine, not too strong, not too sweet; just right.
More decor on the way out.
Cool neat decor, design to transform you to another place.
The place as most NY places are, tiny and small. There's plenty of seating, and the upstairs has a few tables as well. Typically if they're busy, they do have virtually 'get a number' but since we went on a weekday, we just got in fine. There are workers nearby grabbing lunch, so there was a little but of a rush but not so pack that you have an extended wait.
As you can see, they really play up the nostalgia thing and get you to post on the 'gram' to promote for them. I will say, food is not bad, so I don't mind the promotion. It was neat and kitch. Now that the other Cha Chan Teng is closed, this serves as a great alternative.
Mabu Cafe
18 Doyers St
New York, NY
No comments:
Post a Comment