Neighbors bids farewell to Yau Ma Tei Mido Cafe

Many Hongkongers went to Yau Ma Tei to take photos with 72-year-old Mido Cafe as it was said to shut its door.

A citizen surnamed Chan said he first dined at Mido Cafe back in secondary school. Although it increased prices several times, he still came to the restaurant from time to time for nearly 20 years.

Chan said he likes the tea, beef satay noodles and pineapple bun with butter most, saying it was not easy for the restaurant to make ordinary food taste good. He also said the decoration of the restaurant was special, describing it as having the atmosphere of the 60s to 70s.

Chan said he had seen many historical stores shut down, believing the Covid-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the catering industry.

He felt sorry for the closure of Mido, "it was only allowed to be here, and will only live in our memories in the future." 

Wong, another resident living nearby said he visited Mido since the 1980s when many diners brought the birdcages with them. He often visited jade markets nearby and ate at the restaurant if he was hungry.

"Mido is a landmark in Yau Ma Tei and very special as a restaurant," Wong said. "There are not many historical buildings left."

Another resident said the last time he visited Mido was more than a week ago and came to see it again after the news of its closure.

He said that many residents nearby were frequent customers since childhood. He still remembers the TV drama Street Fighters, which was filmed in the restaurant. 

Chan added that the food here is good, and he loves the pork chop spaghetti. He said the decor has its own characteristics and has maintained its original appearance over the years.