Smorgasbord of opinions as tourist-favored restaurant raises prices

Australia Dairy Company, a popular cha chaan teng in Jordan, has come under fire for raising its menu prices by 10 percent to an "unrealistic" level, with a tea set now costing up to HK$60.

The half-century-old restaurant is ironically renowned for its chaotic atmosphere and brusque customer service.

Despite its notoriety - customers are told to share tables and sometimes urged to eat quickly - locals and travelers still queue for a taste of its traditional Hong Kong-style dishes.

The price hike, starting this month, has caused some locals to question whether it is still worth going there.

Lam, a regular who would visit the restaurant every time she goes to Jordan, said HK$60 for a tea set is simply too much. "I may not come again even if I am passing by Jordan," Lam said.

However, some online users think otherwise, saying the cha chaan teng is so famous that tourists will continue to visit. "There is no need to worry about the customer flow," one of them said.

On mainland social media Xiaohongshu, some commented about the services.

"The queue is so long that eating slowly or taking photos for food are not an option. When you're done eating, you have to vacate your seat for the next customers who are waiting - or you'll be rushed!" a post read.

But Xiao, from Beijing, told The Standard he would visit the restaurant to find out for himself after seeing the negative reviews.

"There must be a reason for it to be famous," he said. "After all, going out is also about experiencing the local culture."

Some mainland web users found the price increase acceptable, comparing it to a newspaper costing HK$10 and "a bowl of Vietnam pho in Shanghai charging 70 yuan (HK$76.

Catering veteran Simon Wong Ka-wo said the Australia Dairy Company is not the only cha chaan teng under pressure to raise prices while struggling to meet surging operating costs.

In respect of services, Wong is not worried that the performance of one restaurant would affect the overall impression of Hong Kong.

"It is inevitable for some web users to criticize bad services on social media. But there are also tourists sharing their catering experience involving good services and appropriate prices."