Snug, busy spot whipping up traditional Chinese meals in a cheery, down-to-earth environment.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 19 Division St #1, New York, NY 10002
Phone: (212) 966-8988
Website: https://mstarcafe.shop/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
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M Star Cafe offers a genuine Hong Kong-style culinary experience in the heart of New York’s Chinatown. Located on Division Street, this quaint cafe is known …
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Reviews
Andrew Lum (A.L.)
Semi-spacious Hong Kong-style eatery, with a provincial map of Hong Kong overlaid with celebrity caricatures lining one side wall, and framed photos on another. Ordered a standard dish of plain rice noodles pontooning a lake of soy sauce and another dish of dense fried mantou that at first glance resembles French Quarter beignets. Mantou is accompanied by a puddle of sweet yellowed sauce. These two were paired with a large cup of Hong Kong Milk Tea. Food and drink price was $12 for a meal total of $14.
… moreArtography
M Star Café is a modest Chinatown neighborhood fixture, operating with a straightforwardness that leaves little room for illusion. The space is simple, the service direct and unembellished, and meals arrive in plastic dishware—an understandable choice for a casual café, though one that feels slightly uneasy for dining in.
The walls offer a touch of personality, lined with photographs of Hong Kong celebrities that lend the room a sense of nostalgia and lighthearted charm. It’s an entertaining visual counterpoint to an otherwise no-frills setting.
The menu focuses on familiar comfort dishes. Satay beef with instant noodles, and egg-and-spam noodle soup are all competently prepared, landing squarely in the middle ground—neither disappointing nor especially memorable. The omelette is decent and reliably executed, offering a moment of quiet satisfaction without surprise. What M Star Café lacks in distinction, it makes up for in value, with prices noticeably lower than many of Chinatown’s more polished dining rooms.
One clear bright spot is the house-made soybean milk: fresh, lightly sweet, and genuinely enjoyable—arguably the most compelling reason to return.
M Star Café is not a destination, but as a neighborhood option, it serves its purpose well. Affordable, unpretentious, and dependable, it earns a solid three stars—best appreciated with realistic expectations and a glass of that excellent soybean milk.
… moreThe walls offer a touch of personality, lined with photographs of Hong Kong celebrities that lend the room a sense of nostalgia and lighthearted charm. It’s an entertaining visual counterpoint to an otherwise no-frills setting.
The menu focuses on familiar comfort dishes. Satay beef with instant noodles, and egg-and-spam noodle soup are all competently prepared, landing squarely in the middle ground—neither disappointing nor especially memorable. The omelette is decent and reliably executed, offering a moment of quiet satisfaction without surprise. What M Star Café lacks in distinction, it makes up for in value, with prices noticeably lower than many of Chinatown’s more polished dining rooms.
One clear bright spot is the house-made soybean milk: fresh, lightly sweet, and genuinely enjoyable—arguably the most compelling reason to return.
M Star Café is not a destination, but as a neighborhood option, it serves its purpose well. Affordable, unpretentious, and dependable, it earns a solid three stars—best appreciated with realistic expectations and a glass of that excellent soybean milk.
Tan Tang
It’s a little neighborhood restaurant, servers and staff are straightforward and plain. Food’s served in plastic which a bit uneasy for dinning in. The Hong Kong celebrities wall pics is entertaining though. Had beef rice roll, pan fried turnip cake, satay beef instant noodles, egg spam noodle soup and homemade soybean milk. Food tastes average but price is fairly cheaper compared to other restaurants in Chinatown. Maybe worth to revisit and try on its house special dishes and other food choices next time. oh, the homemade soybean milk is tasty.
… moreRuby Chan
M Star Cafe is my family’s go-to Hong Kong cafe in Chinatown. We also love S Wan Cafe (洋紫荊) but they have limited seatings and close on Sundays.
I won’t rave about their food but they are up to par. Their HK style milk tea is a standout compared to most HK cafes in NYC, but it is not the best.
Iykyk the service is 100% authentic. The whole atmosphere, from the food, service, customers to interior, it transports me back to Hong Kong. They messed up about half of our order this time, but I wasn’t mad about it lol.
While I’ve heard some say the quality has gone downhill in recent years, the food still tastes authentic to me, and very affordable. The portion size is so big that I almost always end up packing leftovers.
＊Faux Shark Fin Soup 碗仔翅 $4
I was shocked when my boyfriend told me he’d never had this before lol. It’s such a classic street snack in Hong Kong, made with low-cost ingredients like bamboo, fungus, dried mushrooms, and vermicelli to imitate the taste of shark fin soup.
It is usually enjoyed with red vinegar and white pepper. The flavor here was spot-on and instantly transported me back in HK—so nostalgic.
＊Corned Beef and Egg Sandwich 蛋牛治 $4
As usual, I ordered the corned beef and egg sandwich. It was massive—I could only finish half. The scrambled eggs were soft, fluffy, and packed with corned beef.
＊Satay Beef Over Rice 沙爹牛肉飯 $10.25
My boyfriend got the satay beef over rice, which also came in a huge portion. We were offended to see “三色豆” (peas) in the dish lol. The beef itself was tasty, though the flavor wasn’t the classic HK-style satay with that peanuty sauce. This version had a much spicier kick to it.
＊Rice Roll with Mixed Peanut Sauces 混醬腸粉 $4*
Not sure why it isn’t on the menu but this is apparently what they’re known for. Everyone ordered their mixed peanut sauce rice rolls when we went, and I also get it every time. The steamed rice rolls texture is perfect. Unpopular opinion: I wished they put less sauces.
＊Beef Curry Rice 咖哩牛腩飯 $8.5*
In Hong Kong, we describe HK style curry rice as “neon curry” lol. This one 100% matched my expectation. They didn’t skimp on the beef so it was super filling. The curry sauce was spicy and flavorful. I shared with my boyfriend and we couldn’t finish, given he has a big appetite.
＊Russian Macaroni 羅宋湯通粉 $7.5
We were skeptical at first but changed our mind after we tried. It reminded me of the taste of classic HK breakfast macaroni. Very comforting.
＊Beef Flat Noodle Stir Fry 乾炒牛河 $12.5
You really can’t go wrong with beef flat noodle stir fry at HK cafes. I’ve never tried a bad one in NYC so far.
＊HK Style Milk Tea 港式奶茶 $2.65**
Well balance of ceylon tea and evaporated milk. Not too bitter (I found the milk tea at Kong Sihk Tong very bitter and overpriced). I usually order it without sugar.
… moreI won’t rave about their food but they are up to par. Their HK style milk tea is a standout compared to most HK cafes in NYC, but it is not the best.
Iykyk the service is 100% authentic. The whole atmosphere, from the food, service, customers to interior, it transports me back to Hong Kong. They messed up about half of our order this time, but I wasn’t mad about it lol.
While I’ve heard some say the quality has gone downhill in recent years, the food still tastes authentic to me, and very affordable. The portion size is so big that I almost always end up packing leftovers.
＊Faux Shark Fin Soup 碗仔翅 $4
I was shocked when my boyfriend told me he’d never had this before lol. It’s such a classic street snack in Hong Kong, made with low-cost ingredients like bamboo, fungus, dried mushrooms, and vermicelli to imitate the taste of shark fin soup.
It is usually enjoyed with red vinegar and white pepper. The flavor here was spot-on and instantly transported me back in HK—so nostalgic.
＊Corned Beef and Egg Sandwich 蛋牛治 $4
As usual, I ordered the corned beef and egg sandwich. It was massive—I could only finish half. The scrambled eggs were soft, fluffy, and packed with corned beef.
＊Satay Beef Over Rice 沙爹牛肉飯 $10.25
My boyfriend got the satay beef over rice, which also came in a huge portion. We were offended to see “三色豆” (peas) in the dish lol. The beef itself was tasty, though the flavor wasn’t the classic HK-style satay with that peanuty sauce. This version had a much spicier kick to it.
＊Rice Roll with Mixed Peanut Sauces 混醬腸粉 $4*
Not sure why it isn’t on the menu but this is apparently what they’re known for. Everyone ordered their mixed peanut sauce rice rolls when we went, and I also get it every time. The steamed rice rolls texture is perfect. Unpopular opinion: I wished they put less sauces.
＊Beef Curry Rice 咖哩牛腩飯 $8.5*
In Hong Kong, we describe HK style curry rice as “neon curry” lol. This one 100% matched my expectation. They didn’t skimp on the beef so it was super filling. The curry sauce was spicy and flavorful. I shared with my boyfriend and we couldn’t finish, given he has a big appetite.
＊Russian Macaroni 羅宋湯通粉 $7.5
We were skeptical at first but changed our mind after we tried. It reminded me of the taste of classic HK breakfast macaroni. Very comforting.
＊Beef Flat Noodle Stir Fry 乾炒牛河 $12.5
You really can’t go wrong with beef flat noodle stir fry at HK cafes. I’ve never tried a bad one in NYC so far.
＊HK Style Milk Tea 港式奶茶 $2.65**
Well balance of ceylon tea and evaporated milk. Not too bitter (I found the milk tea at Kong Sihk Tong very bitter and overpriced). I usually order it without sugar.
Kit Cheng
Traditional HK style breakfast food. Brings back memories. Milk tea was good. I got the pork congee and steam rice noodles. My sister got the eggs and toast and coffee. Service was OK, not the same as other restaurants but typically HK style service which is not much but they were there for us. Don’t particularly like the paper cups, bowls and plates though. However, whenever the chance comes up, I would go. Love HK style food.
… moreJeremy Ng
Spacious and clean place. Went for breakfast and food is edible and average. Not the friendliest of service but it works. Owner will insist on receiving a tip so leave a tip if you know what’s good for you.
… moreChloe Chan
My experience of M Star was mediocre. I went with a group of friends (they had suggested this particular restaurant). The storefront is very hole in the wall as others have noted, but I found the food lackluster. The service was good.
I tried a few things: The beef rice crepe, the shrimp rice crepe, the beef stew noodle soup with rice noodles, the tea egg, and the preserved egg + pork congee. I also tried the beef stew with rice dish and the herbal jelly.
I enjoyed the shrimp rice crepe, the tea egg, and the preserved pork egg congee. They had good flavors and textures. I also enjoyed the beef stew rice noodles.
The beef stew rice dish was just okay. It had a lot of fatty parts that weren’t enjoyable to eat and the sauce to rice ratio was a bit overwhelming for my personal taste.
The beef rice crepe had an unusual texture — the texture of the ground meat was more like what I would expect from a meat loaf (kind of crumbly) as opposed to a patty. No one in our group particularly enjoyed this one.
I would not recommend the herbal jelly. It did not taste like traditional guilinggao in any way, or have the same texture. It tasted a bit like tap water.
I would probably not return again — if I wanted this type of food I would look elsewhere. Although the food is really cheap, I know I could have a more enjoyable meal elsewhere with the same price, especially in Chinatown.
… moreI tried a few things: The beef rice crepe, the shrimp rice crepe, the beef stew noodle soup with rice noodles, the tea egg, and the preserved egg + pork congee. I also tried the beef stew with rice dish and the herbal jelly.
I enjoyed the shrimp rice crepe, the tea egg, and the preserved pork egg congee. They had good flavors and textures. I also enjoyed the beef stew rice noodles.
The beef stew rice dish was just okay. It had a lot of fatty parts that weren’t enjoyable to eat and the sauce to rice ratio was a bit overwhelming for my personal taste.
The beef rice crepe had an unusual texture — the texture of the ground meat was more like what I would expect from a meat loaf (kind of crumbly) as opposed to a patty. No one in our group particularly enjoyed this one.
I would not recommend the herbal jelly. It did not taste like traditional guilinggao in any way, or have the same texture. It tasted a bit like tap water.
I would probably not return again — if I wanted this type of food I would look elsewhere. Although the food is really cheap, I know I could have a more enjoyable meal elsewhere with the same price, especially in Chinatown.
snarkyguy
Came in for some Hong Kong milk tea and left with a smile. Great little cafe and surprisingly reminds me of a 1960’s Cha Chang Tang. Really worth the visit!
… moreCheryl Woo
Love this cafe in Chinatown. The waiter doesn’t even write down our order and memorized it. The food comes out super quick and most dishes are $4 at most. Highly recommend!
… moreJesse Yuan
Best, cheap and quick authentic Hong Kong style eats in the heart of Chinatown. They do offer dine in service however most patrons order takeout.
I often drive 15 miles there from Queens early weekend morning just to pick up their steamed Rice Rolls (Cheung Fen).
… moreI often drive 15 miles there from Queens early weekend morning just to pick up their steamed Rice Rolls (Cheung Fen).