Low key...this place has really good egg tarts. A true Chinatown IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW kind of place. In my opinion, the egg tarts here are better than that other popular store that starts with "G" and ends in "Bakery". Entering, you'll find what seems like a normal restaurant with booths for seating. A lot of locals (green flag number 1). If you turn to your right you'll see a couple bakery items, including the egg tarts. The attendant behind the counter is not super friendly but very efficient (green flag number 2) You then will order your egg tarts and hot Hong Kong milk tea. A beautiful and perfect combo! The hot milk tea here is delicious as well and perfectly warmed my soul. For the tart, the egg custard is THICK, smooth, not overly sweet. The crust is perfectly crispy and crunchy - sturdy enough to hold the custard but not too thick that it would overwhelm the filling. Not too greasy! A 10/10 from me. Note that like a lot of older, classic Chinatown restaurants, the atmosphere is kind of dilapidated and unimpressive. The restrooms are dirty and there are no photo opportunities. What I'm trying to say is, if you're a tourist and looking for a place to oooh and ahhh at, this is not it. But if you're looking for delicious HK style food and pastries, VIP is the place for you.

The egg tarts were wonderfully flaky and had just the right amount of sweetness, making them a perfect treat. The milk tea complemented them beautifully, with its rich, smooth flavor balancing out the delicate taste of the tarts. Together, they created a delightful and harmonious combination that enhanced the entire experience.

Their egg tarts look so good. Their pineapple bun is hugh. People wait around for their buns to come out of the oven their GK tea is excelente.

Whenever I'm in SF Chinatown, I can't stay away from VIP's famous HK milk tea that is packed with caffeine but oh - so - tasty!!! ... makes for a good afternoon tea or a grocery shopping break. Since the pandemic, it has been easier to get seating at this once packed coffee shop. Their "premier" booth seating is now easily available ;) My go to at VIP is their HK Milk Tea (hot or cold), and their VIP sandwich. This place is definitely dated and for the old timers, but clean and reasonably comfortable. Service is what you expect from a local, inexpensive local coffee shop... meaning, don't expect much! lol You should be quick to place your order, and be aware enough that you will need to leave after finishing your meal IF there is a line. This is not your sit-down-for-hours or laptop/ working kind of coffee shop. Just setting the right expectations ;)

VIP Coffee Shop has been on my list of restaurants to revisit for a long time. They close at 6pm and I can't make it to Chinatown until after 6pm on weekdays. I had a day off today and it took over 25 minutes for them to make my baked pork chops spaghetti $14 at 11am. There's this single waitress that handles the dining room orders, phone orders, bus the tables and the bakery take out counter. Obviously they are short handed. The pork chop spaghetti tasted OK. It was slightly burnt on top to infuse the tomato taste onto the dish. It would have been nice if there were cheese or chopped onions in there. It was missing that wow factor. With Washington Bakery gone, this might be the next best option for HK style tea cafe food in Chinatown.

If you're looking for authentic Hong Kong style cha chaan teng food, this is the spot to go to. Super hole in the wall and unassuming, but as an HK local, I would say this is the closest resemblance to food in HK. The macaroni was super comforting, and perfect for a rainy day. The interior is a little beaten down, but I personally think the food makes up for it. Make sure to bring cash with you since they don't take card.

VIP is an authentic Hong Kong-style diner in Chinatown with plenty of seating and hearty rice and noodle-based dishes that are sure to take you from hungry to extremely full without hurting your wallet! - Baked Ox Tongue w/ Rice: The baked ox tongue came separate from a plate with a ton of steamed rice. The ox tongue itself was served as three pretty large pieces and was a bit tense and slightly crispy -- an interesting texture experience that I didn't hate. The sauce itself was creamy and tomatoey. All in all, very straightforward! - Baked Grouper w/ Fried Rice: My favorite of the two dishes we ordered. The sauce was slightly more tangy despite being a similar shade to the tomato sauce we got with the baked ox tongue. The grouper had a crispy exterior that paired perfectly with the soft egg and cheese. I was full by the time this plate came around but managed to eat even more because it was so delicious. The dish also came out steaming hot -- you will definitely burn your mouth eating this, but in a good way. This place also serves a myriad of drinks and desserts! I wouldn't be surprised to find other killer dishes on their extensive menu.

Came to this authentic Hing Kong style diner for a late breakfast. When I showed up, there were only a few patrons but after I was seated several large families came in and sat down. This place is clearly not ready for large crowds. The waitresses are scrambling and these large tables have to share one menu. One table, which had not ordered yet, got a dish delivered. They told the waitress it wasn't theirs but she left it there anyway Many of the patrons are elderly and obviously spend a lot of time here. They're helping themselves to more tea, napkins, etc from the waitress station. It's total chaos...I don't know who works here LOL. Highly recommend for the yummy food and fun experience.