茶餐厅是一种香港独有的快餐食肆，集快餐店与餐厅的特式于一身，提供揉合了香港特色的西式餐饮，是香港平民化的饮食场所。在香港，茶餐厅遍布各区，营业时间不定，通常由早上6时至凌晨1时，旺角等繁忙地区的茶餐厅更可能通宵营业。要体验地道的香港生活，必得去一趟茶餐厅不可﹗
　　
　　 茶餐厅拥有着快餐店特有的效率，由点菜至结账都很讲求速度，顾客甫一坐下，就可从各种预设好的常餐、快餐、午餐、特餐中选取所需，而且效率极高。侍应很快就会送上食品，一般都毋需等侯，很配合生活繁忙的香港人的急速节奏。每逢午饭时段，地盘工人、售货员、办公室职员以至不少行政人员都很喜爱光顾茶餐厅。而最重要的是食品价钱相宜，茶餐厅里的一顿饭只需二十多元港币，相比其它餐厅 ( 平均每人消费约为$40或以上) 已算得非常划算，而且一般都不收小费。此外茶餐厅里的常餐、快餐均会附送饮料或餐汤，清水或热茶更是免费提供。
　　
　　 另一方面，茶餐厅同时也有着餐厅的特点，基本上是将餐厅的服务简化了，你毋须像光顾快餐店般先排队买票，再自己拿东西，自己争位子。在茶餐厅，同样会有人先招呼你坐下，只差不是样子漂亮、穿着整齐的女招待员，却换上了粗豪的大汉；然后侍应同样会为你送上清茶，只差不是餐厅的柠檬水，而是茶餐厅里独有的「手指水」；侍厅同样会为你点菜，送菜和递上餐具，只差形式和态度没有餐厅那么讲究；最后结帐时，则需要自行到收银处去，但却免了餐厅里付小费的一环。
　　
　　 茶餐厅的一大特点，就是那种粗豪的地痞文化。侍应们不会讲究礼数，文质彬彬的向你打招呼，也不会穿着整齐的侍应礼服。常见的景象，是一个衣衫不整，穿着一件满是污迹的茶餐厅制服，说话粗豪的大汉；有些还会往耳根插一根香烟呢﹗在送餐方面，他们不会斯文地用盘子托着，而是单手一甩，把盘子往桌上放下就走了。最著名的还是「手指水」，从前茶餐厅的侍应送上待客清茶时，都会随便地把两根手指往杯里一插；可是现在这景象较少见了，因为毕竟不太卫生。侍应们落单时，也会用一些很粗糙的小备忙纸，对各式食品饮品都会采用一些很有趣的简称。
　　
　　茶餐厅的主要顾客是普罗大众，食品多样化，供应不同中式及西式的食品，更有不少香港独有的饮食；一间小小的茶餐厅菜单内往往有数十种食物，选择繁多。不同阶层、行业的顾客都聚集在茶餐厅内，边吃饭、边高谈阔论、阅读马经等，成为香港独有的「茶餐厅景观」。

Hong Kong has long developed its very own distinct Tea Culture. During your stay in Hong Kong, you must not miss the locally-brewed "milk tea" served at old-style tea bistros. It takes a unique blending of tea leaves and superb tea-making skills to make a perfect cup of smooth chinese tea.

Unique Menu of Hong Kong Tea Bistros
In Hong Kong, there is always a local tea bistro at your doorstep, with a wide variety of snacks that cross the East-West culinary divide. Deep-fried French Toast, topped and soaked with butter and syrup, will satisfy even the most sweet-toothed diner. "Milk tea" is a fascinating fusion of cultures. Various tea blends are boiled and then kept brewing in a metre-tall metal container for hours, ensuring its extraordinary strength and smoothness. A silk-like cotton bag filters the tea before milk is added. Many tea bistros have worked out their own unique tea-making formula. Yuanyang is a special Hong Kong concoction of milk, tea and oolong tea, bringing out the flavours and aroma in a magical combination.

The menu regulars at Hong Kong's tea bistros offer a mouth-watering range of treats. Many find it hard to resist freshly baked egg tarts, which release a strong buttery aroma. Buns come with an extensive range of fillings, including coconut mix, egg custard and more. Pineapple buns have a crusty and crispy pineapple-flavoured topping and are best consumed with melted butter. Toast with "kaya", a coconut and egg jam from Singapore, is a nostalgic choice. Known for their fast service and efficiency, these local bistros also serve anything from noodles and rice to porridge, roast meat and even seafood. Cold drinks, such as iced lemon tea, are also extremely popular and are served throughout the day.

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