The Greasy Spoon Appreciation Society

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HOKO Café – Shoreditch
by @vonlehmann

Many cafés have gone English and beyond, welcoming other cultures to the table.

Always on the lookout for places where identities overlap, I rode my bike to this cosy yet functional spot tucked into Brick Lane, where East and West have long been in conversation.

Opened in 2023, HOKO Café fits right in. Created by Nicole Ma and Ryan Leung to bring the everyday comfort of a Hong Kong-style diner to East London, it naturally connects with greasy spoon culture. Both grew from necessity and openness: no faff, quick service, and a place for everyone. The spirit is shared, the flavour is unique.

As Vincent Vega once said, it’s the little differences: One is the lack of an all-day breakfast, with sets only available on weekends – a shame, as they look excellent and give me a good reason to return.

🥄 Spoonometer Score: 4.2/5

Vibe – 5/5

Lively, welcoming and unfussy. Friendly staff set the tone as locals, wanderers and Hong Kong expats comfortably share tables. It passed the warmth test easily, even solo on a first visit.

Formica Flair – 4/5

Clean, modern and restrained. Functional design with gentle retro touches gives the feel of a familiar daily caff, without leaning hard on nostalgia.

Heritage Factor – 3/5

The café is new, but the heritage lives in the idea and the food. This is cultural continuity rather than age, honouring everyday Hong Kong dining without clichés.

Bargain-o-Meter – 4/5

Slightly above classic caff prices, but fair for the area. Portions are generous, and prices sit below many nearby trend-led cafés, keeping things accessible rather than precious.

Yum Factor – 5/5

No breakfast this time, but everything else was impressive. My Char Siu rice (glazed pork) with a fried egg perfectly hit the spot, and the milk tea came with extra condensed milk because life should be sweet. Deep flavours, comforting yet distinctive.

Honourable Mention

HOKO proves caff culture was never tied to one place. It travels, adapts, and returns – still doing the same job: fuel, comfort, and community.

Location: 224 Brick Lane, London E1 6SA