A buttery crust cradling a runny custardy filling…the egg tart is one of the most iconic Hong Kong cheap eats, and almost always an impulsive snack buy. That’s why on top of recommending the best egg tarts in town, we’re including honorable chain store mentions — for those days you when you just want to chow down on egg tarts in between meetings or on your way home!
Life Bakery| 生命物
A neighborhood favorite in Shek Tong Tsui, Life Bakery is a Cantonese bakery serving fresh-from-the-oven bread and pastries from 7am till late in the evening. This family-run shop prides itself on baking the traditional way, using the same techniques and ingredients they have always used over the past 30 years. Their egg tart is beloved by locals for its incredibly tender and moist filling and melt-in-your-mouth butter shortcrust pastry.
425 Queen’s Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, Sai Wan, 2547-4826.
Tai Cheong Bakery| 泰昌餅家
Tai Cheong is a big name in the egg tart scene, its world-famous status cemented by its most loyal fan, aka Hong Kong former governor Chris Patten. Their egg tart, albeit slightly overpriced, is consistently delicious, with a perfectly sweetened filling and fragrant shortcrust pastry. People also swear by their Chinese donut “sa yung” (沙翁), a deep-fried dough dipped in a thick layer of sugar.
35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 8300-8301.
Happy Cake Shop | 快樂餅店
Established in 1977, this 42-year-old traditional Wan Chai bakery makes over 40 types of Cantonese breads and pastries every day, from cocktail and pineapple buns to paper-wrapped cakes. Their egg tart features a firm filling and a very buttery shortcrust pastry. Look, Happy Cake Shop is a simple, no-frills bakery. Will the egg tart be the best you’ve ever tasted? Probably not, but the charming atmosphere — from the handwritten menus and the sheet pans holding all the freshly baked goodies to the nostalgic tiles — is what makes this a fulfilling experience.
106 Queen Road’s East, Wan Chai
Hoover Cake Shop | 豪華餅店
Hoover Cake Shop has a special baking technique: they use duck eggs to create an especially rich and smooth filling. The puff pastry versus buttered crust debate can stir up some deeply personal opinions among most HK-ers, but if there’s any possibility for the two camps to see each other’s viewpoints, Hoover may be the answer. Their puff pastry and buttered crust are equally good. The former is crispy and light, while the latter is super soft and fluffy.
136 Nga Tsin Wai Rd, Kowloon City.
Kam Fung Restaurant | 金鳳茶餐廳
This busy and crowded cha chaan teng might not be the most comfortable setting, but in terms of a good old egg tart and milk tea combo, Kam Fung is a personal favorite. Their egg tart is relatively petite and features a thin and crumbly puff pastry crust and a sweet filling, but the key here is pairing it with its silky smooth milk tea, which makes an intensely creamy, gratifying afternoon tea.
41 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai, 2572 0526.
Honolulu Coffee Shop| 檀島咖啡餅店
Honolulu Coffee Shop is a old-school cha chaan teng in Wan Chai best known for its puff pastry egg tart and coffee. Their puff pastry boasts clearly defined layers and an extremely airy and crispy bite. The tender egg custard filling has a good amount of flavor. Its surroundings are cinematic and pleasantly spacious, making it a great hangout spot for a leisurely afternoon.
176 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2575 1823.
Lucky Star | 幸運星
The relatively new Lucky Star opened its doors in 2018 and positions itself as a modern cha chaan teng with its own in-house bakery, using high quality ingredients such as Japanese flour, French butter and lard from the Netherlands. Freshly baked egg tarts are served throughout the day, with a hearty buttered crust and a heavy and moist egg custard filling. The price point is higher than your average egg tart, but considering its central location in the heart of Causeway Bay, it’s not too bad.
1-3 Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay, 28861683
Honorable Chains: Pie & Tart, Saint Honore
Pie & Tart| 批&撻專門店
Don’t underestimate this chain commonly found in MTR stations and the New Territories — they serve a perfectly delicious milk tart! The filling is made with milk and cream instead of eggs, and the buttered crust is nice and crispy. The cheese milk tart, however, is the real star here. It is covered with a thin layer of melted cheese, adding a delightful texture and savoriness to the traditional snack.
Various locations, http://www.pieandtart.com.hk/shop.php
Saint Honore Cake Shop| 聖安娜餅屋
This buttered crust egg tart ticks all the boxes: buttery crust, sweet eggy filling. Nothing mind-blowing, but great as an everyday snack. Most importantly, there’s likely a Saint Honore near where you live or work, and hence, a bigger chance you’ll be able to catch the egg tarts right out of the oven — which is when they taste the best.
Various locations, http://www.sthonore.com/en/store
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