Where can I find the best egg tarts in Hong Kong?

The best egg tarts are found at Tai Cheong Bakery (Central — the original), Honolulu Cafe (multiple locations), Kam Fung Cafe (Wan Chai), and Bakehouse (Soho). Each has its own take on the classic Portuguese-style vs. shortcrust-pastry debate.

What's the difference between Hong Kong egg tart styles?

There are two main styles: the shortcrust pastry (dan ta) with a crumbly, cookie-like base, and the puff pastry (suh pi dan ta) with flaky, buttery layers. The filling is a silky egg custard. Portuguese-style egg tarts (pastéis de nata) have a caramelised top and are also popular.

Are Hong Kong egg tarts served hot or cold?

Egg tarts are best eaten warm, fresh from the oven. The contrast between the crisp pastry and the silky, slightly warm custard is what makes them special. Most bakeries bake them in batches throughout the day, so timing your visit matters.

How much does an egg tart cost in Hong Kong?

A single egg tart typically costs between HK$7 and HK$15 (US$1–2). Premium bakeries like Bakehouse charge more (around HK$12–18) for their artisanal versions. Buying half a dozen is common and many shops offer a slight discount.

What makes Tai Cheong Bakery's egg tarts famous?

Tai Cheong Bakery in Central is legendary because its egg tarts were reportedly a favourite of Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong. Their puff-pastry version is exceptionally flaky with a perfectly smooth, wobble-free custard filling.

Best Egg Tarts in Hong Kong — Where to Find Them

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You haven’t done Hong Kong properly until you’ve burned your tongue on a daan taat that came out of the oven ninety seconds before you bought it. The egg tart is this city’s most democratic luxury: HK$8–12, eaten standing up, one hand cupped under your chin to catch the flakes. Skip the mass-produced ones from the supermarket chiller — the good ones are worth planning your morning around.

Two camps, and you have to pick one: sou pei (酥皮), the puff-pastry tart with a hundred shattering buttery layers, or ngau yau pei (牛油皮), the shortcrust tart with a sandy, cookie-like shell. I’m a puff man myself, but ask any two locals and you’ll start a fight. Both must be eaten warm.

Where to Find the Best Egg Tarts

Australia Dairy Company — Jordan

The shortcrust tarts here (HK$9) are the benchmark — thick, sandy shells that crumble into the custard like shortbread. The catch: this is the most aggressive dining room in Hong Kong. The waiters will shout at you, strangers share your table, and you’ll be done in fifteen minutes flat. Go at 7:30am on a weekday, before the tourist wave. See our full Australia Dairy Company guide.

Lan Fong Yuen — Central

Lan Fong Yuen bakes the puff style in the back and sells out fast — by early afternoon you’re out of luck. Paper-thin layers, custard that wobbles like a jellyfish, and tannic milk tea to cut through it. Cash only, elbow-to-elbow seating, real queue. Go when it opens; skip the 12–2pm lunch crush.

Mido Cafe — Yau Ma Tei

Honestly, the tart at Mido Cafe isn’t the best in the city — but you’re here for the room: mosaic tiles, wooden booths, ceiling fans, a 1950s time capsule. Weekday mid-afternoons are calm. Sit by the window and let the trams clatter by below.

Sun Hing Yuen — Sham Shui Po

Not far from the tart hunt, Sun Heung Yuen (Kin Kee) — the Kweilin Street legend since 1968 — is where you go for the other great sub-HK$25 eat in Sham Shui Po: the daan ngau jai (蛋牛治) egg-beef sandwich, toasted (命底), HK$1 extra, non-negotiable. Tarts first, then this — the perfect one-two. Bring cash, go before 10am, don’t expect a smile.

What to Watch For

Golden rule: never buy an egg tart that’s been sitting under a heat lamp — if the tray is full, walk away. You want the batch that just came out, still blistering. And eat it on the spot; a tart that survives the walk back to your hotel is a tart that’s already dead.

The Verdict

GO — a great egg tart costs less than an MTR fare and beats anything else you’ll spend HK$10 on in this city; time it to the oven, not to your schedule.

Explore more Hong Kong food guides: Mong Kok Street Food · Central & Sheung Wan Food · Kowloon Food Guide

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Best Egg Tarts in Hong Kong