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With plenty of delicious foods in Hong Kong, it shouldn’t be surprising that there isn’t a shortage of yummy desserts.
The best desserts in Hong Kong range from traditional Chinese desserts to more innovative dishes. No matter your palate, you will find at least a few things to fall in love with.
I’m going to go over the top 12 dessert spots you must visit in the city.
Let’s get started!
The Best Desserts in Hong Kong List
1) Kai Kai Dessert
Kai Kai Dessert is exactly where you should go for traditional Cantonese dessert.
This Michelin-recommended shop in Jordan specializes in sweet soups like black sesame paste and sweet almond soup.
As you know, traditional Chinese desserts aren’t overly sweet. If you’re sensitive to sweetness levels, then Kai Kai dessert is a good place for you.
Many other people clearly approve of Kai Kai, as this small shop is always quickly filled with people. Both tourists and locals can’t wait to get their hands on a bowl (or two) of their dessert.
2) Mammy Pancake
The best way to enjoy Hong Kong-style egg waffles, called gai dan jai in Cantonese, is to eat them fresh out of the bubble iron. When eaten immediately, the shell of the bubble waffles will be crispy on the outside while soft on the inside. If you wait too long, the texture will change, losing that magic.
Hong Kong-style egg waffles are a common street food and are found everywhere, but it’s Mammy Pancake that is famous for making this dish well.
Stick with the classic flavour or experiment with their many creative flavours like banana chocolate or matcha for a fun twist.
3) Kung Wo Beancurd Factory
Not only does this nostalgic shop in Sham Shui Po make a mean beancurd, but it also feels like stepping back in time. This few-decade-old store isn’t chasing trendy, modern trends but focuses on a traditional vibe and comforting foods.
Their fresh tofu pudding is unbelievably silky and smooth. You can get it warm with ginger syrup or cold with syrup. The texture is so soft that it barely holds its shape.
This dessert is simple, affordable, and not too sweet. It’s the type of desserts Hong Kongers grew up with.
Kung Wo also picked a fitting location as Sham Shui Po reflects an authentic Hong Kong neighbourhood. It’s far from the tourist crowds and still retains Hong Kong’s charm to this day.
4) Yee Shun Dairy Company
Sitting in the heart of Causeway Bay is an unpretentious cha chaan teng called Yee Shun.
This restaurant is best known for its steamed milk pudding, a refreshing, light snack perfect after a heavy meal. Customers can choose to have this traditional Chinese dessert cold or hot. Personally, I prefer it cold, but then again, I prefer most of my desserts cold, except for egg tarts.
The one downside to this place is the atmosphere. It’s hard to relax in a cha chaan teng environment because you are expected to eat quickly and leave even faster. The smaller space also means you might even find yourself sharing tables with strangers.
If you like Yee Shun, there’s another place to check out. Another equally, if not more famous, cha chaan teng is the Australian Dairy Company in Jordan. Australian Dairy Company is another place that serves steamed milk pudding, but they also have other signature dishes, like their silky eggs.
When it comes to dining at these places, do not expect customer service. You’ll encounter the typical Hong Kong customer service, and many tourists are surprised by the employees’ attitudes (I’m still surprised by their brusqueness). Don’t take it personally. They’re like this to locals as well. Please don’t let that aspect ruin your dining experience. Focus on the yummy food at an affordable price.
5) Vission Bakery
How can I not include Vission Bakery on the list of the best desserts in Hong Kong?
This tiny, intimate bakery in Central can barely fit more than 5 customers at a time, yet it’s noticeable because there are always people lining up in the doorway.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen Vission Bakery on social media. Everyone is always yapping about their matcha mochi danish and pistachio custard danish.
Although this bakery makes a variety of baked goods, these two danishes are often the first to sell out. They are sold out in a blink.
Both of these danishes are rich. It’s best shared with at least one other person, as it might feel too heavy for one person to finish.
6) Mobile Softee
Several cities around the world have their own version of the classic ice cream truck, but in Hong Kong, the most iconic is Mobile Softee. For many Hong Kongers, spotting one instantly brings back childhood memories.
These red, blue, and white vintage-looking trucks can still be found across the city, usually parked near busy tourist attractions and high-traffic areas. Long before you see one, you’ll often hear its familiar music first.
Although the menu is simple, with only four items to choose from, that limited selection doesn’t stop tourists from lining up. The soft serve vanilla ice cream cone remains the classic favourite.
Because Hong Kong is hot and humid for much of the year, buying a Mobile Softee ice cream offers quick relief from the heat and a moment of nostalgia.
There is nothing fancy about it — and that is exactly why people love it.
7) Bakehouse
There is no way I can talk about the best desserts in Hong Kong without including Bakehouse. Best known for their sourdough egg tarts, these tarts have exploded in popularity on social media in recent years. Locals and tourists sprint to a bakery to see if the egg tarts are worth the hype (yes, they are).
The sourdough crust is flaky and buttery, while the egg custard is sweet and silky. The tart is sweet enough yet not overwhelming. It’s also a perfect size as it’s not too big or too small.
This egg tart is more expensive than the average, at $14 each. The lines are likely to be insane, as Bakehouse is often a dessert spot in Hong Kong. These are your warnings, so don’t be surprised to get to Bakehouse and find the line down the block.
8) Hashtag B
In every bakery or dessert list that has Bakehouse, you’ll also see Hashtag B soon after. They are each other’s main competitors, especially in egg tarts.
At Hashtag B, this bakery went viral for its flower-shaped egg tarts, which are usually circular. When it comes to appearance, Hashtag B wins by a landslide.
As for the flavour, that’s going to be something you have to decide for yourself. The multi-layer Napoleon egg tart has that sharp crunch and a jiggly filling. At the bottom of the egg tart is a thin layer of caramel filling, giving it a lava center.
While their egg tarts often take the spotlight, Hashtag B is known for being innovative. The bakery often comes up with flavours and baked goods to lure customers in. Their strategy is clearly a success as they are still opening up stores in Hong Kong. In fact, this chain is doing so well that it’s expanding overseas, too.
9) Kwan Hong Bakery
Kwan Hong Bakery is a family-owned bakery in Sham Shui Po that has been around for decades. As an old-school bakery that sells traditional Chinese snacks, the packaged snacks, like peanut candy, make a great souvenir to take home.
They also make excellent mochis, especially their pistachio ones. There was a time when pistachios were all the rage in Hong Kong. While food trends come and go, the flavour of pistachio will stand the test of time.
The mochis are made to order. At $12 per piece, Kwan Hong’s pistachio mochi is the best (and most expensive) among the options, including peanut, black sesame, and hazelnut.
The mochi skin is soft, stretchy, and chewy, while the pistachio filling is crunchy. The mochi’s generous filling allows a burst of pistachio flavour in your mouth.
I’m hungry for this just thinking about it.
Another commonly talked about dessert spot in Hong Kong for pistachio mochi is Min Fung Hong. While this is pretty good too, each mochi is dusted with too much flour. I always find myself making a mess after eating them. Kwan Hong wins!
10) Owl’s Choux
I’m usually not a fan of choux, but Owl’s is an exception. I’ve passed by this store many times, but since this Michelin-guide-approved dessert shop always has a line, I never ordered anything from there until one night, I caught a moment with barely anyone in line.
So, I was like, okay, why not?
It only took one try to fall in love with Owl’s.
I tried a few flavours, but the best one was their crème brulee choux, which is also their signature dish.
The crispiness of the puff, the sweet cream inside, and the classic thin caramel top make it an incredible dessert.
Each cream puff is made to order. This ensures the dessert’s freshness, but it also means you’ll have to be patient.
Why, oh why isn’t Owl’s closer to me? It’s fair to say that more people would visit Owl’s if only they had more locations. Right now, though, there’s only one location on Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Also, the opening hours are from 3:30 – 9 pm, so don’t try to visit at 1 pm to beat the crowd. It will not be open. On the bright side, there’s a lot to keep you busy in Tsim Sha Tsui. Maison Kayser is down the street, so that’s another dessert to eat in the meantime.
11) Maison Kayser
As usual, I’m going to slip something on this list that is a personal favourite. When you look up the best desserts in Hong Kong, this won’t pop up, but it’s one of the many reasons I love it.
That is Maison Kayser’s plain financier.
I LOVE this.
Financiers are one of my favourite desserts. At Maison Kayser, this French almond cake is available in other flavours, including chocolate, vanilla and cherry, and pistachio and raspberry. I never bother with the others because the plain financier gets the gold medal.
Financiers are usually sold in a small rectangular shape, but in this case, the financier at Maison Kayser is shaped like a muffin. It’s a win for me because I get to eat more of it.
Whenever I pass by a store, I have to fight myself not to pop in to buy one (and I lose the battle every time). There’s also never a line, which makes it harder to resist.
This bakery is from France, so its pastries and baked goods are authentically French. While I have a strong preference for their financier, their other stuff is also worth trying.
12) Twist and Buckle
Less than a 5-minute walk from the Maison Kayser in Tsim Sha Tsui and Owl’s, is Twist and Buckle. Boy, they really do have some of the best desserts in Hong Kong concentrated in a small area, don’t they?
Twist and Buckle is known for their churros. These goodies are coated with cinnamon sugar and beautifully made. No matter the flavour you choose, the churros are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Their menu also offers milkshakes and ice cream.
The desserts at Twist and Buckle are aesthetically pleasing with their colourful design. Along with a neon sign by the front entrance, it’s practically calling you to take photos because they deserve a spot on your Instagram profile (genius marketing, really).
Like Owl’s, churros aren’t usually my kind of dessert, but I’d eat them at Twist and Buckle. If you’re a fan of churros, it’s definitely a place I recommend.
Final Thoughts – Best Desserts in Hong Kong
There is always room for dessert, no matter how full you are after your meal. It lifts your mood and boosts your energy, making it oh-so-satisfying. Now that you have the full list of the best desserts in Hong Kong, you know exactly where to go depending on what you’re craving and want to try.
Now to You – Best Desserts in Hong Kong
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Xoxo,
Nicole
