The BEST Egg Tarts in Singapore (Plus, Our TOP 3!)

Before egg tarts were introduced to Hong Kong, they were reported to have been first seen in Guangzhou in the 1920s. Inspired from fruit tarts, the chefs transformed the entire idea by filling egg custards in the middle instead. Fast forward to the 1940s and 1950s, many of the chefs migrated to Hong Kong, carrying along with them this recipe. After much trial and error, an egg tart solely unique to Hong Kong emerged, and this is the Hong Kong egg tart which we are all familiar with. Being a neighbour of Macau, we are not surprised that Hong Kong has injected a few touches of Macanese cuisine into the egg tarts as well.

Egg tarts are now one of Singapore’s popular dim sum dishes, with the Hong Kong rendition receiving the most attention. It commonly comes with 2 kinds of crusts, namely the shortcrust pastry or puff pastry. Instead of butter, lard is traditionally used in the crust to add that hint of fragrance that we enjoy.

So, how do we like our egg tarts? A light and wobbly yet firm filling holds the key to a great custard. Of course, playing just as important a role is the buttery, flaky shell that holds everything together. The sweetness should be well-controlled – please don’t give me a sugar overdose. On top of that, we love ours freshly baked from the oven, ooohhhh the aroma makes me so egg-cited!

8 Tarts n Pastries

A long standing pastry franchise which has stood the test of time is 8 Tarts n Pastries. Since 2002, it has focused on dishing out authentic, traditional Asian pastries with less sugar, fat and cholesterol. We always appreciate freshly baked HK egg tarts (1 for $1.70) which contains no preservatives, and hooray, because you can get that right here. Plus, it’s halal certified- perfect for everyone to enjoy!

Bengawan Solo

Bengawan Solo might be a household brand, but who knows much about their history? Tjendri Anastasia started out making Indonesian delicacies in her little kitchen at home. In no time, orders came rolling in as her kuehs and cakes grew in popularity. Not only can you get pandan chiffon cake, you can also get their egg tarts (2 for $2.40). Erm not our cup of tea, to be honest. But this is perhaps one of your favourite snack since school days.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery

Stepping into Chin Mee Chin feels like I went back to the 50s. The marble tables, wooden round chairs and mosaic tiles gives it a nostalgic retro feel. Nothing much of this 60-year-old confectionary has changed over the years, and likewise, the menu. Besides the famed kaya toast, we thought that it will be great to sink our teeth into some good old egg tarts (1 for $1) and reminisce about the old times. Our conclusion after eating this – just stick to the kaya toast.

Crystal Jade

Crystal Jade, a familiar face, was born over 25 years ago. Having been awarded one Michelin star and several Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, it’s no wonder that its outlets worldwide are highly regarded for their culinary expertise. Crystal Jade My Bread offers a myriad of confectionery such as Bolo bun and the lead character – egg tarts (2 for $2.80).

Da Sheng Hong Kong Pastry

Don’t be surprised that queues start forming in the wee hours, as loyal customers seek a first-hand taste of pastries that reeked of nostalgia. The Horse Hoof Biscuit, Wife Biscuit and Hong Kong Egg Tarts (1 for $1) are some of the bestsellers here. Under the magical touch of the chef, who hails from Hong Kong, the pastries scream authenticity and sincerity.

Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries

Two types of egg tarts are available here – Leung Sang Egg Tart ($1.30) and Western Egg Tart ($1.30). The latter contains the signature flaky crust, which is a more popular option among the Tiong Bahru residents as well as people, like us, who travel down from all over the island. They used to be located on Sago Street, but has since moved to Jalan Membina. I offered it to my Uber driver. She loved it and even bought a box for her daughter.

Pak Kung Cafe and Bakery (Legendary Hong Kong)

With specially imported ingredients from Hong Kong, the food will give you a glimpse of the true and authentic Hong Kong flavours. The hand-picked chefs with long years of experience will only bring to you what they themselves would love to have. Catch a breather by hanging out at the bing sat-inspired setting munching on some golden egg tarts (3 small for $4.30, 1 big for $2).

Tai Chong Kok Confectionary

Sample a taste of home with founder Tham Kai Chee’s delightful confectionery. In 1930, he left Guangzhou, China, with his wife in search of a brighter future in Singapore. Chinatown Sago Street is where he started out, with mooncakes being his one and only item for sale. Over the years, Tai Chong Kok has evolved with the times and ventured into different Chinese pastries and Cantonese confectionery.

Honolulu Cafe

Founded in Hong Kong in the 1940s, Honolulu Cafe is renowned for its flaky egg tarts that have won the hearts of fans worldwide. We now have easy access to them, and there’s no need to set foot in Hong Kong, because Honolulu Cafe has opened at Centrepoint last year. Rumour has it that their egg tart recipe has about 70 years of history!

Tong Heng Confectionery

One of the unrivalled egg tart producers of this day and age is undoubtedly Tong Heng Confectionery which hailed from Guangdong, China. Initially baked in circular and oval shapes, the tarts eventually progressed to a unique diamond shape. The diamond shape prevents dramatic movements of the tarts as they lie in the takeaway boxes, hence the delicate pastries won’t be smashed. On a side note, Jurong Point Shopping Centre also houses Tong Heng’s second outlet.

Tai Cheong Bakery

Nope, we didn’t forget Tai Cheong, the insanely popular egg tarts that have sent everyone into a frenzy. I mean, we would die for these egg tarts. Any fan of egg tarts would have gorged down at least one in their life. The egg tarts are sold at both the Cha Chaan Teng at Holland Village and over the counter at Takashimaya.

1. Tai Cheong *BEST!*

All hail the glorious Egg Tarts ($1.90 for one)! If you’re thinking flaky and thin short-crust tart shells, let Tai Cheong surprise you with their buttery crust that will leave you begging for more. The filling is everything you would ever wish for in an egg custard – light and smooth, without driving you crazy on the sweetness. The surface was slightly firm yet bouncy, but when you bite into them, the soft egg custard breaks apart almost instantly. Do note that they only allow a maximum purchase of 2 egg tarts per dine-in customer.

2. Tong Heng Confectionery

These diamonds are still shining as brightly as ever, which explains why both locals and tourists are in love with this melt-in-your-mouth dessert so much. Treat your tarts with care as they fall apart easily – a good sign of how soft and velvety the egg custard is. It is truly one-of-a-kind egg tart that tugs at anyone’s heartstrings, yes anyone really.
Every bite reminds me of the long history peeking behind the shop (and that I have one less precious egg tart left to savour). It’s not often that I am guilty of purchasing 2 boxes at one go, but Tong Heng is undoubtedly worth all the calories.

3. Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries

A sunny yellow colour sat in a ring of perfectly brown crust… Mhmmm you couldn’t possibly walk by Leung Sang without giving in to the temptation. Once I caught a glimpse of them, these sly tarts only let me off after I succumbed to buying one of them. Sink your teeth into their signature Leung Sang Egg Tart ($1.30) and there is no turning back. The flaky pastry shell encased a beautiful egg custard which tasted as good as it looks. This appears in my dream every now and then – it’s that amazing.

So, which is your favourite? Share them with us in the comments section below! In addition, if you are looking for a simple egg tart recipe to bake at home, we have one that you will sure love! Check it out here.

Till next time!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid for its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!