Guide to Singapore Chinese bakeries

Chinese bakeries are where tradition meets indulgence, offering everything from flaky egg tarts to pillowy soft buns stuffed with sweet or savory fillings.

Unlike their Western counterparts, these bakeries favor buttery crusts, dense flavors, and just the right amount of sweetness—because who needs frosting when you have perfectly caramelized pastry? From wife cakes (老婆饼) to char siu buns (叉烧包), the sheer variety is enough to make you rethink your usual morning toast. But not all Chinese bakeries are created equal—some master the art of crisp, golden crusts and silky custards, while others leave you wondering if they accidentally swapped sugar for salt. In Singapore, you don’t have to look far for legendary egg tarts, nostalgic old-school cakes, and buns so soft they defy physics—but choosing the right bakery? That’s where things get interesting.

What are Chinese bakeries?

Chinese bakeries are where tradition meets indulgence, offering a mix of soft, fluffy breads, delicate pastries, and crispy, flaky delights. Unlike Western bakeries that focus on buttery richness or Japanese bakeries that perfect airy textures, Chinese bakeries excel at variety—you’ll find everything from sweet red bean buns to savory pork floss rolls and golden egg tarts. These bakeries often feature Hong Kong-style, Taiwanese, and even Cantonese influences, meaning you’ll see pineapple buns (bo lo bao), century egg pastries, and custard-filled delights alongside more modern takes like matcha swiss rolls or coffee-flavored buns. And, of course, no Chinese bakery is complete without the iconic mooncakes that make a grand appearance every Mid-Autumn Festival.

Another key feature? Affordability and accessibility. Unlike high-end patisseries, Chinese bakeries are often found in heartland neighborhoods and shopping malls, offering fresh, warm pastries that are delicious, filling, and easy on the wallet. Whether you’re grabbing a quick breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a nostalgic taste of home, Chinese bakeries deliver the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and everything in between—all wrapped up in a paper bag with a plastic tray and tongs.

Pastries that Chinese bakeries sell?

Chinese bakeries are known for their wide variety of sweet and savory pastries, each with its own unique texture and flavor.

Here’s a list of must-try items:

Sweet Pastries

• Egg Tart (蛋挞) – A buttery, flaky crust filled with smooth, sweet egg custard. The Hong Kong-style ones are extra glossy.
• Pineapple Bun (菠萝包, Bo Lo Bao) – No actual pineapple here! This soft bun has a crunchy, sugary topping that cracks like a pineapple’s skin.
• Wife Cake (老婆饼, Lao Po Bing) – A thin, flaky pastry filled with winter melon paste—lightly sweet and chewy inside.
• Red Bean Bun (豆沙包, Dou Sha Bao) – Soft bread with a mildly sweet red bean paste filling, a classic favorite.
• Lotus Paste Bun (莲蓉包, Lian Rong Bao) – Similar to the red bean bun but filled with smooth, fragrant lotus seed paste.
• Sesame Ball (煎堆, Jian Dui) – A deep-fried glutinous rice ball coated in sesame seeds, often filled with red bean or lotus paste.
• Swiss Roll (瑞士卷) – A fluffy sponge cake rolled up with flavors like matcha, coffee, or pandan cream.
• Snow Skin Mooncake (冰皮月饼) – A modern take on mooncakes with a soft, mochi-like outer layer and fillings like durian or chocolate.

Savory Pastries

• BBQ Pork Bun (叉烧包, Char Siu Bao) – Soft, fluffy bread stuffed with sweet-savory roasted pork filling. Can be steamed or baked.
• Pork Floss Bun (肉松包, Rou Song Bao) – A pillowy bun topped with dry, shredded pork floss, sometimes mixed with mayo for extra indulgence.
• Spring Onion & Ham Bun (葱花火腿包) – A savory roll filled with diced ham and topped with fragrant chopped scallions.
• Curry Puff (咖喱角, Ga Li Jiao) – A crispy, golden pastry filled with curried potatoes, chicken, or beef.
• Salted Egg Yolk Pastry (咸蛋黄酥, Xian Dan Huang Su) – A flaky pastry with a rich salted egg yolk center, sometimes combined with red bean or lotus paste.

What makes a Chinese bakery good?

A good Chinese bakery isn’t just about selling bread—it’s about nailing the balance between tradition, texture, and flavor. Here’s what separates the great ones from the forgettable ones:

1. Perfectly Soft & Fluffy Bread Chinese bakeries specialize in ultra-soft, slightly sweet bread that stays fresh longer than Western-style bread. A good bakery masters the art of pillowy, cloud-like textures, whether it’s a simple milk bun or a BBQ pork bun (叉烧包).

2. Fresh, Quality Ingredients Great Chinese bakeries don’t cut corners on ingredients. The best ones use premium flour, fresh dairy, and just the right amount of sugar and fat to create that signature light-yet-indulgent taste.

3. Balanced Sweet & Savory Offerings A top-tier Chinese bakery excels in both sweet and savory items. You should be able to grab a pineapple bun (菠萝包) in the same place you get a ham-and-cheese bun or a flaky egg tart (蛋挞). Variety is key.

4. Beautifully Golden, Shiny Tops Chinese-style bread and pastries often have a distinct shiny, golden-brown finish, thanks to egg washes and glazes. If the bread looks dull or dry, that’s a bad sign.

5. Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pastries From egg tarts to wife cakes (老婆饼), the best Chinese bakeries get their pastry game right—crispy, flaky, and light, without being too greasy.

6. Consistency is Everything Every bun, roll, and pastry should have the same high standard—no lopsided egg tarts or dry bread from yesterday. The best bakeries bake fresh daily and keep their quality in check.

7. Affordable Yet Satisfying Chinese bakeries have always been about offering delicious, high-quality baked goods at reasonable prices. A good one doesn’t overcharge—after all, nothing beats the satisfaction of grabbing a bag of buns for a few dollars.

A truly great Chinese bakery keeps you coming back—not just for nostalgia, but because everything tastes as good as you remember (or better).

Top Chinese bakeries in Singapore

Here’s a list of top Singapore Chinese bakeries near you, including some great local spots in Singapore. Whether you’re after a perfectly flaky egg tart or a soft, fluffy bun, these bakeries deliver on tradition, taste, and texture.

1. Tai Cheong Bakery (泰昌饼家) A Hong Kong institution famous for its legendary egg tarts (蛋挞) with a buttery, cookie-like crust. Their pineapple buns (菠萝包) and coconut tarts are also worth trying.

2. So Good Bakery A go-to for classic Hong Kong-style buns, BBQ pork buns (叉烧包), and wife cakes (老婆饼). Their egg tarts and sausage rolls are consistently fresh and flavorful.

3. Kee Wah Bakery (奇华饼家) Best known for traditional Chinese pastries, especially wife cakes, mooncakes, and almond cookies. Their gift boxes are perfect for festive occasions.

4. Hang Heung (恒香老饼家) A Hong Kong favorite famous for its handmade wife cakes, lotus seed pastries, and red bean cakes. Their pastries have that perfect flaky texture.

5. Tong Heng (同庆饼家) – Singapore One of Singapore’s most famous traditional bakeries, known for its diamond-shaped egg tarts with a rich, silky custard. They also offer wife cakes, century egg pastries, and mooncakes.

6. Dona Manis Cake Shop – Singapore A hidden gem in Katong Shopping Centre, this old-school bakery is famous for its buttery banana pie, but their egg tarts and coconut tarts are also top-notch.

7. Ji Xiang Confectionery (吉祥糕饼) – Singapore If you love ang ku kueh (红龟粿), this is the place. Their handmade glutinous rice cakes come in flavors like peanut, red bean, and yam, delivering that nostalgic taste of tradition.

8. Le Café Confectionery & Pastry – Singapore Famous for its spherical pineapple tarts, which are buttery, crumbly, and filled with rich pineapple jam. They also offer bean paste pastries and old-school Chinese cookies.

These bakeries bring the best of Hong Kong-style and traditional Chinese baking to Singapore, offering everything from flaky egg tarts to soft ang ku kueh. Whether you’re after something nostalgic or just a really good pastry, these spots won’t disappoint!

Am I missing anything on this list? Let me know a list of the Weestern ones!