What do Chinese bakeries sell?
Egg tart
Considered one of the best desserts available at a Chinese bakery is the egg tart. The light, custard style tart is made with a puff pastry shell and a rich, sweet egg filling. The smooth taste is best eaten alone or with a light sprinkle of cinnamon.
Pineapple bun
Despite its name, this bread bun doesn’t contain pineapple, but earns its name from the cross-hatched pattern baked into the top. The bun bread is quite sweet and is sometimes filled with red bean paste, taro custard or egg custard.
Sausage bun
Also known as a hot dog bun, this is a Chinese style bread roll that has been steamed or baked and served with a hot dog inside. Extra toppings can also include cheese, herbs or bacon.
Steamed buns
Steamed buns are a light coloured bread that is soft in texture and often filled with a savoury filling. Cha siu bao, also known as a pork bun, is perhaps the most popular variety, but chicken with mushroom and beef with curry are also delicious and readily available. Best served hot, some bakeries will steam them on the spot and others will offer them fresh for takeaway to be heated up at home.
Mooncake
A traditional cake served around important Asian festivals are popular enough to sometimes be available at any time of the year. The decorative cakes are heavy pastry with filled middles that come in a wide range of flavours. Varieties include lotus seed, egg, red bean and matcha.
Taro bun
Taro is a root vegetable that is commonly used in Chinese baking and used as a dessert flavour. Sweet steamed buns with a taro filling in a light purple colour (from the taro) are a staple in many Chinese bakeries.
Where to find Chinese bakeries
Your best bet to finding the best Chinese bakery is to search Google for “Chinese bakeries near me” and allow the maps to locate the closest, but you can also use this list below of popular Chinese bakeries in Australian cities:
Chinese bakeries - Sydney
Name: Emperor's Garden Cakes & Bakery
Location: 96-100 Hay St, Haymarket
Price: $
Best thing to eat off the menu: Egg Tarts and Cream Puffs
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Brisbane
Name: Cheung's Cakes & Cafe
Location: Shop 233/247 Wickham Street , Level 1, Mcwhirters Center, Fortitude Valley
Price: $$
Best thing to eat off the menu: Black Forest Cherry Cake
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Perth
Name: Master Chang’s Bakery
Location: Spencer Village, 200 Spencer Rd, Thornlie
Price: $
Best thing to eat off the menu: Pandan Swiss Roll and Egg Tarts
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Gold Coast
Name: Oriental Bakery
Location: 2477 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Price: $
Best thing to eat off the menu: Dim Sims and Steamed Pork Buns
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Adelaide
Name: HK Cafe
Location: Seng Heng Shopping Centre, 20/113-131 Days Road, Croydon Park
Price: $
Best thing to eat off the menu: Polo Bun and Hong Kong Milk Tea
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Darwin
Name: Breadtop (you can find Breadtop bakeries in many cities)
Location: Casuarina Square, 247 Trower Rd, Casuarina
Price: $
Best thing to eat off the menu: Pork Floss Bun
Find out more here
Chinese bakeries - Hobart
Name: Senses Plus
Location: 74 Liverpool St, Hobart
Price: $$
Best thing to eat off the menu: Totoro Buns (sweet filled buns in a cute cartoon design)
Find out more here