San Francisco

I never really knew what an egg custard tart was supposed to taste like until I had one from Golden Gate Bakery. I always assumed that as long as it had a pastry shell and a yellow egg custard filling, it would be a savory daan taat. But as soon as I took a bite of one from Chinatown’s famous hole-in-the-wall bakery, I realized that not all tarts are created equal. Flaky, warm, and crispy to the bite, it was probably the closest to perfection as a daan taat would ever come. Never mind the frequent wait, high prices, and cramped interior–it’s the price to pay for real egg custard tarts. While you’re waiting, you can stare at the muffins, cookies, cakes, and sesame balls. They’re all good, but just make sure you never leave without the egg tart.

Photo:  Valerie Ng