Fragrant Bakery — Restaurant in Toronto

Food: 5 Stars Service: 3 Stars Ambience: 3 Stars Value: 5 Stars Overall: 4 Stars

Fragrant Bakery is a hidden gem for those who appreciate traditional Chinese baked goods. With a wide variety of pastries and treats, it's a destination that any lover of Chinese confections should have on their radar. On my recent visit, I made the trip specifically for their wife cake (老婆餅), which has become one of my favourites. The pastry itself is delicate and flaky, and the filling strikes a perfect balance—not too sweet, but just enough to satisfy a craving without overwhelming the palate. This subtlety is what makes it stand out from other versions I've tried, and it's a testament to the quality and authenticity that Fragrant Bakery brings to the table.

Their egg tarts are another highlight that shouldn't be missed. The custard filling is rich, smooth, and perfectly set, with just the right amount of sweetness. The crust is buttery and flaky, offering a delightful contrast to the creamy filling. It's clear that a lot of care goes into the preparation of these tarts, making them one of the best I've had in the area.

However, it's important to plan your visit accordingly. The bakery is a bit of a drive, depending on where you’re coming from, but I’ve found that it’s always worth the trip. That said, if you have your heart set on specific items, I strongly recommend getting there early in the day. By late afternoon, many of the popular items, like the wife cakes and egg tarts, tend to sell out. It can be disappointing to make the journey only to find that your favourites are gone, so timing is everything.

The location itself may not be the most modern or spacious, which might be a downside for some. The store space is quite tight, and on busy days, it can feel a bit cramped. However, the no-frills environment is typical of many traditional Chinese bakeries, and in my opinion, it adds to the authentic experience. The service here is straightforward and efficient, which is exactly what you’d expect from a place like this. It’s not about pampering or over-the-top customer service—it’s about getting your order right and doing it quickly. When it’s your turn, you simply tell the staff what you want, and they waste no time in getting your items packed and ready to go.

In summary, Fragrant Bakery offers a great selection of traditional Chinese baked goods, and the quality of their pastries, especially the wife cake and egg tarts, makes it a destination worth visiting. The drive might be a bit out of the way, and the store itself might not be the most comfortable, but these are small prices to pay for the delicious treats that await inside. Just be sure to arrive early if you’re after something specific, as they do sell out of popular items. The efficiency of the service and the authentic flavours make this bakery a...

老婆餅至好吃,正合我們口味,口感。 Nov 2021 Tue noon. Wife cake, egg tart, preserved duck egg pastry still fare well especially freshly baked and out of oven. Make up purchase listing before entering and fluently spoken out without hesitation. Don't argue nor haggle, loiter. Then the experience is fine and enjoyable. Late Dec, update rating. Late Jan 2022. The Sweetheart cake formula, flavor,look and craftsmanship has changed for not the flavor. But price is favorable. Egg tart is still great. Warm it up in the oven for awhile making it enjoyable. May take long time off before next visit. Sorry for that.👎👋🙏 Early June 2022, noon. Sweet heart cake, egg tart, coconut tart, walnut crispy cake are nice this time. But the sweet heart cake recipe has really changed. The legendary make has gone with the last generation of cafe or management. Wait to try out the pony cube tomorrow. Late Dec, 2022, pre-Christmas weekday. They are always busy as usual. Egg tart has to wait 10 min. Just the the remaining one and sweettheart, preserved duck egg pastries/cakes. The make are the same fine as before. For me milk black tea and lemon drink are required for decently handle digesting the oily content. An orange might help out as well. Again the jelly-like insert of sweetheart pastry has not been winter melon for quite awhile. Anyway it has not been carried in this market and has to be taste again back to HK. There has shortcoming with the cashier lady returning shorted change practice but it is the added cost anyway. Just get a small buy each time not loading the stomach and wallet much !🙄 June 4 , 2023, Tue. Got several varieties of cakes and desserts for self consumption and gift but the new lady helper missed placing two paid sweetheart cakes in the box ! At future visits, due diligence should be exercised in keeping watch on every transaction in the shop to avoid mishaps! 🤔🙄🙀 There is a new lady in the kitchen helping the chef. Nice move. Anyway the cakes are great as always. 26 February 2024, Monday. Should the brand name be...

My family swears by this bakery for sweetheart cakes, preferring this over the other one. Every time they come visit, they buy at least minimum 6 boxes to bring it back to Montreal for friends and family because there is simply no good sweetheart cakes in La Belle Province. Funny enough, I also bumped into some Montrealer who was also buying a lot to bring it back to Quebec haha :)

I never visited super early in the morning and I think I will not ever again. Because the first and only time I went in the morning to get a box of these sweetheart cakes, the wife's cakes were not that fresh. Actually, they were a little too long in the oven, about to be burned. My friend who got the low sugar ones also told me they were not as fresh. It looks like they baked these cakes the night before so they can get ready for the morning rush. Also, it looks like the cakes have shrunk in size and the price went up too.

Anyhow, will revisit in the afternoon and see whether it makes a difference. They also closed on Thursdays. I forgot they were not open on that day as I was about to buy some goodies for my family before going back to Montreal and had to go to the other bakery down the road. My family could tell they were not from the same place and told me for next time, just try to get the cakes from Fragrant.

Customer service is non existent because the ladies working there can be quite "quirky". If you are Chinese, you will know what I mean LOL Expect a line at all times since the shop is super small and narrow and they can only serve one customer at a time.. If one customer is putting in a huge order, the wait will be little bit longer. They don't expect a tip so if you happen to tip them, they...