Golden Gate Bakery — Restaurant in San Francisco

Golden Gate Bakery in San Francisco's Chinatown is a true gem. Let me preface this review by saying it's a 5-star experience, but be prepared for a unique adventure. Note - I've visited this bakery many times in the past, but I've always been unlucky - either they were closed or completely sold out.

First things first: it's cash only. Thankfully, there's a Chase Bank with an ATM right across the street, saving you from any scrambling. Secondly, forget about set hours. This bakery operates on its own delicious schedule, opening at 11 am, and closing whenever they sell out. We stumbled upon it on a whim after lunch, drawn by a short line outside - our only clue it was actually open that day.

The wait was surprisingly short, only about 5 minutes. Here's where things get interesting: they only offer three treats - custard tarts, coconut tarts, and mooncakes (depending on the season). Each individual pastry is $3.75, or you can snag a dozen for $45. There's no indoor or outdoor seating, so be prepared to enjoy your treat on the go.

But oh, those custard tarts! They're worth every penny and every minute of waiting. The silky smooth custard is simply divine. Rich egg flavor, perfectly balanced sweetness, a slight wobble on top, and piping hot and fresh – it's a textural and taste bud explosion. The crust is the perfect complement – light, crispy, and flaky.

Golden Gate Bakery might be a bit unconventional, but it's an experience that shouldn't be missed. Embrace the cash-only adventure, the mystery of its hours, and most importantly, savor those incredible custard tarts. You won't be...

4 stars for the egg tarts here but after trying the over-priced moon cakes here, I had to give it just 3 stars.

Honestly, I don’t even know why I stood in that dreadful line at Golden Gate bakery because I absolutely hated moon cakes as a child and have stayed away from them ever since. The line was only exacerbated by the fact that Mid-Autumn Festival was coming up that weekend, and China Town was overflowing with festivities. For those not privy to Chinese holidays, Mid-Autumn Festival is a big deal. Back home in Taiwan, my parents, my little sister, and our whole extended family spend a whole weekend BBQing, eating moon cakes, peeling pomelos, and moon gazing together. Gifting beautifully designed boxes of moon cakes to friends and family was common, stealthily re-gifting these boxes was also not uncommon.

Out of nostalgia, I decided to give moon cakes another try. The fact that I just happened to be a few blocks away from the ever-so-popular Golden Gate Bakery that day gave me another reason to swing by.

I tried the taro, the white lotus seed, and the coconut mixed nuts moon cakes, the last being my favorite flavor out of all three. Let’s just say that the moon cakes from Golden Gate Bakery were good for what they were (I still don’t have a taste for moon cakes in general), but definitely not worth standing in line for over...

I guess Golden Gate Bakery doesn't really need my help in recommending them, but I have to say that their egg tarts are really good. You MUST eat them fresh to enjoy their flaky, eggy goodness. Otherwise, they get exponentially worse with every minute you wait to eat them.

That said, a fresh GGB egg tart has a delicate, flaky crust. Each layer is really thin and provides a very enjoyable light crisp as your teeth sink into it. The custard is smooth with a semi-gelatinous jiggly texture, and its flavor is pleasantly eggy and sweet but not overtly buttery or rich. I like that it's not too rich, buttery, or heavy as the crust's relative lightness compliments the sweet egg custard perfectly! These delectable treats are the only reasons you need to take a trip to Chinatown. Yes, reasons, because you won't just eat one.

I also want to add that I only find these lighter, sweeter egg tarts around here. Whenever I've been to Hong Kong or Macau, they tend to be richer and heavier but still very delicious. If you want to try an egg tart that resembles that kind of style, order the Portuguese Tarts (Po Tat) from Koi Palace. They have a thicker, richer crust while the egg custard is more buttery and heavier. They're much more decadent if that's your thing. I can't get...