Kwong Wah Company

This bakery has been around for ages. The cashier/​staff are really nice, but don’t speak English. They speak Cantonese and Toisanese. Although the bakery doesn’t have an update storefront, their pastries make up for it.
I love their pineapple puff pastry cake $ 1. It is flaky pastry with a dense pineapple filling. Like most Chinese pastries, it isn’t too sweet. It reminds me of the Taiwanese pineapple cakes, but without the butter taste of the outer «cake» layer.
By the register, on the table, are prepacked items costing $ 1 for 2. I.e. fried sesame balls with lotus filling, and fried sweet dumpling with a salted chicken/​pork filling.
The fried sesame balls were very fresh, meaning they were still crispy, with warm lotus paste filling inside. For anyone who has never had it before, this is essentially a mochi that is rolled in sesame seeds and fried.
Stop by the bakery if you’re hungry and strapped for cash!

Of all the places that sell egg custard that I have tried, Kwong Wah comes in first in terms of price at .80/​egg custard. I like their thin soft crust with decent amount of filling. Just don’t think too much about your health when you buy these haha. Cash only so come prepared!

Dear Unilocal,
Today I saw a picture of an UBE cupcake with a circular slice of flan on top insteada frosting and I thought «wow, what a great effin idea!» Exactly. The problem is we don’t have that on the east coast as that can only be found at —– bakery in Cali. (Guna look it up and make additions a lil later)
Went to Kwong Wah bakery on Grande st and got a slice of my fave cake from there. Ok I really got 4 slices. I know! Disaster alert! Anyways, I just ate it and it reminded me of that mouthwatering pic from I forgot who, but one of my Unilocal or insta friends. I just don’t know who right now ok? Wtf. I’m sorry!
There’s 2 types: a peach one that tastes similar to a fluffy cheesecake and a green melon one that tastes similar to a cheesecake but green… flavor.
These really satisfy my sweet tooth and on the real, are probably healthier than your average cupcake. Good for when those evil sugar cravings come into play and you be needin it more than sex… you know I know! Sugar addiction is very real. Just ask Tiger Woods.
K…happy munchin!
All the best,
MONICA$H

The egg tarts here are delicious! It doesn’t look or have the texture of scrambled eggs thankfully. One for 0.80¢! Such a deal in comparison to getting a croissant anywhere– and they’re all pretty mediocre even from Balthazar’s.
Tried the chicken curry turnover looking thing had too much pastry– was a little dry.
Their little sandwiches look great though! Might have one for breakfast soon.

It is amazing that the tier of average/​mediocre bakeries continue to survive in Chinatown, especially in areas that have become so gentrified and hipster-​centric. Kwong Wah certainly fits that mold as none of its offerings from pastries (bun, custards, cakes) to teas will get one excited. The Manna House franchise is still the best in Chinatown by far, but Kwong Wah manages to keep hanging around perhaps by still selling at prices that haven’t been adjusted for inflation for the last ten years.
With that said, there will always be a soft spot here for the old-​school mom and pop shops that offers more nostalgic character than it does quality, Those scallion and shrimp rice rolls are a classic and still remain the most popular. The staff is very friendly and traditional Chinese. Not sure how much longer they are around, so if you have a craving for average Chinese breakfast items, KW still does the trick.

So this place doesn’t take any pennies, which is very weird considering they r a business and doesn’t accept pennies as a form of payment! The stuff is ok, the congee is way too watery and the pan fried noodles was ok. The Hong Kong style milk tea is meh better than other bakeries in Chinatown but not as good as Swan cafes

Kwong wah makes some of the best rice bean cakes and egg custards that i know off. Their cheese cakes, moon cakes and pak tong koh (steamed rice desserts) are awesome as well. The quality of their food is alright but their prices are unbeatable. This is not my spot for curry puffs, however their’s is not bad. Their service is good too.

A hole in the wall and the people behind the counter are a little terse and curt, but they make a pretty decent rice roll stuffed with dried shrimp, pork and scallion for about $ 0.75 a roll, which makes them cool in my book. This is an old school chinese dish that you basically can’t find anymore so I’m happy that this is one place that still makes it.

There was a huge variety of pastries, buns, and hot baked goods. Your typical Chinese bakery, but not much seating. I bought a ham, egg, tomato, lettuce sandwich. It was on white bread. It was not the best, since I noticed my egg had occasional tiny eggshell bits. Oh well. It was a deal. Only $ 2.60 for coffee and my sandwich. The two women working there were helpful and friendly. They speak Cantonese in case that helps.

As long as I have lived in New York, I have seen this bakery. Since it did not go out of business, I had to assume it offers decent bakery goods. Apparently, I assumed too soon.
I came here and picked their Curry Chicken puff as a snack. It is only 80 cents so on the price point, it is unbeatable. However, the puff is overly dry; I felt as if I were chewing paper. The curry chicken had a decent flavor but the puff was a failure.
I could not even finish the pastry because it made me want to drink a big glass of water before I could eat more. Would not return ever again.

Strangely enough, I had stopped over at another bakery to pick up an egg custard tart or two. That bakery was way too crowded and I thought I was going to leave Chinatown without my beloved egg custards! As I was walking to the subway, I noticed a small bakery that only had about 2 people inside and 4 women at the counter. As I walked in, to my surprise they had 月饼 Moon Cakes! I had been craving those too, but thinking that after the holiday I would not be able to find them. I picked up two moon cakes for only a dollar a piece and an egg custard tart. Wow everything was so fresh and tasty.
I didn’t try the drinks, but the other customers seemed to be content with them.
Unlike many places, they were not rude to me because I could barely speak a word of Chinese. I can’t wait to return! Highly recommended!

I stumbled upon this place while exploring Chinatown. Was craving some egg tarts and chanced upon the first bakery I came across. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised!
The egg tart came with a small cup of complimentary Hong Kong style milk tea (steaming hot!). I also ordered a almond cookie. Prices are very reasonable. Both the egg tart and almond cookie tasted fresh and flavorful. The milk tea was very good as well. Just like the way they were made back in Hong Kong.
This place doesn’t carry the variety of bigger bakeries in Chinatown but with the few select items on its menu, it does them very well. In fact, for the price you pay, you’re getting a bargain.
What a treat! I’ll definitely go back again!

Best old schooled bakery in chinatown. They also have the cheapest prices in chinatown too! Like old times, they don’t have crazy bizarre types of buns or pastries– just your standard. Their drinks are good, delicious, and cheap! But if you don’t like your drinks too sweet, tell them you don’t want sugar or to give you less. And stop by during moon cake season! They make them in store!

My favorite bakery in all of Chinatown. Why you ask?
1. It’s dirt cheap!
2. The employees don’t play. You tell them what you want and they get it for you. Speaking in English may be a problem for some of the employees, but finger pointing always saves the day!
3. The $ 0.75 rice rolls with scallion and ground pork near the cash register are amazingly good and convenient for those on the go.
4. The moon cakes (sold only during the fall every year) are the best.
5. They make everything on site!

This place has been around since forever and probably one of the only places my cousins and I go for milk tea and other drinks. Commonly referred as the «old people place», it’s got that kind of aura.
The price for drinks can’t really be beat and they have a very good collection of pastries typical of Chinese bakeries. They have a pretty neat machine that seals the cold drinks in so you don’t have to worry about spilling until you poke the top with a straw.
Come in near closing time and you can snag all the remaining buns for less than half price.

I’ve only been here for the egg custards whenever I stop by Grand Bo Ky. Lots of filling but the crust isn’t flaky like Manna House. Everything else seems kind of sketchy to me.

Not too bad.
Egg custards are good. Buns are about right. Curry puffs are good with the puffs and not so much with the meat curry which was on the fatty side.
The tea was not Lipton as usual but they used Hong Kong Milk Tea bags. Not as strong as I hoped.
Prices are a little cheaper than the rest of Chinatown which is a plus.

Avoid this filthy bakery.
Even though they have the cheapest ice milk tea (one dollar) it SUCKS! It’s like drinking sugar. Avoid their «fresh» made fruit drinks too.
Their buns are of normal chinatown norm — nothing special and the prices moderate.
Avoid! I’ve seen their kitchen and I don’t know how they pass health inspections.