"Spongies Cafe’s Hong Kong-style steamed cakes are one of the most delicious ways you can spend a dollar in New York City. Baked fresh every morning, the sponge cakes have a thin, crispy crust that gives way to a fluffy, almost custardy interior. Imagine a stress relief ball even more pleasurable to eat than it is to squeeze. Decorated with fairy lights, the storefront just off Canal Street has four small bistro tables and serves reasonably priced drinks, including thai teas, matcha lattes, and vietnamese coffees at $4 each. The original spongies are $1, and while they’re delicious as is, we’d recommend dropping an extra quarter for the $1.25 naturally flavored ones. The menu rotates frequently, but our favorites include Lovely Butterscotch, which contains secret chunks of brown sugary goodness, and the fragrant, extra-moist Purple Yam, which is a pretty (and also natural) shade of lavender on the inside. photo credit: Kate Previte" - Molly Fitzpatrick
