Alex C.
Yelp
11/2/2024
Dan Tat, egg tarts, or custard tarts as we call them; are nostalgia in a bite. These eggy sweet goodness are confections that can be found in many bakeries nowadays. These question is; how many are them that are actually good?
Where: this hidden gem is located in the Sunset District on 19th Avenue and Taraval. This district is primarily an enclave for the Chinese. One would say that this is a classic mom and pop run establishment akin to a hole in the wall. This bakery is also not hyped, meaning it flys under the radar.
What: this bakery produces most classic Chinese baked goods from cream cakes to baked baos, but I came here for one thing only, or two since their egg tarts come in two varieties.
The tarts: the classic dan tart has a crisp shell that's lavished with lard (yes, lard as opposed to butter), and has a jiggly custard that's sweetened. The second type of egg tart, comes from Portugal, where the custard is browned, and the custard is more jiggly.
The comparison: San Francisco has another bakery famed for their dan tats, but that they're not always in operation. How do the two compare? Golden Gate Bakery's dan tats, like the macaron, prices go up annually; rich buttery shell, and jiggly custard that tastes like condensed milk. Mr. Bread's dan tat is similar, though the shell isn't as buttery; but the size, flavor, and overall lower price point - makes their dan tat a worthy contender.
Is the hype real? Those looking for a Golden Gate Bakery dan tat will certainly like those from Mr. Bread. As this bakery flys under the radar, there's not so much of a line here. Do bring cash as there is no credit or tap to pay options.
Final Thoughts: I bought a box of 9 to fill, 4 classic and 5 Portuguese - to share and to devour myself. I left two to chill overnight and reheated it; I was impressed as the tart remained fresh tasting. Other bakery dan tats that I've had, the texture and flavor goes south overnight. Definitely worth visiting if ever in the area.