Cherylynn N.
Yelp
3.5 STARS
If you grew up on Chinese bakeries, brace yourself....
You can't tell your parents how much Tai Zhan's baked goods are, or you'll have to...lie.
"Ma, the dan tat is $1.70 not $7...when is the last time you got your eyes checked?"
Ok, maybe not unless you want to get yelled at.
Initially, I had sticker shock at Tai Zhan's but after thinking about it, I get it. They may the first plant-based Chinese Bakery brick and mortar shop in CA, maybe in the country? Plant-based eats is niche market so they're always more expensive. They require more R&D. Plus, if a pâtisserie can charge $7 for a tart, why can't a Chinese bakery? Lastly, you're supporting a small local business.
Tai Zhan opened their first shop in Saratoga in late September. I never made it to their pop-ups so thank you, Dawn B. for this. While there's an abundance of Chinese bakeries in the city, I was very curious to try plant-based versions of HK/Cantonese classics (I'm not a vegan).
They're open for takeout only on Saturdays (12 pm - 4 pm). No seating but there's plenty of benches on the street.
M E N U
HK/Cantonese baked goods and pastries: pineapple bun, green onion bun, coconut bun, hot dog bun, egg tart, etc. There's also French viennoiseries like croissants and kouign amann. Menu changes weekly. Prices: $6-$9.
Love that the goods are packed in iconic pink boxes.
B A K E D G O O D S
***Spread: https://tinyurl.com/5ce7hj3e
* Coconut Cream Bun ($6)
Fav of the four items and the one that tasted most like the real deal. Soft bao studded with sweet coconut flakes, generously filled with an airy, rich whipped cream. Not too sweet. Tastes like my childhood.
* Pineapple Bun ($6)
The bao was denser than the classic bolo bao but it's completely draped in a golden-brown crust. It's always about that sweet, buttery crumbly cookie crust! This one had the proper crunchy texture but drier, not as buttery with a slight coconut taste.
Despite its name, there no pineapple in it. The name refers to the golden cross-hatched cookie crust that looks like a pineapple.
* Hot Dog Bun ($6)
I usually love hot dog buns but this one wasn't a successful vegan dupe. The bun was dry and the vegan sausage had that distinct flavor that I can't describe, you just know it's vegan.
* Eggless Tart ($7)
Sadly, it was my least fav item that left me craving the real dan tat. While the crust was flaky and crunchy, it was dry with a thin layer of custard that unexpectedly tasted like coconut. It was like 80/20 crust:custard ratio. Maybe it was an off-batch?
S E R V I C E
Friendly and prompt service with only two customers in front of me around lunchtime.
A M B I A N C E
Takeout only operation with the goods nicely displayed in a glass case.
P A R K I N G
Street parking.
Overall, while not everything I tried was a hit, I appreciate businesses like Tai Zhan bringing their HK/Cantonese baked goods to the South Bay where there are very few locally owned Chinese bakeries. Def worth stopping by if you're in the area to see if it hits for you.