There’s something to be said for Emperor’s Garden Cake & Bakery continuing to run a bustling trade day in day out after forty years . The dingy interior is a far cry from the shiny interiors of the new bakeries and dessert options opening up around Chinatown but there’s no denying that the Cantonese style baked goods are some of the most authentic in Sydney.
This is their egg tart ($2.00). Back when I first tried it in 2016 (and it was only $1.40!), I wasn’t too impressed but I returned recently to pick up a few after D’s recent obsession with them. This time, the pastry is buttery and flaky, while the custard is just the right sweetness and balance between melt-in-the-mouth and firm. Perhaps my previous one suffered by being purchased during winter?
This is the black sesame jian dui ($1.70). There’s no signage for these dim sum so it’s a bit of a hit and miss sometimes. I was hoping this one was red bean, or failing that mung bean, and dreading if it was savoury meat. But to my surprise, it’s more than what I wanted – black sesame!
I enjoy this immensely. The pastry is chewy like a good mochi and not at all oily, while the black sesame paste is smooth and flavourful with a gentle sweetness and the white and black sesame seeds on the surface provide crunch and pronounced nuttiness.
Emperor’s Garden Cake & Bakery is located at 96-100 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000.