Poh Guan Cake House: Traditional Bakery With Handmade Pastries Since The 1930s

Poh Guan Cake House has traditional pastries at Hong Lim Complex

Whenever I’m in Chinatown, I usually head to Yum Cha for a spread of dim sum or Hong Lim Food Centre for cheap eats. But on a recent visit, the smell of freshly baked goodies led me to Poh Guan Cake House at Hong Lim Complex. This traditional bakery has been making Chinese pastries since the 1930s, for almost 100 years, so we had to give them a try.

Their cheapest pastry is the Bei Tei Soh ($1.20): a flaky, crispy crust with a sweet and sticky maltose filling that oozes out when it’s warmed up. We didn’t get to try this when we were there. 

We tried their Yam Biscuit ($1.80) instead, which were fresh out of the oven. Topped with aromatic sesame seeds, it came with a golden, flaky crust that crumbled ever so gently. 

Inside, its velvety yam paste was sweet and earthy, making for an enjoyable teatime snack.

They also offer tau sar piah in two flavours: Sweet Green Bean ($1.60) and Salty Green Bean ($1.60).

The sweet version had a smooth filling with pieces of mung beans for added crunchiness.

The salty tau sar piah, on the other hand, was a savoury treat with fried shallots mixed into the mung bean, lending a tasty umami boost.

We picked up their bestselling Wife Biscuit ($1.60) as well. This classic featured a chewy wintermelon filling, with bits of sesame seeds within.

Of the lot, my favourite was their Black Sesame Biscuit ($1.80). It was packed with a rich, nutty filling that was delightfully sweet and aromatic.

Besides pastries, we got their popular Hua Sheng Tang ($4.50), a candied peanut brittle with a crisp, caramel base.

They also recommended their Red Bean Ruan Gao ($2.50 for four pieces), a chewy pandan roll filled with sweet red bean paste.

Poh Guan Cake House is a quick six-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station. It’s also within walking distance of Maxwell MRT Station and Raffles Place MRT Station. Do note that you can only opt for takeaway, but if you’re looking for a place to sit and snack, Hong Lim Food Centre is just across the bakery.

For more great eats, read our Chinatown food guide. Otherwise, read our guide to the best affordable cafes in Chinatown.

Address: 531 Upper Cross Street, #01-57, Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 050531
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 7pm
Tel: 6534 0136
Website
Poh Guan Cake House is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Nabila Makek.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.