Kee Wah Bakery
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
11 reviews
Monrovia, CA
"Merengue Bakery is the best thing that has ever happened to the City of Monrovia! I love everything about this place.... let me tell you how…" read more »
20 Reviews for Kee Wah Bakery
I've only come here with my mother and sister so I can't say anything about how the ladies at the counter act. The buns and bread are quite good. I definitely recommend the pineapple buns and egg tarts. As for the cakes... I'm not sure just how long they've been sitting there!
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PORTUGUESE EGG TART!!!! "PO TAT!!!!!"
The trend nowadays with the egg tarts is Portuguese egg tarts. It's basically egg tart with the tops caramelized. This little bit of caramelization does wonders for this little pastry, it adds a new layer of sweet smoky flavor bursting from the little cups!! :)
So, we dropped by and we were timed just right to have a fresh batch come out from the oven. I've had their tarts before, but this is the first time i had them fresh from the oven here. One bite, and it was like i was back in Macao eating this stuff on the streets in front of the Koi Kei bakery (www.koikei.com). .. well.. not really, I was still on Valley Blvd dodging old ladies with face masks.. but fresh out of the oven, it was comparable to the legendary Koi Kei tarts.
So actually 4.5 stars instead of 5, the best tarts are still in Macao. But the secret is fresh from the oven. Makes a world of difference compared to the ones sittin in that tanning/heat box.
The wifey cakes at this bakery is really good too, higher volume at the MPK branch means fresher wifey cakes! fresher wifey makes = happier wifeys.
You can smell the bakery from the sidewalk. What a wonderful smell! You walk in and go to the back to grab a tray and tongs, then you can go around the shop and put buns on your tray. They sell out of a lot of stuff by the afternoon, so get there in the morning or early afternoon for the best selection. Here's what I think they do best:
1. Sponge cake
2. Egg tarts
3. Pineapple crust bun
They have generous red bean paste in the red bean buns, the taro buns are a bit bland, the moon cakes are too oily.
You gotta circle and circle the parking lot at Focus plaza to try and find parking on the weekends! Maybe the bitchest car win!
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I love Kee Wah!
Coming from the Bay, where Sheng Kee reigns supreme, Kee Wah is as close as I can find that compares. There might be better, but the SGV is still a good twenty minutes away, even after moving twenty minutes closer.
Why do I love Kee Wah?
They have all three types of egg tart! You can get a traditional egg tart, with either regular or flaky crust, or you can get portuguese-style. Pricier than usual, but worth it.
Custard buns have a swirl of lemon jelly on top, an inspired touch to go with the thick and delicious filling. Coconut swirly buns are yummy too, I'm eating one right now. They have so many other great buns, but these are my usual fare.
I've also been known to get my Moon Cakes here for Zhong Qiu Jie.
The only miss, Kee Wah doesn't sell those great pre-made sandwiches. But beggars can't be choosers. And LA Chinatown bakeries just disappoint me. I mean, even Oakland Chinatown kills LA Chinatown in a heartbeat. Probably because there are so few Chinese left in Chinatown. They've all fled to SGV.
By demand of Sheng Kee loyalists, I am duly required to say the Sheng Kee is better (which is true). But Sheng Kee ain't in LA, so Kee Wah is the best in LA!! Five Stars! =P
***** UPDATE 02/04/08 *****
Egg Tarts are still perfect as usual! MMMM.
They have fantastic BBQ Pork Pastries! So flaky and delicious, though the BBQ Pork filling could be better. Must try!
For breakfast today, I tried a weird one... Coconut Corn Bun! It's a Coconut Swirly Bun topped with Mayonnaise and Corn. Sounds gross, yes. But really good! Yum.
You know why Kee Wah really rules? They bake fresh goodies multiple times a day! When we went over the weekend, some of the buns were so fresh they fogged up the tray covers. In fact, I don't think I've been there before when they weren't putting out a new tray of fresh-out-of-the-oven goodies.
Stella's going to kick my ass, but I officially retract my prior statement. Sheng Kee is not better than Kee Wah. Until I do a taste test on my next trip to the Bay, the title of best bakery chain is totally in dispute.
***** Update: 02/16/08 *****
Oh, Kee Wah Dan Ta, how I love thee!
Chicken Pie Pastry! Yum! Better than BBQ Pork Pie Pastry, but only because there's no Cha Siu expectations.
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I started coming here for their portuguese egg tarts when they were sooo popular few years ago. My visits are less frequent now, but I think they still have one of the better egg tarts,portuguese or regular or flaky crust. Because of the volume they sell, I think Kee Wah' bread is fresher. Kids love their curry beef pastry in the hot oven, and hubby thinks they have the best 'wheel' bread with raisins. Their other store in Rowland Heights sell day old bread 50% off, not sure about this one, but even full price, still worth it.
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Kee Wah was quite popular in HK (not as much as Maxim, but that place was so commercialized), and I'm glad the transition across the Pacific hasn't changed much. Simply put, Kee Wah is one of the better bakeries you'll encounter in SGV.
The Food: egg custards are very good. Out of the three varieties, opt for the Portuguese style with the sugar caramelized on top. They taste remarkably similar to the ones in HK. Although at $1, some may be put off, especially since it's almost 2 bite sizes. But I always enjoy it, and never regret it.
BBQ Pork Bun: could be better. They seem flatter (in size) here than most other places, and the glaze on top wasn't as sticky. Some may prefer this, but I like to get my hands dirty.
Hot Dog Bun: average. Every place seems to have this, and they don't drastically differ in taste. Nothing special.
Their curry bun is also decent, but what stands out are the "pineapple buns" WITH the custard inside. Those are superior to the ones sans filling. Raisin twist was really yummy. Who would've thought dried fruit would've made an appropriate garnish on my sweet glazed bread?
There are freshly baked loaves of bread that I have yet to try. I usually can't finish that much by myself. They look promising though. The pre-packaged stuff in the middle are almost identical to the ones found in HK stores, so they don't differ in taste, therefore the quality is retained. These are very good, but they obviously lack that warm, special taste that comes with freshly baked pastries. Although a bit more than other bakeries, I think it's justified by the taste and quality. Some may disagree, but you can always visit some other bakery.
Personally, I haven't tried their cakes, so I can't comment on those. Some have complained that the women who work there are rude, but it's not like we should expect outstanding service or courtesy in a self-serve bakery in San Gabriel. I speak Cantonese, and they seem to equally treat me with the same kind of distance that everyone else posting here has experienced. Generally, they seem to be more receptive to older patrons, a demographic less likely to post reviews.
Parking is not so great. It is located directly behind the store, and exiting can be a pain. Technically, Kee Wah is located within Chen Chen plaza with Tea Station as well, but I usually use the lots in San Gabriel Square since they are so much larger and convenient.
New posted times are daily, 9am-7:30pm. Although 9am seems like an appropriate time for opening, I usually think bakeries could open earlier. That may be just me though (or maybe I'm thinking of doughnut shops). Closing at 7:30pm seems a little late. I went once at around 6:30pm, and most of the baked goods were already packed in plastic bags, assuming that no one was going to come and purchase the leftovers (with good reason, they obviously weren't fresh).
Come here after dim sum, or after you get your fix of boba. You won't regret it!
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I must be the only nutshell on here because I don't get all the raves about this place. Kee Wah is a long established name in Hong Kong and obviously, has expanded their business to the Asian community in Southern California. However, this alone does not impress me.
The pastry and bread here is good but I've had plenty like it (if not even better) at other mom and pop joints and for a much cheaper price. Okay, I admit that one of their moon cakes here is bomb and Kee Wah's packaging is so presentable as a gift. But put all the frills and thrills aside, Kee Wah is just another overpriced Asian bakery.
Plus, you know what I hate about this place? The ladies that work at this specific location are so rude. Come on, I don't expect good service; let me take that back, I don't expect service at all but dude, at least, considering that I'm spending money here to support your paycheck, the least you could do is not be rude. Plus, it's a b*tch trying to find a parking spot here. It's just not worth it!
You guys can get your baos and buns here but I'll take my business elsewhere thank you very much.
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If you're looking for fresh bread or any other baked goods that won't kill you with the amount of sugar and other crap they put in there (ie Vons, Costco, Ralph's...), this is the place to go!
Now, if you're looking for 5 star treatment at the counter, you definitely need to remember that San Gabriel is San Gabriel- it's the Chinatown of SoCal for goodness sake. And hello....China= kinda sort of ghetto sometimes. Most of the stores in here are operarted and owned by 1st generation immigrants. This is NOT Sprinkles people. Yes, clearly we can all get better service while paying for the goods but take in mind that these ladies do not speak English and the way they act is simply part of their culture. Be a little open minded! If you're looking for overly sweet cakes/baked goods with a lady that smiles while taking your cash and not have trouble parking, you probably shouldn't be living in the SGV anyway.
Now, back to the baked goods...
Prices are just like any other Asian bakery around the area and I would choose this place over any other Vietnamese/Chinese bakery in a heart beat. Probably because the bakery is from Hong Kong and I grew up there so I am biased on that aspect. But consider this, this place has been around for a LONG time for a reason.
The mooncakes here are amazing! They have so much variety, there is nothing not to like. What's great is that you can order and have them shipped to you or you can send them to your loved ones! They even ship to Canda (Hello, relatives!)
The bread is one of my favorite things to get. It's always fresh and tastes delicious. Stop buying the bread at the market that expires months from the purchase date! Ever thought of all the preservaties they put in that (and then you put it into your system!)?? Stop getting that nasty cake from Vons or Costo. Look at the amount of sugar they use! If you are looking for quality baked goods that are meant to be eaten fresh and don't want to get sick, go to Kee Wah.
This is a Hong Kong based bakery and have been around for many years. Their pineapple bun is really humongous!! I really like their mooncakes, too bad it is not year round. They have a lot of different kinds of buns and rolls. They also have pastries like egg tart , po tart, and wife cake (which I love). Their cakes are also really good (if you are into chinese cakes), it has a lot of fruits. Bad thing about them...they open late (11am) and closes early (6pm)
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Horrible parking! But what could I say since I usually go there on the weekend with the rest of the asian crowd around.
My favorites (though I don't eat some of them anymore since I began not to eat meat): Curry pie, Pork pie (I'm not sure if that's what it's called, but these are all located where the egg custard tart is, by the register), Egg custard tart. Their pastry/crust is one of the best that I have tasted, maybe it's cuz I like the buttery-ness of it. The crappy thing is that they totally raised their price. I remember it used to be like $0.95 each, I understand that was about 6 years ago when I first started going there, but now it's $1.45! Well, then again if I think about all the other pastry/bakery shops, their desserts are like $3+, with pretty decorations.
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Kee Wah is a huge chain in Hong Kong. The breads however aren't all that. Only because they are really oily and fatty. For some reason, I feel like I am shoving lard in my mouth when I eat bread here. It's really dirty inside with flies sometimes looming around which makes it much less appetizing as well. The great thing about Kee Wah though are the egg tarts. They have great egg tarts. If you are in the mood for some egg tarts, come here. Otherwise, try JJs for bread. Much cleaner and better.
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LOVE their CAKES!!!
their strawberry cake just melts in my mouth..not too sweet, little light creamy texture, and fresh strawberries (that you won't be disappointed).
make sure you try the vanilla egg pudding cake as well. oh my my, this has a perfect consistency of cream and fillings that you will love =)
i always dig for seconds... so far, i have tried their pork buns (not too greasy). and the price is reasonable since they ARE pretty huge cakes.
I FREAKING LOVE (not luv, but LOVE) this FREAKING BAKERY.
a fantasmic bakery is my kryptonite and whenever i'm in the vicinity.... okay, scratch that, who am i kidding - i go here every weekend.
fresh bread is a-brewin' all day long and they actually have a schedule (9:30, noon, 2, 4:30 daily - yes, this is memorized. gotta problem with it bub??) but it doesn't matter what time you go b/c it's fresh all the time.
i believe they have upped the price but i could give a rat's bum.
their egg tarts are good, yes. but i find it difficult to botch an egg tart.
my faves:
pineapple bun - as said earlier, it does not embody the flavor of the pineapple but the name was derived from the top crumbling during it's slumber in the oven to resemble the appearance of a pineapple.
bbq pork bun - like the dim sum variety where the outside is thinly glazed with honey. mmmmmmmm...
raisin twist - croissant-like quality with raisins dotted between it's curves. 2.5" - 3" - 2.7" - 3" ....... *whistles*
sponge cake - one word comes to mind. "nummy"
toast - all sorts of varieties, ie. coconut, raisin, red bean, wheat, and butter.
oh - and you can always find day old bread for $1.20 in a basket near the entrance.
mozzeltoff!
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I just moved here from San jose, and let me tell you-- I have been missing the lovely Chinese areas in Cupertino and Milpitas really bad. I know what you're thinking-- Emily, you don't like real Chinese food (but at least you don't like Chinese fast food, either) and your Mandarin vocabulary is limited to "boogers" and "thank you" and "what do you want?"
Hmm, I can say "come here," too. (I used to babysit Chinese kids, if that wasn't clear enough by the context.)
But I loooooove tea. And also... I love baked goods, and usually, you can find a Chinese bakery right around nearby a Chinese tea shop. This makes perfect sense: baked goods and tea go together like... well, they go together like baked goods and tea!
So anyways. I got a little cantelope flavored thingy here. It was a little expensive. But zomg. It brought me right back to San Jose, where I would hit up the Marina Foods or Ranch Market for a box of [not in English] treatys and munch on those buttery-yet-somehow-also-dry-and-crumbly deliciousnesses, happy and getting crumbs all over.
I offered my brother one once, and he said "No way!" because apparently, he used to work at a Milpitas daycare, and the kids would offer him treatys that were NOT, in fact, treatys, not to his American tastes. But anyways that was just more for me to eat.
Kee Wah makes me happy. That is all.
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I'm used to having wife cakes from the Kee Wah Bakery in Milpitas, CA. The ones here were good but didn't taste the same (that's a bad thing). Then again, I haven't been to Kee Wah in years. Ginger cookies were delicious. Everything looked delicious.
JONASAPPROVED!
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I absolutely love this bakery.
The only problem with this place is the price. Basically there known for their name, and they charge a heck lot more for their bakery goods and pastries than other bakeries in the area.
They specialize in bread, buns, cakes, and desserts. They have great egg tarts (original, crispy, Portuguese), but pricey -- $1 a piece! There pineapple bread is awesome. Especially when its fresh, its delicious! I've received birthday cakes there before, and there great. I am not a fan of American cakes, all that icing and frosting (what were they thinking?)
The employees there speak mainly Cantonese, and sometimes extremely rude. There not at all friendly to those who are Chinese-Americanize.
*Subject to change with each visit.
Everything here is good. Items that I always get when I go to Kee Wah - egg tarts, "pineapple buns", and "sausage buns". The egg tarts here are the best -- even better than egg tarts you can get in HK. I also love the "pineapple buns" here...they are not pineapple flavored, but rather fluffy buns, with sweet crumps on top. The last time I went to Kee Wah, I discovered that they have "pineapple buns" with egg custard fillings. Those were SOOOO yummy. Try to get there around 10:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. when everything is freshly baked. There's a Kee Wah location in the Bay Area in Milpitas. For some reason though, the stuff there doesn't taste as good as those at the LA locations. Also, they are a little pricier up here than they are down south.
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how can you go wrong with a bakery? this place rocks and their pastries are divine. i typically hit up kee wah after dim sum or other chinese food indulgences to stock up on baked goodies to take home. their pineapple buns, egg custards, portugese custards and basically every other baked good offers are delicious!
the only negative attribute are the surly women that work there. if you speak cantonese then they will smile and chat, if you speak mandarin they will half smile and if you only speak english, you will get an upside down smile. good times. is it really that hard to say hi to your customers? ain't that tough ladies!!!
kee wah bakery is a "self serve" bakery. take a tray and some tongs and pile the tray as high as possible with the tasty treats. 95+% of the items are self serve, however, you will need to have the surly women grab the hot items such as the egg custards and meat buns as they are in an enclosed warmer on the counter.
kee wah is a chain and i believe they have another local or 2 in the SGV. if you are ever jonesing for some tasty chinese baked goods, take a detour and go to kee wah.
yum!
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This bakery has a bunch of Chinese baked goods. Buns! Pineapple, coconut, hot dogs, croissants, etc etc. There are cakes too, and egg tarts (my fav). There's bunches of chinese cookies and pastries. Around the mid-autumn festival I like to come here for mooncakes (but beware they are lots pricier than other mooncakes from other places in my experience).
The only bad thing is that the cashiers can be rude sometimes. Many times when I came here they were arguing in Chinese about something too.
i'm not into american-made cakes (except for TJs' cheesecake and chocolate ganache and clifton's chocolate/banana cake) because they're too sweet. i always order birthday cakes from this place...a medium sized cake costs about 25$ here and the fruit toppings are always fresh. you can also choose what type of fruits you want in your cake. there used to be a Hong Kong Bakery down the road similar to kee wah but they disappeared and got replaced by Starbucks...ugh!!! but that bakery was awesome. second to that is kee wah. i've been wanting to go back to try their deliciously cute egg tarts.
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