Golden Gate Bakery

10/7/2016

"Best I ever had" -Drake. He was clearly singing/rapping about GGB's dan tat. Literally though. Best egg tarts I have ever had. I have been a customer since I was a kid. This was my snack after the dentist (probably not the best for my newly cleaned teeth). But if I was going to be in Chinatown, I would not leave without one (or twelve). The price has certainly gone up over the years, but the quality and consistency have never faltered. Still so flaky, still so buttery (because lard-y does not sound very good), and so so so good.

Yes, there will be some sort of line (or a very long one). But it's oh so worth it!

Yes, they set their own hours and are always on "holiday." But it's oh so worth it!

10/6/2016

If I could give them 3.5 stars I would only because the service is sooo slllooowwww... I want to get my hands on them delicious flakey egg tarts as soon as I can damn it!

If you're in Chinatown San Francisco and are debating whether Golden Gate Bakery is worth waiting in line to try, the answer is yes.  Do it.

10/6/2016

• 7 check-ins

If you ever plan on coming to Chinatown in San Francisco, this is a MUST TRY! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Just going to keep it short and sweet. Since they've raised the prices to about $2 an egg tart, I recommend bringing $25 CASH to buy a dozen! It is so worth the money, but beware of lines when you go! Also, minus one star for always being inconsistent with their hours and always being on 'vacation' :(

Tip:
-Call before you go to see if they're open and have egg tarts available!
-The fresh pineapple buns are really good as well!

9/28/2016

• 1 check-in

Deducting a star because this place is so unpredictable. Between my roommates and I, there have been too many occasions in which we've shown up only to be greeted by a small "closed" sign or a line out the door and news that they didn't have any egg tarts that day.

So when you finally show up on a lucky day when they're both open and selling egg tarts, there is already a reason to celebrate. And there is only more rejoicing after you bite into the egg tarts-- the crust is fresh and soooo flaky, and the egg is sweetened with just the right amount of sugar. At around $2 each it is a bit pricey for Asian desserts, but compared to what I get at coffee shops and other bakeries around the city, I'd say it's still a steal.

9/23/2016

THEAE EGG TARTS ARE SO GOOD. Trust, I love egg tarts! I've had them in NY, Boston,
NC, etc. This place trumps them all. Located in a little shop in china town, this bakery sells egg tarts and moon cakes.

The egg tarts are the big sellers. They are about $2 (little pricey), but completely worth. My favorite part of the tarts are the shells. They are larger than most and very crispy and fresh! I can't comment much on the mooncakes, but they had a variety of flavors. They're a bit expensive though so be prepared to spend some cash here.

10/4/2016

• 1 check-in

OMG egg custard tarts (don tots) are so....good! Some of the best I eaten. Just &1.95 each. They just came out of the oven. Crust is very flaky!

8/29/2016

• 1 check-in

White guy here.

I've never considered Chinese cuisine as being in possession of good desserts. Italian, French, sure. Mexican and Chinese, not so much. But this place changed my mind (about Chinese cuisine; sorry Mexican, I'm still waiting to be impressed by your bakeries).

My wife visited once on a recommendation and raved about their egg tarts. So the next time we went to Chinatown she insisted we visit Golden Gate. Sadly, there was a line and a sign on the door saying that they'd open in two hours. But as we shuffled our feet indecisively, we saw one of the owners open the door a crack, and quickly hand a bag to the first person in line. Money was exchanged just as furtively. Intrigued, we got in line and discovered that the owner was serving one person at a time.

Why? I have no idea. We peeked through a gap in the window and could see a man asleep at a desk in the back. Maybe it was nap time? I don't know, but I do know that the owner tries very hard to please her customers, and she is exceedingly nice. Some people complain that they're on vacation a lot, or that they're closed often. It's like visiting Europe for the first time in August; Americans are aghast that their desires will not be instantly gratified like they are in the U.S. Get over yourself.

Oh, and their stuff is great. The egg tarts are delicious, and I really enjoyed the moonpie as well. And both are beautiful, in addition to being delicious.

You can get decent dim sum at a dozen places in Chinatown, but this is the only Chinese bakery that truly impressed me.

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  Mooncakes are quite lovely.

  Mooncakes are quite lovely.

9/25/2016

• 1 check-in

• Listed in 2016 Yelp 100 Challenge

I was supposed to come here for the infamous egg tarts, but they didn't have any. Instead, they had MOON CAKES! And OMG, they were amazing. I only like the lotus with egg yolk  it was dense, and delicious. It was delicious with coffee or tea, a decadent breakfast. My go to place to buy every year now.

Reminder to self, go back for the egg tarts. - I've still never had any.

Pro-tip CASH ONLY!

9/22/2016

• 1 check-in

I have no doubt that these egg tarts are delicious.  I would probably wait an hour for a dozen of them again.  However, I think their poor service and lack of customer appreciation is a big stinker.  During my visit to SF earlier this year, I came here only to be disappointed with the big sign on the door that they're on vacation.  I've read on numerous Yelp reviews that they randomly close and are on "vacation".   Throughout my stay, I did call them and no one picked up so I didn't bother going again.  On my most recent trip to SF, I called them as soon as we landed and they picked up.  I asked what time they're open till and the lady promptly said 8 PM.  She didn't say anything else.  They were our first stop from the airport and guess what?!  They were closed!!!  I saw staff working in the shop but the sign on the door said they wouldn't open until 2 PM.  I was so pissed off.  Was it too much to ask for her to have told me they're open from 2-8 PM that day while we were on the phone?  Uggggh.  

I honestly didn't think we were going to get any egg tarts but the hubs reminded me that we were in the city and we should try one more time.  Off we went and of course there was an insane line.  Damn, why do they have to be so good???  Flaky buttery crust that kinda falls apart when you eat them.  Or maybe it's because I'm a fattie and couldn't wait for them to cool down a bit.  The custard is light yellow, jiggly, not overly sweet and melts in your mouth!  I scarfed down three in an hour.  

The staff isn't the most helpful/friendly but I'm sure it helped that I spoke chinese.  I believe they allow you to order a certain amount of egg tarts due to the high demand.  When it was my turn to order, the lady asked me how many people was in my party.  Since it was me and the hubby, she allowed me to order a dozen.  

Tips:
-Call in advance and ask them what time they're open and what time they're closed!
-Pretty sure it's only a dozen per person.  If you need two dozens, make sure you bring a friend!
-CASH ONLY

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  Look at that custard!!

  Look at that custard!!
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  Dozen egg tart!! I ate the rest :D

  Dozen egg tart!! I ate the rest :D

8/10/2016

• 1 check-in

• Listed in San Francisco

There are lots of Chinese bakeries in SF Chinatown, but only one is well known to all tourist and locals, it's the Golden Gate Bakery.  Yes, it also has the best name for an establishment.  It has become so popular that it became a tourist attraction.  All for what?  Yes, an egg tart!  
The crust is soft and crispy and totally melts in your mouth.  The egg tart is not too sweet and when it just comes out of the oven, it just broke the mouth good!

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• See all photos from Cindy L. for Golden Gate Bakery

9/26/2016

• 1 check-in

Baked to perfection with the seriously most perfect ingredients.

The egg tart is delicious but it's very expensive at about $2~ each. Considering you can get 'em for around $1~ at other stores nearby, it's literally double the price. You get what you pay for....right? Haha, this place really has me salivating all the time.

They're so popular and well known they open whenever they want...whenever they feel like. They also choose to sell however much they want..and however much they feel like. LOL. One time they only sold 1-2 tarts per person and one time they were opened on Friday starting at like 4pm. They do what they want!

I've asked the owners when they are usually open, and she just gave me a random day and time. Whenever I catch them open, I always run in and grab one.

9/21/2016

• 1 check-in

I was honestly never a huge fan of egg tarts until Golden Gate Bakery.

It was the week of mid-autumn festival, and my boyfriend strongly insisted that we try this place despite the super long line, over the DOZENS of other places in the area selling egg tarts and moon cakes. My boyfriend is Chinese and grew up with these treats. I'm Korean and never completely understood the appeal of them, so I wasn't super enthusiastic with waiting so long.

45 minutes later, we walked out with a big box filled with $40 worth of egg tarts and moon cakes, and after having a taste...I actually wasn't bitter at all about waiting so long.

The egg tarts were fresh and still warm, the crust was perfectly flaky without being greasy, and the custard (which was what set it apart for me from all the other egg tarts I've had in the past) was creamy and flavorful while being light.

Highly recommend!

9/22/2016

• 1 check-in

Best egg tart of my life (or in recent memory).

You'll be lucky if you can get your hands on one. They're hit or miss in terms of opening hours (they are open when they want to be).

One of the must-hit places on your SF-bucket list.

$2 each (yes prices have increased).

Still worth every penny.

Eat it hot and fresh.

Nice ladies.

9/24/2016

• 1 check-in

Looking at various reviews saying they are randomly closed a lot, I think my friends and I got lucky during our trip to SF. We visited the shop around 6pm, and it was still open, plus no line. Wasn't able to make it in time for most of their baked goods (they ran out), but was able to try their egg tart! SOOO GOOD. They also had a bunch of various mooncakes left too. The egg tart was still fresh and warm when we got it, and the crust was very flaky and so well-made. They are pricier than I'm use to, but also one of the best egg tarts I've had. Definitely try it if you're in the area!

NOTE: CASH ONLY!

8/13/2016

This is as tasty and as fresh as you are ever gonna get for egg tarts. This bakery is manned by a woman who would open the door, take your order, and then arrives back 15 mins or so...and this is before waiting in line for 1 hour and 30 mins (that's how long we waited for). Times will vary though. The whole experience is unique and some may question if it's all worth it for an egg tart and I would say, "do you have anything better to do?"

Go for: perfect egg tarts

Don't go for: if you have a life and can't wait around for egg tarts

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  Yum. $24 for a dozen

  Yum. $24 for a dozen
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  And guess they're the best in town!

  And guess they're the best in town!
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  Spooky

  Spooky

8/7/2016 Updated review

• 2 check-ins

• Listed in Yelp 2015 Challenge, Yelp 2016 Challenge

Came here last night around 8:30PM just as they were closing. One of my buddies was visiting and he told me he always wanted to go to Golden Gate Bakery (GGB) but could never go since GGB would always be on vacation. We had been walking along Grant Avenue, and by luck, the lights were on inside with just a few people waiting in line (all waiting for egg tarts, which were baking in the oven).

Since my last review, egg tarts have gone up in price, from $1.60 to $1.95 per egg tart. Years ago, these egg tarts were less than a dollar each! Inflation? Tourist prices? Go figure.

Is it worth the high price tag and wait? Sort of. The line can be pretty annoying but honestly, I haven't had egg tarts as good as the ones here elsewhere in San Francisco. The egg tart's crust is flakey and not too thick -- while the custard has a soft, milky, buttery, melt-in-your mouth texture that is absolutely amazing! I would probably recommend visiting GGB at off hours (like close to closing) than during peak hours (such as around lunch time). Visiting GGB during off hours to purchase your egg tarts will make your experience much more pleasant.

Even though GGB is a tourist hot spot, it's also popular among locals like myself. If you haven't been here before, it's definitely worth a try. Come sooner than later, before they hike up the prices again.

9/22/2016

Very few things make me as happy as a good egg custard tart, so when I read the reviews of this place, I knew I had to go.

The line was out the door, and there were only really two things on the menu: moon cakes (in a bunch of different flavors), and, of course, egg tarts.

The egg tarts are so popular here that they were literally rationing them - max. 3/person - so they wouldn't run out before the next batch was ready (which was estimated to be in about half an hour). This caused some consternation among some of the patrons. I did manage to get one, though, and I can totally see why there was a long line - it was delicious! Warm, flakey, and everything you want an egg tart to be.

I also tried a coconut almond moon cake with egg yolk - by FAR the best moon cake I've ever had (though admittedly it's not a large sample size).

Absolutely worth the wait.

10/7/2016

I would love to try this place, but it seems that fate is preventing it from happening. I came here twice to a closed bakery. Thr first time was back in July and today, I saw that a sign was on the door saying that they were closed for vacation.

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  "We are closed for VACATION."

  "We are closed for VACATION."

7/11/2016

• 1 check-in

If you like your tarts fresh, I would highly recommend stopping by!

Dozen for ~$24.. pretty pricey for egg tarts, but you can't beat how great they are! They're so creamy,and will melt in your mouth. The flakey crust is also an amazing treat. I love flakey crust anything! Note: I'm not one to ever want egg tarts, but when in SF this is definitely one of my must have pit stops. *Drooolssss

Also, I've been here on a couple occasions and both, they had a "closed on vacation" sign...Reading through reviews, it looks like they've been on vacation for ages. However, I think if you see goodies in the window gawking at you, then you just have to stand there looking like a beggar...And maybe someone will come and bless you with these divine treats!

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  Heart eyes face

  Heart eyes face

9/5/2016

• 1 check-in

Get ready to stand in line. Watch out for those who will blatantly cut in line because they do not want to wait in line for 30 minutes or so!

The women at the front work as fast as they can packaging dozens of pastries at a time and processing transactions. Cash only location despite how much you pay for (the mooncakes are shockingly very expensive). Unlike other pastries, they don't really have signs or give you time to take a look what to order. To the right of the right front counter are the different types of mooncakes. The more yolks in the mooncake, the more $$$ you will need.

The mooncakes are great for sharing. One mooncake will be good for two people. The mooncakes are amazingly good, rightly sweetened, and very fresh. It's hard to choose which one to get!!!

The women in the counter will help you as best as they can. Don't get discouraged if you feel you are being rushed, they simply want the line to keep moving I supposed.