TLDR
Authentic Beijing-style bakery in Flushing featuring theatrical open-kitchen production, signature Portuguese-style egg tarts, and creative fusion pastries.
Instagram Posts References
Bao's Pastry is now offering lava custard mooncakes, which are presented as an ideal gift for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mooncakes contain a custardy filling that is described as having a balanced sweetness. They are available in packs of two.
The final stop of the day was to pick up golden yolk pastries, which the reviewer had been craving, to enjoy throughout the week. The pastries were shown being made fresh.
This bakery is praised for its golden Portuguese yolk pastry egg tarts, featuring the creamiest custard center and the flakiest crusts the reviewer has ever seen. They also offer a velvet taro flavor that is a must-try.
Bao's Pastry is a well-known Chinese bakery brand celebrated for its highly affordable pastries and the transparency of an open kitchen where all items are made fresh throughout the day. Its inaugural U.S. branch in Flushing, NYC, has quickly become a local favorite, attracting many customers. Despite the bustling environment and potentially long but fast-moving lines, the quality and freshness of the pastries, particularly the egg tarts, offer excellent value for money. The experience can be overwhelming due to the crowd, but it's considered a worthwhile stop for a quick, fresh, and inexpensive pastry.
Bryan Kim visits Bao’s Pastry in Flushing, a Beijing-born bakery known for its impressive open-kitchen spectacle and must-try treats like tiramisu egg tarts and crispy pork floss cakes.
Details
Bringing the Beijing-based bakery chain’s theatrical production process to Downtown Flushing, this pastry shop offers a variety of Chinese and fusion treats [2]. Visitors can watch chefs prepare goods behind a glass partition, featuring items ranging from butter mochi to elaborate cakes [2]. While the bakery has quickly become a local favorite for its freshly made offerings, opinions remain divided on whether the experience justifies a long wait [1], [2].
Food Overview
The bakery specializes in Chinese and fusion pastries, with its egg tarts—often compared to the Portuguese style—receiving frequent acclaim for their creamy centers and flaky crusts [2]. Other notable offerings include butter mochi, pork floss cakes, and lava custard mooncakes [1], [2]. While the cakes and tarts are generally well-received for being soft and not overly sweet, a minority of customers prefer traditional alternatives from other local shops [1], [2].
Highly recommended items include the tiramisu egg tart, golden Portuguese yolk pastry, and coffee-flavored crispy pork floss cakes [2]. Some diners also suggest warming the butter mochi and taro-filled egg tarts for the best experience [2].
Customer feedback is largely positive, with many praising the freshness and quality of the pastries [1], though some diners find the items to be overpriced and hyped by social media [1].
Most Mentioned Dishes
- 01egg tart9 mentions
- 02tiramisu egg tart3 mentions
- 03butter mochi3 mentions
Caveats
Some visitors consider the establishment overrated and point out that the egg custard can feel heavy or too sweet for those accustomed to traditional dim sum styles [1], [2].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About BAO'S PASTRY
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Some Highlights From Five Days Of Eating In New
"An honorable mention for a creamy, well-textured taro cake."
PositiveFrom post: Thoughts On Baos Pastry In Flushing Worth The Line
"The author believes the hype around Bao's Pastry is due to FOMO and considers the items decent but overrated, not worth waiting in line for. They find the egg custard too sweet and heavy, preferring the balance of traditional dim sum egg tarts."
NegativeFrom post: Thoughts On Baos Pastry In Flushing Worth The Line
"The author finds the egg tarts good, mentioning a coworker occasionally brings them."
PositiveFrom post: Thoughts On Baos Pastry In Flushing Worth The Line
"Having visited both the Flushing location and one in China, the author finds Bao's Pastry just 'ok', noting their 'not too sweet' approach. They prefer some items from 85°C Bakery, especially their mochi tart."
NeutralFrom post: Thoughts On Baos Pastry In Flushing Worth The Line
"The author stated that the line typically takes 5-10 minutes."
Neutral