Review: Pie & Tart Hong Kong

A friend once told me that the best tart he’d tasted in his entire life was that of Pie & Tart’s in Hong Kong. I was a bit skeptical as tarts in Hong Kong are the pandesals/ensaymadas of the Philippines, just about every bakery has its own version which is as good, probably even better, than that of the last bakeshop you’ve visited. My point is, it’s hard to choose the best.

As I frequently go to Hong Kong since my sister and brother-in-law are based there, I promised myself that I’d make it a point to drop by a store in my next visit. I was surprised when my sister told me that there was a branch of it in Granville Road, a short walk from Rosary Church where we’d usually attend mass on Sundays. And ever since I first tried their pastries, a trip to Hong Kong would not be complete without a visit to Pie & Tart!

Just to give you a bit of background, Pie & Tart was established in 1998. Its official website states that it currently has thirteen (13) branches, but I only counted eleven (11) in its list.😁 I copied the list below so that you won’t have to separately search for it and translate their official webpage.

While they have an impressive array of pastries, what stood out for me were the tarts. The tarts are larger than the size of the tarts of Lord Stow’s/BAKE’s/Bread Talk’s and, considering their oh-so-goodness taste, their price range is very reasonable and affordable. 

I will describe each tart below and, hopefully, my descriptions and photos would do justice and capture the deliciousness of these baked goodies. The tarts are freshly baked daily and they're still warm when they give it to you in a paper bag. I remember, one time, we still had to wait for a few minutes as the tarts were still being baked.😀

The tarts come with a spoon so you don’t have to worry about getting the tart and its crumbs all over your hands or your face. This is my usual problem with some tarts where you’d have to directly bite into as I’m very clumsy and I’d usually end up getting the tart all over me.

 1. Sweet Potato (12 HKD/ around PhP82.80*)

This is the most expensive and, for me, the best among the tarts. This tart, like the rest of the variants, is surrounded by a thin, flaky crust that’s good enough to eat on its own.  As you may notice in the pictures below, it has a purple topmost layer with a powdery/grain-like texture.  Digging into the tart, you’d instantly notice the rich and gooey sweet potato lava oozing with its striking purple hue. Once you put a spoonful in your mouth, you’d get the beautiful play of the silky, sweet (just the right amount of sweetness) and tangy flavor of the sweet potato with the flaky crust on your tongue. Each spoonful is just pure delight and bliss! Even if you’re not into sweet potatoes or camotes (in the vernacular), I’m pretty sure you’ll like, and probably even get hooked, on this tart! Rating: 5/5 

2. Cheese Milk Tart (9 HKD/around PhP 62.10)

My second favorite. I individually love cheese and milk and combining them in one tart is pure genius. This tart blends both flavors well and has the right amount of milkiness, sweetness and just about everything that’s good in both flavors. You may probably think that putting them together would heighten the umay factor but this is definitely not the case here. I can probably finish several of this in one sitting. Rating: 4/5

3. Milk Tart (8KHD/around PhP55.20)

This is also my second favorite tart. You can distinguish this tart from the cheese milk variant through the molten cheese on the center of the tart. Eating this tart, you may get the impression that the filling is just the same as that of the cheese milk tart. The only difference is that of the molten cheese on top for the cheese milk variant. Similar to the cheese milk variant, the smooth viscous filling at the center is very rich and tasty but not too overpowering. Rating: 4/5

 4. Chocolate Milk Tart (9 HKD/around PhP 62.10)

I was so excited to taste this but I was disappointed after trying it. This to think that I’m easily well pleased when it comes to anything chocolate, it being my favorite food. I was confused of the flavor that it was trying to convey as I didn’t taste any hint of chocolate in it. It tasted more like mocha/coffee to me. I can’t say anything more about this tart, it just really disappointed me.😞 Rating: 1(for effort)/5

You may ask, would I also consider the tarts of Pie & Tart to be the best that I’ve ever tasted?I would have to qualify. If it comes to the sweet potato tart, I have only ever tasted such variant from Pie & Tart so I have nothing to compare it to. But as I’ve said, it’s the best among the tarts of Pie & Tart for me. As for the milk and cheese milk tarts, I’ve tasted others which are equally as good, but, considering the taste, price range and size of those of Pie & Tart's, I can honestly say that theirs is the best deal (or sulit!!) there is among other comparable tarts.

List of branches per its official website 

Hong Kong

Causeway Bay

Shop 7, G/F, 30-36 Jardine's Square, Causeway Bay

Kowloon District

Kowloon Bay MTR 

Shop No. 15,Kowloon Bay MTR Station

Tsim Sha Tsui East

Shop C, G/F, Kai Lin Centre, Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Cheung Sha Wan

Shop 8 of Cheung Sha Wan MTR Station

New Territories

Tsuen Wan MTR

Shop 11 Tsuen Wan MTR Station

Tiaojingling MTR

Shop 16 of Tsing King Heights MTR Station

Sha Tin

Shop 110, Yu Cui Commercial Building, Yu Tsui Court, Sha Tin.

Tin Shui Wai MTR

Shop 48, West Rail Station, Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Wai

Shop L061 & L062, G/F, Tin Yiu Shopping Centre, Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Siu Wai.

The one in Granville Road is open everyday from 7 AM – 11 PM except on Sundays when they open at 9 AM.

*Conversion rate: 1HKD=PhP6.90