The Best Sponge Cake

Now, I realize the title ‘The best sponge cake’ is quite a claim to make, but I assure you this is not misleading and I am not the only one to state this. These little cakes from Kam Hing Coffee Shop are legendary, with their eggy, plush softness. There’s something so satisfying about eating something so light and pillowy, it really is a must-try in Chinatown. This may be the smallest bakery I have ever been in: it’s a very narrow space with just a few pastries on display. However, the cakes are hiding behind the counter in a tower of plastic storage boxes, so you have to ask for them. There used to be only one kind of sponge, the plain cake for 70 cents. Now, you can also get chocolate chip and green tea versions at a dollar a piece. I especially like the chocolate chip version as the chocolate they use is the tiniest of chips but there’s plenty of them dotted throughout the sponge, and it’s not overly sweet with just a hint of a bittersweet flavor. These little cakes make an excellent breakfast accompaniment. Order as many as you can carry.

Kam Hing Coffee Shop: 119 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013