Fufa Life 孵化生活 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

I’m meeting up with my favorite cousin for dinner tonight. This was supposed to be part of my birthday celebration, but it kept getting postponed a couple of times for various reasons.

My cousin was the one in charge of finding our dinner venue tonight, and she kept it close to her chest until last night when she finally pinged me with the address. To my surprise, it was a cafe/restaurant in my neighborhood called Fufa Life (孵化生活) that I've never heard of.

Hidden on the 1st floor of a commercial building, Fufa Life is a western-style café with a small food menu focused on salads, pasta and meat dishes. I was curious how she ended up finding this place and was told that she's been here a few times with her co-workers.

Carbonara ($188) — I’ve had a little too much celebration over the past few weeks, so we decided not to order too much food tonight. We kicked things off with a simple carbonara that was done right. The spaghetti was definitely al dente, and the sauce was clinging to the noodles perfectly. I also liked that the sauce was more savory than eggy — something a lot of local places get wrong and make overly egg-like.

Spanish suckling pig ($288) — We saw their suckling pig from the neighboring table and simply couldn't resist.

The meat here was really tender and juicy, while the crispy skin featured a blistered, crackling exterior that shattered like glass upon the first bite. Pretty nice.

It’s been a while since I last saw my cousin, so we ended up talking nonstop all night long. Little did we know, all of the other guests had already left and we were the only two left in the whole place. Needless to say, we decided we should meet and catch up more frequently in the future.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 2, 1/F, Sing Shun Centre, 495 Castle Peak Road, Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Lai Chi Kok

Tel: +852 9552-8199

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 10:00pm daily

Bakehouse Bakery & Restaurant Shatin (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I have a few business errands to take care of in Tai Po today, and I’m meeting up with the team for car pooling at the New Town Plaza Shopping Centre (沙田新城市廣場). With a bit of spare time left, I thought I’d pop over to Bakehouse to grab a small treat.

One of these days, I really need to sit down for a proper meal here but for now, I’ll settle for a chocolate hazelnut doughnut ($42). This was incredibly pillowy, and the generous portion of chocolate hazelnut custard left me totally stuffed well after our lunch hours. It was sooo good!

I have to admit, I hate going to this vendor’s place. A visit once a year is my absolute maximum tolerable limit. 

Food Rating: 7/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 247, 2/F, New Town Plaza Phase I, 18-19 Sha Tin Centre Street, Shatin, Hong Kong

Closest Train Station: Shatin

Website: https://www.bakehouse.hk/locations#Shatin

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm (Mon - Thu), 8:00am - 9:30pm (Fri - Sun)

Taste Four Taste 嚐 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

We enjoyed a pretty leisurely afternoon today. After a light lunch at home, we ventured over to The Hong Kong Palace Museum (香港故宮文化博物館) in the West Kowloon Cultural District, for the "Ancient Egypt Unveiled" exhibition (古埃及文明大展). It was a lot of fun.

By 4:00pm, everyone was starting to feel a little hungry, so we walked back to Elements Shopping Mall for afternoon tea at Taste Four Taste (嚐).

Taste Four Taste has been my go-to place before my day trips to Shenzhen, thanks to how walkable it is from the rapid train station. I have never come with little nugget before so it was nice to formally introduce him to this place. 

Stir-fried noodles with barbecued pork (乾炒叉燒麵) ($132) — My favorite dish and it once again had that reasonably good wok hei (鑊氣).

Steamed rice noodle rolls with blended sauce (混醬腸粉) ($30) — I remember having this when I was a kid. Back then, it used to come on a metal plate, with the same kind of paper underneath the steamed rice rolls and mixed sauces. Of course, it came straight out of the steamer and was hot enough to burn my tongue. I always enjoy it for that nostalgic feeling.

I asked this guy if he enjoyed the exhibition and he reluctantly said yes. 

I have to agree that the small collection here really wasn’t comparable to the one we saw at the Louvre Museum back in 2024.

I hope little guy still remembers that one. We had a great time there with Madame Taekwondo.

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 1005-1006, 1/F, Fire Zone, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Kowloon

Tel: +852 2433-7711

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm daily

Island Gelato Shenzhen Bay MixC 深圳灣萬象城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Little nugget and I have been patiently waiting for the first branch of Island Gelato in Shenzhen to be fully up and running at Shenzhen Bay MixC (深圳灣萬象城).

Founded in 2014, Island Gelato an award-winning gelato shop, originated in Auckland, New Zealand, and has multiple locations across Auckland. Since its soft opening at the luxurious mall last November, the shop had been selling beverages only — without any actual gelato.

Happy times at last! They were finally serving scoops of their signature gelato now. Little nugget couldn't wait.

Little one is a bit of a purist when it comes to gelato indulgence. Despite the more vibrant, contemporary flavors on offer, he still went with his usual vanilla and strawberry. I told him he really needs to be a little more adventurous sometimes!

I like this place a little more than Il Laboratorio del gelato, another gelateria a few blocks down from Island Gelato which was more focused on classic Italian flavors.

Food Rating: 5.9/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop B187, Zone B, B1F Shenzhen Bay MixC, 3213 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区粤海街道海珠社区科苑南路3213号深圳湾万象城2期B区负1层B187号

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 19068084375

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Sun - Thu), 10:00am - 10:30pm (Fri - Sat)

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/91/SEnM

Gentle Pasta PAFC Mall 黑手制面 平安金融中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I’m heading back to Gentle Pasta (黑手制面) at PAFC (平安金融中心) for an early supper before heading home.

What I love most about dining here is their fusion take on Italian pasta, and the prices are always pretty reasonable. They also seem to roll out new dishes every month, which keeps things exciting.

Cream of mushroom soup (蘑菇奶油濃湯) — The soup was genuinely creamy, with a subtle hint of black truffle (maybe truffle oil?).

Caesar salad (凱撒沙律) — I always enjoy Caesar salad in Shenzhen because the lettuce is consistently fresh and crisp. I also liked that the dressing was served on the side, so I didn’t have to worry about it overpowering the greens.

Pasta with roasted chicken in aromatic ginger sauce (霸王沙薑烤雞意麵) (¥88 per set) — This is a new item on the menu, and it’s another fusion dish.

Overall, it was okay, but not as impressive as some of the other items on the menu. The spaghetti had a nice bite, which is always a good sign. The roasted chicken was decent too, but if I’m being picky, the aromatic ginger sauce was far too sweet, and the ginger didn’t come through with enough heat to make the flavors truly stand out.

The pasta I had tonight wasn’t my favorite compared with other dishes here, but I appreciate that they are willing to experiment and bring new ideas to the table. From what I’ve seen, that’s pretty common across Shenzhen — restaurants, cafés, and even bakeries constantly adding something new to keep our dining experience interesting. It’s something I feel Hong Kong is missing more these days: many places just stick to the old recipes and don’t bother to innovate.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ¥¥

Address: Shop 110, Level 1 South Tower, 5033 Yitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen, China

深圳市福田区福田街道福安社区益田路5033号平安金融中心南塔L1层110号铺

Closest Metro Station: Shopping Park (購物公園)

Tel: +86 13543918357

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 2:00pm, 5:00pm - 9:30pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/3d/bEdM

P3 by pLeace COCO Park (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

pLeace is a popular casual dining and lifestyle brand that originated in Shenzhen in 2021. It’s known for its unique mix of fusion cuisine, artisanal coffee, and fresh baking, all in a stylish, light-filled setting.

I was still working on my list of the best Basque cheesecake in Shenzhen, and a few social media posts suggested that pLeace would be worth a try. To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with the chain before, and I have never dined there ever. So I figured — why not?

These days, you can find pLeace in almost every major shopping mall around Shenzhen. The one I chose to visit was P3 by pLeace at COCO Park, near Futian Station. From the look of it, it seemed like a spin-off from the main brand focused more on comfort food like pasta and salad.

Extra blue cheesecake (超濃藍紋芝士) (¥28) — It wasn’t labeled as a Basque cheesecake, but it absolutely tasted like one. What stood out most was the bold blue cheese flavor—it was fluffy and creamy, with a molten centre.

It was a mixed bag for me personally, but if you’re a true cheese lover, I’m sure it’s a fantastic treat.

I still have a few more Basque cheesecakes to try over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to wrap up my top 10 list.

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: ¥¥

Address: Shop B1-040a, B1F COCO Park, 268 Fuhua Road 3rd, Futian, Shenzhen, China

深圳市福田区福华三路268号星河COCO Park 一期负1楼 B1-040a号铺

Closest Metro Station: Shopping Park (購物公園)

Tel: +86 13316473021

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/57/6PnM

Grindie Maritime Square 研香 青衣城店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

We had dinner at Tsing Yi tonight for a late birthday celebration for yours truly. As a little token of appreciation, I treated everyone to dessert afterwards.

Grindie (研香) has been one of my go-to dessert spots in Tsim Sha Tsui for the past few years. The only catch is that there’s always a lineup whenever I visit. Tonight, thankfully, that wasn’t the case at their Marina Square (青衣城) branch in Tsing Yi.

Walnut cashew sweet soup (合桃腰果露) — This was textbook perfect: a nice, gluey texture and deeply satisfying richness. The nuttiness was front and centre, with a distinct (but not unpleasant) touch of bitterness from the walnut, balanced by creamy, buttery notes from the cashew. It was a match made in heaven.

The tong yuan wrapper was thicker than I expected, but it surprisingly didn’t affect the mouthfeel at all. The filling was spot on too.

Purple rice with sweet potato dessert soup (大紅大紫薯紫米露) — Mom could spot this from miles away. It’s a seasonal dessert menu featuring sweet potatoes.

She’s a total sucker for anything sweet potato 🍠, so it was an easy win. The soup was rich and comforting, with a big pile of purple rice in the middle to add to the texture. Just looking at that bright purple color already made the whole evening feel brighter.

Mango pomelo sago cream (楊枝甘露) — Little nugget’s favorite Chinese dessert. This looked pretty good from here so not surprisingly, everyone wanted a piece of it. 😌😌

Grindie also has a very nice Basque cheesecake, but on most nights, I’m perfectly happy to stick with their thick and flavorful dessert soups.

Food Rating: 6.8/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 186-187, 1/F, Maritime Square 2, 31-33 Tsing King Road, Tsing Yi, NT, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Tsing Yi

Tel: +852 3689-7975

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:30pm daily

10 of The Best Basque cheesecake in Shanghai - Easy to Find and Try (2026)

Basque cheesecake (巴斯克蛋糕) has become a staple in Shanghai — quickly evolving from a niche dessert trend into a go-to favorite across the city’s stylish, ever-changing café and bakery scene. Known for its signature “burnt” top and irresistibly gooey centre, the dessert has also inspired local chefs to get creative, adding unique twists along the way.

During our recent trip to Shanghai, we visited a range of cafés, bakeries, and dessert shops to find the ones doing Basque cheesecake best. Here are the best options you can easily access while touring the city.

1) UZU 

A relatively new name on Shanghai’s café scene, UZU wins first impressions with its artisan coffee and thoughtfully brewed drinks. But it’s their dessert menu that keeps regulars coming back. They offer a lineup of homemade Basque cheesecakes in flavors like yuzu and chocolate — each baked to that perfect burnt-top, soft-centre style.

That said, the one that truly stole the spotlight was their roasted sweet potato Basque cheesecake (烤紅薯巴斯克). The flavor is rich and mildly sweet, with a texture that feels almost caramelized at the edges — comforting, indulgent, and very hard to share.

Address: Shop DL168, Pacific Xintandi Galleria, No.69 Ji An Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China

上海市黄浦区吉安路69号一层DL168单元

Closest Metro Station: Laoximen (老西门)

Tel: +86 13611943531

2) Bebaked

Bebaked is a trendy, cozy bakery café on the hipster Yuyuan Road (愚園路), beloved for its artisanal pastries, gelato, and creative coffee creations. If you’re the type to follow the newest dessert buzz, this is one stop you won’t want to miss.

What sets their Basque cheesecake apart is how boldly they play with flavor. Recently, they introduced a Moutai Basque cheesecake (茅台巴斯克) — pairing the classic burnt-top, melty-centre style with the distinctive fragrance of Moutai wine. The result? A noticeably aromatic dessert with a lingering finish that keeps you thinking about it long after the last bite.

Address: House No.8, 1107 Yuyuan Road, Jiangsu Road Subdistrict, Changning District, Shanghai, China

上海市长宁区江苏路街道愚园路1107号8号楼

Closest Metro Station: Jiangsu Road (江苏路)

Tel: +86 13122092945

3) O’mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro

Operating multiple locations across Shanghai including one at the Pudong Airport, O’Mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro is a well-liked artisanal chain known for its “slow food” approach. They also cater to a wide range of dietary needs, with plenty of vegan, keto, and gluten-free options.

Their sweet potato Basque cheesecake (高山紅薯巴斯克) is one of the healthier picks for anyone craving a Basque-style treat without compromising on flavor. Expect the same creamy, molten centre and the signature deeply caramelized/burnt top that made Basque cheesecake famous — just with a comforting sweet potato twist that makes it feel lighter and more approachable.

Address: Shop 2B-18 (Near Gate D73), 3/F Pudong Airport Terminal 2 International Departure Floor, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东机场T2国际出发层3楼2B-18号店铺（近D73号登机口）

Tel: +86 18901969548

4) Files Dessert Lab

Files Dessert Lab is a solo passion project by Ivy Wang, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate. Known for creative, savory-sweet — and often luxuriously plated desserts, Chef Wang brings a distinctly high-end, chef-driven style to everything she bakes. Before starting her own venture, she worked at several top Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK, including The Square and Greenhouse, so her innovative approach is anything but accidental.

Chef Wang’s Basque cheesecakes at Files Dessert Lab are truly cutting edge. Expect unexpected flavor pairings like finger lime with Japanese yuzu, chocolate with red wine, and pumpkin with persimmon. If you’re looking for Basque cheesecake that feels fresh, experimental, and far from “standard,” this is the one.

Address: Shop 103, 1/F 1788 Plaza, 1818 West Nanjing Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China

上海市靜安区江南京西路1818号1788广场1楼103室

Closest Metro Station: Jing'an Temple (靜安寺)

Tel: +86 17274573457

5) Le jardin de Joël Robuchon

On my recent trip to Shanghai, Le Jardin de Joël Robuchon stood out not just for its polished French identity, but also for how thoughtfully it’s expanded across the city. You can now find branches near the Bund (BFC), Xintiandi (K11), and East Nanjing Road (New World Daimaru) — and even Pudong International Airport has an outlet inside the food hall.

While the brand isn’t typically known for non-French dessert specialties, they’ve quietly added an impressive Citrus Basque cheesecake (橙香巴斯克) to their menu — made to satisfy cheesecake lovers with that unmistakable burnt-top, creamy-center magic, but with a bright citrus twist that feels light, refreshing, and surprisingly addictive.

Address: Shop S217A, Level 2 BFC, 600 East Zhongshan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China

上海市黄浦区中山东二路600号BFC外滩金融中心南区二层S217A单元

Tel: +86 18321860166

6) Baker & Spice 

Baker & Spice is a well-regarded international bakery and café brand with operations across China, the Middle East, and beyond. In particular, it’s known for artisanal breads made with organic ingredients — and it’s become a go-to spot for travelers and locals alike.

In Shanghai, you can find it in convenient locations such as Shanghai Plaza, K11 Art Mall, and other popular shopping areas. With 60+ stores across major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Shenzhen, it’s also one of the easiest Basque cheesecake options to access during your trip.

Their Basque cheesecake is a standout for anyone who prefers a more classic style: expect a dense, custardy centre paired with a bittersweet finish from the deeply burnt, caramelized exterior. It’s rich, balanced, and absolutely perfect for purist Basque cheesecake lovers.

Address: Shop 117, Level 1 Lujiazui Center L+Mall, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东新区浦东南路899号陆家嘴中心1层117单元

Closest Metro Station: South Pudong Road (浦东南路)

Tel: +86 (021) 58956129

7) Whites

If you’re looking for one of the best-tasting Basque cheesecakes near The Bund, Whites is a spot that shouldn't be missed. It’s a popular coffee-and-dessert spot located at Bund Finance Center (BFC), just a few steps from Shanghai’s historic Huangpu Riverfront — a perfect base if you’re also planning to hop on a river cruise.

With its sleek, clean aesthetic and art-forward desserts, Whites is also great for that coveted Instagrammable moment. And most importantly, their Basque cheesecake delivers: classic caramelized top, fluffy custard-like centre, and a flavor that keeps you reaching back for “one more bite.”

Address: Shop B115, Level B1 BFC, 600 East Zhongshan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China

上海市黄浦区中山东二路600号BFC外滩金融中心南区B1层B115号铺

Tel: +86 15221535389

8) Café Bellagio

Tucked away on the second floor of Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund (上海外灘蘇寧寶麗嘉酒店), Café Bellagio has a dedicated dessert counter featuring a curated selection of exquisite sweets and seasonal treats.

Guests often flock to the caramel macarons and tiramisu, but their seriously underrated Basque cheesecake shines with a succulent, molten-style texture and a balanced cheese flavor — rich enough to feel indulgent, but not overly heavy.

It’s also super convenient if you’re exploring the Bund: just take a short stroll toward the North Bund.

Address: 188 Beisuzhou Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China

上海市虹口区北苏州路188号

Closest Metro Station: Tiantong Road (天潼路)

Tel: +86 (021) 3680-6666

9) Maison Kamado 窑滚 

Maison Kamado (窑滚) is a beloved artisanal bakery chain that originally grew out of Nanjing, and has since built a big fanbase in cities across China.

One of the most convenient locations is inside L+Mall in Lujiazui (陸家嘴). Their standout is the signature Basque cheesecake (流心巴斯克), often praised for its soft, flowing texture and a savory-sweet flavor profile that feels more elevated than typical cheesecake flavors. It’s the kind of Basque cheesecake that hits that perfect balance of rich, creamy indulgence without being overly sweet.

Address: Shop LG25-B, Level LG Lujiazui Center L+Mall, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东新区陆家嘴L+Mall LG层 (地下一层) LG25-B单元

Closest Metro Station: South Pudong Road (浦东南路)

Tel: +86 18916113616

10) The Connie Hé Cake Shop

Connie He is a standout name in Shanghai’s dessert and baking scene, widely known for her Japanese pastry techniques. One of her most popular spots is her Yuyuan Road café, a frequently mentioned branch for its energetic weekend crowds.

While the menu features a range of stylish parfaits, the star for Basque cheesecake fans is her creamy milk skin Basque parfait. Instead of a traditional slice, this dessert delivers delicate, layered “milk skin” films (similar in spirit to Cantonese double-skin milk), paired with a rich burnt Basque-style cheesecake core and a crunchy touch of puff rice.

It’s a different take on Basque cheesecake — a totally different experience, served in a cup.

Address: No.48, 1088 Yuyuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China

上海市长宁区愚园路宏业花园1088弄48号105

Closest Metro Station: Jiangsu Road (江苏路)

Tel: +86 18016340648