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

一樓半 Knock Cup One Avenue 卓悦中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

The food scene in Shenzhen is getting more exciting by the minute. I was scrolling through social media looking for ideas for where to have breakfast before my spa treatment in Futian.

Lo and behold, I stumbled upon a single, eye-catching dish that instantly got me hyped.

Located in One Avenue (卓悦中心), just across the street from where I’ll be having my spa treatment, 一樓半 Knock Cup is a modern bistro focused on fusion and charcoal-grilled dishes.

And the dish that really made my mouth water wasn’t a typical savory breakfast item. It was a Basque cheesecake!

Salted egg yolk black truffle Basque cheesecake (咸蛋黃黑松露巴斯克蛋糕) (¥45) — This was a little frosty and melty, like ice-cream.

Between two layers of truffled cream cheese, there was a thick slab of salted egg yolk “mousse” in the centre. It was finished with a rich, intense salted egg yolk ganache on top.

As I went through spoonful after spoonful, I realized there was another ingredient in the mix: duck meat. That added yet another texture to the savory-sweet dessert — very unique and innovative. No wonder it’s sparking a frenzy on social media these days.

This, by itself, is already worth a trip to Futian!

Food Rating: 7/10 (Based on the cheesecake only)

Price: ¥¥¥

Address:  Shop L151, East Zone, Level 1 One Avenue, Fuhua Road, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区福华路卓悦中心商场东区1层L151号铺

Closest Metro Station: Gangxia (岗厦)

Tel: +86 18588252694

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 12:00am daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/e8/JbMM

Butterfly Patisserie (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Little nugget has secretly told me that they prepared a birthday cake for me from my favorite cake shop in town. After thinking about it for a moment, I realized I actually didn’t even know which shop it was, so this could be interesting.

When the puzzle was finally solved, I found that the cake was actually from Butterfly Patisserie at Rosewood Hong Kong. I’m not sure it’s my absolute No. 1 favorite in the city, but it definitely ranks extremely high on my list.

White Tea Lychee and Guava Cake — I was initially told that it was an avocado mousse cake but once the smoke cleared, it turned out to be something far more exciting: a white tea lychee, and guava cake.

What stood out was the exotic blend of flavors: lychee for its gentle sweetness, guava for its delicate floral notes, and fragrant white tea to tie everything together. The result is a dessert that feels perfectly balanced — sweet and aromatic, with just enough acidity to keep it refreshing.

When I heard the cake was from Butterfly Patisserie, I was hoping it might be their signature vanilla cake. But honestly, this was a delightful change of pace. There’s a real harmony here — solid sweetness balanced by a lively, tangy lift.

I’m especially glad my team chose this over a more filling vanilla cake for my birthday.

Food Rating: 7.3/10
Price: $$$$
Address: 2/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3891-8732
Website: www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong/dining/butterfly-patisserie
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm daily

Armani Caffè (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I didn't have much planned on my birthday this year other than work, work and more work. But I did have time for a decent lunch before my meeting so I recruited mom as my partner in crime.

Our lunch venue was Armani Caffè at Pacific Place, a restaurant mom has never had the pleasure of visiting before. It's not a stone's throw away but it was pretty close to my meeting in the afternoon.

We got to enjoy some homemade bread before our starter. The focaccia and grissini were pretty tasty.

Tonno — Japanese bluefin tuna tartare with citrus gel and Mediterranean spices.

I thought the pleasant acidity from the two types of citrusy gels did a great job of bringing out the sweetness of the bluefin tuna. Not bad.

Cavatelli Ricci e Mandorle — The homemade cavatelli pasta was pretty fresh and if they went with something simple to complement it, it would easily have been a plus dish. But then they decided to pair it with uni tongues, Sicilian almond, lemon leaf oil, and an intense sauce made with Japanese sea urchin. The whole thing was just a step away from going totally sideways. While it wasn’t a disaster, the complex mix of flavors was a little strong and overpowering for me.

I didn’t have time for dessert, but I was okay with it. My sweet tooth had been busy all week, and it was likely going to be busy again with a rumored birthday cake from my favorite cake shop in town (that was gossip from my son). I’ll find out more about it tonight.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: $$$$

Address: Shop 301, 3/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Admiralty

Tel: +852 2599-2388

Website: https://www.armani.com/en-hk/armani-restaurant/experience/armani-caffe-hong-kong/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 10:00pm daily

 

The Steak House Regent Hong Kong (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I wasn’t the one calling the shots for my birthday dinner tonight. Jelloman had the honor. When I first heard about her picking The Steak House at Regent Hong Kong Hotel, I was a little curious about her decision but then I’ve learned not to question the decision made by your better half. Unless you want complete chaos.

We arrived at the Regent Hong Kong a little early and to our surprise, it was much busier than usual. As it turns out, it was Hong Kong Film Awards night and those attending the award seemed to be having their makeup done at the hotel; thus creating quite a buzz with a fair amount of reporters stationed just outside.

It’s been over a decade since I last visited The Steak House. 

I thought they had a refreshed look but without a full facelift. 

We had a partial view of the promenade from our table.

Before the meal, we were given a look at some of the prized cuts. 

The Hanwoo is always a popular choice, and I don’t know I’ve seen the Polish Mazura before. All in all, a very impressive collection.

We were offered some crackers as welcome snack but I missed the introduction while away for my toilet break.

Then came some homemade sourdough bread before the seafood and meat arrived.

King crab cake — This is the same way we always start our meal at a steakhouse. The king crab cake was pan-seared to a golden brown color crust. 

Hidden inside, large lumps of fresh crab meat. Perfect joy in every bite.

Little nugget learned quickly that the crab cake was best enjoyed with the homemade tartare sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Sustainable New Zealand Orange King Salmon — Little nugget said he wasn’t feeling like he wanted meat tonight so this was for contingency only.

Not bad.

Kagoshima Wagyu A5 Grade sirloin — As expected, it was very tender and succulent, but not so soft that it felt overly “melt-in-your-mouth” (like the one we had at Henry a few years ago).

Not as flavorful as well.

USDA super prime Black Angus Tenderloin — I have to admit that this was more delicious than the Kagoshima wagyu.

I’ve never been a huge fan of well-marbled cuts myself. I prefer meatier options with reasonable marbling, and this hit the mark for me. It even tasted better with minimal seasoning — just a little bit of salt.

Of course, little one wanted some mashed potato to go with his protein. Ever since I had the smoked mashed potatoes at Frassi in Taipei, I’ve been looking for one in Hong Kong that tastes nearly as good. But so far… no cigar.

We thought about dessert, but with all of us way over our daily food consumption quota already, we gladly asked for the bill. But before we called it a night, the restaurant sent over a small gift.

Once again, I’m deeply grateful to be celebrating another year of life, health, and happiness. Life, especially work, hasn’t been easy the last couple of years. And yes, I’ve gone on the occasional rant to the BIG Guy upstairs (not the one at work) from time to time. But as tough and cruel as life can be, life still goes on.

Food Rating: 7/10

Price: $$$$

Address: G/F, The Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui / Tsim Sha Tsui

Tel: +852 2313-2313

Website: https://hongkong.regenthotels.com/dining-destination/the-steak-house/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm (Sun), 6:00pm - 11:00pm daily