Serious Eats: New York
Sugar Rush: Soft Cake from Hon Cafe
Soft cake is one of those basic Chinese bakery items that hits the spot when all you want is something simple, soft, and sweet—oh, and cheap. For only 85¢, you get a large, super moist and light spongy cake nub topped with a few slivered almonds that are more for decoration than flavor. Although spongy in texture, it's not like a typical sponge cake—it's considerable lighter and has a bit of chew.
While you don't have to go to Hon Cafe for this cake, we've designated Hon Cafe as our most oft-visited Chinese bakery mostly because it's open until 10:30 p.m. (much later than most other Chinese bakeries), making it a great late-night snack destination.
Hon Cafe
70 Mott Street, New York NY 10013 (nr. Canal Street; map)
212-219-1431
Previously
Sugar Rush: Tiger Roll at Hon Café
Sugar Rush: $1.25 Sponge Cake at Hon Cafe
Sugar Rush: Normal Milk Tea Vs. 'Hong Kong' Milk Tea at Hon Cafe