Natalie Bakery

This is an okay Chinese bakery. I have been a couple times with a friend to try their hot drinks and their specialty, the egg custard tarts. They have a few different flavors if you are in a more adventurous mood — almond, egg whites, tapioca, and Portuguese egg tarts. The original flavor is still the tastiest though. This place is conveniently located near the Grand Street station as well.

The filling of the custard bun looked gritty but isn’t. More importantly, it’s not creamy. There isn’t too much filling in the buns and the bread isn’t as soft as I’d like. I’ve been a few times, but found out yesterday it’s apparently $.50/​bun after 6pm?

I ordered an egg tart and a black milk bubble tea. The boba was al dente — great texture for pasta, but I like my boba a little more soft, thanks. The tea was a bit too sweet at first, but as the ice melted it got sort of better. The egg tart was good but not great. Overall it cost me $ 3.75 — I’d probably come back, but definitely not for the bubble tea.

This review is for the black milk bubble tea. The tea was quite milky and the tea flavor was a little weak. It was sweetened on the heavier side, but not overboard. However, the bubbles were the worst part. They were chewy not because they were «Q,» but because they were hard. They were quite sweet by themselves. For $ 2.75 a cup, I won’t be back for it.
The shop has a large variety of buns for $ 1 each. Unlike most bakeries, the staff will get the bread from the case for you.

Please don’t consider coming here. I bought a sponge cake and halfway through eating it, found some sort of black insect. Although if you like your pastries to have the extra crunch and protein (plus little bug legs!), then by all means feel welcome to check this place out.

I was lured into this store by the sign outside advertising «Hot Chocolate made with Aero Chocolate. Bubbly hot chocolate!» (whatever that means) which greatly raised my expectations for the hot chocolate in this bakery. Good thing the hot chocolate only cost me a $ 1 because again I was let down by the hot chocolates I buy from Chinese bakery… How hard is it to use milk to make it? Avoid the hot chocolates from Chinese bakeries at all cost unless you’re into drinking watery hot chocolate.
Also got a mango mousse. It was… warm. I would have liked it to be a bit more airy but hey you get what you paid for right? (in this case $ 1.75 for 1 cup). Can’t really taste the mango in the mousse. There is this weird orange jello covering the top of the mouse which makes it look nice but you can’t really eat it with the mousse so you just gotta eat that first to get to the mousse part.
There are two tables with 3 – 4 seats each so unless the place is not crowded, you’ll most likely be having to take your goodies elsewhere to eat.
Also saw them selling the traditional new year’s goods like shrimp chips, fat go (those things shaped like cupcakes?) and etc.
Cash only.
Probably won’t be back next time I’m around the area… my dreams of a decent hot chocolate from a Chinese bakery have been continuously crushed.

Very rarely come by and for good reason. Baked goods are subpar and are not kept warm so you pay for cold baked goods. However, drinks are very well done and are worth purchasing.
Location is prime on the corner and by the Grand St. station. Service is quick too.

There is something in particular that I hold very close to my heart, and that is cheap sweets. In the city where purchasing gourmet cupcakes has my wallet crying regrets there is nothing more soothing than the succulent, fulfilling mango mouse for ($ 1.75.) Please be aware Natalie’s Bakery along with the rest of Chinatown is 95% cash only so hold your head on high and move towards this bakery where one dollar can provide you a sweet celebration.
P.s– Loving the two tiny tables where many strangers share mutual love for this budget friendly bakery. I applaud you bakery for the tiny little joys you provide.

For a self-​proclaimed «Egg Tart King,» this bakery is a true letdown. There aren’t many selection of different types of egg custard to begin with. I ordered two Portuguese egg tarts and not only was it cold, it tasted old. I attempted to order a red bean ice drink and was told it was seasonal and thus unavailable. How does this make sense when red bean isn’t even a summer fruit? Yet they still were selling «watermelon» ice drinks… Strike two. Final straw was when I walked out and noticed the sanitary inspection grade of «C.» Never again. How you manage to get that low of a letter grade for a bakery is beyond me. Luckily I didn’t get diarrhea.
The only thing good about this place is the price. The cost of each Portuguese egg tart was $ 1. Plus, the lady broke my $ 100 bill for a two dollar purchase. Haha.

The service is great! The moment I walked in, the lady greeted me and asked how she could help me. I only got an egg tart ($ 0.90) and hot milk tea ($ 1). The prices are very good/​cheap. Also, I really enjoyed the milk tea. The fragrance and the taste of the tea were very satisfying and complemented the egg tart. The two weren’t too sweet together
Because I was waiting for a friend to meet me, I sat down on one of the tables. The place wasn’t big and had 2 tables with 4 chairs each.
They sold American cakes and Chinese pastries along with various types of coffee and teas. They had a good variety but compared to tai pan, they obviously didn’t have that much.
Also, the location is very good. Right in the corner. It was very easy to spot.

Came here for Portuguese egg tarts. It was only around $ 1 each for a regular sized tart. I will give this place only 3 stars because it’s not a place I would go back to. There’s really nothing special about it.
The Portuguese egg tart did not taste fresh. Also the custard wasn’t at the right consistency. It was closer to a thick soup after you bite into it.
Also there is very minimal seating. It’s not the best looking bakery but it gets the job done.

Their don tots (egg custards) are freakin delicious. Flaky buttery crust with a semi sweet egg filling. MMMMmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmmm! God, I wish I ordered more than 2. Also tried their Portuguese don tots and they were good but I preferred a bit sweeter. You definitely earned Egg Custard King title in my book.
$ 0.90 a pop? Yes please!

They have a variety of Chinese baked goods.
The bakery is organized and everything is affordable. Pastries go on sale from time to time. Service is quick. Grab your baked goods and take it up to the cashier. Items in here aren’t the freshest. We’ve experienced some stale breads before. Flavors are not all that memorable either.
I doubt we will be back.

This is the place to get Portugese egg tart. It is so buttery and the tart is so eggy and light! You can beat the 90 cents dessert, can you? Or you can try their coconut tart, which is unique and similar to the egg tart too. I did not try anything else here but they also sell other Chinese pastries and beverages.

Yummy red bean swirl bao all day everyday. Their taro bao is a bit lacking because although the bun is sweet, the filling is just tasteless mush.

Well been here so many times when I am on Grand Street. The only reason is the watermelon smoothies.
Two for $ 3.00 for the fresh fruit smoothie, absolutely the best refreshing drink around. They have other flavors of fresh fruit based upon the season.
Yummy, yummy yummy!!!

A gargantuan 12 foot coffee cup awning is hard to overlook on a corner, especially when hunger pangs strike mid-​morning on the outskirts of Chinatown on Grand and Forsyth Streets. For one ham and egg bun at $ 1.00 the associate brought out a freshly baked bun with a rude scowl look as if work is a grinding chore. The associate produced another rude scowl look to mutter the price in Cantonese which was incoherently inaudible. MEH!

Their egg tarts were alright, does not look fresh to me though. They have a variety of egg tarts: egg white tarts, portuguese egg tarts, almond egg tarts.
Lots of bake goods with bright shiny food coloring.
The only time I would come here is to get their buns. They sell for around $ 4 for 8 – 10 steamed buns in a huge package. All their baked goods (bread) are wrapped inside clear plastic bags. Meh, there are better bakeries around the area.

We get the egg custards only so I can only comment on those.
There are a few small tables but it is cramped and best for take out. Their specialty is the egg custards. My husband said in Cantonese it says something like egg custard king on the sign. They do have Cannoli’s but they look like egg rolls with ricotta cheese in them.
They get 4 stars and not 3 like everyone else because of the quality. The egg custards are not mass produced like so many others. For someone to go and proclaim they are the king they live up to it.

How can anyone not see the giant 12 feet coffee/​tea/​drink cup at the corner of Grand St. and Forsyth St. ?
It caught my attention when I exit the subway station.
I had to stop and think, do I want dessert before my lunch?
Sure why not it is Friday!
After snooping around, I when for the canolis.
Their canoli are pretty satisfying, not too sweet and has plenty of chocolate chips but It is not a true canoli like the ones from an Italian bakery.
It has been Asianized. Very little ricotta cheese; if any. The shell is nothing special. The chocolate taste like milk chocolate. (I like dark)
It would be nice to get a spinkle of pistachio nuts on the ends.
I also got a couple of canolis for the troops in the office with a box of plain mini-​cupcakes. My co-​workers also like the canolis. They said the sweetness is just right but can we really call it a canoli? (maybe an egg roll dessert?)
Natalie is a OK place, I will have to come back for the other desserts before tagging on anymore stars.