Egg tarts @ Saiyuki, Chinatown, Yokohama

 

Being one of the main bastions for dim sum, it is no surprise that eventually, Saiyuki would end up in the blog. And it is time to have something sweet. One of the staple Chinese sweet treats especially for dim sum shops, would be the egg tart. Delicate on the inside, crunchy and buttery on the outside, with the overall morsel screaming decadence, it is just too hard not to love them. 

What do we have here?

Originally derived from the pastel de natta tarts from the Portuguese, egg tarts ended up in Chinese cuisine many many years ago via Hong Kong. And here we are. To be fair Saiyuki is in fact a Hang Kong-style dim sum place, so the referencing is justified. Similar to lots of popular dim sum establishments, it was pretty hard to get a seat. So waiting in line to eat al fresco at a nearby park is a more practical option. 

Crowded!

Still, it was a 20 min wait in line. However, the wait like most good things is worth the wait. There were so many tasty treats on display, but seeing that I only had so much space in the gullet, I opted for the egg tarts for the time being. Those meat buns on displace were something else. However, practicing restraint was necessary here. After a brief look around, I found a vacant spot in a nearby park, namely Yamashitacho Park. 

This better be worth the wait...

With a cooling breeze around my vicinity, I took down the first bite. What went down was just sheer perfection. The outer crust was flaky and buttery. It has a slightly salty tinge to it, but at the same time just felt very "dessert-like". If you had great puff pastry, then you would know what I mean. 

A gorgeous close-up. And my skin needs moisturizer!

The center of the tarts was also impeccable. It was creamy and milky and had a creme-brulee feel to everything. I had a delicate and silky mouthfeel to it and everything felt like it was falling apart. If you like custards, this will sort you out well. It is not overly sweet too, perhaps to accommodate Japanese palates. Still, it was thoroughly enjoyable and can satiate any sweet tooth you may have. 

Worth the calories. 

Despite the trouble in getting these sweet treats and finally taking them down, this was totally worth it. My only complaint would be again, to have a seat at the establishment and have a side of coffee to enjoy these fantastic tarts. But as they are they are already pretty good. In any event, you will not be lost of good food in Chinatown. So if you would like to try what Saiyuki has to offer, their address is as follows:

〒231-0023 Kanagawa, Yokohama, Naka Ward, Yamashitacho, 149-1 ４

Thank you Chinatown, till next time.