Old-fashioned Hong Kong-style bakeries are becoming a rarity in today's modern society. If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong, a trip to San Lung (生隆餅家) is absolutely essential for a taste of traditional, delicious Hong Kong fare.

Established in 1998, San Lung cake shop has become an integral part of the Sham Shui Po district. This quintessential Chinese bakery offers some of the finest traditional pastries, cakes, and sweets that Hong Kong has to offer.

This neighborhood treasure boasts an impressive variety of traditional Chinese sweets, ranging from black sesame cakes to flaky pastries filled with lotus seed paste and whole century eggs.

San Lung is also among the few remaining establishments in Hong Kong that still handmake and bake their mooncakes fresh to order. In the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, this labor of love results in the sale of hundreds of these pastries daily.

Their mooncake filled with mung bean paste and chicken fat is a unique variety seldom found in other bakeries. The traditional recipe that San Lung continues to use has earned them a loyal following spanning both older and younger generations.

The bakery's offerings are perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, and incredibly affordable — a combination hard to find in districts outside of Sham Shui Po. While it's uncertain whether English is widely spoken there, don't let that deter you. Be adventurous, explore what piques your interest, and simply point to order.

With its traditional, humble yet vibrant atmosphere, San Lung offers an intriguing experience for those looking to immerse themselves in local culture and everyday life.