2 days ago
Happy Meal Bakery: Chinatown's 20+ y.o. bakery serving moist banana cake, rich durian puff & silky egg tarts on a budget
As the heart of KL grows ever more congested, and the air turns thick with traffic fumes, it's no wonder some of us have quietly drifted away from it. I used to wander down Jalan Tun H S Lee often for the flower stalls lining the pavement.
These days, even they've become more expensive, thanks to inflation and life's little inevitabilities. Perhaps it was the crowded display of sunflowers and baby breath spilling over the curb that kept me from noticing the establishment nestled just beside them: Happy Meal Bakery.
If, like me, you've traded the city's chaos for quieter corners and haven't yet stumbled upon this humble, time-worn bakery, allow me to let you in on something lovely.
I can't quite say how long they've been around. Some sources claim over 2 decades, while loyal customers say it's been even longer, recalling childhood afternoons spent picking out sweet treats from behind those same glass counters.
Before my visit, I'll admit, my expectations were rather low. It's not that I have anything against old-school spots, but too often lately, the charm of nostalgia is dampened by steep prices or declining quality. There are bakeries I hold close to my heart, of course, but many have become occasional indulgences rather than everyday comforts due to, again, sky-high prices.
When I arrived, I was met with rows of fresh bakes that looked anything but dry or dull, and the prices were refreshingly affordable. Even better, the bakery is Muslim-friendly. While it's not certified halal by JAKIM, they refrain from using pork, lard, or alcohol in their offerings.
Not to spoil the surprise so soon, but I must confess. While picking out my treats, I kept reminding myself to not let greed get the better of me. Yet, less than an hour after returning home, with every crumb gone and not a trace left behind, I realised I'd made a grave mistake: I should've bought more.
Either way, I settled with the popular options among customers (which I gathered from Google reviews), and let me bring you the first one: Banana Cake (RM5 for small).
At first glance, it was already promising. It was the kind of cake with tight, generous pores that screamed moist, not dry. The surface had that gentle, almost glossy sheen, the kind that catches light like sun on ripened fruit. When I picked it up, the cake yielded ever so slightly to my fingers, leaving behind a light trace of oil. To me, that's a love letter from a banana cake that knows exactly what it's doing.
Biting into it was nothing short of heavenly. The banana taste was there but not too overpowering on the palate. It was moist and fluffy, and most importantly, it wasn't too sweet!
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Next on the list was what I had imagined to be the banana cake's zesty cousin. Also priced at RM5 for a small portion, the Poppyseed & Cranberry Cake fell a touch flat.
Instead of the tart brightness I'd anticipated, what I got was something closer to a standard butter cake. It lacked the punch of cranberry I had quietly looked forward to. Nestled at the bottom were just 2 solitary pieces of dried cranberry, as if they'd wandered in by accident and never made it to the party.
But don't let that minor hiccup dampen your spirits, the show was far from over. From their cream puff offerings, I couldn't resist picking the Durian Puff (RM9 for 4 pieces), and what a glorious decision that turned out to be.
For the price, the portions were more than generous. The pillowy puffs were each brimming with a luscious filling that seemed ready to escape at the lightest touch. Even before I took a bite, the unmistakable, heady perfume of durian greeted me like an old friend. Love it or loathe it, there's no mistaking that scent. And for me, it was a prelude to indulgence.
The first bite was nothing short of divine. The sweet, bold essence of durian bloomed instantly, wrapped in a cloud of whipped cream that was rich without being cloying. The cream leaned slightly on the greasier side and wasn't the light-as-air type, but it melded beautifully with the durian.
Of course, I couldn't leave without sampling the stars of the show, their famed tarts. I picked the Coconut Tart (RM3.50) and their classic Egg Tart (RM2.50).
The Coconut Tart, at first glance, appeared a little on the dry side, the kind you'd expect to crumble the moment you touch it. But oh, how deceiving looks can be. It yielded effortlessly as I tore it in half, revealing a soft, semolina-based interior that held its shape beautifully. It was moist, dense, and almost fudgy in texture.
The Egg Tart, too, split easily into 2 clean halves with nothing more than my hands. This one leaned towards the agar-like spectrum, rather than the creamy, custardy type. The egg flavour was subtle, understated, while the crust provided a delicate crunch without disintegrating into a shower of crumbs.
It's been quite some time since an old-timer managed to charm me like Happy Meal Bakery did. While the Poppyseed & Cranberry Cake didn't quite hit the mark, the rest more than made up for it. Each bite quietly reminds me of why places like this still matter.
By the next morning, I found myself already plotting a return, fingers twitching to tap my card to the nearest MRT station.
Expected damage: RM2.50 – RM5 per pax
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