Lau Chong Kee Bedok Confectionery: Old-school custard buns & red bean-filled fluffy cakes from $1
Situated right next to a bustling wet market in Bedok, a striking red signboard locating Lau Chong Kee Bedok Confectionery stands. It is evident that their clientele mainly consist of residents surrounding the market. With push trolleys loaded with fresh produce, Lau Chong Kee is the final stop that residents make before their morning shopping haul is completed.
With a second outlet in Chinatown (which is unfortunately temporarily closed at the time of writing), their handmade bakes and Chinese goodies are well received by both the older and younger generation. The storefront is lined with an assortment of buns, cakes and traditional snacks.
Take a sneak peek to the back of the shop to watch the elderly bakers shelling nuts, kneading dough, filling up empty trays and pulling freshly baked goodies out of the oven.
What I tried at Lau Chong Kee Bedok Confectionery
When I arrived, I thought that the Custard Bun (S$1.50) had already sold out. However, upon closer inspection of the individual containers housing the different breads, I spotted the bright yellow hue at the back signifying that I arrived early enough. Phew!
First impressions wise, I expected the custard to taste strongly of vanilla and perhaps over sweetened. The bun which encased the filling was browned and shiny which suggested it was baked perfectly.
However, as I tore open the bun, my hopes of capturing a flowing lava was crushed as the custard remained firm within the bread. On my first bite, my teeth sank into the soft bun and custard filling without any effort.
Texture wise, the latter was smooth but gloopy. I believe too much thickening agent was used which resulted in it holding up like a jelly. Even as a conscious sugar consumer, I had hoped that the mixture contained more sugar. I was rather taken aback as I expected more from the visually striking custard, which unfortunately fell flat in flavour and was more plain than expected.
Taking on another structure, the Custard Horn (S$1.50) is an alternative for those who prefer crispy pastries. Visually, the custard resembles the same as that of the Custard Bun. I am unsure why I was hoping that it would taste different but unfortunately, the same clumpy consistency caught me off guard yet again. The baked shell was also dry but I liked how it held its form after every bite.
The next item that caught my attention was the Red Bean-filled Cake (S$1.80). It was as big as the size of my palm and was decorated with pumpkin seeds on the top. Fun fact: Those seeds help the stall worker differentiate a plain cake and the one filled with red beans.
Fortunately, the amount of bean paste was more than what is shown in the image. While the cake was fluffy and airy, the paste was once again too thick for my liking and only slightly sweetened.
At this juncture of my tasting, I felt the need to pause and prepare a drink to accompany the bakes. I was afraid that the following treats would possess the same thick consistency which was difficult to swallow on its own.
Out of the variety of goods displayed, I noticed that the Pandan Cake (S$1) sold the fastest. In comparison to those I usually eat, this pandan cake did not have any brown edges — instead, it looked steamed, like a sponge cake.
It was also cut into rectangles and was smaller than usual. The pandan flavour was mild but present and although spongy, the chiffon-like fluffiness found in the Red Bean-filled Cake was absent here. This meant that the cake was rather dense and was unable to satisfy my craving of the local delight.
Recommended by the stall worker during my visit, these Mini Mooncakes (S$4) were the best of the lot. They are filled either with lotus or red bean paste. Since I opted for the former, they were shaped exactly like mooncakes sold during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Taste wise, the lotus paste was smooth and – thankfully – sufficiently sweetened. Sliced nuts were also scattered within the puree, adding that crunch factor. While the layer encapsulating the mixture was slightly thick, I appreciated that it was not dry at all.
Final thoughts
After trying out the variety of old-school breakfast options and snacks that Lau Chong Kee Bedok Confectionery sells, needless to say I was slightly disappointed in the taste of the otherwise beautiful creations.
By observation alone, one thing is for sure — the taste offered by the bakery definitely appeals to those living around the vicinity. Those who enjoy low-sugar desserts may have also found their hidden gem. In my case though, I would prefer to indulge in sweeter and richer-flavoured confectionery.
Expected damage: S$1 – S$4 per pax
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