Stopped by Spongies Cafe and it was a fun little find. They specialize in sponge cakes with a lot of different flavors, and each one is only around $1-2, so it's easy to try a bunch. We ended up getting a mix--original, black sesame, coconut, cappuccino, and a few others. The pandan coconut was our favorite, but honestly all the flavors we tried were really good. Light, soft, and not overly sweet, so you don't feel weighed down even after trying several. Great spot if you want something quick and easy to share, especially if you like trying different flavors. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

$24 for a dozen mixed flavor. Was excited to try. Got a mix of org, green tea, thai tea, pandan, purple yam. Not much flavor and really couldn't tell the difference as we passed each flavor around to try. At the end, they all tasted the same. The texture wasn't as great as Kam Hings. It wasn't as moist and soft. I also noticed the frequent price increase within two years. It's ok to try but definitely need some work on adjusting the taste and quality. read more

See all

***3.5 star*** 2024 - $1.25 2025 - $1.50 2026 - $2.00 These are the price increases for the flavored sponge cakes over the years. The regular flavor has stayed at $1. For the size (stayed consistent), it is quite small. I like the flavors offered but they are a tad $$ for the size. The hot coffee i had wasnt that great (S $1.50 vs L $3.75). I would come back if i wanted to try interesting flavors. Service was good and fast. There is always a revolving door of people coming in. read more

See all

Stumbled upon this cafe looking for a Sunday coffee. Instead, we walked out with a little pastry, a matcha and a hot Thai tea. First, I have to talk about the Thai tea. I haven't had one of these in ages but it was heavenly. Highly recommend this!! I also got an iced matcha with almond milk. You can also get oat milk and you can even customize your ice (less ice, more, etc.). I got "less ice" but did feel like the matcha was a little watered down still. Finally, the spongies. There's a flavor menu with these at the front and each are about $1-$2. Highly recommend trying one! As the name implies they're impossibly light and airy, with the flavors being subtle and not overly sweet. We really enjoyed the Black Sesame Spongie. They also have spongie cookies that are pre packaged at the front it looked like. We were served fairly quickly and went on our way. It's a small cafe but don't overlook this cute little spot if you're needing a pick me up! read more

Spongies Cafe - Sesame Spongie - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

They definitely have more flavors than Kam Hing across the street, and their original flavor is cheaper. However, I find the texture for Kam Hing to be better than spongies because I felt like spongies' cakes were dryer and I had to drink a lot more liquids to eat the whole sponge cake. I prefer the sponge cake to be a little more spongy and wetter so it's not just super dry. The service was quick, but there's minimal room to sit here. read more

Spongies Cafe - Pandan sponge cake - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Came to try out their sponge cakes!! Yummy!! I got the original, coconut & Thai tea flavors!! Prices are decent & it's a cute little Cafe where you can sit & enjoy your snacks too!! Quick & friendly service! They take CC too which is a plus for ppl who don't have cash on them!! read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

OMG, this is even better than the original bakery that started these Cantonese sponge cake. Highly recommend to try the original for a dollar. All the flavors are delicious ! When you spend five dollars you can use a credit card. You can ask for a warm sponge cake! read more

Spongies Cafe - Original Spongies is the best - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My favorite place for sponge cakes in Manhattan's Chinatown. They are a level up from other places in the area. I've tried all the different flavors. And they keep it interesting by introducing new flavors. The cakes have a great texture, nice and fluffy. He knows how to make these, spot on! My two favorites flavors are the chocolate and the Thai tea. Other places taste very artificial. That's not the case here. Much better flavor. If you get a big variety of flavors at once, you may find it difficult to figure out which flavor is which, because the color differentiation of some flavors are subtle. It's a small place, right across the street from OG Kam Hing cakes. There's a few small tables and chairs, with bench seating against the wall. Decorated nicely. It feels very cozy. Drinks are also available. Service is great. If Spongie is there, it's even better! read more

Food: Pretty good, but it was very confusing figuring out which flavor was which since there are no labels. Service: Good, but it seemed rushed. Ambiance: Relaxed Extra Note: There aren't a lot of seats, so keep that in mind when coming. The food has great value though! read more

Spongies Cafe - Thai Iced Coffee and Strawberry - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Place is cute, limited seating though. Service is kind and helped us decide what we wanted. Got the spongies, we loved the original and green tea the most! Green tea tasted like matcha. Couldn't really taste the red velvet as much. All were so soft and subtle, perfect for a light snack. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

The cake is perfection and the prices for cakes and coffee are great! Only deducted star because the bags for the flavors aren't marked so it can get confusing when you get home and the flavoring is very light. Father in law confirmed that these cakes "aren't too sweet" and enjoyed them! Service was fast and if you wanted to sit down with a warm beverage you would have space cute ambiance. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

This was on to try list after watching this on YouTube. Small little spot in Chinatown but it's very nice and customer service is phenomenal. They have different flavors of sponge cake that ranges from 1-2 dollars each. We ended up trying the thai tea, milk tea, pandon coconut ones and got a thai tea to drink. read more

A classic spot to stop by in Chinatown! They have a big variety of fun flavors and everything is super cheap. The regular ones are $1 and the flavored are $1.50! The sponge cakes are super light and airy while not being too sweet. Perfect to pair with a coffee or tea! My favorite is definitely the Pandan coconut! read more

Spongies Cafe - Sponge cakes - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

I absolutely love sponge cakes exactly like the ones that Sponges sells so I cannot rate this place highly enough. I was shocked by the variety of flavors they had to offer and ended up buying a mixed dozen of plain and flavored sponges. Please note when you mix and match like this that the price will vary from the domain dozen. The seating area is small but it's easy to take these sponges on the go and enjoy them all week! Service is super fast so you'll get in and out quickly. read more

See all

Usually go to Kam Kam coffee shop for sponge cakes, but decided to give this place a try since I was close and it was well reviewed. I do prefer these! I think they are actually a little cheaper than Kam Kam (if not, similarly priced). The cakes are a little bigger, and there is a large variety of flavors. I may just get the plain next time, since the flavored ones have an extremely subtle flavor (almost non existent), so probably not worth a 50% premium imo. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Price is still 12 for $12 for original flavor!!! Flavored cake is 12 for $18. It's still very soft and rich in egg flavor. My whole family loves them! read more

See all

I wanted try our Spongies to see if it could compare to my go to place for sponge cakes. I ordered the pandan and ube. There are pandan strands and coconut flakes incorporated into the pandan sponge cake, and small pieces of purple yam inside the ube sponge cake, so you know they utilize the actual plant. Gives it some texture despite it being airy, but the flavor for both is mild. I just prefer the taste and denser texture of other sponge cakes that I have had. Price is very affordable ($1.25 for original, $1.50 for flavored). There are 3 small tables for seating. Minimum $5 purchase needed to use credit card. read more

Spongies Cafe - Ube and pandan sponge cake - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

I highly recommend watching the NYT video about Spongies. The story is heartwarming and inspired me to go try their sponge cakes. Spongies is a small cafe in Chinatown. They have about 3-4 small tables and offer coffee, tea, and sponge cakes. The decor is very cute and open air. You order at the counter and they make your drink and give you your food immediately. I tried the banana chocolate chip sponge cake and the pandan coconut. This was my first sponge cake and it was so fluffy and addicting. The flavor is mild and not-too-sweet. It tasted like a light fluffy muffin. Price-wise it was extremely inexpensive at around $1 for a cake. Overall, it was a great sponge cake with a great story. I will definitely be back again. read more

Spongies Cafe - Inside - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

A quaint little bakery/cafe specializing in sponge cake morsel, I enjoyed my brief experiencing relaxing and enjoying a mid day snack. I'm not going to lie, I definitely bookmarked this place after seeing the NYT video on YouTube about this lovely establishment and the great, hardworking ownership. Food: Yum! I got 2 different spongies, the purple yam and the pandan coconut. Both were delightfully pillowy, moist, and lightly sweet. Is this how it feels like to sink your teeth in a fluffy cloud? I could see myself eating one every day as breakfast! Also love how affordable they are. Kids can come in with a buck and get a small tasty treat. The only complaint I would have is that I wish the flavorings I had were more impactful and distinct as it felt like they were more like essence of ube and pandan coconut. However, I totally get they were going for something on the lighter pleasant side. The best compliment I can say is not too sweet! I also got a large Thai iced tea which was standard, nothing crazy. Service: Fast and friendly! They clearly adore their local customers and I wished I lived close enough to subscribe to the club. Ambiance: Quaint and cute. From its salmon colored walls to the warm glow of the globe lights, this place feels whimsical in a down to earth way. read more

See all

I tried the original and red velvet cupcakes from Spongies and was pleasantly surprised. Both cupcakes were very reasonably priced at just \$1 and \$1.50. They were incredibly light and airy with just the right texture. I appreciated that they were very light on sweetness. They're not buttery, but I actually like that about them. It makes for an easy snack without feeling heavy. I also ordered an iced coffee and asked for it to be light on the sugar. It came out perfectly. Strong and bold just the way I like it without being too sweet. Overall a great experience. Simple flavors done right. read more

See all

I love this small cafe in China town. It's very cozy and a great place to sit down and chat or relax for a bit. We got the iced matcha latte, bangkok iced tea, and a pandan sponge cake while we waited for our order at yi ji shi mo. The order comes out fast and sometimes there is a line depending on the time or day you go. There wasn't a line when we arrived but it did build up while we were just sitting. I liked the sponge cake a lot and I recommend it and maybe even trying the other flavors! The taste wasn't too strong and the cake was light and fluffy. The matcha was pretty sweet, but personally I love sweet matchas more. The iced bangkok tea was basically thai iced tea with lemons. Super refreshing on a hot day in nyc. This place is also cheap for what you're getting compared to other places in nyc/chains. I recommend stopping by! read more

Spongies Cafe - pandan spongie - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I love their sponge cake!! They're so light, perfectly sweetened and fresh. It's my new favorite dessert place to go in NYC

Fluffy and perfectly sweet at a great price! Also has some indoor seating unlike many spots in Chinatown so makes for an ideal coffee and snack pit stop. I only got the original flavor this time (very nostalgic), but they have about a dozen flavors to choose from! Do keep the $5 minimum in mind if you're paying w card. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

When you see multiple police officers stopping here at 6:30 am, and for a good reason (they were all getting their breakfast), you know you have something good. It also helps the New York Times did a story on this little shop earlier in the year. This sponge cake shop focuses squarely on, well, sponge cakes, along with other hot beverages. The cakes are well priced and you can order them like donuts. There is a $5 credit card minimum for each purchase, but you can easily hit it with two items. If not, it is still very much a deal at a time when prices for everything are through the roof. The cakes (start simple if you must) are light, but full of flavor. Despite the lightness, you must be careful because the density of the milk in the mixture will make you go to bathroom, as I learned the hard way. That is why you have to eat it slowly and preferably with a hot beverage to make it easier to digest. My mistake was getting a Snapple with it. Sugar with sugar only compounds the issue, not mitigate it. A big whoops on my part. I can also appreciate the early hours, as they open at 6 am daily. That is great for the early commuter like myself, and probably why I saw all the cops that I did. It is the perfect pick me up for that rush to get you going early in the morning. My reason for a three star review is that it is just it. Simple, but too simple. Sure, a hamburger is simple too, but you can get a four or five star review because of the art that makes it more than a hamburger. This is a simple sponge cake that feels like a donut in sponge form, with an Asian twist. It is not a bad thing, it just is what it is. That should not detract you from stopping by. The cute and friendly staff (I was helped by Sasinee, the owner's wife), was great in her assistance. Fernando, the owner, was not there or not visible, but I certainly would have loved to meet him. Maybe next time, maybe next time. read more

More like a 4.5 star review. I've always loved these types of sponge cakes as a child.... But we ever only got the original one. Glad there are other flavors too! I tried the Pandan Coconut and the Green Tea one since I absolutely love other desserts and snacks in these flavors. For Spongies, the flavors are very subtle so don't expect a whole ton of flavor! But you can definitely taste it and it pairs perfectly well with a cup of hot tea, for breakfast or as a snack. Prices are reasonable and service is fast. read more

See all

Quick and easy service + payment; cash if under $5 (highly recommend this option, especially since the sponge cakes are $1 for original and $1.5 for the flavored) Cute cafe with seating to enjoy drink or sponge cake there. I tried the original and the banana chocolate chip. Both were quite good, banana one was a little sweeter, but wow can't beat Original. So delish. read more

Spongies Cafe - original spongy cake - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Really tasty, inexpensive, and an awesome story behind the cafe! A must visit for Yelpers in lower Manhattan. Some tips: cash only if less than $5 so make sure you're prepared; drinks were only okay; cute indoor seating and one outdoor table. You won't have to walk far to eat! read more

After watching a video about this place, I was surprised by the location, moreso because I grew up around that area and never actually went here! It's like, one street off of the main path. It's kind of wild to think what you used to miss out on when you weren't in the know about things. I came by and picked up a strawberry, purple yam,holiday, and butterscotch spongie and each one was only a $1.50. Growing up, I used to get these from bakeries all the time when they were about 80 cents so being at this price in 2025 is pretty damn good. Service was quick and I was in and out in a flash. Giving each of them a taste, the base flavor itself is pretty mild, as is characteristic of chinese sponge cake but the actual texture of the cake is much better than the typical ones I grew up with. It's softer and almost has a little bit of a mochi feel to it, in a good way. Light and airy with a good chew and mild flavor but the flavoring does come out a bit! It's subtle but you do taste it, in particular in the butterscotch one which is definitely my favorite. Overall, a good,cheap, and tasty snack that's basically an elevated version of what I grew up eating. Whether it's a quick morning breakfast or a light snack after school, this is a good place to get the quintessential chinese sponge cake! read more

Spongies Cafe - Holiday Spongie (so cute!) - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Such a gem! Could only try the original because I came in the evening but super excited to try the pandan coconut. It's an eggy cake like sponge that was also served warm. Friendly service and cozy vibes too. Would recommend! read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

The perfect New York breakfast ! We had to try the top yelp places to eat and spongies was on it ! They had this amazing beaked sponges of different flavor and we got to try the orginal flavor and the pandan , pair it with some Thai tea and it was just perfection ! A small little location with so much to offer and it gets full throughout the day ! Definitely a must visit hidden gem ! The owner was super friendly and make sure to be available if we had questions! read more

See all

I love that there is a cafe that specializes in sponge cakes. My friends and I stopped by Spongies Cafe this past Saturday afternoon to enjoy some sponge cakes. The interior is on the smaller side with a few small tables that fit less than 10 customers. They also sell coffee and tea to compliment the sponge cakes. It's 1.50 per sponge cake, which is great pricing! The three of us shared four sponge cakes: Thai tea, purple yam, black sesame, and pandan. Overall, each sponge cake was super soft with a cloud-like texture. Our favorite was the pandan because its flavors was pretty prominent -- a strong vanilla, coconutty flavor with some coconut (?) bits mixed in. The black sesame cake was also pretty delicious, but it was kind of odd to have something nutty and crunchy mixed in the soft, sponge texture. The purple yam one was good, but the flavors were a bit too gentle. The Thai tea one just tasted like sugar, and if I was blindfolded, I wouldn't be able to tell that it was Thai tea. Pretty chill cafe with good sponge cake options. Would love to try other flavors in the future and get the pandan one again! I could eat a sponge cake from Spongies everyday for breakfast with my coffee. read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious sponge cake in very friendly albeit FREEZING cafe! Fun to eat, tried the cappuccino. Apparently everyone comes in here and orders bags! read more

Spongies Cafe - Cappuccino cake - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

I LOVE a sponge cake like I used to get these all the time in Houston they're so fun to eat. Originally we were gonna get one each but then we saw the extensive flavor list and went a bit crazy... I got THREE! First flavor: Red Velvet. This was really good. I wouldn't really equate the flavor to be red velvet but whatever the flavor was I liked it! Second flavor: Thai Tea. A bit of a let down not gonna lie. I didn't get any thai tea flavoring in this one and it was pretty dry. Sad because this was the one I was most excited about. Third flavor: Banana Chocolate Chip. EXCELLENT! This one was fire!!! Banana flavor was on point and the chocolate chips were super mini but at the right ratio. Sponge was moist! read more

See all

Omg these Spongies are so delicious! I love how fluffy they are! I got concha & black seasame. I can't wait to try more flavo read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

I stopped in on a rainy day to try out the black sesame sponge cake and it was really good! super airy and you had a little bit of a texture from the sesame. It was the perfect amount of sweetness for me (which is a little on the sweeter side for an Asian dessert) and a perfect snack for $1.50! read more

See all

(This is a 4.5 star review) I ran to spongies this morning on my way to work to grab some sponge cakes for a coworker's birthday. Truthfully, I stopped it solely due to convenience, given my commute, but I'm very happy I did. The woman behind the counter was very kind and gentle. I wasn't sure which flavors I wanted, and she suggested a few. The spongies are $1-$1.50 which is an amazing price for what they are. They're also individually wrapped. I ended up ordering original, pandan coconut, triple chocolate, black sesame, green tea, and purple yam. I didn't get to try all of them, but they all received good reviews from my coworkers who were astonished by how fluffy they were. Definitely a hidden gem! (I unfortunately forgot to snap pics of the cakes in my rush) read more

Spongies Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Spongies Cafe 121 Baxter St. New York, NY 10013 Pandan Coconut Sponge Cake Sprinkles Sponge Cake The light, airy cake had a puffy texture. It was not too sweet, but not too bland. The sponge cake tasted just right! The sprinkles cake added more design instead of flavor. The coconut flavored cake gave it a small, but effective flavor boost. read more

See all

Loved the unique sponge cake flavors from this Chinatown bakery. The decor serves up some cute Parisian Cafe vibes with gourmet coffee and teas and of course the authentic sponge cakes. Got the original/ Thai tea/Matcha/ and Ube flavored spongie cakes and devoured them while seated near the floral decorated window. Cakes are moist and eggy with the hint of the flavored scent- yummy. The price is a bit more expensive than the typical Asian bakery sponge cakes read more

See all

I've passed by this place a million times and decided to finally try it as a small dessert after lunch. The inside is small but homey, with a list of all their sponge cake flavors on a poster. Though there was a long line? The service was quick. I decided to try the Thai Tea and Pandan Coconut flavor cakes while my friend got a whole box of various flavors. The cakes were super moist with a light airy texture. The Thai Tea one had a very very light Thai Tea flavor that I wish was a little heavier. The Black Sesame one that I sampled from my friend's box had a stronger flavor with a nutty sesame taste. She reported that the Green Tea one was also too subtle but the Cappuccino one had a stronger flavor. Overall, a great place to get HK style sponge cakes but I wish the strength of their flavors were more consistent. read more

Spongies Cafe - Sponge cakes - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Yelp says it's the best! So had to try it! Got four! Mr. Mango, Red Velvet, Sesame Street, and Plain. read more

See all