Located on Walker Street at the intersection of Chinatown and Tribeca, Sweets Bakery occupies a…read moreclassic Chinatown bakery storefront. From the outside, it's easy to miss: a compact façade, simple signage, and windows displaying their gargantuan steamed buns.
Inside, the bakery is compact and utilitarian, with glass display cases packed tightly with buns, cakes, pastries, mochi, and desserts. Seating is minimal, reinforcing the grab-and-go nature of the business. The atmosphere is distinctly Chinatown: efficient, bustling, and focused on the products rather than the surroundings. While there are a few tables available, the space feels designed primarily for customers picking up breakfast, snacks, or pastries to take elsewhere.
The menu reads as a traditional Chinatown bakery with a slightly broader selection of sweets and modern snacks than many of its neighbors. Glass display cases are filled with classic Chinese baked goods, including pineapple buns, custard buns, sponge cakes, egg tarts, cocktail buns, and various sweet and savory pastries, alongside a notable assortment of mochi-based desserts and drinks.
At around 8pm on a Wednesday night, there was still a good selection of items; I opted for one of their giant, fluffy steamed pork buns ($2.50). The dough was pillowy-soft and moist, with a generous filling of sweet, savory BBQ pork - it was finely diced, but still retained a good chew and texture. The sauce wasn't overly sweet, nor salty, and was just enough to complement the rather bland bun itself.
Sweets Bakery is a solid option in the heart of Chinatown, especially if you're craving a sweet treat later at night (it's open until 8:30pm most nights). There was also still a great selection when I visited at 8pm, and each item is individually wrapped. Prices are somewhat standard ($2-3 per individual item), and of course, it's cash-only. A great stop on a foodie crawl of the area!