My folks and I were on our way to breakfast this weekend in San Francisco when we passed Golden Gate Bakery, and we sprung for their famous egg custard tarts. They’re an indulgence–over a dollar a piece, but they’re delicious. Unlike most egg tarts which are often like sweet hand pies, Golden Gate’s have a delicate crust that’s barely thick enough to hold the creamy egg custard inside. They require gentle handling lest they dribble out of your hand and onto your shirt (not that I’d know). They’re pretty close to egg tart heaven.
But there’s a downside to such perfection. Golden Gate Bakery’s legendary egg custard tarts are so popular that the decades-old bakery can afford to take monthlong vacations and stay closed on the odd day without notice. The bakery’s operating hours are unpredictable enough that as a public service someone even made a website, is-the-golden-gate-bakery-open.com you can check before you make the trek to Chinatown.