Monday, February 08, 2010

Are KFC egg tarts here as good as in Taiwan?

Two years ago, before my NS enlistment, I went to Taiwan with friends and one of the foodie surprises I had there was, as mentioned in my earlier post here, the KFC Portuguese egg tarts! (For those wondering if KFC in Taiwan is some fancy bakery, no, it is indeed Kentucky Fried Chicken.)

The egg tarts in Taiwan had crispy, flaky crusts and amazingly sweet egg paste filling and were, to be honest, the best egg tarts I had ever tasted (and, being an egg tart fanatic, I’ve tried it at several places too, including Macau’s famed outlets, which I found over-rated).

So, when I heard they had come to Singapore, I HAD to try it. Alas, though, while it isn’t bad, it’s not as good as those in Taiwan.

The crusts, which is probably the first thing you’d sink your teeth into, were pretty tasty. Unfortunately (or maybe it was just the outlet I got it from), the crispiness was not even and some parts were harder (and more greasy) than the rest and made for an odd eating experience.

The egg filling, which is probably the most important part, was abundant and decent. However, it lacked a certain oomph! to it and, while it wasn’t bland, was a tad underwhelming and un-aromatic.

With that said though, although the tarts were a tad disappointing, they are still decent enough for anyone looking for a quick pastry fix here. It sure beats some of the other egg tarts I’ve tasted across the island.

At $1.30 for one or $7.50 for a half-dozen, it’s pricier than those sold elsewhere but it comes in a festive crimson box, suitable for giving away during the 15 days of Chinese New Year (for those who want to give something more than just tangerines).

Rating: 3 of 5 stars