Crisp Portuguese Egg Tarts and Hong Kong Milk Tea

Start with the Portuguese egg tarts, where a crisp, flaky shell holds a soft custard center freckled with dark caramelized spots. They pack neatly into a white box for the walk home, and the glass case nearby keeps the temptation going with fruit topped cakes, frosted rounds, and dense chocolate slabs.

The counter reaches past tarts into sandwich bread, brownie cake, passion fruit pudding, and taro fruit cake. Hong Kong style milk tea is the natural partner for a tart, while the sweet fruit teas let you trade boba for lychee jelly and a different chew. Seating is scarce, and the shop runs as a quick grab and go counter more than a place to linger.

Lily Bloom Bakery sits at 8614 5th Ave in Brooklyn and opens daily from a quarter to eight in the morning until half past five in the evening. A morning tart and tea run fits easily before work. Its 4.4 average across 227 reviews leans on praise for the tarts, the desserts, the drinks, and a clean, tidy shop.