Some desserts carry decades of history in every bite. Kwan Kee Store (坤記糕品) is one of them. Hubby and I spotted this Michelin-recommended Hong Kong dessert shop while wandering around AEON Tebrau in JB. We couldn’t resist. We packed two boxes back to our hotel and ate our way through six treats. Here’s my honest take.
Kwan Kee Store: A Slice of Hong Kong History
Kwan Kee Store opened in 1965 and made its name in Sham Shui Po. The Michelin Guide named it Recommended Street Food for six straight years, from 2016 to 2021.
The secret? The team stone-mills rice into rice milk paste every single day. It’s an ancient method, and few shops bother with it anymore.
Sadly, the original storefront shut its doors in 2023 when the owner retired. The good news? The brand now lives on in Malaysia.
Where to Find Kwan Kee Store in JB
JB currently has three outlets:
- Mid Valley Southkey
- AEON Tebrau (the one we visited)
- Holiday Villa (opposite KSL)
Good to know:
- Free samples: You can taste most items before you buy. The mochi rolls are the only exception.
- Travel-friendly packaging: The staff arrange the cakes neatly in paper boxes. Everything survived the trip back to our hotel in perfect shape.
What We Tried at Kwan Kee Store
White Sugar Sponge Cake – RM4.90
Hubby loved this one. Me? Not so much. It tastes exactly like its name. Think huat kueh, but the white sugar version. The texture feels slightly chewy, springy and bouncy. Traditional yeast fermentation gives it a faint sour undertone. It’s proper old-school stuff. I’m just not a white sugar cake person.
Steamed Almond Cake – RM7.90
This one smells of Chinese apricot kernel (sweet almond). Imagine Chinese almond paste dessert in agar agar form. The flavour hits the mark. The texture doesn’t. It feels dense and firm, like a sturdier agar agar. Full disclosure: I don’t even like agar agar to begin with.
Steamed Red Bean Cake – RM6.90
My favourite of the lot. The red beans smell wonderfully fragrant. Picture red bean soup reduced into a solid pudding cake. Tender whole beans add bite, so it never feels one-note.
Mango Sago Pomelo Sticky Rice Roll – RM6.90
I expected a soft, creamy filling. Instead, I found blended mango in a firm, agar agar-style set, with mochi hugging the outside. The mochi? Lovely. Smooth and soft. But the mango tastes mild, and I couldn’t find the sago or pomelo anywhere. A bit of a letdown.
Sweet Corn Sticky Rice Roll – RM6.90
Same style here. A firm corn pudding sits inside the mochi. It reminds me of Malay kueh jagung. Little bits of corn give it some texture.
Osmanthus Cake – RM7.90
A winner. The osmanthus really shines. It tastes fragrant, clean, refreshing and subtly floral. The texture bounces nicely, especially when you chill it. Pro tip: pop it in the fridge before eating.
My Verdict on Kwan Kee Store
Kwan Kee Store makes a fun stop for first-timers. I enjoyed the history and the craft behind it. But I wouldn’t rush back. Most of the cakes lean too dense and firm for me. I prefer softer textures. If you love bouncy, old-school kueh, you might feel differently.
- Must-try: Steamed Red Bean Cake, Osmanthus Cake
- Skip if you dislike firm textures: Steamed Almond Cake, Mango Sago Pomelo Roll
- Price range: RM4.90 to RM13.90 per item
Craving Kwan Kee Store in Singapore?
Don’t fancy the Causeway jam? Mi Dian has teamed up with Kwan Kee Store JB, so you can grab these sweet treats in Singapore too. Find Mi Dian at:
- 313@Somerset
- Wisma Atria
- Lau Pa Sat
- Joo Chiat Road
