PETALING JAYA, May 29 — The baked cheese tart craze has started. Already taking Singapore and Hong Kong by storm, the Japanese-style baked cheese tarts from Bake, a popular cheese tart bakery from Japan, have become such hot property that many don't mind queueing up for the tarts fresh from the oven to enjoy their mousse-like filling paired with crisp pastry.

Now, we get to taste the food phenomenon for ourselves as two places in the Klang Valley have launched their version of the baked cheese tart.

There's no queues at Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart outlet at AEON Mall Shah Alam

The first is Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart at AEON Mall Shah Alam. It comes under the umbrella of the Life is Sweet Bake Shoppe that is owned by Red Lobster Restaurant Sdn. Bhd.

Their next outlet will be opening at the Lower Ground Floor of Subang's Empire Shopping Gallery on June 1. There will be an opening promotion where each person qualifies for one free baked cheese tart from 12pm to 2pm.

Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is available at the counter

They are currently selling their baked cheese tarts for RM5.80 per piece. If you purchase five pieces, you get a free tart (six tarts for RM29). There are two flavours available at the Shah Alam outlet, the original and a durian version.

Most times even though the durian version is advertised, it's not been available the two times we visited the place. For their new outlet in Empire Shopping Gallery, there are plans to unveil more flavours like Nutella chocolate and salted egg yolk.

Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart is smaller with a paler colour and biscuit-like crust

The tart measures about 6 1/2 cm in diameter with a thickness of 1cm. It has a soft molten like centre with a biscuit-like crust that is slightly too thick for our liking.

The Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart has a soft luscious centre at room temperature

When we visited their outlet in Shah Alam, the tarts were pre-baked and available at the counter. The tarts also tend to have a less golden brown colour and still retains most of its yellow creamy colour. In terms of taste, there's not much flavour to these soft lava cheese tarts.

The queues on Saturday at Tokyo Secret

Launched last Friday, Tokyo Secret sells their Hanjyuku cheese tart with a melting gooey core. It is said to be made from a secret recipe that includes three types of cheeses which are directly imported from Japan.

Enjoy the soft molten core for Tokyo Secret's Hanjyuku cheese tarts

The dessert shop started out at Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong with its cold desserts. In Malaysia, they offer three types of cold desserts like the Maple Volcano, Fujiyama Winter and Uji Forest that has a price range from RM16 to RM19.

There is also their fusion affogatto, a Kyoto Mocha and Hokkaido Mountain using Hokkaido milk. You can also order various add-ons to the affogato like mango jam, honey rose latte, Tokachi red beans, chestnut, purple sweet potato and shiratama dango. From what we understand, the Hong Kong owner has partnered with a few locals to open this outlet at IPC.

But back to the tart. It has a diameter of 8cm and 2 1/2 cm thickness. It is sold at RM7.90 per piece. There is also a deeper golden brown colour compared to the paler-looking Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart.

Packing Tokyo Secret Hanjyuku cheese tarts when they are hot from the oven

For their opening promotion this weekend — May 28 and 29 — Tokyo Secret is offering a buy one, free one promotion. This is on the condition that you show their Instagram account being followed during your purchase.

On Saturday, there were queues for the tarts that are baked in batches (24 pieces per tray). It took about 30 minutes to grab the cheese tarts fresh from the oven. As the place is quite small, there are only a few tables and chairs to sit and enjoy the cheese tarts, so it's mainly takeaway.

The molten core of Tokyo Secret's Hanjyuku cheese tarts

Following an overwhelming response that saw the cheese tarts being sold out by 3pm on their second day of business, Tokyo Secret has decided to limit the cheese tarts to just two pieces per person to ensure everyone gets to try the tarts. They will also start selling the tarts from 12pm on Sunday. 

The baked cheese tarts can be enjoyed three ways. When it's hot from the oven, the Tokyo Secret tarts have a soft melting centre that oozes out when you split the flaky crust apart. As the Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart are often pre-baked ahead and kept on the counter, we have not had the opportunity to sample it fresh from the oven.

The baked cheese tarts from Tokyo Secret have a more brown colour and a flaky crust

When it cools down, the Tokyo Secret tarts lose their molten core but it's still soft and luscious. On the other hand, when the Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart cools down, it retains its soft flowing centre.

Some prefer it chilled in the refrigerator, as it resembles a cheesecake. Both the Tokyo Secret and Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart have a silkier mouthfeel when eaten chilled. The Tokyo Secret tart has a distinct taste of the salty and sweet flavours of the cream cheese filling when it's chilled. The Tokyo Secret tarts have a flaky crust that remains when you eat it the three different ways while the Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart tend to display a firmer biscuit like crust.

Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart G-08 & G-09, AEON Mall Shah Alam Section 13, Shah Alam

LG Floor, Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya

For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/hokkaidobakedcheesetart/

Tokyo Secret Lot No: G23 (next to Mac City and opposite Starbucks), IPC Shopping Centre 2, Jalan PJU 6/2, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya Tel: 03-7725 7835

For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/tokyosecretmy/, http://www.tokyosecret.com and https://www.facebook.com/tokyosecretmalaysia