Kim Hung Bakery

Introduction / Overview

For Californians seeking a truly authentic taste of traditional Asian confections, Kim Hung Bakery stands out as a beloved, family-owned institution in the heart of Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown. This is not just another bakery; it is a cultural and culinary landmark that has been serving the community for over two decades, preserving the art of traditional Chinese and Vietnamese baking. From the moment you step inside this small, unassuming shop on Broadway, you are greeted with the sweet, comforting aroma of freshly baked goods that are crafted with quality ingredients and deep-rooted family recipes.

Kim Hung Bakery specializes in a wide array of Chinese pastries, bridging multiple regional styles including Cantonese, Vietnamese, and the rarer Chiu Chow-style, offering a diverse selection that goes far beyond typical commercial bakeries. What truly sets Kim Hung apart is its commitment to authenticity and value. Customers consistently praise the large portions and reasonable prices, a refreshing find in the competitive Los Angeles food scene. The offerings range from familiar favorites like almond cookies and egg tarts to specialty items that draw dedicated patrons from across Southern California, making a visit to this Chinatown staple a necessary pilgrimage for any serious food enthusiast.

The bakery is perhaps most famous for two distinct specialties: their exceptional Mooncakes and their unique take on the traditional Wife Cake. During the Mid-Autumn Festival season—known by various names including Moon Festival or Tết Trung Thu—Kim Hung Bakery becomes a hub for those seeking the very best, freshest mooncakes in the region. They offer a stunning variety of fillings, including traditional lotus seed, red bean, winter melon, and mung bean, often with the addition of salted egg yolks, as well as unique options like durian paste. Furthermore, their dedication to quality extends to their everyday treats, ensuring that every visit, whether for a holiday treat or a simple daytime snack, is a memorable one.

In a world of mass-produced sweets, Kim Hung Bakery provides an essential, authentic link to Asian pastry traditions. Their use of fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques ensures that their products deliver complex, clean flavors that are often hard to replicate. Whether you're a long-time resident of LA or on a culinary road trip through California, Kim Hung Bakery offers a sweet, cultural experience that is truly one of a kind.

Location and Accessibility

Kim Hung Bakery is ideally located in the bustling and historic center of Los Angeles' Chinatown, making it a convenient stop for locals and visitors exploring the area. The address places it right in the heart of the community, easily accessible from major roads and public transport options in Downtown Los Angeles.

The address for this traditional bakery is:

959 1/2 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

The location on N Broadway is known for its proximity to other popular eateries and shops, contributing to a vibrant, walk-friendly environment. For those arriving by car, one significant advantage noted by patrons is the relative ease of finding street parking in the vicinity, which is a considerable convenience for any visit to Chinatown.

The bakery is set up for simple and quick visits, which is ideal when you need to grab a delightful treat without a long wait. The services are tailored for efficiency and convenience, with options for:

• In-store shopping: Allowing customers to browse the tempting display of baked goods and make their selections using tongs and trays.
• Takeout: Perfect for a quick grab-and-go experience.
• In-store pickup: A convenient option for pre-orders or quick retrieval.

This Chinatown staple is designed for a Quick visit, making it an efficient way to satisfy a sweet tooth or pick up traditional items for a gathering.

Services Offered

• In-store shopping: Customers can select from a wide variety of fresh, traditional Chinese and Asian-inspired pastries displayed in the case and on shelves.
• Takeout Service: All items are available for convenient takeout, perfect for enjoying on the go or sharing at home.
• In-store Pickup: Supports efficient service for customers, though it is always recommended to call ahead for large orders, especially around peak holiday seasons like the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Quick Visit Planning: The bakery is well-suited for a fast and efficient stop, making it easy to incorporate into a busy day in Los Angeles.
• Payment Options: The bakery accepts Debit Cards, ensuring a flexible and modern payment process for its customers.
• Seasonal Pop-up/Vendor Service: The bakery occasionally operates as a vendor at other locations in Southern California, such as Santa Ana, allowing their quality goods to reach a wider audience in SoCal.

Features / Highlights

• Mooncake Expertise: Kim Hung Bakery is consistently named among the best places in Southern California for authentic mooncakes, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They offer a broad selection including Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Chiu Chow-style cakes with fresh, quality fillings like lotus seed, red bean, winter melon, mung bean, and durian, often with multiple salted egg yolks.
• The Unique Wife Cake: A standout specialty is their version of the Wife Cake (Lao Po Bing), which is described as being particularly unique. Unlike common recipes, Kim Hung's version features an intriguing combination of wintermelon and a variety of seeds, providing a complex, satisfying taste and texture that sets it apart from typical interpretations.
• Authenticity and Quality: Patrons highly value the bakery's authentic Chinese recipes and commitment to quality ingredients, which results in clean flavors and tender, flaky textures across their entire range of pastries.
• Excellent Value and Portions: Customers frequently note the very reasonable prices and generous portion sizes, offering a great value proposition for fresh, hand-crafted baked goods in the Los Angeles area.
• Everyday Traditional Favorites: Beyond their seasonal stars, the bakery is highly regarded for classics such as peanut cookies (made from a traditional family recipe), almond cookies, egg tarts, and the Banh In Dau Xanh (a white pastry with white mung bean filling), ensuring delicious options are available year-round.
• Community Staple: As an almost 25-year staple in LA's historic Chinatown, Kim Hung Bakery embodies a strong sense of cultural heritage and tradition, providing an essential taste of Asian sweets to the diverse California community.

Contact Information

To plan your visit and experience the authentic flavors of this Chinatown favorite, here is the essential contact information for Kim Hung Bakery.

Address: 959 1/2 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

Phone: (213) 620-9815

It is always recommended to call the bakery directly, particularly for inquiries about seasonal availability (such as mooncakes) or for placing large custom orders.

What is worth choosing

For any Californian looking for an authentic and high-quality Chinese bakery experience, Kim Hung Bakery is unquestionably worth choosing. The value here lies in its dedication to tradition and its specialized menu items that are hard to find executed this well elsewhere in Southern California.

If your visit coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival (typically in the late summer or early fall), their Mooncakes are the undisputed star. Patrons often describe them as the best they’ve ever tasted, with fillings like Mung Bean and Durian paste or the traditional options with multiple salted egg yolks being highly coveted. Making the effort to try these is an essential cultural and culinary experience in SoCal.

On any regular day, the Wife Cake is a must-try. The unique texture and complex flavor from the inclusion of wintermelon and various seeds distinguish it from any commercial version, offering a true taste of traditional craftsmanship. The bakery’s Peanut Cookies are also a popular choice—crunchy, fresh, and not overly sweet, made using a time-intensive family recipe that is highly addictive.

Kim Hung Bakery offers more than just a sweet treat; it offers an authentic, affordable glimpse into Asian culinary heritage, right in the heart of Los Angeles. For a friendly, high-quality, and richly authentic experience with generous portions, there is no better choice in the LA area. Whether you're picking up a quick snack or stocking up on festive goods, you can expect to receive quality products that are made with heart and tradition.

Kim Hung Bakery

959 1/2 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA