Hai Tang Bakery & Cafe

This is one of the best kept secrets for cheap food in Markham. When they first started they were pretty much a bakery only but over the years they became more and more a place where people came for good cheap HK style food.
The owners actually also opened the Hai Tang Café and Ocean Seafood in Richmond Hill, but this place was where they first started.
First of all the Chinese buns are average tasting but cheap and good sized. Where they got me hooked over the years was their set individual menus. Ordering system is basically order and pay at front cashier, try and find a seat and wait for them to call your order (they don’t give you a number)…Most of the workers only call out orders in Cantonese and sometimes Mandarin so keep an eye out for your order if you don’t speak the dialect:)
A variety of HK style meals from scrambled eggs on HK toast, to Beef Brisket on Rice, to Singapore Noodles, this bakery is more well known as a sit down or take out café these days. Best of all set menus go from $ 3 up to only $ 8 and they all come with a drink like tea, coffee, Horlicks, etc.
Some of my favourites are the Curry Chicken on Rice, Beef Brisket on Rice/​Noodle and a Beef Noodle Pickled Soup (Gwai Lam Mai).
Seating is very limited and more often then not full especially during morning and lunch rush. A lot of people just do take out as well.

Great bakery! Cheap and delicious.

Pretty standard fare for a lot of HK-​style bakeries in the area — bakery with a self-​serve food court-​esque ‘café’. Their breakfast menu covers the basic gamut of vermicellis/​noodles and eggs/​sausage/​toast combos. The food isn’t bad; the prices are low.

I haven’t been back in the last two years. Quality of food and buns have gone down, past what’s acceptable for my parents’ standards. We usually grab meals at May Doh and buns from Luculus if we’re in the area.

This is definitely the place to get your buns! I always come here to buy a pineapple bun with butter and a coffee for 2.10! Cheap and filling, all their buns are freshly baked and the staff are friendly once they get to know you.
Egg tarts are amazing and the food on the menu is cheap and delicious. It does get packed during morning and lunch and parking is hard to find in that plaza sometimes. But I’ve been coming here for the past 4 years and I’ll definitely be back for more.

4.5 stars. I’m a regular here and have been coming here on average one or two times a week. Very reliable cheap food. Typical hk style diner with hk style breakfast. Under 6 dollars out the door you get an entrée and a drink. One of the few places that have good milk tea and not bitter at all. Only downside is the seating is very limited. They are very fast but poor ordering system as the servers come out yelling the dish you ordered.

Where have I been in the past 8 years? I have missed so much action that happened at Hai Tang. This HK style tea café & bakery is doing high volume of business, and everyone seems to be happy. What a sunshine feeling!
We visited for breakfast, because I saw a flashing neon sign saying bun + coffee = $ 1.68. We grabbed a table quickly knowing this place get packed fast. I selected 2 buns and paid for them at counter (= self serve). My boyfriend ordered from the café menu himself at the counter (= self serve). A lady delivered his order to our table soon after. The portion was big. During the meal, we saw some ladies topping up the bun trays about 3 times within 10 minutes (= buns are really fresh in the morning).
This is a small efficient operation. The store is not sparkling clean nor is it dirty. Unlike other HK cafes, they don’t expect tips here.
Overall, outstanding place for a quick bite. 3 stars

Now I know where all these retirees goes in the Kennedy and 14^th area. They really all hang out at Hai Tang Bakery & Café.
I never been to a HK Style Café that is so buzzing with energy and full of older people. They are all just having a good time.
And with a coffee/​tea and any Chinese buns for $ 1.50 I don’t blame them.
The bun though I found them a little doughy and dry. and bland. However, it is huge in size. and it can really fill you up!
So until then, I guess I will stick with my croissants!

It’s definitely a Hong Kong style Bakery & Café… You’ll get that unpleasant vision if you’re not used to the somewhat uncleaned walls/​surroundings. I grew up in this environment literally so doesn’t bother me and the other HK regulars as you go to this self-​serve style Café.
The Bakery side looks pretty fresh as there’s constant patrons coming in and out for both the Bakery and the Café. I observed that the Pastry/​Baked Buns were still coming out this early afternoon and looking pretty enticing. You can even do your own Plastic SEALING of your items after you put into the bag as they have the Sealer right next to the register while the ladies are busy making Milk Teas.
The Café is also self-​serve as you try to get a Menu somewhere and go to the counter to make the order, although the Prepared Food does get served to your table but it’s still not considered waitservice. Around 25 Daily Special items on the Menu, all are under $ 5.00 makes this a pure HK Café you leave with a Fiver easily. Don’t even need to tip as you pay first at the register, rather than after your meal.
Preserved Vegetable & Pork w/​Rice Vermicelli ($ 3.50) is a small bowl but it was filled to the top that would satisfy the normal person. It comes with your choice of Hot Coffee or Milk Tea. I didn’t like the Milk Tea at all… Maybe change it to Lemon Tea or Honey Lemon (Add $ 0.20) next time.
2.5 *Star*