What sweet pastry is a dim sum classic filled with egg custard?

The sweet pastry filled with egg custard that is a dim sum classic is an egg tart. It consists of a pastry shell holding a smooth, lightly sweetened egg-custard filling, and it is served at dim sum restaurants, Chinese bakeries, and Hong Kong-style cafés.

Cantonese egg tarts developed in Guangzhou in the early 20th century, influenced by English custard tarts and other European pastries. Hong Kong later popularized its own version, which is usually smaller and may use either puff pastry or a shortbread-style crust. Hong Kong cafés began serving egg tarts more widely in the 1960s.

Egg tarts are related to, but not identical with, Macau’s Portuguese-influenced pastel de nata. The Macau style generally features a more caramelized top, while Cantonese and Hong Kong versions usually emphasize a smooth, pale custard. Mooncakes and sponge cakes are also dim sum sweets, but neither is an egg-custard tart.