Celebrations of the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Moon Festival, are hardly complete without mooncakes.
The tiny cakes, which originated more than 3,000 years ago in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, comprise dense sweet or savory fillings — think red bean paste and smoked meats — encased by an amber-brown pastry shell embossed with ornate designs taken from geometric patterns, floral designs or language characters. The baked treats often feature a center of salted egg yolk to evoke the full moon. As such, consuming mooncakes can symbolize completeness.
Asian communities in Orange County, most notably Westminster’s Little Saigon, are home to family-owned shops and bakeries, plus a Michelin-starred restaurant, offering unique handmade mooncakes for the holiday. By no means a comprehensive list, here are some choice places in Orange County to find these lunar-inspired confections. But take heed: Not only are the best selections of mooncakes available before noon, they also sell out daily.
The Mid-Autumn Festival happens Tuesday, Sept. 17.
85°C Bakery Cafe (multiple locations): With locations in Irvine, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Orange and Tustin, this international chain has a slew of Taiwanese-style mooncakes from which to choose. You can also order a 9-piece gift box ($35) or a 12-piece gift box ($45) while supplies last. 915 Spectrum Center Drive, suite 915, Irvine; 1100 Irvine Blvd., Tustin; 8637 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley; 3533 E Chapman Ave., Orange; 9892 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove
99 Ranch Market (multiple locations): This local chain offers an abundance of mooncakes at its stores, which can be found in Anaheim, Irvine and Tustin. 5402 Walnut Ave., Irvine; 651 N Euclid St., Anaheim; 550 E. First St., Tustin
The Buttery (Fountain Valley): Once a year, according to LA-based food and travel writer Kristie Hang, this Fountain Valley shop makes Vietnamese mooncakes. “The mooncakes are made using a wine and sugar syrup that takes at least six months to make,” she writes. They also come in a variety of flavors like roasted chichek, mushroom and nuts, sticky rice mochi, and taro and lotus seed, to name a few. 9430 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley
Dong Hung Vien Bakery (Westminster): The seasonal mooncakes here feature traditional baked and snow skin mooncakes, as well as vegan ones. Flavors range from savory mixed nut fillings or to sweet lotus seed paste. Vegan options include durian, coconut, taro, mung bean and more. 8536 Westminster Blvd., Westminster
H Mart (Irvine): Korean grocery chain, with five O.C. locations (including three in Irvine), stocks its shelves with mooncakes aplenty. Enjoy traditional ones with lotus seed paste with salted egg yolks or more contemporary ones like green tea paste or lava custard. 2600 Alton Parkway, Irvine; 3825 Alton Parkway, Irvine; 3931 Irvine Blvd., Irvine; 8911 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove; 5111 Beach Blvd., Buena Park
J.J. Bakery (Irvine): In addition to the traditional mooncake flavor, this Irvine spot sells pineapple, green tea, dates and other iterations. Of special note is the large five seed mooncake packed with melon seeds, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts and sesame. So big it’s sliceable. 15333 Culver Drive, Irvine
Tiny mooncakes will be part of Knife Pleat’s afternoon tea on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Photo courtesy of Knife Pleat)
Kawaii Bakery (Fountain Valley): This bakery specializes in Taiwanese bakes, including mini mooncakes for those who prefer bite-size fun. 17020 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley
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Kim Ninh Bakery (Westminster): Charming cafe and bakery that offers a slew of mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival. While you’re there, grab a few bánh tiêu (fried sesame doughnuts). 8441 Westminster Blvd., Westminster
Knife Pleat (Costa Mesa): Should you yearn for a top-drawer celebration, one-star Michelin sparkler Knife Pleat in South Coast Plaza will have a special Autumn Harvest Festival afternoon tea on Saturday, Sept. 14, featuring a handful of hand-made pastries, including a mooncake packed with aduki red beans and lotus bean paste. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa
My Hiep (Westminster): Found just off Bishop Place, this Vietnamese bakery is stocked with mooncakes in more than 40 flavors. Savory cakes include roasted chicken or duran mung bean paste, while sweet cakes run the gamut from classic red bean paste and pineapple to sticky rice and taro. This small shop features four cases filled with mooncakes, so you’re sure to find something if you’re looking for a last-minute score. 15191 Weststate St., Westminster
Sunmerry Bakery (Garden Grove, Irvine): Boasting mooncakes in a variety of colors and shapes, this Chinese bakery makes them in such flavors as mocha, oolong matcha tea, chocolate, milk tea, ube, taro, red bean, lotus paste and more. Some of them even have a lava-cake like center. 14805 Jeffrey Road, Irvine; 13908 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove
