Dreams Are Made Of

Text and images by Mabel Lui.

From Dominique Ansel to Radio Bakery, New York has long been a Mecca of viral bakeries.

Some have even become synonymous with certain specialities, but not all of these creations deserve the praise that is bestowed upon them by overzealous influencers.

Here are three that you should skip, even if your algorithm tells you otherwise.

Cinnamon bun from Hani’s

Since Hani’s opened in the East Village at the end of last year, its entrance has continued to be flanked by a steady line of eager visitors hoping to sample sweet treats from chef-owner Miro Uskokovic (formerly of Gramercy Tavern).

Chief among the new bakery’s most popular baked goods is the cinnamon bun, which has made the Instagram rounds thanks to its thick blanket of malted milk cream cheese glaze.

But no amount of luscious icing can make up for the bun’s lacklustre brioche, which is noticeably dry and lacks the pillowy crumb it deserves.

If you do make the trip to Hani’s, know that one of its most delightful – and perhaps most underrated – offerings is the hibiscus rose morning bun, a flaky little treat that manages to be slightly tart despite being covered in a generous helping of sugar.

Scallion pancakes from Win Son Bakery

Now with two branches in the city, Win Son has gained popularity over the years for its Asian-inspired pastries and recreations of Taiwanese breakfast dishes, including the oft-recommended scallion pancakes.

These come in many versions, among them being chive, shrimp, and BEC (bacon, egg and cheese). All of them have been hailed to various degrees but the reality is that these are far too greasy and heavy, especially when paired with the accompanying ginger deluxe sauce.

Our recommendation: for breakfast, grab a fan tuan to go – either the tofu or pork rice roll with egg.

And for an afternoon pick-me-up, the millet mochi donut (pictured above) is a winner.

Chocolate chip cookies from Levain Bakery

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Levain’s chocolate chip cookies are singularly the most overhyped cookies in New York City.

Time and again, tourists will put these monstrous cookies at the top of their must-try list, but the dough of these cookies is disappointingly flavourless – there’s no note of caramelization or brown butter here – and texturally, the cookies go from dry on the outside to raw on the inside, with no chewiness in between.

These are gooey cookies, people say, but the underbaking and melty puddles of chocolate feel like a disguise for a subpar recipe.

A friend once said that they would prefer a Subway cookie over these, and it’s hard to disagree.