New York’s New Food Craze: Bouncy Cheesecakes
The Asian twist of New York’s famous dessert, the cheesecake, has finally arrived, and it satisfies people’s guilty pleasure in a not so guilty way.
“It’s really soft with a sponge cake texture, but a mild cheesy flavor,” said Amy Nguyen, A freshman at Fordham University while sharing a full bouncy cheesecake with two of her friends.
Keki Modern Cakes specializes in fluffy Japanese cheesecakes loaded with eggs which are light with a jiggly bounce instead of the rich and creamy one many are familiar with. Because of its lighter ingredient choices, many think it’s a healthier alternative, and perfect for a quick dessert.
“It’s not overwhelmingly sweet like other cakes,” said Shuran Wang, referring to the desserts accessible to her in Pennsylvania, where she goes to school. “It’s also perfect for sharing on Instagram Stories, and the cake looks really appealing when you bounce it.” Shuran was tempted by her friend’s Instagram Story who posted Keki Modern Cake’s bouncy during spring break. “I knew I had to come here when I visit New York,” she said, as she forked a piece of cake into her smile.
The small store with only a small display counter that double serves as a cashier greets its customers with a warm, sweet smell of milk, eggs mixed with creamy cheese. It brings you straight back to childhood.
Cakes are baked every 25 minutes to ensure that customers can taste the cake when its freshest, according to the cashier. Fresh from the oven, and stamped with a hot iron, the cake is printed with the Keki logo. The cake, still a little warm, melts in the mouth with a eggy flavor, almost like French Toast while still creamy and cheesy like a regular cheesecake. The bouncy cheesecake, priced at $13.75 for a whole 6-inch cake, can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. The cake has a creamier texture that is richer when it is cooled.
Unfortunately, the cake does not sell individual slices, a complaint that is often given to the store. “Last weekend, I just wanted a slice, and I ended up having to carry the cake box for an entire day,” complained Andrew Han. “I ended up giving my cake to my friend that I met up with in the afternoon, and that’s why I’m here again,” he said with a laugh.
Most of Keki Modern Cakes’ desserts are meant to be shared, but there are also other options if the bouncy cheesecake is too large. “The castella cake is slightly smaller,” recommends the cashier. Originated from Taiwan, the castella cake is a sponge cake made with 53 eggs in a 50x24 inch pan. The huge cake is then cut into ten large rectangles and sold for $9.75. Keki Modern Cakes also offers green tea bouncy cheesecakes, cheese tarts, and four fancy cheesecakes, strawberry, Thai tea, green tea, and original flavored. The fancy cheesecakes resemble the famous New York cheesecake more while adding an extra layer and topped with castella flakes for a fancy look. With the wide range of choices, the bouncy cheesecake and castella cake are still the favorites amongst cueing customers while they look through the window of the store, watching the cake-making process.
Many also mentioned that Keki Modern Cakes is very similar to the famous cheesecake chain in Japan, Uncle Tetsu. Specializing in the same bouncy cheesecake, Uncle Tetsu is extremely successful in Asia, having many locations throughout Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia. It recently also expanded into North America, opening a location in Toronto and Los Angeles.
“It’s a little drier and not as airy,” Janne Miyuki said, comparing to Uncle Tetsu. “But the castella cake is amazing, it’s so soft, and there’s this custard taste that’s not creamy.” Uncle Tetsu does not sell castella cake, and she recommends castella cakes to be an addition to their menu. “I also love the cake box, it’s really cute and creative,” Janne added.
Keki Modern Cakes has just celebrated the one year anniversary of its Chinatown location on Mott Street and recently opened its second location in Koreatown.
The Chinatown location recently received a grade B from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Though observation, the cleanliness of the store does not resemble the score. However, considering the location, on a dirty street of Chinatown, it is understandable how its surrounding neighbors could make sustaining the store in high sanitation standards difficult. Considering that it’s previous grading was an A with only two violation points, Keki Modern Cakes’ B should not be a concern.
