Top 4 spots in the metro to get your cheese tart fix

Manila has been experiencing a Japanese invasion in the food scene. These past couple of years, we’ve seen clamor for ramen, katsu, matcha, and more recently, Japanese-style cheese tarts. Can’t blame us for liking these rich, creamy, and habit-forming treats. Discover where you can satisfy your cravings for cheese tarts.

Kumori Japanese Bakery

Kumori's matcha cheese tart (above) and its signature cheese tart (below). Photos: Kumori

Kumori actually means "cloudy" in Japanese. The name is an apt description for its pastries, which will make you feel like you’re biting into clouds. Its Hanjuku cheesecakes are soft, fluffy, and will make you feel like you’re heaven. Recently, it released its Signature Cheese Tarts that come in two flavors—original and matcha. These goodies, along with its other bread, cakes and pastries, are handmade fresh daily.

Kumori has stores at the Lower Ground Level of SM Makati, Basement Level of Landmark Makati and Ground Floor, The Block, SM North EDSA.

Pablo

Pablo's medium rare cheese tart. Photo: Nikka Sarthou-Lainez

Just like in Osaka, foodies queued up for Pablo's popular cheese tarts when it opened in the Philippines. What’s revolutionary about it is that customers can dictate the tart's doneness much like a steak—though the local branch is only offering "medium rare" for now. Don’t worry, the gooey factor is still there, which is best experienced when fresh out of the oven. Aside from the original variant that’s creamy and a bit tart, there are also matcha and chocolate flavors for the more adventurous palates.

Pablo has stores at Robinsons Place Manila and Bonifacio High Street.

Uncle Tetsu

Uncle Tetsu's cheese tarts are the most affordable on the list. Photo: Uncle Tetsu

Uncle Tetsu made its way to the Philippine shores back in 2014 when it first introduced its melt-in-your-mouth Japanese cheesecake. This famous bakery from Fukuoka has been around since 1990, and has since established its presence in different parts of the globe. Now, it has ventured into more than just cheesecakes; it has cheese tarts, too. Choose the classic signature variant or the one baked with Oreo. Both have flaky pie crusts with fillings that have custard-like textures. These are the most affordable cheese tarts of the bunch.

Uncle Tetsu is located at the Upper Ground Level, Mega A of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

LAVA Cheese Tarts

LAVA uses four kinds of cheese for its proudly Pinoy cheese tarts. Photo: LAVA Cheese Tarts

The latest kid on the block, LAVA Cheese Tarts is a proud Filipino brand that offers perfectly baked rich and gooey cheese tarts that are at par with the ones from the Japanese franchises. The tarts use four kinds of cheeses sourced from different parts of the country, which create a sweet and salty blend that will please any epicure. For now, it has one flavor on the menu but it plans to release new variants soon.

LAVA Cheese Tarts is located at the Lower Ground Floor of SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Soon to open: BAKE Cheese Tart from Japan, said to be the “best cheese tart ever”. Watch out for it! — BM, GMA News