Vintage old-school buttercream cakes are a sweet walk down memory lane. Those born before the 1990s would remember the authentic buttercream cakes decorated with colourful flowers and childhood cartoon characters, often seen during birthday parties and special celebrations. These cakes, made with light sponge and generous swirls of rich, colourful cream, were once the highlight of every occasion.
Along Jalan Sungai Besi, Chen Tiang Cake House has been carrying this tradition since 1961. This is one of the oldest cake houses in KL with a 68-year-old history behind it. Its charming old-fashioned signboard and classic shopfront immediately transport visitors back in time. The bakery offers more than 30 varieties of vintage cakes and pastries, carefully preserved through the decades by the second and third generations of the Han family.
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According to Lois Lim, the third generation of the family, the bakery was founded by her grandfather, Han Yooi Kang, who started with a small kiosk in a kopitiam before expanding into the current shop. Her grandmother, Wang Ying oined the business soon after marriage and still works there today. Many of the staff, recipes, and even baking equipment have remained unchanged for six decades.
Lim credits the bakery’s longevity to loyalty, both from staff who stayed since the early days and customers who continue to return for the comfort of familiar flavours. Many of their loyal customers, mainly Chinese and Malay elderly residents around Pudu, appreciate that all ingredients used are halal-certified.
Cut into neat rectangles, Chen Tiang’s cakes feature classic 90s flavours such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. In the 1960s, each slice cost only 20 sen. Today, at RM3 per slice, it is still among the most affordable buttercream cakes in the Klang Valley. The bakery also offers cream puffs, Portuguese egg tarts, soft tuna buns, and other daily-baked favourites, all made with halal ingredients.
Their storefront, with its open display of breads, cakes, doughnuts and pastries, is a nostalgic sight. The colourful vintage cakes in the fridge unchanged in design for decades, remain the bakery’s biggest draw. They also offer vegetarian eggless cakes for customers who prefer them.
Lim said it has not been easy to survive through various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, but the support of loyal customers keeps their heritage alive. While modern cakes dominate social media, many still seek out vintage buttercream cakes for their distinctive taste and sentimental value.
For loyal customer Ahmad Fateh Abdullah the bakery is more than just a place to buy cakes, it is part of his fondest memories. He recalls buying their bread for breakfast back in school and choosing Chen Tiang’s cakes for celebrations because they were “not too sweet, airy, and just nice.” Knowing that all items are made with halal ingredients gives him confidence to enjoy them without hesitation.
Over in Petaling Jaya, another heritage bakery, Australian Bakery Since 1970, has remained a beloved spot for vintage buttercream cakes, tarts and cream puffs. Helmed by Chan Kah Heng, 68, the bakery preserves the aroma and flavours cherished by those who grew up in the 1970s, while also introducing new cakes to suit modern tastes.
Chan shared that he learned baking by helping his father, a bread distributor, before opening the bakery together in 1970. Their buttercream cakes remain bestsellers, especially for birthdays and anniversaries. Over the years, they have added Red Velvet, Onde-Onde cakes, Japanese sponge, durian cakes, and more, all created to meet evolving customer preferences.
In May, they opened a second outlet in Bangsar, run by Chan’s eldest son, Philip. Both outlets together offer about 250 types of bread and cakes. Despite rising ingredient costs, Philip says they strive to keep prices reasonable. Their vintage buttercream cake, once 20 sen a slice in the 1970s, is now priced at RM3.50.
Philip believes the demand for vintage cakes will endure, as these traditional flavours are hard to find in modern bakeries. He says taste, smell, and texture often trigger powerful memories and for many, vintage buttercream cakes bring back the warmth of childhood celebrations.
