Chinatown Legend Harper’s Bread House Is Open After All [Updated]

After initially appearing to be closed, Eater has now confirmed that historic Chinatown bakery Harper’s Bread House is open after all. The bakery — considered by many to be Chinatown’s best — had been closed for about two weeks, according to customers at the location Oct. 2, but has since reopened.

Previous attempts to reach the restaurant via phone went unanswered due to a disconnected phone line, and the bakery appeared empty and devoid of furniture earlier in the week. Multiple Eater commenters, though, reported that the bakery was in fact open today.

Located at the corner of Grand and Forsyth streets, the decades-old bakery is known for its traditional Cantonese pastries like the egg tart, presented with real Hong Kong flair. While it offers the classic, pale yellow dan tat, it also provides the original Portuguese version of the egg tart, with a firmer and flakier crust and a wildly yellow custard. The bakery also does a Brazilian version using coconut milk. The bakery also specializes in Japanese rice balls.

Eater critic Robert Sietsema is particularly fond of the restaurant’s ham and egg sandwich, and has also recommended several desserts at the bakery in the past including the matcha sponge cake, and the taro waffle.

While New York City’s Chinatowns have been rocked by coronavirus-related closures just like everywhere else in the city, these neighborhoods has been particularly hard hit due in part to xenophobia, which has further affected businesses. Harper’s closure was not permanent, but more than a 1,000 NYC restaurants have closed since March due to the financial downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Sietsema/Eater

— Additional reporting by Robert Sietsema

UPDATE 10/2/20 3:30 p.m.: This post has been updated to indicate the restaurant has not closed permanently.