J’adore Les Macarons!

Much like the French themselves, the macaron is an enigmatic treat. Often confused with the denser macaroon, this light n’ airy confection is made of rich buttercream filling sandwiched by two delicate shells made of egg whites, sugar and almond powder. Once confined to staid varietals like chocolate and caramel, these days outlets are cooking up bold flavors such as ginger and mango. They’re popping up in every pastry case, so we decided to pound the pavement and take on a comprehensive taste test.

Paul Lafayet ★★★★
Paul Lafayet differentiates itself from other macaron franchises by really catering to local taste buds. Here you’ll find ginger, green tea, and black sesame-flavored delights in pretty pastels. But don’t be fooled by their modest hues—these little pastries bite back with some sharp flavors (the ginger is an absolute favorite of ours, full of the fresh and zingy flavors of the real thing). PL’s macarons have distinct, crumbly meringue shells that bulge over their cream fillings. They also offer regular flavors, including rose, pistachio and chocolate, to complete their extensive collection.
G23, K11 Mall, 18 Hanoi Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 3586-9621

La Maison du Chocolat ★★★★★
This popular sweets house does their chocolates well—and their macarons superbly. With a delicately thin outer crust sealing in the moisture of the meringue shell, and a sinfully thick layer of filling oozing out after any contact, Maison du Chocolat’s understatedly simple offerings (the chocolate and pistachio get our votes) achieve the best balance of flavor and intensity out of all the macarons we tasted. The chocolate macarons, in particular, sport a thick, viscous texture and waver somewhere between sweet and nutty, with just a tinge of its dark chocolate’s astringency.
2/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2522-2010

Jean Paul Hevin ★★★★
Jean Paul Hevin doesn’t shy away from variety, and their selection of two-toned and creatively flavored macarons reflect this abundance in choice. There are 11 flavors to pick from, with mango, coffee, raspberry and crème brulee standing out over less exotic but just as delicious flavors. JPH’s macarons crumble in your mouth, flawlessly fusing a liquidy center with a chewy, moist crust. The proportion of shell to filling is exact and balanced, leaving you longing for more after each bite. JPH flavors are more intense and heavy than some of the milder counterparts we’ve tried.
Shop 2045A, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Cental, 2111-9770

Le Gouter Bernardaud ★★★
Le Gouter Bernardaud loves to tempt patrons during tea time with their immaculate glass case of dainty macarons. New flavors pop up now and then, the latest one being a cutesy candy-garnished black forest. LGB has the classic staples (pistachio, chocolate and rose) covered, but they also venture into exotic territory: the banana and cream cheese ones are our favorites. Macarons at LBG are flatter in appearance, with a dry, airy shell and a thin filling making them perfect for a light afternoon snack. Those of us who’ve become accustomed to more moist, decadent offerings, however, might find this variety a bit off-putting. Compared to the strong, vibrant colors of the shells, the macarons’ flavors are relatively mild.
Shop 2009, Elements Mall, 1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 2820-9675

Three-Sixty ★★
The cheapest of the lot at $12 each, Three-Sixty’s macarons look pretty enough on the outside. But upon further inspection, we discovered that they contain a relatively dry and crusty shell with only a miserly dollop of cream filling. Most of the tops are specked with chocolate bits or pistachio flakes to complement their respective flavors, and this helps boost their appearance but not so much their taste.
4/F, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2111-4480

Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon ★★★★
On top of their delectable sandwiches and lavish tea sets, Le Salon de Thé also offers a limited variety of macarons for takeaway. While the regular-sized pastries cannot be bought individually (they must be purchased in gift sets), Le Salon sells cookie-sized chocolate and caramel varieties for the handsome sum of $30 each. The egg-yolk yellow caramel macaron, with its sturdy, firm shell, is a taste of heaven—bursting with sugary goodness. The milky chocolate macaron has a semi-translucent filling and is also delectable.
3/F, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2166-9000

Vero ★★★★
Picking a macaron at Vero is like picking a diamond necklace from a jewelry store—they are that irresistibly attractive. With unique flavors such as cassis and passion fruit balancing out a more traditional array of chocolate and caramel, Vero’s square-shaped macarons are glazed with a layer of real chocolate (and sometimes specks of gold leaf) on top. The flavors tend toward the mild side, with a thick layer of cream filling paired with daintily thin meringue shells.
1/F, Fenwick Pier, 1 Lung King St., Wan Chai, 2559-5812

Che Che New York ★★★
Che Che is a designer boutique that sells handbags, cute collectibles… and macarons. And out of all the macarons we tasted, Che Che’s selections are some of the most unique of the lot: take the kumquat and guava flavors filled with jam, for instance. We applaud Che Che for their boldness, although their fluffy macaron shells and undiluted flavors might not cater to everyone’s tastes. The kumquat macaron is sharply tangy and evokes tamarind paste—an intense contrast that sometimes overpowers the delicate meringue above. It definitely works, as long as light n’ airy isn’t your cup of tea.
Shop L1-38, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong