Jasmine Bager

In the mood for a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth Japanese cheesecake that is baked fresh daily with the finest ingredients — without leaving the Kingdom? Dig into Uncle Tetsu’s offerings.

With bold signs in the shop stating that it was the “No. 1 selling Japanese cheesecake in the world,” the original dessert is worthy of the label. It could easily satisfy a sweet craving without being overly indulgent.

Made with a carefully curated selection of whipped cream cheese, soft butter and organic eggs, it is baked Japanese-style, which transforms it into a seemingly weightless, pillowy and moist cake, with just a bit of bite. The instantly recognizable Uncle Tetsu logo, the jolly pastry chef with eyeglasses and a red scarf, is branded atop each cake.

The delectable dessert was first made on Oyafuko Street in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1985 by Tetsushi Mizokami, to whom the name is attributed. The pastry shop opened up its first Middle East branch in Dubai in late 2018, then in Riyadh, Dhahran and Jeddah.

The box that it comes in recommends that the contents be consumed within three days of purchase, and the staff member on duty told Arab News that it doesn’t freeze well, “so you might have no choice but to eat it all in one go.”

The 6-inch dessert comfortably feeds several people in the market for a good snack but could also be enjoyed solo with a fork.

The original goes for SR34 ($9) and is a best-seller. The chocolate cheesecake is priced at SR37.

You may also try Uncle Tetsu’s new date cheesecake, which is only served on the weekends. It resembles the original except for tiny bits of dates mixed into the batter. It goes for SR39, the same price as the saffron and cardamom cheesecake.

If you’re looking for smaller portions that don’t require a fork at all, try the bite-sized stiffer cheesecakes or the madeleines.

You can grab a taste near Gate 5 at Dhahran Mall and at Jeddah’s Al-Salaam Mall. Check local listings for operating hours.

To check out any fresh deals and to scout their other locations, follow the pastry shop on Instagram @Uncle_Tetsu_GCC.