Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake

Special thanks to Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Ever since Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake (てつおじさんのチーズケーキ) opened an outlet at Summerton early this month, the shop enjoyed a long queue of customers every day. While it is normal for a new brand to receive overwhelming response in the beginning, the hype at Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake has been going on for months.

Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake is founded in Fukuoka (福岡), Japan by Mr. Tetsushi Mizokami (徹思溝上さん). His unique cheesecake recipe found widespread popularity in Japan, and is also well-received in Taiwan and China. Late 2014, the franchise reached Malaysian shores. Before the opening of this Summerton outlet, there are two more in 1 Utama and Sunway Pyramid.

To allow as many customers as possible to enjoy the Signature Cheesecake, each person is only allowed to purchase one cake per order. Nevertheless, the cakes are usually sold out by 2:00pm every day. It is highly advisable to arrive earlier, preferably to be the first 30 customers when the shop opens its doors at 11:00am.

According to the Malaysian franchisee of Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake, the long queue is an unintentional problem. A good problem, I may add. The outlet has capacity of 30 cakes per hour, which translates to 300 cakes per day. Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake is adamant about its policy not to take pre-orders by phone. I am not sure whether this is a good idea.

Each Signature Cheesecake (焼きたてチーズケーキ, RM21.00) is approximately 340 grams and measures 16 centimeters across. On each cake is an imprint of the brand's logo using an electric heater.

To maintain freshness, the cheesecake is prepared on-site as opposed to a central kitchen. The cake is baked using steam, which explains why it does not carry any toasty sensation like baked cheesecakes from other bakeries.

The Signature Cheesecake is best eaten when it is hot from the oven. This is where its sweet aroma is the strongest. If the cake needs to be kept for several hours, refrigeration is highly recommended.

To reheat the cheesecake, simply cut a slice and reheat it in a microwave oven for several seconds. Alternatively, some customers reported that they prefer the cheesecake to be served chilled.

The batter used to prepare the Signature Cheesecake is made of premium ingredients imported from Japan and Australia. The ingredients used are cream cheese, eggs, milk, butter, sugar and flour. No rennet is used in the production of cheese, so the cheesecake is suitable for ovo-lacto vegetarians.

The Signature Cheesecake is very soft in texture, fluffy almost like cotton. The taste carries mild, non-overpowering cheese flavor. This is unlike the cheese-heavy cheesecakes from other bakeries like Secret Recipe.

If you have not visited Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake before, I think it is worthwhile to try the Signature Cheesecake to see whether it is your cup of tea. A long queue is expected, so arrive earlier to avoid disappointment.

Name: Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake (てつおじさんのチーズケーキ)
Address: 110-01-05, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 11:00am-9:00pm, closed on Wednesdays
Website: http://www.uncletetsu.com.my
Coordinates: 5.33946 N, 100.30904 E
Directions: Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake is one of the shops at the Ground Level of Summerton. Summerton a mixed residential-commercial property near Queensbay Mall. The building is located between Putra Place and Villa Emas condominium blocks. Parking is available in front of and inside Summerton.