Out-of-the-Way GS Goes Out of Its Way to Please With Japanese-Style Confectioneries

Tucked away on the second floor of Shangdu Soho, GS is the brainchild of by Chinese-Japanese chef Yu Guangqian, who was born and raised in Japan and started making Japanese-style cakes after moving back to Beijing in 2010.

Compared to other posh dessert shops, GS’s décor is almost shabby – with just a few tables dotted around the room, large freezers along the white walls, a fridge to display the confectionery, and several posters in Japanese. However, any doubts you may have about the quality of the wares are swept away when you enter the shop and are welcomed by Yu, with the full arsenal of Japanese-style bows and polite greetings.

All the cakes at GS are made onsite daily. The top seller is the GS roll (RMB 37 per piece), which comes in a choice of six varieties: original, matcha, chocolate, cheese, black sesame, and black tea. The black sesame variety is especially indulgent, its moist, chiffon cake-style sponge imbued with earthy flavors and carefully enclosing a center of sweetened whipped cream. Each bite leaves you with a sweetness balanced with Japanese precision.

GS' other signature cake, the Mont Blanc (RMB 48), took close to 10 minutes to prepare in Yu's careful hands. The base is made from crunchy meringue topped with a mound of coiling chestnut cream, giving it a strong and sweet nutty flavor. Yu even hides small pieces of chocolate within, to give a lingering bitter finish.

As a Japanese store, GS provides omotenashi service. This strict code of etiquette ensures that everything is taken care of, from collecting empty plates, to topping up your water, and it was hard not to say a hundred “thank yous” when the owner was bowing constantly and genuinely. The store is not easy to find and is not the sort of place to invite your besties for a posh afternoon tea, but the delicious cakes will lure you back whenever you need to reward yourself with special service and even more special cakes.

GS
Daily midday-7pm. 2206, 2/F, Bldg B, Shangdu Soho, 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5869 7221)
GS光勝西点：朝阳区东大桥路8号SOHO尚都北塔B座2层2206商铺

Got a sweet tooth? Try Lady M's signature mille crêpes straight from New York to Chaoyang Joy City.

Photos: Tracy Wang, Dianping