3.8
Good
20 Reviews
2622 San Miguel Drive, Newport Beach
“You know a bakery is good when you haven’t even left yet and you’re already going back inside to buy another pastry. That was us at Chaupain Bakery—and the culprit was a strawberry envelope I’m still thinking about. From the moment we walked in, Chaupain felt like a place where both the pastries and the people make you want to return. My eyes immediately went to the gorgeous glass case overflowing with pastries, and since it was our first visit, I had the nearly impossible task of deciding what to try. Meanwhile, my husband ordered the Jambon sandwich and their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake. As I stared at the case trying to narrow down my choices, I told the gentleman helping me, “I want to try the things that will make me come back.” It turned out I was talking to one of the owners, Sami—and he absolutely understood the assignment. Sami’s hospitality was one of the highlights of our visit. He was warm, welcoming, and genuinely interested in helping us experience the best of Chaupain. He took the time to answer my questions, talk us through the pastries, and offer recommendations without ever making us feel rushed. There’s something special about meeting an owner who is not only proud of what they’ve created, but also clearly cares about the experience people have when they walk through the door. That warmth carried through the entire service—friendly, attentive, and welcoming from beginning to end. With Sami’s guidance, our pastry lineup included the almond croissant, pistachio croissant, palmier, and strawberry envelope. The Jambon sandwich was delicious. The saltiness of the ham and cheese marries perfectly with the fresh-baked bread. Simple, classic ingredients done incredibly well. The seasonal pumpkin cheesecake was smooth and creamy with just the right amount of tang to balance the sweetness. Every bite makes you want just one more. Ever since returning from Paris, we’ve been searching for croissants that can transport us back to those little Parisian boulangeries. Chaupain came pretty darn close—but surprisingly, it wasn’t a croissant that completely stole my heart. It was the palmier! Flaky, buttery, delicate, with that perfect caramelization and crispness around the edges—this palmier had me seriously second-guessing whether the croissant is even my favorite French pastry anymore. It is an absolute MUST TRY. But then came THE STAR OF THE SHOW—the stop-the-presses pastry: the strawberry envelope. Perfectly flaky and airy pastry, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and filled with a smooth, light custard and fresh sliced strawberries. The buttery pastry, silky custard, and freshness of the strawberries come together in this incredible explosion of flavor and texture without being overly sweet or heavy. It was so good that I finished it…and went right back inside to buy another one. And really, that sums up our first visit to Chaupain. I walked in and asked Sami to point me toward the pastries that would make us come back. Between his genuine hospitality, the wonderful service, and some seriously memorable pastries, mission accomplished! We will definitely be back and we will be bringing our family!”
Bakery · $
