“I finally got to try Bake Sum! The bakery was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Because of the small standing room, it was sort of hard to tell who was waiting on their order and who was still in line. They also offer few gift items along the wall, including Taiwanese chocolates, matcha powder, greeting cards, and cute shopping bags just to name a few that I saw. There is no seating, but luckily Lake Merritt is close by, and the perfect spot for a picnic. On a Saturday you might also finding seat at the Farmer's Market a block away. We tried the jasmine milk bun, pandan milk bun, ube cookie, and a coffee. It was around 11:30am on a Saturday and they were already low on inventory (when I got to the front I hear them say they JUST ran out of sesame cookies and I ordered one of the last jasmine milk buns). Of everything I tried I liked the jasmine milk bun the most, it was quite fragrant (just the way I like my jasmine flavored things)! These milk buns reminded me of my favorite melon milk buns that I had in Japan. I have no idea if they make them here...but that would be a dream to have that right here in the neighborhood! I will definitely plan on coming earlier next time so I have more of a selection to choose from.“
“I drove 1 hr from San Jose to come over here on Saturday morning. They were busy (have 4 people taking orders) but attentive; you can get in and out in about 5 minutes. I was not disappointed. I ordered so much and there was no way I can get the pastry and bun with good price in San Jose. I really like their curry beef pastry and the nest cake; something I really missed that I could not find in San Jose. I think I will be back once a month to go up there and stock up.“
“I absolutely adore Arzimendi! I've been to this location and the Valencia st location in SF and everytime I go, I am reminded of how much I love it. The baked goods are delicious and affordable. The pizza is divine and it's so fun to see what new slice comes out each day. Arizmendi is also a co-op so I'm happy to support them with my service as much as possible!“
“The polenta and blueberry muffins are out of this world. That being said, one day they made polenta and raspberry muffins. I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but I actually like those better. Either way, you have to try them!! Every Friday my coworkers and I treat ourselves. The best ever!!“
“Excellent bakery with delicious, beautifully produced pastries and cookies. Highly recommend the custard topped, strawberry jam filled pastry and the Ube croissant. The matcha cream filled pastry was a little overwhelmed by the sweetness and abundance of the topping, but if you have a sweet tooth like me, it's heaven. The flavor of the topping was still very good and it looked gorgeous! My husband was disappointed by the ham and cheese croissant and said he thought it could have used a little more filling.If you are familiar with Bake Sum on Lakeshore, you will know what to expect in terms of flavors, textures and types of pastries available.Parking can be tricky in this neighborhood but side streets are a good option.Parking: Use side streets“
“My birthday cake came from here this year, and it was magical. It had a passion fruit puree, and the sweet, tangy, acidity balanced perfectly with the rich flavors and delicious frosting of the rest of the cake. It was intricate, delicious, and I've never wanted leftover cake more in my life. Sadly, only one slice survived the night, many people went for seconds.Also, the bread is fantastic. A delicious herb focaccia with a soft interior (perfect with Kerrygold butter), nice crust with sea salt. Ridiculously good bread. Also got a brioche cinnamon roll today, cinnabon can eat their heart out. The owner was super nice too, and I can't wait to try more of her creations. They're not open M-W, so make sure you get in over there weekend , or you'll be waiting till Thursday.“
“I like the pastries here but I usually come Sunday morning and they are either late to open - or not open it seems today. Also the pastries are extremely limited and seem left over at that time. I mean just close Sunday I guess. I doubt I'm coming back again that time.“
“My 8 year daughter and I were referred here from a social worker at Oakland Children's Hospital. My daughter was diagnosed with Celiac 8months ago. To say she was absolutely pleased with their selections and overall delicious subs is an understatement. She said "Mom if my belly could dance, it would definitely be dancing " Needless to say we are very pleased and would recommend 1000%. We hope to visit again soon when we are in the area. In the meantime I will be ordering online. Thank You for absolute amazing Gluten Free options!!!!“
“I go here often! It's a bit out of the way for me but always worth it. Their espresso is always well made and love that there isn't a huge price difference bc they use only vegan milks. Pastries are also vegan, and super yummy!Plenty of seating inside and out, always good vibes and busy.“
“My coworker told me to check this place out because he said everything he’s had so far from here has been tasty. I decided to check it out for myself an I don’t think I’ve had coffee anywhere better than this place. I love their horchata iced coffee, coquito iced coffee, and dark chocolate mocha. Not only is their coffee delicious but the food is to die for. The bacon toast, chorizo breakfast burrito and their empanadas are soooo good !!! Sometimes the Oakland location does not have empanadas so you will have to go to the San Leandro location.“
“Starter bakery is a spacious, modern bakery located a block away from the Rockridge BART station. There is a lot of indoor seating as well as outdoor seating. Starter Bakery's pastries can be found in many coffee shops around Berkeley and Oakland but I was super excited to discover that they have a couple of their own locations. The service is quick and friendly. The staff go above and beyond to make your experience enjoyable. One day I went at 7:30AM and the scones were not glazed yet but the staff glazed one fresh for me. I go to Starter frequently and it is my mid-week sweet treat. Everyone deserves a little treat to get them through the week! Anyways, these are some of the pastries I've gotten so far: -Twice baked ham and cheese croissant: I was so blown away by this croissant. The croissant itself was flaky and served warm. On top of the croissant there is this delicious combination of ham, caramelized onions, a hint of Dijon mustard -Dried orange and cranberry scone (seasonal) This scone flavor is one of my favorites! There is a perfect balance of sweet, citrus, and freshness. The scone is moist and the glaze on top compliments each bite. -Raspberry Kouign Amann (seasonal) -Dried ginger and pear Kouign Amann (seasonal) Every Kouign Amann that I've had from Starter was delicious. The fillings have strong flavors and the pastry itself is crisp with a taste of caramelized sugar at the bottom. It is not overwhelmingly sweet and there is a pleasant balance of sweet/savory. I will continue to come back to Starter Bakery and next time I want to try their breads and sandwiches! I've been to a couple of bakeries in the Bay Area and Starter is a stand out.“
“Evonne created such an amazing custom cake for us. Excellent communication, just sent an inspo pic and she made my dream a reality. The cake tasted amazing too super light and not too sweet, pandan coconut custom shrek cake!! Come here for your custom cakes!“
“Alfajores! These are delicious and great with tea. They have a nice variety of alfajores but other cookies as well. The young gentlemen that helped me was very kind. A bit tricky to find and get into the location, but appreciate the safety precautions.“
“came across this coffee shop. I like to support small businesses and this place was packed. It took a long time for me to find a food frappe. This was it. It was delicious and I'm glad I randomly found this place. Also, a lot of sitting area for you and your group of friends.“
“Best mooncakes! They have a wide variety and all very fresh. We like the Lotus seed with double egg yolks. They also have red bean, green tea, sesame, green bean, lotus seed with coconut, durian, and nixed nuts! Small tiny ones are available too. If you purchase 4 of the same kind, they provide a nice tin. While they sell mooncakes year round, the wide variety is only available during autumn. There's usually a line but it moves quickly.“
“She is a must-stop stall at the downtown SF ferry building's Saturday farmer's market whenever I'm in town. Her treats and cakes are incredibly delicious. I'm a huge fan of the black sesame, and her pineapple cake was also hearty and flavorful!“
“Great drip coffee! I wish I had asked what beans they used. My stomach is sensitive so I don’t drink coffee often but this 12 oz drip I got was so flavorful! Also some very tasty pastries, my friend and I got the caramelized onion and mushroom croissant and I definitely want to try the guava one the next time I go. Friendly service and a cute neighborhood spot. Not really a sit down space, but they do have outdoor seating for people to use while they wait or if it’s just two of you. Great place to grab coffee and a bite and then take a little walk by the lake.“
“I ordered a custom cake, cupcakes and cream brule cheese bites . So happy about the outcome of my cake it was absolutely awesome. The flavor is so good I had vanilla and mocha crunch for my cake. The cupcakes and cream brule bites so good. For sure I will order again. Thank you guys ?“
“One of the best if not the best Chinese bakery in the Bay Area (there is some bias because I've been eating their pastries since I was a kid). Very efficient and cash only as others have already mentioned. Their pineapple buns are great and I like to order their cocktail buns and paper wrapped cakes too.“
“Had the vegan Buddha bowl, it was a delicious and nutritious lunch. Nice to have a healthy and filling meal so easy to grab to-go.Vegetarian options: Has more vegetarian options than veganThere is always a veggie sandwich and soup of the day“
“This is the second time I post a comment on my favorite place of all time LUPITA's PANDERIA ? Thee only numero uno BAKERY in this unforgettable beautiful city of OAKLAND. I swear I will lose my lengua if I say more ? Everything so fresh like always and their service is marvelous and so perfecto oh my G and the folks they are so lovely and friendly. . good people . . good service. @the owner of LUPITA's PANDERIA .. GREAT JOB MAMA ? Your love and kindness for serving others will multiplied 100times fold right back at you.Much loveAMIGA?“
“We don't really seek out vegan coffee; oat milk just isn't our thing... They do offer a few different selections like almond and soy milk though! That being said, the cappuccino wasn't bad. It's a little pricey but what isn't in the Bay Area these days lol.“
“Got it, let's revise it:I've always walked past this place in the mornings and that fresh bread smell is just irresistible! Finally decided to give their sandwiches a try - the drippy Italian was a standout, especially the sauce. For breakfast, I opted for their bacon, egg white avocado croissant, and it was incredibly filling. This spot is definitely solid for sandwiches and pastries! They have seasonal flavors and their seasonal drinks are absolutely delicious too.“
“We came here on a Saturday and this place was bustling. We honestly probably would have missed it if we didn't overhear someone walking near us across the street asking if they still had strawberry cheesecake. They had such a selection of items but because the products are inside the building on display while the clerks are outside on the sidewalk, it is a bit hard to see how their items look like and therefore a little bit difficult to choose from. The strawberry shortcake was delicious, even though it was super sweet. It was rich but had great flavors.“
“Everyone in the fish and meat department was friendly today. Same with the cheese department but I had a bad experience checking out in produce this afternoon. I saw this young woman cashier arguing with an older man as I was shopping. So when I went to checkout I tried to get into a different line but she said I was going the wrong way and to turn around and come back to her. I suggested that if they had changed the way the line works there should be a sign and she started arguing with me. When I asked about the cost of an item and plastic bags she again argued with me. I told her I wasn't there for a lecture. She left without completing my checkout and another woman came and finished it. I don't feel like someone who is working and having a bad day should argue with the customers. I would give one star for produce if I could, but overall it's a good market.“
“This place is like your local bakery in Oakland! There's a good variety of things to choose from and the cashiers there are super friendly and helpful. I only came here to get one thing, and it was this round foccacia that I ordered. Foccacia is one of my favorite breads and this one stood out to me the most. It was dense but had a good chew and I like the toppings that were added on top of this. If only there was a toaster or microwave, I would of loved to try this warmed up.“
“I have been a devote customer of this location for many years!The bakery is always impeccably clean, they make the BEST pan de muertos in the way with the perfect amount of sweet and shaved cinnamon.One of the hits of this place are tortas!They make a classic Mexican that is potatoes with chorizo and jamón (ham and queso fresco). They come with avocado, pickled jalapeños, fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce and red onion.In general their sweet bread is not overly sweet, I love the guava empanadas!!And as always, this place is great because of the people who work here, Sra. Mary is the chief torta maker!“
“Smells of wonderful bread and pastries before you even step through the door. I highly recommend the kalamata olive loaves. We used one of those paired with some salami and Humboldt Fog cheese that we had gotten from the deli next door and made an absolutely scrumptious sandwich.Only one minor critique is that they didn't have a slicer or a way to open the bread so I was forced to use my hands when it came to opening them.“
“Local dmall batch homemade patisserie/bakery. There is no storefront. They sell out of their basement and have a website and they sell out very quickly during open bakesales (warning lines super long). Best to order on special pre-order days.“
“I love that angel cakes offer so many favors and varieties! I am never disappointed..their cupcakes are always moist and satisfy my sugar cravings! Be sure to visit their IG page to find out what favors are offered that day before visiting.“
“So I recently had a 50th birthday, And my husband asked me what did I want for my birthday? I had to think because you know I had a lot of options and then I thought Ooo… All I want a Delightful Foods Bean Pie. We’ve been patronizing Delightful Foods for a few years now, and I LOVE their Bean Pie. I am extremely picky with regard to everything, especially my food. I’m the type of person to drive from Hayward to Napa for my favorite bottle of wine. Yes, they’re being pie is actually that good.As you see, this is what is left of my second bean pie. Thank you Abdullah!!!“
“It was my Mom's 50th birthday and I was looking for a place that does photo cakes. I had 50 different pictures I wanted on the cake and that's when I came across Alice Street Bakery Café. I was skeptical if any bakery would take on such an order, especially on short notice (I had only 3 days to go for the birthday), but all my worries were put to ease as soon as I started talking to them. They made this process absolutely seamless as all I had to do was send them the pictures through WhatsApp. They found the perfect size for the cake, appropriately adjusted and cropped all the various sized pictures, arranged all the photos aesthetically, and even included a custom frosted birthday message which I sent in earlier. I was thrilled by their responsiveness and communication as they constantly kept me in the loop and were easy to reach when I had any concerns. The cake was finished exactly when they said it would, and when I went to pick it up, I couldn't stop smiling because it looked even better than advertised. The best part about it all was that my mom absolutely loved it and it made her day even more special. So a big thank you to Alice Street Bakery Cafe, and I cannot recommend them enough! TLDR: I ordered a 50 photo cake for my mom's 50th birthday, and Alice Street Bakery Cafe did a phenomenal job on a time crunch, all while being transparent and responsive with minimal effort on my end. They are awesome!“
“Phenomenal ! First time trying them (delivery) and this is easily in my TOP 5 food places in the WHOLE BAY AREA! I scooped two prefix 4 course meals (beef patties, oxtail, blueberry blue match lemonade, and dessert of the day - a blue pastry & currant pastry) plantains, Accra salt fish fritters and mango turmeric peach cobbler. I wanted to try a little bit of a lot. The smell was heavenly, the portions were generous and the first bite made my eyes roll back. I can't imagine what this must taste like in person. This was the PERFECT pre Valentine's Day surprise dinner! Small but amazing touches that put this over the top: The salad had tomatoes and cucumbers, not just random lettuce. And the dressing was on the side (so we can control how much) plus it was well balanced in flavor. The oxtail was separate from the rice in its juices so the rice didn't get mushy and the oxtail was flavorful and juicy. The desserts were the perfect amount of sweet. It didn't taste like just sugar, you could really experience the spices.“
“Really cool spot for foodies in the Bay Area. There were a number of different offerings but we were in treat mode. Everything was delicious. I really enjoyed the Persian rice pudding very light subtly sweet with hints of cardamon and saffron. Chocolate chip cookies were good not great--you have to come hard with chocolate chip cookies in my opinion. They were crisp and soft but missing a little saltiness to balance the sweet. I enjoyed the tiramisu also and my daughter liked the lemon cheesecake. Recommend the morning bun also!“
“I decided to come here on a Wednesday early evening since I was in the mood for pan dulce. I paid $4 in cash total for two conchas. There are no names or prices labeled on the different pastries, which is typical of most panaderias. The worker who helped me was friendly and quick; I didn't get a good look to see if credit cards are accepted. They also offer free coffee. There were no hours posted outside the store when I visited. The conchas were pretty good, sweet and fresh, although I didn't pick up on anything that was especially different from other pan dulce I've had.“
“The place is small, but it's cute and intimated, since they only allow two people at a time. The customer service is on point. And now for the food. Omg. So. Freaking. Good!! The peach cobbler was yummy, but the star of the show (for me) was the blueberry cheesecake. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is the best blueberry cheesecake I have ever had. EVAH. Anyway, try it. You won't regret it.“
“They have soy milk! Yaaa! So many places aren't serving it anymore. I bought a GF blueberry muffin and soy chai latte. Love the different messages on their paper cup holders.I am thankful that they mentioned their chai is unsweetened and offered some honey. So thoughtful! I appreciate the time they took to make my soy chai with intention, to perfection.“
“Super sweet service! Friendly and extremely hospitable staff, we had a lovely experience here. The food portions are huge and quality of ingredients made every dish delectable. We all ordered craft coffees and passed them around so we could each try. I would definitely recommend coming here, we will definitely be back!“
“Everyone in the fish and meat department was friendly today. Same with the cheese department but I had a bad experience checking out in produce this afternoon. I saw this young woman cashier arguing with an older man as I was shopping. So when I went to checkout I tried to get into a different line but she said I was going the wrong way and to turn around and come back to her. I suggested that if they had changed the way the line works there should be a sign and she started arguing with me. When I asked about the cost of an item and plastic bags she again argued with me. I told her I wasn't there for a lecture. She left without completing my checkout and another woman came and finished it. I don't feel like someone who is working and having a bad day should argue with the customers. I would give one star for produce if I could, but overall it's a good market.“
“This is the best banh mi bread around. My mother is a Vietnamese war refugee who landed in the Midwest during the late 1970's. For over 40 years, she had not tasted traditional banh mi bread. My parents fortunately relocated to the Bay Area after my sister and I established careers here. After I discovered Bui Phong, I knew I had to share this bread with my mom. Now, whenever I have a chance, I pick up baguettes and/or rolls for my mom so she can make banh mi and have it on the side of her curry at home. I can see her light up whenever I bring her this bread, and it warms my heart to be able to bring an authentic taste of Vietnam back into her life. Keep up the great work, Bui Phong Bakery!“
“I love modern coffee! This location is very convenient for me so I stop in often - I just wish they were open in the afternoon for a pick-me-up! I like that they have special touches - such as their lavender syrup made in-house - that you can add to your drink.“
“Donuts are definitely the best in town! Cute lil dog friendly place in the Laurel/Allendale district. There was an employee who gushed over my frenchie while we were there. Always friendly service. If you haven't had a cronut you will not regret the decision. My favorite is the salted caramel! This delicious box plus a latte for around $30 including a generous tip. I just love this place!“