41 Best Bakeries in Oakland

“We were gifted our first ever Bake Sum box. After trying just one bite of a Yuzu meringue bun I knew I needed more. Ordered our second BSB last week and shared amongst the roomies, huge hit. Well baked, not too sweet, great flavor combinations. 10/10 would recommend the Bake Sum box. If you can’t grab a box, you can grab al a cart day of pick ups just to tide you over until you can get a box 😋“

“Heading over to Forma Bakery on a weekday morning is a breeze. Arriving right at the 8:00 AM opening window means you can walk straight to the counter with no wait at all. For parking, there is a generous patch of free street parking available just around the corner about a block away, though the immediate storefront strip also offers standard metered street parking options if you want to pull up closer.

The setup inside is wonderful. They feature a great selection of morning goods, all displayed beautifully, which makes scanning the options and making your precise selections incredibly easy. The staff is exceptionally friendly and the service is quick. Plus, they package everything perfectly with zero damage: the heavy Blue Corn Sourdough loaf was placed flat on the bottom of a large paper bag, while the fragile, individually bagged pastries were gently layered on top to keep them from getting crushed.

If you want to eat right there, they have some nice outdoor sidewalk seating, which gives the place a great, community-forward neighborhood atmosphere along Telegraph Avenue.

Traditional Butter Croissant: Where so many other bakeries have failed, Forma has it down. I could smell the rich butter before I even bit into it. A proper croissant requires the correct kind of butter and baking techniques, and this one delivered. It had the exact shattering flake effect you want on the outside and tasted absolutely phenomenal.

Chocolate Concha: This is the best concha I have ever had. It has a real, deep cocoa flavor, and both the texture and flavor are incredibly hard to beat.

Flan Croissant with Strawberry & Rhubarb: This was the absolute favorite of everything I bought. The contrast between the crisp, flaky pastry base and the smooth vanilla flan custard layered over the tart strawberry and rhubarb is incredible. It’s an absolute must-order item.

Passion Fruit Morning Bun with Earl Grey Sugar: This was a really pleasant surprise. I wasn't entirely sure how it would taste, but the flavor combination is fantastic. The light, bright flavor of the passion fruit perfectly balances out the sweet crunch of the Earl Grey sugar coating. My only small wish is that there was a bit more substance to the center of the bun, but the flavor and textures are totally there.

In fact, everything I purchased tasted really good. Every single pastry had the perfect crunch and flavor. Forma has firmly established itself as a top-tier bakery in the East Bay, and I highly recommend checking it out.“

“sourdough croissants, the corn cherry and oat scones, sundry shortbread flavours that are always exquisite...and today, a new treat, a lil pizza" bakers special" with kale and mojo and crust texture inexplicable, beyond magic. ✨👍🏽✨“

“I dropped in for a morning audit of Ruby King Bakery and easily found free parking around the corner toward the freeway. The energy inside was vibrant, with a lot of people hanging out in the cafe enjoying fresh pastries. They have a beautiful, incredibly nice display of goods for sale in their front glass cases that instantly shows the depth of their traditional Cantonese baking.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything that I purchased, but my absolute favorite was the Coconut Tart. The interior crumb structure has a perfect sweetness and a dense, authentically rich coconut flake texture. I also highly recommend the Mini Melon Cake (their traditional Wife Cake / lo por boon) which features flawless, flaky pastry lamination peeling back over a chewy wintermelon-sesame filling.

To round out the triad, the cross-section of the Bird's Nest cake slice reveals an impressive, lightweight structural execution. Rather than a standard singular base, it features a traditional Chinese chiffon sponge built with two distinct layers of cream running through the middle. The light, airy sponge aeration beautifully anchors the stabilized cream layers, perfectly balancing out the thick, glossy red glazed topping. It's an excellent technical build.

The employee behind the counter was friendly and efficient, and all my items were carefully placed in two separate paper bags to prevent the delicate glazes and flaky laminations from crushing each other. Just note for your transaction log that they charge a 30-cent fee to use a credit card (under $20), so it is best to bring cash if you are just buying a few items. This is easily one of the best bakeries in Oakland's Chinatown for authentic quality and execution. Highly recommended!“

“OMG!!! Time stopped as I bit into a donut savant cronut for the very first time. I live in N. Sacramento but I am fantasizing about the next trip to #oakland. You people are truly doing god’s work here. Carry on😋😘🙏🏿❤️“

“I had an amazing experience with Crumble & Whisk! They catered a community event for me during the holiday season, and I can't wait to use them again! This Black-owned bakery offers the most delicious, fresh-baked treats with a perfect balance of flavor and texture. From the buttery, flaky pastries to the rich, moist cakes, every bite is a delight. The staff is warm and welcoming, making you feel like family from the moment you walk in. Their commitment to quality and community is truly inspiring. Charles is a master at his craft, and both his catering and baking will elevate anyone's event to the highest standard.“

“In fond of the lava lemonade. And the bagels are delish.“

“I ordered items to be shipped to our hotel in Napa. They arrived the next day! We had shortbread cookies, croissants, and pan au chocolate. They are all fantastic! The hotel kitchen warmed them up for us which made them even better! Great service. Fantastic pastry! Thank you, Mariposa! (Wife is celiac/no cc/symptomatic and had NO issues)10 out of 10“

“Super easy to work with getting my design exactly how I wanted. Not sweet or greasy~ so cute!“

“A new contender for the best kalamata olive bread (4/5 Green Stars). It’s Day 3 of Shelterfest, sponsored by Coronavirus, and I was feeling kinda satisfied (i.e., less guilty than yesterday) after making an earnest attempt to work remotely. So I took myself off for an afternoon stroll and, landing in the vicinity of College and Alcatraz Ave, decided to pick up some bread if there was any to be had. La Farine was quiet and there was plenty of bread left, even at 4 pm. (So pop in to support them if you’re in the area!) I usually get their rustic baguette but this time bought a loaf of olive bread. The servers were super friendly and one asked me if I wanted some free pastries. Ya-ha I did! I scuttled home with my bag of goodies and heated up one of the freebies – a chocolate croissant (toaster oven, bake for 3-5 min). The croissant doesn’t look that amazing, I have to admit, but it tasted wonderful. Buttery, flakey pastry and just the right amount of good quality chocolate. Later I had the bread – I’m a big fan of Semifreddi’s Kalamata olive bread so the bar was pretty high. I have to say that it was up there with my favorite bread – it was a little fuller than the Semifreddi’s loaf, but that wasn’t a bad thing as I sometimes feel that I’m eating a lot of air with the latter. In summary, I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed La Farine before because I’ve gone there many a time. I recommend the three things mentioned above and also their Irish soda bread is really good and pretty authentic. I just found out that La Farine started out in this location in 1977 – almost as old as I am, said Bilbo. I'm also giving La Farine 4/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: • It seems that they use conventional white flour and organic whole wheat flour. • Their website is lacking on information on ingredient sourcing (compared to, say Acme). I’d like to know more about their flour, eggs, butter, chocolate, etc. • La Farine donates leftover products to area food banks and senior centers • They also support Bay Area schools and other local causes • Their bags are made from post-consumer recycled paper and printed with water-based inks. • Most of the menu is vegetarian and some of the breads are vegan. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me!“

“Gregory’s gourmet deserts is a little peace of heaven on earth! The soul that goes into his deserts are not only filled with passion but also with flavor! Humble beginnings and beautiful cheesecakes are coming out of his paradise! I am from Wisconsin and we know a thing or two about cheese but I can tell you we can’t compare to Gregory and his cheesecakes! I hope he decides one day to create a cookbook because he is just that amazing! I can’t express how heavenly and rich his deserts are but please don’t pass this gem up if you do, you will regret it!!!“

“What else is there to say. This place is wonderful.“

“The kouign-Aman and croissants were the very best pastry I have ever had from Starter Bakery. I am from Eugene Oregon and would drive back down to Berkley/Oakland area for this pastry any day! The bread is amazing as well... Well done Starter Bakery! B"“

“Ordered a large princess cake for my partner’s birthday and it turned out to be very good! I've ordered from here for various parties and events and I am never disappointed. Febe (not sure if I am spelling that correctly) has been the best!“

“I highly recommend this vegan baker for both savory and sweet baked goods. I’m not a professional “ foodie” reviewer, but have found everything I ordered to be delicious.“

“I couldn’t decide which bakery made the best fruit tart until I had La Farine. In my book, La Farine takes the crown! The fruits are sweet, and the glaze is not overpowering. The crust has a layered texture and the cream is not too sweet.

I preordered the fruit tart over the phone and had family pick up the dessert for me. No complaints in the ordering/pickup process. I’ll be back!“

“My family used to go here when it was in Chinatown San Francisco, so happy to know they moved to Oakland Chinatown. They have the same cases and handwriting from years old, very nostalgic. The food and price are the same, both extremely affordable and tasty. I got everything in the photo for $18.50. I highly recommend their egg tart and pineapple custard buns.“

“Really nice place for a casual coffee in the morning. They do a really nice pour over coffee for a really good price.

Their breakfast pastries are good as well. It is a nice place to sit and begin your day, especially on weekends for me.“

“Las tortas y el pan con espinacas“

“Called and told them I wanted a pizza. I was skeptical at first, but man the pizza was delicious! Every slice was so cheesy and mouthwatering. Eating the pizza fresh is a must as the bread can get hard. If need to reheat, do not reheat inmicrowave, reheat in oven or in a pan over the stovetop.“

“Beautiful wedding cake, reasonable price & delicious !!!“

“Fantastic! We ordered based on a recommendation and are now forever customers.“

“this may look bad on the outside but its definitely good on the inside, i ordered hotdog buns, pineapple buns, egg tarts! and cream buns, i told them to keep the change and when im in the area again, ill definitely come here, very delicious 😋“

“Did a special order for a birthday party, Meyer lemon cupcakes, and salted caramel cupcakes. They were all delicious and gorgeous. Every guest gushed over them. They've ruined me for any other cupcakes tbh! As I told my husband, "Now you know what to go get me next time you mess up!" My suggestion: get more than you think you'll need, because there won't be any leftovers!“

“Best pan dulce in Oakland. Freshly made, daily!“

“The chocolate chip cookies are AMAZING. Soft, chewy, packed with chocolate, and not overly sweet. You can tell they’re homemade with care. Highly recommend, we’re hooked!“

“My Mini pie was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Can I have these shipped? if so, please have someone reach out to me via messenger!“

“The gluten free cookies that actually taste great. Such a treat. Quality ingredients, not too sweet. The traditional gluten free Alfajores cookies are amazing.“

“what a cool place. the amount of community that is instilled here is awesome! great great food!“

“Excellent moist cakes after the tasting box all their cakes are beautifully made and the most amazing thing to mention is its sweetness is not crazily sweet like American cake but more like French and Italia ones. Recommended 👍 Now on we have a favorite place to order for every Birthday Celebration ❤️.“

“Best bakery in town. You get fresh croissants,bolillos,baguettes, and other breads straight from this factory. The ordering window is just an open door on the side of the building,just look at where people are lining up. The prices has slowly gone up over the years but its still worth it. 2 dollars for a huge croissant that tastes this amazing is a steal. You'll recognize their bolillos being used in a lot of banh mi shops all over the bay area, its their best sellers and for a great reason.“

“Perfect place to grab satiating lunch and dinner when on-the-go AND on-a-budget. Discovered this place on a trip and have been coming back ever since. Communication can be quite tricky but you can also point out what you want and they’re very generous with their portions. The food is really good from the fried chicken/pork to the rice, noodles, vegetable stir fry, shrimp, etc. The lines can be long during lunch rush but they work to get you in & out as quickly as possible“

“Been coming here for almost 30 years. Each bread is delicious, and come early if you want the best concha you've ever had (you must eat a concha when it is still fresh). The tortas are simple, hearty, and fairly priced, and will fuel you up for a long day of work, play, or relaxation. I try to come here as much as I can!“

“Ummm... This is the best place ever!!! Food is good. Employees are good. Emile, Abe, Jose, Brenda, Mario and everyone else who works there TOTALLY ROCK. It is a DAILY ritual to walk and get a coffee. I hope they are around forever. And I LOVE what the new oven-warmer does to the breakfast sandwiches. Good call.“

“I've been a huge fan of Heart Thrives for many years and recommend them to all my nutrition clients. Not only are their products fantastic, but their customer service is as well! This is truly a company that values and stands by their products and their customers as well.“

“I wanted to try everything here! Had breakfast pastries, miso chicken bowl, desserts, and lattes and mochas on numerous occasions during my trip to the area. All were wonderful and tasted homemade. Egg tart was so smooth, flavorful, and not rubbery. I want to know their secret to this! My other favorite item is the walnut chocolate chip cookie. Omg so decadent!“

“Awesome place to shop! My “go to” produce market for incredibly fresh produce, fruits and dry goods. Great meat and fish market. Superb bakery. Excellent wine shop, And Market Hall pasta shop/main market is simply amazing in SO many ways. Plus, super easy parking and good hours ... important to me and a for real plus. Love this place!!!“

“I was looking for Rosca de reyes and I came across this bakery, and with the news that the bread is super soft ?, if I recommend it, I would like to encourage you to make a batch of Ate-filled bagels with fruits uff. A year ago I bought a 3 milk cake and it was also very tasty ??“

“I got the horchata frappe with soy milk and it blew my mind ?Most delicious coffee I’ve had in a very long time!!!It easily beats Starbucks, McDonald’s cafe, Peet’s and even hasta muerte’s coffee up the streetsoooooo bomb you won’t regret it! I can’t wait to try the other flavors ?(I had a few sips in the pictures, whipped cream was up to the top when served)“

“Ten of us in Oakland for a wedding just descended on this suggested cafe for breakfast. A family member who’d lived in Oakland recommended it. She was right to. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was prompt, had a wonderful attitude and a genuine personality. Our breakfast orders were varied, came out accurate and all of us enjoyed a great 40 mins or so. Parking was easy and pretty much right out front. Definitely recommend the Coffee Mill for a no frills authentic breakfast experience where you feel welcome.“

“I’m from Texas and I ordered a custom cake to be delivered for my daughter that lives in the area and they they’re amazing!! They delivered the cake on time and just like I have asked for, it was made beautifully!!. I highly recommend them. Would used them in the future.“