$14 for 2 cake pops which were extremely heavy and gummy. Honestly feel a bit sick after having one. Would not recommend, if you really want cake pops just go next door to Starbucks.
devinmarsh
I’m glad this was not vegan Ruben destination trip. There was nothing special about this place and we felt like we disturbed the girls that took our order. It seems like the high school workers showed up but the boss didn’t.
Updated from previous review on 2025-12-28
Shannon Jay
We recently visited DC and planned to make this bakery a special stop on the day we were visiting the National Cathedral. I have had a tree nut allergy since I was a kid, so I was excited about being able to walk into a bakery and pick any treat I wanted from the case as I have never had this luxury. We walked in around lunch time hoping to get a bagel sandwich and some baked items. When we opened the door, we were hit in the face not with the aroma of freshly baking sweets, but with chlorine bleach. There were a few cake pops in the case and some crusty-looking raspberry bars. There was no rugelach as shown on the website and the existing items just did not appear fresh. That combined with the overwhelming bleach smell led us to turn around and walk right out. I was very disappointed and expected a different experience. We ended up having our lunch at Jersey Mike's a few doors down... :(
Violet
I adore this place, I’ve had Yale’s pastries delivered to my house twice. Finally after 10 years as a vegan I’ve been able to enjoy the Jewish classics I love without having to labor over them myself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gray Palmer
Baked by Yael is a wonderful, delicious, community focused local establishment that has been incredibly supportive during the shut down and would recommend supporting them the way that they support the local community. All their baked goods are delicious and staff are so lovely.
Laci Taylor
Delicious baked goods! I happened to meet the owner when I stopped by who is just as kind and friendly as the rest of the staff. I would definitely recommend. The owner has also been known to go above and beyond to support zoo staff (the store is located just outside one of the entrances to the zoo) during times of hardship such as government closures or the COVID pandemic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristen Clark
Loved the cake baking class today!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fabiana Perera
I took a cakepop class here. I’ve taken other cooking and baking classes elsewhere before and was a little skeptical walking in.
I shouldn’t have been! It was amazing. Class was only an hour, with short manageable instructions from a super friendly staff. At the end of the class I had a dozen delicious and ok-looking cakepops to bring home to my kids.
This would be an excellent team-building or fund-raising activity for a group. Way better than driving two hours outside DC to hang from ropes. No contest.
Also, while we were in class someone walked in to the store and ordered a bagel sandwich. It looked so good I almost dropped my cakepop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ellen F
We love Baked By Yael! In addition to enjoying the amazing challah and cakepops over the years, this year we had a cakepop birthday party for our daughter there. It was a top notch experience. Very well organized, very kind and child-friendly facilitators, and a cheerful atmosphere. All the children said how much they enjoyed the experience. It is wonderful that Yael opens up her bakery for cakepop parties and is definitely one of our daughter's favorite bday parties!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jordyn Harrison
I came in and had a visit after the zoo. I saw it and thought it was a cute Bake shop and I love supporting small businesses. The cake pops looked very appetizing and very tasty so if you’re looking for a good cake pop in DC this is a good place. I’m not sure if it was just the panda cake pops- but yeah they were almost 7 dollars ($$$). But they were bigger than the average Starbucks cake pop if I’m not mistaken. the chocolate flavor was really nice! it was not dry at all, and it was very cute. So yeah it’s on the higher end for a cake pop, but it got the job done and made for some great pictures. note it is a very small café so not sure about having a seat or having a large group— but it’s great for a grab and go.
I placed an online order for cake pops. They were just as I imagined and tasted even better. I requested a custom color and they made a sample for me before I ordered it! The cake pops were just what I imagined and tasted even better!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Berkowitz
The bagels here are great. The staff is extremely warm and friendly, and it's just a good vibe with all the people baking, focused at work, and still friendly and social.
It's a perplexing store. I don't understand why there are boxes piled up in the store. I lived here for months before realizing the store was open – the boxes and random stuff made me think it was closed. I don't understand it.
But the bagels are truly great.
Monica Reyes
The cake pops are delicious and the nova lox is my go to bagel sandwich but as of recently the store just seems to keep adding more and more stuff inside.I mean refrigerators in the lobby and lots of clutter. Its feels like they’re out growing the space that they’re in, and I understand that they’re in prime real estate ( being in front of the zoo ) but it’s not some little cafe where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with friends. It’s definitely a “get your stuff and go” kind of place.
Stacey
Snacks were good. Prices are on the high side. Panda cake pops were almost $7 each. Raspberry cake was good. Black and white cookie didn’t have much flavor. Nice place to stop for a special treat before the zoo.
Penny Paula Joyly
Excellent fresh toasted bagel with great coffee raspberry squares wonderful great hamenrashen i love the white fish The decor is amazing it feels like a little girl or boys dream highly recommend the cakes pop are like Alice in wonderland enjoy
$14 for 2 cake pops which were extremely heavy and gummy. Honestly feel a bit sick after having one. Would not recommend, if you really want cake pops just go next door to Starbucks.
I’m glad this was not vegan Ruben destination trip. There was nothing special about this place and we felt like we disturbed the girls that took our order. It seems like the high school workers showed up but the boss didn’t. Updated from previous review on 2025-12-28
We recently visited DC and planned to make this bakery a special stop on the day we were visiting the National Cathedral. I have had a tree nut allergy since I was a kid, so I was excited about being able to walk into a bakery and pick any treat I wanted from the case as I have never had this luxury. We walked in around lunch time hoping to get a bagel sandwich and some baked items. When we opened the door, we were hit in the face not with the aroma of freshly baking sweets, but with chlorine bleach. There were a few cake pops in the case and some crusty-looking raspberry bars. There was no rugelach as shown on the website and the existing items just did not appear fresh. That combined with the overwhelming bleach smell led us to turn around and walk right out. I was very disappointed and expected a different experience. We ended up having our lunch at Jersey Mike's a few doors down... :(
I adore this place, I’ve had Yale’s pastries delivered to my house twice. Finally after 10 years as a vegan I’ve been able to enjoy the Jewish classics I love without having to labor over them myself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Baked by Yael is a wonderful, delicious, community focused local establishment that has been incredibly supportive during the shut down and would recommend supporting them the way that they support the local community. All their baked goods are delicious and staff are so lovely.
Delicious baked goods! I happened to meet the owner when I stopped by who is just as kind and friendly as the rest of the staff. I would definitely recommend. The owner has also been known to go above and beyond to support zoo staff (the store is located just outside one of the entrances to the zoo) during times of hardship such as government closures or the COVID pandemic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved the cake baking class today!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I took a cakepop class here. I’ve taken other cooking and baking classes elsewhere before and was a little skeptical walking in.
I shouldn’t have been! It was amazing. Class was only an hour, with short manageable instructions from a super friendly staff. At the end of the class I had a dozen delicious and ok-looking cakepops to bring home to my kids.
This would be an excellent team-building or fund-raising activity for a group. Way better than driving two hours outside DC to hang from ropes. No contest.
Also, while we were in class someone walked in to the store and ordered a bagel sandwich. It looked so good I almost dropped my cakepop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love Baked By Yael! In addition to enjoying the amazing challah and cakepops over the years, this year we had a cakepop birthday party for our daughter there. It was a top notch experience. Very well organized, very kind and child-friendly facilitators, and a cheerful atmosphere. All the children said how much they enjoyed the experience. It is wonderful that Yael opens up her bakery for cakepop parties and is definitely one of our daughter's favorite bday parties!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I came in and had a visit after the zoo. I saw it and thought it was a cute Bake shop and I love supporting small businesses. The cake pops looked very appetizing and very tasty so if you’re looking for a good cake pop in DC this is a good place. I’m not sure if it was just the panda cake pops- but yeah they were almost 7 dollars ($$$). But they were bigger than the average Starbucks cake pop if I’m not mistaken. the chocolate flavor was really nice! it was not dry at all, and it was very cute. So yeah it’s on the higher end for a cake pop, but it got the job done and made for some great pictures. note it is a very small café so not sure about having a seat or having a large group— but it’s great for a grab and go.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
I placed an online order for cake pops. They were just as I imagined and tasted even better. I requested a custom color and they made a sample for me before I ordered it! The cake pops were just what I imagined and tasted even better!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The bagels here are great. The staff is extremely warm and friendly, and it's just a good vibe with all the people baking, focused at work, and still friendly and social.
It's a perplexing store. I don't understand why there are boxes piled up in the store. I lived here for months before realizing the store was open – the boxes and random stuff made me think it was closed. I don't understand it.
But the bagels are truly great.
The cake pops are delicious and the nova lox is my go to bagel sandwich but as of recently the store just seems to keep adding more and more stuff inside.I mean refrigerators in the lobby and lots of clutter. Its feels like they’re out growing the space that they’re in, and I understand that they’re in prime real estate ( being in front of the zoo ) but it’s not some little cafe where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with friends. It’s definitely a “get your stuff and go” kind of place.
Snacks were good. Prices are on the high side. Panda cake pops were almost $7 each. Raspberry cake was good. Black and white cookie didn’t have much flavor. Nice place to stop for a special treat before the zoo.
Excellent fresh toasted bagel with great coffee raspberry squares wonderful great hamenrashen i love the white fish The decor is amazing it feels like a little girl or boys dream highly recommend the cakes pop are like Alice in wonderland enjoy
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