From lusciously creamy golden egg tarts, to rich mooncakes and perfectly toasted pineapple buns, Asian pastries are wonderful delights to indulge in. The Bay Area's large and diverse AAPI population yields several cute and irresistable pastry shops that deliver the highest quality of baked cultural treats.
Here are the most incredibly delicious bakeries around the Bay Area to stop in and grab one (or a few) of their perfectly sweet, flaky, and melt-in-your-mouth handcrafted pastries.
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1915 Irving St / Website
We begin in this landmark in the Sunset widely known for their variety of Hong Kong-style pineapple buns. While the name may confuse you, this decadently toasty bread doesn't actually contain any pineapple in it! It is called that due to the sugar and butter crackling lathered generously atop the buns which, when baked, resemble a pineapples rough exterior, but in a much more "creme-brulee" fashion.
These buns are then served with a thick slab of butter in the middle, which all comes in various flavors from guava, black sesame, purple yam, and even savory inventions of barbecue pork and pizza.
This makes the perfect treat after exploring Golden Gate Park, as you won't be able to resist their glass display!
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5931 College Ave. Oakland / Website
Heading to Oakland, The Sunday Bakeshop modernly reimagines classic Asian childhood treats into more elegant and French-inspired artisanal confections.
We highly recommend their Filipino-style Ube Snickerdoodle, Thai Tea Milk Bun, and Dim Sum Cookie with tahini and sweet red bean paste. You will be pleasantly surprised at this must-try shop's creativity!
See also: Partake In Kokak Chocolate's Three-Fold Celebration With Their Sweet Pride Collections
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34370 Fremont Blvd, Fremont / Website
Mary's Bakery is the cutest mom-and-pop corner store down in Fremont, for their small but packed shop is brimming with all kinds of Taiwanese-style goodies. Featured in KQED's Ultimate Guide to Taiwanese Restaurants in the Bay, they are worth the visit for their mango cake alone, although you won't be able to resist getting a mooncake or whole loaf of their fresh bread, especially with their kind and personalized service.
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210 Castro St, Mountain View / Website
This bakery in Downtown Mountain View is a considerably "old-school" but authentically classic shop that has the most affordable prices for their elevated flavors. Stop in and peruse the glass case packed with perfectly baked egg tarts, chewy taro buns, and savory thick pork buns before venturing down the length of this cute peninsula town's iconic main street.
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56 Ross Aly / Website
You cannot visit Chinatown without stopping in this historic factory known as the birthplace of fortune cookies! You will truly be captivated witnessing the immense cast iron griddles used to create the subtly-sweet and crisp cookie's distinct shape.
Started by Nancy Chan and now managed by her son Kevin, their bustling factory sells other creative options than the original recipe, such as green-tea and chocolate. It is definitely worth the visit to step into history and discover what your next fortune brings.
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720 Grant Ave / Website
Also in Chinatown, Eastern Bakery is the oldest of its kind here, delivering their community fresh and carefully made pastries since 1924. Although cash-only, you will definitely get the most bang out of your buck here with their in-house made lotus-paste mooncakes, fluffy sponge cakes, stuffed creamy custard buns, and traditional winter melon-flavored confections.
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845 Market St / Website
Based in Hokkaido, Japan, Bake Cheese Tart originally began in Hokkaido, but has now graced San Francisco with a prominent corner stall in the Westfield Centre on Market. You will be immediately drawn to their glass case replete with rows upon rows of their silky mousse tarts in a double-baked crust available in regular cheesecake flavor, and other equally divine selections of matcha, strawberry, chocolate, and more.
Best served fresh, make sure you get a spot in their coveted line that typically wraps around the corner, because their creamy complexity is definitely worth the wait.
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2307 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley / Website
There are a few Sheng Kee Bakeries around the Bay such as Cupertino and Union City, yet this one in Berkeley is in great proximity to U.C. Berkeley's campus, making it the perfect stop for an afternoon pick-me-up! With their well-stocked self-serve glass cases, grab some tongs and fill up your tray with all their ingenious toasts and buns.
We highly recommend ordering their warm and authentic Portugese-style egg tarts which have the flakiest crusts and are perfectly burnt on the top.
You are bound to easily come across any of these bakeries all around in the Bay, with the hardest part being having to decide what you will all get!
See also: Indulge And Refresh Yourself With These Coolest Asian-Style Shaved Ice
Photography by: Regina Ferraz/Pexels
