All I can saw is WOW. This truly is the best croissant I have ever had. After trying Arsicault, no other baked goods have compared and I can't wait to go back. I tried the regular croissant, the almond croissant, and the kouign-amann. My favorite was 100% the almond croissant. All were amazing but the flavors and textures were truly exceptional. The flakiness, the caramelization, the perfect balance of flavors. I wished I had ordered 10 more. Also, the staff were so kind, the line moved quickly, and bonus: all the items freeze exceptionally well! read more

Arsicault is by far the most common answer I get when I ask people living in SF about where to find the best croissants. While I was visiting friends in the Inner Richmond, we were tempted by the aroma of butter and decided to brave the line to try one of these legendary pastries. While the line stretched halfway down the block, it moved quickly, and we only waited in line for about 15 minutes. The ordering process was efficient, and we were able to pick up our pastries in a couple of minutes once we were at the front of the line. The menu is short and simple, and I decided to try the almond croissant, one of the classics. I enjoyed my croissant when I got home, and immediately noticed how decadent and heavy the pastry was (I recommend splitting it). The outside was very toasted - almost bitter - and the inside of the pastry tasted slightly underbaked. On a more positive note, I appreciated how the almond filling tasted purely of freshly-ground almonds; simple and naturally sweet without the overpowering almond-extract flavor. While this first experience did not quite live up to my expectations, I would still come back to try the other pastries. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My OG review still stands, and this review is for this location only. I originally went to the tenderloin location, which is much nicer and has a nice display of pastries. I'd recommend going to that one vs this teeny tiny location. It's not a great representation of the Ariscault as a whole. I think we came here around 2 pm, so almost close to closing, but 90% of items were sold out. Yet there was still a huge queue. Why close so early and be out of stock so fast if ppl clearly still want croissants at 2 pm on a Saturday? Also, they forgot two croissants in our bag, and we turned around 30 seconds later and told them they're missing. They needed to "verify" our order, which made me feel like I'm a thief. I promise I'm not stealing when I already spent $37 there. I just want what I paid for!! Anyways, check out the other 2 locations if you're not a local who lives nearby, as they're much nicer. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate almond croissant with a small latte -- perfection - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I heard so much about Arsicault and was told I MUST visit here when I am in SF. I was told they have the best kouign-amann which is my fav of viennoiserie of all time. For someone to stake their cred on the line and vouched for the kougn-amann, I am def up for this challenge. We took a Waymo which is the coolest car I ever rode in. This bakery location was pretty far from the hotel, but since our friend said this is the one she often visited, so off we went. The surrounding area for this location was nice and seemed to be in a good neighborhood. Since there is no seating (which is a pity), I bought a cup of hot chocolate from next door and we sat at their seatings. Hence no rating of ambiance here. SERVICE 5/5 I have to say the staff here worked really fast despite the line. They were very efficient but not lacking the basic friendly vibe. FOOD 4/5 Kouign-amann 3/5 Sadly, my friend's cred was gone. It was just an ok kouign-amann. There was not enough sugar and I def have better kouign-amann elsewhere. Mademoiselle Louise in Houston had one of the top kouign-amann I had evereaten. It was in year 2020 and I could still remember the wonderful kouign-amann there. Savory scone 5/5 Luckily I got to try the savory scone which was very flavorful and scrumptious. Highly recommended. Our friend took a bite of the kouign-amann she bought to bring home, she commented yea it was not very good, tasted diff. My brother had a butter croissant, and commented it was flakey and pillow-y at the same time. However, it lacked of a good butttet taste. Perhaps that was the reason the kouign-amann I had paled in comparison to those I ever had, which were usually made of French butter like Elle & Vrie and other gourmet butter. I would still recommend this bakery and the best time I would get the savory scone. read more

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I had a chocolate chip cookie ($4.50) from here, it was absolutely delicious-perfectly baked and no burnt bottom. Unfortunately, consistency is an issue. I came back yesterday and bought another chocolate chip cookie, only to find the bottom completely burnt. Hoping it was just a fluke, I stopped in again today during my lunch break. I politely mentioned to the staff that my cookie yesterday was burnt on the bottom and wanted to make sure I got a good one today. Instead of an apology or any real acknowledgment, the staff just started flipping cookies over on the display tray. Right in front of me, they ended up pulling two burnt cookies off the tripod display because they realized they were scorched. What really disappointed me was the total lack of customer service. When a returning customer points out a quality issue, and you literally confirm it by pulling more burnt product off the floor right in front of them, the bare minimum you can do is apologize or offer a discount on the replacement. Instead, I got silence. The lack of care let me know everything need to kre food might have potential, but the servic. - sured I won't be back. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate cookie - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very delicious and definitely not overhyped! Now I understand why so many people call this the best croissant in San Francisco. I tried the chocolate croissant, and it completely lived up to the hype. The outside was perfectly flaky and buttery, while the inside was light, airy, and filled with chocolate that wasn't overly sweet. Every bite had the perfect balance of crisp layers and soft, and it has the best textures I've ever had. There was a line when I arrived, but it moved fast, so I only waited around 20 minutes, which was totally worth it. Overall, 10/10 experience! I would absolutely come back and happily wait in line again! read more

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Finally went to this bakery! The line is always out the door on weekends but honestly we were probably in line for only 15-20 mins. The menu is short & sweet. We got ham & cheese croissants after our bike ride. This is a classic SF spot if you finish a big bike ride, heading to Golden Gate Park or going to the Clement Street farmers market. Ambiance is cute and small. Next door you can order coffee. Would recommend! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Ham & cheese croissants - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I give Ariscault a solid 4.5 but rounded up to 5 stars. This is my second visit but I waited until after lunch to get pastries. To get the best choice of pastries it is best to go before noon before some of the most popular items sell out. I was able to get Almond Croissants, Morning Bun, Kouign Amann and a chocolate chip cookie. My wife said they make the best almond croissant, not overly sweet and nice flakey croissant, she liked the Kouign Amann but she said B Patissere makes the best. The chocolate chip was big, soft in the middle with a slight crunchy edge, the cookie had a good sweetness balance. I was lucky enough to go at a time when there were a few porn parking spots. The parking can be a challenge but it is worth the hunt for parking to get some tasty pastries. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Kouign Amann - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

HEAVEN!! DIVINE!! HOLY DAMN! No wonder people make a huge line for this! I can't stress enough how delicious these pastries are! This is daaaaangerous!! Very, very, very dangerous! Be advised, you will be tempted! That said, if you are looking to indulge, I can't recommend the Chocolate Almond Croissant enough!! And I say this with 2 exclamation marks! I have tried half their menu so far, and I stand behind my rec. Their Chocolate Chip Cookie is nothing to scoff at, but is loaded with butter. Again, you've been warned! If I manage to get their Monkey Bread I shall come back to update this. Speaking of, even though lines can appear long, they go by really fast. So give it a try! read more

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I stopped by Arsicault near the end of their day, and luckily there were still enough pastries around to try. They ran out of their kouign amann for the day which is what I wanted to try, but I was still able to get a taste of their ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was perfectly flaky on the outside with buttery layers, and there was a svaory, melty filling of cheese on the inside that made it satisfying. My friend ordered a few of their almond croissants for him and his family, and they all enjoyed it! They said the croissants were rich and flaky. I love the fresh pastries that are clearly made with care! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Ham & Cheese Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a morning team event. Had to do a takeout and share... Arsicault Bakery Almond Croissant Chocolate Croissant Chocolate Chip Cookie All the associates proved amazing customer service. The place was clean and so inviting. It is a must visit. read more

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Hands down the best croissants I've ever had! The croissants were flaky and buttery in the best way possible. There was a long line, but it moved quickly. We were able to wait in line and order our croissants within 10 minutes. The neighborhood it is located in seems very chill and is also close to the Golden Gate Bridge (if you are visiting SF for the first time). **There's no seating inside, it is only an order-and-go type of bakery.** read more

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This is the BEST croissant place in SF! They have expanded to 3 places. This location does not have any seating. The one on tenderloin has seating but if you are not a local, you will be concerned about the homelessness in that area. The folks servicing us are always smiling! Pre Covid, we could only buy 4 per person. Things would run out by noon ish. These days things are a lot better. Outside of Paris, this is my favorite place for croissants Ps: they have a limited selection of things on the menu - and you can't go wrong with any of them! Also, I finish them so quickly, only managed to take one picture read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have visited both locations and the pastries are consistently good. The lines in both locations are typically long because Arsicaukt is rated as a top baker in SF, but the lines move relatively quickly. The staff are always nice and the pastries are definitely good, but I have never had anything that is ground breaking. Good but not great I suppose?.? read more

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Hands down the best plain croissant I've had in the states. There will be a line, but it's worth it. Flaky, buttery, doughy, everything you want in a croissant. The lamination is spot on and you can just see all of the layers of deliciousness. Everytime I come visit SF I will be making this my priority 1 stop. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Outside - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friend bought their for me and those didn't disappoint me at all!! Love the almond one the most read more

Favorite bakery in SF! There's always a line at this location but it moves at a decent speed. We got their croissant, almond croissant, kouign-amann, cranberry coconut scone, and morning bun. Everything was delicious but I think my favorites were the almond croissant and the cranberry coconut scone. The almond croissant was so flaky and buttery. I feel like a lot of scones are dried but this was yummy! read more

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Came here twice in the late morning on Sundays with friends before checking out the nearby farmers' market. The wait has always been less than 15 minutes for me, despite how long the line looks. Know what you want before coming in (the menu is on the window!). There is often a long line outside, but there is barely any space inside for someone to stand anyway. You get your croissant immediately after ordering. I got the almond croissant, kouign amann, and ham and cheese croissant. Almond croissant - I prefer my almond croissants to be soft, flaky, and have a smear of almond filling. This croissant was the exact opposite of that: it was crunchy, and the almond filling was a huge ball inside. It was messy to eat and honestly, I'm not a fan of this, although I think there are people out there who prefer their croissants to be hard and crispy. It was so decadent that I only ate half and saved the rest. It made me feel heavy. Kouign amann - This sweet, sticky, caramelized pastry is one of my favorite pastries in general, and Arsicault did a good job making one. It's crunchy and tastes rich. It paired great with a cup of coffee in the morning. Ham and cheese croissant - The croissant itself was quite standard, maybe a bit bigger than your regular croissant. There was a smidge of cheese inside and a sad piece of ham. Unlike the almond croissant, I wish there was more filling in this one. It was mostly hollow with liquid cheese and a faint hint of ham. I'm no bakery connoisseur, but I've had better croissants elsewhere. It was a nice experience to stand outside and chat with friends, so I didn't mind coming here twice. However, it's not my first--or even second--choice for pastries in the city. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Are there insane lines on the weekends? Yes. Do they have the best croissants in SF? Also yes. I have been to all of their locations but this one is my favorite. Their ham and cheese croissant in particular is divine and so tasty. The croissants is so flaky and buttery and the cheese tastes amazing with the ham. Hands down the best I have tasted in SF and many other places. read more

I wanted a croissant for my Bonne Maman preserves and that motivated me to take a 40 minutes walk to the bakery. I arrived shortly after 10:00 AM and was 4th in line with people continuing to get in line behind me. A staff member would signal for the next customer to come in when she was done with the previous customer. I asked for 2 plain croissants and a chocolate almond croissant. The croissants were placed in individual bags and then a medium sized bag with a handle. The bag had an Arsicault Bakery sticker. The croissants smelled wonderful on my 40 minutes walk back. The croissants were soft and flaky on the outside and the preserve found its way into the layered pockets of the croissant. The croissants were well worth the walk. read more

Arsicault Bakery - People were lined up to the right of the sign and waited for the signal to enter the bakery for their turn. - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I went to Arsicault a few times during my recent visit to San Fransisco and every time it was amazing! The croissants are filled with flaky buttery goodness and the lattes are made with care. Although the place gets very busy especially in the morning I never felt rushed when ordering. I also had the bacon and onion quiche which was very rich and the perfect start to the day if you didn't want a traditional pastry like a croissant. There's not a ton of places to sit inside of the bakery itself but there are a few tables to sit outside and other outdoor areas. If you're in San Fransisco definitely check out Arsicault. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate Croissant and Vanilla Latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The line is definitely long on the weekends but goes by pretty fast. Only a small amount of people can go inside the shop and order. It's more of a grab and go place but the staff are nice. The pastries though are DELICIOUS. When we ordered them, they were warm and fresh! I loved it and it was so worth it. read more

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such a yummy bakery, the chocolate croissant and Kouign Amann were SO good. Definitely worth the wait if you've never been, but not sure if I'd wait in that long of a line again read more

Arsicault Bakery - storefront - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I wasn't excited to wait 30 minutes in line, but it was worth it. I had a regular croissant and a ham and cheese croissant--both were amazing! The savory scone with chives and bacon was also outstanding. read more

The best croissants I've had and I've had a lot. This visit we had the ham and cheese croissant and the almond chocolate croissant. Ham and cheese was perfectly balanced - the cheese was flavorful and savory without being heavy, and there was just the right amount of ham to make it satisfying without overtaking the pastry. The croissant was buttery and extremely flaky, to the point where I was covered in crumbs as I ate it, though that may be due to my voracious appetite! The chocolate almond croissant was delicious and filling and rich. It's perfect if you can't decide between an almond or chocolate croissant. Why not both? This location is their original location and has no seating and no sandwiches or anything. On a Friday afternoon there was a short line outside that took maybe five minutes at most and they were sold out of chocolate croissants. For those you should try to come in the morning. There's not much parking around but it is worth the hassle to go here. These are peak croissant. read more

Arsicault makes consistently delicious croissants. It's too bad for me, there isn't an Arsicault in the South Bay. I usually hit up the Arsicault in the China Basin location, but the Arguello location (the original) was closer on our way back from Marin. Parking was not easy, and once we got there around 2pm, there was a long line... it did move fairly quickly however, so don't be put out by the line. There is only a bit of space in front of the counter, so they have a guest or one group together at a time. And it was worth a short wait! Don't sleep on the ham & cheese, if it's available! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Line was out the door - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Are these the best almond croissants in San Francisco? There's always a long line and I was initially skeptical, but now I get it, they're pretty damn good. I arrived on a Saturday around 10:20 AM and waited approximately 25 mins until it was my turn to order. I went with the Chocolate Almond Croissant and wow, it was absolutely delicious! It was flakey, buttery, and full of flavor. I can see why there's always a line for it their baked goods! Arsicault Bakery's almond croissants definitely lives up to the hype. You can always expect a line, but it does moves quickly and they get the customers in and out in a very timely manner. read more

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I got the almond croissant and the other spiny thing. Both were pretty yummy. This is definitely a sweet treat because they don't skimp out on the butter used. It's very heavy and will keep you full. The croissant was really flaky and fresh the almond cream was good too and it melts in your mouth. It didn't taste like fake almond essence that some bakeries use to imitate almond flavor! The lines are atrocious tho hopefully it's a bit better now because of the new locations. The next day I put some milk on the croissant and lowkey it was giving bread pudding so if you have some leftovers you should try that. Inside they have limited menu and just a table to order and pickup nothing fancy. But the hype comes from the taste not the aesthetics. Parking is crazy cause sf but you might have a chance of finding something around the neighborhood. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

loveee the croissant here. so flaky, super buttery... honestly one of the best in town. there's usually a line but it actually moves pretty fast and feels worth it. they only let one party in at a time to order at the front, which keeps things pretty smooth. read more

Arsicault Bakery - plain croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came by Arsicault in the Richmond District on a weekday and got there around 8:15 a.m.--no line. Ordered a chocolate almond croissant and a ham & cheese croissant. Both were fresh, flaky, and buttery, some of the best croissants in the city. Make sure to grab some napkins--the powdered sugar from my chocolate almond croissant was falling on me as I ate it while walking. This is the original Arsicault, the first of three locations, named Bakery of the Year by Bon Appétit in 2016. On weekends, the line can get really long, often 35+ people deep, so weekdays are definitely the best time to go. The only downside? It's tiny with no seating, so it's grab-and-go only. But the croissants are amazing. read more

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Yeah ok the hype is pretty accurate. Got the almond and also chocolate croissant, not able to get the mix unfortch which I bet is the best option. For me, the almond was delicious but maybe too much filling, for the chocolate too little, so I gotta try the combo next. So good tho! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When my wife first mentioned this place, I thought she meant Arizmendi, but then we drove by. We first came by about closing time and there was still a line and they were only offering plain and chocolate croissants. So I came the following morning and waited for it to open and the line began forming around 10 to 15 minutes before opening By the time I got in line, I was probably about 60 feet back. However, once the place opened, the line began moving quickly. As others have noted they prep your order as you're ordering it. We ordered the savory scone, ham and cheese croissant, chocolate-almond croissant, and the Monkey bread (orange cardamom version the day of our visit.) The ham and cheese croissant is quite flaky and buttery, and the ham was definitely good quality. The savory scone is nicely salty and has a good sprinkling of vegetables. The monkey bread is sweet and caramelLy and while I could taste the orange, I could not really detect the cardamom though I think I will have to try and really focus. The chocolate almond croissant is heavy and dense and sweet with good chocolate taste, and almond paste. The top separated from the bottom when I picked it up. Everything was nice and warm as this was opening time and stayed warm until I got home about 15 minutes later. I can see why a line forms for this place For $80 you can get a ham and onion quiche or a mushroom quiche. I would choke on that price a little, but I bet it is really good. The space itself at opening is a hive of activity. The Cashier and packing person are downstairs and people are bustling in the raised back area. read more

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Got here around 11:00am and there was a decent line already forming, but the line moves fairly quickly so I think I waited about 15-20 minutes. They have an small selection of pastries to choose from which shows how well they make and perfect their pastries. I got the Kouign Amann which was absolutely amazing! I loved how buttery and soft it was in the inside and tasted more like a pastry and not too flaky or croissant-like compared to other places. As well as the sugar coating wasn't too overbearing but also wasn't too nonexistent. It is definitely better tasting when still fresh but still delicious when eaten later in the day. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Kouign Amann - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good croissants but don't get the craze and the line. It's a bit too flaky for my taste. I prefer juniper croissants on Polk more.

Best croissants in the Bay without having to fly to Paris! Expect a line, even on a weekday, but staff are efficient and helpful with recommendations. The croissants have a perfect balance of crisp, flaky layers on the outside, and a rich, buttery softness on inside. Be ready to order when you get inside, the menu is on the window. My favorites are the ham and cheese, plain, almond, and chocolate! read more

Honestly one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had in my life!! The employees are welcoming and quick, which is great because this place gets BUSY. We showed up later in the afternoon, so the croissant was a bit dry and not super fresh. However, it was still good, just not amazing like I'd heard. I'd love to come back in the morning. You order at the counter and there's no seating, so it's ideal for grabbing food and exploring the neighborhood rather than sitting and hanging out. read more

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Hmm I swear I had written a review when I first visited about 10 years ago. Probably flagged for overusing the word moist in my review! I kid! Back then it was hard to find a good almond croissant. I was used to the coffee shop option of a deflated and greasy pastry with a small glob of almond paste in the center. After having an Arsicault Bakery's almond croissant I was so wowed - Flaky, buttery, chewy with a generous amount of deliciously balanced frangipane with each bite and immediately in love. Arsicault Bakery definitely has a following with their croissants alone but offer a variety of pastries like the kouign amann, morning buns, scones and cookies. Best time to visit is a weekday as place is popular. Service friendly and efficient. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Yum! Calorie- worthy! - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Long line but it moves fast, so you're in and out quicker than expected. The kouign amann was easily the best I've ever had. Perfectly flaky yet moist, insanely buttery, lightly sweet, crisp on the outside, and it melts in your mouth. The croissant was a bit disappointing. The inside wasn't dry, but the outside flaky crust tasted a little overcooked or slightly burnt, almost like the oven was running too hot. The buttery flavor just wasn't there the way I expected. I'd still come back, mainly for more kouign amann and to try the almond croissant next time. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A co-worker buddy and I always talk food. And when you live in this fabulous CIty of mine, there's plenty to talk about. Last week an article popped up in his feed. And he came up to me and asked me about croissants. Immediately I said, "Arsicault?" Yup. That's the one he read about. And typically he doesn't eat carbs (why are we friends?!?!) but he was willing to make an exception for these. Well, he commutes from the far North and would never be able to get any with his timing. I offered to get them for him if he didn't mind day-olds since timing doesn't work with my weekday schedule. Plus I think the ones at Arguello are just a skooch bit better than the other locations. He didn't have a problem with that. Went by Sunday. In a rainstorm. Which was a blessing because I only had to wait 10 minutes. Not bad considering how long the line can be. And everyone on the staff were efficient, helpful and very nice. Brought them to him Monday. He and his family devoured all of them that night. Arsicault definitely has new fans. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Only waited 10 minutes because the downpour probably kept so many away! - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

These are my favorite croissants in the city. The price, technique, quality, and flavors are all amazing. I like to call these walking croissants since they are so flaky and delicious and all of the locations have nice places to walk after. There are lines at times, but I've never regretted waiting in it. I always struggle to pick between the plain, chocolate, and ham & cheese. This original location is a cute, but small storefront. The other locations are much bigger and very beautiful. My favorite thing here is the chocolate chip cookie. The edges are perfectly crispy with the center still being chewy. Everything comes warm, but the cookie has melty chocolate chips and the flaky salt on top is perfect! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California