Bake sum is one of my top favorites. I first tried them when my friend dropped off a box when I had just given birth. Usually I don't have an appetite but whatever it was I ate. I LOVED everything. So forever, I would dream about coming back. We don't usually go to Oakland so that was hard. Well we finally came back and it did not disappoint! I love savory pastries, so the okonomiyaki and spam one was yummmy. I surprisingly also loved their milk tea...and pandan pastries too. I love that there wasn't a crazy long line like in SF. so that's a big plus. very friendly servers. I will be back! read more

Bake sum continues to be a go to pastry shop near Lake Merritt, this time to supplement a run club refuel session! I love that the menu is constantly changing, so I got to try a halo halo morning bun. Even throughout the years, the quality remains consistent and high. I enjoyed their unique chocolate chip, sesame, and ube cookies as well. The menu changes keeps things exciting. read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

Loved the concept of pastries with Asian flavors so made the trek here. The place gives the impression of a coffee shop when walking in rather than a bakery. There were only a few of each pastry under the display cases. I got a couple of different pastries but most weren't too memorable. I felt the flavors were too strong and quite sweet. We had the lilikoi and jasmine mochi cake bites, ube coconut cookie, strawberry and cream croissant, and okonomiyaki pastry. They were on the pricey side as well. read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this bakery so much. Try as I might, I can't help but make a stop here to try some of their delicious creations if I'm in this part of town. I call it "French/Asian fusion", although I'm not sure they identify that way. The reason is because they have the French baking techniques down. For instance, their croissants are just as good as what I've had in Paris. Last month they had a pumpkin spice pastry that was layered flaky, croissant pastry shaped like a muffin and filled with delicious pumpkin cream. I really like tropical fruit in pastry, but it's not usually as exciting nor as mouth-watering as what they offer at Bake Sum. They use exotics like lilikoi (passion fruit) and ube, as well as Thai tea and Vietnamese coffee in some of their pastries, creating such delicate succulence that it's hard not to be smitten. They offer new seasonal flavors and special pastries throughout the year, which makes it even more fun to go see what they are up to. Their shop is very cute and they offer all kinds of goodies as well as pastry. It's woman owned and from personal experience, I will tell you that everyone working there seems to be enthusiastic and inspired by what they are doing, as well as offering very good service. It's mostly takeout, but there are a few tables and chairs out front on the street on Grand. They are almost always busy and bustling. If you have to wait a bit, it's totally worth it. read more

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I was really excited to try this place since I've seen it on social media. We went on a Monday before noon. The shop is very small but they sell a lot of other things besides pastries. I guess they swap out their pastries every month according to their instagram. The staff were really nice and willing to explain their menu. We decided to get their Pineapple Milk Bun, Gochujang Pull apart bread, Black sesame snickerdoodle and Croissubi. We also god the Lichee Tea? ( i forgot the actual name). The person taking our order let us know that the tea is unsweetened. So She asked us if we would like some simple syrup we said yes. Overall I felt like the pastries were okay? The croissant texture was really good. But the spam pieces were so thin? The black sesame also had great texture and i loved the toasted flavor it was giving. The pineapple milk bun was also good but i felt like it was very plain. I would love to come back and try different items- read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

Overrated and overpriced. Pastries are fine but nowhere close to worth the price. Operations behind the counter are not very efficient leading to a big backup inside the store. Fine to try once but wouldn't come back. read more

Have come by here twice in the last few weeks. Most recently I got a dozen mini mochi muffins. The brown butter one was my favorite! We also really like the ube ones. The sesame cookie was fabulous! And the chocolate banana croissant was also lovely. The banana filling is super tasty!! It's always been an efficient visit and I'm out with my goodies in a jiffy! read more

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Some of the best and most unique baked goods I've had lately. The service was fantastic (even if they questioned my very questionable americano order, they made it perfectly). A very small space, but they make it work with some outside sitting. Make sure you come early or else they'll be sold out of the choice picks! read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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For those of you whom have never tried the okonomiyaki danish before it's amazing! Definitely a staple and something we always come back for. Be warned, if you hate mushrooms, like my cousin, you might not want to get this. Another one of our favorites is the yuzu meringue when they have them in stock. As I've recently they implemented their cream filled bun, we've tried the melon, strawberry and 2 other flavors that I can't seem to remember off the top of my head. Definitely the strawberry is the best flavor and most memorable we had. Please never get rid of the okonomiyaki danish my friends and I will always come for just this pastry alone. read more

Glad I was able to try Bake Sum when I was still working in the East Bay! Their Croissubi (croissant + Spam musubi pastry) was featured as one of the New York Times' 26 best dishes of 2024, and that was no mistake. Bake Sum is a trendsetter and everything I had, from the ube cookies to the Thai tea mochi cake, made me proud to see (or taste) the Asian mainstays I grew up with shine in pastry form. read more

Cute hole in the wall bakery with local art and purchasables. The staff were super nice and helpful when picking which of their unique flavors to pick from. My absolute favorite was their almond cake, I'd go back for just that, however they have some rotating flavors that make coming back and checking out what's new an exciting experience. read more

Order: * Yuzu Meringue Bun * Almond Cake * Mochi Bites * Croissubi * Green Onion Croissant Pros: * Yuzu Meringue Bun was a winner, I would recommend trying it. * Almond cake was okay, flavor was decent... Cons: * I don't know what flavor the mochi bite was, but it tasted like candy watermelon. The texture seemed a bit drier than what I was hoping for. * Croissubi was a bit of a miss for me. I love musubis of all kinds, but this just didn't work too well for me. Maybe the thin layer of meat didn't cut it? Maybe it should have been warmed up first (although that wasn't recommended to me). * Green onion croissant was also just okay. I think maybe I like my croissants maybe not so thin crispy fall apart crumbling? I'm not sure. Comments: * This kind of spot is right up my alley, so it's a bit perplexing why it didn't hit for me. If there's no line, I would say get the yuzu bun and see if their offerings float your boat to support small businesses and maybe I was just having an off day. read more

Super delicious! The flavors and the textures of the Pandan Milk Bun and Almond Cake were both delicious and amazing! The Lychee Mochi Bites had a great texture but not the most pleasant flavor. The service was very friendly and efficient. The ambiance was pleasant and check with limited seating outdoors and no indoor seating. Can't wait to go back! read more

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We came at 10:30 am on a Saturday and it seemed like a lot was already sold out. We got the ube cookie and jasmine milk bread. Both delicious, bright flavors. I wished there were more coffee options like a cappuccino though. read more

Bake Sum - Ube coconut cookie and jasmine milk bread - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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Pastries are a 5/5, customer service via text was a 5/5, however the in-store pick up was a 1/5, so giving a 4/5 overall. Made an online order for pick up for a birthday party. and then immediately realized I chose a time that would conflict w the party. I texted and the response was prompt and they immediately changed to an earlier time and I got an email confirmation and it was great! The instructions say for pick up to skip the line, so morning of, I walked in, bypassed the long line and waited at the counter. The person working the register made eye contact but proceeded to help customers in the long line. I finally flagged someone packaging boxes after watching 3 groups of people being helped in the long line. The lady asked for my name and immediately gave me my box, so it was ready. They just seemed short staffed or maybe there's a new process they didn't share bc the wait to get the box that was just sitting there was flawed. read more

Saw this featured on Check Please Bay Area--had the 2 featured items: choco/banana croissant and the cheese garlic pull-apart. The PA was small, greasy with no flavor. The croissant was decent--also small and both expensive. Like $12 and super small size. Wanted to support and like this place, however pass. read more

Bake Sum - Cheese/garlic pull apart - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is very cute, has very innovative pastries, and friendly servers. I've been here twice due to the convenient location and both times left a bit disappointed, mainly due to dietary restrictions and the drinks. I've tried their mochi bites, matcha, and chai. Pros: - cute ambiance; with knock knacks and cookbooks for purchase - compostable cups, straws, etc - some outdoor seating - innovative and new pastries every time I've been - chai is spiced more than other local spots :) Cons: - only one gluten free option (mochi bites, that still gave me a stomach ache) - only whole or oat milk options - matcha flavor doesn't compare to other local spots - small and limited seating (very bad for large parties) - doesn't take cash read more

Their range of Asian American inspired croissants is amazing! Each one of them is well thought out and delicious. The Gochujang Pull Apart was loaded with kimichi inside and topped with even more. I likened the texture to a Kouign Amann - hard exterior. The Garlic Cheesy Pull Apart had chucks of garlic but it actually wasn't cheesy. In fact, I didn't taste the cheese but give it a try if you're a garlic lover. The Okonomiyaki Danish truly reminded me of an okonomiyaki. It was savory and umami. The Crossubi had a piece of spam and seaweed inside. It's definitely a fun interpretation of a musubi. I would come back in a heartbeat! I've never seen a restaurant with so much creativity in translating signature asian dishes to pastries. read more

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I loved this place. They had innovative flavors. The Okonomiyaki Danish was the star of the bakery in my opinion. However, they changed the recipe a year or so ago and no longer have the egg on it. I think the egg makes it and without the egg.. it's not the same. I haven't been back since they changed it read more

Bake Sum specializes in pastries that have an Asian influence! They have milk buns that range from pandan to vietnamese coffee, cookies such as black sesame snickerdoodle, and savory pastries like a gochujang pull apart & okonomiyaki danish Additionally, they have weekly pastries that they rotate! It had such a cute interior (SO PINK LOL) & the workers are so sweet and accommodating when I asked them questions :') I only got one pastry, which was their take on a spam musubi croissant. It was flaky, buttery (can't you tell by the grease on my fingers?!!!), and balanced well by the saltiness of the spam. I liked how they added cheese on top too, which added another layer of umami. I was surprised by how successful the flavor combo was, and I def wanna try some of their sweets the next time I come around. read more

Bake Sum - Croissubi - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

What can I write about Bake Sum that hasn't already been expressed... I have been getting Bake Sum for awhile now. We used to get their green onion croissants from the period piece that was Magnolia Mini Mart during Covid. At one point, I used to think the green onion croissant was the pinnacle of a baked good and it couldn't get any better. I had yet to see that kind of "Asian fusion" in baked goods until then. They opened the store. I've worked my way through most of the menu many times over the years. I'm not going to gatekeep what I think is the best move, which is 1. get cookies if you want sweet stuff or 2. otherwise get the savory stuff: 1. Get cookies. Their cookies are stupid good. My fave is the cocobae but the one with black sesame (?) is also really, really good. I also like that the cocobae in particular stays "fresh" and "chewy" a day longer than most other cookies. 2. Almost every savory item is very, very good - but the garlic cheesey pull apart is the best. There are whole cloves of garlic in it. It is really amazing what they are doing there in Oakland. They used to have an item with a cream cheese stuffed jalapeno within it... wtf... how is this happening. Anyway, this is my favorite bakery in the SF Bay Area for sure. I'm glad to hear they got the media acclaim or whatever these last couple of years but I hope they stay representing/remain a pillar in the community. 6/5 stars - best of the best read more

Just really good pastries. Execution is top notch - and each visit is an exploration because of their unique items and fusions. It's a small space and crowded, so probably best to take to go. Not somewhere you'd spend time sitting read more

Bake Sum: The Lighter Side of Heaven If you think Arsicault is the gold standard for croissants, you aren't wrong, but Bake Sum in Oakland is playing a different game. While Arsicault is famous for that dense, ultra-buttery "melt-in-your-mouth" richness, Bake Sum has mastered a lamination that feels impossibly light and structural. The Vibe It's a neighborhood gem on Grand Ave that manages to be both high-concept and totally unpretentious. They've perfected the "Asian-American bakery" niche, taking classic French techniques and applying them to nostalgic flavors. Why the Croissants Win * The Texture: These are "shatter-crisp." The layers are so thin and distinct that they crackle like parchment paper when you bite in, but the interior stays airy and honeycomb-soft. It lacks that "heavy butter" weight that can sometimes make you feel like you need a nap after an Arsicault run. * The Innovation: You have to try the Croissubi. It's their signature Spam musubi croissant - topped with furikake and parmesan. It sounds like a gimmick, but it's a masterclass in savory balance. * Seasonal Sweets: Look for their fruit-forward lamination, like the Passion Fruit Croissant. The tartness of the curd against the sweet, light dough is perfect. The Recommendation If you're a purist, get the Classic Croissant just to appreciate the technical skill. If you want the full Bake Sum experience, grab a Ube Mochi Bite on the side - it's the perfect chewy counterpoint to the flaky croissant. Pro-Tip: They have a lunch break! On weekends, they're open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., then close for an hour before reopening from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Time your visit so you don't hit the locked door at 12:15. Personally I get a half or full dozen croissants whenever I go and freeze them (if I can prevent myself from eating them first) read more

A great bakery if you're near lake merritt, it's really cute and small but the line was sort of heinous, recommend going earlier. I will say the drinks are pretty small for what they price them at. I got the matcha which was good but kind of expensive. I also got the okonomiyaki danish and the red bean milk bun, both of which I say were really good but you could TELL that they've been sitting out for a while and would have been way more enjoyable if they had been eaten warm. The servers also got my order wrong (and the service was not that great), but I know that they've been seeing an uptick in interest since the NYT article released on their croissubi. Recommend coming earlier (~10am) if you want to hit those on the weekend but I don't think it's that wroth it to go out of your way to get this item. read more

Came for the crossubi, but would come back for the special sausage bun and maybe try their other items. Crossubi was fine, but the combination of spam and crossaint didn't take it to the next level for me. We also tried their okanomiyaki danish and would pass on that next time as well. The sausage bun was good enough to earn the 4 stars though read more

Had to come both Sat and Sun for these because they ran out around 1pm Sat so I tried 10am Sun and they had everything. Parking is packed in this area as it is lined with shops. This bakery is also small with only limited outdoor seating. There was a 5-10min wait on both days. 9/10 Ube Milk Roll $5.25 - Shell had a light crunchy directly underneath was soft bread. Cream ratio was perfect for amount of bread and very well made. Ube flavor was almost a medium strength, good consistency, creamy, rich, and perfect sweetness. Seasonal flavor. 7/10 Milk Tea Milk $5.25 - Same textures all around but milk tea flavor was very light. Worth a try but would not repeat. Seasonal flavor. 9/10 Okonomiyaki Danish $5.75 - Savory and creamy pastry with a tiny sweetness from the sauce. Amazing crispy and flaky danish with buttery soft layers inside. I think it could use some protein as a topping but still very good on its own. Usually on their menu but runs out quick as it is a top seller. Must get item. read more

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Love this place! I'm a big fan of their okonomiyaki danish. It's basic but I also love their chocolate chip cookie. I wish they had more seating besides a few tables outside, but it's fine to get take out. Will definitely keep coming back! read more

I really like Bake Sum Pastries, so I was excited to learn that they're now in Berkeley on the weekends! They're offering a limited pastry menu from their commissary kitchen in Bread Project in Berkeley. When I visited they had cookies, mochi bites, viennoiseries, and individually-sized yuzu meringue tarts. The items I got were all warm and fresh! Everything I've tried there has been great, and I prefer them to other Asian American influenced bakeries in the area. I particularly like their cookies ($4 each), especially the Black Sesame Snickerdoodle, and the Croissubi ($5.50), which is a cross between a croissant and a spam musubi. Service was super friendly, and I highly recommend paying them a visit. Right now the selection isn't quite as extensive as in their main location in Oakland, but they're planning to expand their available items in Berkeley in the future. read more

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I had no idea Bake Sum was in Berkeley. I have been patronizing the Grand Avenue store near the Grand Lake Theatre. 23249 Grand Avenue, Oakland. I can never decide between the umami bomb of the Croissubi and the Asian-fusion flavors of what shows up each month. For April, the Pandan bun sold out when I ordered a box to share with friends. The cookies are amazing, and I love the snickerdoodles. Try the Okonomiyaki Danish, it is amazing. You have to try this bakery many, many times. I apologize for no photos because when I brought the box, the pastries did not last. read more

Sometimes you read about a place and it never lives up to the hype, but not here! Bake Sum delivers the goods and more... I stopped by with my boys a couple days ago and ordered the infamous Croissubi, a Peppermint Chocolate Milk Bun, a Black Sesame Snickerdoodle, and an assortment of Mochi Bites. The mochi bites and the milk bun were enjoyed by my kids. I did have a bite of each and found them really good and surprisingly not overly sweet. The Croissubi though was made with some sort of witchcraft though... the pastry was flaky and buttery and the flavor wasn't overwhelming, but rather complimentary. Each bite got better and at the end I kind of wish I ordered a second one. Then there was the Black Sesame Snickerdoodle, which stands on its own feet... I've never had such a delicious cookie in my life, and that's saying a lot! Get the cookie, get the cookie!!! The bakery itself is very non-descript, but cozy, although that could be due to how friendly the woman operating the counter was. The staff is quick at fulfilling your order and getting you out the door to enjoy these amazing pastries! read more

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I wish I came earlier! Arrived around 1pm on a weekend and quite a few pastries were sold out. I was able to get the pandan and Vietnamese coffee milk buns, strawberry Kinako bun and a strawberry croissant. The pandan buns were a hit with my group - even those not familiar with pandan. So light, creamy and delicious. The strawberry croissant was also a crowd pleaser - I was sharing but I wish I had my own! We found the Vietnamese coffee buns to be very strong, but perfect for coffee fans. Overall amazing pastries, friendly staff and definitely worth another visit! Can't wait to try more :) read more

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The savory Okonomiyaki Crossiant and spicy Gochujan Bun are fantastic and the Pineapple Bun is a delight. But the Halo-Halo Croissant? For $8, I got a pretty purple croissant that tasted of disappointment. The ube, jackfruit, and red bean must have called in sick, leaving behind a messy sugar bomb. Skip that one unless you enjoy wearing your dessert. Go for the savory items and the pineapple bun--you won't be disappointed. read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

I can't believe I didn't know about this place on grand Ave in Oakland just a few blocks from the grand lake theater! Amazing creative pastries - with all sorts of combinations that pay homage to some Asian flavors. We tried several of them and honestly all of them were delicious in their own way. My best advice is to bring some friends and try several of these ok your next visit! read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is a gem! I ordered the okonomiyaki danish and the pandan milk bun. Both were such unique pastries and executed so well. The danish was flaky and flavorful and I appreciated the umami from the mushrooms. The milk bun had a nice outside coating and beautiful color similar to mexican conchas with a really tasty pandan filling. Inside the store is cute too with many lil asian products. They also have day old cookies for $6! read more

Bake Sum - okonomiyaki - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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service was very nice answered our questions and was friendly! the vibe is very cute and simple and nice mixture of asian pastry fusion the pastries were really good my go to was the okonomiyaki danish!! very good 12/10 read more

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Came here on a Sunday at 1PM after spontaneously deciding to have an adventure in Oakland. I've been wanting to try this place for a while, so I was disappointed that many items sold out when I arrived. But that did not stop me from being g excited to try the pastries that were still available. This bakery specializes in pastries with a twist of Asian ingredients. Pineapple Milk Bun (4/5): I thought this would be like a normal pineapple bun, but it wasn't. It was a milk bun with a glazed of pineapple crust, similar to the Mexican breads. However it tasted more like lemon than pineapple. Black Sesame Kumquat Bun (4.5/5): This piece of pastry was pretty big as it had a kumquat whipped cream on top with black sesame cream as the filling of the pastry. The pastry was sprinkled with sugar and had a croissant like texture. I really like the black sesame filling, but I did not think the kumquat and black sesame mixed well together. Lychee mochi bite (5/5): Very small and delicate. It was fairly chewy, but the lychee flavor was not as strong and it tasted a bit with a hint of rose. I hope to come back again but early next time. read more

Bake Sum - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

100% recommend coming here for the pastries and treats, however I definitely would not recommend coming for the drinks. I definitely should have known with the name of the place lol but I got the match latte and it just tasted like straight milk tbh but after tasting the pastries I wasn't too disappointed. I asked a lot of questions about certain drinks and they mentioned being out of multiple things The best 2 out of all the pastries my bf and I tried were the Vietnamese coffee cake and the musubi croissant. The service was great and the ladies that helped us were so polite even when I was indecisive and they ever threw in a free pastry as an apology for being out of multiple things with the drinks. Drinks 0/5 Pastries 4/5 Service 5/5 read more

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Delicious flaky pastries with such a fun variety of flavors. They switch it up every month, but the staples of spam croissubi, okonomiyaki danish, and loco moco danish are all so good I would get it again. I feel like we're inundated with sweets, so it's nice to get savory pastries once in a while! Their cookies are also good! Surprisingly I liked the cocobae best, but the matcha and black sesame were also good! Not sure if I would get them again, but good to try at least once! read more

Bake Sum - Ignore the top left! Matcha and black sesame cookie on the top right, okonomiyaki danish bottom right, croissubi bottom left - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

Had to try the croissant after reading the Chronicle article and I must say it was pretty solid! Flaky outside, chewy inside, and warm! Count me in for a round two! Also got the almond cake and various mochi bites. Must try! read more

Bake Sum - Traditional Croissant, almond cake (top right), and various flavors of the mochi cakes. - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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. read more

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