4.5 stars. This place has been on our list for a really long time, and we were finally able to make it out today. We got: - Foccocia sando (with kale and spread and some pickled onions) - this was honestly just ok. The bread was kind of hard and meh, but the veggies inside were delicious. - Black sesame cookie - good, but not as good as somewhere like Miopane. Miopane isn't vegan though, so there's that. - Blood orange black sesame danish - this was really good. It's also sprinkled with some rock sugar type thing, which adds unexpected surprise crunchy sweetness to random bites. - Kale scone. This was my fav. It's savory, but has a distinct sweetness that balances everything out great. I'd go back just for this. We got some bottled fresh soy milk too. They also have a furikake croissant and a miso asparagus danish that we'll have to try next time. There is seating a-plenty both indoor and out. Such a hidden gem of a spot. There is also a coffee place next door, and Cassell's burgers, so you can sort of make your own meal here. Street parking, and I saw bathrooms that require a code (but didn't use them). read more

Worth the drive for exceptional vegan pastries in a charming neighborhood spot. We visited Bakers Bench on Saturday, March 28, between 11am and 12pm, and found the perfect weekend-morning energy -- a good level of busyness with just 4-6 people in line. Free street parking right outside made arrival easy. We ordered the Cinnamon Knot, Furikake Croissant (the black sesame had me hooked), chocolate croissant, and Yuzu Poppy scone. Every single one was delicious. Nothing overly sweet, beautiful presentation, and the black sesame and citrus notes really stood out. The space nails that historic old-neighborhood feel with exposed brick and mortar. Big windows flood the place with natural light, and the main seating is in a spacious, dog-friendly courtyard that creates a relaxed community atmosphere. It's exactly the kind of spot that makes a weekend drive from Riverside feel worthwhile. Staff was outstanding -- smiling, engaging, attentive, and clearly proud of their pastries. They brought real warmth to the visit. I'll absolutely return to try their seasonal offerings. Bakers Bench delivers on high expectations with top-tier pastries, a welcoming vibe, and that small-business community charm marked by the blue sign. A++++ Highly recommended. read more

Easy and plentiful street parking on at Sat morning at 10! As a first timer, it was a bit of a maze to find, but they have a lovely central communal outdoor space they share with the other shops that is dog friendly! There were so many pastries to choose from but I ordered the furikake croisaant since it came recommended by a friend and the tropical scone (coconut, passion fruit and papaya). The croissant was airy, although didn't have as distinct lamination as non-vegan croissant. I likes the umami savory flavor and the sesame is roasted which adds a fragrance and crunch. I did appreciate that the scone wasn't overly sweet, but its tropical-ness was super subtle and I don't think I wouldn't have guessed its flavor if I ate it blind. FYI, there is a 4% surcharge for paying with credit cards. And other reviews mentioned a rewards stamp card, but I wasn't offered one! :( read more

Bakers Bench - Furikake croisaant, tropical scone - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The location is great to find a street parking. The store located in a small yard. Looks like a totally different ambiance in the neighborhood. Awesome selection for Vegan baked goods! Always friendly with the customers so keep going back :) I love the black sesame cookies since it's not that sweet but nutty. Generally their bakes goods are not too sweet or greasy. Perfect for small deserts or for simple meals. The croissant must be so fluffy and light. I didn't try it yet but I can tell by the other pastries. Texture is so nice. read more

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Established over a year ago, Bakers Bench is a sweet treat for yourself or to take someone special too and enjoy their delectable selection of pastries, kind and attentive customer service, and the triple threat... an aesthetically pleasing outdoor space to take in all that wonderfulness! On my visit tried 3 pastries: apple turnover, croissant, and a scone -- results: read more

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Wow!!! I can't wait to go back to Bakers Bench and try more pastries. The two that we got were delicious. It's hard to believe they're vegan too. The furikake croissant is delicious and so different than I expected. I loved how it was salty but light. The banana black sesame pastry was also delicious too. They even had a gf option! The courtyard where bakers bench is located is so cute. There's parking on the nearby streets and it can get quite busy. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. read more

Bakers Bench - Furikake croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I doubt that I ever become vegan. But I'm am willing to try vegan pastries as long as they're good. Bakers Bench has been around for some time since the Covid days. I remember visiting Far East Plaza where they were selling their baked goods in a kiosk next to Howlin Rays. Great to see some growth and BB moving into a storefront located in an interesting venue amongst craftsman quadruplex property with an extensive patio courtyard and gardens between buildings. BB is located in the back entry of Cassell's Hamburgers. So, I've been to BB a few times and always wanting to get wow'd. The owner and bakers here have some high street cred having come from some Michelin star restaurants. I haven't been wow'd to this day and recent been more like... Blahhh. My recent experience here, one of the items I had is a pain suisse which is similar to that of a croissant but a bit flatter with pastry cream and chocolate chips. The version here was a bit lackluster looking that didn't have the typical cross lamination. It's dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It was also missing maple cream and lacked chocolate chips. It's $7 and I'm expecting a product that's executed well (like at Republique or Friend's & Family). The one good thing I'd say here is that the pastry and cookies that I've had here are of very good quality. I could taste the good quality flour and butter they use. Not sure if I'll be back. I do have my go to bakeries I prefer. The service here is friendly and warm. Parking isn't too bad as the location is tucked within the West Chinatown area just south of Dodger Stadium on the west side of I-110 Fwy. read more

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Such a hidden gem! Parking: I came on a Saturday around 10 AM and had no problem parking on alpine street. I can see why it might be harder on a weekday though. Yuzu Poppyseed Scone: this was solid. I do wish it was a bit softer though. Egg roll croissant: awesome. I would feet it again. The croissant itself was delicious. Focaccia sandwich: the bread was great and was balanced with the rest of the ingredients The staff was very helpful and patient with us as we had a lot of questions. Service was super speedy. There's no indoor seating, so it can get chilly outside. I'll be coming back to try their plain croissant! read more

Bakers Bench - Inside - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Awesome bakery in an area with a few shops. They have good pastries and they had a unique tote bag with Hello Kitty on it. Staff was welcoming and made some good recommendations. read more

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Beware of parallel street parking, tolerable on the week days. Not too sure about weekend many parked cars might be residences near by. For reference; on Alpine St. 1 hour parking from 8am-6pm except Sundays. For Centennial St. Street sweeping (No Parking) is from 9-11am Thurs on one side and Friday on the other side. Cash preferred, when you pay with cash you pay the price tag of their pastries flat without additional tax. "CASH DISCOUNT- As an incentive to our customers we now offer a discount to pay with cash by providing a 4% immediate discount." Black Sesame Cookie -the texture wasn't my favorite. Outside did have a crisp and inside was chewy but overall it's pretty sticky almost like a cross of soft caramel and toffee.. Black sesame flavor shines through as there were whole sesame throughout the cookie. A little too sweet for my liking. Yuzu Poppy Seed Scone -perfect scone; crisp but not too dense, inside wasn't too dry. Yuzu flavor very prominent. Egg Roll Croissant -eggroll filling was just as you imagined it to taste like but inside a croissant. Furikake Croissant -fruikake flakes on the outside was great and you really taste it. But I'm not sure if fruikake should be baked in high temperatures it gave an aftertaste of burnt popcorn. Croissant texture was crispy outside and soft fluffy inside. Passion Fruit Danish -was my least favorite. Not enough passion fruit jam and danish was too crispy that it was crunchy. read more

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I stopped by Baker's Bench and was so grateful for how helpful the employee was. She recommended the tomato danish and let me tell you--it was phenomenal. Flaky, buttery, and perfectly buttery with a savory tomato filling. You can tell everything here is baked with care and love. On top of the great pastry, the service made the experience stand out. It felt like they genuinely wanted me to enjoy the best of what they offer. I'll definitely be back to try more of their recommendations (and probably another tomato danish because...wow). read more

Bakers Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Stopped by this cute spot for a quick pick me up for a long day at work. Located on a residential street it's easy to miss. I was able to find it because of Yelp. You have to enter through the courtyard behind Heavy Water coffee. Their drink choices are limited to coffee, iced coffee, and some other type of drink. But there's plenty of pastries to choose from. The sitting area outside is so cute and truly makes you feel like you're not in downtown. read more

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I know this bakery is many people's favorite, but I cannot seem to find a reason to love it. I've gone to many different bakeries in Los Angeles, and I don't see Baker's Bench special. I have tried most of their pastries (no drinks), and they were just OK. Some of the pastries were too hard and seemed old when I had them, so I had to pop them in the oven to warm them up; even then, they were not so impressive. The Squash Pecan Danish was my least favorite because I don't think it was executed nicely. These two flavors did not come together in my humble opinion. If I had to choose, the Yuzu Poppy Seed Scone is the one I would choose. Although the pastries are mediocre, the staff here are always friendly and provide very quick service. Parking can be hit or miss, but if you don't mind walking an extra minute or two, you can find street parking and walk up here. read more

So cute and tasty! A small bakery in Echo Park, sharing a space with Heavy Water coffee shop. All the pastries looked divine , lots of option for sweet and savory lovers - the furikake croissants and black sesame cookie were recommended and I'm so glad I chose both. I loved that the pastries are vegan, the croissants were flaky and savory - it's not overwhelming or lathered with butter like most croissants. The black sesame cookie is not too sweet and so nutty! There's a cute outdoor space outside to enjoy your treats. read more

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Baker's bench is such a gem. I've heard so much about it from my friend in LA that I had to check it out when I visited. If you come early, the case is stacked with all kinds of goodies. I could have easily bought one of everything and not regretted it, but I went with a blueberry streusel muffin and chocolate croissant (for later). My partner got a furikake(?!) croissant. The blueberry was really quite excellent--nice moist and substantial filling on the inside. Even though we had the croissants the next day, they too were very good. The person behind the counter seemed genuinely very grateful that we came by, which is a nice demeanor that you don't encounter at all places. While the space inside is quite small, there's plenty of room outside to enjoy your treats. read more

Bakers Bench - Case of goodies - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Please do yourself a favor and visit. The pastries here are melt in your mouth delicious and oh-so-fresh. I picked up a few things during my first visit today and my absolute fave was a croissant with a custard-like dab topped off with a slice of fruit (apricot?) and a slice of mandarin. (apologies for butchering the description) I've never tasted anything like it but I'll be sure to return for more. The whole setting is super cute, with plenty if seating in the garden, among other spirited eateries - just a few minutes from the main Chinatown area. Definitely worth the trip! read more

Love the concept of vegan baked goods but I found the pastries a bit oily and not that flavorful. Overall, I would try again. Service was friendly. (+) interesting ambiance (looks like you're in someone's house) read more

Big shoutout to Jin Y. for introducing me to Bakers Bench because OMG this place is SOOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!!! And everything is vegan! Including the croissants! :) She brought me here on a Monday afternoon. Sadly they ran out of croissants which is the reason Jin wanted to bring me here in the first place. But I was happy just to buy a couple of cookies. I bought a Black Sesame Cookie for me and a Double Chocolate Espresso Cookie to bring home for Hubby. Both were good! Chewy texture, not too sweet, and great flavor! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bakers-bench-los-angeles-2?select=-ViaknbgKUmAWpNvgjSfxw Jin also gave me a Sesame Pineapple Muffin to take home. Again, great nutty flavor and just enough sweetness from the fruity taste. https://bit.ly/3Fla8Ri Five days later, Jin being the most awesome friend that she is, brings me a box full of croissants from Bakers Bench. Oh wow, I treated myself to eat so many delicious carbs that weekend! The box included: - Plain croissants https://bit.ly/4hmHE6T - Furikake croissant https://bit.ly/3R55rxr - Onion croissant https://bit.ly/3QWsn1Y - Chocolate croissants https://bit.ly/4ihy0Ur Every single item in that box had me doing a happy dance! Soft, flaky, "buttery", yum! The furikake one is a little on the salty side but it paired well with an "eggless" tofu salad that I made at home. The plain croissants also are great to use for sandwiches. This place is worth a stop if ever in the area. But go early before they run out of vegan croissants. But please leave some for me :) read more

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Amazing pastry selection! Kind woman who worked there, so sweet. I got a few boxes for clients, read more

Bakers Bench - Toasted coconut Keylime - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My partner and I were in search of some baked goods in the downtown/Chinatown area and decided to stop by Bakers Bench. We enjoyed how they offer various Asian-influenced pastries. The furikake croissant was pretty solid! It had nice layers on the inside with a nice crisp on the outside. I like how it has a subtle seaweed taste (from the furikake) but also a mix of sweet-savory flavors. The sesame cookie conferred a strong sesame flavor, while the chocolate chip cookie utilized mini chocolate chips so the chocolate was more evenly spread out throughout (vs giant chocolate chunks), allowing a more balanced chocolate to cookie ratio per bite. I liked how the cookies were chewy, but I still prefer outwardly crispy cookies with a chewy/soft inside. The staff member was nice and patient with us. The entrance is accessible by entering Alpine Court and seating is all outdoors. If I was in the area again, I'd be interested in trying their other items! read more

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Exceptional service, great food, reasonable prices. Need I say more? No. Go for the food stay for the ambiance. read more

I'm slowly becoming an advocate for vegan bakeries. Especially after visiting this beautiful and quaint place. Very hidden by dodgers stadium this bakery offered some of the best baked goods I've tasted. The furiakake croissant is perfectly seasoned and has a perfect bite amd texture from the seeds. Their focaccia didn't disappoint either as the crunch and fluffiness was unlike anything I've ever had. And the carrot on top wasn't overpowering and meshed surprisingly well. Just keep in mind their focaccia doesn't come out until 11am. And the bakers are very nice, patient and knowledgeable. Definitely coming back read more

Bakers Bench - Furiakake Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wow pastries here are delicious and fresh. They definitely have original pastry flavors like the citrus pastry with tangerine; my favorite here. You can relax with your coffee and pastry in their warm and inviting courtyard. Service was friendly and helpful. Ambiance is pretty cool. We will be back! read more

Bakers Bench - Citrus pastry (tangerine)...must get! - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had the chance to finally check out Bakers Bench recently and I was really impressed with all the pastries I ordered especially since they make vegan pastries here! The interior is charming and the staff were friendly when I walked in. The bakery is located in an unassuming courtyard next to Heavy Water coffee with some seating located right outside in the plaza. They have a variety of pastries to choose from like croissants, brownies, and cookies. All the pastries I had were delicious and they have some unique ones here that help make them a standout compared to other bakeries in LA. My favorite was definitely the furikake croissant which was flaky and flavorful and there was a ton of furikake seasoning on top. The eggroll danish was also delicious and the filling was full of ingredients you would expect from eating a regular eggroll but it was packed into a buttery danish. The chocolate croisssant had a good amount of chocolate on the inside and the outside was crisp & flaky. Overall, this is a fantastic bakery to stop by and if you want to grab amazing vegan pastries, most people would not be able to notice that they are and it's great for people who have allergies. They make some of the best pastries that I've ever had! read more

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It's really good & cheap! It is convenient and they are really. It's is gold in the mornings. See you there. read more

Bakers Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Finally had some time to stop by and while everything sounded good, I decided to try the tomato croissant; tbh, there's nothing special about the looks, but boy was it delicious. The croissant was perfectly flaky and tasty while the filling was a ratatouille-esque delight and when I finished it, I was sad I didn't get a second one. The location is cute, in a cluster of bungalows and in the same cottage as Cassell's? At least, that's the guess because it had Cassell's Hamburgers on the door. And, service was very chill and friendly. read more

I've had Baker's Bench ever since they had a small stall in Chinatown. I love that they opened this brick and mortar nearby. The little square they share with the other shops is so cute! I've tried quite a few of their pastries and love them all. They are not your standard sugar/butter/carb-loaded pastries, but they are still so delicious and packed with flavors - both strong and subtle. The vegan croissants are on the softer side, rather than flaky, but you know what - my stomach is never bloated after eating them. That's a win for me. read more

The pastries at Bakers Bench were absolutely delicious. There was a variety of baked goods to choose from. The staff were sweet and welcoming. Despite the line, it moved quickly and was worth the wait. Quick tip, there's a drive way behind the coffee shop in the front that leads directly to Bakers Bench. There is street parking. read more

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This place is amazing! From the friendly service to the wonderful gluten free choices plus fair prices it is a hidden gem in a wonderful setting of an old Victorian home with a huge garden that is shared with 2 restaurants plus a really good coffee shop on the street. Even on a hot LA day we were cool, relaxing in a beautiful setting. Lots of choices:?cookies, muffins, croissants, everything we had was good and fresh even though it was around 1 pm read more

I am really impressed with this vegan bakery. It's located in an unassuming quiet neighborhood in Downtown LA just off the freeway. I don't go to this area often but there were a bunch of other very cool, small, independent stores selling coffee, sandwiches, etc. But, back to Bakers Bench. This is a very charming, clean bakery with a good selection of pastries and baked goods like croissants (regular and furikake), chocolate croissants, scones, and cookies. Apart from the display case, they are well-stocked with fresh baked goods still in their cooling rack cart. The person helping me was friendly and efficient, and I got to start a reward card that day. The store is situated in a quanit, welcoming courtyard and only has outdoor seating. But it's such a relaxing and inviting space outside, doesn't seem like it would be inconvenient unless it was raining. I'll definitely be back to try more of their vegan items. Everything I purchased was excellent - flakey, moist, delicious! Purchased: 2 furikake croissants (they were out of their regular ones), 2 chocolate croissants, and butternut squash and pecan danish, and a passion fruit scone. read more

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picked up a couple pastries for my family a while ago and they really enjoyed them. they have a small but unique selection of baked goods and are baked fresh daily. the interior is a pick-up sized shop and very small. the worker was kind and helpful. read more

Bakers Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Vegan reviewer here! If I could have their susse croissant everyday I would. I was visiting LA and my friend and I were craving pastries. The shop is small and cozy and there is seating outside with umbrellas in a cute courtyard. I saw great reviews online and decided to stop by. To my delight ALL pastries were vegan which I didn't see listed on any articles or their website. We were greeted immediately by the cashier and she gave us a run down of the case and recommended any croissant type pastry. I went with a chocolate croissant and a susse croissant, my friend got the seasonal pear danish and a susse. They also had other pastries which were unique and savory like an egg roll pastry and breads. We enjoyed the pasty on the patio and we were both pleasantly surprised. It was exactly what we were looking for. The pastries were executed nicely. The pear danish was fruity but not too sweet and the susse pastry was fresh and delicious. We both took home our chocolate croissant and it was just as good the next day. Well worth a stop and supporting a vegan business! read more

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Holy moly, the pastries here are so delicious and vegan! Don't let it being vegan deter you one bit: the flavors are unique, staff is friendly, and everything is delicious, We tried their furikake croissant, twice baked croissant (had almond and gooey chocolate inside dusted with powdered sugar), passion fruit coconut scone (all dimensions of the flavors shone through), and tomato sammie (with cauliflower inside). I didn't think we'd finish all 4 but we did outside on the patio. It's a nice little courtyard shared with other surrounding businesses. It's a nice little spot away from the very urban street surrounding. Free parking on the street which was not hard to find. FYI they do have a croissant stamp card. Buy 10 croissants get a free cookie read more

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This is the coolest little nook of bungalows. A part of me wants it to be hidden because it's such an endearing place and it hasn't been crowded yet when I've gone around breakfast time. There is a Korean place, coffee shop, Cassell's burgers, and one more place on the way besides the bakery. Best part about the bakery (besides everything being delicious), is that it's all vegan! From scones to cookies, to croissants, they have it all and no one would ever know it's all vegan. One of my favorite things now that I've been there a few times are the furikake crostinis. They are so addicting and I leave them in my car for snacking. I recently had the tomato and cabbage sammy and since I'm a savory person this was the best lunch. It's a great place to spend breakfast or lunch. There's parking along the streets and plenty of outdoor seating in the front and back. Parking: all along the front and side streets Prices: $3-$9 Dietary: all vegan Drinks and Food: they have iced and hot drinks Service: friendly and family feel with all staff read more

Been a fan since their Chinatown days when only for 12 hours a week this micro bakery captived our tastebuds. This baker delivers classic croissants, danishes and unique treats like the must have black sesame cookie. I always get some to eat right away and some for later. Happy Munchies, aVeganAndHer read more

Bakers Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have been wanting to come here but I haven't been able to. My girlfriend spontaneously came here during the Women's March and got me a plain croissant. I thought it was delicious. It maintained its crisp after putting it back into the toaster oven. I am a fan and would definitely be back again to try other vegan options . read more

Bakers Bench - Vegan plain croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Randomly found this spot on Yelp and so glad I did. Bakers Bench is a tiny little bakery tucked away on a quiet street, sharing a cozy yard with Cassell's Hamburgers. Walking in literally feels like stepping into someone's home. The bakery itself is small, but they've got a big outdoor patio with plenty of seating and a restroom out back. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. Staff was super friendly and helpful when I had questions about the pastries. Their lineup is unique --furikake croissant, eggroll danish, black sesame cookie, sesame pineapple muffin, yuzu scone, black sesame banana danish... I don't think I've ever been that excited over a selection of pastries. They were all so creative. I ended up getting the black sesame banana danish and absolutely loved it. Perfect croissant-to-filling ratio, a bold sesame flavor that was balanced with sweet banana slices, and sugar crystals on top that added a great crunch. Easily one of the best pastries I've had in a long time. My friends tried the chocolate croissant (solid) and the furikake croissant (good idea, but could've used more flavor). Only thing I wish they had was better coffee--they only have a batch brew. But still, great experience, cool setting, and an ideal spot for a chill outdoor hangout. Will definitely be back to try more. read more

Obsessed is an understatement. Ever since I made my way over to bakers bench I've been back three times (in the last month), and I plan on going back at least every two weeks! My son has dairy egg and nut allergies which means that we tend to eat at lots of vegan places. My son never had a good vegan croissant so when I read about baker's bench I knew I wanted to take him there for a mommy and son outing. The look on his face when he tried a good vegan croissant was priceless. As a non vegan when I say these croissants are as good, if not better, than most croissants, I mean it. And I live close to the best croissant places (fondry, proof, etc). What the chef is doing is incredible. Can't wait to go back again and again. read more

Bakers Bench - My box of goodies - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wonderful hidden gem with a lovely patio, kind staff, and delicious pastries! Definitely worth the visit

I really enjoyed their hot mocha. I arrived a little too late to have an array of pastries to choose from, however, their chocolate croissant made for a delicious dunker pastry. read more

Bakers Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Los Angeles, California