Bao's Pastry is my kind of bakery: You walk in, and you're automatically overwhelmed by the choices. There are just so many good things in the display case! It seriously took me about 10 to decide on a dessert. In the end, I got a slice of strawberry cheesecake. I took it to go, knowing that I would eat it in my car. (The best place to eat any food.) I chose cheesecake, because in the end, cheesecake is the illest of the desserts. You can't go wrong with a silky smooth slice o' cake o' cheese. And I wasn't wrong! The cheesecake at Bao's is creamy, yet a little pleasantly gelatinous from the strawberry topping. It was so rich that I couldn't eat it all in my car, so I took it to go to enjoy back at my hotel. Some of the other things I was considering getting at Bao's included the mini tarts, tiramisu cup, raspberry opera cake, turnovers, passionfruit cake and many others. They also have lots of macarons, but I'm not a macaron lady! Try as I might, I do not like macarons, but if you like macarons, then Bao's is the place to find macarons. Mostly, this is a to-go joint, but there are a couple of tables on the outdoor patio, and a table or two inside. When I visited, I only saw people pop in and get their goodies and pop back out. read more

My 11 year old daughter has a very healthy obsession with Macarons. When our usual place was out of them (Costco) we searched for a place to enjoy them for Valentine's Day. The service was cordial although the store is very small. They have a wide variety of baked goods and I might visit in the future. We ended up with a couple of raspberry beignets and a 12 count variety box of macarons @ 12 for $25. My favorite was the pistachio. read more

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So nobody answers the phone and the mailbox is full. I guess they are open for business?

Decent pastry shop but their mousse cake was the only thing worth ordering. As other reviewers mentioned, they're pricey. We don't mind paying more for quality but when 1 out of 4 things we ordered were above average, that's a red flag. Perhaps we just bought the wrong things but I'm willing to give this place another shot if we find ourselves back in Valpo. read more

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Stopped here for breakfast since I love French pastries. The shop is very cute and there's so many wonderful cakes/pastries in the display case. The shop does not have seating indoors, but it does have a few tables outside for when the weather is nice. I had an almond croissant, which was good. It had sliced almonds and powdered sugar on top of the croissant. The croissant was nice and flaky. The almond filling was not too sweet. I got two chocolate macarons, which were delicious! I also got the hot mocha latte, which was also very good. Not too sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and I will definitely be back soon! read more

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As a fellow Valpo alumni, I can't help but wonder, "Where were you when I was studying on campus back then?!" Needless to say, I am beyond elated with this addition to Valpo downtown. I am so glad my family and I stopped by on our way to my cousin's retirement party. We picked up several items and all of them were excellent. Here's what we've tried: pain au chocolate, plain croissant, chocolate almond croissant, kouign amann, mango passionfruit cake, chocolate eclair, and chocolate macaron. I cannot wait for their new shop to open and I am hopeful that the new spot will be more spacious. read more

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Gorgeous little bakery in the heart of Valpo! This is another gem I found courtesy of my fellow Yelpers. This shop offers SO MANY baked treats, from breads to croissants to sweets. I picked up some macaroons, a brownie finger, a mini spinach w/sun-dried tomato quiche and a kouign-amann, recommended by the server. I had the quiche for dinner and it was all I hoped for and more! The pastry was flaky and tender, and the filling was light yet flavorful (my pic wasn't the best but I assure you it was delicious). The kouign-amann was my breakfast treat the next day. I was not familiar with this item, but it was just as the server described: a lightly sweet croissant. Heavenly! Go visit, you'll not be disappointed! read more

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Bao's is always delicious and love how they bring in new creative choices per season/holiday so cute. Staff is friendly and patient. Interior is trendy, definitely a joy to pop in time to time when in town. Ordering my wedding cake here and cannot wait! Keep sneaking back for more read more

Bao's Pastry - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Amazing creations transform you to a Paris Patisserie. Cakes, croisants, maccaroons made locally remind me of Paris or Florence. Family enterprise brings the goodies. Everything is kid approved and delicious. Creative baking that's close to home. read more

Finally stopped by Bao's and it was delicious! The staff were very helpful, as were the customers. I tried the mini pavlova topped with fresh blueberries and blackberries and a macaroon. I believe the pavlova was blueberry flavored and the texture was light and airy. I also tried the 4" chocolate mousse cake. I could eat the mousse and chocolate ganache on it own! There was a nice layer of what seemed to be graham cracker and praline like caramel in the center for a textural contrast. The cake was good, yet not as rich as the rest of the dessert. I'm excited to try more of their desserts! read more

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Great customer service and knowledge about the food! Looking forward to return especially to try a sandwich!

THE best baked goods and they have wonderful service!! Love the crème brûlée and macarons!

The macarons were absolutely awful. They tasted old and stale. For the price I was incredibly disappointed. The fillings tasted artificial. I've had better frozen ones. The eclair had the funkiest chocolate flavor. If you could even call it chocolate very disappointing for almost $30. I should have gone back in and got a refund. I will not go back. read more

I am in love with this pastry shop! From the moment you walk in, it is a top tier experience. You have to take a moment to breathe in the smell of fresh bread and pastries before you can even begin thinking about what you're going to order. The atmosphere is perfect and the display of all of their beautiful pastries and desserts was wonderful. We ordered a Nutella croissant, pineapple tart, and kouign amann (positive that I spelled that wrong...). Every item was delicious and baked to perfection. The employee working was so kind and helpful. She boxed up our items for us to pick up after dinner so that my other friends' items could be refrigerated. If I had one suggestion -- I think it would be helpful to label the flavors of the macaroons in the display case. They were listed on a sign, but I would have loved to have known the flavor of each one individually. Excellent experience overall, very happy with everything from atmosphere to service to product! read more

Bao's Pastry - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I come to Bao's every time I drop by Valparaiso. It was a nice stroke of luck that I discovered this place with my partner last year. Sure, the prices feel high but the quality of each treat fully justifies the label! It's very different from the pastry stores in the area as the sweets aren't one-dimensional in flavor (I.e. just being sweet) Although not a pastry, their bahn mi's are one of the best I've ever had and an amazing secret item I encourage everyone to try! read more

Their deserts are fabulous!! Love this place.... My only complaint would be the square machine asking me for a tip.... Are you serious? I am so tired of tipping for people handing me a product..... your prices should reflect a fare wage.... Get rid of the tip option please.... read more

I love love love this place. I honestly have to stop myself from going there because I can't control myself. My favorites are the croissants, the quiche, and the opera cake, but I have tried pretty much everything there. Great for parties and gifts and just to have a treat! They have a location in town and go to several events and markets in the area as well. read more

I've been here a couple times, all I can say is WOW!! I've tried so many things, but my faves are the assortments of croissants. I'm so glad we have Bao to satisfy our pastry needs! read more

I was looking for a something new to try and read the reviews on this place. I stopped by and there were a couple of people in line outside. We waited and proceeded inside when it was our turn. Everything looked delicious!!!! I was disappointed to see that the employees were not wearing masks. I still proceeded to order. I purchased 2 fruit tarts and a panini. Everything was good. The fruit tarts are $8 and paninis are $7.50. I will probably stop by again in a few months to try something different. My stars are for the employees not wearing masks. read more

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A piece of France in our own backyard. Great little hidden spot that needs to be paid a visit. Great decor, little tight if it gets busy in there, desserts nicely displayed Macaroons are amazing Desserts nicely prepared and decorated Good quality pastries Little on the high end but worth it for the area read more

Oh. My. God. TL:DR Version - Ordering is easy, and it's recommended you order ahead. Prices are excellent for the quality, which is impeccable. The place was immaculately clean. The staff is wonderful and friendly. I'm somewhat convinced the chef is a sorceress because nothing is this good without something supernatural going on. :D For context, my husband was a New York chef at a high end wine bar that shall not be named. These desserts are the best we've ever had. Period. Ever. We've had the following desserts there and have admittedly spent several hundred dollars there in less than a month and I don't regret a single penny. We've tried, and thoroughly enjoyed/recommend the following: - Opera cake, so many delicious layers. - Chocolate Mousse cake...so decadent, yet so light and delicious. - Macrons, and every single flavor is *perfect* - Tarts...OMG the freaking tarts! Any flavor is bliss. - Croissants. We bought a dozen. They lasted 3 days. We are now fat. #noregrets - Canele...it doesn't look like much but it's absolutely delightful! - Just had a strawberry rhubarb danish. So flaky, with such fresh fruit. - Tiramisu. I can't even describe the tiramisu. Texture and flavor are hard to get right with this dessert but Bao's nails it. Seriously. Eat here. There will be a line. It will be worth it. I would stand in a polar vortex blizzard to buy literally *any* item they make. Anyone who says the prices are high doesn't really understand the level of quality being served at Bao's. This isn't a cupcake shop that uses boxed cake mix and food coloring to sell a product. This is a genuine French Pastry shop. read more

A unique pastry shop for northwest Indiana. The chocolate croissant and the breakfast ham and cheese croissant were just delicious. It reminded me of being in Amsterdam or Belgium. read more

Best bakery in Valparaiso. Love everything! The tarts are amazing as is everything else I have tried

Amazing pastries and bread. Small shop and there is usually a line but definitely worth the wait. Highly recommend!

Valpo is really stepping it up by having this unique French/Vietnamese pastry in downtown Valpo. Yes, prices may appear higher than most other places in the community but IT IS SO WORTH IT!! I moved here from Chicago so the prices for these delicious pastries are comparable to city prices but they actually taste good!! The chocolate almond croissant is heaven in your mouth with the flakiness of the croissant, yet chewiness from the almond paste inside. The chocolate and almond combination is not too sweet which makes you want to eat everything all in one sitting, which you can but save some for the next day and the freshness is still there. The macarons are also amazing; so many flavors. For $1.75 each, you'll have your sweet tooth fix with just one macaron. This is a great place to grab dessert after dinner downtown or a place to grab a cup of coffee and pastry or a cute & delicious cake for your bestie! Hoping they will have outdoor seating for daytime and summer nights! read more

Bao's Pastry - Chocolate almond croissant one day old but still amazingly fresh and delicious!! - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

If you want a French croissant get something else. I've tried this place a couple times now. Sandwich and quiche are very tasty. Unfortunately the pastries, esp croissants, are mediocre at best.. Each time they've tasted old. They're dense not flakey and buttery and overall nothing like what you get abroad. Service is great. It's clean and beautiful inside. read more

This bakery is clean and well stocked. I got chocolate macarons. They were really delicious. They melted in my mouth and were fudgy! I ate all 12 of them myself but the size was a little bigger than a quarter, so I don't feel like that much of a pig. They were too good to share with my family so I devoured them in my car with a Diet Coke on the way to pick up my sons! Breakfast of champions! I would buy them again and would recommend! Can't wait to try other goodies when I'm in town! read more

The food was amazing, a little pricey but personally i would say it is worth it. Good place to go after dinner ! Wish they were open later during the week. read more

As a french man I can tell you that the " pain au chocolat" was delicious. Like home. The original quiche was wonderful, chausson aux pommes and éclairs too. Very good and authentic place. read more

Delicious French pastries! My husband bought me the fruit Tarte. It was wonderful! Fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries! Our daughter bought the multiflavored puff pastries which were each delicious in their own exquisite sample. The fresh, thinly sliced apples on a flaky, delicate pastry was my husband's favorite! A must try! read more

Oh my goodness, this place is fantastic!! Everything I have had has been scrumptious. It's all so fresh and the flavors are amazing. I highly recommend going in and trying pretty much anything. Lovely little stop after a meal downtown to get a little dessert to take home. Go for it! read more

Fantasticly filling French food. I love it all. From the fruit tarts, the almond croissants, to the macarons and madeleines, it is ALL GOOD . Not 1 thing I have disliked from this place. I would heavily recommend it! read more

OH MY GOODNESS. THESE ARE THE BEST TASTING, MOUTH WATERING, YUMMY GOODNESS IVE EVER HAD. We have tried just about everything she has made and it is unreal. She would win every cooking show. The presentation is unreal. The taste is out of this world and the family that owns the store is THE sweetest (no pun intended). read more

The croissants and macarons taste exactly like those in Paris. What an unexpected treat!

French pastry shop with incredible desserts - almond chocolate croissants and chocolate flan were the best we've ever had. read more

Bao's Pastry - Chocolate almond croissant and chocolate flan - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

We hit this place up often at Coffee Creek Farmers Market and absolutely loved everything we tried. My daughter adores the madeleines!

They were extremely accommodating with a last minute delivery order and the fruit tarts were delicious!

A little Piece of Paris brought to Valpo! Bought two pastries at their stand at the farmers market and hands down, one of the best pastries I've ever had. It was so good we went back to their shop that evening to buy more! You can easily tell time and talent went in to making each of their delicious treats. As a world traveler, it brought the experience of traveling and trying out yummy culinary sweets right here to the neighborhood. They were super kind and fun to talk to as well. Would love to take a pastry lesson from them! Highly recommend! read more

Very friendly service, clean presentation, and sophisticated flavors that are hard to come by. Will definitely be returning to try more!

World class French Pastry, small town prices. Best pastry shop in the Midwest. 5/5 will be going back