Buko Bakes offered up 7 different items (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/buko-bakes-san-francisco?select=t2382NdOBji5O2Yuboqn5Q) at the recent Yum Yams Ube Festival at Kapwa Gardens, and since I had never tried any of their creations I purchased one of everything (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/buko-bakes-san-francisco?select=mlml4Ldmq6QyslTOswTQMw).
Before I get to my review of their product though let me say that the ladies who staffed this booth were amazing, funny, generous, gracious and helpful from event set up to the actual event itself to event teardown they were an absolute pleasure to work with (I was there as a volunteer).
So if you read my ABACA review you'll understand my circumstance once I returned home exhausted from this event and my mind in a fog that I gave away the ube cake donut and the ube macaroon, but at least I got to try 5 of the 7 items I purchased. Of those 5 items 4 stood out for me. I wish I had taken individual photos of everything, but I did not.
The Halo Halo Fudge (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/buko-bakes-san-francisco?select=lxwz6NvSO2btAKz9_j2vGA) was my absolute favorite with it's different flavors and textures as a result of it's components which consisted of sweet mung bean, mango bits, coconut, white chocolate chips, caramel bits, crunchy nuts, banana chip bits and probably more all nestled inside a chewy ube confection.
The Halo Halo Cookie was equally as enjoyable in a chewy ube cookie form with seemingly fewer components.
The Ube Jam Bar I liked more for the buttery dough and rolled oats which sandwiched the thin film of ube jam. At the time of my purchase I was asked if I wanted a chewy middle piece or a crispy corner piece. I chose the latter and it was a win-win for it was both crispy and chewy!
The Ube Rice Crispie actually tasted like any other crisped rice and marshmallow treat but made more fun by it's purple color and the assortment of colorful sprinkles on top.
I hope to come across Buko Bakes again for more Halo Halo treats and maybe try some of their non-purple treats. read more