This place is truly a hidden gem in Covington! It's located on a strip surrounded by a bunch of other great restaurants and bars, so you'll never run out of new places to try. The bakery is owned by Chako, and she does such an amazing job with every pastry and dish. I've been getting her cakes for my birthday every year growing up, especially the matcha and strawberry cakes, and they've always been a favorite of mine. Later on, I started bringing new friends here for brunch because they have a hidden café room in the back. It's filled with lots of local artwork that's actually for sale, and the art changes every time I visit, which makes each visit feel a little different. The owner is always so positive, and I really love the energy of the staff. The food is always fresh since everything is made to order. If you're looking for homey, comforting food that isn't too pricey, this is definitely the spot. Nothing overly complicated or extravagant--just authentic, comforting food done well. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Karaage combo with an iced matcha - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I ordered a cake from Chako and it was delicious. I ordered a matcha sponge with matcha cream. It was the perfect amount of sweetness. I also bought some pastries while picking up the cake. They were delicious as well. They were the typical pastries you'd get at an Asian bakery. The chicken Kara-age was also good. If I'm in the Cincinnati area and there's a special occasion, I would definitely come back! Chako was really friendly. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I saw reviews and pictures from this place and knew I had to try it while in town. They have Japanese sweets, onigiri, and sandos. As soon as I walked in the front door, I felt the warmth of the owners (at least I assumed they were the owner!). The way the talked to their customers like family was heart warming. They were out of the egg onigiri so I got a salmon one, a chicken sando, melon pan, and an ube cream dessert. The melon pan was honestly my favorite because they're so hard to find fresh where I live. The sando didn't impress me - too much mayo and limp lettuce without much flavor. The onigiri was good, as was the ube dessert. Id absolutely go back but skip the chicken sando. read more

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I was getting my haircut at Salon Bloom next-door, and the owner of Chaco came in to bring one of the stylist a tea. I had to know more about this bakery after hearing everyone in the shop talk about how good the bakery and drinks were, so we headed over and got a Matcha latte chicken teriyaki bun and pumpkin pastry, both savory. They were both delicious, fresh and flavorful. This was a great find and definitely worth an impromptu early lunch. The owner also gave my daughter a complementary salmon rice ball to try and it was so amazing. I already can't wait to come back for the fried chicken sandwich that another customer was ordering after we ordered our food. I might even come back tomorrow! Sorry about the pictures, I ate too fast to remember to take a photo. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Matcha latte, and savory buns (mostly eaten!) but you can still see some of the pumpkin in the top pastry. - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Tiny Japanese bakery in Covington. Was heading to the races at Turfway so didn't buy any of the lovely pastries, too delicate to leave in my car all day. I bought the Japanese Sweet Bread. Hope to get back another time. Do stop for a treat. 39 read more

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Amazing. Grew up in Japan, this took me back! If you want REAL Japanese food made by Japanese people, this is the place read more

After a friend brought Chaka's Matcha Roll to a party at our house, four of us decided to meet there for lunch. As the lone vegetarian, I called ahead because the menu did not seem to offer something for me. I'm pleased to say we dined there today and all of us were pleased! They whipped up fried tofu with enoki mushrooms in a tasty broth served with salad and a small roll filled with egg. The service was kind, the food was delicious and the portions ample. Can't wait to return. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Still just as amazing as always!!!! Absolutely love everything here, wish they were open for more hours during the week :) so authentic, and wonderful service. They have wifi, I might try go come here one day and enjoy pastries while doing some computer work! read more

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Chako has a very cozy atmosphere and very kind owners. The pastries are beautiful and there is a lot of variety. This feels like an authentic experience. Plenty of indoor seating in the back. Will come back for soup! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Went to Chako Bakery based on a recommendation of a friend. They have beautiful and delicious bakery items. It's so difficult to choose from their offerings. Each and every piece was fantastic. You can have lunch there, too. Will do that next time and they have classes every so often. read more

Lots of really great sweet treats to choose from. The location was so cute and the service was great. Will be back to try out their delicious looking (and smelling!) lunch options. read more

The food and tea was delicious. The Onigiri and Karaage combo was filling, the chicken was perfectly cooked with a light crisp. Their Genmaicha tea was flavorful. I was given a complementary chocolate coffee dessert that was rich but not overly sweet. Their yuzu dessert was so fluffy and light with a perfect zest. Everyone is very friendly and kind. I definitely loved the ambience of the café as it was very soft and cozy. They are dog friendly. When I walked in they approached the dogs and started praising my pups which I appreciated. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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We drove past this cafe by coincidence and truly visited a hidden gem. From their baked goods/cakes to meals to service, everything about this cafe was phenomenal. Upon walking in, you'll notice a small counter where you can place your order -- there's a lot more seating in the back! The entire cafe feels comfortable and homey, and the employees are so kind in the front. My friends and I got their onigiri & karaage combo, karaage sando, matcha cake, and cheesecake. The karaage (chicken) was SO JUICY -- I slightly squeezed my sandwich and you could see how tender the chicken was. The salad and dressing were super refreshing and definitely balanced out the fried food. Of the cakes, I preferred the matcha, but loved both of them! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Onigiri and Karaage Combo, Karaage Sando Combo - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I was hanging out on Main one Saturday morning and came across this gem. The setup of this bakery seemed to be more of a grab and go style. I didn't see seating where patrons could sit inside. However, I believe there was seating in the back or on the side because they do serve more sit down style food, as well. Anyway, the individuals behind the counter were super helpful in guiding me to exactly the type of pastry I wanted. I was in search of something light and savory, as opposed to the super sweet, rich pastries that are a dime a dozen in that area. First, can I just say that the sheer amount of options for pastries, sweets, and breakfast items was impressive. My choice was between a pastry that included spinach, cheese and bacon or spinach and different cheese. I ended up picking the one with bacon because...Bacon!! I'd whole-heartedly recommend trying this little cafe. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food was good, the onigiri was mostly rice though. Service was very friendly and they have a cute dinning area in the back with self serve water. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - fruit tart - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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I absolutely recommend the Onigiri + fried chicken lunch combo ($12). You have an option to choose miso soup or salad. I'm not much of a salad person (Chako ran out of the miso soup when I visited), but I devoured this salad. The salad was very fresh, and the dressing was light and sweet. Their fried chicken is all chicken thighs (YES, DARK MEAT!) I also never expected to find onigiri in a place like Cincinnati, so I was delighted to eat some here. The onigiri is stuffed with salty salmon and was a great balance of flavors. The only cons are the limited seating (about 6 tables) and the long wait time (it took 35 minutes since we placed our orders for our food to come out; Chako has 2 people total taking the orders and cooking the meals), but the meal was worth the wait. I heard that their bread is superb and made in-house. I must try it next time! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Fried chicken and onigiri special - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Inspiration brought to you today by Chako! We had a deliciously inspiring experience at Chako bakery. The baked goods are sensational but it is Chako's spirit and attitude that made our day! Chako came to the US from Japan in 2015. Even though she was a nurse in Japan, it is not that easy to jump right into nursing in a new country. Chako decided to write a new chapter in her career journey embracing her love for the culinary world. She opened Chako in 2017! Each item in her shop is crafted with passion and attention to excellence. The cakes are fluffy and so delicate. The savory baked goods tasted soooo amazing! Go give it a try! Thank you Chako and your team for a great experience. read more

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I love chako! I've been for a lunch a few times and the food is always fresh and made to order. I'm a fan of their salad dressing, karaage and onigiri. Their roll cakes are delightful, sweet and light. I've tried a few of their savory pastries and enjoy them, especially any of them with the crisp cheese. The owner is very sweet and I plan to keep visiting this cafe when I am able! read more

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So happy that I found this wonderful little spot in Covington. I'm a huge fan of Japanese style pastries and breads and since moving down here I've felt bummed that I wasn't able to find anything yet. My friend who lives closer to Covington told me about this place and I was so excited to visit. They have a beautiful array of sweets as well as a mix of savory and sweet pastries right at the counter for you to admire. The cashier was really great and gave us a rundown of all the flavors as well as the ones she really recommends for first-timers. I ended up getting a mixed vegetable and herb pastry and a grilled salmon onigiri-karaage (fried chicken) lunch box. The onigiri and karaage were delicious and paired nicely with the salad and lemon. The vegetable pastry was beyond delicious. So flaky and well balanced. It didn't leave me feeling so heavy either. I can't wait to go back and try more of their pastries and drinks! read more

A gem of Covington Mainstraße! Things I love: -250 megabit WiFi internet is INSANE. I will never go to Coffee Emporium again. This really matters to me when I am trying to get work done. -Plenty of ("hidden") seating in the back room: (2 tables for 2, 1 table for 3, 1 table for 6, 1 table for 8: 21 seats total) -Great quiet study spot (depending on who is sharing the back room with you). -Free 2 hour parking on Main Street. -Fun Japanese dishes: pork sandwiches, matcha rolls, fried chicken, rice balls! Sencha & matcha teas. Things I don't love: -No gluten free options (so I can't really speak to any of the food menu items) I think I found my new study / mobile work spot. The building is in the core historic district of Mainstraße and just a street over from Mutter Gottes neighborhood. If you want to wander around, get some work done and support a friendly local business you have found your next place! read more

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Every lunch and each bakery item is crafted with excellence and attention to detail. The quality is not something we are accustomed to here in these parts at this price point. They are open Wednesday to Sunday 11-3PM. I recently was given a birthday party. I requested 2 whipped cream cakes from Chako bakery, Matcha cake and white cake with glazed fruit toppings. They were excellent. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - First course of my lunch, karaage onigiri set. - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Great lunch options as well as delicious Japanese cake options. A rare gem in Covington. The owner is friendly and personable. Accessibility is a little difficult but worth the effort. read more

Chako Bakery is a cute Japanese pastry and bread shop. I had seen their name and pastries on Instagram which made me want to try them. While waiting for a table at Otto's my husband and I decided to walk around on Main St. We just happened to stumble upon Chako, so I certainly had to stop in and I'm glad I did. We were welcomed by warm and friendly staff. Even, Chako, the owner was in there and was super sweet. All of the staff was so nice and accommodating. They answered any questions I had. I asked the girl working the front to explain the cake roll flavors and she did with no problem. After hearing all the flavors for the cake roll, we decided on the Raspberry infused Cake Roll stuffed with cream and strawberries. This cake roll was pretty good. The flavors and berries made it even better. I'll be honest, I'm not much of an angel food cake person. This cake was like an angel food cake. Other than that, I don't have any complaints. Overall, I'll certainly go back and try other items and other cake roll flavors. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Raspberry Roll Cake - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Most people would assume there aren't options for Japanese bakery items or katsu sandos in the Cincinnati Metropolitan area, but they'd be wrong. Ms. Chako started her eponymous Japanese bakery spot in Covington, just across the river, a few years back if I remember correctly. The restaurant sits along a walkable street of other stores and restaurants. Chako sells all sorts of baked treats, but what shines are her roll cakes, which can be bought in-store or made to order. The roll cake itself is light, airy, and moist, and the cream inside is not too sweet and fluffy. The matcha and strawberry flavors have to be my favorite, but the other flavors are also excellent. They sell out fast, so it's best to go early or call in an order. I've dined in before with my mom, which was a fantastic experience because Ms. Chako will strike up all kinds of conversations with customers. The day we dined in, she ended up discussing kimjang, or kimchi making, with my mom! In terms of the food, the food we ordered was great. The katsu sando I ordered had was somewhat bready(/aka there was less meat than I would have liked), the bread itself was a house-made shokupan that was quite tasty alone. I was very full after eating just half the sandwich. The salad was made of simple greens, but they were very fresh, and it was covered in a light, refreshing dressing. read more

Great food, great matcha. Welcoming environment and super kind employees - authentic vibes

I can't wait to come back here! Chako--the woman behind the name--was there to greet us on Sunday morning and she and her staff were all so incredibly sweet and informative. They went through all of their offerings and I literally wanted to buy everything, but had to show some constraint. I got a matcha sweet cake and a savory spinach twist to try out the opposite spectrums. The twist was great, but fell a little short for me, but the matcha cake? I can't describe to you the pure satisfaction I had eating this. I tried my best to savor and string out the bites for as long as I could and not get back into my car to try the rest of the flavors! My friends all were in love with their selections and I regret not getting her fresh baked bread, but like I said...I'll be back, I just need to spade out visits, it could get a little dangerous! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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My new favorite place in Covington. Everything they have here is good. Their cakes, homemade bread, karaage (fried chicken), onigiri (rice balls), and their savory baked goods. So happy to stumble across this place! read more

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This place is a slice of heaven! We had our first lunch of our trip here by accident no less! My wife had wanted to come take a look at this spot when we were in Covington a year ago but we found it too late and were leaving before they would be open again. This time we planned ahead! When we walked in the sign was still turned to closed even though it was during business hours. We came to find out she wasn't quite ready for customers! Whoops! We were greeted by two women working right behind the bakery case, wonderful smells of bread and pastries. What a beautiful site! We didn't know where to begin so we started looking at each item, as we did they offered us samples of some of the roll cakes. They were so soft and moist, true bits of fruit and fresh cream, it was honestly delightful. My wife and I decided to try some menu options for lunch, I opted for the fried chicken with miso soup and rice balls. My wife had the fried pork cutlet sandwich with miso soup. With that we took our seats in the quaint dining area in the back of the building. They brought our lunches back to us and the smells were just amazing. The miso soup was phenomenal, I usually prefer clear soup but this was just fantastic! My fried chicken was hand breaded and was so moist it had white meat and dark meat pieces. It was cooked to perfection. The rice balls were something I had never had before, they were stuffed with salmon. I'm not really a big fish person so I ate around the salmon but my wife enjoyed taking the salmon from me. My wife's sandwich came with a sweet brown glaze sauce and the portion was a pretty good size. I really enjoyed the glaze and I ate part of her sandwich as well. Overall it was a great lunch! For dessert we had a chocolate layer cake which was to die for. It was moist and the mousse was a true chocolate mousse. You can tell this was fresh chocolate and not diluted with preservatives or other agents. We liked it so much we decided to come back two days later for a mid day snack. My wife had a fruity roll cake and I had a hand made cream puff. They were again phenomenal. This was such a sweet and wonderful experience. They even offer cooking classes! If you're looking for a delicious pastry, this is a must stop place! read more

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I love Chako's! The staff is always super friendly, quick service, and the food is amazing. I always make sure to get a few sweets on my way out as well, my favorite are the strawberry and raspberry rolls! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Onigiri and Karaage Combo - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I went here with my daughter to scope out desserts for potentially using them for our daughter's wedding. We were able to find street parking easily. Walking into the cafe, you are immediately in front of the counter where you place your order. There is a glass enclosed display of yummy treats. There is also a display of savory pastries. They have a menu for lunch as well. We ordered at the counter, then we walked around to the dining area in the back and relaxed while we waited for our food. My daughter ordered the karaage (fried chicken) and onigiri combo. She chose one each of the salmon and kelp onigiri (rice balls). I went with the katsu sando combo which is a fried pork cutlet sandwich on their homemade bread with their special sauce. They both come with either miso soup or a salad. We both opted for the salad. We were too full for dessert, but we did bring an assortment home with us. Our favorite was the matcha roll cake, but all were really good! There are many more dessert offerings than listed on their online menu. They use seasonal, local ingredients, so their desserts do change. We thoroughly enjoyed Chako!! read more

It pains me to give this place three stars. The owner is such a sweet and beautiful person!! I have to stay focused on the overall taste, menu and experience. I placed a carry out order. I purchased two Katsu Sando combos that came with the option of salad or soup. I chose a salad. The salad was enjoyable. The Katsu sandwich was a bit dry but there was flavor. Not sure if the thick bread drowned out or took away from the overall flavor of this sandwich. Also, purchased a slice of Chako's Matcha layered cake. This was a very unique cake, very earthy in flavor. The icing is real whipped cream. Not really sure whats in the cake except of course Matcha. This was very nice cake not so sweet as American bakery goods are but definitely a dessert to give a try. I was kinda disappointed about the small selection of bakery goods and only having four cafe items to choose from. The dining area is beautifully decorated with a cozy atmosphere! read more

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The selection of delicacies or I should say pastry delicacies is expensive you'll definitely find something you love whether it's an eclair a fruit tart or a bacon and spinach pastry they've got it all and they make it with love read more

Chako Bakery Cafe is a wonderful spot in Mainstrasse! Have long been coming here for buns and matcha cake rolls, but stopped in for lunch today with friends. Got the onigiri and karaage combo, and it was a great meal! Miso soup tasted fresh and flavorful without being too strong, the onigiri was standard, and the chicken was incredible-- crunchy, juicy, everything one would ever, and I mean ever want from a piece of fried chicken. Grabbed a strawberry creme puff on the way out-- so good. Staff are friendly too. It should tell you enough that this was good that I'm writing a review for this place-- go give it some business! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Onigiri and Karaage Combo. Delicious! - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I'm a sucker for a quiet spot to hammer away at work, sip on coffee, and have an afternoon snack. Chako Bakery Cafe is all that and more. I had been wanting to try out Chako for awhile but made it a point to come and work for the afternoon. The shop is small, but there is seating in the back. This is a great spot to pop in with a friend or two or to take your baked goods to go. I ordered a slice of the fruit roll cake and a coffee. The fruit roll cake was light and fluffy filled with a whipped cream. The dish was delightfully sweet (but not too sweet). It was simple and well done. I found out later that the woman behind the counter is the owner. She seemed very kind and clearly has a passion for her work. I wish it were open a little earlier so I could come work here in the mornings, but I'll definitely come by soon, work, and have more coffee + delicious baked treats! read more

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I was thrilled to hear about Chako's bakery- delicate roll cakes and other lovely baked goods did not disappoint. I went to get roll cakes for a party but couldn't help ordering an onigiri karaoke combo, which was delicious! Looking forward to going back again soon for a lunch date to try more items on the menu. read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Japanese dessert heaven! - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

This delicious Japanese bakery is in a beautiful little section of Covington, Kentucky, just across the bridge from Cincinnati. If you're craving a sweet dessert, Chako has it. Desiring something savory? Made fresh, on-site, by Chako! The place is charming, and Chako is an inspiration. Ask to learn more about her incredible journey! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Chako with her fresh-baked-from-scratch sweet and savory pastries. A must-visit when you're in Covington, Kentucky or Cincinnati! - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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This place was a must after seeing the menu - I'm a big fan of onigiri and I like to start my day with matcha instead of coffee. I also have a sweet tooth and their pastries looked amazing! I found street parking easy at 11:30am on a Thursday. I walked into a fairly small shop with two lovely ladies working away. I ordered the katsu & onigiri lunch with miso soup, 4 salmon onigiri to go, and a bunch of pastries! I got a pumpkin roll, a matcha muffin type pastry, a twisted bread pastry that had purple potatoes in it, and a savory vegetable pastry that was similar to focaccia bread. I also ordered a matcha latte - something I don't think is on the menu but I saw other reviewers had ordered it before. Basically their matcha tea with milk and sweetened, iced. I went to the back to wait in their dining room, which is larger than the front of the shop and had other guests working and enjoying food. Everything I got was really good. I ate the miso soup first, and although it wasn't made with fish broth, there was big chunks of tofu, onions and seaweed which was nice on a gloomy day. The matcha latte was more water than milk, but it was bright green and had a really nice balance of flavor, not too sweet like most places. I'm picky about matcha since I make it at home every day. The chicken katsu was crunchy and fresh and really good with the lemon...but what I was so excited for was the onigiri. This one wasn't fully wrapped in seaweed, but the rice was fresh and it had the salty smoked salmon that I loved. I was definitely happy I ordered extras. The pastries were so beautiful - I was really happy they tasted just as good! The savory vegetable pastry had zucchini, onions, asparagus, tomatoes and peppers. I ate it for breakfast the next day and it was bomb. The pumpkin roll was light and fluffy and not overly sweet. The purple potato (possibly taro?) twisted pastry tasted like challah bread with a streak of purple and a nice lightly sweet icing on top with seeds. I haven't tried the matcha pastry yet but I know it's going to be good! I spent about $40 with tax and made it into about 3 meals. I would definitely come back here again when I'm in town and I hope that Chako seriously considers retiring in Florida and bringing her bakery with her! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Assorted pastries made with veggies or fruit - a work of art! - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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The bakery items are absolutely delicious!!! We'll have to come back and try some of the food, too.

First time and I ordered the Onigiri, kaarage, miso soup combo. I'm a huge savory pastry fan so I also got a pork stuffed bun, a zucchini and bacon pastry and a banana muffin. Everything was well priced and amazing. Great service and food. This picture simply cannot do the food justice read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Such a cute cafe! We arrived a little later in the day so most of the pastries were sold out but I had the opportunity to try the raspberry roll cake & the genmaicha tea! The cake was light & fluffy and the tea was incredibly flavorful! I would definitely come here again! I love the atmosphere & I want to try the other pastries the next time I'm there! read more

Chako Bakery Cafe - Raspberry roll & Genmaicha tea - Patisserie/Cake Shop Near Me - Covington, Kentucky