We really enjoyed our experience here. Some of the best baked goods I have ever had. We particularly enjoyed the pain au chocolat.

Probably the best bakery in Orange County. Can't think of any other businesses doing superior baked goods currently. The quality of their products is very impressive. The croissant layers and texture are master class. I haven't had anything I didn't like so far. This place is amazing. Well deserved 5 star average. I love that the staff is so humble and eager to help. read more

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There was always a line outside Diotima so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the almond cake, Kouign Aman (filled and unfilled), the salmon mousse croissant, butter croissant, salt bread, and an iced almond latte. As a Parisian-inspired bakery, I expected the croissants to be flaky and tender and did they live up to this expectation. The butter croissant crackled when I bit it, and then it exposed the tender center. I had the same experience with the kouign aman. I was concerned though that the kouign aman would be too sweet, but because of the slight bitterness of the caramelized sugar, it didn't taste too sweet at all. The almond cake was also delicious. Not too sweet and moist. Full of almond flavor. The ice almond latte was delicious, rich, and the espresso was not acidic or bitter. Now for the salt bread. The bread was good, but it didn't have the same texture contrasts I was expecting when compared to other salt breads I have had. Overall, a great little bakery and I will be stopping by again. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

First time here... been wanting to visit. There are a few really high quality "European" style pastry shops in South Orange County... and Diotima is up there with the best. I'd like to give this higher but I only give 5's based on consistency so my reviews are authentic and if I've tried a good variety of their options. The service was solid but could have communicated about the product more as I was selecting... maybe a question about if this was my first time in or if I like sweet or savory and offer a few suggestions... just a thought. It's a small spot but has space to meet with a friend and have a drink (I didn't order one but people dinning in all had a specialty drink) It was clean and seemed well cared for with a simple decor. If you are in the area, support this local spot as we need to help keep places that provide quality food doing well! I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of the savory pastries. read more

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Every time we're here we can't help ourselves but order everything!! All pastries and sandwiches taste as good as they look! You can't go wrong with any pastries that you get here! Our favorites: Kouign amann (with vanilla filling) Pain Au Chocolate Almond croissant Cardamom bun Turkey salted bread: loved all the textures and different layers of flavors! These also sell fast!! BBQ Turkey salted bread: wow!! So good! Come early bc these sell out FAST!! The staff here are all so delightful!! Everyone is friendly and eager to help. Their recommendations are great, but then again all items are pretty AMAZING! The line will get long but it moves pretty quickly! If you're lucky you'll see chef Kian himself behind the counter! He's super friendly and a humble man. :) There are few tables available inside for you to enjoy your goodies. People often grab the pastries to go but we like eating there and people watch! I wish we didn't have to drive 20+ minutes to get here but it's worth it! Also be mindful that the bakery is only opened 4 days a week (Tues, Th, Fri, and Saturday)! Chef Kian is working on opening possibly on Sundays! Fingers crossed!! read more

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A budding cafe with a nice variety of baked goods; classics and some twists on the classics, beautifully made. The turkey sandwich is very filling and delicious, especially for those who like pickles. The butter croissant was not bad, actually... I prefer a bit more tang and the structure could use some improvement but I am a self-proclaimed croissant snob and I was not disappointed. I find the prices to be fair, but I'm used to dining in LA. I found some of the lower rating reviews to be quite rough. Folks might not recognize the level of effort and time it takes to laminate croissants and to create edible works of art. Service was welcoming and gracious. I would love to see this place continue to grow and thrive with the support of its generous community. So many people popped in and picked up a box or two of goodies. The music, the smiles, and friendly chatter left me with a great first impression. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Pain Suisse - golden crust and beautiful texture - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Pastries were amazing! Went in with friends and we enjoyed the banana crème pie, the guava cream cheese, and I loved the smoked salmon cucumber croissant. We got plenty and split to try new flavors. The owner greeted us when we entered right at opening and that's is very rare to see nowadays. The staff were friendly, kind, and efficient. There is seating inside (2 tables of 4 seats) and a few 2 people tables. They serve coffee too! Price ranges from $6-$10 more or less depending on what you choose. I love that we can go and grab our own utensils and napkins as someone with a bit of social anxiety hehe. Thank you for bringing joy to our day! read more

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By far one the best Bakery's in US! The chef behind this art gallery is a very talented young man who loves what he does! And you can definitely taste the love in his works! Can't express how unique is this shop's products! Do yourself a favor and go there at least once a week! He is the best thing happened to Orange County in the last few years! read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Go to Diotima 15 minutes before it opened on a weekday, and I was third in line. By the time 11am hit and the store opened, there was a decent sized line behind me. The employees were quick, efficient, and friendly. Even the owner, Kian, was there to help greet customers and work the cash register. The pastries were all delicious. Our favorites were the chocolate cake, the cream filled kouign amann, the guava cheese pastry, and the ham and cheese croissant. Even though we had to wait in line, everyone there seemed very happy and it was overall a really great experience. read more

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Family brought home a box of various pastries. I tried a few and nothing I liked unfortunately. Just not well executed. Ham & Cheese Croissant - very bland Berry crumble cake - just way too wet/soggy Salt Chocolate Chip - Lacked flavor My family didnt mind but its not for me. If I go back will definitely try something else. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Box to go - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Visited after having a big lunch near closing time. Their hours are pretty limited. Something like 1100-1600. Not really good for picking up boxes of goodies meant for morning meetings or team sports event. The parking was tight and limited. The silent pressure to make the transaction quickly so they can go home soon was very salient. The selection was limited perhaps due to it being 20 minutes before closing. I got 4 pastries for $25 or so. Various items with vanilla custard filling, cream filling, and chocolate filling of sort. None of them except for the custard square stood out to me. Everything tasted too sweet, sticky, stale, and/or buttery. Very messy to eat in the car. I guess I am just not a French pastry sweets kind of person. I have similar reactions when going to Chaupain or places like Paris Baguette. Both are French-style bakeries and I always feel like their stuff is too sweet or too oily. At least their products aren't stale. Because of how out of way this location is from home, difficult parking situation, not the friendliest or the most efficient service, the price points being $7 for a sickly sweet and stale tart, I doubt I will be returning. I have no problem driving out to Santa Monica / Century City just to get some good baked items. Distance isn't always the problem. Perhaps I just don't understand the hype behind Diotima but that's ok. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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There was a line out the door before opening at 11am. The staff was very kind and quick but didnt rush us when it was our turn to order. They gave great recommendations. The croissants were deliciously crispy and flaky and buttery. Our favorite was the bbq brisket! I salmon was very creamy and good and would be even better if it had a slice of smoked salmon inside. The cucumbers gave it a freshness. It was clean inside with some seating. Will definitely be back and bring some friends! read more

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Came across Chef Kian on social media way before he opened his store front. I've been a fan of his pastries without even trying them. When he finally opened a bakery... just my luck, it's literally a few streets down from home. They have limited days & hours. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday from 11AM to 4PM. Best to come early since they sell out of the crowd favorites. Big fan of their almond croissants, kouign amann, ham & jalapeño muffin croissant, basically anything with a puff pastry base they nailed it. The chocolate chip cookie with flaky salt is also a favorite. They serve coffee and tea drinks. The latest one I tried was the calamansi matcha. It was so good and refreshing. Great pastries. Good service. A must on your list of bakeries in the area. read more

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Diotima is an authentic French bakery tucked inside an unassuming strip mall. I stopped by about 30 minutes after opening on a Saturday and there was already a line; but honestly, the wait was completely worth it. If anything, it gave me more time to stand there in awe trying to decide what to get. The display was mesmerizing. I wanted to order everything... and very nearly did. I ended up bringing a selection back to share with coworkers, and every single item was a hit. The chocolate cake was deeply decadent, rich without being overly sweet. Paired with the chocolate éclair -- which might be the best éclair I've ever had -- it was pure pastry bliss. The éclair had that perfect balance of light choux, silky cream, and glossy chocolate topping that just melts into everything. This place truly feels like a little slice of France in Mission Viejo. Definitely worth planning a visit (and arriving early). read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Snuck a few bites before I grabbed a pic! Couldn't help myself! Such great fresh baked goods! So many choices! Honestly couldn't tell you what was the best, but I did really enjoy the almond croissant (not pictured) easy parking and great staff. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Pastries - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Had been following Kian since the Covid days where he was making baking videos on IG. Finally came out to check this place out and my mind was blown. What a great bakery, friendly vibes, and great service. Huge line on a Saturday morning though so be prepared to wait. Seating can also be difficult as it's limited. All items we got were super tasty and we got many pastries to test out. Surprisingly my favorite of all was the italian sausage croissant! Cappuccino was also great. Was expecting a little more action from the Pistachio and almond berry cakes, but they were still really good. Will be back for the sausage croissant and want to try the basque cheesecake and eclair! read more

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This place is amazing! Not only are Kian and his team friendly, patient, and knowledgeable, but they make many delectable goodies here, and I hope they stick around for a long time. From my haul, two stellar items were the chocolate eclair and the chocolate cake. Eclair was absolutely scrumptious with the chocolate ganache-like glaze and custardy filling. Cake slice was so decadent and fudgy that I could only eat a couple of bites in one sitting, but that just means I'll have dessert for a few days (yay!). Most of their offerings are a bit pricey, but they taste like quality ingredients, and I'm sure a lot of them take time and resources in order to be made and presented well. The iced pumpkin spice latte was tasty. Super pumpkiny, well spiced, and enjoyably sweet. They weren't messing around with the pumpkin and the spice, so it wasn't a drink I could chug, but I looked forward to sipping it the following morning. The bakeshop is in the Silverado Plaza at Jeronimo Rd and Los Alisos Blvd. Parking lot is free but a little small. I was able to find a spot during the early afternoon, but they had already ran out of over half of their pastries, so coming early to browse more of a selection would be a fantastic idea. Even though most baked goods are expensive, and the location is a bit out of the way for me, Diotima will definitely be the occasional treat for me. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Everything was good, but the eclair and chocolate cake (bottom box) were exceptionally delicious! - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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The kouign amann with vanilla custard filling from Diotima is one of my all-time favorite pastries. The custard is light and not too sweet. I came on a Tuesday morning and there was luckily no wait. If you are coming here on the weekend though, be prepared to wait. I always get the kouign amann and then a few other pastries to try. Among all the things I've tried here, the kouign amann is still the best! I'll have to try the cookies next! read more

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I can't believe it's been two years since I wrote my first review for Diotima Bakehouse! There are so many more options now that the owner and head baker has a team to support the bakery. The pastries here are consistently well made, and the prices are very reasonable. Savory items will cost a bit more, but they are on par with other artisan bakeries. Some of the plain and sweet pastries are actually priced lower than what you would find elsewhere, so overall, this is a great spot for high-quality pastries at a good price. The staff is friendly, and the owner is truly one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. It's also a lovely place to hang out and enjoy a pastry with a drink. There can be a bit of a wait if you arrive right at opening, but it clears up pretty quickly. read more

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I found this bakery on TikTok. I went for a short hike on Oso Creek Trail and I wanted to try out a local Mission Viejo restaurant. My search results yielded this bakery. Since I was already on Jeronimo Rd., I decided to give them a try. I got the kouign amann plain and one filled with vanilla cream. Both were absolutely heaven. Perfect flakiness and layers of buttery croissant. Not too sweet. I also got a cinnamon roll and a mixed berry brioche. The cinnamon roll was good. I wish it had more cinnamon between the rolls of the bread. The mixed berry brioche needed something more maybe a little bit of cream cheese. It just tasted like berries and bread nothing special. The service was friendly and welcoming. The baker made a few suggestions to me. The bakery is small. There are a few chairs inside and there is no outside seating available. Please note that each pastry is about $6. I think that's reasonable for a French bakery. Diotima is located in a strip mall and there is ample parking. I also tried their strawberry matcha. I'm not a fan. However, if you have a sweet tooth, please stop by Diotima. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Diotima is my favorite pastry shop/coffee house. It's possible to go there for lunch although the savory offerings are limited. Kian the chef is also a classically trained French chef, not just a patissier so he would like to offer things like French onion soup but he is limited by the lack of a hood and gas stoves in the kitchen. I believe he can offer Neapolitan and Detroit style pizzas, open faced croque-monsieurs because they just require ovens, ham and cheese sandwiches with French bread, salade nicoise... Having said that, his Viennoiserie-type pastries are excellent. There are fun combinations to be had. We enjoyed the pistachio raspberry croissant, pain au chocolat so layered it looks like a skyscraper, Kouin Amann with cream filling is an interesting take on the classic but the amount of cream is a little overwhelming for me. I tried the pain suisse for the first time and enjoyed the crunch on top (it's basically a Kouin Amann with a filling of crème patissière and chocolate chips). The seating is limited, there was only one four top, the rest seat two. There is a line when it opens at 11:00 but by 11:30 it thins out. Parking is decent but if it runs out, park on the north side and walk over. read more

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I went around 11:15 am on a Saturday and there was already a line out the door. Ordered around $80 worth of baked goods. Kouign Amann, croissants, cookies, cakes, cheeseburger croissant and the flavored breads. Overall a solid 4 based on taste and quality. Everything was very good. We will be back to try more menu items. read more

Diotima Bakehouse - cheeseburger croissant. - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Pastries galore and just like in France! Was super amazed by the variety of the pastries offered at Diotima. And was blown away by the quality. I ordered a pain au chocolat, almond croissant, and babka. The croissants were amazing and buttery! The almost croissant was delicate and not too sweet. The almond paste was delicious and the chef was not skimpy with it. It was a good portion and spread evenly throughout the croissant so you could taste it in every bite. The babka was something new I tried. I would describe it as a rustic roll with a swirl of cinnamon and sugar. It was the perfect mix of sweet and hint of salty. My favorite thing was the smoked salmon mousse croissant sandwich. It was so yummy, delicate yet super savory. There were hints of fresh dill, smoked salmon, and fresh mini cucumber! I could eat this sandwich everyday!! The staff was friendly and helpful in explaining what each item was. The Bakehouse also offers various coffee drinks and teas! Highly recommend this place but go early because they sell out! Enjoy! read more

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High quality bakehouse. Get plain croissant to test the butter and technique. You can tell the cream is fresh. Highly recommend Diotima.

As everyone has noted there's a long line at the door but it moves fairly quickly. The staff are nice and friendly and although it's very busy they make the time to smile and greet all the customers. It was my first time trying Diotima after seeing a post on Instagram and it definitely lived up to the hype. I got an assortment of different pastries and all were delicious. The highlight was the Persian cardamom and saffron latte, it is really to die for!!! Chef Kian (the owner) was at the register and he is the nicest person, I wish him all the best and success he very much deserves. Please go support this neighborhood gem/ small business! read more

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The pastries are very good and beautifully displayed. I got there on a weekday when they opened. The line formed before they opened. Caramelized almond crossiant, Kouign Aman and Chocolate crossiants are very good. Prices are very reasonable. read more

The Deliciously Chocolate Crinkle, was a perfect chocolatey sensation. Visually stunning, perfect aroma, and texture! But when I went there, was for that generous slice of German Chocolate Cake! I found the cake to be perfect flavoring, not too sweet frosting, I love the way that it's layered so eloquently. It's just delicious. I want to go get a whole cake now. I have a birthday coming up this month. I think this is going to be my birthday cake choice as well! Service was excellent too, not to mention affordable prices! read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Smells so nice !!!! - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Fantastic bakery with friendly helpful staff! I was impressed by the range of baked goods available and had a tough time choosing what to get because everything looked excellent! You can tell the owner really loves baking and takes in pride in his work. The plain croissant was perfect, as was the pain au chocolat. Also tried their strawberry cream, which was nice and light and not too sweet. Definitely one of the best bakeries in OC! Even though it's a little out of my way, I will make Diotima Bakehouse one of my regular stops. It's worth it! read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

I really wanted to love this place but maybe got all the same thing? The chocolate candied crossiant was delish and made me think "why have I never done this?!" The vanilla custard was exactly as it sounded but wrapped in a crossiant like dough. The kouign-amann had a nice sticky bottom which was stick to your teeth good. However, I think next time I'll be trying their tarts and cakes since everything seemed the same in my order. The service is okay and pretty quick here and limited seating inside. I suggest coming to pick up and heading out read more

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Really good pastries. Good coffee. From someone who actually works regular hours, this place doesn't have that. Hours are pretty ridiculous. Closed 3 days a week!?!? Like I said, really good if you can catch them when they're open. read more

I'd had this place bookmarked for a while and was excited to finally check it out especially knowing it's a French-Persian bakery concept. I came on a weekday a few hours before closing and was happy to find a few items still available: the cinnamon roll, butter croissant, and flat croissant. The cinnamon roll was especially delicious, and the croissants were flaky and consistent. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to try more of their offerings. The chef and staff were incredibly kind and humble, which made the experience even better. I'd personally make the drive back! read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Amazing bakery! Love the selection. Croissants are one of my favorite things and the butter croissant here is light, flaky, and buttery. I coupled it with the saffron cardamon latte and I still am thinking about it everyday... when am I in the area again so I can come visit again!! I was also heading to see a few of my friends and I always like to bring them pastries from different bakeries. Diotima made it easy with very nice pastry boxes that I loaded with ham and cheese croissant, brown butter chocolate chip cookie, and croissant. Big hit in a beautiful box. Service was great and friendly. Parking was busy when I came towards noon. Indoor seating. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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I am in love with this hidden gem! So glad I got to come during a Saturday afternoon. The crowd wasn't overwhelming and they had plenty to choose from. Customer service is super patient and even though the pastries had labels, I had questions and they were so kind when answering them. The quality of their baked goods is AMAZING! We got a variety of croissants, cookies, cheesecake, vanilla custard, tarts. My ultimate fave is the cheesecake! Love that they have a few tables and seats to enjoy your treats inside. I would definitely recommend! read more

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Another wonderful experience here. Came on a weekday afternoon and they still had a lot of goodies to choose from. Awesome staff. My fav today was the raspberry and cream danish. Love that their pastries aren't too sweet. Til next time! read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Decided to give this place a try because I was already in the area getting coffee beans from Mameya Coffee Roasters. It's a bit pricey but the quality is exceptional. Even though I've seen similar items at other bakeries, this place just takes it to another level. I tried several fancy looking items so far, but my favorite so far is its almond croissant. I realize it's a common item these days, but the one here is the best I had so far. It tasted super fresh with a nice flaky crust, and the almond filling was top notch. It's pretty generous with its filling because it's the most packed almond croissant I ever got. Also tried Brownie Amann (like kouign amann but filled with brownie), Mixed Berry Tart, Pistachio Raspberry Croissant, Guava Cream Cheese Danish, and Apple Cheese Crumble. They were all equally good. This place is very popular so expect a long wait if you come early. You can avoid the crowd by coming late, but most of the stuff will be sold out close to closing time. read more

If you haven't tried Diotima get there ASAP! It's worth the wait in the line. Amazing pastries read more

Diotima Bakehouse - Croissant Candy - Bakeries Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

10 minute wait Saturday morning at 11:40am but plenty of seating indoors because most people got their pastries to-go. Parking is decent and the shop is cozy. Staff was very nice, efficient and you can meet the owner, Kian! It seemed like their BBQ brisket sandwich was the most popular as the guy in front of me got the last one. I'll have to come earlier next time! Everything was delicious but my favorite were the croissant candy and pistachio cake. The candy was essentially a croissant baked into a crispy cracker dipped in chocolate. Pistachio cake was moist and bursting with pistachio flavor. Definitely recommend for anyone in the area who wants to both unique and classic pastries. read more

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Rumors of Diotima's delicious pastries have been 100% on-point. How is everything so good? I had the Diotima Cheeseburger, which is a rotating item. I don't think they usually have burger patties, onions, pickles, or mayo. But somehow, the chef managed to put all that together and make one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life, with a thick and juicy patty, the right amount of cheese, some delicious sauce, and perfectly caramelized onions. It's a steal at only $12. In-n-Out, eat our heart out. All the other pastries were great. I don't personally like Kouign Amanns, but these were filled with vanilla custard with real vanilla bean and I enjoyed that a lot. The croissant was perfect. I also grabbed a baguette for $3.50 and it was really good, light and crispy outside with a soft inside. I probably dishonored the chef by going home and eating it with American cream cheese and Irish butter. I can't sing their praises highly enough. The line was out the door, we waited for 30 minutes, but these pastries were well-worth it. Come check it out, great things await you. read more

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Wow! Best bakery in south OC for sure. Not sure how it ran under the radar for this long. Seems like the word is getting out now. The lines weren't too long though. The croissant was so good. Light and flaky on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Just a hint of sweetness. The best croissant I've had in a long time. The salt bread was good, but a bit softer and chewier than typical. The kimchi cheese salt bread was really good. Filled with thin layer of cream cheese. Tasted like a bougie jalapeno popper pastry. Everything we tasted was excellent. The pear cake was super good. The smoked salmon mousse was like a tea sandwich but way better because it's on an excellent croissant. Really loved the babka. Edges are a bit crispy, lot of chewy but light substance, mild chocolate and faint hint of orange. Loved everything we tried.... can't wait to go back. read more

We have visited here a few times now. We purchased both savory and dessert pastries. Everything was very good. My favorites were the sticky cinnamon and cinnamon bun. We will be back. read more