Wow! We tried the muffins, cookies and sour cream bread…read more Every crumb was unforgettable. I stopped in right when they opened and the place filled up fast. The small shop was bustling and organized. The guy that took care of me was low key but nice. I added to my order and he rolled with it. The price point is a bit high but worth it.

Levain Bakery is a worthy stop to make while in Chicago. Some of the tasty cookie flavors include…read moreTwo Chip Cocolate Chip, and chocolate chip walnut. These cookies are the real deal - great taste and when fresh, they melt in your mouth. Cookies that have been taken home can also be reheated and still taste great. To heat up a cookie, put a damp paper towel over the cookie and heat up the cookie for 10-15 seconds in the microwave.

If you have a sweet tooth, you've got to treat yourself to a cupcake from Jennivee's! A friend and…read moreI came here for an afternoon pick-me-up and it did not disappoint. We got two cupcakes to share -- the purple velvet and the main squeeze. The purple velvet is ube butter cake, ube mousse, and ube cake crumbs. The ube flavor is both sweet and nutty and the mousse topping was light and delicious. The main squeeze is lemon cake filled with lemon curd, cream cheese frosting, and a buttercream lemon on top. Both were incredible, but my favorite was the lemon! I loved that the lemon flavor was light, and the cream cheese frosting balanced it out really nicely. The space is so cute inside! It's also a lot larger than I was expecting. We grabbed a seat at one of the tables inside to enjoy our treats. I will definitely be back with my toddler for a cupcake date soon!

I love this bakery. Their space is so open with a lot of tables and cute decor. The display of…read morecupcake, cakes, and icecream is gorgeous and they even have some fun coffee options you can try. I tried the lemon cupcake and purple velvet cupcake. Both were fluffy and not too sweet. My favorite was the lemon cupcake, it had just the right amount of lemon flavors in it. Their staff was helpful. I will be back to try more of their sweet treats!

If you aren't from Chicago, this is THE Chinese bakery…read more Cash Only. No Frills. Every Weatherperson from the news on the wall. Photos of the owner posing with celebrities you don't recognize but who were probably famous in the early 2000's. Items to get: The Curry Beef Bao, the Portuguese Egg Tart, the pork floss bao when they have it. But if you don't want these, you can't go wrong .Their sweets are beautiful and decedent without being overly sweet or drowning in frosting.

This is our usual go-to for Cantonese baked goods. To name a few items:…read more 1) Hot dog bun 2) Barbecue pork bun 3) Pineapple bun 4) Custard bun 5) Steamed white sugar cake 6) Paper-wrapped sponge cake 7) Wife cake 8) Egg tarts 9) Portuguese egg tarts 10) Lotus seed pastry We would also occasionally purchase the freezer goods such as steamed barbecue pork buns and custard buns to steam at home with dim sum to have a quick lunch without having to drive from the suburbs to Chinatown.

the breakfast sandwich (with the hashbrown) was def the star of the show!! the longanisa paired…read morewell with the sandwich, and the hashbrown adds a good crunch the pork belly adobo was okay, it was good but not super special. the ube and matcha pandan pastries were great!! both very light and fluffy cream, plus was not too sweet which was great everything was great, but will say it is kinda pricey and the wait is crazyyyy yummy rating: 9/10

Holy crap. I don't know how to describe this place in just words because words themselves won't do…read morethis place justice....if you haven't gone, it is worth every single penny (and time)! We went here on a Thursday at ~11am and waited about 20 minutes to get dine-in seating. The staff members were all very welcoming, despite the amount of people they had to serve. If you are dining in, you must order all of your items in the front before being seated. Be sure to order everything you want, because the pastries might be gone by the time you want to take any to-go! The food was immaculate. The breakfast sandwich tasted like home, and the egg just melted right inside our mouths. The Ube and Coconut "Ensaymada" was another favorite. My partner and I enjoyed every single bite of it, and regretted that we did not get a second one! We weren't too much of a fan for the Black Truffle Croissant, but maybe because we aren't totally into the cheese-inside-croissant type of food. Though, it is a popular pastry, so definitely worth the try! Oh, Hot Yam! was another fan favorite (and honestly ours too) for drinks. The latte was not too sweet, and you could still taste the ube essence with hints of espresso Seating wise, there were limited booth-type of seats. We sat at the bar, but the limited seating explains why there is always a line. Very cute restaurant, and def aesthetically pleasing. We will definitely visit again, and maybe even try the tasting menu for dinner!

Ordered: Turkey Bacon & Egg Croissant (~$11) w Avocado…read more(~$2): scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, smoked gouda and sambal aioli on a flaky croissant Cinnamon Roll (~$7) Iced Banana Cream Cloud Latte (~$6): creamy banana milk topped with light espresso cold foam sweetened with date syrup Iced Banana Fosters Latte (~$6): blend of espresso, creamy banana, and sweet caramel Aya's take: First stop on my recent Chicago trip and we decided to try a Chicago classic. This is a fast casual spot so service was pretty fast. There is a decent amount of seating, most of which was surprisingly taken around 11am on a Thursday. For starters, they no longer have their rainbow cake! I was surprised to hear that considering how popular it's supposed to be. We got both banana lattes which were extremely sweet. It's basically dessert with a hint or caffeine. I'm a big fan of banana, so I actually liked this but I would've preferred half the sweetness. The Turkey Bacon & Egg Croissant was so good! A solid breakfast sandwich - the eggs were cooked perfectly, the turkey bacon was insanely crispy, and that sambal aioli was just what this needed. I highly recommend adding Avocado like I did for some freshness & creaminess since it's a heavy sandwich as is. The Cinnamon Roll was soft, moist, and not overly sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed this breakfast!

Cute vibey breakfast place conveniently located in walking distance from my hotel. If you Iike…read morediabeetus for breakfast/brunch there are tons of pastries and specialty drinks to get your blood sugar spiking in AM. Avocado toast was great, definitely felt bougie and filling. The "matcha Americano" is just an iced matcha without the sugar or milk which was refreshing and what I wanted.

Great bakery - and a welcome addition to Bridgeport neighborhood!…read more High end pastries. Sweet and savory. Flavor profile skews toward European style, but some Asian influence. Pastries are all delicious, and on the expensive side ($5-8 per pastry). They have a couple of tables and seats inside, okay for eating your food but not a great working cafe. I'll come back. Thank you Fat Peach!

Wonderful little bakery off the beaten path enough you can flame your friends for not having been…read moreyet. * Consistent pastries are delicious: Ham and Cheese = Favorite * Coffee is quality *Pastry texture is flaky, airy, delightful. * Some of the sweet pastries are a little too sweet at times, the frosting filling combo can feel mildly overwhelming. But I wasn't allowed to have much sugar growing up so my tastebuds are weak to that.

There is a reason this place is soooo popular and has a line out the door right when they open. It…read moreis AMAZING! All their pastries are fresh and made with seasonal ingredients so you will always be getting something new. I got there 30 mins after they opened and had to wait outside for around 15 mins but the line does move fast. There is very limited seating inside so plan to just grab and go. I tried their banana pudding croissant and raspberry scone. The croissant melted in my mouth, it was so flakey and buttery. The raspberry scone was soft and sweet enough. Awesome spot in Logan Square! One of my favorite bakeries in Chicago.

The best bakery in Chicago hands down…read more I feel like a lot of people don't know about this place but it is so busy even with the group that does! Definitely deserves all the hype it gets. This is the place I miss most from when I lived in Chicago. The staff is super friendly and the pastries and so unique. Their pastries rotate a lot but if you like banana you must get the banana pudding croissant it's incredible! Definitely get there early- even before open there is a line (worth it!) and they are only open until they sell out.

Stopped by Magnolia Bakery and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I came for the banana pudding…read moreand it was easily one of the highlights of the visit. It was rich, creamy, and packed with banana flavor without being overly sweet. The texture was perfect too, with the soft wafers blending into the pudding while still giving it that classic homemade feel. Every bite was worth it. The bakery itself had an inviting feel, and service was quick and friendly. It's the kind of place that instantly puts you in a good mood when you walk in. Definitely a spot I would come back to anytime I'm craving something sweet.

I finally had the time to sit down and share my full review, and I'm genuinely excited to talk…read moreabout our ongoing experience with Magnolia Bakery in Chicago. Our relationship with this place goes back several years, and at this point, visiting it has practically become a tradition for us, one that we look forward to every time we find ourselves in the city. Our love affair with Magnolia Bakery began the moment we tasted their famous banana pudding for the very first time. It's difficult to put into words just how unexpectedly delightful that first experience was. We'd heard great things about the bakery, of course, but nothing prepared us for how rich, comforting, and beautifully layered that pudding would be. It's the kind of dessert that immediately pulls you in, creamy, flavorful, nostalgic, and yet elevated in a way that keeps you thinking about it long after the last spoonful. From that point forward, Magnolia Bakery became an essential destination on every Chicago trip, almost like a ritual that we simply cannot skip. Our fondness for this place has grown so much that it has actually begun influencing our hotel choices. Whenever we plan a stay in Chicago, we deliberately look for accommodations that place us within convenient walking distance of the bakery. The surrounding area offers plenty of shopping and sightseeing opportunities, which makes staying nearby even more appealing. It's incredibly convenient to spend a morning or afternoon wandering around the neighborhood and then find ourselves naturally gravitating toward Magnolia Bakery for a delicious break. One of the things I appreciate most about this location is what you see the moment you step inside. The bakery has an open, inviting setup that allows customers to look directly into the baking area. For me, this is such a meaningful detail. Seeing the bakers at work, mixing, assembling, crafting everything by hand, reinforces the authenticity of the entire experience. It gives me confidence in the quality and freshness of what we're eating, and it creates a sense of connection to the craftsmanship behind every cake, pudding, and pastry. You can tell that things here are genuinely made from scratch, and that alone sets the tone for how special this place feels. The ambiance of the bakery is another reason we keep coming back. As a family, we love spaces that feel warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed, and Magnolia Bakery hits all of those marks. The interior décor has a charming, almost nostalgic aesthetic that creates a comforting mood the moment you walk in. Beyond that, there are several seating options available inside, which is perfect for us. After spending hours walking around the city, shopping, or sightseeing, being able to sit down, relax, and enjoy our treats becomes a much‑needed part of the day. Whether we're sharing different desserts, reviewing our shopping finds, or simply resting our feet, the space adds to the joy of the visit. The service style here is pretty straightforward, and honestly, that's something I genuinely appreciate. It's a typical bakery setup: you line up, scan through the display case filled with cakes, pastries, puddings, and seasonal items, make your selections, and pay right away. The simplicity of the process makes everything move smoothly. There's no rush, but there's also no confusion, just an easy, clean system that gets you from craving to enjoying your dessert in a matter of minutes. Although the line can sometimes get long, especially during peak hours or weekends, we have been lucky in that our visits almost always fall on weekdays. Because of that timing, we rarely encounter significant wait times. Even when the line does look a little long, it tends to move at a reasonable pace because of how efficiently the staff works. And honestly, even if we did have to wait, the smell of freshly baked goods and the anticipation of that first bite make the wait feel more than worth it. Overall, Magnolia Bakery has become one of those places that holds a special place in our hearts. It's not just about the banana pudding, though that will always be the star, it's about the atmosphere, the quality, the consistency, and the memories we associate with every visit. Each experience there adds something new to our affection for the place, which is why we continue returning again and again. We absolutely love this bakery, and we recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone visiting Chicago. Whether you're a dessert enthusiast, a banana pudding lover, or simply someone looking for a delightful spot to relax and treat yourself, Magnolia Bakery is an experience you shouldn't miss.

Suchhhh a pretty aesthetic - we took so many cute cafe photos. Love the variety and ambiance -…read moredefinitely try the ube sweet treats. The savory items were also very good! Service was amazing as well.

Just sad I didn't discover this pastry shop sooner! On a Friday afternoon, they were bustling! They…read morehad some different indoor seating options, most of which were occupied by either people working or friends chatting. It was a pleasant atmosphere and cute decor, but I ended up taking my goods to go. It was hard to decide between all the enticing options but the friendly woman working the register pointed me to their popular chocolate cake and it did not disappoint! More of a mousse than a cake but it was rich and utterly divine. I also tried their spinach feta croissant, which was ok but I'm not convinced the right vessel for that filling. I also appreciated some of their baked goods were reasonable prices so you could easily try something for under $5 or alternatively splurge for the finer pastries.

This is my favorite place for pastries and baked items. It's my go-to spot whenever I'm craving…read morecake. This location also has a seating area with tables, and during the summer they have outdoor seating too. You can pick the items you want on a tray and then go to the counter to place your order. I have ordered birthday cakes for my friends from here many times. One time I forgot to pre-order, but luckily they had cakes available to buy right away, which was really helpful. Definitely recommend!

Nice location. Clean. Bright and has a wide selection of delicious looking pastries. Coffee is…read moresolid and the cups right up my alley. Firm. Strong and secure. Friendly workers make it a nice place for a quick snack.