Hodugwajah, so it's called, is a very traditional Korean "rest area" snack. Think of it as a…read morewalnut shaped cake pop with a piece of real walnut and sweet red bean paste inside. Naturally, there are a few different brands that make these distinct snacks. You mostly see them sold inside Korean grocery stores, packaged in say, a dozen-or-so. Considering each one is literally the size of a walnut, it's not much. As you can imagine, these are always best when consumed soon after they're baked. Owners at one point explaibed to me that it's actually slightly better when you've taken them off cast iron griddle and rested for 5 minutes. Still warm, but not blazing hot. You get the idea. It's a tiny store with no seatings and take out only. If the timing is right, you'll catch the owners baking, but it doesn't happen all the time. Most of the time I visit, they're usually done making new batches for the day. Last time I visited, they were in the middle of baking them and shared a couple fresh pieces for a taste. Always a nice gesture. It being located inside a grocery store has its pros and cons, I'm sure. It won't lure any outside patrons in. But those who were curious enough to try them on your way out from grocery shopping will be pleasantly surprised and potentially become repeat customers. I often wonder if they do enough business to be profitable, knowing hodugwajah is something of a novelty unless you grew up knowing the culture of highway road trips in Korea. But clearly they've survived this long for a good reason. I wish them the best in staying profitable a long time, and I plan to contribute as much as I can!

Y'all are sleeping on this iced coffee. I don't know what this woman puts in there but it gives me…read morelife. The coffee tastes very toasty but paired with the creaminess of the milk she uses, it's perfection. We've been coming almost every weekend for the last few months because nothing really sets you right again like this woman's iced coffee. Pair it with the cute, delicious, and unique walnut muffins and you've got yourself the perfect snack. Love this place.

O M G ! Every and I…read moremean every sweet treat here is crazy good ! From long John's to canoli filled donuts it crazy good. And the gals that work here are always awesome If you've never been here put it on the to do list I just had my coffee and a vanilla long John and tho I feel guilty I know that feeling will fade quickly Yum yum for the tum tum Enjoy

What an amazing place to come in when you need some fresh bread to bake off or a new loaf of…read moresourdough bread that they now are making. I can't say enough about the service here. It's wonderful and thoughtful. They'll leave Frost a doughnut if they don't have a cinnamon sugar. And it's cute and clean and decorated like a real bakery! But there's no prices on the donuts. I learned today about a custard filled doughnut... that usually is gone pretty quickly... luckily some guy in line asked about it

Taste of Chicago super sample short review: I am grading on what I had, the sample provided...and…read morewhat the vendor thought would be the catch/draw for their restaurant. This cheesecake was delicious! They really have trapped a ton of flavor and sweetness (not too sweet) with the perfect textures. You get the silky smooth cream on top, with the incredible crunch of the crust. Absolutely would come to the actual location next time I'm in Chicago.

If you're a cheesecake fan or even have a desire to buy cheesecake, Eli's is worth a stop! The…read moreother desserts like cookies and cakes are kinda hit or miss. They have a huge array of frozen cheesecake you can take home. The speciality "deformed" ones are a good price. I did not find any issues with them, they tasted and looked fine to me :)) It's a good size store with a huge parking lot. Occasionally, they hold events which I was happy to join their annual Father's day biking! So much fun! They support many community events as a local business and ofc a wonderful Chicago staple.

We drove past Parlor Donuts while in suburban Chicago and since it was near my hotel, we decided to…read moreforgo breakfast and have donuts instead. Parlor Donuts is probably the nicest donut shop I've ever been in. Nicely furnished , products displayed well and just a bright and cheery atmosphere. Besides donuts, they serve breakfast sandwiches and various coffee type drinks. The choices are numerous and if I hadn't been on the website the night before, it would have taken far longer for me to make a decision. I tried the Coconut cream filled and my wife, the Lemon Bar. They were delicious! I tried the Lemon Bar as well. A huge difference with these donuts are they are described as "Sweet Layered Donuts" and remind me of a "Kronut" which is basically a croissant dough made into a donut type creation. Flavors are abundant and creative like French Toast, Bourbon Caramel, Raspberry Pistachio and Peanut Butter Cup. Despite the nice environment and delicious donuts, I found them to be quite expensive so as a daily donut and bagel aficionado, Parlor would not be a regular stop. Also, there are no cake or more traditional donuts-only the spectacular ones! They are usually eaten with a knife and fork. The plastic utensils provided are not robust enough to use on these. I was surprised how large this donut chain is. There are several in my home state of Michigan and I believe they are currently in sixteen states with nearly a hundred locations nationally. Very good, creative treats in a very nice environment is a recipe for success.

To the Keepers of Parlor Doughnuts,…read more The cold winds blow fierce from the North, yet none so cutting as the gaze I endured upon crossing your threshold this past fortnight. Your sentinel, a dark-eyed warden of flour and glaze, fixed upon me a stare that would freeze dragon's breath. Her silence spoke volumes. Her words, when finally dragged forth like a blade from its scabbard, dripped with all the warmth of a White Walker's embrace. Four doughnuts I commanded. Four simple confections to sustain me on my journey. The Chocolate Cherry and Pumpkin Chai arrived swiftly enough, but the Keto offerings? Fifteen minutes I waited, only to receive pale, undercooked abominations bereft of their promised Vanilla and Chocolate icings. An insult? Nay. An act of war. The iced coffee, I grant you, proved worthy of song. Yet even nectar tastes bitter when served with contempt. Then came the final betrayal. I requested napkins to cleanse the sticky dishonor from my doughnut box. Your first guardian gestured to an empty dispenser as if mocking a starving man with an empty larder. The second emerged from her keep to decree, and I quote this dark edict: "You can find some in the bathroom." By the Old Gods and the New, I stood paralyzed. As I retreated to my carriage, I turned heel. I will demand refund and satisfaction! But alas, as I opened the glass door to the establisment, I witnessed Lady Number One filling the napkin dispenser with the supplies she swore did not exist. Outraged and confused, I stood watching, wondering what I had done wrong to deserve this subhuman treatment. House Dickon remembers. Winter has come for our patronage. Ron of House Dickon

Cinnabon is a great place to get a sweet, filling treat - exclusive to only shopping malls,…read moreairports and other transportation centers (no standalone stores). The classic Cinnabon is always good and super filling, pairs great with a coffee or glass of milk. The only bad part is the price constantly increases every year and they don't really offer as many deals/coupons as they have in the past. This location has a couple of dine in tables if you wanted to enjoy it in the store. Overall, a good treat every once in a while.

There were about 100 people back there and yet there were no buns ready. They also refused to give…read moreout water cups even though they have the ability to. Cinnabon used to be my favorite now I don't think I'll ever go to another location.

Quite a large selection of sweet breads and pastries. Besos, cookies, conchas, empanadas,…read moreMantecadas, orejas, puff pastries, etc... a variety of baked goods both western and Mexican. There was also a fridge filled with cakes, whole and slices. Their concha was very light, had a delicate outer crunch and the insides was airy. Had a slice of tres de leche, which was a bit porous but alright. The cream was light and tasty. Quick service, very efficient.

Visited Salgados after lunch at Subo next door. Walking in they have a nice variety of pastries…read moreand bread to choose from. We grabbed a tray and tongs a then set out to grab a few items. They were all tasty and fresh. The price is reasonable so we would come back if in the area again.

The cupcakes are great! The frosting isn't heavy or overpowering. The lemon blueberry flavor tasted…read moreperfect. Each cupcake design was flawless and they were the star of the picnic! Cassandra was very nice and flexible with pickup time. Instructions for care until you're ready to serve them is clear too.

My husband got these for Valentine's Day and wow! The cupcakes were amazing! So beautiful and so…read moredelicious! The flavor of the buttercream was indescribable and the cupcakes were so moist and fluffy. Highly recommend!

Even though Tous Les Jours is a chain, the quality of the baked goods and drinks is fantastic!…read moreThere are so many delicious pastries to choose from, and everything looked fresh and beautifully made. The customer service was also great and everyone was friendly and welcoming. I got the strawberry matcha, and it was honestly so good. It wasn't overly sweet, and I could taste both the strawberry and matcha without either flavor overpowering the other. I also tried the milk bread with custard inside, and it was absolutely delicious. The bread was soft and fluffy, and the custard filling was the perfect addition. The prices are reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, too. Definitely a great spot to grab a pastry and a drink, and I'll be coming back to try more!

This Tous Les Jours in Glenview is the closest location to home. I've visited many times over the…read moreyears but somehow had never gotten around to writing a review. This French-Korean bakery chain offers a wonderful variety of pastries, breads, and cakes. I have tried many of them over the years and have been happy with their quality and taste, although they are on the pricey side. I am a fan of their Mango Cloud Cake and recently ordered a 6" one for my birthday. Yes, I prefer to pick out my own birthday cake, haha! When I picked it up on a Sunday around 12:30 p.m., I was surprised to find the bakery totally packed. It was quite chaotic, with lots of people browsing pastries and baked goods while carrying trays and tongs around the relatively small space. I have also noticed that, unlike the Chinatown location, items at this location are not individually wrapped. I personally prefer individually wrapped pastries for hygiene and convenience. There was a long line for the two cashiers, but luckily, it moved at a reasonable pace. Although I was only there to pick up my cake, I couldn't resist buying several pastries as well. A friendly staff member, who was probably the owner, helped me retrieve my cake. It was packaged really well, and a plastic server/cutter and a "Happy Birthday" cake topper were included. The 6" cake is called Mango Cloud Cake #1, and it was almost perfect. Both the mango cream and cloud cream were light and not too sweet, and the cake itself was moist and fluffy. However, there were only a few small pieces of mango in the filling, and unfortunately, they contained fibrous seed material that made them impossible to eat. I had to spit them out. This experience left me on cloud 8 instead of 9! The cake cost $41 plus tax, so I hope they are a little more generous with the mango pieces next time.