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    Penelope's Perfections

    4.7 (204 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Angeline N.

    We are two people who absolutely love cake, and we are so happy that we chose Penelope's perfections for our wedding cake. What sets Penelope's Perfections apart is their Swiss meringue buttercream as well as using butter instead oil in their cakes, which brings all the flavor. We picked the white cake with passion fruit curd and Bavarian cream, and the strawberry cake with fresh strawberries and cream. Delivery to our reception site was seamless, and our cake was gorgeous and delicious! We are looking forward to devouring leftover cake on our anniversary.

    Alena F.

    We absolutely loved our wedding cake from Penelope's Perfections! We opted for two layers of white cake with buttercream and fruit and the bottom layer of salted caramel chocolate ganache. It was DELICIOUS! So light and wonderful. We had them dress the cake on site with fresh florals and were stunned with the simple and elegant design. They were like secret agents, they came, set up the cake, decorated and were out without anyone even seeing them come by. Just surprise! Your cake is here and it's beautiful! Such professional and wonderful service. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a beautiful and delicious cake!!

    My beautiful wedding cake! Vanilla with raspberry filling!
    Gina R.

    Everything from communication to the tasting to the final product was perfect. Would definitely come back for other cakes!

    Ashley M.

    I can not say enough positive things about Penelope's Perfections cakes. My husband and I tried a handful of bakeries in the Costa Mesa and Newport area for our wedding. Penelope's cakes were hands down the best tasting. We had a summer wedding and chose their white cake with passion fruit filling and dark chocolate cake with espresso filling. One was light, sweet and tart the other rich and chocolatey. All of our guests talked about how that was the best wedding cake they tried. My mother-in-law recently had a very last minute court wedding. She went back and forth on the idea of having a cake or not. So 1 day prior to her deciding when she was getting married I reached out to Penelope's perfections. I knew my request could possibly be declined seeing that it was 24 hrs notice. They said no problem we got you. They were so sweet about it. So one picture is our wedding cake and the other is my mother in laws. She got a white cake with the white, milk and dark chocolate.

    Brianna M.

    Thank you so much Penny! My husband and I loved that our dream wedding cake came to a reality. Really amazing and delicious

    White Cake w Passion Fruit Curd & Passion Fruit Bavarian Creme + Chocolate Truffle Cake w Salted Caramel & Rich Chocolate Ganache Filling

    Ordering our wedding cake from Penelope's Perfections was an amazing decision! If you're considering a bakery in the area schedule a tasting so you can taste their all butter cakes. Their cakes are really good and light. The team is professional, patient, and you can even taste all their flavors if you want to for a small fee per tasting. They have so many options- we totally did just that and it was awesome. Communication is amazing and making payments for the cake tastings and wedding cake was really easy via email. The shop is super cute, delivery was smooth sailing, and it's in a pretty cool area if you wanna grab a beer or a coffee nearby to discuss what you just tasted. I'll be ordering my anniversary cakes from here year after year.

    A look at the inside of a slice of the Tiramisu cake

    Absolutely incredible cake and knowledge in the craft of baking. My wife found Penelope's perfections online, after we had done a tasting with our wedding venue's preferred vendors/ baker and found that baker's samples way too sweet and egregious frosting to cake proportions. Upon arrival, Penelope's is not what we expected from a typical baker, where you simply walk in, select pastries behind a glass case, and walk out with some goods, but rather are appointment based, to service events such as our wedding. So I'd you're looking around Yelp for a baker, know that it's not a walk-in business as many bakeries are. That said, Penelope's not only taught us a thing or 2 about cakes, but elevated our standard and taste buds that much more! What makes Penelope's stand out far above the countless others our there is that they make their cakes without oil, but instead use a very specific type of butter. Although in doing so, the cakes do not have that glossy look we are accustomed to, and thus, more dry, they are by no means dry at all. The cakes, as result, are more dense, have more texture, and overall, far more flavorful. I can honestly say that despite the years I've spent searching for something close to the best cake I ever had from 20 years ago elsewhere, I have never had anything like what they make at Penelope's, and I would even think twice now, about what cake is my favorite between that one from 20 years ago and the 3-tier tiramisu cake we had for our wedding. We had hired Penelope's for our wedding cake, as well as our dessert bar, and what they provided for us was nothing short of extraordinary. Since we hired them for our wedding, it was expected the price to be considerably steeper than what you would pay for a party, but I would highly recommend what Penelope's offers at least once in your life and bless your palate with something special. We, on the other hand, will definitely order more from them for future occasions, with at least their mini desserts.

    Vanilla cake with strawberry and blueberry whip cream filling
    Sandy R.

    Exquisite!!! According to my daughter in law it was the best cake she's ever had! I too thought it was an amazing. After some research and calling around I decided to go with Penelope's Perfections for my son's wedding cake They were able to create the style my daughter in law liked and were able to deliver it to the venue early in the morning. I set up everything thru email with the bakery, I was provided a detailed contract, and responses were always swift. It was a seamless transaction, and I never worried about whether it be delivered on time or damaged.

    Cake with my fingers and mini kindle for reference
    Erin C.

    I was SO excited to get this DoorDash order because I have been searching high and low for a bakery that uses butter, not oil, for their cakes and Swiss meringue, my absolute favorite frosting! We got married at The Montage and their pastry chef KILLED it with our wedding cake (butter cake with Swiss buttercream) and I've been looking for something similar here in CA ever since. Upon opening the bag I was shocked to see just how small the slice was. Photo attached for reference. It was like half the slice was missing, not a particularly long or thick cut. Definitely not what I'm used to but hey, I'll pay for perfection. I dug in and then came my second shock, salt! Full disclosure, I'm salt sensitive, but still. This was chocolate fudge, not salted caramel. The third shock was the frosting. After trying the frosting, I can understand why another reviewer called it "slime." To be clear, it was not greasy, just a very thin, loose mouthfeel. Swiss buttercream should be thick and creamy & this was neither. I still have two cupcakes and another slice of cake but I'm not inclined to even try them at this point. Cupcakes are also smaller than your average, say Sprinkles cupcake. Packaging for the cupcakes was super cute. At this point, I think I'm going to try to bribe the Montage to make me a cake

    Hanna J.

    I ordered a 9" red velvet cake for my spooky themed birthday and the cake was absolutely delicious. We got so many compliments & Penelope's was incredibly responsive. We'd definitely order again! Heads up, they aren't joking when they say to leave the cake out HOURS. We picked it up at around 11:30am and left it out till cake cutting at 10pm. It was absolutely perfect. Their directions were very clear and they realllyy emphasize how important it is to let it sit. I'm leaving 4 stars instead of 5 because I feel like the design, as simple as it was, could've been a little more- spookier? I would've preferred the red drips to have a little more oomph. However their work is primarily weddings so understandable that spooky isn't exactly their style.

    The team at Penelope's Perfections made the most amazing wedding cake for our fall 2024 wedding. We were drawn to Penelope's because of their use of Swiss meringue buttercream, which perfectly accented their delicious flavors and fillings without being overly sweet. We really enjoyed our informative tasting with them and loved the individual cakes we got to bring home with us. The day of our wedding the team at Penelope's Perfections was timely and delivered the cake exactly how we had discussed. Months later I am still dreaming about our delicious cake and can't wait to visit them again for events in the future!

    Vanilla Buttercream Cake
    Betty R.

    Cake is delicious, a little high on the price but you can tell why. You can tell it's quality ingredients. When I read the reviews I was a bit skeptical, but soon realized that it's basically people not following directions. The staff is friendly and welcoming and they let you know SEVERAL TIMES that the cake needs to sit out for AT LEAST 4 HOURS in order to get that creamy, moist buttercream frosting and cake. I also put my leftovers in the fridge and it did exactly what the instructions said, it's stiff and the cake is crumbly. Even in that state I enjoyed the cake, but it was definitely worth waiting for it to get to room temperature and taste the difference. I also purchased a strawberry cupcake, cause I was curious, and it was also very good. Real strawberries you can see, and you can also notice the vanilla bean specks in the vanilla cake. Will totally order from here again.

    The cake and service both were fabulous! I loved the raspberry filling inside the chocolate cake. We will be back!!

    Red Velvet Buttercream Cake (9 inch)

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    Thank you Tristen! We appreciate you too! Merry Christmas! Roderick

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Penelope's Perfections

    Can you make a chocolate cake with dulce de leche between the layers covered in whipped cream frosting?

    Yes we can. But our exterior frosting is buttercream. Whip cream frosting does not hold up. Give us a call to discuss your needs.

    Where to get Marzipan cake for my moms birthday in Santa Ana or Costa Mesa?

    Thank you for the inquiry! Unfortunately we do not know where you can purchase a cake covered in marzipan. Most cakes are either covered in buttercream or fondant.… 

    I searched dairy-free bakeries and this was the top listed. How are their dairy free items?

    Hi! Thanks for your inquiry!… 

    View All 5 Questions

    Blackmarket Bakery

    Blackmarket Bakery

    4.2
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We got the B.E.C.A. sandwich, brioche cinnamon roll, and a choc hazelnut twist. Overall the food…read morewas pretty good. Our favorite was the BECA, which had a really fluffy and tasty bread. When we ordered the cinnamon roll, there was no option to heat it up, so we thought they would have done it already. When it was served, it was rock solid. So, we asked them to heat it up. However, after a few minutes, it still wasn't that gooey and the inner core was still pretty tough. Perhaps they could have warmed it up so that it was evenly softened. Overall, the cinnamon roll was alright. It was a brioche roll so you would think it might be lighter and fluffy, but ours was pretty dry. However, the cream on top was insanely good. It carried the roll. The hazelnut twist was kind of what you would expect. A twisted pastry but with a hefty amount of hazelnut-chocolate spread thru the layers. We sat in a little nook, where there was a magnetic black board, where there were word tiles you could rearrange in any way. It was a nice place to just look around at all the sentences the community wrote. Chess tables were also available as extra seating. Overall, the service was good, but could be better when warming up pastries, so that the customer can enjoy them properly!

    Where did you go Blackmarket?! I came this morning for those wonderful croissants and it's closed…read more Why?

    Photos
    Inside the shop, during the Kickstarter pre - opening event weekend
    Inside the shop, during the Kickstarter pre - opening event weekend
    Blackmarket Bakery official grand opening at the Camp in Costa Mesa on January 2, 2013!
    Blackmarket Bakery official grand opening at the Camp in Costa Mesa on January 2, 2013!
    Yes, you want a lunch box

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    Yes, you want a lunch box
    Eller Bakery

    Eller Bakery

    3.8
    (561 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Heavily impressed as a first time visitor. Every single piece of my meal was made to perfection. I…read morehad the Two Egg Breakfast, with chicken sausage and an orange juice. The chicken sausage was unlike anything I've had. The sourdough bread had me considering to purchase an entire loaf. Lastly, the freshly squeezed orange juice was a nice touch. The outdoor is deceiving. The location is beautiful indoors. Employees were friendly and helpful.

    Yes the food I honestly do recommend the it. However there…read moreis an employee by the name "Micky "at the register. Very rude. My wife and I went there today coming from San Diego because we heard the food is good. But that Mickey guy needs customer skills. RUDE !!!! Sad to have people working at the front counter if you don't like your job. My wife said good morning to him and asked if they still served breakfast and his response was ," what's on the menu is what we have! ". No good morning nothing. Face like he's pissed off. Then Mickey tell us we have to order first and not sit down at the tables. Again this was our first time there so we didn't know what their policy was since they have no signs stating not to sit until you order. We only sat down to see the menu to see what they had. Last time I ever go to that one there at Costa Mesa ! But the food is good no doubt. However food is more enjoyable when they treat you nice and not have ASSHOLES working there. Thank you

    Photos
    Sourdough Cinnamon Roll
    Sourdough Cinnamon Roll
    Sourdough Croissant
    Sourdough Croissant
    Thick cut bacon

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    Thick cut bacon
    Bakery 101

    Bakery 101

    4.7
    (378 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I ordered this durian cake for our anniversary, and wow... it's easily the best cake I've ever had…read more If you love real durian, you'll love this cake. The cream is super smooth and filled with actual durian pulp--no artificial flavor at all. The sponge is so light and fluffy that it almost melts in your mouth, and it pairs perfectly with the rich, fruity durian cream. I already love fresh durian and durian ice cream, but this was my first time trying a durian cake, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The 6-inch cake was $68, so it's definitely a treat, but I'd happily buy it again. Just make sure to order a few days ahead. The service was amazing too. Since it was our anniversary, they added a cute "Happy Anniversary" sign to the cake at no extra charge. When we picked it up, they even reminded us to head straight home because the summer heat could affect the cake. You can tell they genuinely care about the quality of their cakes and want customers to enjoy them at their best. Definitely coming back to try more flavors!

    Very cute and small local bakery. Plenty of parking and no wait on a Sunday. No seating inside but…read morea few tables outside. I got a few cake slices for my brother since he doesn't eat a full cake and they were very fluffy and moist. Not too sweet and very easy on the stomach. The staff was very nice and welcoming. There was a good variety of croissants, cookies, cakes and puddings.

    Photos
    One of the best matcha cakes I've ordered from a bakery
    One of the best matcha cakes I've ordered from a bakery
    Cookies
    Cookies
    Strawberry roll cake and core cake

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    Strawberry roll cake and core cake
    Yu Cake

    Yu Cake

    4.2
    (303 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Wow the best cheesecake I've ever had probably! Light and not too sweet. Literally perfect. I dream…read moreabout this cheesecake.. seriously.

    This was our first visit, and unfortunately, it was a bit underwhelming. While the presentation…read morewasn't particularly impressive, that wouldn't have mattered if the food had been great. Sadly, the jasmine tea cheesecake was one of the worst desserts we've had. It tasted so unpleasant that we ended up throwing away what you see in the photo because we simply couldn't take another bite. The checkout experience was also a little unusual. The cashier told us the credit card machine wasn't working, so the only payment options were cash or sending a Zelle payment directly to the owner. There was a small handwritten sticky note with an individual's name and phone number for the Zelle payment, which felt a bit odd. To be fair, there wasn't a large selection available when we visited, so it's possible they have other pastries or desserts that are much better than what we tried. However, based on our experience, the item we purchased was disappointing, and the $12 definitely didn't feel well spent. On the positive side, the décor and overall aesthetic were lovely and were probably the bakery's strongest feature. But as the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover... and you can't judge a bakery by its ambience either.

    Photos
    Inside of the strawberry matcha french mousse cake
    Inside of the strawberry matcha french mousse cake
    Strawberry matcha french mousse cake. Coconut mango french mousse in the back.
    Strawberry matcha french mousse cake. Coconut mango french mousse in the back.
    Iced Tiramisu latte, not bad... More milky and 5% flavor. A bit disappointed

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    Iced Tiramisu latte, not bad... More milky and 5% flavor. A bit disappointed
    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

    4.4
    (5.2k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    You just cannot say no to sidecar donuts. People ask, " are…read morethey fresh" They are the freshest donuts, ever! As we were arriving at 10 AM they were just putting new batches so they were warm fresh and delicious. My favorite is the huckleberry. However, the Saigon cinnamon is so yummy.

    Visited this location for the first time a few weekends ago! It's such a cute little shop, and they…read moreeven had a free sample of the Chocolate Celebration Ring (a chocolate doughnut with sprinkles) to try while deciding what to order. I usually prefer yeast doughnuts over cake doughnuts, but these doughnuts were not dry or heavy at all. I ended up ordering the Butter & Salt doughnut and an Americano with brown sugar sweetener and huckleberry cold foam, while my husband ordered a plain cold brew. We waited outside by the pick-up window after ordering. Service was fast for the doughnut and my coffee, but they seemed to forget about my husband's cold brew, so I had to ask about it after a few minutes of waiting. Not a big deal, just was surprised it took so long when it was such an easy order! We both enjoyed the buttery/salty doughnut, and my coffee was delightful! However, my husband said the cold brew was just okay and it was packed with ice to the point you couldn't stick the straw in the lid. Overall, our first experience at this location was good, and we'll definitely be back to try more of Sidecar's delicious doughnuts! Might pass on the cold brew though!

    Photos
    S'mores Mocha (seasonal July 2026)
    S'mores Mocha (seasonal July 2026)
    Biscoff Cookie Butter. Gingerbread cake with biscoff cookie crumble and powdered sugar on top. Delicious!
    Biscoff Cookie Butter. Gingerbread cake with biscoff cookie crumble and powdered sugar on top. Delicious!
    Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.

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    Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.
    El Moro Churrería

    El Moro Churrería

    4.4
    (353 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    MUST TRY I SIDE NORTHGATE COSTA MESA!…read more I had the iced Mexican chocolate and a churro. The churro was made to order and was delicious. At a price of $3 per churro it did not seem like a bad deal. You can also get an iced chocolate and churros with dip as a combo! The service was quick and efficient even though it was made to order! This is a new concept at the NORTHGATE in Costa Mesa where they have a lot of different restaurants inside the market. This one stood out and did not disappoint. Lost of seating space throughout the market and an easily accessible restroom as well. Lots of parking too. 10/10!!

    The service here is a 3 stars for me but the churros are good. The guy working the counter was kind…read moreof rude. No hello or anything. Just awkward silence. I got the combo, which consists of 4 churros, a hot chocolate and dipping sauce. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to choose the type of hot chocolate but he didn't ask. He also didn't ask what type of dipping sauce I wanted. There weren't any customers either, so it's not like they were busy. The churros were made fresh and tasted great except there were some pieces that tasted gummy/still raw. It's crispy and the sugar isn't too sweet. The hot chocolate was pretty good but very sweet. It is also scorching hot. I burnt my mouth twice trying to drink it. The sauce - I wasn't handed or asked what type of sauce I wanted. I had to ask for the sauce, which I was redirected to the ordering counter where there was a stack. Would have been nice if they had just given it to me or asked what I wanted. There's no labels or signs at all and I blindly chose what I assumed to be the cajeta- caramel but it didn't taste like caramel. At first I thought it was expired due to the sour taste, but after tasting it again a few times, it tasted like apple sauce? I'm not sure what it was but it was interesting with the churros.

    Photos
    When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!
    When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!
    Moritos packaging
    Moritos packaging
    Menu

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    Menu

    Penelope's Perfections - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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