Listen to my words..... Cream cheese and strawberry filling…read more Soooo Good!! I've ordered another amazing cake before. They deserve all the love!

Parras Bakery, West Chicago…read more I was looking for some pastries one day and happened to stumble upon Parras Bakery in West Chicago. What a happy little discovery! They have a really impressive selection of pastries, and many of them are genuinely delicious. I have to admit, I am not particularly a fan of the traditional Mexican pan dulce, including conchas, but give me a crispy, flaky pastry and I am very happy. Their palmeritas are especially good, and they have plenty of other pastries filled with different fruits, creams, and other delicious surprises. Everything we have tried has been fresh and very well made. It has actually become one of my go to places whenever we have guests because there is something for everyone, and showing up with a box of beautiful pastries is never a bad idea. If you are in West Chicago and have a sweet tooth, Parras is definitely worth a stop. Just be prepared to leave with more pastries than you originally intended to buy. Somehow those little boxes have a way of filling themselves!

Love this place! She makes the best conchas, soft, sweet and amazing. they are perfect!…read more A must try if you are in the area you won't regret it

This place offers some of the most authentic Mexican bread you can find. The bread is always fresh…read moreand they even have "elotes." Probably my favorite Mexican bread. Definitely a better selection than any panederia in the city. I will say they are all on the pricey side, but when compared to other places that sell croissants for $7 these prices are nothing. This place is a must whenever I'm in the area.

I mean it's Peruvian empanadas. IMO best empanadas out there, BUT they're pretty expensive and…read moresmaller just so you know. This is in a hole in the wall in one of those black hole plazas so far recessed from the busy street you'd completely miss it and pass by if you neve knew it was here. Check it out iz gud!

What a delightful little place tucked into a strip mall. It's part bakery, part cafe / sandwich…read morespot, and yes, it is adorable, with tiny alpaca and llama stickers all over the counter, with walls decorated with stenciled Nazca line designs and the standard (pretty) fake grass/flowers selfie area. There are vegetarian options - vegetarian panini, spinach/cheese empanadas; papas con huancaina, (delicious Peruvian cheese sauce) and apparently if you ask, she'll make something like the beef sandwich with tofu. I got two spinach/cheese empanadas, a chocolate alfajor (several flavors available); a key lime tart, a pavlova, and some chicha morada. I've never seen pavlova in a bakery; she filled a meringue shell with cream and fruit, and it was indeed delightful, certainly worth coming back for in spring when strawberries/fresh fruit is at its peak. The alfajor was crisp/crumbly and not too sweet; the empanadas are baked, not fried, and she warmed them up. It's more spinach than cheese, but quite respectable. The key lime pie was also respectable, with a crumbly crust; the filling was tasty but more of it would be good. The owner was super helpful, walking me through my options and noting that unfortunately yes, most of the cheesecakes have gelatin in them. I'll certainly be back to try her huancaina, get some more cookies, and maybe snag an Inca Cola.

Oh! The desserts, to die for, the ladies who run this, almost as amazing as their desserts! I swear…read moreby my fave treat (which I currently am ALREADY RUNNING LOW IN! , chocolate chip cookie sandwiches stuffed w their amazing buttercream frosting. Reach out to these amazing bakers who know what it's all about being gluten free and wanting our fave tasty treats! Don't ever change ladies!!! Okay, keep bringing on the new treats and ideas.

The Polish pastries are so delicious and they have different types of cakes, which are always fun…read moreto try in. The staff is always nice and it's always clean but it does get packed in the mornings cause everybody wants delicious pastries but it's so good.

My friend and I found this Eastern European bakery after shopping in Bloomingdale and Carol Stream…read moreon a Saturday. Unlike many bakeries which close in early afternoon, they close at 5. They had an array of pastries to choose from, and you can also order cakes, including wedding cakes. My friend got a rum ball which she said was really good, and I got a pistachio raspberry tart; the pistachio cream and raspberry topping was delicious, but the tart shell was tough as old boots, to borrow a phrase from "The Great British Bakeoff": I couldn't cut it with either a knife or fork! They also sell a small array of grocery items from Poland, but not much in the way of ready-to-go beverages, which would have been nice to see.

Scone Emergency = Joyful Triumph!…read more Let me tell you about these scones -- they're not just baked goods, they're buttery, crumbly little clouds of joy. Sweet, flaky perfection in every bite, with a variety of flavors so tempting it's honestly unfair to the other pastries in town. I showed up right at closing time like a woman on a mission -- I had an emergency (yes, scone emergencies are real) because my friends were taking a painfully early flight and I needed to send them off with something that said, "Bon voyage, but with carbs." Not only was I greeted with kindness, but I was offered a delightful selection of scones like it was still mid-morning! The service? Superb. Compassionate. Possibly saintly. The shop itself is also a total gem -- cozy, welcoming, and full of great energy. It's the kind of place where you want to linger, sip your coffee slowly, and pretend you're a local character in a charming indie film. The next morning, I enjoyed the outside with a fresh brew and a scone, soaking in the morning peace and feeling very pleased with myself. Meanwhile, my friends, in their sleepy travel frenzy, forgot their share of scones. TRAGIC for them. But also... YESSSS for me -- more buttery goodness to hoard enjoy! Moral of the story: come for the scones, stay for the kindness and the vibe. And if you're flying out early -- maybe forget a bag so you have an excuse to come back.

Pecan sticky bun Pistachio tres leches…read more Pistachio latte Caramel macchiato Baked goods are great, coffee is decent. Cute place, chill vibe, friendly staff.

I stopped in for something sweet to take home and I saw this Goliath of a cookie croissant…read more(apparently "crookies" are a thing and my life is a hundred times better knowing this). It was incredible. Crunchy, sweet, big portion...can't wait to try more!

Wanted go get some coffee from somewhere new and stumbled across gather and let's just say i won't…read morebe back. Walked into what looked like a kinder care and the owner had a bad attitude and not friendly a with his kid complaining and whining out front. There was fruit flies inside the case where the pastries were sitting out and actual flies around the bakery. The coffee wasn't hot and only had 1 size and it was not tasty and overpriced.

This place is such a hidden gem!!! SO happy I found Heidi's, because I needed a go-to bakery. I've…read morehad their cookies, coffee cake, doughnuts and cinnamon rolls....all were incredible! So fresh tasting. The doughnuts are some of the best I've ever had, and that says a lot because i travel the U.S. in search of good doughnut shops haha The staff are super kind, and the prices are very reasonable. I would go here daily, if I could! Haha

I've been going to this place for years. I ordered some rolls, and they were delicious; however, I…read moredon't know what the deal is here. Since COVID, they are closed to the public. You can't go in and browse, you have to call and place your order ahead of time. Furthermore, when I went to pick up my order - they had a baby gate blocking off the entrance. People on Facebook have been asking about when they're opening back up like normal, and the comments mysteriously disappear. Unfortunately, I think the decision to operate this way is going to have bad results. Honestly though, I won't go back because this is just so unfriendly to customers. Also, their prices have gone up and I think they're overpriced now. It's sad, because I really did used to love this place. No more business from me. :(

Stopped in yesterday to get six donuts. Best decision I made all day. Each donut was better than…read morethe next one. My husband's favorite donut is Boston cream, but this Boston cream was out of this world he said it felt like it weighed 5 lb there was so much cream in it. The texture of each donut was soft so thick he almost need to unhing your jaws to take a bite. Can't wait to bring my granddaughter back so that she can try it too!!!

We've been meaning to stop here for a while now. Finally we're able to stop in for coffee and a…read moresweet treat. To my surprise they had the most amazing looking variety of treats. My choice was the most delicious apple cider doughnut, I have ever had. It was so light and fluffy. If that's a thing. Went perfectly with my cup of coffee. So very good. Bakery itself is really charming. Staff were very pleasant and all had a welcoming smile. I appreciate family owned businesses. Will definitely be back.

Ordered a birthday cake to feed 10 people and specified this multiple times but received a tiny 6…read moreinch round. Now I'm scrambling to find another cake for my little girl's party the day of. This was after filling out an order form and 3 separate phone conversations-- one of which was bc I was double charged. On top of that, the cake itself looks very amateur-ish and not professionally made. Had I the time, I for sure could've done better myself. Oh, and as a bonus the girl I spoke to the first time on the phone was super rude then basically hung up on me. Just go get your cake at Jewel's-- it basically looks the same.

Mad Batter Bakery in St. Charles is such a gem. I seriously wish it was closer to me or that they…read morehad more locations. I love the creativity behind each pastry. They are always coming up with fun and unique flavors, and the stuff they post early in the morning is honestly half the reason I check Facebook. The staff were very friendly and gave recommendations on what the most popular flavors were. I always appreciate that in a place. The pastries are on the sweeter side for sure, so having a whole one can be a lot, but that is just me. Still totally worth it. The decor inside is so cute too. Definitely gives you Alice in Wonderland vibes with all the little trinkets and tea time touches. Super charming spot. If you are into sweets and fun vibes, it is a must-try.