I have been eyeing these big puffy English muffins for the longest time. I was making a trip back from Carlsbad and decides to pick some up on the way home. Scratch Bakery Cafe is located in a big plaza with Trader Joe. There are many people outside sitting and eating. You order up front and pay before getting a table. Right when you walk in, there are tons of bags filled with English Muffins, however, they are called Manna buns for trademark reasons. The Manna buns come in plain, sesame, and everything seasonings. I ended up going with plain. The bun is super yummy. I made eggs and avocado sandwich with the bun and couldn't wait to eat them every day. They are pretty big, so I only eat half. They also sell bakery items. I got an oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that was delicious and a Banana's Foster Knock Knock. I absolutely love this and so happy the lady suggested it. It was like an upgraded ding dong but like a banana nut cake and chocolate. Overall, if you're looking for English muffins or some sweet this is definitely your place to try. read more

Best baked goods this side of the Toro Exit. Free parking, close to REI, Trader Joe's, and the coffee smells fresh enough that I think they roast it. Coffee's good... whatever it is. Service? Not so much. Pretty sure I walked in between shifts because they straight-up forgot my order. Inside layout is confusing, like a café designed by someone who's only heard rumors about chairs. Outside seating is great though -- very SoCal. Fresh cannolis? Drum roll... absolutely not- at least not during this visit. If they had them, this would be a 5‑star review. I'm writing a letter to my ma about this injustice. I can't wait to come back and try more goodies. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Fruit tart: Soggy Icy Crust was soft Inedible Waste of money A Sandwhich was good Soup was good read more

I didn't eat anything but the place is so bright and clean and employees ready to help. What a great selection of baked goods and desserts. Yum! Many people outside at patio eating lunch like sandwiches and chips and coffees. Will definitely come back to get some treats for myself and my office. read more

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Love scratch, bakery Café. They have a couple gluten-free items. Otherwise they have delicious breakfasts salads, wraps, soup, fresh bread, fresh danishes beautiful-patio to sit out on. Recently priced. Friendly staff. read more

Delicious cream puffs. I tried the vanilla and chocolate cream puff & it was just as yummy as beard papa. Our friends from OC brought it for us to try and it was tasty. read more

I like this little bakery. The prices do seem to be a little steep. So it's a treat usually. I've had their salad, salads, and a few of their baked goods. I really enjoyed their seasonal cookies during Christmas, since they have peppermint. So it's a hit or miss on when I come. But it is nice. They have seasonal items that you can try. Definitely worth a try. SYOY read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Yum - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

This café in Laguna Hills is such a gem. I love places that let you enjoy breakfast and lunch at the same time, and this spot does exactly that. I ordered their Knock Knock flight, which is a coffee flight paired with their Knock Knock chocolate treats. You get four coffees and four chocolates to try, and everything was rich, smooth, and so fun to taste side by side. It's perfect if you like variety or want to sample a little bit of everything. For food, I had the breakfast sausage burrito and their burger, and both were delicious. The burrito was hearty and flavorful, and the burger was satisfying and well made. Being able to order breakfast and lunch together is a huge plus. Of course, I had to try dessert too. I ordered the mini chocolate cake, almond croissant, and cinnamon roll, and every single item was fresh and indulgent. You can really tell care goes into their baking. The café itself was filled with locals, which always says a lot. The atmosphere felt warm and welcoming, and everything from the drinks to the food was consistently good. I'll definitely be coming back and highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - @coffeeshopsofoc on IG - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

This is such a cool place to stop in for lunch or some great baked goods. Been here several times, just never reviewed. Mom and I had lunch here today a delicious Club - so fresh on sourdough what's not to love, with chips - you can choose between chips, potato salad or a green salad - we each had a bowl soup, tomato basil soup and Mom had Chicken Tortilla Soup. Service is good and the staff knows the menu which is really helpful. Plenty of nice outdoor seating, on warm day it's super nice to sit outside and enjoy your food. And you can't go wrong with any of the pastries or baked goods. read more

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How have I not reviewed Scratch Bakery before? I come once a week to get my English muffin because they are then best in the area. They also freeze well. The only other place that has better English muffin is in the Bay Area. Scratch also serves breakfast, and they close at 5pm. There have nice comfortable outdoor seatings. Service is always attentive and the most challenging part is deciding what to get! Ask for advice if you needed. Sourdough bread is my second favorite here, with the bread pudding following closely. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - The best English muffin! - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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I'm a little torn on how to review this place. Purchased a French baguette on a whim and it was not bad. So far, so good. I'll have it with some coffee and see how much of it gets devoured today... solid 4 for now. As for the service, lots of people behind the counter. And, that's a good thing. But the actual customer service comes off severe. No greeting, no hello, just my total. And when I was given my change, it was just handed to me in a lump. No more words said. Maybe come here for their baked goods, but don't expect hospitality or any kind of warmth. read more

This is an amazing bakery! Staff is so friendly! The chocolate cream puff, mini chocolate cake and the almond crossiant were soooo good! I definitely will come back. Ample parking. Probably one of the best bakeries in OC. read more

My friends and I recently visited Scratch Bakery Cafe, and I can honestly say it was the best customer service I've experienced in over 10 years--hands down. The food is top-notch, and everything is made in-house with high-quality ingredients. We came in on a Saturday after I searched ChatGPT for good breakfast spots in the area. Within one minute of arriving, we met the owner, Ronnie, who was already cleaning a table for us. When we mentioned it was our first time, he asked about the flavor profiles we liked and gave each of us thoughtful menu recommendations. He was incredibly warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly. I ordered the breakfast sandwich on their trademark "Mana Bun" (think a light, fluffy English muffin) along with a lavender iced milk tea. Both were amazing--full of flavor and generously portioned. One of my friends ordered the breakfast burrito and said it was excellent as well. To make the experience even better, Ronnie and his daughter Daniela brought us a few pastries to try--one of which was even from their test kitchen! We loved the guava Danish, a churro-style "cruffin" (English muffin/muffin) topped with dulce de leche, and a savory croissant filled with something like chicken pot pie. It literally tasted like Thanksgiving in a pastry. Keep your eyes out for this ! The atmosphere was so enjoyable that my friends and I ended up staying on the patio for three hours. We've officially declared Scratch Bakery our new monthly get-together spot. I left feeling pleasantly plump, valued as a customer, and like we had just met new friends. Our hearts and our tummies were full. Beautiful family business. Incredible food. We wish them many blessings and continued success! read more

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Always great food and coffee here! I had the bacon and egg sandwich on their delicious English muffin today. They bake all bread and cookies items here ...fresh daily. It's all amazing!! Many choices of delicious desserts and treats in the cases. This is counter service ordering and then your made to order meal is delivered to your table. There are plenty of tables on the outside patio to enjoy your coffee and/or meal in the beautiful Southern California sunshine read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich Medium Hot Latte - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Our team often orders from Scratch Bakery on doordash and everything has been consistent, accurate, and tasty! We love how our orders are always neatly labeled. When ordering 10 or more lunches, it's difficult to have to cross reference items to the receipt so the labeling is appreciated! I've tried the Cobb salad and Caesar salad. Enjoyed both, great portion sizes! The team has ordered other salads and sandwiches, no complaints! read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

everyone here is super kind and the coffee is amazing! they also have breads, rolls, cookies etc inside for u peruse and buy! very cute

I came across this cafe while running errands in Laguna Hills. The cafe had a large outdoor patio with lots of seating, but no seating indoors. The staff were all smiling and friendly. The breads and pastries looked great, and they had several breakfast and lunch options on the menu. Prices seemed fair. For breakfast, my daughter had a cinnamon roll and hot chocolate, and she said they were "amazing!" I enjoyed the avocado toast with egg... the seasoned salt added a great taste. We took home some macaroons... SO GOOD! We'll definitely be back to try some more of their food. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Coconut macaroons - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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Definitely regret pre-tipping. It's ridiculous that they even have that option right after you order and before you even get your food/drinks. I've been here before with someone who ordered for us and we bought our bakery items to-go. Today, I decided to dine-in at their available tables outside. I made sure to reiterate to the register girl that my order was "for here". I hope their cameras have sound so that the owner can re-play back what was said at the register to confirm my account of the exchange. She NEVER relayed to me that I had to pick up my drink at a counter. We got our breakfast sandwiches and I noticed there were no condiments or anything so I asked the young man who brought out our food. He gave me the impression he was going to get the condiments for us but he never came back. Must have been miscommunication. Totally fine, no biggie. We don't mind getting what we need as long as we know where to get them so it was all good. However, my daughter did mention that he seemed annoyed when she went inside to ask him for ketchup. We are clearly NOT regulars based off the questions I initially asked at the register, something the register girl should have picked up on. But I guess they just automatically assume that everyone who comes here are regulars. SMH. While packing up our leftovers, I realized my HOT mocha hadn't come out yet. I went back inside to inform the same register girl about it and she told me that she would go check. She came back telling me that I was supposed to pick up my HOT drink at the pick-up counter. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT? She never once mentioned that to me especially when I specifically told her that I wanted my order "for here". I'm thinking I'm going to get my "for here" HOT mocha in a mug brought to my table. According to them, they don't offer mugs for your "for here" HOT drinks even though I've seen people with them outside during our previous visit. I feel like someone is either lying or we're lowkey being discriminated. I hate using that word (I rarely do) because people tend to abuse it often especially here in CA. Not accusing them of it but sometimes you never know because they could have handled it better, instead of turning it into something uncomfortable and awkward as it was not my fault. You can't assume everyone knows your pick-up rules. Any other similar operating bakery cafe that I have dined at always brings out our food and drinks to our table or they communicate clearly to us AT THE REGISTER on where to pick up our drink(s) if it's not coming with the food. Here at Scratch Bakery they just assume you should know and then make you feel stupid and at-fault for not knowing. The tall barista who made the drink reiterated their pick-up policy to me in a way that made me felt like I was in the wrong for not wanting to take the drink that she had already made. It was obvious she didn't realize how long we had been there and just assumed I had just placed the order recently. WRONG. She claimed, "I just put this out." We were there for approx half an hour waiting outside!! I knew then she was absolutely full of it. WHY LIE? I hate dishonest folks. If she "just put out" the drink like she claimed, then she must have held onto the drink ticket for at least 20+ mins before preparing it. WHY? It wasn't even busy during the time I ordered so there couldn't have been that many drinks *ahead* of mine for her to start on my drink that late. Other people were there waiting and staring and I didn't want to make a scene or turn the situation into something worse. I just wanted her to remake the drink without making me feel uncomfortable so I can be on my way. I was so over it and took a sip in front of her and confirmed that the "HOT" drink that was "just put out" was NOT hot. In fact, it was warm as I suspected. She didn't look happy but agreed to "remake" the drink. At that point, I should have just asked for a refund. Sad that I even tipped in the beginning. Never again... at any place. We wasted enough time and money. I didn't try the "remake" until I got in the vehicle which was another big mistake because the "HOT" mocha still wasn't hot! Did she not steam the milk enough 'out of spite' towards me for not accepting her first warm mocha or did she just give me back the same drink but in another cup?? Even the barista's "apology" as I was leaving came off passive AF. I eventually chucked the warm "hot" mocha in the trash because I also didn't feel comfortable drinking something that was prepared by someone who is dishonest and gave me bad feels. If I order a hot drink, I expect it to be HOT. If I order a cold drink, I expect it to be COLD. Simple. Is that too much to expect? And if one of y'all dropped the ball on communication, just HAPPILY remake the drink without issue or attitude. That's it. We spent over a hundred dollars on that one transaction alone for one adult and 2 kids and I left feeling shitty. It shouldn't be this way. read more

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Hidden Gem in Laguna Hills. Already Planning My Next Visit! I visited Scratch Bakery for the very first time this weekend with a friends, and I can't believe it took me this long to discover it. Such a hidden gem! I'm honestly so happy we found it and I will absolutely be going back regularly. My new goal is to become a regular here because I loved it that much. We ended up staying for hours because the atmosphere was so welcoming and the food was completely delectable. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Ronnie, and his daughter Danielle. They were incredibly personable and genuinely interested in getting to know us. They asked about our favorite flavors and helped guide us on what to order, which made the experience feel really special. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was fantastic. We also got to try a brand new croissant they are working on that is not on the menu yet. It is a Thanksgiving / chicken pot pie inspired savory croissant and it literally had me drooling. It was THAT good. I cannot wait for it to officially hit the menu so I can go back and order it. Before leaving, I grabbed two of the "Knock Knocks" to go. One Dubai Chocolate and one Classic. I enjoyed them the next day for dessert. Let's just say I am slightly nervous because they are so good I can already tell I will be ordering them over and over again. (Yum!) Unfortunately I did not get any photos because I inhaled everything too quickly, which probably says it all. You can really tell this is a family owned business that takes pride in their ingredients, listens to feedback, and truly cares about creating a great experience from start to finish. The level of hospitality and attention to guests really stood out to me. That type of service feels rare these days. Such a pleasurable experience. I am so excited to have found this place and cannot wait to come back again soon. Highly recommend! read more

YUM! Scratch Bakery offers some delicious treats and breakfast items. Their breakfast sandwich with their homemade English muffin is divine! I am still daydreaming about it. They are a bakery, so they have lots of fun cakes, brownies, and other offerings. I really like their "knock-knocks" (their version of ding-dongs). The staff here are extremely friendly, and the service can be quick depending on the time of day. We've had their cinnamon rolls too, and it was really good. They have seasonal offerings, so make sure to check back from time to time to see what they are offering in terms of bakery items. Thank you for being rad! read more

Wow. Just wow wow wow. I legitimately melted in my chair when I took my first bite of the vegetarian breakfast burrito. The banana bread !?! UHHHH the best I've ever had. I will definitely be back a million times more to try other pastries & the burrito! The one downfall is they don't take phone orders. Which is super inconvenient for someone that was picking up right before work. And the online version took so long & the app, I understand gets you rewards, etc etc. but mannnn made it so much harder. It was worth it! But just a big inconvenience I wasn't there to pick it up, but again! The food and pastries make it so worth it!!! I'll make sure to stop by inside to see what the ambiance is. Regardless, thank you! read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Banana bread, breakfast burrito, Traditional Club Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Cookies and brownie were sweet, decadent treats. I liked their textures and depth of chocolate. Knock Knock was ok (very sweet, need to keep refrigerated), and the chocolate cream puff was mediocre (dry and bland). I feel like the Knock Knocks and cream puffs are not worth their prices - they're way too expensive for the size and taste. They offer plenty of other baked goods, and some are even nicely packaged for gifting. Staff seemed busy bouncing between prep and register but were patient in answering my questions. I learned that their Knock Knock is like an elevated, homemade Ding Dong haha. Not to mention much pricier! I don't think there was seating inside, but there were tables outside. Parking is in a free lot that's pretty open even during the lunch rush in that plaza, but that didn't stop some crazy drivers from making their own rules and not looking around them, so watch out. Overall, Scratch Bakery is decent but not as spectacular as I had expected it to be. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back, especially since the baked goods are quite pricey, but I may grab a bag of cookies as a gift should the need arise. read more

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Went after a doctor's appointment around the corner. Service was average. Most of their products are overpriced for the portion. I ordered a 16 oz coffee and the barista had multiple drinks on the counter. When I asked which one mine was, she was a little snippy and said to check the little paper with the order. I should've gone to a different bakery or just give to Starbucks. read more

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Danielle is the Manager and is so accommodating. She takes time to explain everything. She is a great Manager with good customer service skills. She made my mom a delicious coffee drink. They have great baked goods and food. Great job Danielle, Patty & Helen read more

I ate here for lunch again today. Laguna Hills location I love the staff and of course the food. Sitting outside today even though it's Windy was just perfect. Very rarely do things if ever go wrong today they had run out of Turkey they were so nice came outside I ordered the Italian sandwich which is delicious. They were so apologetic I kept telling the ladies inside not to worry no Big deal. Again they are so sweet and when people remember your Name it's makes you feel good. I look forward to my next lunch or breakfast and my Caramel Macchiato. Thank you Susan DiCarlo read more

Cockroaches!!!!! THIS was INSIDE my vegetarian burrito. I'm horrified. This CUBAN ROACH is what I pulled out of my mouth after taking a bite into their burrito. Really upsetting and unacceptable. This was one of my favorite cafes. I reported it to the OC health dept. don't eat here ...... read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - CUBAN COCKROACH - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Great service. They are always willing to try and accommodate special requests. Manager and staff very nice. Food and baked goods are amazing. Highly recommend read more

I've been to this café more recently. We first tried the one in Newport and that was great. The English muffins are excellent. Came to this one because they have cake and the chocolate cake is perfect. Looking forward to trying the other ones. The service was really nice and friendly. The place is clean. Lots of parking. Easy to get to read more

My mom and I decided to go to a nice sit down but fast place to go and eat. We didn't want any fast food stuff and decided to go to this local bakery/cafe. We shared the Pot Roast Dip On French Roll. After we ordered our food, it came out fast in about like 10 minutes. It wasn't too busy but the food looked fresh so it may have been freshly made. Then we went outside and ate. It was a pretty good portion of food with a lot of meat inside. Such a big portion, good thing I shared it. The picture below, it looks small but it was really big. It had some kind of soupy broth kind of dip that you can dip your main in. And it was so comforting. It was such a nice warm comfort meal especially on that chilly fall day. That was all the good stuff. Now, here's the real reason why I put three stars. Okay, I think I need to come back here for breakfast sandwiches and sweet pastries which is what bakeries are known for. Idk why I thought this sandwich would be so good. It's good but I was comparing this to Panera Bread with the similarities of the food. Panera Bread is what I'm used to. This tasted similar to hot pot which is the reason why the name is what it is. I thought there would be some garlic spices in it or chives or something that can give it more flavor. But it didn't. It was actually kind of bland. Same thing with the dip. I don't even know what it was. But neither did the soupy dip have flavor. The meat tasted fine but it needed some sauce tossed into it or at least top it off with BBQ sauce or something special like maybe some garlic. The cheese helped because it had flavor. The bread tasted nice and crunchy on the outside but it tasted so soggy and doughy due to the meat. The texture of the bread on the inside tasted wet and doughy. The texture of mashed potatoes. And the bread wasn't buttery or anything. Just regular peppery bread it didn't taste good. And I didn't even dip the sandwich in the soupy dip. It was just like that. But you got to pick a side so the chips were standard. Maybe they put a lot of effort in the breakfast sandwiches and pastries which overpowers this dish. Maybe I picked the wrong dish. So, based on the other reviews here, I'll try something different. But there was good and bad in this dish. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Pot Roast Dip on French Roll - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

I come here anytime I'm in the area and want great coffee, brunch or pastries. The staff is always very welcoming and helpful. Even though they are often busy, I feel they take their time to assist with your questions. The café is fairly large, well lit and filled with tasty treats throughout. While there's no seating inside, there are a lot of tables and chairs outside and it's a much nicer place to sit anyway. Most importantly, everything I've ever had there is delicious and reason I keep coming back. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Breakfast Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Excellent pastries and yummy breads. All delicious and so pretty! Service is great and it's a nice place to sit and have some good coffee and food with friends and family. Very cool vibe and ambiance read more

Dorian's friendly customer service, and of course the delicious pastries! The other two ladies were helpful and friendly too. *Pastries are getting bigger again Btw! read more

I recently hosted a Christmas party at my home and had a very specific dessert vision. I wanted a variety of desserts with slices of different cakes and cookies so guests could sample a little of everything, not multiple large cakes or cupcakes. After what felt like visiting every bakery in Mission Viejo and striking out again and again, I remembered Scratch Bakery Cafe and I'm so glad I did. Every other place I tried offered only full cakes, cupcakes, or breakfast-style pastries, which just didn't work for an evening party. Scratch was exactly what I was looking for. While it's already fantastic for breakfast and lunch, their dessert and pastry selection is truly outstanding. The desserts were absolutely out of this world. Every single guest raved about them, especially the carrot cake, lemon cake, and the gluten-free dulce de leche cheesecake. The double chocolate cake was incredible, and my personal favorite was the carrot cake. It was hands-down perfection. One tip: don't leave without a dozen chocolate and vanilla cream puffs. They are a must. I'm so glad I chose Scratch. It completely made the dessert table and I'll definitely be back. read more

Whenever i come to the OC, i stop by here for their speciality English muffins. Great place, nice owners, friendly workers. Come check it out!! read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Scratch Bakery is absolutely fantastic. From the moment you walk in, the staff is welcoming, friendly, and genuinely happy to help -- you can tell they take pride in what they do. I'm here at least once a week, and everything we've tried has been amazing. The cinnamon rolls are my son's favorite (and for good reason -- they're incredible). Personally, I can't get enough of the bacon breakfast burrito with the green salsa -- it's packed with flavor and always hits the spot. You honestly can't go wrong with anything here: the scones, cakes, and cream puffs are all outstanding and clearly made with care and high-quality ingredients. If you're looking for a bakery with great food, great people, and a place you'll keep coming back to, Scratch Bakery is a must-visit. Highly recommended! read more

First time eating here and I was pleasantly surprised. I asked for two eggs over medium and they were cooked just right. They were a little pricey for my taste for just two plain eggs but the bacon was also delicious. I would try this place again. read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - Two Eggs Side Bacon - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Food is great however they need indoor seating. It was raining and cold and we had picked this place because of the options for gluten-free. There is plenty of room to put seating inside, but apparently they are still in Covid mode. We had to eat our food out on the patio where it was windy, cold and wet. No reason to not have some indoor seating. We go to the location in Newport and they have option for indoor seating. If you do not want to sit outside, I would recommend going somewhere else. read more

The best English muffins I've had in the United States. Everything looked great, the service was great, my only beef is. I wish they had indoor seating. I was with my daughter and we had to sit outside. It was pretty cold for her. All in all with a great experience and I will be coming back. The cakes looked amazing and the croissants were flaky, not doughy and stale. They also have decent vegetarian options. read more

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I heard about something called a Knock Knock that's sold here. They asked what I would like to order I said , Knock knock , he said who's there, I said me with an appetite for something delicious so he handed me one of these slices of heaven dipped in chocolate wrapped in foil, and I've never been the same read more

Scratch Bakery Cafe - A Knock Knock, ......and no, not who's there? - Cafes Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

This place may be good, however, I only had one thing and it was bad. Avocado toast is a piece of tasteless bread, no spread, sliced avocado, tomato, and too much lemon pepper. It is dry, bland and tastes like cardboard. The coffee was good though. Two stars for the potential and the coffee and zero stars for the avocado toast. read more