LOCATION: Eighth/Carlton…read more PARKING: Street parking WHAT I ORDERED: Egg tarts! ($6 each) Year of the Snake is a small pop-up that is only open on Sunday. It's run by a mother and daughter duo. There's a newspaper article posted outside on the window to read about the pop-up and family's history. They serve quite literally the BEST egg tarts I've ever tasted in my life. The egg tarts are perfectly egg-y and creamy, with the most crispy and buttery crust. Besides the egg tarts, they also have other pastries and drinks as well. The only other thing I've tried on the menu was the Vietnamese coffee. I may be biased, but I did not like the coffee. I write this review reminiscing on how delicious the egg tarts are. I would get them every weekend if I could.

What a scrumptious find at this very delicious corner of 8th & Carleton. I have heard about this…read moreplace through Instagram but had tucked it away in the back of my head until coming across it today, the only day of the week when it's usually open. As I peeked inside, the eclectic fusion of East meets West pastry concoction was beyond anyone's imagination. Kimchi raclette knish? Chinese sausage and garlic biscuit? Oh my! Had I driven there I would have ordered one of each to take home. But alas since my husband and I were biking through the area, my pockets could only each fit one. Thus I decided to share an egg tart w my hubby and brought the yaki miso rice ball and Chinese sausage biscuit home. Now that Portuguese egg tart was one of the best we've ever had, and that is no exaggeration. The delicate and flaky crunchy crust exterior paired so well with this gooey melt in your mouth custard center- a match made in heaven. My husband was like, no wonder this was a small batch item since they couldn't possibly make this on a large scale. Hmmm. Would definitely love to repeat that egg tart. I'm saving our other two pastries for tomorrow! The ladies behind the counter couldn't be more friendlier or more helpful! Please support our local bakers!

Grand Opening is a dream!…read more 1. I've followed Melissa and Grand Opening for a while now and finally made it out to a bake sale. I got there before opening and as expected, there was already a line. There's an option to pre-order as well if you want to avoid the waiting. 2. I ordered a bunch of different items but my favorites were the peanut + apricot twice baked croissant (their regular croissants weren't ready yet so opted for this and it blew me away), passionfruit macadamia cookie (the textures are so good - it's got crunch and chew), black sesame apricot cheese tart (each layer is perfection), and blackberry yuzu sponge cake (best sponge cake texture I've ever tried, seriously). 3. How is everything so good!? The textures and flavors are incredible and are definitely created by someone with a lot of experience, knowledge, and creativity. And everything also has the right amount of sweetness. I love Melissa's brain!! 4. I am absolutely coming back for another bake sale and am also dreaming of ordering a whole cake. 5. FYI they also share the space with Studio Estepan who also has bakes sales!

Been a big fan of Melissa for years now! Always admired her creativity…read more Most recent favorite was the blackberry jasmine sponge slice and the strawberry mochi almond wife cookie. Perfect amount of sweetness and the sponge cake texture just brings me back to childhood birthdays. Just got the strawberry coffee crunch cake for fiancé's birthday and he loved it. She also has bake sales every Saturday! Go grab yourself a sweet treat!

A great place to pick up croissants and banquet making sandwiches and other sweet pastry.I really…read morerecommend this Bakery to every one 5 STar.

Need a morning pickup with freshly baked croissants and goods that could last for hours or days…read more This is it. The gigantic croissant ever, buttery and flaky. Definitely satisfying.

Bummed that they are no longer operating in the Bay Area, but glad I was able to try Basuku earlier…read morethis year before they moved away. And yes, the cheesecake is great - probably the best rendition of basque cheesecake I've had. I love that it's not too cream-cheese-y in flavor, and the texture is smooth and creamy. Of the flavors we tried, the cookies and cream was my favorite. The coffee had a very strong coffee flavor.

Basuku has the most decadent basque cheesecakes in the Bay Area. I've been a fan for years, and…read morethey recently posted that they'll be leaving the bay to pursue other locations (Japan/Taiwan). If you haven't tried them yet, go before it's too late! I've been lucky enough to try four of their flavors, and each one showcases their signature silky texture and deep flavor. All are not too sweet! My personal favorite is the Kyoto Matcha - the matcha is high-quality, with a vivid green color and rich flavor that balances beautifully with the creamy cheesecake base. The Original is a classic for a reason with deeply caramelized top and creamy interior. I also tried the Iribancha, a roasted green tea flavor. It's intense, smoky, and unique..maybe not one I could finish in one sitting, but definitely memorable and recommend for those who want that earthy/smoky taste. The truffle was also a standout, adding just enough umami to round out the sweetness. Preorders drop via Instagram (@basukucheesecakes) and sell out lightning-fast. Otherwise, plan to line up for slices! Wishing Basuku all the best on their next chapter. Fingers crossed for a return to the Bay someday! Until then, don't miss your chance to try what might be the best cheesecake you've ever had.

I'm so glad my colleagues at Skyline High School told me about this fantastic bakery! I purchased…read morefour dozen pan dulce for my students on Monday. They loved every bite of them! Arturo is a kind man and great baker!

I was looking around for concha catering and came across Pena's Bakery! They were the first to…read morerespond from the few that I called and i'm glad they did! The conchas were so soft and delicious. We bought around 400 regular sized conchas for a great price. The service was great, price was right, and conchas were delicious. They offered vanilla, chocolate and another yellow option that was yummy. Everyone absolutely loved them! We'll definitely be catering from them again. Parking in the area is a bit complicated so arrive with enough time to locate a spot. The location is also a little hole in the wall, hard to spot if you're not keeping your eyes peeled! I also bought a few of their other options to try myself. Don't skip out on the cheesecake! So yummy!

Wonder Food Bakery, Oakland's Chinatown…read more Yes, I'm back again for more goodies! I noticed that their BBQ Pork bun doesn't taste like how it used to be. It used to have a shiny glazed on top, fillings were sweet, juicy and it used to have onions. On that note, it's still good but It's not the same now. I still went back and bought those mini chicken biscuits/ cookies. They're so good! Would come back whenever I'm in the area.

One of the best bakeries in Oakland Chinatown. Incredibly affordable and they have a wide variety…read moreof goods. Egg tarts are $1.75 and pineapple buns are $1.25. Cash only. Service is friendly and they are pretty patient which is nice. I came in with my elderly grandmother and she needed some time thinking about what she wanted. They were gracious. The pineapple buns weren't the freshest on my most recent visit but they were still solid. They have a couple tables inside but this is mostly a to-go spot like the other bakeries in Chinatown.

4.5 Yelp Stars***…read more Saw an IG about the Milk Cloud Fluffy Bread so I decided to come here to try it with my family. Almost everything we tried here was delicious! My toddlers wanted the strawberry creme sandwich. We tried a few in Japan and thought they were only okay. However, the one from Milk Cloud Bakery made a sesame cream to go with the strawberry sandwich, which tasted really good together. We also tried the tamago egg sandwich. It was super tasty and flavorful but did not have enough filling for the thick fluffy bread in between it. It also came with a half ramen egg on top, which was very flavorful and cooked nicely with a yolk jam. The Hong Kong (HK) style pineapple kaya bun filling was quite good. It really smelled like the HK pineapple bun. It was good and not very sweet either. The furikake fluffy bread smelled so good! It was fluffy and moist with savory flavor from the furikake seasoning. It was $11 a bag so quite expensive. My husband and kids liked everything we tried except the genmaicha basque cheesecake. Flavor was strong but it didn't meet our expectations for a delicious smooth and creamy cheesecake. The staff were friendly. One worker took orders, while the other one packed food and another one cooked in the back. Although there was a line when we went, it moved fast. There were also bench chairs outside to eat. The area was located around the block from very good shops including Third Culture. Prices were expensive for what you get. I would still recommend trying the food here, but not often as it was definitely super pricey for the amount of you you get. Total was $57.10 for two fluffy bread, one egg tamago (half sando), one strawberry sando (half), one HK pineapple bun with kaya filling, and one genmaicha basque cheesecake. Several street parking spots.

Cutest little takeout bakery ever!…read more Unfortunately I went a an hour or two after opening and they were already sold out of almost everything! Thankfully, I was able to try the corn and hotdog sando. It had an adorable presentation and plating. They also have the tiniest little wooden utensils to use- really adds to the cute factor here. The sando itself was very nostalgic and simple. I will absolutely be back to try all of their other menu items!

It is truly a privilege to obtain a pastry from Green House…read more Objectively, these the best in the bay, but that's not the whole story. Green House is imbued with the passion and kindness of the woman behind it all (Rachel). I admire her for her dedication, patience, and generosity. She is very clear via IG regarding dates, times, drops, and a la carte items - and yet people continue to be rude/inconsiderate --- looking at you guy that was in line with us when asked if it was your car double parked in front but collected your box and went about without a response. I don't mention this to put this gentleman on blast but to relay that there are ongoing challenges to running a business out of one's home in a neighborhood. Rachel handles this with such grace. I think operating on this small scale is a big piece of what makes Green House so special. It's not just the pastries, but what goes into them and the community. She uses seasonal and home grown ingredients. Frequently other local merchants join in bake/pop up days. A big piece for me, after years of supporting Green House, is coming early to queue and get to know fellow pastry lovers. This is not a chain/box store experience. Is it super fast and convenient? No. But it offers an experience that is much more rare these days. And seriously, the quality of the food is insane. I normally rave on about details but it is not needed here. If you don't believe these are the best pastries or unwilling to invest the time and effort to obtain them ... that's frankly your loss

Have you ever heard of Greenhouse Bakery in Oakland, CA? It's the best kept secret for those with a…read moresweet tooth. Greenhouse Bakery is one of those hidden gems you almost don't want to share because it's that good. Tucked inside the Maxwell District of Oakland, this cottage bakery is run right out of the baker's home. Yes, the house is green. It feels like you're discovering something special every time you score a box. The system is unique: you have to be on the text list to place an order. A couple of days before a bake, you'll get a text with that week's offerings, usually six or seven treats inspired by the season. The catch? You have to be fast because things sell out in minutes. I've only managed to snag six chocolate chip cookies once, and they were gone before I even realized it. But let me tell you, they were worth every second of the scramble. Greenhouse Bakery typically offers pastry boxes on the first and fourth Thursday of each month, with first-come, first-served bake sales on the second Saturday. Everything is crafted with care and creativity, so no matter what's on the menu, you're in for something delicious. Because it's in a residential neighborhood, parking is street-only and it's important to be mindful of the neighbors. The little bit of effort it takes to navigate the system is part of the charm. If you want in, join the text list at GreenhouseBakeryOakland.com or text 858-531-3985. Do yourself a favor and get on it. You'll be glad you did.