This was one of the places on my To Do List for my visit. We got the original, and then the rainbow. Disappointment: They had put four original ones that were hot out of the oven into boxes when I was paying. I requested if I can get one of the hot ones and was turned down. I asked why, and they said they make them in a rotation and couldn't give me a new one. Weird, but I was with my mom and didn't wanna make a big deal out of it. The cakes were good. It was worth the trip, but the customer service could improve. Of all the flavors I disliked the lemon, and the original is my favorite. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Rainbow: lemons, chocolate, coffee, and strawberry - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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YAY! I finally made it to Uncle Tetsu! I asked my good friend to save the day a month in advance and she happily obliged to tackle on that Japanese cheesecake! YMMV, because when we went there was no line. Just gotta get lucky and go on a weekday HAHAHAHA xD Anywho, we got a cheesecake and if you're planning on eating it there, ask them for forks and knives, as they will have plastic ones to give to you. Find a table nearby, take your Instagram or Snapchats of this cheesecake, and after, enjoy~ So when it is hot, you will taste egg. It's like a light, fluffy egg taste and it's delish. However, the more you eat, you're gonna start getting full and it's gonna start getting a little bit sick for you, so that's how even that light fluffy cheesecake reminds you- it's still a cheesecake. It was good going down, but it's probably gonna be more of those "I like it, but I think I'll wait a couple of weeks later to do this again". With the $8.75 price tag attached to it, I think my wallet will agree. If you do decide to save it for a day, I heard you get more of the cheesecake taste when it cools down. And if you do decide "hey I wanna finish one at Uncle Tetsu, make sure you grab a friend!" There might even be a line though, so you might wanna bring someone to chat with~ Limit 1 per customer, unless there's no line. They don't make you go back to the line and purchase it one by one, thank goodness. read more

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Uncle Tetsu was a really fun place to discover, I crossed this food court counter while picking up dinner. The line wasn't too bad, we waited for a few minutes to place our order. I ordered a yuzu (seasonal) cheesecake and two cheese tarts - ube and classic. I brought the desserts home to enjoy, and they were still delicious after a few days. The cheesecake and tarts weren't overly sweet, and both tasted very light. The yuzu cheesecake had a delicate citrus note and the texture was very fluffy and melted in my mouth. The cheese tarts had a firm but soft crust with a soft custard. Everything tasted amazing, I'd definitely try some other flavors when I'm in the area again or to find another uncle tetsu. read more

Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake is part of the Panda Inn Group family, located at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, specifically on the 2nd floor, right next door to Nordstrom and right across from Ding Tai Fung (all in the new Eat ally way). After opening a little over 3 months ago (back in September), the lines have finally died down and the hype is finally over. I came by here last Friday night a little after 9 pm and saw a very short line (only 2 people) and decided to wait to get a cheesecake. Total time it took to buy 2 cheesecakes was 15 minutes (yep from walking over to wait in line to paying and walking away, back to my husband and our little girl dog at a nearby wooden table). Each cheesecake cost $8.75 prior to tax ($9.54 after tax). I have actually had Uncle Tetsu on 2 separate occasions. The first time my mom's employee waited in a long line (during long lines, you are only limited to purchase one cheesecake per family) and bought one for her. My mom then brought half of it home (she shared half with her employees) to share with my husband and I. Then the 2nd time I had it was last Friday. I have tried this Japanese cheesecake right when it was out of the oven and the next day. I have to say that I actually prefer the cheesecake the next day because of the texture and density. Right out of the oven is very soft and fluffy, like a pancake. But it's just a little too soft for me. I have had Japanese cheesecake before at other Asian bakeries around and have to say that Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake is just okay. I honestly have had better (and have also made better too). I do want to mention that I find it really interesting that most of these Yelp reviews keep comparing this cheesecake to the traditional American style cheesecake. They are completely different. You shouldn't compare the two and just try this style of cheesecake with an open mind if you haven't had the Japanese style before (but I do encourage you to seek out other bakeries that sell this style cheesecake). In the end, these cheesecake here is okay but I wouldn't make a special trip to come back. But if someone brought one over to share, I wouldn't object. read more

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Smooth pick-up service and cake tasted great :)

"Let's get two cheesecakes to take home afterwards," (Mom and I were having dinner Din Tai Fung). If I was sitting in a chair, I would have probably toppled over after hearing my Mom say that. However, since we were sitting in a booth, I can only uttered "Really, two?!?" I was definitely surprised to hear her say that, especially, since she's not a fan of sweets. However, my Mom digs Uncle Tetsu Cheesecakes because it's not overly sweet, easy to eat and digest, and she can divide the cakes up into small pieces so that she can savor a small piece each day (she's diabetic). The last time we had Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake was September 2016. I remembered waiting in line for 45mins on a Friday after work to get JUST ONE original cheesecake when Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake was brand new, and the lines were hella long. Fast forward two years now, the hype has died down, you can get as many cheesecakes as you like and the waiting in line is no longer than 10mins. In addition, they also added three new flavors: Coffee, Matcha Green Tea and Strawberry. We ended up getting the latter of the two because I couldn't decide on just one flavor, and so my Mom said get two to try because the cheesecakes are small anyways (Woohoo!). Prices have also gone up $1.05. Now, it's $9.80 as opposed to $8.75 back then. Flavor-wise: I preferred the Strawberry and Mom prefers the Matcha Green Tea. The Strawberry cheesecake was too sweet for my Mom since they used strawberry liquid flavoring. She thought they incorporated fresh or frozen strawberry slices. As for me, I loved it (then again, strawberry was always my favorite fruit of choice growing up, lol!) It was definitely a little sweeter than the Matcha Green Tea and fluffier. As for the Matcha Green Tea, my Mom likes this one more than I did. This one is gentler tasting, diabetic friendlier and creamier. I've also noticed that this one tasted creamier since it was in the fridge longer. Definitely, the Matcha Green Tea cheesecake is best served chilled. Overall, two years later and I'm still a fan of this place. The texture and taste are still consistent and delicious as ever, which bounces it up to Five Stars now! I'll definitely be back for more! read more

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I cant believe that FINALLY i had the chance to try Uncle Tetsu cheesecake.. It was one of my foodie dream after i was watching all its instagram photos and videos plus yelp reviews. Thanks God i didn't have to wait in the line and i got mine very quickly and fresh as i came their on Friday at working hours.. It's so light, Fluffy, soft and cheesy It melts in your mouth very smoothly.. It feels like spongy cloud cake.. :) I have tried when it's still fresh and hot and also when it's cold.. both ways was so tasty and delicious, but i preferred it cold as it gives you different flavor.. I'm not disappointed at all and it's worth driving long distance to try it.. read more

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Pretty good cheesecake but so not worth standing in line for 2-3 hours just to get one. My suggestion is if you are in the area and have a few hours to kill while foreseeing a craving for dessert, then this is perfect for you. Otherwise, if you need to have something sweet to satisfy your craving right now, then this is not for you. read more

Uncle Tetsu - An original cheesecake with some bites taken out of it - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I got the three for $12 special. They are really clean using gloves and cookie sheets. I stumbled across this bakery as I was waiting for the ding tai fun next door. I ordered a matcha, original, and chocolate. I enjoyed the original cheesecake the most but if you are a matcha fan the matcha cheesecake is delicious too. They don't expect a tip and there are plenty of tables to enjoy your bake goods. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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It is inside the food court next to Nashville Jay's Bird Chicken. They have very simple menu that you can snap from your phone. Fluffy and very light delicacy. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original Cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

It is located inside the mall's new food alley. Close to din tai Fung. It's always have a line in front of them when it first open. Now the line is just short and service is fast. A few cheesecake to pick from, original, strawberry, matcha(I believe). It's Japanese cheesecake. NOT NY cheesecake. That means the cheese is all blended inside the cake. There is NO crust, just a soft cheesy spongy cake. I guess that I am not a big fan of these cheesecake. It's light, yes. It's not that sweet, yes. But it is not that cheesy though. I guess that even for Japanese cheesecake, I am looking for that sharp sweetened cheese flavor to entertain my taste bud. And it was not there. Three stars because most of the bakery can deliver this kind of texture and taste, JJ bakery tastes similar and lot cheaper. They only sell the cake in whole. Not too big, but not small either. For ppl like me that just want a little taste is it (same as my family), we just end up with a large piece of leftover that no one want. I wish they can have smaller size or sampler size for different flavor. Will I return? Probably not. But it's personal though, I enjoy cheesecake in Cheesecake Factory more than Japanese cheesecake. But if you love those kind of cheesecake, that would be a nice place to try. read more

UNCLE TETSU is the homie! I LOVE Japanese cheesecake. Like alot. Japanese cheesecake is very different than what most people are used to when it comes to traditional cheesecake. Instead of all that rich cream cheese, Japanese cheesecake is a baked, light and fluffy cake of amazingness. Think of a spongecake or a pound cake-- Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake pairs perfectly with a hot coffee or tea. My visit to Uncle Tetsu's was on a Saturday. I was certain that there was going to be a crazy long line but to my surprise there was one person in line. Woo! Not sure if that is always good luck or a sign to save my calories but I did just drive all the way over here so I was willing to believe that this was my lucky day. I went with the original cheesecake (gotta stick to the basics) even though the coffee one was calling my name. The display case was set up to make me want them all. They also had cookies and other small baked goods but I had tunnel vision with that cheesecake in my mind. Cheesecake. Cheesecake. Cheesecake. Service was quick and there was available seating right in front, so we took a seat and dug our forks right in. The packaging was fancy and the stamping on top of the cheesecake was adorable. Between four people we were able to finish one cheesecake without a food coma. Definitely a dessert to share! I'll definitely be back to try the other flavored cheesecakes. Even my mom who bakes a mean Japanese cheesecake thoroughly enjoyed it! If you want to be the MVP at any work potluck or family dinner, I suggest picking up one of these bad boys. read more

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The bakery is inside the Westfield Santa Anita mall. If you want to try it and don't want to wait a RIDICULOUS amount of time go during a week day. I came on a Wednesday around 430pm and there was absolutely no line. I passed by a few times during the weekend and the line would wrap around, for what it seems like for DAYS. Okay, throughout the entire time I had to keep reminding myself that this is a JAPANESE cheesecake not your typical good ol american version. Most asian cakes are always lighter and not as sweet as american versions so I kept that in mind when I tried this for the first time. OVERHYPED is the first word that came to mind after my first bite. It looks delicious, cute, and extremely instagrammable. It is more of a cheesecake flavored spongecake in my opinion. It is very airy and super fluffy. It completely reminds of me of a cake my grandparents and parents would absolutely LOVE because the amount of sweetness is perfect for them. However, when I think of cheesecake I think of more the traditional graham cracker crusted cream cheesiness. I see how people would like this type of cheese cake but for me, it was just okay. Price point wise it is affordable ~$10 and good to bring for a get together with friends, wine night for ladies night, and even as a dinner gift to bring back to in-laws/parents. However, if I had to wait 2 hours for this cheesecake, I would think it is not worth it. Overall, I think 3 stars is fair. I would probably never want to wait in line to get this cheesecake so I wouldn't say I'm a fan, therefore I give it an A-Ok. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Yeah yeah yeah, "it's all about the hype" and waiters be haters. BUT I LOVE THIS CHEESECAKE. Not everyone will love this cheesecake especially if you're not Asian. It is so light and fluffy it compares nothing to the American dense stuff. Not to mention we live in a world where desserts are so sweet we make that the norm. This cake breaks that pattern. The wait can be a killer. If you hate waiting like me, DON'T GO ON THE WEEKENDS. I went on a Wednesday 3pm and it was 25 minutes. Made the line twice for 2 cakes as gifts. Each cake is almost $10 inc tax. Not cheap, but the cake is great and I would buy it weekly if I didn't care about my pancreas and love handles were in style. Tip: Cakes are warm just purchased. But it tastes much better after you put it in the refrigerator!!! read more

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Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecakes are the best! I love the lightness and fluffiness of the cake. It's not overly sweet compared to American Cheesecakes. My family got the Original Cheesecake, Matcha, Ube, and Coffee. We also got the Original and Matcha Cheese Tart.Every Cheesecake flavor is unique and delicious. The tarts are super rich and creamy. Love this place! read more

always good ~^^~ taste never changed i d recommend UBE cake and cheesetella, both r their pop ones . read more

After an amazing lunch at Din Tai Fung, I decided to give Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake a try. The small shop is located down the hall from the restaurant which is really convenient. I discovered the place the other day while having lunch next door at Side Kick and saw the long lines. Unfortunately, I had to go back to work and missed the opportunity. Today, the lines were short so the opportunity presented itself. The cheesecakes come fresh out of the oven and baked in small batches of dozen which is the reason for long lines. Once the batch of cakes are gone, you need to wait for next batch come out of oven. Not a good and efficient process. Only good thing about this purchase ordeal is they limit one cheesecake per person...prevents hoarders. Before sold they're branded with their company logo and packed immediately into a red box. I actually waited a good 25 minutes before I got mine and paid $8.75. Kind of pricey for something small and light. I was disappointed when I tried them at home, that really chaps my hide. I'm sorry, but when it comes to cheesecake, I'm conventional. I want my cheesecake classic - delicate, sweet, creamy and a bit lemony. Simple and elegant like cheesecake was meant to be. These cakes don't even come close. I'm used to having it dense, sweet and lots of flavor. They were bland and light like a sponge cake and hardly sweet. The fact that they call it cheesecake is illegal. Quality of their cakes is another issue. While I was watching staff remove cakes from the pan, one of the girls accidentally broke a small piece off a cake. She put it back on like it was okay and no one noticed. It should have gone to bad batch section or in the trash. Good thing I saw it because she tried to sell it to me, I told her that I didn't want a defective one and ended up getting a good one. This place is definitely over-hype. I'm a cheesecake lover and this should not be called cheesecake at all. It's more like a sponge cake so you're better off going 85 Degrees, Paris Baguette or JJ Bakery. You want good cheesecake go to Cheesecake Factory. Never again! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Thanks Uncle Tetsu for cheesecake. - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Uncle Testu appeared on my feed as a hot and new business opening in the Santa Anita mall. The idea of a Japanese cheesecake sounded amazing since I am usually a fan of Japanese baked goods. Their description of it is something like the fluffiness of a French souffle with the richness of an American cheesecake. I agree that it was fluffy and rich, but fluffy like a sponge cake and with little to no resemblances to an American cheesecake. Limit to 1 per customer -- Be ready to get in line!! Apparently this is the latest spot to wait in long lines for an overhyped new product. Their production seems to be backed up. When we went they would sell a batch of 12 at the time with about 13-15 minutes in between each batch. The line didn't even look too long but it took up about an hour wait to get our Japanese Cheesecake ($8.75/each). The product itself is cute with an Uncle Tetsu stamped onto the top of their Japanese Cheesecake and the packaging is nice too. My first bite into the actual product was anticlimactic... Not that it was bad... but it was just not that great. I can see how some people can like that it is less sweet compared to a typical dessert and all fluffy, but I feel like I would get the same amount of satisfaction for a simple sponge cake that is cheaper without the long line. My buddy I waited in line with was also as unimpressed as I was. I think it was worth trying at least once, but I'm not in a rush to come back at all. I went on a weekday and the line didn't even look bad and it took forever, I don't even want to imagine coming here on a weekend or during peak hours. I recommend bringing along good company for such a long wait, especially since an extra person waiting with you means you can buy another cheesecake. read more

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I had heard about the Japanese cheesecakes from several people who had gone to Japan and waited in hour long lines just to get one of these signature cheesecakes. So when I was at the mall and saw no line around 830pm on a Saturday night I had to stop and try one. I got just a regular cheesecake and while I was waiting I saw them rolling marshmallows in chocolate chip cookie dough and so I grabbed one of the finished products too. I was quite disappointed with the cheesecake, it tasted eggy and more like spongy bread and it did not get better the next day or day after. The cookie with melted marshmallow on top was sweet and delicious. I would not get the cheesecake again but I would grab another cookie. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original cheesecake, seemed more like sponge cake/sweet bread than cheesecake. - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

The closest you'll ever get to getting a taste of Japan's dessert goodness (that is, if you're never planning to travel to Japan). After all the hype that was created from the video of the "jiggling cheesecakes" from Japan, I was a bit sad to know that I wouldn't be able to get to try it anytime soon. BUT amazingly, an article was published that stated that they would have a shop selling the famous Japanese cheesecakes in Arcadia! And when I looked it up - I saw that it had already opened! Uncle Tetsu's is located in Westfield's new "Food Alley," a place that features 7 new eateries - located next to Nordstrom and Din Tai Fung on the second floor. My friend had just come back from Japan and was able to try Uncle Rikuro, the cheesecakes featured in that viral video, but she told me that Uncle Tetsu is another rival cheesecake shop in Japan - the main difference is that Uncle Rikuro has raisins on the bottom of their cheesecake. We were both curious to see how this CA's Uncle Tetsu would fare in comparison to her very vivid memories of Uncle Rikuro in Japan. You probably WON'T miss Uncle Tetsu due to the humongous line of patrons waiting eagerly for some cheesecake. We came at around 8:30 on a Saturday night and were among the last few that were guaranteed a cheesecake for that day. And the line is even crazier now that more and more people are aware of this place. They only have a certain number of ovens where they can bake a limited amount of cheesecakes. Thus maybe about 20 cheesecakes are served per round of baking (and some guests might purchase 4 or 5 cheesecakes at once). I don't know if they've executed their "fresh" and "not fresh" line, but I believe they plan to have 2 lines where in one, guests can wait for a fresh cheesecake while in the other, guests can purchase older cheesecakes that have been refrigerated for awhile. Trust me, you're going to want to try the FRESH ones. It makes a difference. So I waited in line for about an hour. The line experience isn't too bad as the workers come by with samples of their cheesecake, green milk tea, and green tea every so often. You're also able to hear the bell ring as they stamp the trademark logo on the cheesecakes. After getting the cake, my friend and I immediately headed to an empty table to take a few bites out of it while it was fresh. I was able to eat the cake 3 separate times: once when it was fresh out of the oven, once after it had been sitting in room temperature for several hours, and the last taken out of the fridge. FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN: You MUST try the cheesecake when it's fresh out of the oven. If you're waiting in line to buy one as a gift to a friend, you might as well buy another one for yourself because it's THAT good fresh. It didn't look that great, quite bland colored and small for $8.75. It also looked a bit dense, but the minute you put that cheesecake in your mouth - yes, you see fireworks! It really does melt in your mouth. So buttery, light, and fresh that you could probably finish the whole cake in one sitting and not even feel sorry that you ate it all! Imagine walking on these beautiful clouds but having that fluffiness in your mouth. Having it warm and fresh out of the oven - even though it's probably made out of a ton of butter, it tasted so light that it's kind of paradoxical. A little regretful that we only bought 1 to split. SITTING IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: We ended up returning to the cheesecake after dinner. It was still soft, but nothing like what it was when we first tried it. If you're expecting that dense and heavy American cheesecake flavor - nope, this is Japanese cheesecake, so it's much more buttery and light. The cake became a bit more dense and not as soft to eat, but the flavor was still good. SITTING IN THE FRIDGE FOR 2 DAYS: So I still had a piece of the cheesecake left a few days later. After it's been sitting in the fridge, the cheesecake becomes similar to the Japanese cheesecakes you find at the Asian bakeries. It's no longer soft and fluffy, but much more dense -- almost like a pound cake. It still tastes great (according to my parents), but it's definitely much better to eat it fresh. tl;dr - Can't believe I wrote an essay about just 1 item. But if you're into desserts, you're going to want to try this cheesecake. Their milk green tea is also very good and fairly priced as well! I would hope that one day they'll start accepting phone orders, but with the long lines, I'm pretty sure that is not possible. Like other reviewers have mentioned, if they use all of their ovens, they can probably get through the line a lot faster! But at $8.75 for a little slice of heaven knowing that I'm not going to Japan anytime soon, I wouldn't mind waiting in line for another one of Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake. read more

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I've passed this little shop tons of times. There had always been a line longer than what I'd be willing to wait through. Last night I stopped by and there was NO line. So, it was the very first time that I'd purchased a cheesecake from here. I took it home to share with the family. We all agreed, it was that slight bit of sweet that we expected from a traditional Japanese dessert. It was light and fluffy. It was perfect sized for sharing. I donated my change to the Children's Miracle Network. If you are looking for a traditional cheesecake that is sweet, dense and packed with tons of flavor then go to Cheesecake Factory. This is NOT what you are looking for. This cheesecake is light and fluffy, barely sweet at all and won't weigh you down. I wasn't pleased completely with the service. I was waiting to be helped. I was not only over looked but I was also given a horribly pissy attitude from one of the girls that works there. I asked if their cookies and cream cookie were soft or the hard and crunchy type. She looked at me, rolled her eyes and gave me a rather F-ed up look for having asked such a question. That was NOT the response I was looking for and she couldn't answer my question, it seemed. She said something like, "It depends on who you are." Umm, that doesn't help. Needless to say, I was NOT pleased with my in-store experience but I was pleased with the product, at least the cheesecake. $10.40 for one cheesecake. It serves at least 5 people. read more

Omgggg seriously basic af! Thank goodness I came at an off hour and only had to wait for 15 minutes, or else I'd have been pissed. One cheesecake per person (unless there's no line), each priced at $8.75. They also sell a small variety of drinks, cookies n cream cookies ($1), twice baked biscotti, and one other bakery item I can't recall right now. The cheesecake really is a cross between a sponge cake and a cheesecake. The texture and consistency of it is exactly like a soft sponge cake... the cheesecake part of it is a SLIGHT cheesecake taste. It's super light and fluffy, and the cheesecake taste is barely there in my opinion. I won't be back for more... read more

Uncle Tetsu - Decor - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

So rumor is that this is only the second location in the US. First one is in Honolulu. We, here in SoCal, are graced with the 2nd. With such limited access and the spread on social media, it's no wonder the lines exceeded 2 hours on opening week. 2 hours! I'm sure they were all indepently wealthy, didn't need to work and have no where else to be. After doing some shopping in the mall recently, we went up to the 2nd level and behold, a short line (about a dozen peeps deep) Sure what the heck, I'll join the rest of humanity and wait for food that's not necessary for me to stay alive. The line was moving rather quickly, and when it got down to 6 ahead of us, the employee announced that there will be a 6 minute wait for the next batch to come out of the oven. So there we waited, in silence, staring at the employees' every move & trying to read the timer on the oven (I'm joking) After they come out of the oven, there's more waiting. They need to cool before being very delicately removed from the pan into the box. Then, there's the branding of the logo (nice touch) We brought two home and declined the obligatory selfies in front of the box holding up the peace sign (Asian thang). They were still warm and pillowy soft. The first bite was full of anticipation, but honestly ... my very first thought was " that's it? " It's light, fluffy, creamy and mildly sweet. Unlike American cheesecakes where you're guaranteed to shoot up your sugar level, these hardly have the texture that resembles a cheesecake, more like a steamed egg or firm tofu. We placed the rest in the fridge to keep in as fresh as possible. The next day, it was much better served cool. It's firmer, better texture. My SO loves it and feels it's absolutely worth the 15+ minute wait. I'll gladly wait in line with her, but I personally have no cravings for it. Notes: The two stores currently in the US are majority owned by the Panda Group, as in Panda Express Limit one per person. There are signs everywhere. $8.75 each Next to Din Tai Fun on the 2nd floor, near Nordstrom. Original is currently the only flavor. They may add more in the future. If you have no idea what a Japanese cheesecake is, just get one to try before commiting. Weekdays have shorter lines. Weekends are nuts They keep for a few days if fridged, according to employee. I haven't tested it yet, and it might not last a few days. ( Update: 10/13/16. For me, it became better after a few days in the fridge. The consistency firmed up a bit and just tasted better. ) read more

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Ok, I think I got a LITTLE excited I bought 6 boxes. I mean, granted - we were in the area and I did stop at the mall for this. Not to mention, we were going to visit other people as we traveled through CA. Maybe I let it sit too long and the moisture made it wet. But it was not as good as the sample. Lesson learned, only good if you're going to have it right away. They cook 5 diff flavors. Green tea, strawberry, original, coffee and chocolate. They don't sell slices unfortunately. I think it would be awesome for someone who doesn't want to buy a whole cake. But it's still yummy. I have only ever had the original, definitely want to go back for the rest. read more

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The wait is finally over!!! I finally got to try this cheesecake that everyone is talking about! How does it taste? Is it worth it? Would I go again? First of all, this little bakery is hidden upstairs located right next to Nordstrom's and din tai Fung( still inside the mall location) Luckily, well no, I purposely drove to Arcadia mall to get this! I got off work, got in my car and drove over here to get it. I have been wanting to try this and finally got the chance to come. When I got there I still had to still wait in line on a weeknight! Waited about 20 minutes to get mine. They only come out 12 per time so you have to wait if they run out. Think the wait time for that is about 15 minutes or less? *only one per person* so if you want to get more have your friends/family line up to get one. *highly recommend coming on weeknights instead. If you are here during weekends, don't bother to get it unless you want to wait over an hour! This cheesecake is very light and fluffy like everyone says. Like a typical Asian style sponge cake, which I like because I grew up with it. Smells very good because of the egg. But sadly no cheese taste. Once you bite into it, it's very spongy. I wanted to eat more than one piece! I had to share it with my family. Am I gonna go back? YES! But don't think I will wait over an hour for this. Each cake cost almost $10. So maybe if I was craving for some a new spongy cake, I'll come by and get some. But next time I'm not coming alone! read more

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I had heard of Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake for a long time already but until when I went to this mall where there is one location, I must check it out. I only had the cheese tart and original cheesecake. The cheese tarts also caught my eyes when I was looking at the samples of their cheesecakes so I knew that I needed to try one as well. It's actually pretty good but I prefer their cheesecakes. The cheesecake is so light and fluffy. Its taste is really subtle compared to US cheesecake. I literally feel like I can eat it everyday. And I love how they also show many ways you can eat and how long to store the cheesecakes on the little paper thingy. I would love to try all of their cheesecake flavors!! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original Cheesecake (right) and Cheese Tart (left) - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Okay, I knew what I was getting myself into. I saw the line and it wasn't that bad. I waited a total of 20 minutes. It was worth it. I love Japanese cheesecake. It's nothing like the dense american kind, at all. I immediately ate a piece when I got home 15 minutes later, and it was still warm, fluffy, and had kind of a moist texture in the middle. I enjoyed it immensely. THEN the next day, after taking it out of the fridge, the texture changed and it was even better!! I went to town on that cake at that point. It became a little denser but the flavor developed a little more. Oh man, next time I would just eat it refrigerated. While in line, I think most of their ovens were burning. It looked like 5/6 ovens were on? Again, I didn't feel like the wait was too bad. The price is steep; it's nearly $10 for a 6-7 inch cake. However, it's still a treat and would make great gifts! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I recommending coming early on a weekday before work or school. I came at 10:30AM on a Tuesday and the wait time was about 20 minutes. I reallyyyyyy enjoyed Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake. When it is hot, it is soooo soft and melts in your mouth. When hot, it has a subtle eggy flavor kind of like Chinese sponge cake. When it is cooled, it has more texture and is creamier like cheesecake. Most of my family and friends preferred it cold. It is light and airy and dangerous. I can probably eat a full two cheesecakes in one sitting, so i guess it is a good thing they have a per person limit. In my opinion, I don't think this is worth an hour wait... but it is definitely worth a 30 minute wait. ^__^ I had to call them and ask how to care for these delicate precious cheesecakes because it wasn't listed anywhere on the receipt or box-- Cheesecake Care Instructions: Refrigerate after 8 hours or right away (if preferred). The cheesecakes will be good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. read more

Walked by this super popular Japanese cheesecake place and saw there was barely anyone in line so we decided to get one to try. It took us about 5 minutes. Now, for those who are not familiar with Japanese cheese cakes, this not your Cheesecake Factory or NY type cheesecake. It is also not a sponge cake. It is more like a cream cheese infused dense soufflé. While this cheesecake was airy and light and the flavor was decent, it didn't blow me away. I definitely wouldn't wait in a long line for it. I've had better in Japan. If you prefer a denser version you can try the one at JJ Bakery. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I love Uncle Tetsu cheesecake. It is light and more like a sponge cake. It's not heavy like American style cheesecake. It's also not overly sweet, perfect those of us who want a treat without too much sweetness. It hits the spot. read more

Amazing Japanese cheesecakes! How did it take me this long to discover these light, bouncy, fluffy, melt in your mouth cakes from heaven?!! Located inside the Santa Anita mall next to din tai fung in Arcadia, the line for these cheesecakes and the wait can get pretty long, since they make them fresh. They are so fresh that you see the workers put the cakes in the oven to bake, take them out, brand them, and box them. Most people love the original, which I do too, but my current favorite flavors is the coffee and their limited time strawberry ones. read more

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They now have a new seasonal cherry blossom flavor cheesecake which the sample was offered for try out ran out. I asked the staff if they would offer more samples to try this new flavor and was told by the staff that I need to wait for 5-7 mins because the cakes need to cool down before serve. So I come back after 10 mins there are still nothing is offered. Kind the disappointment. Maybe they don't seem to like offer. read more

omg soooo good and even BETTER when there is no wait!!! I came here yesterday to pick up two cheesecakes for a (post)-Thanksgiving Dinner and since i'm not from the area I had to really do my research to find a good place to buy my small contribution to dinner! Pros: - No line!! Even on Black Friday!! Gotta be amazing - Super light and fluffy..but you have to understand that Japanese cheesecake is more spongey and cake-like than your usual cheesecake! Set those expectations!! - Hella cheap! One size and only $10! - Huge hit at the party I went to..all the Asian parents got seconds!! that's how you know its legit! Cons: None! Thats why it for 5 stars from me! Helpful hint: Even though their matcha is the second most popular...just go with their original flavor! It's the best and caters to more people! :) read more

I bought original and matcha flavor from Westfield shopping center in Santa Clara yesterday. The original flavor looks fresh, but the matcha does not. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Every time I pass by this bakery near Nordstrom and right behind DTF, there is a long line. I figured it must be a good dessert option. Then finally I was here on Saturday afternoon and the line was non existent. So I was like sure why not. I've been curious about the hype from these Japanese cheesecakes. They have 4 flavors available: original, strawberry, matcha, and chocolate. Uncle Tetsu cheesecakes are freshly baked on site. You can smell the aroma when they unload the cake from the aluminum pan into the carry out boxes. It's not available by the slice so you have to purchase the whole cheesecake which is enough for two. I think it's pricey at $9 for a small size. I've been eyeing the matcha cheesecake for awhile. The last time I was there it was sold out. I was lucky this time. It was nice and warm right out of the oven. I took one bite and it was fluffy and moist with a different texture different than the typical cheesecake. It tastes like sponge cake. I thought it was good but it wasn't anything that special. I don't think it's something I would crave often. Who knows you might like it! If not, they also have other pastries: cheese tarts, cookies, and madeleines. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Not your typical cheesecake. ~Uncle Tetsu's matcha cheesecake is delish! Moist and not overly sweet! - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I'm not a fan of cheesecakes. I've seen YouTube videos of Japanese cheesecake and they look so good. So I decided to give Uncle Tetsu a try. I ordered the original flavor. It was so delicious. I really like the texture. It wasn't too sweet, which I like. Can't wait to come back and the other flavors. read more

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This is my first time trying it and it has a different taste than what I had imagined. This Japanese Cheesecake is known for their "jigglyness". We came around 2pm on a Saturday. The line was so long. We waited 1 hour for them to take our order. They make it in batches. So 12 batches comes out of the oven fresh and ready to be packaged. Some ppl buy two and that is the maximum you can buy if the line is long during the weekends. I've got to say I should have, but of course being the first time. I just wanted to try it first. I found it really cool how they stamp the logo on the cheese cake. It was kinda mesmerizing to watch. When I first bite into it, it was so soft. It was good, but I thought it would be cheesier. More like a cheese cake. Or if you ever been to those asian markets (99 Ranch market) where they sell cheese cake, I thought it would taste like those. This Japanese cheese cake isn't as creamy as I thought and isn't as cheesecake taste as I would have liked. However, it did have very light sweet cheesecake taste and very soft when chewing. TBH, I'm not sure if I would wait 1 hour to get it. Maybe if I do come by here again, if there's no lines, then I would get one again. But, waiting 1 hour to get it.... Probably not. read more

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These Japanese style cheesecakes are super light, soft, and fluffy. The flavor of cream cheese is very light and the additional flavors like ube, matcha, etc were all subtle as well. These cakes are super easy to eat because it's not heavy like regular cheesecakes. The basque cheesecakes tasted like regular cheesecakes to me. Service is quick and friendly read more

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Yes yes yes. I am way too happy that this place opened up at the mall only 5 minutes away from where I live. If I had all the time in the world, I would come and wait in this line every single day. The cheesecake here is not traditional cheesecake and it is definitely not comparable to any others. American cheesecake is a lot creamier and thicker, but at this store, the cheesecake is light and fluffy - just how I like my desserts. Another thing, it's not that sweet, which is a huge plus for me. I appreciate that this store is so close - every SGVer needs to try! read more

Uncle Tetsu - The absolute best cheesecake I've ever had - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Thought I love cheesecakes but when I had Japanese cheesecake... that was a game changer. The flavor is amazing, the design is beautiful, the wiggle is majestic, the price is decent. If you go to certain uncle tetsu they have certain flavors that other ones don't. Such as strawberry, and green tea. Highly recommended if you never tried, you missing out. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California