Visited on a Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. Service here is nice and fast. It's a small open store front you can see the workers making the cake in the back. I got to try a sample of the original Japanese cheesecake before ordering. I was sold from the sample and got a whole original Japanese cake ($12 for the whole cake), and 2 mini cheese tarts one was original and one was ube flavored ($4 each). The whole cheesecake was good, moist, not too sweet, and it was beautifully colored a picture perfect cake. After a few bites it got tiring to eat. I was over it. I wish the sold slices or smaller cake sizes. The cheese tarts are so good and my favorite, highly recommended! I would definitely come back and get more. They were more flavorful than the cake and a good size to satisfy cravings. I loved both the ube and original flavor. Side note: The packaging for the cake is so simple and delicate and the bag is so cute! read more

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I'm soooo happy that Uncle Tetsu is closer to me now!! Cheese tarts - delicious just how I remembered them to be. 4 for $16, my friends think they're a bit pricey, but I say they are well worth it. Strawberry cheesecake - soft, moist, sweet, taste like a strawberry cloud. Original cheesecake - soft, moist, also like a cloud. I personally like this better bc I'm basic lol. 10/10 will always come back. P.S. they only take card payments only for now. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Cheese tarts - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So fluffy and light! And I love that it is not too sweet. Prices have stayed relatively consistent over the years which is nice as well! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original Japanese cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Move over, Cheesetella, Uncle Tetsu is now in town! I've been eagerly waiting for them to open. And oh boy, they did not disappoint! They had original and ube cheesecake samples at the counter and of course they won me over with the ube. It was so soft and moist, it literally melts in your mouth. It's so close to home and work, I might be dropping by every week to get my Japanese cheesecake fix! Can't wait to try the other flavors! read more

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Alright this is hands down some of the softest cheesecake I have ever tasted. I got an ad about this place via the Yelp app and decided to check it out after having some awesome ramen at mitsuwa. Located in a plaza with plenty of delicious restaurants it was easy to find some parking since it wasn't really rush hour time. Just be warned this plaza gets busy! We walk in and I ask the cashier what would be a good recommendation for first timers. She said either the seasonal flavor or the original. She was really helpful! I decided to get the Oreo while my cousin got the original. We went home and decided to dig in. They offered a free sample too at the place and honestly... this is some of the best cheesecake I've ever had. The Oreo one has a giant baked Oreo in it too. While the original flavor is great for first timers I would highly recommend the Oreo flavor! They were sold out of 2 flavors which one of them I did want but that's alright. They are priced $12 for the cheesecake which is a good bang for your buck! Overall, I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for a delicious and light desert! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Oreo cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Yum! Located inside a large shopping plaza so plenty of free parking available. They even have a cute communal area on the side with benches where you can enjoy your cheesecake. They are $13 each and super fluffy, light and absolutely melt in your mouth delicious! The Oreo and classic were delicious. I can't wait to try all the flavors. Even though they look large like a mini cake, they're actually very airy. Four kids can easily devour one cake, and may actually not even be enough. They're not too sweet, creamy and perfect. They have the original, coffee, strawberry, Oreo, ube, and pandan. They also offer the burnt basque cheesecake: ube, original, apple. They have smaller cheese tarts and cookies as well. They're packaged in cute boxes. Perfect for gifting! read more

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We were on the way home from shopping, after getting gas for the car we searched up places for desserts and found a close by Uncle Tetsu near South Coast Plaza. Always like good soft and creamy Japanese cheese cakes. There wasn't a line but there was a constant flow of customers going in and out of the bakery. We have purchased 3 cheese cakes and tarts to go. We selected Original, Matcha, and Ube. For Tarts we pick cheesecake, and match the flavor. Our favorite is always the original Uncle Tetsu cheese cake. Ube is the 2nd choice and then the matcha. If you like French Fouffles, Uncle Tetsu has perfectly mixed it with American Cheesecake and made it soft, fluffy and creamy at the same time. Very bites are an enjoyment. There are 11 locations in California which is great since one is very close to home. read more

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Like most people I have seen the jiggly cheesecake videos on Instagram or TikTok and really wanted to try one. This place has parking which is easy, it's just off the 405 and Bristol so easy to get to. The service was great for us. We tried the Apple Pie style and it is very good... the texture is light and fluffy with a flavoring rather than a heap of apples. Would be great with a cinnamon ice cream. 23 bucks for a desert you don't have to make and it's really good! Serves 6 . read more

They have all the flavors available here. They even had samples out for you to try! Oreo and original uncle is phenomenal. Service is great as I called in advance to make sure they had the cake I wanted and they served me the freshest one. Ambiance is clean, and I would definitely come back! read more

The best dessert! So light and dangerously delicious! Cost not bad for a full cake! A definite must have! We always at least get the strawberry and one more, the taro and Oreo are yummy as well! Service is quick when you know what you want, and they are friendly there. Sometimes they may have tasters of flavors only sometimes. Call ahead and check if they have the flavor you want. Sometimes they run out quick, or may not have your flavor that day. Plenty of parking in the area. read more

First time trying this and it was really interesting. The cheesecake was really good size and tough to finish but probably great for a family or party or something where there are more people. We chose the Brûlée and it was excellent. My partner wasn't a fan of the subtle lemon under flavor but I loved it. We couldn't finish it because it was so rich but would definitely come back again!! read more

Cute shop with variety of Japanese cheesecake flavors~ Glad they finally made one in OC! Uncle tetsu makes Japanese Style Cheesecake and tarts. The shop is located in a small plaza, close to Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa. They have a good selection of flavors, some of them not available when we went. We got the original cheesecake ($12) and two original cheese tarts ($4 each). Cheese tarts were super creamy with a good crust, would have liked it if if was less sweet but overall solid pastry. The cheesecake was bomb! Super light and fluffy, not heavy and sweet like American cheesecake. Overall very satisfied by the purchase. Would love to try other flavors my next visit~ read more

Uncle Tetsu - Chez tarts - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Uncle Tetsu (or Tetsu Ojisan) is based out of Fukuoka, Japan, and now has chains all over the world. My first experience with their cheesecake was in Toronto a few years back, so I was excited when I heard they were opening one in Orange County. Of course, knowing myself, it ended up taking a whole year to actually make a visit. This is located in the strip mall at the corner of Bristol Street and Paularino Avenue. Be careful not to turn into the Oilstop, which is at the actual corner. Drive pass that and then turn into the parking lot entrance. The parking lot is a decent size, but can get packed, especially in the evening as there are plenty of sit-down places to eat such as Hakata Ikkousha, Anjin, and Capital Noodle Bar. There's also sweets like Dough & Arrow, 7 Leaves (sweet drinks and macarons), and this place. I ordered the strawberry cheesecake and oreo cheesecake ($13.00ea), and one of each flavor of the cheese tarts (original, chocolate, ube and matcha, $4.50ea). I initially wanted to try the chocolate cheesecake, but was told that it's seasonal, although it's listed on their online menu. I should've asked when it'll be available. They did have the coffee cheesecake, which I'm hoping to try next time (hopefully it'll still be available then). The cheese tarts were good! The crust had the perfect crunchiness, and stayed that way even though I had it in the fridge for a couple of hours. The cheese filling didn't get hard either and was creamy. I could taste each of the flavor with a subtle hint of cheese. My favorites were the original and ube. They're about 3-inches in diameter. The strawberry cheesecake was very subtle in flavors, both cheese and strawberry. One of my kids like this one, and the other one liked the oreo cheesecake. I also preferred the oreo cheesecake, even though I'm usually not an oreo (or cookies & cream) person. The cheesecakes are about 6-inches in diameter. They were perfectly soft and spongy. Just a note, this type of Japanese cheesecake is veeery subtle in flavor and not overly sweet. My kids and I like them, but hubs not so much (he thinks they're bland). If anything, the tarts have more flavor (and the basque cheesecake when available). read more

Uncle Tetsu - Top left clockwise: chocolate, original, ube, and matcha cheese tarts - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I was so excited to try Uncle Tetsu, and I'm so happy I got to try it. I have tried the ube one, the OG one, and the pandan one. Of all of those, my favorite one is the pandan one because I love the distinct but not overly powering flavor of it! The ube one and the OG one are also pretty good, but pandan takes the taste for me. It is so light, soft and fluffy. Definitely recommend! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I came here a bit late around 6pm and they didn't give out anymore samples. The seasonal cheesecake right now is black sesame but they didn't bake anymore of those at that time. The cashier guy is very nice and help me pick out the cheesecake. It was my first time here so I got the original to be safe since it's the most popular. Their cheesecake is not sweet in my opinion but it's very soft and will melt in your mouth. The place is very clean and service is fast. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Was shopping at South Coast Plaza nearby and had to stop by- this place has been on my list for awhile now. One cheesecake is 13 dollars, and it's nicely sized. Super fluffy and light - not like a typical cheesecake at all. I got the Oreo flavor . I don't think I'd be back to get this again but it's good to try! read more

The original Japanese cheesecake is SOOOO delicious, it's so airy light and fluffy and not too sweet. It has the perfect amount of cheese where I could taste it but it wasn't overpowering. The Oreo was delicious as well but the Oreo flavor was very subtle so I enjoyed the original much more. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I am not a sweets person, nor do I like traditional cheesecake but my friend came here and got the original and the Oreo one for a potluck. I tried a bite of the original and it was surprisingly good! It was fluffy and light, non-greasy and had a nice texture. It was mild and pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

I am in town to see The Lion King the musical at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa and Uncle Tetsu was close by there so I had to hit up the place for a quick dessert. The place wasn't very busy but they had 3 people working. It was clean. It's my first time and the lady pointed out their menu which can be confusing. There's a cookie menu and a cake menu. They did have samples of 2 different flavors of cake: sesame and original. I must say I really liked the sesame but I ended up getting the pandan because pandan is my favorite. I'm so glad I got that because the pandan was flavorful with bits of shredded coconut. The cake was fluffy and soft. Very fresh and they wrap in fancy paper which I think locks in the moisture. My teenage son loved it too so that says something. I felt the $13 price was deserved because the cake lasted 2 days. It was just right. The ube cookie was good too. The tart shell was crisp and buttery. You can't taste the flavor of the ube too much but it was good. I'll probably try something else next time. I'll definitely be Back! read more

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uncle Tetsu always has the ultimate compliment for Asian taste buds - "not too sweet"! my family looooves Japanese cheesecake and uncle tetsu makes it the best! I normally would go to the sd location but this one had a local special so I went in to buy it. the yuzu flavor isn't available in sd it was super light, pillowy soft, and just the right touch of yuzu flavor. everyone loved it and we each demolished a quarter of the cake on our own definitely coming back to try more flavors and maybe the basque cheesecake next time! read more

Omg I'm addicted to the taste and value of Uncle Tetsu cheesecake. For only $13, you get a whole mini cheesecake that can feed up to 6 people! And let me tell you about the Oreo flavor! Uncle Tetsu is always consistent and an easy in and out experience. If you love Japanese cheesecake known for its light and fluffy texture, or if you've never had it, try it today and you'll be addicted too! read more

Im a firm believer if you're good at something just stick with that. Uncle Tetsu has embraced that mantra with indulgently good Japanese style cheesecakes that will make your mouth water at first bite. The shop is located next to Halal Guys and a gaggle of trendy Asian inspired restaurants in the Paularino plaza in Costa Mesa. When you walk inside, the environs are bright, modern and clean. Unfussy and straight to the point, just like the menu. They display at the entrance a handful of flavor selections and also offer a small selection of tarts, as well. My favorite flavor is hands down the Pandan. Inspired by the Pandan leaf, Pandan typically exhibits a naturally sweet taste and soft aroma. The flavor can described as grassy with mild hints of rose, almond, and vanilla. Coconut shavings often accompany the recipe, as well. So if that description whets your appetite, you've gotta try these. Coupled with the light airy texture of the cheesecake, the experience is transcendent. In regards to the other flavors, I also enjoyed the original and cookies & cream, which is like crumbled Oreos bits sprinkled on cheesecake flavor. The Ube was my least favorite because I didn't detect any taro in it at all. Just cloyingly sweet. Overall, a great spot to get your authentic Japanese cheesecake fix and sweet tooth satisfied. Check 'em out and .... Happyeats! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here to pick up desserts to take to a friends house. First tried samples of the Oreo and black sesame cheesecake. We purchased a basque cheese cake and a cheese tart. Cheese tart - this was excellent. Flavor and sweetness was perfect. Texture was spot on. The crust was fantastic, crispy, light and buttery. I could eat 20. 5/5. Oreo - liked the texture and the fact that it wasn't too sweet. But flavor seemed muted. 3/5 Basque - had potential, flavor was good. Texture was off. It wasn't smooth and silky or runny. It was too thick and very grainy. 3/5 Black sesame - again, texture was solid. Black sesame flavor was over the top. Overpowered was little sweetness there was. 1/5 If I come back - I'm getting the cheese tart. read more

I was so excited to find out that a Japanese Cheesecake spot was so close to home. I didn't know how many different flavors they had, so I love the different options. The price is actually great too, unless it was for the basque cheesecake. I also loved that they had samples and we can see the cheesecakes being packaged! Such a cute place. The server even gave us different samples when we asked, so I appreciated that. We had the Oreo cheesecake and the original burnt basque cheesecake. I've had a basque cheesecake before, so I had high expectations, and this was a bit disappointing. I personally do NOT like lemon desserts, and the cheesecake had a hint of lemon in it- despite not saying lemon anywhere. The texture was good but the lemon ruined it for me The Oreo cheesecake was delicious though! Love this option and how light and fluffy it is. I would come back for this and to try other flavors as well! read more

When I was younger, I loved cheesecake, but ate too much of it and got sick of it. To this day I still cannot eat a regular cheesecake. BUT the uncle Tetsu cheesecakes are so light and delicious. I could eat a whole one in one sitting. I even bought some to stack up as my "birthday cake" at my fairy garden party themed birthday luncheon read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Was so excited when I saw an Uncle Tetsu had opened up in my favorite plaza in Costa Mesa! I got a cheese tart to satisfy my sweet tooth, and it totally hit the spot. I will definitely be returning to get their full cheesecake next time. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Reunited and it feels so good! I fell in love with Uncle Tetsu in Toronto -- he wasn't my first Japanese cheesecake, but he's the one I judge all Japanese cheesecake against. On a mandatory visit to 7 Leaves whenever I'm in OC, I happened upon Uncle Tetsu in the same plaza. I'm told they've been open there for two months now. They had many flavors I've never seen before, but not all the flavors were in stock at the time. Between original, strawberry, chocolate, and ube, I went with the strawberry. It tasted very artificial, but the texture was on point. Definitely sticking to tried and true original next time. read more

Best Japanese cheesecake in all of socal. There is no competition here. This cheesecake is light fluffy and flavorful. I loved it! There is no competition ! read more

I have loved Uncle Tetsu since my first time trying it a few years back during Covid travel! This weekend as I traveled to LA for fun, I made sure to be bringing back a few as souvenirs for my friends. I was even more elated that there was a new location situated merely 3 minutes away from my hotel stay. I made sure to ask my friends for their preferred flavor, and all of them requested the Original one. I stopped by the previous night, but the Original was sold out. Hence, I made sure to come back this morning prior to lunch and departure, and placed an order for 3 Original Cheesecakes. The staff member greeted me warmly and took my order efficiently. I was the only customer in the store as well. After I provided my order and paid, she went to the back to grab the cheesecakes, and proceeded to place them in the bag for me to take out. I trusted the staff member wholeheartedly, given that she was aware of my order and bagged them for me. So I jollied my way out of the store and told my friends to be expecting the Uncle Tetsu cheesecakes. Once I got to the airport and got pulled over by the TSA agent for a check of my sweet treats bag, that was when I opened the cheesecake boxes and immediaty got flustered to find out they were the Oreo flavor cheesecakes instead. I went through all 3 at the airport, and definitely was given the wrong flavor for all 3. It is so disappointing to find this out when you're leaving LA for home... Tl;dr: please ensure to open your boxes to check for accuracy, even if you're the lone customer in the shop. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

If you're unfamiliar with Japanese cheesecake I would describe it as less dense, not as sweet and less creamy than traditional cheesecake. I personally think it's easier to digest and doesn't make me feel as bloated after eating. If I had to compare it to something, I would say it's more like a sponge cake (but it's not as dry). I highly recommend giving it a try! After having lunch with my family one Sunday afternoon, I looked desserts in the nearby area and decided to give this place a try. The prices for the Japanese cheesecakes were reasonable however the prices for the bisque cheesecake was significant higher. I opted to stick with the Japanese cheesecakes and ordered the plain, oreo and chocolate flavor. The chocolate was my favorite and the oreo was my husband's favorite. This store is incredibly efficient as I was in and out of the store within 2 minutes. With reasonable prices, great products and timely service, I will definitely be back for more cake. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Japanese cheesecake flavors - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love the new location!!! I was traveling to arcadia just to get the cakes. Now that they opened a location in the oc, i dont have to travel too far for them. I came in and got their seasonal flavor, pandan coconut and it was really good! You can definitely taste the pandan flavor a d there are light flakes of coconut in there. Definitely love their light and airy cheesecakes. It is a bit pricey for a small cake but once in awhile, its not too bad. They also had the seasonal rose flavor for sampling. Definitely tasted like rose and very floral. Not my favorite...but very interesting to try. read more

Amazing cheese cake and the ube is awesome. If you go here you won't be disappointed. However, in the same plaza, stay away from the boba shop 7 leaves. It's a shithole. read more

$13 per cake. We came twice: the coffee one is slightly better than the pandan coconut flavor. Since we visited on the weekends, we got both cakes right out of the oven. So, they were warm and fluffy. Their current seasonal flavor is lychee rose: can't wait to try it out! $4.5 per tart: the blueberry tart (fruit forward) is better than the original flavored tart (a little too sour for my tastebuds). Generous fillings for both. They are yummy room temperature or the next day from the fridge. Parking might be difficult. There no seating inside: purchase take outs only. There are about 3 outdoor tables for all neighboring shops. read more

Saying that I was in awe walking in and out of Uncle Tetsu is an understatement. I had been eyeing this place for a while now, years actually, but had never found the time to go. TDLR, this place lives up to the hype. It was a bit hard finding the exact location of where the shop was located, if you're using Apple Maps it may take you completely behind the whole shopping center. Once I went in, I was ready to try and get everything. Everyone working there welcomed us when we first walked in and the cashier was patient in explaining the different flavors, along with which cakes were more fresh than others. We ended up grabbing the original cheesecake and a Ube cheese tart. I thought both the items would cause our order to be a bit more on the pricy side but I believe both items ended being under $20 if I remember correctly. Usually when you walk into a bakery, all you can smell is sugar but this place was different. It smelled of cheesecakes but in the most airy and light way possible. The shop is relatively small so you can't really dine in, but the ambiance is too cute to not notice. They have a map on one wall showing all the locations they have globally, displays of the different kinds of flavored cheesecakes served for the day and even samples! The cheesecake was like nothing I've had before. It was flavorful but also very airy and light. You can taste the egg-y part of the soufflé but it's not overpowering--some soufflé items just taste like eggs and nothing more--and it's not too sweet either. The cheese tart was even better! The crust was very buttery and had just the right amount of the sweetness and the filling was creamy. All in all, I will be visiting this place again and I've been talking about it nonstop to my friends since I've been. If you want a new dessert spot that'll give you a new experience to foods you thought you knew, go here for sure read more

We ought a few cakes to celebrate Mother's Day and didn't realize the demand before we ordered. We just got a regular cheesecake and waited about 20 minutes for a freshly baked one, as they were almost sold out of everything else. The cheesecakes were super fluffy and eggy. If we came back, we'd want to try the other flavors available. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Storefront - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Stopped by Uncle Tetsu first time after hearing all good reviews about it. The original cheesecake is really good: moist, soft and lightly creamy taste. I will get that again next time. The cheese tarts were a little disappointing. Maybe I am just not into them. They are too watery for me. I mean I expected it to have more texture and more solid like a cream cheese at least. The ube flavor is not very ube; just tasted sweet to me. I will not get that again. I am looking forward to try their burnt Basque cheesecake next time. They sold out the original flavor and need to wait for 3 hours for the next batch to come out. read more

Uncle Tetsu - Original Cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The employees were so welcoming and patient. I came with a group of friends and they asked us what we liked and gave us recommendations. We got the original and green tea flavors. The cakes were so soft and delicious. They had a deal if you get 3 cakes. I think it was a $1-2 off. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area or craving a dessert you wont regret! read more

Uncle Tetsu - Desserts Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So awesome they opened this location! I visited on Sunday around 1130am & it was a straight walk in, no line! Plus, parking is plentiful! I tried the Ube, Matcha, Original & Oreo Original flavors. My favorite was the Oreo & Original because the flavors were so rich! Ube & Matcha tasted ok but it was as if the flavor was way watered down & almost bland. The texture is like a cross between a mousse and an American style cheesecake. There is no crust. It's pillowy soft. A must try! read more

Uncle Tetsu is a bakery specializing in Japanese cheesecakes. Compared to American cheesecakes, Japanese cheesecakes are like a sponge cake, with a lighter texture and less sweet taste. Location/Interior: This new location opened up just a few minutes away from South Coast Plaza. It's located in a plaza next to Blue Bowl and Halal Guys. There is plenty of parking however because there are so many businesses in the same plaza, parking can be tricky at busy hours. The inside of the bakery is small but you can see workers making the cheesecakes. On the day I went, I they were offering samples of their original cheesecake. In addition to the cheesecakes, they were also selling mini cheese tarts and basque cheesecakes. Cheesecakes: All the cheesecakes only come in one size. They would be good for splitting among 4-6 people, depending on slice size. The cheesecakes are all very fluffy and melt in your mouth. None of them are overly sweet, but the flavor is subtle side. * Original Cheesecake ($12): while I know this is the classic flavor, it's not my preference. It's a little bit on the bland side so I would prefer any one of the flavored cheesecakes over the original. * Ube Cheesecake ($12): this is my favorite cheesecake flavor that I've tried so far. The ube flavor was more prominent than I was expecting. * Pandan Cheesecake ($12): you could immediately smell the pandan upon opening the box. It also included a small amount of shredded coconut. The pandan flavor itself tasted subtle. Unfortunately, they didn't have the oreo cheesecake when I arrived at noon on a weekday. They actually only had pandan, strawberry, and original on one of the days I went. Another time I went close to closing and they had all the flavors. My recommendation is to call ahead to ensure they have the flavor you want. read more

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My family in ICU got us this Japanese cheese cake and been craving since suppperrr yummmyyy and its hard to stop eatinggggg