Universal Bakery

Having heard nothing but rave reviews for AB, I finally tried it for myself and now understand why…read morethere's always line. Due to scheduling, I wasn't able to arrive until an hour before closing on a Friday which meant many of the items were sold out. When I arrived, there was a line so I had my buddy drop me off while he found parking. In retrospect, I should have had him drive around the block a few times as the line moved fast and there wasn't much to choose from. Since we both didn't know how quick the transaction would be, he figured out the metered parking, which was a feat in and of itself, and when he was walking over to the bakery, I was done with pastries in hand. Only one customer is allowed in the narrow shop at a time while the other customers queue up waiting to be signaled to step forward. As for seating, there is none so no one hangs around. Of the croissants remaining, I ordered all of them: Chocolate Almond Croissant - full of almond paste and chocolate, you could share this one, but why? This was my favorite. Almond Croissant - very good Kouign-amann - good sized While you can't enjoy the warm croissants with coffee at the shop, my buddy and I tucked in as soon as we got into the car. Good thing we carry a vacuum to clean up all the crumbs.

Super small shop with a line out front. Came highly recommended by several family members…read more We got the kouign-amann, ham & cheese croissant and morning bun. I also got a black coffee they only sell tea and coffee.

4.5 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill

Almond Croissant

Ham & cheese croissant

See all

Classic Croissant

Butter & Crumble

4.6(760 reviews)

So good! Definitely one of the best croissant bakeries in SF. We went on a Sunday morning close to…read more11 and there was a long line. It took about 20 minutes to get to the front, which wasn't too bad. We had the potato mushroom, caramel apple, pistachio and plain croissants. The croissant had a nice flaky crust and had all the pockets you would expect from a good croissant. They were all delicious but our favorite was the apple and mushroom potato. The mushroom potato was one of the best savory croissants we have ever had. The Apple croissant tasted like apple pie. There is no seating in the bakery. They do sell cute merchandise worth checking out. Everyone was very nice and friendly. Would highly recommend a visit!

The pastry here is expensive. The cost is due to the generous filling in some of the stuffed…read morecroissants & perhaps premium ingredients. Aesthetically, the pastries look okay. Not particularly artistic or IG-worthy. I visited Butter & Crumble twice just to be sure my opinion was accurate. First visit, I bought the Lemon Cream Cruffin and a Cardamom Sugar Pistachio Cream croissant. The Cardamom croissant was the best! The lamination was excellent. The filling in both pastries was light and fluffy - very good - not greasy or heavy. The Cruffin was filled with lightly lemony cream. What I found disappointing was that both pastries were room temp and not crispy. The sticky toffee date bun for me was overly sweet. One time, I bit into a pastry and the cream had a lump of salt - what a shock! The nice staff are prompt to take customers orders and box them nicely for takeaway. The shop has two tall chairs by the front window but nowhere else to relax. They sell merch. I didn't order any beverages so cannot comment on them. Given the many patisseries in San Francisco and other towns in the Bay Area, Butter & Crumble vastly disappointed me.

Hanna's twice baked biscoff croissant

Lauren's chopped cheese pain suisse

See all

Allyson's pork bun bearclaw

Golden Gate Bakery

4.3(3.7k reviews)

3.9 mi•Chinatown

Heard about this place and I'm so glad it was open today! Usually there's only one item for sale…read moreon any given day, and the menu item for today was Moon Cake. I hadn't had a traditional one yet this year, so that was a plus for me. Normally I'm not crazy about the nut moon cakes, but this one was terrific! It was the best moon cake I've had in a while - regular lotus seed with yolk and nuts. The lady at the bakery reminded me of an "auntie" and she was super friendly! Even though today was moon cake, I took a chance and asked if she had any wife cake (Low Po Behng). Unfortunately she didn't, but we had a nice little conversation in Cantonese and it brought me back to childhood and Chinatown in L.A. back in the day. Some people might not like that it's closed (I think that's when she runs out or isn't baking that day) but that's just how it goes. It's nothing personal if someone drives a long way and it's closed. It sounds like sometimes the lines can be long (There was no line for us today - score!) but it's everyone's choice if they're willing to wait or not. It's a little place and you order through the door. To me, that just adds to the quirky adventure of it all. Next time I hope she has Low Po Behng!

Golden Gate Bakery Date:October 18, 2026…read more I love mooncakes, so when I spotted Golden Gate Bakery open while walking along Grant Street, I couldn't resist stopping by! The gate stays closed even when the bakery is open, so you'll know they're serving customers when you see people lining up and waiting for the staff to open the gate slightly to take orders. My first visit was on September 29, 2026. There were only three people ahead of us, and the bakery was selling just mooncakes. I bought one Lotus Paste Seed with One Egg mooncake for $12.50. My second visit was on October 18, 2026. There were over 20 people in line for mooncakes and custard tarts, but the line moved quickly. I bought two Lotus Paste Seed with One Egg mooncakes for $12.50 each. The mooncakes were delicious, with a tasty lotus seed paste filling and one egg. They were a bit too sweet for my taste, but I only eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I still look forward to them every year. I highly recommend Golden Gate Bakery's mooncakes!

3.4 mi•Lower Pacific Heights

Egg tart!!

Almond Cookies and Coconut Tarts.

See all

Long lines are guaranteed.

B Patisserie

4.6(3.8k reviews)

amazing, truly delicious pastries, the almond croissants omg. great friendly service, did togo boxread more

One of the best bakeries in the city!! Im sure many people would agree…read more Fresh pastries and excellent customer service. The Kouign Amann is my absolute favorite, Im always craving it and can never resist! :D

Black sesame Kouign Amann, reheated

Black sesame kouign Amman ends

See all

Chocolate Kouign Amann Seasonal ($5.75)

Pineapple King Bakery - San Francisco

4.4(1.8k reviews)

3.4 mi•Outer Sunset

Locally owned & operated

Women-owned & operated

Oh no, they are using ugly ai type ads :(…read more The original pineapple puffs filled with cream are still good and best if you're lucky to get them freshly made.

Pineapple King is consistently cited as THE best pineapple bun spot in SF and after doing a bakery…read moretour in Chinatown earlier in the day, swung by Pineapple King in the early evening to confirm for myself. This location is just a walk up window and on a weekday, I was still able to snag a pineapple bun 10 mins before closing, though they were sold out of some other menu items (e.g. the mini buns). Pineapple Bun with Butter: Really thick, satisfying layer of buttery cookie on top and they toast the bread to order so you get some of that contrast against the slab of cold butter. Unfortunately, I'd say the weakest link is the actual bread part which was just a little dense. TLDR; it's still quite good, but I don't know if I agree with the consensus that it's better than SF's other options, especially given it's a decent bit more pricey for a smaller product. Given how out of the way the store is, I don't know it's say it's a must try, but still a very good version of this sweet treat.

NEW Coconut Croissant Tart

NEW FLAVOR ALERT: PERSIMMON EGG TART

See all

NEW ITEM - Croissant Coconut Tart 可頌椰撻

Tartine Bakery

4.2(9.2k reviews)

1.4 mi•Mission

I've been coming to the original Tartine on Guerrero since 2010, and 16 years later, it's still one…read moreof my favorite bakeries in the Bay Area in addition to Manresa! Living in the South Bay, it's always a treat to make it up here. Love their pastries, but their sourdough and selection of breads are just as amazing. The quality is consistently excellent, the value is there, and the staff is always friendly and efficient. Parking can be a challenge, and weekend lines are no joke, but it's well worth the trip. Great baked goods, good people, and that laid-back SF vibe. Tartine never disappoints!

This place is a must stop in SF. All baked in house, fresh pastries , bread and treats ! The aroma…read moreis so heavenly. It is extremely difficult to find a spot to eat your goods but a very busy and fun experience. My mom loved the coffee and bread pudding. My croissants were amazing. My brother's chocolate cake was very moist / chocolaty. The line is worth it, the prices are worth it and I'll do it again 100% Also take home a loaf of bread

Almond Croissant, Chocolate Souffl Cake Round

Gorgeousness on a plate, screams of delight .. I can't help myself June 29,2026.

See all

Coconut Cream Tart - shared this with two other colleagues. Very rich and delicious.

Arizmendi Bakery

4.5(2.4k reviews)

2.8 mi•Inner Sunset

I don't even know why I'm writing a review. Their pizzas are delicious. Flavor changes daily. I'm…read morepartial to the chocolate thing pastries as well. I am not a fan of their sourdough or shortbread - there are much better places for that in the city. Their half baked pizzas are to finish at home. Credit card OK if above $10 otherwise bring cash. Service - always with a smile Ambiance - crowded and cramped inside. There will be a line on weekends. It moves fast.

I usually love this bakery but yesterday i bought a chocolate chip cookie that was stale, hard to…read morebight and taste was awful. I ended up throwing the chocolate chip away. I was surprised because my friends and i usually walk in happy as their cookies are amazing but yesterday's experience was awful. Management should always check everything is warm and delicious to eat.

2.3 mi•Dogpatch, Potrero Hill

Focaccia display

Blueberry Muffin

See all

Almond Croissant

Neighbor Bakehouse

4.6(1.2k reviews)

UBE CROISSANTS!!!…read more Honestly, that's all I have to say but, the service & ambiance are also a vibe in the Dog Patch neighborhood. Be prepared to wait but, for absolute good reason. I'm excited to explore more of their menu.

Neighbor Bakehouse is right off the T line and at least on a Friday, they still had all of their…read morebaked goods available around 10 / 10:30 AM. Seating wise, they only have 3-4 small metal tables with 2 chairs each. In the morning, these will be completely covered by the shade of the building, so I'd honestly recommend walking along dog patch area for a spot to enjoy your treats. Both the Ube Croissant and the Pistachio Blackberry Croissant are super fun twists to the almond croissant format. Flavor comes through strong and the filling is generous. Pastry pretty flaky still and you get the contrast of the crunchy almost cookie like texture against the buttery croissant.

3.0 mi•Lower Pacific Heights, Japantown

Char Siu Croissant

Roasted Mushroom Croissant Tart

See all

Chocolate Croissant

Jina Bakes

4.3(832 reviews)

I always come to Japantown just for their Injeolmi croissants! Truly is one of my must visits…read morewhenever I'm in SF. It has the perfect combination of texture with the mochi and flaky croissant exterior. Absolutely love love love! I wish I could just buy a months supply of them.., but they're best eaten same day and fresh. Otherwise the mochi starts to harden and lose its bounciness. The store itself is located at the bottom floor of Japan Town's West mall right across Maido and Matcha Cafe Maiko! Service depends on whoever is the cashier but today we had a nice girl! :)

I've seen all the hype around Jina Bakes for a while and finally stopped by on a relatively quiet…read moreFriday afternoon in Japantown. They were still open with most of their baked goods available. I wasn't really hungry but decided to ordered 2 of the orange chocolate buns to go. I reheated them in the air fryer and they came out nice and warm. The orange flavor was subtle and the chocolate complemented it well. I thought it would be more chocolate-y and probably would've liked it a bit more if it was, but it was still good. However, it was super sticky and with every bite the caramelized sugar would stick to the roof of my mouth and in between my teeth. Service was friendly and answered my questions about some of their more unique items. I'd come back and try their other stuff when I'm in the area again.

The store front 2/18/24

Galbijjim (Korean Braised Short Rib) Croissant | $8.50 - Tastes like cold pizza

See all

Match Cream Puff ( I have been craving this!)

Arizmendi Bakery

4.3(824 reviews)

0.8 mi•Mission

Truly one of the best local bakeries in the Bay Area with variety and quality. I love coming to…read morearizmendi to see the pizza of the day and bring friends/family here when they visit. They even do fun seasonal menu items like king cake for Mardi Gras and pies.

Some of the best pastries in the city, but some of the most racist/prejudice staff. Been going for…read moreyears, but every time I go I'm always accused of stealing an extra cinnamon roll. They even have a few staff members who've gone far enough to squeeze my bag, thereby squeezing my food, to verify I didn't steal. I'mma still keep going bc this is my neighborhood, but I won't ever tip them. Being on Valencia street they clearly cater to yuppies and not locals.

Pastries, Currant Scones, Oat Scones

Corn Cherry Scones

See all

Dirty Horchata

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

8 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

I G.

152

8 years ago

If you want an authentic Latin/Central American breakfast, this is the place! I usually come to this place on the weekend mornings to get my fix. Today, Wednesday , I discovered that they sell their breakfasts in bulk. I had an event this morning with San Francisco Unified School District students where we were not only embracing the Latino Mission District heritage, Latino cuisine, we also held a workshop for youth introducing new tech and work readiness! We ordered food for a group of 14 and we were able to feed 20 individuals this morning! Universal has deep roots in the Mission community and has always been a staple in the Bernal Heights District. Let's talk about the food. The scrambled eggs were served in various styles, plain, with chopped tomatoes-onions, and lastly with chorizo! The beans are like a light purée topped with delicious Central American style sour cream and queso fresco. This also included fresh baked bread rolls and two sides of their house made salsas. This place is excellent! Food is very fresh! Cleanliness to the maximum! I recommend it highly! read more

Sergio L.

Elite 26

191

437

2 years ago

Panadería Universal isn't just a bakery; it's like stepping into a slice of my childhood. It all started on 24th and Potrero, where my mom and I would stop by for fresh Champurradas straight out of the oven. Now, with two locations serving the vibrant Hispanic Latino community in San Francisco, it still holds that same welcoming, nostalgic charm. You walk in and are instantly greeted with phenomenal service and a sense of family. The place is always buzzing with laughter, the latest Latin American gossip, and a warm, lively atmosphere that feels like home. It's truly a little piece of Guatemala right here in SF, where you're bound to leave with a smile and a full heart. read more

David B.

1 year ago

Recently Anibal G posted a false claim this is the reason for this post. We are careful in serving are community we take it serious.Thank you for the years of support!!! We use cinnamon sticks in our atoles so you will see pieces in your beverage Recientemente Anibal G escribio un comentario falso. Por eso es la razon de este post . Servimos con esmero a nuestra comunidad, lo tomamos muy en serio. ¡Gracias por tantos años de apoyo! Usamos ramas de canela en nuestros atoles, así que verás trocitos en tu bebida. read more

Anna M.

11 years ago

Great for light breakfast! So many good options, it was hard to decide if I was in the mood for savory or sweet. What did I do? I got both. The ham & cheese bun and sticky bun were fantastic! Together they were big enough to satiate a mild morning appetite, but each small enough to have a taste of both worlds. read more

Anibal G.

1 year ago

Fue una experiencia De Comer afuera mejor en casa Atol con cucaracha en el de la mission read more

Karen S.

12 years ago

Their bread is so good! I travel just to go get their bread, tamales and Tikis.

Zem Z.

307

2576

12 years ago

Ok. Great regular dishes. Should be cleaner.

M R.

234

120

14 years ago

Authentic guatemalan food and pastries.

Universal Bakery - bakeries - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of San Francisco, California Restaurants near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Coffee near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Parking near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Desserts near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Things to Do near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Breakfast near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Cake near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Cupcakes near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Shopping near Universal Bakery

BEST of San Francisco, California Thrift Stores near Universal Bakery

Best of San Francisco

Things to do in San Francisco

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Universal Bakery also viewed

Universal Bakery

4.1

(67 reviews)

My family has been coming here since forever. It's a Guatemalan bakery. But you can get breakfast…read moreand order lunch as well. It's always a treat when we get together and go to the panadera. Parking is a bit difficult so Find where you can and park. It's a busy and crowded place so find a table and make one of Your party members sit. The door is always open since there is one way in and one way out so dress warm. Ok as soon as you walk in you are in line. And start looking at what you want. I always order pan con frijoles y queso, and they don't give me any smack for the removal of egg and creama. My family gets the typico breakfast and we order bread to go. They get coffee and I get atole. I have tried all the atole's they have because why not? They are all really good. The last time I went I asked for atole de maize and she said they only had enough for a small. I said sure I'll take it. I thought that was already nice, she could have easily said nope but she checked and asked if that was ok. Since my family goes there a lot they know some of the staff and they are always so nice. They have a lot of options that can easily become vegetarian if it's not already. Such a great place to enjoy. Thank you

Love love love this Guatemalan bakery. The service is always quick regardless if its busy. Its…read morepretty tricky finding parking here so i suggest if you're in a rush try to come earlier to find time to find parking. As for the food, everything was so delicious and the ingredients tasted really fresh. My favorite is the pan con todo y chorizo. Its packed with meat and eggs and the bread is super soft. The elote atol drink is soo creamy and sweet and such a nice way to start off the morning. They have plenty of other menu items that I can't wait to try. I highly recommend this spot!

Cafe La Taza

3.9

(465 reviews)

The chilaquiles are a 7/10 and the ambiance and service was amazing! I had a team meeting here and…read morewas private and quiet enough for the meeting.

The food is ok the tres leches was a buttermilk pancake with some cream and milk . It was ok and…read moreit did not make my tummy ache. I am lactose intolerant. The egg with Plantain and Pork was delicious. The guy who served me spilled some of the Leches from my pancake. I ordered Carrot Juice but it was too gritty so I sent it back. The place was busy. It was simply decorated and has an all gender themed restroom.

Chile Lindo Empanadas

3.9

(247 reviews)

The best empanadas! She is so friendly and the salsa was excellent. The vegan one was especially…read moregood. A great place to grab lunch and a stool at the street bar.

These are hands down the best Chilean empanadas in California, and don't even get me started on the…read morepastel de choclo--absolutely delicious. I actually got emotional eating it. I miss home so much, and this incredible food transported me back to Chile for a moment. A huge thank you to Chile Lindo Empanadas y Dulces Chilenos. Paula, you outdid yourself. Gracias totales!

The City Taqueria 2

4.2

(37 reviews)

In my book, you can't keep a good menudo down. Wait, that didn't read right. What I meant to write…read morewas that any time is the right time for a bowl of housemade menudo made from all the leftover pork bones they keep from all the other meals they serve. That's why it's always a good find when a taqueria offers menudo all week long and not just the weekends. It's a rare sighting indeed. This place does, so I stopped by on a Wednesday as I was strolling on Mission in Bernal Heights. I ordered the $12.99 Small Menudo (Photo 9), and it came with the requisite accoutrements - oregano, chopped onion, lime wedges, and a couple of warm tortillas (Photo 8). The soup itself was a bit on the thin side and fell short on the amount of tripe, but hey, if you want a bowl of midweek menudo, here it is. FOOD - 3 stars...middling menudo but hey, it's here AMBIANCE - 3 stars...spacious enough SERVICE - 3 stars...order at the counter TOTAL - 3 stars...menudo all the time RELATED - Exploring Bernal Heights? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/A_rc7d6axi

Friendly service. Spacious and clean seating. Food was pretty good, but I wasn't blown away.read more

Chalos

4.5

(510 reviews)

Greeted with a clean open space. The cafe is cute and has the set up of a lounge for chatting and…read morecatching up (perfect peace). I waited for my food and listened to the laughs of some girls and conversations of some educated 20 something men. The coffee was amazingly tasty! The owner (assuming) is a nice guy who made sure I knew what I was ordering... macchiatos made here are "Italian style" Food made fresh and smelled amazing!! My sandwich was delicious

Really enjoyed our visit to Chalos! We had the bacon breakfast burrito, sweet beef empanada, and a…read morecup of Sightglass coffee. The burrito and empanada were delicious and flavorful, and the staff were warm and friendly. The food takes a little time since it's made to order, but we didn't mind the wait. Drip coffee was mediocre. The space felt welcoming, with plenty of tables and chairs available. There's no WiFi, which actually makes it a nice place to put your phone away and enjoy the people you're with. Our only small note was that the salsa portion was a bit small, and we asked for extra - i was surprised to hear they charge extra. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to have a little more included. Overall, a lovely spot with really tasty food, and also serves alcohol!

Tikal Restaurante Y Panaderia

3.4

(18 reviews)

Not very good tamales as they say! I ordered 6 of them and did not convinse me! And they were not…read moreof good taste too

My peeps swung by Tikal & picked me up a Tamale de Pollo. The texture of a Guatemalan tamale is so…read moredifferent than the Mexican version (which I prefer.) The masa, wrapped in banana leaf, took on a slightly sweet flavoring. Its consistency more soft & moist compared to the firm & dry texture of its Mexican counterpart. The sparsely-coated red sauce was tasty; I assume had I dined in, there'd be more of it. Portion big enough for two meals, generous seasoned chicken filling. Not my first choice tamale, but I'll never pass up an opportunity to eat Latin American food.

Aroma Buena Kitchen

5.0

(10 reviews)

Got the steak torta and it was really good, I want to gatekeep but I want this place to stay so…read moreeveryone go order it. It was stacked!

Wow! This place is really nice, worth trying out. I started off with an iced coffee, with Oatmilk…read moreand hazelnut / vanilla syrup. I was pleasantly surprised when my iced coffee was served with frozen coffee ice cubes! SO COOL! I've never been to a cafe that does that. Very friendly staff there , warm and inviting. Also, I ate at the restaurant as well and we had chilaquiles and the 2x2x2. The chilaquiles had red sauce and the flavor was delicious. The eggs were perfectly scrambled. Oh and also the plantano frito was sweet and perfectly cooked. For the 2x2x2 we chose turkey sausage as the protein option and that was very tasty! Their restrooms are clean and smell nice which is a plus especially when using a restroom at a restaurant. Overall, I highly recommend this new restaurant! 5/5

Cocina Mamá Cholita

4.9

(303 reviews)

Cocina Mamá Cholita is such a find, it's a total WOW!…read more It's totally worth three times around the block for street parking (really). On a scrubby block of the outer Mission, I used to be here weekly for social skills therapy with my son at KidSpace. So, I was familiar with the parking challenges. Ten minutes later we headed in. Clean, welcoming warm, they invited us to try anything before ordering. We were ready to order the enchiladas divorciadas ($18.49) and breakfast burrito with guacamole ($16.99). We were kindly fussed over by a woman I think was the young owners' mom. She wiped down our table, brought chips and three kinds of salsa and my coffee plus cream and sugar. My son wolfed down the enchiladas with green and red sauces and I saved half of my breakfast burrito for dinner later. My burrito was deliciously filling - and I was super hungry - that's how satisfying it was! The owner told me they make the chorizo sausage in house. The burrito had a wonderful smoky flavor, almost like bacon. Check out this wonderful, newer spot on the 3400 block of Mission. Lovely owners, great food!

Wow. Just so good i even forgot to take pics! If its your first time make sure to get the sample…read more Tho you may end up wanting all thats on the sampler and that's what I did. I had the birria enchilada divorciadas. All three of the sauces were absolutely delicious I went for mole and the green salsa. The chips & salsa came w 3 salsas that were all very flavorful and unique. My husband had the birria tacos. Best I ever had. Pleaseeee try theirs if you love birria tacos. It didn't feel like restaurant food, more so someone's mom feeding a homecooked meal - which it is. Loved it. It's a simple, clean, friendly family run joint with very delicious food. Will be back for more!

Rosi's Alfajores

4.8

(89 reviews)

Awesome neighborhood empanada spot. Tried this place for the first time and I loved it. The beef…read moreempanadas were flavorful, filled with generous amount of meat, and freshly baked. There are many other Peruvian dishes to try that I'll be back for. It's great to have an authentic spot conveniently located in the neighborhood.

One of the better places to get Lomo saltado in the area…read more The empanadas are all good and decent size. Definitely try their hot sauce it really elevates everything. All the staff are polite and attentive.

Healthyish Republic

4.4

(206 reviews)