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I arrived about 30 minutes after opening on a weekend, and there wasn't a line, although there was a constant flow of people coming in and out. Seating is very limited, so unfortunately I had to take my pastries to go. They have a great selection of both sweet and savory pastries, all made with Hokkaido flour from Japan. I really liked how light the pastries felt--I was able to try several without feeling overly full or heavy. Most of what I tried was very good, although nothing really stood out as a must-have. I'd come back to try some of the other options, but I'm not necessarily in a rush. Their black coffee is also really good if that's your thing.
Finally got to try this bakery for the first time this past weekend but the experience was quite underwhelming. Came here after a early morning run and arrived about 20-30 minutes after opening. They had all kinds of options laid out, and visually looked interesting, so we picked up a variety to try. Personally, I felt the breads were a bit dry or stale. I wasn't a fan of the matcha they used since it didn't have any bold flavor, which made it hard to distinguish from the milk. I was told later on by a couple of friends that their hojicha latte is better than the matcha latte. Overall, unsure if I would come back since I feel that I could get better pastries and drinks from other bakeries and cafes nearby.
Cute cafe! I'd give it a 2.5 to 3 stars. I did street parking, but there is a public lot across the cafe. I came on a Saturday at 3pm, and there were still plenty of pastries left. They probably didn't taste as fresh as they usually would since I came later in the day. I will say, the AC was barely on, so it was really hot in there. I noticed other people getting really hot and sweaty. There are 5 tables, and they were all full. My total was $37 for 7 items. Overall, the breads are super soft and fluffy. The drinks are tasty, but nothing crazy or special. Sakura Strawberry Latte $7 - The coffee flavor definitely outweighs the strawberry and sakura flavors. It tastes like a strong coffee latte with a strawberry undertone. I didn't really taste a lot of sakura or floral notes. Still good though! Premium Matcha Latte $8.50 - I added matcha foam, which was $1.50. It wasn't worth the extra cost. I'm a fan of sweet foams, and this one was salty. It also didn't really have a matcha taste. The actual latte was good, but nothing special, especially for the price. I liked that it wasn't chalky. The drink was smooth, and the sweetness was just right (I got regular sweet). Takoyaki Pan $4.50 - Soft bread with an actual takoyaki inside. I enjoyed the flavor. Sunrise Matcha $4.25 - Super soft with a crunchy sugar exterior. I could taste a hint of matcha, but overall, it was just a standard sweet and soft bread. I'd get it again though! Tomato Basil Salt & Butter Roll - It was okay, nothing special. I'd give it a 3/5. Curry Pan - It would taste really good warmed up. The curry filling was tasty. It had crunchy bits on the outside, and the bread was soft on the inside. I'd take it to go next time and heat it up at home. Oyaki Shumai - It had a pork filling and a crunchy outside. It didn't taste as fresh, but it's probably because I came later in the day.
Unfortunately as a somewhat 9-5 WAGECEL, it's impossible for me to go here unless I do something funny or if I go to the weekends, so like most of the masses, I have to go here on the weekends. It's definitely not as fisted as it used to be since my friend said she used to see the line go outside and even with the visible crowds inside, so long as it was contained inside, the wait isn't as bad as it used to be. We came here around an hour or so before closing and they were mostly sold out of everything. A couple fresh bread came out in that final our (brick of toast and corn croissant), but the main heavy hitters and some of their drinks were sold out too, so just keep that in mind and don't have super high hopes based on when you go. Because it was busy, the relaxing and low key vibes and ambiance was not what was intended. A bit of crowding, tables were unsteady and could easily spill something or swing around. A little bit of trash here and there, but not awful. And despite the crowds the rest room was clean which was nice. We got the: 1) Salt & Butter Choco Bread: -This is the one my mom said was okay and a bit too dry the next day. -It's a nice mix of salty and sweet. 2) Salt & Butter Corn Mayo Bread: -Can never go wrong with the sweetness of corn and the tangy flavor of mayo. Great with the light salted taste of the bread. 3) Salt & Butter Tamago Bread: -This is an egg salad bread. Okay amount of egg salad in the middle. Light and fluffy. I'm a glutton so I would have preferred a heavier flavor profile for the egg salad part but if you want a daintier and lighter flavor, this works. 4) Milk Bun: -Not too sweet, filled with milk cream in the middle. Decent sweet bread. 5) Melonpan: -Again, a bit dry on the second day, but the sugary texture on top made for a nice yummy crunch. -Solid classic. 6) Premium Matcha Latte: -This was a matcha that another friend was raving about. They do hand whisk it in the cafe, which is nice. But that does take some time too, so keep that in mind when they're backed up with orders and when it gets busy. -Decently strong matcha taste. Think a more watered down Yamari (this is a good thing for people who can't handle that level of matcha intensity). After a day, the baked goods weren't as good as the day of (regardless of fresh baked or not), which makes sense. My mother said they got a bit dry, so definitely eat them ASAP. I did enjoy the salted bread. Not too dry, has a slight salty taste to compliment the butteriness and the other flavors of the bread. I can see why this is a trend nowadays. Not bad, hopefully I can go here when it's better stocked to try more breads.
Wa Iro Bakery is such a cute little spot in Pasadena! Everything we tried was delicious. It's definitely a little on the pricier side, but honestly, I think it's worth it! If you like salt bread, you have to try theirs -- you might become obsessed! My favorite was their curry bread. It was so light, airy, and flavorful without feeling heavy. I went with my sister on a weekday morning, and we parked nearby with plenty of street parking available. We got so lucky because there was no line when we arrived, which felt like a miracle! We grabbed a table and started tasting our breads, and that's when people started coming in and a line quickly formed. I didn't get their coffee this time because I had already had a cup about an hour before coming, but their coffee smelled soooo good. Definitely trying it next time! Such a cute place with delicious bread already looking forward to coming back!
Love trying new places and stumbled upon this Japanese bakery. Interesting pastries I've never had before. Tried the yakisoba savory treat and concha sweet treat. Both very good and tasty. Really loved my drink though. The Cloud Hojicha Latte with almond milk was delicious and best drink I've had in a while. Staff were very welcoming and kind. Explained the different pastries to me. The small space was very warm and inviting. Glad I stopped by on a whim!
When I went to order the lemon custard (I got a weak spot for lemon desserts), they picked it up and a piece broke off when they grabbed it with their tongs. I saw they noticed but did not grab a different one or the piece that fell off.. that did not sit well with me. In terms of taste it was very light and airy which makes for a dangerous but delicious dessert item. They recently added a promo to do some sliders in the evening, shame it wasn't yet time, but they did look good (albeit expensive for a slider, but I wanted to try). Value wise it's a bit pricier, but the breads taste premium. I think that if the worker did not break off a piece or actually got grabbed the piece or a different lemon custard I would give it a 5. I did not like the lack of attention especially when they were near closing.. just give me the nicer looking pieces!
Wa-Iro is the latest place to draw long lines for their baked goods. As you know, this Diva ain't standing in line for nothing unless it involves fashion or booze. I happened to drive by just before they opened on the Friday before the July 4th weekend. There were only a few people out front, so I decided to give it a try. The staff have an assembly line system, so the line moves fairly quickly. The salt breads disappear fast but are replenished fresh out of the oven. Made with flour imported from Hokkaido, the salt breads are all the rage but I decided to try the cinnamon roll instead. Apparently, the specialty flour produces an extra fluffy bread. I could tell because the cinnamon roll was soft & fluffy and was artistically topped with a dollop of cream cheese icing that I spread to cover the top. It added the perfect touch of sweetness. The cinnamon roll was exceptionally good but I wouldn't stand in a long line for it. They also serve frothy matcha lattes & espresso-based beverages. *Metered street parking or $1 90-mins parking in the structure across the street.
Delicious, my favorite was the cookie salt bread. Went during weekday 3pm, no line, almost closing, there is still quite a bit of pastry left, but the popular options are gone. Must order 6 pastries to get a box or else it's $1.50. Bread was good, it didn't really stand out. The employee was attentive, answered our question and was awesome. Order 6 baked goods and drink which came out to be $37. Ordered sesame latte, very sesame flavored. Strawberry matcha was average, though, it really delicious on a hot day. The cafe has plenty of seating. Onto the bread, super fresh. My favorite is the the salt and butter and curry pan. The curry has a lot of flavor. Overall, delicious bread and solid drinks.
I was looking for something unique and not very sweet, and this place caught my eye. The hype is real. I came during the morning time in the middle of the week (since they close so early) and all the seats were full of people. Luckily there wasn't a line, but when I paid for my order, a line already had formed. I took advantage of my luck and ordered a box of savory pastries and a box of sweet pastries. I got their signature pastry - the salted butter bread - and it was..okay. I'll be honest I really liked everything else they offered more than their signature lol. Nothing was overly sweet, and my favorite pastries were the red bean mochi, the panini's were so good - especially the ham and pesto, as well as the spicy curry bun. I don't know if I'd wait in a long line for these pastries, but if I'm ever in the area, I'd definitely drop by again for their panini. Also I had not tried their drinks either. All servers were very friendly and parking can be found on the streets or in the parking garage across the street.
Cute cafe, clean, great service, and the natural light in there is doing everything right. Very good bones. Husband got the sea salt matcha cold brew and loved it. I got the dirty black sesame latte and wanted more coffee flavor from her. She was pretty but she needed to commit. We got there late so pickings were slim and split a japanini and sausage panini. Both were fine! The sausage panini had arabiki sausage cut into pieces instead of whole which was a choice. A strange choice. But a choice nonetheless. Go early because the pastries sell out fast and I have a feeling I missed the best part. Will be returning to find out.
This has to be one of my top bakeries in Pasadena, which says a lot since Pasadena has definitely stepped up their bakery game. I visited Wairo twice and was impressed both times. The service is efficient, accommodating, and kind. The ambience of the store is super well-maintained and they have a clean bathroom. There are several tables inside and it's usually not too crowded. The drinks that I've tried were the Matcha banana, the black sesame latte, and the sakura latte. I would personally skip the sakura latte as it came off a little bit sour. They claim to have some strawberry in the latte and you can also taste the slightly artificial taste of cherry blossoms. This personally wasn't for me. The Matcha banana and the black sesame latte are both great drinks though! The tomato basil salt bread is super tasty! I think my favorite salt bread would have to be the cookie salt bread. They also have an awesome cinnamon roll - I'm usually not a big fan of cinnamon rolls because they're super sweet but Wairo uses a plain bread base and less frosting so it's the perfect balance!! The Smores danish was a standout too, a mini treat. The marshmallow is soft and toasted too. The Purin à la mode is photogenic and unique tasting. I'd highly recommend putting this bakery on your watchlist. They bake everything using Hokkaido flour and the ambiance of the cafe is super cozy and fun.
There are so many inventive flavors, and the bread is so soft! Curry pan 5/5 - GET THIS!! The curry is flavorful and the panko crust is crispy. It's exactly what you want in a curry pan. Black sesame roll 4.5/5 - rich in black sesame flavor and surprisingly just the perfect sweetness. Tomato basil salt bread 3/5 - the bread was soft, but the filling was a little lacking. The service was quick and friendly. The interior feels very clean and modern. There's limited seating, so I wouldn't imagine bringing a laptop here. But it's a great spot to catch up with a friend.
First time trying Wa Iro. Plenty of street parking in Old Town at 7:50am on a Saturday. Arrived about 8mins before opening and there were about 6-8 people in front of me (some invited their friends to join them in line so it grew by about 4 people before we got in). It took 30ish minutes to get through the line, order, and pay for/receive my pastries. Did not order drinks this time. Here's what I tried: Salt and Butter roll - this was the crowd favorite. Lightly crisp, salted exterior. Soft, butter flavored interior Honey Butter Toast - this was sweeter than I wanted it to be. The filling is a slab of butter and red bean paste. The exterior is crunchy and honey-coated Cheesy Jalapeño Panini - filling is exactly what it sounds like, though it's in a bun not a pressed panini. It's ok Sausage Panini - again not pressed like a panini, there's mayo and mustard under the sausage and cheese which I wasn't expecting. Also just ok for me. Spent about $25 on 6 pastries. Service was cheerful and welcoming. It was a touch slow but I think they were taking time to answer questions and offer suggestions. read more
6/24/2026 3 1/2 Stars DIRTY BLACK SESAME LATTE Creamy coffee, but coffee is not strong, pretty much watered down coffee. Also, coffee gets lost in the cream. The black sesame flavor is not strong either. You can taste it at first sip, but as you drink it, you can barely taste it. It did taste like hazelnut coffee, which I don't like. Wouldn't recommend. BANANA CREME MATCHA LATTE Fake banana flavor right off the bat. You can barely taste the matcha. It is drowned in cream and matcha flavor is not strong either. If I blind tested this drink, I would not think matcha was added in it. But yes, I would detect that fake banana flavor in there. Strangely, this was the slightly better drink than the Dirty Black Sesame Latte. However, I would not recommend this drink either! Both drinks were very disappointing and below average of what most coffee shops and bakeries would make for the price. Save your money and get your drinks elsewhere! Two things that really bothered me. 1) The carriage for drinks had no handle! How are you supposed to carry your drinks to your car? It was so uncomfortable carrying my drinks and making sure it will not spill! 2) The station where they had drink lids and straws at the front needs to be moved elsewhere! People pick up their drinks at the same place. Drinks are so close together and easily can spill. Very small space too. SALT & BUTTER This was really good! I did not eat it as is, but I reheated it in the toaster oven because it always tastes better that way! Warm and crispy on the outside, warm, and soft on the inside. You can taste the butter inside. Loved the sea salt on top! This tasted the same as Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe's Salt & Butter Roll! Minus the sea salt on top. SALT & BUTTER COOKIE It was good, but I think Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe did it better. They make it with a thicker cookie crust, which makes it stand out more. Wa-Iro's cookie crust melted on top and basically nonexistent. There were some on the side of the roll, so I got to taste some of it. It was a good flavor, just wish it wasn't melted and barely there. I recommend the Salt & Butter over this one. SAUSAGE PANINI Simple and straight-forward sausage and American cheese, maybe mustard in it and baked in a roll. Was craving a hot dog with bun, so I got it. The sausage was thinner than the usual hot dog sausage and had a good snap to it, which I liked. However, it is what it is. Nothing special about it. If they did serve it like a hot dog, I think I would have loved that. CURRY PAN This was a regular curry pan. Good curry flavor with vegetables in it. Not sure what's exactly in it, but I think potatoes and onions were in it, at the very least. Maybe carrots too. This was good and ate it after heating it up in the toaster oven. It tasted exactly the same as Okayama Kobo & Bakery making me think someone from their team opened their own bakery! Wish they had spicy curry pan, a little bit of spice is always better! HONEY BUTTER TOAST Toast was very, very sweet, drenched in butter and honey. The only good part is that you can really taste the honey and butter in the toast! The red bean is slightly sweetened and the cold sweet butter that was added to the toast was creamy. The toast itself was not crispy, but the edges were dense and difficult to bite into. The toast is very sticky from all that honey and butter. As you bite into it, butter oozes out, as it is drenched in butter and honey. So that can be unappetizing for some. I regretfully bought another one based off of another review that this was really good. I did reheat the second Honey Butter Toast in the toaster oven, but it was more difficult to eat because everything was more stickier, a bit more hardened than before, and the honey gets stuck to your teeth. Strangely, toast did not crisp up because it was drenched in butter and honey, so it came out more soggier than eating it as is! Based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend this toast. LOCATION Right next to Sato Ramen House, Blick Art Materials. Right across from Church of Scientology Pasadena. Wa-Iro sign is small, so make sure you look out for Sato Ramen House and Blick Art Materials. It is right between these two places! AMBIANCE / SEATS + TABLES It is a small bakery and it does feel crowded inside. There were indoor seats and tables, but it's small tables for two. It would seat about 12 people total. There's one outdoor wooden bench as well. One unisex bathroom available. CUSTOMER SERVICE Service was great! Staff was friendly! PARKING Parked at School House Garage on 33 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105. But there was a parking garage right across from Wa-Iro if you want to park closer. Based on my experience, not sure if I will return. Not many baked goods that intrigued me to return. It was also too similar to Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe and we don't need a copy of that. read more
pastries: we got the curry pan, salt & butter shiopan, tomato basil shiopan, matcha pan, fish fillet panini and sausage panini. all were pretty good and soft but my favorite was the fish fillet panini and matcha pan. there was still a good selection of all the pastries. service: line moves quick and staff are friendly. ambiance: can get pretty busy. we went on a weekday around 10:30a and it was pretty busy inside. there is some tables and two benches outside for seating. bathroom is pretty clean as well. parking: your typical old town pasadena parking so either metered street parking or nearby parking garages. we parked in the schoolhouse parking structure which is right across the street. read more
3 months ago
We originally came just to try their salt bread, but when we walked in, everything looked so good that we ended up leaving with a whole box of goodies. Our favorite was definitely the salt bread, and I loved that they offered so many unique flavors. We tried the curry pan, takoyaki, tomato basil salt bread, and the original salt bread, and everything was delicious. The coffee was also really good, and the employee helping us was so sweet and welcoming. Such a great spot, and I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the area! read more
22 days ago
WA-IRO is an authentic Japanese bakery and cafe located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. The bread is hand-made. They are using Hokkaido flour. S'more The bakery was superbusy even in early morning. It smells so fragrant inside. They have delicious varieties of fresh baked goodies, to mention a few: Japanini, the bacon, fish panini, cheesy Jalapeños panini, sausage panini, yakisoba panini, oyaki shumai, spicy curry pan, An-Hana, salt& butter tomato basil, salt & butter choco, cinnamon roll, s'more danish, honey butter toast and more. Their drink menu includes coffee and signature drinks. The bakery has a cozy and relaxing vibes. They have several table inside and restroom is available for customers.The staff were very nice. The service was efficient. I ordered the following: -2 salt & butter choco 5/5 -1 salt & butter cookie 5/5 -1 Tomato basil salt & butter roll 5/5 -1 fish fillet panini 5/5 - 1 sausage panini 5/5 - 1 curry pan 5/5 - 1 Matcha strawberry 5/5 -1 banana creme matcha latte 5/5 Everything was outstanding! The bread is so fluffy, flavorful, light and freshly baked. Their banana creme matcha latte is the best! I was really impressed; the quality, the freshness, the reasonable price and the collection of pastries. I will definitely go back very soon to try more of their delicious pastries WA-IRO is the BEST Bakery I have tried recently. read more
24 days ago
Wow wow wow. I really didn't know what to expect when I walked into this place today. There have been so many cafes and patisseries opening up in Pasadena, and not only is it getting overwhelming, but many of them are hyped up for nothing, while being expensive. I walked into this place after my pedicure at Gloss Nails next door, and ordered the Salt & Butter Croissant, and the Red Bean Croissant. Brought both home and ate both of them in one sitting! The pastries are soft and fluffy. The slat to butter ratio was perfect, and I'm a savory girl so this really hit the spot. The red bean one was also good, and filled pretty well, but I may try other flavors next time to see if I find a favorite sweet one there. Service was great. There was no line and the server was happy to share recs and be patient with my choices. It's a small shop but they have seating which is nice. And I'd love to try their coffee for sure. I'll definitely be back in the morning for more. read more
We will definitely be stopping by here again. The salt bread here is absolutely delicious especially when fresh out of the oven. The staff was courteous and amenable. The space was clean and tastefully decorated. You also have the option to purchase frozen salt bread to enjoy at home. Be prepared to queue and wait. read more
4 months ago
What a wonderful little bakery in Old Pasadena. Stop by for a quick treat and delicious drinks. All bakery items are very unique. read more
Cute bakery but food was so-so. I ordered a Takoyaki bread (hilarious and cute looking but was too salty), a hojicha puff (very ugly but pretty good), and a salt and butter tomato basil bread. There was a 20 minute line around 11am on a Saturday. I do not recommend driving out specifically for this bakery but might be fine if you happen to be by in the area. read more
Came at a perfect time with hardly a line. They were still constantly baking so every so often, you'd hear the staff yell "fresh bread". We were lucky enough to get some fresh baked original salt & butter bread. Super yummy! Also tried the choco. Bought a few other items (some sweet and some savory). Everything was delicious. Premium matcha latte was spot on! Hubs ordered the cold dirty black sesame latte and that was delicious as well with just the right amount of sweetness. Staff was friendly and didn't hurry any customers (given the line that was forming outside), place was clean and spacious enough with ample seating and in and out customers. read more
This is my second time to this place and the line was like a 15 min today compared to I went a few weeks ago so that's a big plus. I really enjoy the savory buns. I love takoyaki and the bun was very soft and taste just like its. The salted bread was nice soft with a little chewy. Need to bite into the rest but so far so good read more
3 months ago
After I paid, the cashier literally tossed my bag of pastries at me I Let it go. Then I politely asked if I could get a small cup of milk on the side ( was happy to pay for it, and she asked, "What is this for?" My drink was just too sweet. When I explained, she replied, "Bring me your drink, I'll do it myself. It wasn't about the milk, it was the attitude. Really disappointing experience. I definitely won't be coming back. read more
5 months ago
Visited on Grand Opening day. The limit was 6 pastries per customer. I tried the sun-dried tomato basil salt bread, red bean salt bread, and original salt bread in addition to the matcha mochi anpan. The salt bread was warm and had good flavor at 8am opening. The matcha mochi anpan was soft but not served warm. Items run out quickly so get there at opening. Also got a cute baseball cap with a salt bread logo. read more
3 months ago
Love your bakery and the baked creations. Creative and fresh, appropriately priced for Pasadena. Couple of things... to the Japanese man who served us.. I know you are Japanese and you move with zen-like precision, as you wipe each individual tray. However when there are 10 people in line waiting outside your store, I implore you to move a bit quicker, more like ramen-shop speed vs. tea ceremony speed.... Lastly I love your premium matcha from Tsujiri-honten, which is the same one that Yamari at Mitsuwa Torrance also uses. However, I found a piece of your plastic chasen in my drink. I alerted you to this on Jun 20 right after my visit via IG but you didn't respond, hence I'm posting it here to exhort you to do better next time and potentially change your chasen to a higher quality, more durable ones, coupled with better whisking oversight on your employees. Love to see you succeed and please keep up the quality and service! read more
4 months ago
Wa-Iro is such a cute spot to stop by for Japanese-inspired baked goods and treats. I tried the matcha bread and thought it was okay, but the salt and butter bread was definitely the standout for me--soft, warm, and so flavorful. One thing I really appreciated was how kind and helpful the staff were. They were happy to heat up the bread, which made it even better. Great customer service can make all the difference, and the team here was incredibly welcoming. Looking forward to trying more items on a future visit! read more
Came here on a Monday morning around 9am and walked straight in! The service was prompt and excellent, the displays was very nice, with labels and prices on each card. They have just few seats (maybe for up to 14 people comfortably) but the interior is very well curated. -Dirty black sesame latte (5/5) really delicious, one of the best drinks I've had. Due to the price, it would be the occasional splurge for me but if you like sesame/nutty flavors this is so delicious. None of the grittiness that some sesame drinks have (that texture doesn't bother me but I know it is for some). $7, but added $1 to substitute almond milk from the whole milk. Other milk offerings were 2% and oat. -Curry pan (5/5) crisp chewy outside; flavorful filling. Curry pan is one of my favorites breads and this one is delicious. $4.85 -Oyaki Pork Shumai (4.5/5) was described to me as the inside of a pork dumpling by the worker and that is 100% accurate! Super yummy, the bread was thicker and much chewier than the other items. Would get again especially if I was in the hungrier side. Filling! $4.25 -Salt & Butter Roll (5/5) if you want to taste the quality of the flour - this is the item to try. You can taste each ingredient, the salt, the butter. It's simple but so satisfying. $3.85 -French Toast (4.5/5) so chewy and delicious and well flavored, the crust was a little bit harder than the rest which I did not love but otherwise it was perfection. Highly recommend trying! $4.25 Yum! The quality is over great and I will definitely return. They didn't have the spicy curry pan, which I'm interested in trying next time. read more
We came on a Saturday around 11am and waited about 10-15 minutes. We got the matcha cold brew, curry pan, fish panini and yakisoba panini. When we got there a lot of the salt breads were sold out and by the time they restocked them or brought out new items, we had already checked out and did not want to wait in line again. The matcha cold brew was just okay, we liked the fish panini the best. Cute decor and ambiance inside, a nice place to sit with friends. read more
4 months ago
The bakery is very organized. I waited almost 2 hours in line but it went by quickly. They only let in a certain amount of people at a time so it wasn't overcrowded. Seating is limited. I absolutely devoured the jalapeño cheesy panini. It was fresh and hot out of the oven. It was also very cheesy (loved the cheese pull). Also, the cinnamon roll wasn't too sweet. Perfectly made. However, the matcha tasted very artificial. I'd go there again for their pastries only. They limit how many pastries each person can order - 6 pastries total, and only 2 of the same pastries per order. read more
5 months ago
The salt and butter bread stopped me in my tracks. I intended to only eat about a third but inhaled the whole bread. It was lightly crisp on the outside, tender in the middle, with a slight saltiness. I loved the texture. I also picked a salt and butter chocolate bread, fish filet panini, japanini, sausage, s'mores Danish to round out the box. I'll definitely be adding Wa-Iro to my bakery rotation. read more
New Japanese bakery that has superb service and very tasty Croissants. That's all I get since we come in at 1:50pm and they closed at 2. I am dying to try the rest of their menu which I can only drooling about it from other yelper pictures. Betcha is tasty too but till next time. Place is small so I think mostly is for to go but there is few chairs and coffee tables. Oh yeah they do coffee and smells amazing too read more
Wa Iro is a Japanese bakery like Okayama in Anaheim. They are open morning through lunch, but sell out and are closed for dinner. The line can be long, and I was surprised to find it only 5 people long on Memorial Day. That being said the bottleneck is the cashier, where the items are packed into a box, one is asked about drink options, and then items are rung up and paid for. I love their Salt and Butter Rolls, simply delicious! Especially when fresh and warm, just savory from butter and melt in your mouth texture, yum! On Memorial Day they had a Tomato Basil version, which I thought was not as good as the original. The sun dried tomatoes are an extremely strong flavor, and overpower the rest. The basil is more for visuals and aroma, and is just dwarfed by the tomato. I also really liked the Curry Pan. It was not oily, and had a savory curry filling at just the right proportions. The curry had some cubed vegetables included in, so there was a mix of textures inside of the bread that itself was soft but also rough texture from the cooking. The Matcha Mochi Anpan was very soft and chewy, expected for a mochi item, with a vibrant green color I would expect from matcha. The fish filet panini was a slight let down, it was the only item not hot and fresh like the others. It had a nice seafood flavor, a good crunch in the panini bread, just wish it had been warm. Maybe toasting in would have helped, I don't think a microwave would be appropriate to warm it up. read more
One of my favorite bakeries in SoCal is Okayama Kobo, and I was intrigued to try this spot because the packaging and some of the breads look so similar. There wasn't too long of a wait when I went Sunday morning, and I ordered an assortment: salt bread, salt & butter mentai, red bean salt & butter, takoyaki bread, and honey butter toast. The staff member informed me that I could get a box if I got 6 breads but I didn't care for it, so they packaged each bread separately. Of all the breads I tried, the honey butter toast was so so good. I don't even like red bean, but the paste was smooth and the slab of butter on the crispy honey toast was chef's kiss and my new guilty pleasure. Probably way too many calories but totally worth it. The salt bread was good, but I wish it was warm. Overall, I would definitely return when in the area! I really wanted to try the pudding bread but it wasn't available, so there's always a next time. read more
I've been waiting for Wa-Iro to open and learned that they had a soft open yesterday! They're currently open from 8am-2pm and I highly suggest you go try it out! The majority of the staff there today are from Japan and definitely brought the vibes that everyone who is completely obsessed with Japan is craving. I came a little before 8am and they opened their doors around 8:05am- please be patient since it's their soft open. Everyone here is sooooooo sweet and excited about their food. One of the workers was even outside just chatting with everyone and answering questions. Inside the store there's limited seating and I can imagine it filling up pretty quickly. Not much of a study place but a place to catch up with a friend. All of their tables are seating for two. No outlets Salt & Butter - Don't sleep on this. One of the store owners recommended it and I only bought one but it was SO good. It looks like a croissant but it's more of of a bread roll. Very light and fluffy with a soft and crispy exterior. I had it while it was still warm and I'm pretty sure I could eat these all day. Highly recommend! Banana Creme Matcha - Wow, so I don't know how they're going to keep up with this but they're hand whisking the matcha and this drink was so smooth. I think the next time I get it, I would ask for it half sweetened. It wasn't overly sweet but I do prefer my matcha drinks with a little bite/ bitterness. I think this is a lovely mid-day treat to have! It comes iced only. Parking - It's old town so parking always stinks but there's ample street parking if you come when they open. Service - A bit on the slower end but again, they're just opening and working out their kinks. From walking in and leaving it took me about 20 minutes with 3 people in front of me. Can't wait to come back and try other things on the menu! Random Note: I liked the matcha so much and asked if they sell the powder to go. As of now, they only sell coffee beans. I asked one of the owners and he said they may expand and sell matcha powder in the future but don't have any as of now! read more
4 months ago
Parking: 3/5 Parking is metered, so plan ahead depending on the time you visit. Wait & Availability: 3/5 I came around 1:30 PM and there was only a short line, but most items were already sold out with only the custard left. Just a heads-up: when you get to the register, there may be a limit of 1 item per person, even if there isn't much of a line left close to closing time. Overall Experience: 3/5 Since this is a new Japanese bakery, I'll give it another try and update my review after visiting closer to opening time when more items are available. read more
Sooo yummy. Definitely worth the wait. They're constantly baking and restocking so you can try (most) of their breads. I believe the more complicated breads don't get restocked. We had the salt and butter, takoyaki and the sausage panini which isn't pictured. Staff is nice! Will definitely come back to try more read more
I kept seeing this place all over social media and some ppl were saying how good their bread is because they use flour imported from Japan so of course I wanted to try it. We stopped by after lunch and luckily there wasn't a line they had quite a few different flavors of their salted butter bread, butter bread so I bought one of each to try. We also got two drinks, a coffee and a Matcha one thing I really didn't like was how warm it was inside inside. The AC barely felt like it was on and it was pretty stuffy sitting there. We also saw several customers bringing their dogs inside a place that sells food. I just don't think it feels sanitary so we didn't stay very long. They were definitely busy though after the bread at home I have to say it was just OK, maybe I saw too many good reviews on social media and had my expectations too high, but I honestly didn't think the bread was anything that special, for me it didn't really live up to the hype. read more
We came during opening soft launch at 12pm. When we came, there were only three types of bread left, so we tried one of each. The salt bread came out fresh and was still hot. We ordered 3 drinks. Food: Turkey cheese croissant $4.25 It was cold as it was sitting there for a while. I think it would be nice to have a bread warmer but we understand that the service needs to be quick. We give it a 6.5/10. The flavors were subtle and we would much prefer it if it was warm. It would be much tastier with warm melted cheese and as a warm soft bread. It was a good flakiness l. Salt and butter roll: $3.85 The bread was fresh out of the oven so it was warm. We would give it an 8.5/10. You can tell they used high quality salt. It was good, but the color was a little pale. An egg wash on top would do wonders for the color- to make it more appealing. But definitely delicious, a very soft and fluffy bread. The bacon: $4.50 The bacon was okay. We would give it a 7/10. The bread would be much more delicious if it was warm. However, it was sitting out so it was cold. It was soft bread, but it would have been softer and would of melted in the mouth if it was warm. The bacon flavor was good, it was a decent savory bread. Overall, the bread is very fresh and soft. It might be better just to get take out and warm it at home rather than eat them in the store. Sakura Strawberry Latte: $7 We would rate it a 8.5/10. The strawberry flavor is very good and strong. The cream top is very delicious too. The sakura petals make the drink much more visually appealing and aesthetic, but when you accidentally drink the petals- the texture sucks (the price to pay for a pretty drink). It kind of tastes like strawberry wafers, its a little on the sweeter side. However, the strawberry flavor does disappear a little the longer you let it sit, and becomes more of a latte flavor. Still good though! Strawberry matcha latte: $7 A solid strawberry matcha latte. Again, the strawberry flavor was strong and yummy. Even with the foam mixed in, it was strong. Presentation was pretty. 9.5/10 Rose latte: $6 If you like a medium-dark coffee blend, I'd recommend the coffee here. The rose essence in this drink is very light and completely disappears as you continue drinking it. So at the end, it just tastes like a regular latte. But the espresso is good! 7/10 The ambience: 9.5/10 The space itself is beautifully decorated! Super cute! We loved the shelves that had very pretty pottery and plants! The sleek dark green and dark wood is a nice combination! The only concern is that tables are a little small and that seats are pretty close to each other. However, the store is small and they don't really have the luxury to make the tables bigger. The warm lighting is nice for pictures too. Overall a very cute place! A place to sit for a chat and a drink, but again, we recommend eating the bread warm! Edit: I forgot to mention, but to get the box, you must purchase 6 breads. That is probably why they ran out of bread by 12:30pm at soft opening. To get the box, you can also pay $1.50 - not too bad but we didn't want to do that. Everyone wanted the box so they bought more bread..so beware of that :) read more
2 months ago
Small shop with a few tables for sitting. bread is soft and yummy!! Matcha is nice and earthy taste! read more
4 months ago
This bakery has such a cozy vibe and their bread is always so fresh! I absolutely love their salt bread and am eager to try their paninis and green tea mochi bun. The staff is super friendly and service is pretty fast. I waited in line for 15-20mins before it was my turn even though the line was out the door! Their drinks are also solid. I recommend ordering the Iced PREMIUM Matcha Latte and then adding a Banana cream top instead of the default Banana Cream Matcha Latte. It's a bit pricer but you'll taste the difference trust. read more
2 months ago
The pastries are simply amazing. I want to try everything. The line is very long at 10 a.m. on a day off. read more
