When Butter Met Sugar

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.

7.6 km•North Beach/Telegraph Hill

Almond Croissant

Ham & cheese croissant

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Classic Croissant

Butter & Crumble

4.6(761 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!

Would I wait 2+ hours for any baked goods? Probably not…read more I've done it before and I realized nothing is worth the wait. That's why I decided to take my chances around 11am when the line was significantly shorter. I waited maybe 15-20 minutes. Downside was I didn't have too many savory options left to choose from. I had only one savory option left: the butternut chorizo croquiche. Only thing I wish they did was separate the savory from the sweet because when we bit into it, pieces of chorizo fell onto the dessert-y pastries. Reminded me of that Friends episode where Rachel made a beef trifle for dessert. *I wasn't supposed to put beef in the trifle* I think the savory pastry was the best. We also had the chocolate chip cookie (not my fav, too crumbly), the banana pain au chocolat and the lemon vanilla bean filled cruffin. I'm having vague memories of that last one. I just remember it was really messy when you unleashed the cream. Among the sweet desserts, I liked the banana chocolate croissant the best! It wasn't overly sweet. I also got the salted maple pecan latte and I really enjoyed their housemade whipped cream! And the latte wasn't too sweet either :) I expected to spend a pretty penny on 4 pastries and a latte. It was ~$40 overall. It was less sticker shock and more quiet resignation. Anyway, I would still happily try their pastries again as I know they have a seasonal menu, but you won't find me in line at 7am.

Hanna's twice baked biscoff croissant

Lauren's chopped cheese pain suisse

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Allyson's pork bun bearclaw

Golden Gate Bakery

4.3(3.7k reviews)

6.8 km•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!

FINALLY able to try the egg tarts from Golden Gate Bakery after numerous attempts. The hours are so…read moreunpredictable, and we honestly wouldn't have realized it was open if there wasn't a line on the sidewalk because the gates were still drawn. Took about 15-20 minutes to get through several people. We tried both the egg tarts ($3.50/ea) and the white lotus paste double egg yolk mooncake ($13). They don't use lard, so if you're vegetarian, snack away! Egg tart shell was super flaky and thin; custard was *very* egg-y. It was a little more like egg souffle than egg custard, and not as silky as I personally like. Still delicious though, 8/10. Mooncake was pretty solid and the filling had some surprise macadamia nuts in there, which added a nice texture. The skin wasn't my favorite, but I think that's just personal preference. Not too sweet. 7/10. Would come back to grab an egg tart if I ever happen to catch this place open again.

5.3 km•Lower Pacific Heights

Egg tart!!

Almond Cookies and Coconut Tarts.

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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

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Chocolate Kouign Amann Seasonal ($5.75)

Pineapple King Bakery - San Francisco

4.4(1.8k reviews)

4.4 km•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

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NEW ITEM - Croissant Coconut Tart 可頌椰撻

Tartine Bakery

4.2(9.2k reviews)

2.7 km•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.

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

Arizmendi Bakery

4.5(2.4k reviews)

3.6 km•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.

4.9 km•Dogpatch, Potrero Hill

Focaccia display

Blueberry Muffin

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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.

5.0 km•Lower Pacific Heights, Japantown

Char Siu Croissant

Roasted Mushroom Croissant Tart

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Chocolate Croissant

Jina Bakes

4.3(833 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

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Match Cream Puff ( I have been craving this!)

Arizmendi Bakery

4.3(824 reviews)

2.0 km•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

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Dirty Horchata

When Butter Met Sugar - desserts - Updated October 2026

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I find it a bit ridiculous that this bakery cannot accommodate a very simple cake request made…read morethree whole weeks in advance and there is no indication to that on the website. If you are not currently taking requests, you can block out the dates on the calendar, so I don't waste time filling out a long form that just cannot be honored.

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