Ordered a 6" green tea black sesame cake. Flavors are mild, but a good balance between the two. Not too swee Wished that they didn't charge to have something written as that seems like a complimentary add-on for most bakeries.. read more

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This place came highly recommended as not too sweet, perfect for Asian taste preference. I do not think this is suited to the general public as the flavors are more subtle and not sweet enough. I've tried: - mango bingsu - mango was good, but shaved ice didn't have much flavor. No folded in mango syrup or condensed milk. A skip for me - triple citrus cake - I didn't expect grapefruit and felt they should have put some warning language on the website ordering form as grapefruit interacts dangerously with a lot of medicine. It was maybe not enough grapefruit to be an issue but I was very concerned as I was sharing it with older folks. - triple summer berry cake - good A few other notes: - although they open at 8:30 am, earliest pickup is at 10 am - cake inscription is $5...which I feel should be a complementary service - plenty of free street parking nearby - quick and easy pickup read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

We got a birthday cake from here! It was super light, creamy, fluffy and most importantly - NOT TOO SWEET I don't have any complaints. read more

Whole Cakes - Very Berry Cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was looking for pick up and go pastries and found Whole Cakes. I tried the double baked croissant with an espresso topping ($7) and enjoyed it. Staff were whipping and baking and it was fun to watch. There is a dedicated valentines and lunar new year menu. There are some Asian inspired pastries I will try next time. Support local! read more

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I was on my way to a friend's house in Potrero Hill when I stumbled upon Whole Cakes and decided to pick up a cake for my friend. I couldn't leave without treating myself to an elegant and delicious raspberry chocolate mousse. read more

Whole Cakes - Raspberry chocolate mousse - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Pretty cakes and a good selection of pastries! Owners here are super nice. The cakes are pretty moist and have some interesting flavors. The 4" size is perfect for a smaller celebration and they have a few ready to purchase during the day. I also like their breakfast sandwiches and drinks too! read more

Whole Cakes - Blueberry 4" cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Whole Cake has become one of my top choices for birthday cakes in recent years. The cakes are tasty and delicious. These days, many of us prefer healthier options and avoid overly sweet desserts. The real mastery in making desserts is creating something that is not too sweet. I know it sounds ironic, but after trying so many desserts around the world, this is exactly the kind of balance I appreciate. I just love their cakes. I do agree with some other comments that their customer service could be warmer. Sometimes the staff can come across with a poker face when handing over the cake. Also, their small add-ons like candles are overpriced, which I think is unnecessary. With those points improve, I would give this a five stars for overall rating. read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My girlfriend & I went to Whole Cakes on a Monday in the afternoon, food was great, we are not huge red bean fans, but, overall it was really great and for next time we will ask for less, but if you are a red bean lover, it is amazing. We also got the Opera Cake, which was delicious and nutty. Service was great, the worker checked us out gracefully and showed us where the spoons & napkins were. Ambiance as a whole was also pretty great, gave me a bakery vibe but at home and it felt welcoming. Will be purchasing a cake soon for our anniversary for sure! read more

Whole Cakes - Affogato Bingsu & Opera Cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great tasting cakes and a reasonable price. They have lots of other desserts to choose from. Great location

The people were super nice, but the cake was not good at all. It was supposed to be strawberry jasmine. The only strawberry were the pieces on the top. The fresh whipped cream was good, but the cake had no taste at all. Actually, it wasn't even sweet. I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't good. And I won't even tell you the price. Im thinking this cake was probably just a fluke. There's no way the business would be popular if all of their cakes were like this. I'll give them another shot in the future. read more

Whole Cakes - Strawberry jasmine. It looked fantastic. - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered a cake for my friend's birthday through their website a week before my pick up date, and when I got at the store I was told they didn't receive the order hence hadn't made the cake. They asked me if I was willing to wait for another 30min but I was in a rush so they offered me substitutes with a lighter version of the strawberry cake. My friend told me the strawberries on the cake weren't fresh, the cream also tasted heavy and not fresh. I had high hopes for this store but disappointed about their quality. read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

i came here on a saturday morning and ended up meeting the owner. the owner was super sweet and cared for her art. there is a wide variety of cakes and other baked goods. they had a good breakfast line up too but unfortunately didn't have the muffins when i went. i still ended up getting a slice of chocolate cake layered with vanilla cream, strawberries, and raspberries. the cake was very airy and moist, super delicious. there isn't really seating except for one table outside. read more

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Beautiful and flavorful cakes. They had a chamomile cake that was so delicious. Friendly service, close to UCSF which is convenient and so many options. read more

I recommend getting a cake here for any celebrations. The cakes are well made with high quality ingredients you can taste, and super balanced (light not heavy, not too sweet, but sweet enough to satiate sweet tooth). I especially liked the pecan pie. One of the best pies I've ever tasted. read more

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I came by today randomly for something sweet. I've never heard of this place but I went in to try. I got the milk bun with a sweet curd and oranges on top. It was amazing! I've never had a dessert like this in my life! It combines all of my favorite things; sourdough, sugar, and fruit. It was so sweet and amazing! The bread was a perfect. I'll be back for sure. read more

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Whole Cake rocks confectionery delights! "All Organic, Locally Sourced Cakes & Artisan Baked Goods We had just had a quick lunch at Street Taco a few feet away after our gym work out at UCSF Mission Bay. So we were not "straving" thankfully when we walked into this amazing neighborhood bakery gem on 16th Street. We were greeted by Sonya, who is the cheerful owner who served us with a warm smile and kind welcoming eyes as my wife and I explored her beautiful creations. My wife went to town ordering incredible looking and tasting scones, bread, cookies, and pastries while I ordered a cappuccino, which was exceptional. Sonya shared this was her second bakery shop with another SOMA. After visiting Whole Cake this first time, it's more like an art gallery and there are one master piece after another. Magnificent visually and thankfully for your taste buds too! Whole Cake is both an artisan bakery and "confectionery art gallery". You will appreciate Sonya and her magic bakers skills and talents! We did and will be back soon! read more

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I wasn't very impressed by the taste or texture of the items I got. $6 brownie. I handed this to my brother after 2 bites. I expected it to taste better and be more moist. $7 double chocolate cake slice. It was a normal slice of cake 3.75 citrus chocolate muffin. It was kind of dry and didn't have much flavor. I'll stick with Costco 6 pack muffins. I am very curious about their other cake selection though. Black Sesame with roasted soy sounds promising. read more

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My wife Anna and I have been ordering cakes from Whole Cakes for many years now--for birthdays, special occasions, and, of course, their Bûche de Noël for Christmas. Their cakes are simple, elegant, and perfect. Unlike most cake shops in the U.S., their cakes are not overly sweet, allowing the fresh ingredients to shine. They often feature a delightful mixture of different textures. Beyond the Bûche de Noël, my favorite is the Opera Cake. This is not your run-of-the-mill, sugar-laden Safeway cake. While they are pricey, the quality is well worth read more

Whole Cakes - Buche de noël, best in San Francisco - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time visit to get a Too Good to Go surprise bag, which consisted of 2 mini muffins, 1 matcha shortbread cookie, and 1 coconut macaroon. Pick up was easy with friendly and informative staff, as I have a nut allergy and give away items that I am allergic to. All of the items were delicious and I will return for a workday treat, as it's a short walk from my office. read more

Ordered for our wedding dinner! Food: 10/10 [Vanilla Chai ; Double Chocolate] If you want a cake with simple, yet elegant taste, look no further. You could really taste that each individual ingredient is of the highest quality in both flavors. The subtleness of the chai cut through the sweetness of the vanilla with joy. The texture of the chocolate gave bounciness. Service: 20/10 Sonya (owner/baker) has been the most responsive, friendly, helpful since the beginning. She answered all questions & shared in the excitement of building the delicious centerpiece for such a joyous occasion. read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends and I got this cake for a friend's birthday and it was a big hit - everyone finished the cake! It's super airy so not heavy, and not too sweet (in a good way). Around 10 people had a slice each, so you can assume the size that way. read more

Whole Cakes - Black sesame matcha - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sonya reached out to me about the cake and offer to make another 4 inch black sesame matcha cake for my sister's birthday. I do appreciate with store owners reach out as it shows they valued their customers. The black sesame matcha cake is their popular cake. My family is a fan of matcha and black sesame, so finding a cake with these two combo is a plus. The chiffon cake tastes like matcha and is like a soft sponge cake. The black sesame cream was not overly sweet, but do wish it was more black sesame flavor (just my personal preference). Matcha can have some bitterness and black sesame has a nutty flavor, if these are not your taste, this cake is not for you. read more

Whole Cakes - Strawberry vanilla cake and black sesame matcha cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My co-worker and I were walking back to work when we saw this bakery. We both wandered in and were impressed by the artistry of all their products: bread, pastries, cookies, cake, and sandwiches. Their cakes were beautiful! He got ginger cookies. I got the slice of raspberry chocolate cake. Very nice- read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Thank you to the owners for great customer service and retaining ingredient quality as they scale (even though I have not been there prior to this visit) read more

I've been meaning to try this place for so long and I'm glad I was able to choose Whole Cakes for my birthday cake! My department once had an earl gray cake from whole cakes and I was doing a no sugar challenge that month, so unfortunately I wasn't able to taste any! I totally regretted it after people mentioned how good it was. I made sure to place an online order for my cake for pick up. Please be careful not to go to the downtown location because I accidentally did LOL! I input the wrong address. It's only the Portero Hill location that's open right now. So I ended up getting a 6" Earl Gray Cake for $40. Pretty steep for a cake but I knew I was going to love it. I placed an order two to three weeks in advance and it was all set. Upon arrival, this location is close by to a park and by the boba guys! Super nice area but not too much parking around. Highly recommend having someone drop you off or stand by. When I got there, there wasn't a line at all and I was able to pick up my cake fairly quickly. I ended up looking around to see what else they had and I ended up getting their strawberry cake for $6 without tax. After that, I was on my way back. Breakdown of each item I tried: -Earl Gray Cake: I would say it was well worth the wait. The earl gray flavor is so light and well incorporated throughout the cake. It's a very airy cake and not dry at all. There are SOME hints of peaches throughout the cake (mostly in the whipped frosting), but I would have loved to see more or even have some on top of the cake. I've had it in my fridge for a few days now and it hasn't dried out at all. It's not sweet at all which is what I really love. Definitely a great cake to try! -strawberry cake: idk if this had been sitting out for awhile, but the cake itself was really dry. The strawberries and whipped topping was nice, but definitely needs to be more moist. I think if you add some milk to the cake, it should be fine. Otherwise I wasn't too impressed by this. Overall, I'm grateful I got to try this place and I might be back to buy more cakes here for special occasions. I'd just be a bit careful if you're getting a whole cake vs a slice. I might have to sit down here and have coffee one day. read more

Whole Cakes - Earl Gray Cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The cookie was good but very hard and small for 3.5 dollars. The macchiato was also good but very small. The service was ok. I asked the guy for a large macchiato, but he said they only had one side, which was small. The ambiance was dry. There was no music or no life in the shop. Just the cashier playing on his phone when I walked in. Didn't seem to be in a great mood. read more

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This cake shop is a 3.5 for me but I brought it to 4 since Yelp doesn't do half points. The location in Portrero Hill for pick up was pretty convenient for me since I could walk from Soma, you could also walk over to the Muni or drive. The store itself is quite basic and doesn't offer much beyond the counter with very little seating. Service was efficient but not particularly warm. I ordered the black sesame & soybean cake for a friend's birthday and they also included a little personalized happy birthday sign for us! The cake itself transported well and came in a nice box. The cake was very light and fluffy which I love in chiffon cakes. The black sesame overwhelmed the soybean flavor so I think it would have worked better overall as just black sesame if they wanted to amp up those flavors. The cream was ok. I would like to try their other flavors although I would need another special occasion since they only come in whole cakes! read more

Price: 2/5 around $51for a 6 inch Flavor: 1/5 Presentation: 5/5 Ordered a matcha black sesame cake for a birthday and was excited to try it due to the flavors and how cute it looked. I know asian cakes are not meant to be so heavily sweet but this just lacked flavor all around. No one wanted to finish their piece at the party nor take it home. It was bland, didn't have any distinct flavor besides a slight toasty after taste and you couldn't even taste the cream, sesame, or matcha, it tasted like someone whipped heavy cream with no sugar no vanilla or anything. It was really disappointing because the cake had looked so pretty, especially for the price that I paid for it. Another patron had ordered the same cake and stated that they were eager to try this specific flavor as well. It is hard to find a cake shop that specializes in asian and/or distinct flavors. Everyone had a slice and it was very bland, it was as equivalent to eating a slice of bread. read more

Cake was good but it needs to be a tad sweeter. It is cake after all. Service is basic. No smiles, no warmth. I am assuming they make more money from preorders and not walk ins because they act like they don't need your business or you are a bother. If that's the case then keep the door closed. I want to like this place since it's close to my house but can't deal with the icy treatment every time. Their cakes are better than their other pastries. read more

I've had a lot of their cakes and pastries while working in the FiDi as it was the place to order from when celebrating special occasions (e.g. baby showers and retirement). When I found out they were opening a 2nd location in the Dogpatch, I was excited as finding parking in the FiDi location is almost impossible. Plus, the FiDi location doesn't open on weekends. Over the last two months, I've purchased two different cakes from Whole Cakes. The first cake was a spur of the moment purchase as I was picking up drinks at Boba Guys. I went into Whole Cakes to see what's available and the Coffee Lover's Mocha cake caught my eye. The second cake was their Green Tea Black Sesame that I ordered for my mom's birthday. Coffee Lover's Mocha Cake - the cake is flavored with Four Barrel coffee and whole beans. Both the cake and cream was light, fluffy, and light on sugar, which makes me feel less guilty to indulge. For those of you who love coffee and mocha, this is your go-to. Green Tea Black Sesame Cake - the cake is matcha flavored paired with a black sesame cream. Having never had a cake with this flavor profile, I was a little worried it wouldn't taste good. To my surprise, it was awesome! The flavor combination worked well and one didn't overpower the other. Like the Coffee Lover's Mocha cake, the cake and cream was fluffy and light on sugar. This cake was even approved by my kids which I wasn't expecting. They normally like strawberry or chocolate cakes. Despite all the challenges COVID has brought, I'm glad Whole Cakes continues to provide top quality baked goods. Now...if maybe the owner can improve on the customer service...I find her to always have a RBF whenever I see her (minus a star). Finally, Whole Cakes makes this awesome zucchini bread, but it's not available daily. It's like playing the lottery, you'll just have to see if you get lucky to score one. read more

Whole Cakes - Coffee Lovers Mocha Cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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After passing by Whole Cakes numerous times, the first time that I saw their door open I decided to go inside. Nestled right on 16th street, Whole Cakes is on a corner of a nice small park and seating areas -- perfect for your morning muffin or slice of cake. Upon entering in, I was greeted warmly by one of the bakers and she told me to let her know if I had any questions graciously. To be honest, this was probably the fastest time I have been served in a bakery in San Francisco. I was in and out in about 3 minutes, while there are glass displays of drinks, cakes, and pastries to view as well as the rhythmic crafting of treats of the bakers in the back. The location is beautiful, the inside is bright, and they have a small table outside to sit after you get your items. I ordered the chocolate banana muffin as well as the bacon chive scone. While the scone lacked bacon and was a little drier than I anticipated, I enjoyed the rustic flavor of this morning treat. The banana muffin? Highly recommend! My only note is that you can never have too many chocolate chips, but the batter was moist, the bananas were a nice touch with some beautifully baked in, and the chocolate chips flavor was not overpowering. If you're looking for a quick bite, a small surprise cake for a friend, or just a morning bite while going to work, Whole Cakes is a decent choice. While this is not a "need to stop by" place, if you're hungry and need something convenient, Whole Cakes is a good option. read more

Our friends brought us tasty, soft cookies from Whole Cakes. everything was soft and tasty. Here are the flavors we got, ranked from my favorite to least favorite: Sea salt chocolate chip - loved the intense (but not overwhelming) sea salt Black sesame Earl grey - flavor quite subtle Matcha read more

I've been going to whole cakes since they opened and their cakes never seem to disappoint. Super fluffy and not overly sweet. read more

Whole Cakes - Blueberry Cake - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped by since I was waiting for my order at the boba guys next door and this establishment looked like a cute place to check out. One girl who worked there had just ended her shift and didn't even bother to put the counter back to where it was, thus obstructing our ability to access the other side of the small bakery to see the mini pies and loaves. Slice of chocolate crepe cake: 0/5 dense and sour milk taste. I've had many crepe cakes before and they are supposed to be light and fluffy. This was the complete opposite. Further more, it seems they have an issue with spoiled desserts. I just read some other reviews with the same complaint. One of those reviews got a response from the owner saying it must be due to the customer's error in storage. When I called in about my spoiled cake, she said it must be due to my own error in storage issues too and not their issue because they had sold the whole cake with no complaints. I said it couldn't have been our fault because we came in late in the day and got the last slice and immediately brought it home under 30 minutes to consume. It had to have been on them. Fortunately, they gave us the refund that we asked for. I mention this whole situation in my review only because I think they should address how they make and store their cakes since it seems to not be an isolated incident but a regular occurrence based off other reviews. Overall service review: 3/5 Slice of Earl Grey Cake: 5/5 Was so light and delicate while still being moist. Super delicious and not too sweet. A lovely cake that I would order again as a whole for a celebration. I definitely think it would be a lovely birthday cake. Slice of s'mores cake: 5/5 Fun and delicious. Loved the gooey marshmallow topping. And it looked pretty too. Slice of Chocolate raspberry cake: 3/5 Flavors were alright. A bit too tangy for my taste but I expect that was the intention since it was made with raspberries. Still appreciated that it was moist. 4 inch chamomile and quince cake: Was beautifully frosted but I can't give a review on the taste as it was a gift for someone else. Overall I think this bakery has its hit and misses and they definitely need to address their spoilage issue if multiple other customers have brought it to their attention. read more

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As a loyal customer for 8+ years, this is long due review. I first came to Whole cake when I was pregnant and now my kid is 8 year old ( to be in a few days, celebration is coming with a cake from whole cakes as a tradition). My families are picky eaters and very care about ingredients and food quality. I tried many bakeries in the bay area and nothing meet our expectation until we ran into Sonya. We want to a good balance of the nature flavor and not overwhelmed by the sugar as many bakery stores failed. The ingredients have to be in top quality and fresh. Since then, this place becomes our destiny - no matter birthday, anniversary or events, I come here to get my cake. I don't know how people left bad reviews on the customer service, I never have issue in my 8 years experience. Sonya is always patient and willing to explain yo me on my request. I don't have issue with casher either, of course, I have seen many different faces in the past years. I just hope the store can have enough staff since Covid caused many retailers hard to hire hourly workers, and I have seen staffs here are very busy. The food quality are always good, no change since I first came here. every year I see some new flavor and always try- i can't count how many flavors I have but my favorite flavor is black sesame, green tea, coffee lover and my kid love double chocolate and very berry blueberry. My husband is unique and loves sweet potato~ anyway, if you are picky at ingredient and willing to pay extra for the organic ingredients, you will love this place! read more

Whole Cakes - Strawberry Vanilla Cake with customized design - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Their cakes are good. The strawberry vanilla was even excellent but somehow it's taken a wrong turn... the cake tastes dry now. They make good pastries, but the attitude there is depressing. They don't smile, and they act like they're doing YOU a favor by selling you a cake. It's been like this since before the pandemic (at their 1st Street location). Very strange. read more

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Been looking forward to its opening for over a year now! Glad it is finally here! Interior is quite large and open (similar to neighbor bakehouse) with no real seating options. There is a small snack display selling cookies and croissants etc. And also a small display of cakes of the day. While options are currently limited, I am excited to see their expansion! I heard they will have breakfast smoothies, and savory menu items soon. The cake I tried was pretty good--light, fluffy, and not too sweet. Didn't look perfected so its got some homemade feel to it. Shortbread cookie was good but a bit drier than expected. So far, everything is quite pricey but there aren't many places like this in the area so I "whole"heartedly welcome it. Cake candles are also sold in the store :) read more

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The cake exceeded all expectations! The design was absolutely beautiful - with great detail to attention. All our guests were very impressed, and the kids loved the colors too. The taste was equally good - Rich but balanced flavors. Highly recommend them for cakes--you won't be disappointed!" read more

Whole Cakes - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I recently preordered a box of tea cookies and they were SO good! The flavor, texture, and decorations were elegant and refined, making the treats feel unique and special. I'll definitely have to try their cake at some point. read more

Let's just say that what you see in photos online is not what you would expect in person. Everything online looks aesthetically pleasing and perfect, but flavors really fell short. For a spot that specializes in cakes, I decided to order a slice of their Coffee Lover's Mocha Cake, which was ~$6 and VERY TINY. They also had some baked goods for sale: croissants (also very tiny, about the size of my palm also for $5), cookies, among other things, that are left out in the open with no encasing... so I would be careful about these items. My co-worker had their speciality sourdough croissants, which she described as tough (I watched her visibly yank her teeth from the dough) -- which is not what you expect from a croissant at all. The Coffee Lover's Mocha Cake itself was more frosting than cake (see photo), lacked flavor and was just underwhelming. The employees are friendly, but products are definitely not worth the price. read more

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