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Whole Cakes

3.7 (133 reviews)
Closed 8:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Julian T.

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.

Affogato Bingsu & Opera Cake
Alaine M.

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!

Milk bun with sweet curd and oranges on top

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.

Strawberry jasmine.  It looked fantastic.
Mike M.

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.

Cake assortment
Mia D.

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.

Tim Y.

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.

Buche de noël, best in San Francisco
Behnam R.

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

You feel like eating the banner
Mike R.

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!

Brownie, citrus chocolate muffin, double chocolate cake slice
Fiona T.

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.

Gary W.

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.

Black sesame matcha
Alicia L.

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.

Strawberry vanilla cake and black sesame matcha cake
May H.

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.

Robert C.

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-

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Ask the Community - Whole Cakes

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A Buttercup Dessert House - We will open in September

A Buttercup Dessert House

4.3(248 reviews)
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This is my favorite dessert house, which I recommend to all my friends who need a good date spot, a…read moreplace to meet up with friends, or to friends who are visiting the city and have never had bingsoo or dessert style toasts. I absolutely love everything mango from here and their affogato is to die for! The best affogato I've ever had. Definitely try this place!

Although they don't serve variations of buttercups, A Buttercup is one of the few dessert houses…read moreoffering Taiwanese-style treats like Bingsoo, Milk Bread Toast, and other Asian fusion creations. I'm always hunting for spots like this because I have a weakness for those over-the-top, Instagram-worthy desserts that look like diabetes in a dish. Like most places in this genre, A Buttercup is small, modern, and minimalist with limited seating. If you plan to go, aim for off-hours unless you enjoy waiting in line for sugar. The decor is cute and trendy, perfect for photos if that's part of your dessert ritual. As they say, "you eat with your eyes first," and when it comes to presentation, this place definitely gets an A+. The desserts look stunning and set high expectations. Unfortunately, that's where things started to crumble. It's like going to see your favorite artist live. You've watched the videos, memorized the songs, and paid for the experience. But instead of the electric performance you imagined, you get someone lip-syncing and barely connecting with the crowd. That was this place in dessert form. We ordered the Mango Bingsoo on our first visit, and when it arrived, we were surprised by how small the portion was. The guy next to us even looked over and said, "Whatever that is, I'm getting that next time." He shouldn't have. The Bingsoo looked great but was bland, and the "snow" was more chunky ice than soft shave. The Thai Tea Roti was also not what I expected. It came with Thai tea ice cream and sauce alongside a roti that was fried to a crunch. Interesting idea, just not the best execution. The sauce and ice cream needed a stronger Thai tea flavor to balance the crispy roti, and the flavors never quite came together. Overall, A Buttercup nails the aesthetics but misses the flavor. If you're here for the photos, you'll be happy. If you're here for the taste, you'll leave with a full camera roll and an unsatisfied sweet tooth.

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A Buttercup Dessert House
A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 1 of 2

Menu 1 of 2

A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 2 of 2

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NaYa Dessert Cafe

NaYa Dessert Cafe

4.1(780 reviews)
1.7 miHayes Valley
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Vegetarian friendly
Vegan friendly

The best way to cool off on a warm day! We visited NaYa for dessert after brunch at aMano. It's not…read morea big space & was pretty full but the host/server had a 2 top table available. It was kinda hot & stuffy inside even with the door open because it was a warm day. We were told in advance that orders would take approximately 20-30 minutes to arrive because they were short staffed at the time (additional staff arrived after an hour). My friend had to Thai tea crepe cake & I had the mango tango (because I looooove mangoes). The Thai tea crepe was pretty good, lots of Thai tea flavor, and not too sweet. The Thai tea custard sauce added a bit of sweetness to it. The mango tango was sooo good! I loved the coconut ice cream (it's a shaved from a block of ice cream so it's really fluffy). The fresh mango was served on the side in addition to a small bowl of coconut, sticky rice and additional mango sauce. Service was as efficient as possible. Server was helpful too.

Felt like dessert after a day in the city, thought we'd try NaYa in Hayes Valley. Local hangout…read more Young crowd and good vibes. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs - but what a great surprise. We started our evening with the Mango Tango. That Sticky Rice was the Main Wow! Not to take anything away from the coconut & mango, just that rice. I could have had that on its own. We then ended the night with the Toasted Kaya. Warm Bread with the right crunchiness. Another fun & tasty surprise. All in all - we will probably share just one dish next time - but definitely coming back

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NaYa Dessert Cafe - Chocolate Toasted  cr. foodswithyu

Chocolate Toasted cr. foodswithyu

NaYa Dessert Cafe - Mango Tango  Cr. mitzifood

Mango Tango Cr. mitzifood

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warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open. 
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The chocolate salted egg lava cake, served warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open. Cr. janeejaneee

Maruwu Seicha - mango matcha latte (10/2024)

Maruwu Seicha

4.3(703 reviews)
2.2 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
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Women-owned & operated
Certified professionals

- Menu: tons of options, drinks/baked goods/soft serve -…read moreDrink adjustability: can adjust any drink - Seating: open food hall style seating in Japan Center Mall - Crowd: pretty empty at 10a on a Monday - Parking: parking garage, metered - Water is scarce in the Mall, but restrooms are widely available (albeit old) My Bay Area friend swore Maruwu Seicha is THE place to go for quality matcha. Turns out she was right. I had a matcha latte half sweet, and it was delicious- high quality matcha, not too strong or sweet. We did wait about 10min for our order, service is kind but busy. This is a stand nestled in the middle of the Japan Center Mall, so recommend grabbing a sip here and wandering around. Just heads up that many stores don't allow outside drink.

Wow this place is good. I stopped by during the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom festival and…read morethe line was long as usual. Surprisingly, I only waited about 10mins to order and another 5-10mins to get my drink. I ordered a Hojicha Latte + Snow Top for myself and Hokkaido Milk Soft Serve for my hubby and baby to share. The Hojicha Latte was delicious, I finished it all in one sitting (which is rare for me). The soft serve was creamy and delicious. Worth the hype IMO,, I'll be stopping by every time we go to Japantown from now on.

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Maruwu Seicha - Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

Maruwu Seicha - Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

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Powder - regular Strawberry with passionfruit glaze and condensed milk (09/2024)

Powder

4.4(835 reviews)
2.2 miLower Haight
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Delicious, and this place blew my mind when I tried it out…read more First off, very surprised at all the flavors you can get and try, including horchata, Thai tea, and ube! To be honest, when I came here, I did not expect much. I typically am not the type to get snow or anything icy, since it is not the first thing that comes to my mind when it comes to dessert, but I am so glad I got to experience this. When I came on a Wednesday night, it was not too busy, and my friend and I were able to get our food within 10 minutes. The spot itself is pretty small, with not a lot of seating, but some limited spots outside. I got the black sesame with condensed milk, and my friend got the mexican hot chocolate. What makes this place stand out so much is the texture of the dessert, which was fluffy, soft, and melted in your mouth. Overall, I want to come here again and try the other flavors!

Stopped by on a Saturday evening and it wasn't busy. I got a regular size of the Cereal Killer…read morewhich was cereal snow topped with sweet milk glaze and fruity pebbles. I loved this so much, it had such a fantastic texture of being creamy but also light and fluffy. Probably one of the best shaved snow texture I've had. Tried some of the matcha snow and earl grey snow as well, and both of them were solid too. My favorite was still the cereal snow because I have more of a sweet tooth and the matcha and earl grey were less sweet. I would absolutely return to try more snow flavors! Service was really friendly and our 3 bowls were ready within a few minutes. Only one small bench inside and some outdoor seating.

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Matcha Green Tea w/ mochi

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Strawberry & Cereal Snow

Whole Cakes - desserts - Updated May 2026

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