A friend requested a Chinese birthday cake, but I didn't have time to make it to Eldo Bakery in Chinatown. Yi Soon was a fantastic substitute! Light, fluffy yellow cake with real whipped cream frosting, and glazed fresh fruit on top. Very tasty, and only $15 for a cake that served 6! I just wish they used fresh fruit inside the cake itself (on top of the layers of cream), versus canned. But the canned fruit was just fine. Not to mention, I grabbed it at 7 PM on a Tuesday night, when most bakeries were long-closed. They also have delicious coconut buns that I've never seen elsewhere. Wonderful option if you're in the Allston/Brighton/Brookline area! Bring cash! read more

Familiar favor with Chinese local cake shops. The decoration is so cute. Love the fruit cake and other small pastries.

one of the best chinese bakeries i've visited. they have a wide assortment of yummies, all presented beautifully - which are also fresh, individually wrapped and cheap. the workers aren't pushy and easy annoyed by your curiosity as some would be in chinatown. atleast they don't seem to mind when i'm leaping and pirouretting in a hungry, excited stupor. read more

I love Yi Soon! Super friendly, open late (for a bakery) and always good. I need their strawberry tiger cake once a week.

I've tried many Asian bakeries so this is why I am giving this a 3-star rating. I know it's quite hard to get some Asian buns in Allston (the food, guys), so I'm happy Yi Soon is around. There is the typical selection, but they don't have my go-to's that I can find in Chinatown and Quincy. About the actual pastries, ehhhhhhhh. It doesn't taste as other bakeries, but it doesn't taste bad. I really like how tidy and presentable this place is though. The owners and staff do a really good job maintaining Yi Soon throughout the day. Yi Soon definitely has a leg up on the pastries in 88 Market, the only nearby joint selling the same types of bread. read more

This is the best Asian bakery in the greater Boston area. Shockingly, there isn't anything better in all of Chinatown if you want to get modern Asian pastries, even though there's a ton of bakeries in Chinatown. Yi Soon makes great pastries that are super delicious and not too sweet. Favorites are the pork floss buns and the red bean mochi bun. Every time we go we get like a week's worth of pastries and they keep well in the fridge. read more

When I lived in Allston I lived for Yi Soon trips with my roommates! Their pastries are yummy and cheap (which is the perfect combination if you're a college student!) I always found the ladies who worked there to be really sweet, but then again, we probably looked so happy to be there they had to have enjoyed us salivating and ogling the red bean paste filled buns and green tea cakes (both are awesome, btw). To make it a complete trip, stop next door at Tea Infusions to get a delicious boba and you're set! read more

Finally I tried this place. I wouldn't say it is the same level as other asian bakeries I have tried in Boston BUT considering the price I thought it is a really good option for sweet Chinese baked goods. read more

This is a great traditional Chinese bakery. I have gone multiple times in the last year and never have had a bad experience. I highly recommend the egg tarts, and the red bean cake. I have had multiple things that they make there and everything is always delicious and fresh. read more

12/29/07: great bakery for taiwanese baked treats, we picked up several buns and pastries and enjoyed them.

The pastries here are delicious! I come here often and buy a whole bag to munch on for breakfast and/or snacks for the next few days. I absolutely love the mochi pastry and my boyfriend really likes the taro pastry. The bread always tastes fresh and never overly sweet. The only ones we didn't like were the chocolate pastry and a slice of green tea cake. They weren't horrible, but probably wouldn't get it again. I'm not a big fan of meat pastries so I can't say much on those, but definitely try the others! read more

I love the Yi Soon Bakery! It is a really authentic Asian bakery. It is like something you would find in Chinatown. All of the sweets are really tasty and the ladies who work here are so friendly. read more

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I'd never been to a Taiwanese bakery before so I didn't know what to expect. Well, what I got were sweet and tasty pastries that used a few flavors and ingredients that I don't normally eat or cook with. The sweet taro cake was amazing. I'd had similar red bean paste cakes before, and was glad to be reintroduced to them. read more

My my my. A pastry has to be pretty good for me to bring it into another shop (namely, the coffee shop across the street) and start munching away. But the lemon custard tarts are just too good- just a hint of tang to complement the egg in the custard and the flakiness of the crust. One whole wall of the shop is lined with pastry buns of every shape and size and for that matter, filling. The custard buns appear right alongside the red bean buns, which likewise snuggle up against a breadier type of pastry filled with peppers and asian pickles. The savory mixes with the sweet, the sweet with the sour. I first dove into this place after being lured by the sight of dumplings in the window wrapped and tied in leaves after being steamed. Unwrapping the leaves (after taking it home, of course), I discovered that the inside was filled with sticky rice, beans, cooked mushroom, baby shrimp meat, a miso egg and a small amount of pork, all nestled within this delightful little package. Christmas presents aren't this fun to open. It somewhat reminded me of lau-lau; indeed, like lau-lau, the dumpling is a meal unto itself. But who can go wrong with a meal under $3? Spread the word: Allston is the only place where you can get some quality buns for a low-low price... and without paying for drinks beforehand. read more

Yi Soon is the sister bakery to 101 Bakery in Chinatown so its bakery offerings are very similar (just more limited in options). As far as asian bread and sweets go, Yi Soon is probably the best in Boston. Breads are always moist, fresh, cheap, and tasty. Their fillings are always delicious and sanitation doesn't seem to be an issue at all. If you're in the city, just head over to 101 in Chinatown since there's no point in making a trip out here for the same thing (and less), but if you're in the area, this is definitely a convenient and tasty fix. I personally find the cakes much less satisfying, but that could just be because i'm not a fan of Asian cake. read more

I had something delicious...it was a pastry, and it was sweet, but it also had scallions in it. Anyone know what it's called? I'm definitely going back and bringing stuff home for the family. read more

This place seems like a bargain to me. When you go to other bakeries, what do they ever have for less than a dollar beside little cookies? I am never quite sure what anything is but I think that is half of the fun. Try the Angel Cream cheese bun, it is my favorite. read more

There is a good variety of baked goods; so you don't need to hike all the way in to Chinatown. Prices are reasonable and service is quick.

The best chinese bakery I have found so far in Boston! YAH! I can't stand the typical chinese bakery that's really ghetto and dirty. This store is actually pretty clean and the prices aren't too bad. my gosh they actually seal up their bakery. Its kind of out of the way for me but when i'm in the neighborhood, i always drop in. read more

Overall a good bakery for a quick asian pastry craving. The cakes I tried were underwhelming. However I found the sun pastries to be delightful. They are definitely worth giving a try if you are not enticed to try a bun. read more

I don't know the names of the pasteries I got but they were all very good. Nice light and fluffy goodness. The mousse cakes were delicous too. I highly recommend giving this place a try... read more

This bakery is the spot! Their pastries are fresh everyday, and the cashier and family behind the curtains are so nice! Not only are their pastries delectable, but they are also really traditional. I love the Golden Cheesecake and the Chocolate Croissant they have in store. In the morning, you can also witness the chef actually making some of their pastries! This bakery is must for authentic flavors and nice, fluffy cakes!! read more

This is a typical Taiwanese style bakery. I would say their stuffs have good values. It is cheap and tasty. It is not a upscale bakery, but its stuffs do taste pretty good. read more

Small shop that only takes cash. Lots of tasty-looking buns here---some of which are not as easy to find in Chinatown bakeries. Tried the taro sponge cake roll (really good!) and a taro-paste filled bun (good, about what you would expect). For me, it's not worth the trip out to Allston, but it would be a great spot if I lived closer. read more

The stuffed buns are to die for! I have tried the coconut, pineapple, scallion, and butter & raisin buns so far. $1-2 for each.

We come here for the coconut and sweet cream/butter buns. I cannot speak on other products. Be sure to bring cash because they do not accept credit cards. Parking is difficult in this area, be sure to park legally to avoid being ticketed and possibly towed. read more

From VA, came here on recommendation from MIT tour guide, Vivian. We'll definitely come back. Best soup base.

A terrific, unassuming gem! Clean, clearly labeled items. Great selection of unique and fabulous stuff for any stage of the munchies. Quite cute, too. read more

As a lover of baked goods and sweets I have slowly been making my way to each bakery in Boston. I enjoy this bakery because of the diversity they offer amongst the very French and Italian bakeries in my area. I've had the green tea cake, taro cake roll, honey roll. For me, I enjoy the green tea cake because it's very simple, not sweet, and fluffy. The best thing I've ever tried is the goji berries, dates and nuts bar......so good and they're sold at a reasonable price considering goji berries are expensive (I've searched online and at places like whole foods). read more

They have great selections of cakes, buns and soft bread here. red beans and taro are my favor. I strongly recommended their taro cake. is light and fluffy with yummy taro. It's good if you don't want anything too sweet that American bakeries are know for. read more

I like the Taiwan style cake in this shop. The matcha cake and the Golden cheese cake is delicious. And the dirty chocolate bread need to heat for 10s and became delicious. Nice bakery shop! read more

Great bakery, have all the treats you would want from an Asian bakery. Cash only though.

fair price. Tried two Green tea favor, the cake tastes bitter, but bread is okay. Let's just say it's fair to the price.

This place is the best Chinese bakery you can have. All the bread that bake in there is absolutely delicious and soft, and the price is very reasonable. It's just amazing read more

Excellent bakery. The hostess is very nice and warm. The wife pastry tastes the same as those at home. Definitely will come for a second time. read more

Never disappointed with their taro bun and caramel pudding with a lovely price. Good location and clean atmosphere. I need to try green tea cake next time !! read more

Delicious pastries and breads! I got the red bean mochi bun, the regular red bean bun, and assorted moon cakes. Everything was so good; not too sweet and all freshly baked. They have a great assortment, and I will definitely be back for the egg tarts and pork floss buns. read more

This place is so great! My parents rave about this bakery, i love their cookies and egg custard, and anything with taro in it. Everything looks so good, I find myself just standing there and pointing a million things, before you know it I end up with 3 bags of goodies. read more

Like Jo Jo Taipei across from it, a visit to Yi Soon Bakery is like stepping into delicious childhood memories of Taiwan. Open the door, and you'll immediately be hit with the aroma of freshly baked breads and pastries. You might also notice right off that Taiwanese bread smells more eggy than most Western varieties. A lot of the bread is pretty similar to challah. My favorite is the shredded pork and scallion bun. They also have a number of cakes available to order. I've gotten the fruit cake, which turned out well (although they did misspell "Congratulations"). Compared to American cakes, I would say that their cake is lighter and less sweet. The frosting is softer and creamier than its domestic counterpart. The various buns are super cheap. It takes quite a bit of self control not to buy too much! I'm glad I don't live closer, or I'd be 10 pounds heavier. read more

My favorite bakery in the whole world! I've tried almost everything they have to sell and it's all amazing and so cheap. They hooked me with the moon cakes. I keep coming back for anything with red bean paste. My friend gets some kind of croissant with a hot-dog baked in. These are the funky fresh flavors you can't find outside of the Asian paradise that is Allston (or Asia... or Chinatown. You get it). read more