Have walked into this small store late in the afternoon and was greeted by numerous very friendly ladies! All of them wanted to make sure that I was being helped and the service was fast. I ordered glazed cream puffs and a slice of napoleon. While the cream puffs were superb (good texture, crispy pastry and very rich chocolate), napoleon was a little too sweet for my taste. Will definitely go back to try their tiramisu and get more cream puffs :) read more

I went here during COVID-19 times and they only allowed 2 people in at the same time, so that's great that they're putting safety first since it's such a small place. The pastries here are AMAZING!!! It's not cheap but I find value in the excellent pastries here. read more

Nice and clean. Pastries looked delicious. I think it's $15/lb. got the Napoleon- good but a bit too sweet for my liking.

This bakery is good. Growing up in a family with my mom as a professional baker and brother a professional chef, I know good quality food when I taste it. My complaint is that they charge by the pound (which if fine) but they put HUGE fruit on their pastries and it's obvious why. They want to bump up their prices just a little more. The tiramisu has strawberries almost the size of your fist. First off, we all know what a regular strawberry tastes like AND they are not usually that big. I don't want to spend $12/pound for a fist-sized strawberry! My other complaint is that the staff is a bit aloof and unfriendly. They need to be more warm and welcoming especially after charging an arm and a leg for very heavy garnishes! read more

We used to love this place. We would drive up from San Diego to this bakery to buy delicious stuff. We went there this morning and bought a box rusk (naan sokhari), a box of roasted pistachios and a box of roasted pumpkin seeds for a total of $27. We couldn't wait to get home to have our coffee with a piece or two of the rusk. Unfortunately, the rusk is not fresh, not crunchy and not tasty. It tastes like it's been in that unsealed box for a couple of days at least. We next ventured to the pistachios. They are not fresh, they're not crisp and have an after taste. This is awful. We would take these back but have no desire to drive all the way back. We will never go back to Assal Pastry again. Waste of money and waste of time. We are giving them 2 stars since the pumpkin seeds are fine. At least the couple of seeds I just tried now. Why would a business sell stale stuff to loyal customers? We don't understand. read more

The cakes are always fresh and it's not super sweet. My family's favorite birthday cake.

Love their pastries but their customer service is horrible. I had an issue with an order, talked to the manager, Maryam, to make sure she is aware of their mistake but she was very rude and put all the blame on me for ordering the cake incorrectly even though I showed them a picture and they confirmed that they can make the same cake. Very unprofessional, rude and disrespectful. Will never shop there anymore. read more

What a hidden gem! Love their chocolate eclair, cream horn and Napoleon pastries!!! Best I've had!

Awesome cakes, if u have not try it definitely go for it. For the price you pay you get super delicious cake They also bake fantastic different kinds of pastries too read more

Little shop that has a lot of fancy and scrumptious pastries! I just found out about this through my friend who insisted that I try this place. It doesn't disappoint! read more

I went from San Diego to buy some Persian pastries. We got the 2 roulette, one with pineapple and the other one mocha . The mocha was really old and the pineapple roulette was so much pineapple that you couldn't even test the cake any more. I hope they Change some recipe and do not use so much ingredients of everything. Just disappointed! Also why you don't make sure your cakes are fresh? Even we asked and confirmed about it to give us fresh roulette! We was driving 1:45 from San Diego just for them to first support them and second have some delicious roulette. Next time hopefully be better! read more

Gotta stop by here when I'm in the OC area! Love this place. Can't go wrong with any dessert!

Pastry tasting menu..tops!!! Worth the drive. Sweetness just right...goes well with my brewed coffee...will dream till next time!

I consider Assal still the best Persian pastry in SoCal. Their products are comparable to the best in Tehran. Quality has been consistent as well. This is a small mom and pop shop so don't necessarily expect corporate-run customer service or such a hype nonetheless as far as quality and taste, Assal continues to be my favorite. read more

Small little hole-in-the-wall Persian bakery, but they have lots to offer! My boss is Persian, so I came here to pick up a few things for work and the trays of cookies on the right side when you come in are all so yummy! Not everyone in the shop speaks English, but usually someone will be able to help me. All the pastries in the display cases are sold by weight, so I haven't bought any yet, but I will next time. If you want to get any Samano, call first, because they don't always have it! read more

Ladies at the counter, We, the customers, irrespective of our skin tones and nationalities pay your salary. After the treatment I got from you, your cream roll and chocolate squares (which you refused to even name for me) tasted unpleasant. Leave your attitudes behind wherever you are from, you are now in the USA, home of the equals. If you ever need to pick some tips on customer service, go talk to the middle eastern cashiers at Wholesome Choice. Peace ! read more

Dang, since when was two pastries not enough? My girlfriend and I were excited to visit this place since we've never been to a Persian bakery before, but, boy was this a disappointment. We looked at the bakery case in awe after seeing so many great Yelp reviews and finally narrowed it down to two pastries after much debacle. We figured we could always get more another day if we like them since we live like 5minutes down the street. We approached the counter to order our said two pastries and the lady from the counter lets out in disgust, "That's IT?" She then proceeded to roll her eyes at us when we confirmed our order because it's supposedly not acceptable for a person to eat just one pastry for dessert. Da fuq? Sorry, I'm not a fatass. And you know what, it's nothing worth your fatasssery because their pastries were bad. The pastry shell was bland and dry and was filled with cheap whipped cream when it should've been cream in those cream puffs. I wouldn't be surprised if the whipped cream came from those cans you can buy at the grocery store. Since I love good food, I wouldn't have let a bad customer experience deter me from returning if their pastries were actually good- but they're not. I won't be returning. Bottom line: pastry sucks as much as their customer service. read more

There's is my go-to place for Persian pastries. Their cookies and pastries are always fresh and tasty . The pastries also don't use too much sugar, which is great , considering that so many cakes and sweets in American shops use too much sugar. Whenever I want sweets for a social occasion, I come to this place. read more

The most delicious pastries at this place. No wonder it's usually crowded. My favorite is their pineapple and strawberry cake.

this is the first persian bakery i have tried and although i was very unfamiliar with most of their goods, i am a fan! first of all, the customer service was great. even though they were helping other people, as soon as we walked in, we were greeted and they were happy to answer my Q's on what the pastries were, since they were not labeled or priced. we tried some of their cookies and they were pretty yummy- the most unusual one for me being these little tiny bites of chewy doughy pieces that had some kind of syrup inside. (i forgot the name...) their strawberry jello cake was really good and their chocolate roll cake was tasty as well. They price by the pound. They had a very pretty display of little cakes and an assortment of prepackaged assorted desserts that work great to take to a party! read more

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I really tried to like this pastry shop but then there are places out there that offer better pastries and better CUSTOMER SERVICE. One thing you need to know is that there are no visible prices! Or at least I couldn't see on both of my visits. They charge you not by the piece/slice but by weight. And I still dont know how much, I didnt even ask because they seemed to be not very helpful. (Know that its quite pricy though) I believe there are many customers like me who got the same experience as I did. On my first visit to the shop there were total of 5 customers in line. While I was waiting for my turn, I tried to figure out what I should get. Then my turn came, I told the lady what I wanted one by one. Then the lady told me: You need to tell me how many pieces in total, so that she can choose the right box. I got total of 8 pastries. But then I wanted to add 2 more and told the lady that, and to my surprise she goes: "your box is full, you cant add any more". LoL. Right after that she said something in her own language and other ladies behind the counter gave me this funny look, which I thought was extremely rude. I was surprised and shocked at the same time, decided to just get my 8 pieces and leave. I only went there second time around because I shopped at the Super Irvine market, and didnt want to stop by other places. Bad idea, i didnt even get greeted even though I was the only customer. However they welcomed the next customer who walked in, and not surprisingly the old gentleman was speaking their language. I undersand that they might just make enough by serving their own community but at the same time I feel sad that such thing still exist in this day and age in a place where some many cultures and ethnicities interact and live together harmoniously. Their pastries are good but I will never bring my business here and I would rather be served by people who are actually nice and not rude to me. read more

Assal Pastry - Eclair, napoleon cake, fruit tart, and some more cake slices! All of them are soo good!!!!! - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

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Very unhappy with my purchase. Not only was is bad tasting but also not fresh. The fruit tarts were filled with whipped cream. The cookie itself tasted burned and no flavor. Soggy and the fruit on top was okay. I've never had a tart with whipped cream and fruit. Way over priced and not good! I think that they need to get a new fruit tart recipe. The cream horns were horrible also. What a shame. read more

When we were walking past this pastry store after a full meal at Kaya BBQ next door, we couldn't resist those little beautiful cute pastry inside. I had one of each. They were using different technique and material to bake their pastry such as phyllo dough, tart dough, cannoli...etc. In the end the texture remained the same: SOGGY and it tasted all the same: Overly sweet. ---Chocolate cake with thin chocolate flakes hasn't any chocolate flavor inside. It was overly moist, it was soaked in sugar water. I am not so sure what kind material were they using to make the chocolate cake looks chocolaty without having the chocolate flavor;( ---Chocolate roll, vanilla roll, pistachio roll, strawberry mini cake, berry mini cake Napoleon all taste the same to me. The only difference between those cakes is the presentation and the shape. They've been stuffed with the same overly sweet, no milky flavored whip cream in every cake(except fruit tart). Bleh! They don't really care about the cakes at all, there is no baking sheets to separate/around the cakes, they just pushing all the cakes in the box, when I open the box at home, those cakes were falling apart. Mr.Q & I has been served by a black widow, she wore black from top to toe, her face was frozen and she got 0% patience for us when we ask her about the names of the cakes.(The cakes got no names, no description at all) It's a pastry shop, not a funeral, why don't you put some smile on your face. Please spend your money on a place that has quality pastries and better service. read more

Assal Pastry - Assal Pastry - Bakeries Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for a pastry and they lady neglected to tell me they charge for credit cards. She swiped my card and then I tried to pay with cash instead, but they wouldn't allow me to stating that the machine is new.. ridiculous! Yet a $3 pastry and 75 cents for credit card charge?! -That's 25% the cost of my pastry! Not sure if I'd ever come back again. read more

Most of their cakes are very moist and fresh. Reasonably priced, specially compare to the Wholesome choice Persian bakery. Much better quality & more tasteful, too. They charge by pound not piece. The place is too small and with the rack of cookies on the right side, there is not much place to move. During Persian New Years (March 21st), expect to stand in line for ever. Also, staff seem to be nice, but not so good in helping you picking something for your event. umm, how can I tell what is inside a cake when it is covered under yummy frost? I don't like sweets at all, but I can find things here that I like, specially if they have not ran out of the coffee cake. And good luck with the parking --expect to fight with Super Irvine and Caspian customers... read more

I don't even want to give them one star but I have to. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use them for a custom cake order. You will not get what you order, you will get what they make you. Further, you will get a voicemail from them afterwards to argue with you that they did what you asked, never admitting or accepting fault! Oh yes, I ordered a custom cake with a specific request for marzipan, which I paid extra money for, only to pick up something else and be told that the cake contained marzipan inside. I can assure you there was absolutely no marzipan in or anywhere on the cake. There was plenty of nasty fondant, which I very clearly said I did not want. Perhaps they think people don't know the difference between the two but I sure do! Major let down! Terrible way to run a business and gain customers but if you read their reviews on here it's easy to see they don't care about service! Perhaps they make decent pastries but I will never know because I will never return and give them my money again. read more

Not quite sure what the fuss is about with this place. I tried the cream puffs everyone raves about- meh!!! A piece of baklava- double meh!!! Even bleh!!! And a strawberry cream-vanilla cake thingie- blah!! Have the other reviewers just not had good baked goods before? I just don't get it. read more

For my birthday, my girlfriend wanted to recreate a cake I had as a kid. She clearly stated she wanted a marzipan cake, yet when she went to pickup the cake it was rolled in fondant. By this time it was too late to have cake redone and we went with what we had. The cake otherwise was great, and I have no doubt this place makes great pastries, but if you can't follow simple instructions, and make the cake correctly as was requested, what is the point? I will not be returning here and I would highly recommend you not go here for custom orders. read more

Take your business somewhere else where they will appreciate it Worst customer service ever :( Why they don't hire someone nice to answer the phone every time I get screamed at by one of their employees , too bad that they lose customers because of their attitude , even though they have good cake( not that great with the design) and pastries , it's not just me I referred my coworker and she said i like the cake but I won't go back . I know the owners run the place so I don't get it why they don't provide good customer service or hire someone nice . read more

Creampuffs and cream horns are amazing! They add an extra something that is subtle and hard to pinpoint that makes it more interesting than standard cream filling. Shared it with my whole family for the holidays and it was a crowd pleaser. read more

Great place to get baklava! They have a variety to pick from and sell them individually as well as in a box. The cookies are great, and the service is always kind and professional. They had a limited number of customers allowed in during covid (which I appreciated because it was a small shop) and people were still lined up to get in. read more

Pastries are the best, however customer service is "LOUSY" . The ladies behind the counter were offended by my simple question of , if the pastries were fresh?,. They started mumbling and laughing one by one . They even made a negative remark on a customer that called and asked about their hours. Go figure, It reminded me of certain nail salons...!!!! Be aware of the skinny old lady with ginger hair color. DON'T ASK QUESTIONS...!!!! LOL ...!!! read more

My boyfriend really likes napoleons and to be honest, I had no idea what a napoleon dessert was before I met him. So, when we happen to run into a bakery or shop that carries a napoleon, you bet we're going to try it. This is as good as it gets. It really is a hole in the wall; it's sandwiched in between the monster of a hot pot shop Boiling Point, but if find yourself waiting to get seated, stop by Moscow Deli and treat yourself. Not only are the napoleons delicious, but their other desserts are just as good. My boyfriend has bought cookies for his coworkers and we've tried several of their other desserts, including the many baklavas, chocolate cream puff, chocolate éclair. The thing with their desserts is that it's not too sweet and does not feel overwhelmingly heavy. They sell their sweets by the pound, so it can get pricey fast. TLDR: Waiting at Boiling Point or just craving a dessert, get the napoleon. Their baklava is also very good. Desserts are sold by the pound, which can get pricey, but so worth it. read more

All of the cakes are really good here. I've been coming here for many years now and the taste hasn't changed a bit. I usually get the assorted cakes (a box where you choose what cakes you want) and never been disappointed by any of the cakes. I love the chocolate cake with the chocolate pieces on top, the chocolate and vanilla rolls are delicious, coffee cake is really good also. I love all of the cakes that I have tried. Everything always tastes so fresh and good. overall a little bit on the pricy side but it's super good and super worth it! I would rather spend extra and get something fresh and good then something cheap and have it not taste good. highly recommend to everyone! read more

I can only vouch for the Persian fruit tart but I can imagine why this bakery is said to be the BEST BAKERY IN SOCAL. I've had plenty a cakes in my lifetime but the fruit tart from Assal easily eased it's way onto my top three.. kicking off my initial fruit tart love from Ambrosia. Let me give you a couple of reasons why you'd love it too. 1. All the fruits were sweet and fresh without a sugary glaze 2. The tart portion is light and flakey with thin flakes of chocolate in between. 3. The cake is so light and so delicious that you can probably finish a whole one in one sitting!! 4. It's only $40 for a giant cake! Amazing! Whenever I'm in Socal, I expect Tessa P. to get me one of these to devour! read more

Checked in here early at 9 am to buy fresh pound cakes. 2 older Persian ladies were unloading a freshly baked pound cake lot. They were courteous this time. Maybe caz of their age/experience. I requested them to cut it and they obliged. I insisted on additional small box to keep few pieces aside and they honored it without a second thought. The cake - Awesome soft fluffy with almonds, pecans and all the goodies. Best pound cake i ever had in Irvine. Will come again... read more

Granted, it's the first and only Persian bakery I have tried, but if you try something and you love it, you really don't need a second opinion, right? Assal's has the best eclairs I've ever had from any bakery! The custard is light and fluffy--more of a St. Honore creme, than custard, actually...and it's great! I also like the dipped cookies...dark chocolate w/ a hint of rose petal scent and ground pistachio sprinkled on top... I can eat them by the pound! (Which is how they are sold-HA!) read more

The bakery is satisfactory. Customer service understandable (in terms of rudeness and bias. Everyone has them right? Another reason why I bumped them down stars) The presentation of the bakeries are pretty, but the texture and flavor are lacking. I tried the cookies, tiramisu cake, strawberry jelly cake and baklava. The cakes had no unique flavor about them. They weren't sweet, but at the same time, they weren't filled with the flavor they were supposed to have (not even a subtle flavor of mocha in the tiramisu cake). As for the cookies,most of the "different kinds" of them tasted similar with a few exceptions here and there. I agree with another reviewer though, there are better bakeries out there with better flavors in their pastries. read more

Assal's Pastry is a small Persian bakery set in a medium size strip mall right off of Culver at the 5 freeway. It is tucked away in the back of the center behind the Sumo sushi restaurant. There is only a small area to stand when you enter and if you have a few people in there, it would be very cosy. You just hope those people you are smashed up against are young and pretty. The staff were nice but it seems the majority of the operation is going on in the back area. Luckily it was not crowded and I was in and out in 5 to 10 minutes. The pastry are very good. I especially enjoyed the cream puff. They have a regular and one topped with chocolate. The puff itself has some substance to it unlike Beard Papa's. That is what I like about this cream puff. The cream is great too. Their pricing is in pounds. No not British money but weight based. I thought is was expensive with 18 puffs costing about $27. That is about $1.50 per puff. When compared to French's bakery across the street, this is less expensive but for smaller items. So you need to decide if it is worth it. Overall, those cream puffs are like the crack of pastry. read more

I have spent a small fortune (OK, a medium-sized fortune) at this extraordinary Persian bakery over the past 10 years. Without exception, the pastries have been superb, always fresh and delicious. I have ordered custom cakes from here too, and the quality is second to none. The only reason I'm not giving Assal a 5 Star review is due to service. It is saddening that on more than a few occasions over the years, I've observed Assal's Persian clientele receiving preferential treatment. I will continue to patronize Assal because the pastries are SO GOOD, but I hope that management reviews their customer service as it is a serious failing in an otherwise exemplary independent bakery. read more