I love the bread here. I don't know the science behind it but they say had it is even good for gluten intolerant people. It's the way yet ferment it slowly. The texture is dense for the most part but I've learned that some flavors are good fluffy and others good dense. He doesn't recommend roasting his bread but I air fry it all the time and make the best garlic bread (my husband calls it crack bread) or crostini. It been frustrating for mr. Bezian as Santa Monica keeps trying to kick him out of the farmers market but everyone signs a petition to keep him there. Because of this they situated him at the very end of market kinda separated from the other vendors. Go to the end closets to ocean across fro the Apple guys. Please go and try this bread! They even have $1 rolls you can munch on while perusing the market and loading your bags with the week's produce. Mr. Bezian seems shy and quiet so don't take that the wrong way. He is consistently proving Santa Monica with healthier bread and it all has sourdough!!!! Yum. read more

Bezian Bakery - Their French bread is kind of new but it's sourdough and Unbleached wheat flour and is so very good! - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The quintessential LA bakery if we were to define one in my opinion is not La Brea Bakery, not Le Pain Quotidien but Bezian (pronounced Bes-jhan or close). While I love the breads in the other two Bezian's is by far more earthy, goes well with the variety of cuisines that influence our meals and they've been around since 1966. Going to their Santa Monica Blvd. location, was my first introduction to my addiction. But you'll see them in Farmers markets throughout LA. Sample all their recipes, you'll understand what I'm talking about. Nuff' said. Juss' Yelpin' 4 My Yelpers read more

If you happen to shop the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Wednesdays, be sure to look for Bezian's Bakery truck which is located on Arizona between Ocean and 2nd. You will find the most amazing sourdough breads! The breads come in 20 varieties such as Kalamata olive, rosemary feta, as well as, the traditional plain sourdough in round boule or French style. Besides, being delicious, they have health benefits. This is a probiotic bread, so it aids in digestion like yogurt. Mr. Bezian will tell you why his bread is better for you than all other breads. I have a gluten sensitivity and cannot eat bread that contains wheat flour. With this bread, I take a couple of digestive enzyme capsules (like Enzymatic Therapy Gluten Defense) and have no discomfort. I have tried many of the "gluten-free" offerings at Whole Foods. However, I know from personal experience and many years of consumption, no other bread compares with the taste of Bezian's. I can't make it home from the market without breaking off a chunk of the "fresh baked" delicious sourdough loaf and savoring the flavor without any spreads or toppings. YUMMY! read more

Best Sourdough bread I've ever eaten! I've bought bread from Mr. Bezian for about 30 years. I was diagnosed with celiac about 10 years ago. He said that due to his method of fermentation, I MAY be able to eat his bread without discomfort. He was right. It's the only bread that's not gluten-free that I can eat. I only wish that I could get to the market more often or that he sold his bread outside of business hours. I don't know why the Santa Monica Farmer's Market has been trying to get rid of him, but they should just stop. I can see that he has a strong personality. But it's about THE BREAD! You just can't get it anywhere else. read more

What can I say, the man is serious about his yeast. I am a world renowned carboholic, left unattended with a toaster, peanut butter, jam, or butter; I could easily wolf down an entire loaf.....of poisonous Sara Lee that is! Now that I have found Bezian's micro-flora-enriched loaves, I may never go back to the filthy sham known has "main stream bread". I have officially gone underground, and off my rocker!!! After what was becoming an unsuccessful shopping trip to Third Street, we stumbled upon a cross roads of adorable, locally owned, organic stands boasting pallets and pallets of freshly picked produce. Nestled somewhere right smack in the middle, was a stand with a serious message. That message is bread. Don't be put off by the creepy sac religious signs that decorate the stand. The bread should be the message. I was curious not because I have a sudden onset, serious Hasselback self diagnosed gluten/wheat allergy...but because the man had gumption, I tell ya!! It is his religion, and he is damn proud of it. $4.00 for the sourdough and $5.00 for the zucchini onion. A little steep, but worth it because I am satisfied with only 1 or two slices over a period of time, which allows me to conserve. He stays true to his guns and doesn't have a "open to the public" retail source, only available through Farmer's Markets; mostly in Santa Monica, Hollywood, and Pasadena. A variety of delectable sounding breads, Kalamata olive, cheese, rosemary feta.....I fancied zucchini onion and their signature sour dough. I couldn't even wait until the car the sample it, it was so aromatic and yeasty....incredible tasting. It has been 2 weeks, and I have been eating the breads slowly, savoring each tantalizing slice at a time. I'm a true believer!! read more

The bread is delicious, I can eat it without any issues (I have a gluten sensitivity, not celiac), and they know their science there. Do not be deterred by the owner's gruff demeanor; he's just trying to educate us about gluten. He ferments the dough so long that the gluten breaks down nearly completely (if not 100%) into amino acids. If you are gluten free, don't buy the GF stuff in the store. This is the real thing and it won't damage your gut. It's also in line with Weston A. Price diet principles. One thing about expectations. Gluten makes baked goods fluffy and airy. Once it breaks down into amino acids, it is no longer gluten and will no longer create the giant air pockets we've all grown up to love in our breads. The healthiest breads at Bezian are the densest. This is in no way a criticism, but a reminder that our expectations of food have been severely altered by the industrial crop and manufactured foods businesses. You would never eat dried fruit expecting it to taste like Gushers. This is real, whole food and it is delicious. read more

this is the best sourdough bread in Los Angeles. Period. He's got a great variety. The Olive bread is dynamite. So is the dark rye. Rosemary is pretty great. Sweet basil is a nice complement. You cannot go wrong here. For gluten intolerant people or people who have gut issues, definitely give this bread a try and see if you can tolerate it. Some folks have written about the owner being gruff. He is. That's just him. Think of him like the soup Nazi. Politeness is not necessary. Just give me the bread. read more

Best bread on the planet... Hands-down I go every single Wednesday and I get there early to get the best selection... Even though sometimes I have to go a little bit later Jack always has a huge supply and a wide variety of the best sourdough bread in town not only is it tasty but it's also really really good for my health highly recommend going and giving it a try once you have his bread you will never go to another place for bread. read more

The owner is nice, but a bit eccentric. The bread is absolutely amazing, nothing like it anywhere else. I would describe it as the flavor from ten loaves of 'regular' sourdough, concentrated into a single extremely moist and dense loaf of bread. This is NOT the super fluffy, airy, and soft bread most people are used to. This bread is like a brick of goodness. Baking is science. Gluten, yeast, and certain other products help produce air pockets which make baked goods fluffy. When you ferment a sourdough as long as Bezian breads are fermented, much of the gluten is broken down. This means that the gluten isn't making air bubbles to produce a fluffy loaf. What you're left with is a very dense, chewy, and moist loaf of bread that has an absolutely unrivaled flavor. The flavored loaves are awesome, as is the plain sourdough. I'm sad that it's so hard to get to his bread, unless you're local to one of the three farmer's markets he sells at. But I suspect that opening a store front or mass production would result in his breads no longer being as amazing as they are. This is purely anecdotal, and based on my own experiences. I've had some stomach issues that seem to be related to most grains. I'm not gluten sensitive or intolerant, I just seem to get stomach aches frequently along with bloating. After eating Bezian sourdough, I've noticed a drastic reduction in some of the stomach issues I've been having. It almost acts like a super probiotic for me. The breads all taste amazing plain or used in a sandwich. But my personal favorite way to eat them is with a tiny bit of salt and butter. read more

"It been frustrating for mr. Bezian as Santa Monica keeps trying to kick him out of the farmers market but everyone signs a petition to keep him there" This quotes a previous review: am curious as to why he's not wanted? World's best bread! read more

Very impressed. The bread is great! I didn't talk to Jack, but the dude who helped us was very nice and knowledgeable. He gave us a lot of background on the process and based on our questions directed us to loaves that fit our interests. I will certainly be back on a regular basis. read more

My husband and I are thrilled to have found Bezian bakery!! This man is serious about his sourdough, and it shows in his breads. Soft, flavorful and delicious. He has lots of varieties to choose from. So far we've tried the regular boule, and the Moroccan olive... both delicious. We're looking forward to trying more! read more

A Santa Monica Farmers Market institution for nearly 20 years that the city seemed determined to run off last year because certain ingredients are not California based, Bezian was only saved by a contract glitch and an outpouring of support from appreciative customers. As a gluten-sensitive eater, Bezian's bread has been a blessing I couldn't imagine living without and compliments so many of the items I pick up at the market. Just spend a few minutes at his booth and listen to the stories and you'll understand why this bread is so popular. Mothers who tell you it's the only bread they will let their kids eat, sourdough lovers arguing over their favorites and of course, health fanatics who have found a bread they can still digest and love without any problems. Personal favorites are the Zuchini onion, Green and Kalamata olive, the fig and date loaves. At Thanksgiving, don't miss the once-a-year Sweet Potato loaves. read more

hands down, best bread in Los Angeles. I go to the farmer's market wednesday morning before work just for this bread.

Stunning bread! Thought the best bread I was going to find in LA was La Brea french bread, but nothing really seems to compare to SF's Sourdough - and then today I found Bezian at the SaMo Farmer's market (Wednesday). Bought the bread on a lark and am amazed at the flavor of the Rosemary Sourdough. This is wonderful bread, and that was before I saw the notes about how healthy it is for you! Buy it, you'll love it! read more

Today was my first time visiting Bezian at the SM Farmers Market, and they do indeed have a great selection of different breads. We bought the sliced sourdough and date pecan, both of which are pretty delicious. I am not gluten sensitive but think my son might be and he seemed to love the bread and no issues after which is great. The only reason I didn't give more stars is because the man working this morning- not sure if he is the owner but he looked like he might have been, was sort of rude. I asked him if they had any sourdough left today and he replied "well they all are sourdough" in sort of a rude manner. Well duh I know they are sourdough based but I meant regular sourdough - not date pecan, basil, olive or all the other varieties they sell, otherwise I would have asked "do you have the basil bread today." Even if he didn't know what I meant, no need to reply back like that- should always practice good customer service. Anyway, then there was a young girl who took over my order and she was very sweet and helped me find what I was looking for. read more