Chapala Bakery 2

Locally owned & operated

Free parking

You could say the stars were aligned. Across the street, we had just finished eating lunch, some…read moredarn good Venezuelan food. We should have allowed that to be our indiscretion for the day. But nooooo. Mr. B can smell sinfully yummy calories, even with a bag over his head, a mile away. Their specialty... chocolate croissants. Thus, we let Artisanal Goods lure us in. No parking, way too busy, way too full to seat us, a line bursting out the door, the tiny bakery cafe still seduced us. That is, Mr B circled the block in the car but pushed me out to get in line. It was the idea of a flaky, buttery, chocolate croissant crumbling all over his shirt that made him do it. And I had no intention of saying no. The line went quickly. The last Kouign Amann had just escaped my clutches to the guy in front of me, darn it. But there were still trays upon trays of freshly baked, massive chocolate croissants displayed in their custom, wood display case right next to the register. Sorry about no pictures, but you know how things get out of hand sometimes. However if you want to experience an orgasm in pastry form, I suggest you high tail it here.

There was a 25 minutes wait to get to the counter and unfortunately, we had to stand outside in the…read more11 am Pasadena heat. The staff was very nice and we ordered the classics. - Croissant : was fresh, flaky and a good size. The only small issue: 20% of it goes on the table as it literally crumbles at each bite. A good croissant should have some elasticity lacking here. - Pain au chocolat: quite large with maybe too much chocolate.But the flavor was on point. I liked it but my wife thought the extra chocolate was too much of the good thing. She reminded me that in the pain au chocolat in France, you actually feel the chocolate under the tooth at each bite. Between the two, I would get the plain croissant next time. Final thoughts: These pastries are more expensive than in other places( pain au chocolat for almost $7 and croissant for $5.5). Would I come back: yes to get the plain croissant.

Berry, Chocolate (left), Almond Maple, Almond (right)

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Chocolate Croissant

Oh La La

3.7(620 reviews)

1.1 mi

Trying this French spot for brunch in Pasadena for the first time, and everything was SO good!…read more We tried the breakfast croissant, Croque Monsieur, home fries, and the absolute star of the day: their crème brûlée French toast! And of course, the cappuccinos were the perfect addition. I also loved the super retro décor throughout the restaurant--and even the bathroom has that fun vintage vibe! Such a cute spot with delicious food and a great atmosphere. Definitely a brunch experience worth trying! and last but not least we took home some pastries to try it later

Ambiance: cute. Highlight of the place…read more Food: average. Lacking in flavor Drinks: average Service: friendly and prompt Overall impression: fun little spot. Wouldn't really recommend for a tasty lunch but maybe for a light baked good snack

Beautiful ambiance of OHLALA

Chocolate Almond Croissant

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Peach n cream

Delight Pastry

4.4(429 reviews)

0.8 mi

Service was great. Bought a small spread of little cakes for a birthday lunch. The cakes tasted…read morereally good and was refreshing

I found out about this bakery back in 2023 ish. The pastries are good one of the best in the…read morePasadena area. But the drinks are just not it or aren't trained correctly. One time we ordered an ice coffee and taste delicious, the next time we ordered it tasted like chocolate milk. Overall pretty good service here. And the place is a cute hang out spot for desserts or brunch with friends.

Custome cake with orchids

Caprese danish

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Kouign amann

Butter Bakery

4.8(128 reviews)

1.4 mi

I ordered the pineapple upside down cake for a friend's birthday. It was delicious! Everyone…read moreenjoyed it. It was easy to order and pick at Octavia's Bookstore. I would definitely try other items in the future. Great service all around.

Ordered a dozen red velvet cupcakes for my son's birthday. They were decorated quite festively and…read moredelicious. They don't have a store front but drop off at Octavia's Bookstore. Not a problem on my book.

Amazing!

LGBTQ Celebration in office- Once again- Butter Bakery' Artist Devonna created beautiful & delicious treats.

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75th birthday cake for my Dad

Sweet Red Peach

4.5(79 reviews)

1.2 mi

service and food 10/10 delicious peach cobbler and red…read morevelvet cake. will most definitely return !

Sweet Red Peach is cake heaven! A southern style bakery, they serve up a variety of delectable…read moredesserts, including the best red velvet cake in SGV. I originally stopped by to pick up their famous cinnamon roll, which made the lists for top 10 cinnamon rolls in LA County. Unfortunately, they didn't have any cinnamon rolls the two times I stopped by. (I think it had something to do with how their AC is currently out and awaiting repairs). Not wanting to leave empty handed, I decided to get a few slices of cake instead. And boy am I glad I did! So far I've tried their red velvet cake, vanilla cake with strawberry frosting, and a seasonal strawberry cake. The cakes were all rich and on the denser side, and were a cross between moist and crumbly. Each cake also paired exceptionally well with the velvety thick frosting. So the backup plan was a rousing success, as all three cake slices were fabulously indulgent and the perfect treat. ****************** My Ratings: 1 Star: Terrible; just thinking about it makes me angry. 2 Stars: Wasn't a fan so Not likely to return. 3 Stars: Meh. Average. Might return if others drag me. 4 Stars: Yum! Likely to return. 5 Stars: Amazing! Would plan my day around it.

Watermelon flavored soft serve on a cone

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Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Frances Patisserie

4.5(229 reviews)

2.8 mi

Frances Patisserie was the perfect choice for my sister's 40th! This was my first time getting…read moreanything from there, but the Yelp reviews and pictures convinced me. Everyone raved about the cake-- perfect texture and not cloyingly sweet. The fruits were all ripe and delicious, beautifully displayed atop the cake. Would definitely get again!! Pricing was about $90, which is pricier than I usually shell out for a cake, but honestly felt really worth it for what you get.

My mom is a self-proclaimed napoleon cake expert, and she deemed this to be the best that she's…read moretried in LA! The smallest size (7 in) is pricier than other bakeries at $89.50 (inc tax) but it is SO worth it! The fruits are so sweet, cream not too heavy and not too sweet, and the pastry is so crispy! I usually don't like very cream-heavy cakes but I devoured a massive slice of this. I'll definitely be back to try other pastries!

Pastry

Strawberry cake and eclair

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Interior

Artelice Patisserie

4.7(767 reviews)

9.5 mi

•$$$

most amazing experience!! The owner was so sweet and the pastries were delicious!!!! definitely…read morerecommend.

Food was expensive. But the service was friendly and the atmosphere was clean and not too…read morepretentious. The desserts were very very good. Usually instagram type foods don't deliver and only look good on camera. This was worth it. I recommend if you want to splurge or celebrate.

Beautiful macarons

A tray of macarons

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After biting into the Napoleon. It's a messy one to eat... but it is so good! 12/31/2023

Motto Tea Cafe

Loved the saltiness, creaminess, and sweetness of the classic…read more Small cafe where you order from kiosks and wait to be called. I shared 2 large cheesecake pancakes as a group of three and it was plenty.

Motto Tea Cafe was alright. I walked in and was greeted by 2 ordering kiosks. The pastries were…read moreyummy, but I wasn't too crazy about the drinks. I ordered a matcha coco jasmine tea and I found that the jasmine flavor completely took over. The oolong peach crepe cake was yummy! It had little peach chunks throughout. Good oolong/peach flavor was light, airy, and slightly sweet. The black sesame chiffon roll was also light and subtly sweet with a nice nutty flavor. The cafe itself was pretty small with 3 small tables, 1 big table, and bar seatings with charging ports. The bathroom was closed and it was really warm inside. I couldn't see myself studying or staying too long, which may be for the best since parking is tricky and street parking has a 2 hour limit. An okay experience, but I don't see myself coming back.

Rose & lychee crepe cake

Creme brûlée crepe cake.

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Mochi & Brûlée Milk Tea

Patisserie Bluejay

4.6(189 reviews)

7.1 mi

I went back to Bluejay because I missed its cake so much…read more With my luck, it had a couple of slices of cake for me to buy. I got the black sesame cake, mango, rose, and durian. All of them tasted good and had a balanced flavor. Although the hours are kind of odd, it was totally worth it.

A small hidden spot!…read more We came to get other things but stopped by for their huge cookie! For $4 we got the rocky road cookie. It was delicious, soft and chewy and crunchy outer border. They also had very fancy cakes and cake slices for sale.

Inside the Coconut Mango mousse cake - it's so light and refreshing- I loved this!

Our haul! 2 cookies, 1 canele, and 1 mini mousse cake!

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Jasmine chocolate

Seed Bakery

4.1(616 reviews)

1.1 mi

The pastries and bread here are really great. I think that in some other reviews, it's possible…read moresome people didn't realize they were getting a more dense rye or wheat loaf. Every bread i've had here is insanely delicious and perfect. The walnut whole grain sourdough is probably the best bread i've ever had in my life. The sandwich/food menu is pricey, but everything is in 2026--I think we're just not used to it yet. They have a line every morning and sell out every day for a reason.

I finally got to SEED before they sold out of everything! The owner (I think) offered service that…read morewas expeditious, and she was patient to answer my million questions. I did not even know they had pastries! Finally deciding, the hazelnut croissant was oh so flakey and layered inside with hazelnut filling. It was perfectly balanced and satisfies my sweet tooth and my savory cravings. Olive sourdough is my favorite bread. My friend Patty S. bakes the most lovely sourdough breads, but she is quite busy these days, so a trip to SEED was in order. I added on the hibiscus lemonade which quenched my thirst, again, not too sweet but full of flavor. SEED will be my local bakery. I can't wait to try the empanadas, hand pies, morning buns and other treats. I highly recommend everything!

Front window mini pies

Pan suisse croissant - the savory one (has cheese and mushrooms and herbs)

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Front window pastries

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

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JuanCarlos D.

11 years ago

Was looking for a legit panaderia in Pasadena and I may have found it.... until trying this yesterday, my only source for pan dulce here was the Baja Fresh market (which wasn't the worst) for a market. At chapala's we tried 3 different breads and all got the stamp of approval. Pricing (as read on here) was not an issue at all, in fact each piece was 50c which is about right but mainly it was really delicious, fresh (considering I was there at 9pm) and very authentic. High five Chapala's, I finally found a panaderia in Pasadena worth introducing my out of town family to. Parking (street) is kind of a pain but it was a simple 3 minute wait for someone to leave. Oh yeah they had street vendors out front selling Mexican ice cream and hot esquites (corn kernels with mayo, cheese, lime, etc). read more

Deborah C.

8 years ago

I normally consume their conchitas & champurrado but today I decided to ask for the oatmeal and two green chicken tamales. The tamales awful! It didn't have any chicken inside & the older man that served me, only gave me the oatmeal liquid there was no oatmeal in it at all! read more

Josue M.

107

9 years ago

THE BEST MEXICAN BREAD IN SO CAL PERIOD. If you're looking for authentic goods you need to try this place, it doesn't leave a dent in your wallet either! Pasadena location is the best. read more

E B.

2 years ago

Used to be better, or maybey I just had some bad batches lately. -------------------------- Why do we need 85 characters for a review now read more

Wendy L.

6 years ago

I was looking for tamales and I couldn't find anywhere else. Unfortunately I purchased some here. These are not good at all.

Liliana S.

7 years ago

This is such a wonderful place the bread is always fresh the service is great I highly recommend this place.

John T.

9 years ago

Delicious Mexican Bread . A torta de tamal is my go to, which is just a tamal inside a bolio. SO GOOD!

Nancy P.

13 years ago

very nice and best pan dulce!

Chapala Bakery 2 - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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Went on a whim and was not disappointed. I got their homemade ginger lemonade and açai bowl, both…read morewere absolutely delicious and the service was good.

The owner Fermin has been baking for the past 30 years and it shows in every ounce of his food…read more DELICIOUS!! Coffee is strong and piping hot! Fermin has worked at la Monarch Bakery, Urth Cafe, and then went to cooking school. But most importantly, this place is scrumptious!! Check it out for sure. Croissant is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Feels like it was made in Paris. Perfection.

Burrito Express

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I came here after seeing it ranked as the #1 fast-food spot in Pasadena on TikTok, and it…read moredefinitely lived up to the hype. I ordered the shredded beef, bean, and cheese burrito, and it did not disappoint. It came with both a red and a green salsa, and I absolutely loved them. The red salsa had a unique, flavorful kick with just the right amount of spice, while the green salsa tasted incredibly fresh. The woman who took my order was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She made sure I enjoyed my meal and genuinely wanted me to come back. She recommended trying the chile relleno next time and also let me know that their breakfast burritos are served all day--a huge bonus. Great food, excellent service, and definitely a place I'll be coming back to.

I passed by on a random chance and the person who worked there was so nice and pleasant, it made me…read morewant to become a patron. I've been here a few times this year and 3 of those this awesome person was there and the food was actually really good. The last 2 times, that individual was NOT there and the food was baaaaaad. If I would've tasted this the first time around I would've never went back. It seems like the original person was in charge of quality control or something and I hope they come back soon, but if not I'm grateful I was there when the food was good.

La Michoacana Mobile Castel

5.0

(10 reviews)

Strawberry & Milk Agua Fresca is so so yummy! Plenty of sweet treats I'll certainly be back to try.read more

I just got a job locally and was looking for a delicious lunch/snack. I was not disappointed. I had…read morethe esquite with everything and agua Fresca of Fritos de leche, when I tell you that this drink slapped. I also got a bonus of dress con crema to try which I am grateful for. The service was friendly, quick and will definitely have be coming back. It's a food truck and it's clean and very visible from the street, if you're wanting a party on the street you won't get it. But if you are looking for a yummy snack, you've definitely come to the right place.

The Crazy Apple

4.9

(35 reviews)

Dessert in Pasadena, California…read more.. Not wanting to go home yet, Val, Nadia, Gloria, and I searched our Yelp apps for a nearby place. We found The Crazy Apple and decided to give it a try. We all found free street parking, entered the cozy shop, and perused the offerings.... The Crazy Apple is packed with all kinds of goodies! The menu has many options including mangonada, fried Oreos, and Fresh Fruit Cup. I ordered a Mango Fruit Cup and watched in amazement how the mango was peeled and cubed! Lemon juice was poured over the top and salt was then sprinkled. I was offered homemade Chamoy powder. I tasted it first - it had a slight kick, so, I passed on it. Overall, it was a healthy and delicious treat! I'd like to return and get elote! Or maybe a mango smoothie!

This little mom and pop shop has some amazing treats. We were looking for a place to grab some…read moredessert and this place did not disappoint. Things that I loved: -patient and accommodating owners -a variety of treats (candies, ice cream, etc.) -homemade -lots of street parking I ended up getting the Mango Loco Ice Cream! This was big enough to share and it was filled with homemade mango ice cream, sweet candies, and their homemade version of Tajin. Definitely check 'em out!

The Gourmet Cobbler Factory

4.3

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I passed by this small shop while I was on my way to the bakery around the corner. It is tiny and…read moreseems a bit outdated. BUT DONT LET IT FOOL YOU. They have a variety of small cobblers for purchase and you can get them in various sizes too, but I'm unsure if you have to call in advance for the larger size. I didn't end up getting a cobbler this time but I'm set on trying on next time. WHAT I DIS TRY WAS THE BBQ AND IT WAS SO GOOD!!! I got the combo plate and it came with 2 ribs, 1/4 chicken, a sausage link and two sides - I picked Mac and cheese and baked beans. I made 3 meals out of this one order..... it's a lot of food for me. The tenderness of the meat and the flavors were on point. I'm so glad I got to try it. I will be recommending this place to friends and fam for sure.

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a wonderful smell of barbecue. This place is located…read moreinside a barbecue establishment. There are no tables to sit inside just a small counter. I ended up getting the peach cobbler. At first I thought the peaches were canned but then I got a little bite of the pit then realized these were fresh. Not overlywelming with nutmeg. Perfect balance of everything. The crust was very light. This is something that you can enjoy even without ice cream. I would definitely come back.

Europane

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Combo plates are good for a light lunch. Counter order is efficient. Help yourself to utensils,…read morenapkins, straws & water.

Absolutely INSANE prices…read more I have been eating here for years. The food is decent, and the staff is super nice. Unfortunately, the owner recently decided to increase prices to an absurd amount. You now pay over $24.00 for a salad, with no protein. Half a block away, across the street is Fogo Di Chao, where they offer a full, all-you-can-eat salad bar with soup, charcuterie, mashed potatoes, and cheese bread for just over $18. Even with tip that comes up less than the cost at Europane. I suspect that the business is failing, and the owner is trying a last-ditch effort to make a little money before going out of business for good, but I don't think trying to milk customers for money is a good plan. I will not be eating here anymore.

KING’S Breakfast & Burgers

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Estoy disfrutando los Huevos a la Mexicana @ King's Breakfast & Burgers, and ... these aren't…read morehuevos a la mexicana. Usually they're simple eggs cooked with red tomatoes, green chiles, and white eggs--the colors of the Mexican flag. What Alex & his brothers & sister create is a scrambled concoction of love, care, and pure comfort. The flavor profile is ¡SIN MADRES! Deeply satisfying, and the kind of breakfast that you savor every bite. Best Mexican breakfast you can have outside the motherland. Ordena ANYTHING on the menu!

If you know me, then you know Kings Breakfast and Burgers is my kind of spot! We were looking for…read moresomething quick and delicious to eat between our two escape rooms on a Saturday, and my wife found Kings on the Yelps. The photos of the food did not sell it to me, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the food looked amazing in person. We saw neighboring tables have steamed hams, burritos, and chili cheese fries, and everything looked and smelled fantastic! I'm not a quesadilla guy, but the birria quesadilla is solid! It comes with a green and an orange dipping sauce. We found the orange a bit sweet, but the green one was great! We also got the mango habanero shrimp ceviche. When they tell you it's spicy, take heed. It was legit spicy and had me sweating and pooping fire! My mistake was eating spoonfuls of it and not having it with chips. There are a few tables within and outside of the restaurant. Ordering is quick and easy at the counter, and the food is made freshly. Fun decor surrounds you, and the vibes of the staff are light and positive. Since that day, I have had a chance to return to try the pastrami breakfast burrito. She recommended to try it with pickles and mustard, and it was a great combination! It wasn't the best pastrami breakfast burrito I've had, but it was certainly filling. I wasn't hungry for hours! Come to King's for solid food offerings, fun atmosphere, and one of the friendliest staffs around!

The Old Sasoon Bakery

4.5

(311 reviews)

I've been craving for a good "egg and cheese bread" aka Kachapuri and it turns out there's a…read morewell-rated one by my friend's place, and she's never had that nor Lahmajoun, so we went to visit The Old Sasoon Bakery. The place is nice enough, and it wasn't too busy, so we were able to get our order in right away. As it's always is with these two items, it's made-to-order. It took roughly 15 minutes. The Lahmajoun is tasty with mix of Tomato paste, ground beef, garlic, and parsley on thin lavash-style flatbread that's folded over and crispy. The Aleppo Pepper, paprika, and cumin elevate the taste, and it's just delicious. The Kachapuri is pretty good, but I do feel it's missing something I've had before, this extra savoriness. It's still good, especially if you love goat cheese. If anything though, it's more salty than savory. All in all a pretty darn good experience with generous portions and I do want to come to try their Shakshouka.

Just a really fantastic breakfast experience. It's a local favorite and parking is legitimately…read morechallenging at times (uhhhhh, I can usually get street parking), but there's a reason I stop by this place so many mornings on my way out of Los Angeles. You order at the counter. I usually end up getting one of the breakfast meals - and all of them have managed to be both flavorful and fresh - in many ways the opposite of the typical American breakfast. The "bowl of foul", which apparently rhymes if you pronounce foul the Armenian way, is something they advertise a lot on their menu - and for good reason. It's actually one of the least foul breakfasts I've ever had in my life. It's a delicious flavorful bean dip with generous breads on the side to eat with it - as well as a platter of fresh vegetables. Still my favorite food to get here. Also decent was their fatteh, which is cream, yogurt, chickpeas, and a lot of assorted nuts, all dolloped over fried pita bread. Also very good, but I'm just honestly not a huge fan of nuts. It also comes with the vegetable platter which is the perfect combo with the creamy chickpea thing. The food usually takes 10-15 minutes to come out, but that's because they're clearly preparing everything fresh in the back (you can kind of see them do this.) They also have a fountain machine, which is a huge plus to ice addicts like me. Everything is casual, but also very clean and neat. Honestly, it's also a very nice cafe to relax in, do work, talk with friends, etc. etc. This is very much close to the "optimal" place to me when it comes to taking friends out somewhere to reconnect. Anyways, this place is highly recommended for both a wonderful dine-in and dine-out experience. I try to stop by it as often as possible for their breakfast to the point where I can count on my fingers the amount of times I've had breakfast at a place that WASN'T the Old Sassoon Bakery. Honestly, this place stands as a towering achievement of mastering everything that "new hip trendy" food often isn't. It's super affordable, generous portions, super clean, fast service (but you can stay around as long as you want), and the main draw is just the delicious, flavorful, authentic food that very much lives up to all of the hype and more.

Plebes Snack Shop

3.0

(3 reviews)

I'm not sure why there are two Mexican snack shops right next to each other with very similar…read moremenus, but Plebes Snack Shop is the older of the two. I guess the students at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School love Mexican style snacks. Plebes has more chips, cookies, and drinks than Crazy Apple while Crazy Apple has more items on the menu and more candy. Both have tostilocos, chamoy gummies, esquites, elote, nachos, etc. Esquites ($4): The cup was filled almost to the top. The flavor was fine but there was too much liquid. Mr. Froyo thought it was elote soup. Crazy Apple has a richer, saltier esquites. Plebes' version is tangier, less spicy and less salty. The corn kernels were sweet. It's a small shop. You can call ahead and order. Delivery is also available.

Had a huge craving for tostilocos so came here on a whim. Shop is small but really clean and the…read morewalls are covered with Mexican snacks and candies. Gives me a real mom and pop feel, and has that nostalgic Mexican candy store vibe. I ordered some tostilocos and chamoy covered gushers. The tostilocos were great, love the presentation and the way it's packaged made it so easy to eat. Just enough chamoy and the cuerritos were soft but chewy. *chefs kiss* I really appreciate the great customer service, even though they were out of the chamoy gushers, they were still willing and quick to make me an order. Been living in Pasadena for 4 years and never knew this little gem existed so close to home, will definitely be back to try more of the snacks and the tostilocos with shrimp.

Heirloom Bakery

4.0

(779 reviews)