YUMMM! My friend got me a box of mango mochi from here and it was soooo good! I've been wanting to try this place so bad-- He went on a Sunday and got there little bit before 3:30pm and was able to get the last batch thankfully! 6 mango mochi for $16 I definitely need to try and make it to the night market in SF one of the days since I heard they sell it here too & also try their other desserts/pastries! read more

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The mango mochi is an excellent. Inside had 3 to 4 pieces mango in it. Phoenix cookies are great. I don't live at the area. So once a while will drive to icafe for the yummy bakery. read more

2 Mango mochi 1 black sesame egg yolk mooncake Iced lemon tea Iced milk tea $20 It's a bit expensive hit it's San Francisco! The mochi is definitely the highlight - and we are coming back to try others like pineapple bun and Lychee crisp next read more

iCafe - Black sesame egg yolk mooncake - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Second time I came to this place and originally I ordered Mango Mochi for 6 pcs, they made it fresh so I have to wait 10 minutes, after that I sat down mean while I saw on wall pictures they have durian mochi so i stand again and order for 6 Durian Mochi. After wait for another 10 minutes she call me, she kindly enough when I cancelled the already made Mango Mochi. After I arrived home I'm really enjoying the durian mochi but the tamales not too much. read more

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Where do I start?....Mooncakes!! Great lotus/ double yolk...they ran out of the black sesame/ yolk, but I will be back!.... The mango mochi is sooo good and fresh...Had a fantastic selection of JOONG " rice tamales"...dried scallops and purple rice among a bunch of other seasonings. Love the creativity! Clean and welcoming!! read more

iCafe - Mango Mochi!!! - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wish found iCafe sooner during my visit to Chinatown, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it through the reviews here. I popped into get my kiddos something cool to drink before we went off to lunch and I wished that we were here to try a few things because they specialize in one of my favorites, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf. There's a huge menu of options here and all of them sounded delicious and interesting but my belly told me that I didn't have room for any. Pastry case held some of the best looking buns that I've seen in Chinatown during my mini crawls and again I had no appetite for them and this is it, but I have saved this for the next time. We're talking Tim Ho Wan style pork buns, and all sorts of other delectable, looking Chinese breads, cakes, and treats. We drive to Hong Kong milk, tea, and Matcha latte both of which I ordered on the last week side was a huge mistake because each these are bitter drinks. I guess I now understand why people add sweetener to these almost automatically and next time I would allow them to make it exactly as they wanted to. They did ask if I wanted it with sweetener without and it was my mistake ordering without, and they happily added more upon request. Vibe wise it's bright but basic. Chill to stop in. I'll def be making my way back next time. read more

So good! Ordered the mango mochi. Soft mochi exterior packed with fresh mango pieces and dusted with coconut. Mango was so juicy and sweet. Excellent service. Indoor seating. Got a pineapple custard bun to go so I will dig into that later. Will definitely be back! read more

iCafe - Mango mochi - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Impressed by the variety of tamales here. My family makes really great ones for certain occasions only so it's nice to find a place that has an extensive menu year round with all the fixings. There are also baked goods and drinks too. Staff are nice, friendly and helpful. read more

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Best buns on Waverly. I think I rented that once. Anyway, it's a clean, affordable, simple place to grab buns without getting slapped. Pork bun was fine. Husband cake (mushroom, peanut, garlic, sesame) was dense and good. Crispy walnut roll was fluffy but maybe a little bland past the "skin". Basic, cheap, donut-shoppy ham and egg. Gummy egg custard pancake was so bubbalicious it was inedible. Bottom line: I'd go back. And not just because I left my phone charger there. read more

iCafe - Egg custard pancake, pork bun, crispy walnut roll, egg and ham, plus husband cake. - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The best mango mochi that I've ever had. Filled with fresh cubed pieces. $15 for six mochi. They are quite big too. Perfect mochi texture and very fresh. Definitely try it. read more

Clean exterior and well labeled awning. Interior is well lit, clean, and welcoming. Staff is friendly, hardworking, and helpful. Their mango mochi is made with a generous portion of ripe mango chunks. All gone before I remembered to take a picture. Today, I attended Self Help for the Elderly 60th Anniversary Block Party and iCafe sponsored and made 2,000 lotus buns for this event and provided staff + exhibitors tasty lunches. We had the beef stew and BBQ pork. Everything was fresh, full of flavor, and comforting. The lotus bun was excellent in flavor, perfect ratio of filling to bun, and left me pining for more. Plus, I bought their bagged almond cookies (actual whole almond per cookie) and candied walnuts with white sesame; both were delicious. Next time, I want to try the various Chinese tamales...salivating just thinking about this. read more

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I met my friend here for pastries over the weekend. She'd come here several times before and recommended this place. Walking in, I was so impressed. There are lots of classic options and also some items that are a bit rarer to find like zongzi. I got the taro bun, pineapple bun, and three types of zongzi (kurobuta pork, scallops & purple rice, and black sesame & purple rice). I tried the taro bun (with REAL taro ftw!) and half of the pineapple bun while sitting with my friend at one of the booths catching up. Both were so fresh and good. The taro bun was not too sweet, and the pineapple bun was firm on the outside but pillowy and soft on the inside. I look forward to enjoying the zongzi heated up at home throughout the week and coming back again soon for another haul. read more

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Nice bakery in Chinatown that's conveniently close to a parking garage and has been around for many years. It's one of my go-to spots whenever I'm craving classic Cantonese pastries. I usually stop by for their BBQ pork buns and lo bak go (turnip cake), which never disappoint. The shop itself is clean, bright, and well-organized, and the staff are friendly and efficient. They offer a great mix of traditional Cantonese favorites and some unique treats: Signature buns: Crispy-topped baked cha siu buns and classic pineapple buns Specialty mochi: Huge, soft, and filled with flavors like mango, durian, black sesame, and purple yam Traditional staples: Joong (Chinese tamales), buttery egg tarts, and steamed cakes like taro, radish, and chestnut Drinks: Hong Kong-style milk tea and Vietnamese coffee Seasonal items: Creative mooncakes and Lunar New Year treats Overall, a reliable neighborhood bakery for both everyday cravings and festive goodies. read more

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Chinatown's iCafe at 133 Waverly Place was a nice find for me! Recommended to me by seasoned diners who frequent Chinatown for all the good eats they offer. This review is for their JOONG (粽), Chinese tamales, lovingly steamed rice and savory fillings that brings you back to Mom's homemade joong's misen en place rice, mung or green beans, duck eggs, pork belly, etc., or free assembly line of Joong makers. Not unlike Christmas time Mexican tamale making! You enter the small, bright, bakery cafe in a throughway Waverly alley, clean with a few tables of two scattered around. And there's the baked goods and JOONG in glass cases on the left and seating to your right as you enter. Most will take their goodies to go but they have their regulars who buy fresh baked rolls, still warm from the oven and sit right there to enjoy! Service is quick and efficient. Especially if you know what you want and/ or are a regular. They also have freshly baked breads and rolls. I love it when i placed my order for which JOONGS I wanted, and the counter person was quick to add "...how about some bread today! It's fresh out of the oven!" LOVED and appreciated that!!! I'll be back for my beloved JOONG and freshly baked breads and rolls! read more

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Quintessential San Francisco Chinatown cafe. Clean, friendly service, nice ambience. Great place to take a break from walking around Chinatown. First time trying a Chinese tamale! read more

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Cashier was incredibly rude for no reason. Asked for a to go bag to carry the food. And she proceeded to say in annoyance that San Francisco doesn't allow plastic bags. ???? Like what lol?! And then she proceed to shush us away with her hands. I then saw a party later asking for a bag and they gave them a plastic bag with handles. Like? Ok... read more

Fantastic little cafe. Clean, calm, tucked away and unassuming. Great service. The lady was very nice. The cocktail bun here was so good I couldn't breathe for a moment because my tongue wanted to savor every bite. Oh man. I can't wait to come back here and buy a dozen. Yum yum yum!!!! read more

Fun times in Chinatown happy ..old times with my family ..mom and fun snacks ..cute kids ..good life China nice read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

While we were looking for some Asian sweets and tea, found this bakery offering delicious Cantonese pastries like pork buns, egg tarts, and mooncakes for reasonable prices for the quality. This clean, well-organized shop has efficient staff, along with the convenient table seating and spotless restrooms. read more

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If you're looking for a dessert that prioritizes texture and subtle sweetness over a sugar-heavy "punch," Chinese sweets are an absolute revelation. Great service Mooncakes are such a classic, but they can be a bit of a polarizing experience depending on the filling. Since you picked yours up from a local bakery, you're usually getting something much fresher than the tins that sit on grocery store shelves for months. read more

Cozy spot with seating which feels special for bakeries here. Good spot to sit down and take a break from walking around before tackling the inclines of SF. I found the baked goods to be fresh and tasty at an average price, but I only tried the pineapple bun (bo lo) and egg tart (dan tat) which I'd say are reasonably popular and more likely to be fresh instead of sitting around. read more

iCafe - Pineapple Bun and Egg Tart - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I found this places back in 2018 when I worked close by. They make fresh mochi daily but they usually sell out before lunch time. Since Covid I haven't seen it in store. I went in today and asked for it specifically and they had 2 left. Jackpot! So happy to have this again after almost 7 years. They're very friendly but always assume I'm Chinese and I have to disappoint them and tell them that I'm Korean. It's never busy and it seems very clean. read more

iCafe - Mochi - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The customer service here is very pleasant and I had an opportunity to try one of their tasty tamales (try the warmed braised pork tamale) and their egg tarts are delicious. read more

iCafe - Display of food - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bad values on the Chinese tamales. Small size compared to others but more than 30% more expensive. The meat is not fatty enough, the salty egg yolk used packaged one. Dry, not oily nor crumbly. Biggest issue is they didn't use 五香粉 to marinate. So, I won't be going back. On the side note, I bought a bun and HK milk tea. Milk tea is really bad. And the bun is not worth it. read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dropped in to pick up some buns and got a bag of almond cookies. These are the best cookies I've ever had. Better than the ones sold in LA Chinatown. read more

iCafe - Gigantic pineapple buns! - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Reasonably priced bakery located in Chinatown. They accept credit cards including Amex. Clean bakery with tables and seating inside. We got 2 bubble milk teas, egg tart and green onion bun which came out to $13.50. The 2 ladies working the counter were friendly too, answering and helping the other customers. read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

iCafe is a nice little bakery and cafe located in a side street in chinatown. The inside is fairly clean with a more modern aesthetic. They have some booth seating for those who want to enjoy some bread and a hot drink while taking a break. They have a nice assortment of classic Chinese bakery staples. Everything is made well and you can't really go wrong with anything here. If wanted, you can also request for them to heat it up a bit if you plan to eat it soon. They also have an interesting assortment of sticky rice choices to bring home and prepare. Each one is quite unique and worth a try. read more

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Stopped by for a quick bite, and this bakery did not disappoint. This is a bakery many "locals" come to. Many were seniors who just hung out and read newspapers and chatted with each other. They didn't have a large variety of baked goods, but what they did have were delicious. read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Their pineapple buns are delicious! I loved their Hong Kong Milk Tea, strong and creamy. They also had Zhongxi (aka Chinese Tamales). Their moon cakes are super fresh and the best!! read more

Pastries and buns are good, particularly the crispy cha siu buns and crispy taro buns. Their sponge cake used to be very fluffy and soft. Now, the cake is not as much soft and fluffy. The pastries and buns were used to be cheaper than other bakery shops. Now, noT cheap any more BUT they are still pretty competitive in terms of quality. The menu has been simplified, some items would only be ordered in advance such as mochi. Maybe the shop becoming popular, I feel that the owner/cashier sometimes appears rude and cold to random customers. read more

I had high hopes when I walked in, as this place is in china town. I got spenge cake but it wasn't that spongy I have had better flavour and softer cake at multiple other places. I also got the Pineapple Egg yolk mooncake, it was good but I didn't love it either. The worst was Vietnamese coffee, she quickly put together some random coffee and added cream, I didn't even finish and threw it away. The inside of the place was clean with some seating but not going back. read more

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My mom introduced me to this cafe in Chinatown and I now claim it's my fav place for cha siu bao in the city! I love the crumbly sugar topping. My hubby also likes the hot dog bao and the hairy pork baos (i'm sure there's a better name for those, lol). Can't wait to eventually try their mango mochi--they're always out of it when I go! read more

This is the year tradition for NY, organic radish and taro cakes. Their Chinese organic Tamale also very tasty and many choices even vegetarian. Fresh ingredients and great service. read more

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Cash only -- thumbs down... I came here to try the different Chinese tamales but as it turns out, they only have a few selections available so the full menu you see on Yelp is always what they have. I tried the purple rice with scallop $7 and braised pork with preserved greens $6 -- both of these are way more expensive than other standard sticky rice you'll find. I was expecting the flavor to be more pronounced but it was pretty standard. Purple rice is supposedly to be healthier because it has antioxidants but the texture reminds me of brown rice -- rough and not as chewy. The braised pork one was stuffed well but overall kinda small for $7. Icafe also sells other typical baked Chinese goods but nothing that looks unique. The place is pretty low key considering it's located in one of the alley ways off the Main Street. It's a large space with tables but this morning it was completely empty. I asked the lady why she didn't have more selection and she said they don't always make all of the flavors because of limited freezer space. They had an interesting display of various ingredients that can be stuffed in Chinese tamales. Now that I've tried this, I wouldn't necessarily return read more

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It's June and the season for Chinese tamales. I was craving for a peanut one like my mom used to make. And ICafe really hit the spot. We also got some bbq buns. We ordered the peanut tamale and the purple rice with scallops. The bbq wasn't that crusty on top. The peanut tamale was excellent - very comparable to my Moms. The purple one I could do without. There were fatty pieces in there. Y read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stumbled upon this place while walking through china town. Decided to try their taro bun (honestly so good), egg tart which was ok, and then the red bean and egg pancake which is basically filled mochi. The coffee milk tea was a little sweet for our taste. Service was quick and easy to go but they also had tables if you want to sit. read more

iCafe - Taro bun - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been here twice now. Most recently this past Wednesday on our ebike ride. A must stop for some of us. Hubby insisted on buying the Chinese tamale. He wanted choice B but I think we got choice C. No matter. I wanted one of their pineapple BBQ pork buns. Sold out. At 11:30am. Just as well. Bought a ordinary pineapple bun and a sponge cake. Both eaten later at home. Good. Reheated the Chinese tamales for dinner later. No hair found in it. Whew. Hubby enjoyed them. Comfort food. read more

iCafe - Chinese tamales - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wonderful bakery with friendly staff! The shop owner can to us and greeted us. She also gave us free sesame balls! She was so sweet & the best egg tart! read more

iCafe - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped here because we both needed coffee!! One of the very few places open early in Chinatown with coffee. We each got a snack to go with our coffee; she got the bao with corn and ham and I got a cha siew bao. The coffee was just okay as were the bao. I would've liked more filling in my cha siew bao, but it was a good enough snack before doing the tourist thing in Chinatown! Just happy to support a business in Chinatown! read more

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Oddly, despite previous reviews, there was not a single mochi to be found. Seemed like they were working on tons of rice wraps though. Being in a baked goods mood though, I stuck with the pastries, which were all quite nice. BBQ Pork Bun: The one I got was still warm from the oven. Being so fresh, the sugar on top still had that nice crumbly texture. And such soft bread. A really wonderful experience. Purple Yam Pastry: Similar to the BBQ pork bun, but filled with a sweet taro paste. Was also fresh from the oven. The filling was a little sweet, but not too sweet, which was perfect since the sugar on top was there. Sponge Cake: So light and fluffy. Like an angel food cake, but all to yourself. So easy to eat this quickly. Egg Tart: Not warm, but a few seconds in the microwave at home fixed that. Jiggly center and flaky crust. It's not Golden Gate Bakery, but at least they're open. I kinda like the buns here more though. Hot Dog Bun: Pretty standard. Though a much thicker hot dog than normally found in buns like this. Soft bread bun. Very filling. read more

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