Food is very good and reminds me of being in Japan. The Katsu Sando is very good as well as the sweet treats. I would recommend eating at this cafe/bakery! Service is very good and the ambience is quaint. All of the menu items look delicious. Check it out! read more

Not. Good. At. All. Nothing is fresh here, it's a little pathetic really. Pork kastsu sandwich: Nearly tasteless, luke warm, cold sauce, cold untoasted bun. I would prefer a mayo or thousand island dressing. No side. Expensive for what you get Yakisoba: Some kind of cheap microwave situation. No meat. Rip off. Came here because of the good reviews and feel duped. AVOID! Bad bad bad. Just horrible. read more

We stopped by here last week in the afternoon, around 2 pm. I wanted to get some pastries, but figured they might be sold out, and unfortunately I was right--they didn't have the cat bread that I was looking for. I got an apple bread that tasted just like apple pie with the filling inside, and that was pretty good. We also got a yakisoba and a crab musubi. Both were really good, but I will say the portions are very small. The yakisoba is moreso a snack than a meal, and the crab musubi was mostly rice, but I really liked the crab that was in there. I also ordered a hojicha latte that was pretty good! I did the lite sweet and it actually wasn't very sweet at all. I think if you just got the regular, it wouldn't be that sweet, maybe like 25% at most boba shops. The place is very small and more suited for picking up. The employee there was very friendly. read more

This is a cute little Japanese bakery. The problem I can see is that you have to order on a kiosk and it just took a long time and the line gets long fast. Everything tasted ok. We got quite a few things. I would recommend it, but I would go early, so you don't get caught in line. We got Hojicha tea latte and Panna cotta. They were ok. Pastry filled with cholesterol was ok. We really wanted the Cat shaped milk bread, but it was out. The staff was sweet. read more

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The cutest little shop offering a traditional and fusion Japanese dishes. We ordered: - curry spam musubi: so good I could cry, I've never had the Japanese curry sauce in a musubi before - crab musubi: yummy! - tonkatsu burrito: the traditional meat filling and sauce stuffed into a wrap along with Yakisoba noodles and rice. This was so filling I could barely finish half! The sauce is on the sweet side - this pastry which was a cone of fluffy dough filled with a dense matcha cream. A not too sweet way to finish off the meal - warm hojicha latte: classic Logistics: - limited indoor seating only - limited street parking in front but we parked in the strip mall complex across the street - no bathroom for customers available - they sell out of pastries quickly so come early! read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Tonkatsu Burrito, Spam Musubi_5.5 oz, matcha pastry - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

Very cute Japanese cafe! The inside is small - there's a couple chairs and tables, but it's easier to drive to a nearby park and eat there. You can either order with the cashier or on an iPad, and they can prepare the food quickly! They've got a ton of cute pastry options and classic drink options (matcha lattes, hojicha lattes, etc). The yakisoba bun was super tasty! I also enjoyed the cheesecake - it wasn't too sweet and is a good size to share amongst friends. read more

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I'm pretty sure Jiro Cafe & Bakery is the only place in the bay that makes cat bread, so I really wanted to like them for that. They are a very small and unassuming bakery within Belmont, with only street parking. Based on reviews and hype, they are known for their melon pan, random katsu items, and hojicha latte. I tried one of each of these things, and thought they were expensive for something I wouldn't care to eat again. - Hojicha Latte It doesn't taste too different than other hojicha lattes in the bay, so it is what it is. It's earthy, nutty, roasty, slightly caramelly, and solid, but again, you can order this anywhere else and it'll taste the same. - Caramel Latte It is a latte with caramel drizzles! Great if you like sweet lattes. - Katsu Sando The katsu is pretty big, but the amount of cabbage in this sandwich was just so awkwardly stuffed and extra, that it actually tasted more like I had a mouthful of cabbage than katsu. I'm not sure what it was, but despite the katsu being cooked well, I felt that it was missing something like juiciness, fat deposits, or something that made it scream "great piece of meat". It was just weird that all the other ingredients in the sando tasted more important than the katsu. The sauce also tasted a bit like slimy barbecue ketchup. - Curry Katsu Musubi I thought I'd like curry musubi more, but it's just musubi with curry so I'm not sure what I was expecting. I prefer plain ol' spam, I guess, as the breading makes it taste... less. - Beef Curry The rice quality is good, but the curry needed more gravy or actual curry sauce. It was more like curry flavored beef stew than curry. I'm not sure why they don't have a katsu curry version of this, but it was expensive and made us wish we got something else. - Melon Pan It's just sweet bread with random chocolate inside. It was more hard, cold, and dense than I was anticipating. As you can tell, I wasn't too pleased by these popular picks, and everything combined cost way more than what we'd normally spend at an actual restaurant, with no leftovers. I imagine I'd only come here again if I wanted to impress someone with cat shaped bread. read more

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Cute little shop right off alameda de las Pulgas. We've probably passed by many times but have never noticed it! Easy to order kiosk with lots of quick food and drink options. We tried the tonkatsu sando, melon pan, cherry blossom anpan, crab musubi, and their famous iced hoji-cha latte. The second time we stopped by for the katsu burrito which was filled with pork, rice, and yakisoba-- HUGE, and the katsu quesadilla that had corn and cabbage as well. Both super tasty and the portions are generous read more

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I have a thing for Japanese bakeries/cafes, so I when I find one, I have to check it out. This is a cute little shop tucked away in Belmont. I wanted to get my hands on as many pastries as possible lol, though the menu seemed a bit limited on their kiosk. We did manage a few of the cornets which were all really good. The filling wasn't too sweet or too rich. The strawberry in particular was nice and light. I definitely need an Iced Hojicha Latte which is a must if it's available on any cafe menu. And here, they tout is as one of the best. It was good, but I like mine a little bit sweeter. The one thing I will definitely come back for here is the the Tonkatsu sando. The bun was soft and perfect. It was a generous and filling portion. Overall a solid Japanese bakery. read more

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I love this little family run place for quick after school bites for the kids. Located right next to Carlmont, and across from the Carlmont shopping center. The food is mainly Japanese snacks, made with a lot of love and care. You can see that they take pride in what they serve. Our favorites are the wide variety of musubis. What's best, they can even customize them. One of my kids just wants egg and rice on their musubi, they will make one for her in that tiny kitchen in the back. The baked goods are definitely a must. I have also had their katsu platter, which was fresh and delicious. They do run out of stuff by later afternoon, and it looks like some local Japanese moms got together to create this place and cater to the school kids in the area. It definitely has a homey feel to it. I think they cater too, but I don't have much details on it. Inside seating area is small with just a couple of tables - so be prepared for mostly takeout. Service with a smile, and a lot of Japanese traditional courtesy. Almost transported me back to those little stores that line the streets of Tokyo, the first time I went here read more

This small cat themed Cafe & Bakery is located right across the street from Lunardis. There are plenty of free parking spots outside and around this establishment. I placed and paid for my order at the kiosk. I ordered the Crab Sando, Tonkotsu Sando, Coffee Jelly, Hojicha Latte and Yuzu Cheesecake Set. We also got two bags of Tea & Vanilla Cookies to go. The food came out in a timely manner. They Crab Sando came with avocado, spinach, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and a generous portion of real crab. The Tonkotsu was tender and juicy. The Coffee Jelly wasn't too sweet, which I liked. The Hojicha Latte was refreshing. The Yuzu Cheesecake had a hint of sourness and sweetness to it. The Tea and Vanilla Cookies were delicious. I can taste the butter and hint of tea in those cookies and they weren't too sweet. The prices are fairly reasonable and they were generous with the portions. I'll be back to try their yakisoba, musubi, and cornet. read more

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It's 2 years since my last review and Jiro Cafe & Bakery is still going strong! Love love this place, my favorite Japanese bakery in the whole Bay Area that most people don't know about. They're added convenient online & kiosk based ordering, and more savory entrees for lunch like yakiniku beef bento and spam musubi. And there's still the super delicious and beautiful pastry favorites like the melon pan, apple pan, and cornet. The service is great too. read more

Came on a break to grab a matcha. Ordered a mango matcha with almond milk and a red bean bun. The matcha: I LOVE that is unsweetened (note: it's unsweetened...). I was not a fan of the mango. I went down a star for this because given the quality of everything else at this spot (the baked goods) I wish they would have stuck with quality and skipped the mango syrup, which tasted artificial (not sure whether or not it was). A house made or fresher mango based would have worked well. My coworker got the strawberry base and it was similar - syrup (think IHOP pancake syrup). I usually am gluten free (sensitive) but the fresh baked goods smelled so good and I really wanted to try one of the buns. My intention was only to have a couple bites. It was so good, I had the whole thing! It was a good ratio of red bean paste to bun and there was a teenie slice of what I think was a salted plum on top. This was a lovely contrast to the sweet paste which served almost as a pallet cleanser. Prices were reasonable. Service was fast. Staff helped answer questions and were friendly. It's a tiny spot. read more

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This place is pretty small but cute. There are not that many seats inside, and most people seem to be taking food to go. I got the tonkatsu quesadilla for $12 and it was essential cabbage, corn, and tonkatsu, and cheese inside a tortilla? shell. It was an interesting item, but tasted pretty good. read more

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* Fresh pastries that were good. * Unusual service - one lady was very friendly, and the other was not! * Limited availability - there were maybe 5 pastries available and I came on a Sunday at 1pm. Cute unassuming Japanese bakery tucked away in Belmont. Was a bit shocked and disheartened by unfriendly service at a Japanese bakery. Would like to return at some point to try the other pastries hopefully they will have more variety next time. read more

I was looking forward to trying this place as there's not many Japanese cafes/bakeries in the area. We were on the way home and would pass by Belmont, so we decided to stop by. We went on a Saturday afternoon and unfortunately a lot of items were sold out or not available. We ordered the melon pan and the premium tuna onigiri. My husband mentioned the tuna onigiri was pretty good. I tried the melon pan and it was a bit hard. I also didn't expect / know that there as chocolate inside so I was a bit disappointed since I'm not a big fan of chocolate, especially inside a melon pan. I was also hoping the melon pan bread would be soft, but it was not. The cashier/possibly owner was friendly and nice when handing over our food. It's a small shop so not much seating. There was street parking and also a lot behind the store. Unfortunately I don't think I'd go out of my way to come back. read more

Excellent cozy environment with delicious homemade Japanese desserts and drinks! I'd really recommend the cake and Hojicha drink set. Will be back! read more

Cute little bakery/coffee shop in Belmont. Was curious after driving by and seeing the sweet storefront. The first chance I got I stopped in to checkout the shop. When I got there I noticed a bunch of people stopping in for late lunch items. Just wanting to do a sampling, I picked uo a few Japanese pasteries and a hojicha iced latte. So happy I did! That iced latte was gone before I got a mile down the road to my destination. It was that good! The pasteries were shared by a few. We agreed, they were nice and soft; pleasantly sweet without being too sweet. Looking forward to returning and trying some of their savory options and... getting another refreshing hojicha latte ! read more

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I ordered the strawberry milk and the yakisoba sando. While neither blew me away, both were good and really hit the spot at the time. This feels like a great place for snacks and drinks rather than a full meal, though they do offer sandwiches and other light bites. The yakisoba sandwich was yummy but the bun was a bit dry--more like a burger bun that had been sitting out for a bit. The strawberry milk tasted slightly artificial to me, but still enjoyable overall. You order inside on a screen, though if you prefer to pay by cash, you can do that at the register. I did find it a little odd that there isn't much interaction with the staff; it might have been nice to have a bit more of a personal touch. Since Carlmont is nearby and the café sits near a shopping center, the crowd tends to be parents and kids. It's a cute, clean, and small spot--perfect for grabbing a quick snack or drink with your kids or teens. You'll definitely score some "cool parent" points by taking them here. :-) They don't serve boba, but you can grab some next door, which really rounds out the treat. I actually like that they do this because it supports the small business next-door as well. Unfortunately, they were out of spam musubi and onigiri when I visited, so my choices were limited. I'd come back again to try more from the menu. read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Order in store on a screen - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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What a super cute neighborhood cafe in Belmont, just across the street from the Carlmont Shopping Center. It's small and cozy and there are a few tables for dining inside. They are open limited hours--about 5 hours, 6 days a week. I recommend going early to get a good selection of their pastries. The bakery is small, so the line can seem long--going out the door, but it moves fast. My favorite pastry is Anpanman, a baked bun with red bean filing. (Anpanman is an Asian cartoon character & BTS also sings a song about him). Another favorite of mine is their jarred custard...smooth texture, not too sweet. They also offer limited savory/lunch items but so far I've only eaten the pastries. It's a little hidden gem in a local residential neighborhood--easily to drive past. If you happen to venture in the area, check it out. read more

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Stopped by to get some delicious, authentic onigiri and musubi. I had the daily special onigiri (salmon) and a curry-Spam musubi (new to me flavor, and excellent). Came around noon and the person before me nabbed the last cat bread -- oh well! Service was a bit slow, so be warned if you're in a rush. read more

We walked past this cafe bakery after our hike in the Belmont open space area. We had a good breakfast in the morning so we only wanted a small snack before our Valentine Day's special dinner, so we ordered a crab musubi and a hot dog to share. The rice of the musubi was not as good as I had expected, and the overall musubi fell apart very easily so I was not too impressed by it. The hot dog was good, and the staff was very pleasant and courteous. read more

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The crab sandwich was good, I'd go back for that or variations (they have nachos, and I think burritos and quesadillas?). The tonkatsu sandwich - I wish it was a little more seasoned since the pork is loaded with the cabbage and pressed between the buns. The meat wasn't chewy so that was good. Sausage bread tastes kind of like a Costco hot dog, and I don't mean that in a bad way. The chocolate and matcha cornets were okay. Tbf, they're not really my thing normally anyway but I wanted to try while I was there. Overall, I thought the best thing we ordered was the crab sandwich and I'd come back for that. Will check out some of the drinks next time, too. I think all things considered this is more 3.5 for food but service was great - we dined in and staff were very friendly. I appreciate that they had three sit down cafe tables (IKEA?) and also some bar seating. read more

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A small Japanese snack shop and bakery. I had the small (4oz) pork katsu sando. There is also a large (7oz). It looked like a slider but the meat was very thick and I could barely get my mouth around it. It was a perfect portion for me; just the right amount of sauce and shredded cabbage. Also had iced coffee. I usually take half sweet at other coffee or boba drink places but tried the standard and turned out the way I like it. Japanese drinks are not usually super sweet like most places. The inside is very small - 3 tiny tables that seat 2each and a small counter area. Order is thru the kiosk. Parking in front is 20 min only. But there is a shop center across the street. read more

The food is 5 stars, but the hours of operation are random. Is it open today? Google and Yelp say yes. Wrong! I live two blocks away and I can never plan a meal here, the only way to enjoy this place is to visit in person and find out or call in advance. It's Saturday Jan 3rd at 2pm.... why is it closed??? This isn't a holiday. read more

Surprising find on my visit to San Mateo. It's a small cafe with made to order pastries, sandos, desserts, and drinks. The ladies working are sweet and lovely people. There's two small tables and a windowsill bench area. Cute and quaint! :) read more

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What a charming little japanese cafe in Belmont! The menu is touchscreen and displays what's still available and what's sold out. I tried their mayo and corn pan as well as the cornet (filled with vanilla custard cream). The mayo and corn pan was huge! Very filling. Unfortunately though the corn bits were pretty dried out and hardened. Not the best to eat; I think if I paired this with soup, it would be better since the bread was pretty tough as well. The cornet was cute! It's filled to order. The bread was a little harder, but still good. Very sturdy. It definitely has a strong chew to it. The vanilla custard cream was nice and custardy. Very thick texture. For future visits I think I have to try the tonkatsu sando and the cat bread! They look good! read more

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Was in the area and stopped by this place for a snack based on the favorable Yelp reviews. We were not disappointed-the tonkotsu sandwhich, spam musubi, and spam and egg musibi were tasty, as was the latte. The place is cozy with just three small tables and some bar seating along with a bench outside. Kid-friendly spot and service was welcoming! read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Tonkotsu sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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Decided to give this bakery a try after seeing the good Yelp reviews for it. I felt that it did not live up to the hype personally. The pastries were not particularly special and the Melon Pan in particular was oversugared and came with chocolate filling that was not a good match. The other pastries were just standard red bean buns with a bit of additional decoration (sesame seeds and some cherry blossoms). The biggest disappointment of all was the tonkatsu burrito. So much filler (white rice and noodles) were packed into that thing when I was expecting more pork and that item really let me down in particular. I ended up feeding most of the rice to a couple of pigeons near the bench that I was sitting at since I could not stomach such an egregiously large amount of plain white rice. Unfortunately, would not come back here again. read more

Finally a place on the peninsula that has Japanese style bakery items without having to travel to SF or the South Bay. They tonkatsu sandwich is a good size and of course go early to get the cat bread. What kid doesn't want a bread shaped like a cat. Makes for good buttered toast or jam. The shape is really good and bread is nice and soft. The staff is always very friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have about the menu. It's in a little strip mall by the library in Belmont so the 20 min parking spaces in front are the most convenient since I would consider this mainly a take out spot. They do have some stools and a couple of tables inside and a bench outside but I wouldn't really consider it very large for indoor dining. Most items can be eaten hand held so it's fine for the space they are in. Stop by if you are looking for your milk bread fix or the cute cat shaped bread. Sandwiches are good size and. Hot and the bun is really nice. Freshly made. read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Yakisoba sando - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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Update: the melon pan is the best! Very pleasant surprise of chocolate here and there on the inside and crunchy cookie top with lemon zest on the outside. The flavors compliment each other very well. Highly recommend if you're only getting one dessert. They have these on Saturdays and you can preorder for any day. I also need to mention the unassuming side salad. The corn + mayo combo is very Japanese, texture is so fun to eat. It comes with a pretty edible flower, too! Cute presentation read more

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A true hidden gem in Belmont! Open for just under two years, Jiro sells a variety of Japanese baked goods, snacks, entrees, and drinks. The cafe is a compact space with three two-person table tops and a window counter with stools, along with some cute decor and J-pop playing in the background. You can order from their kiosk or at the counter if paying with cash. The staff seem like old friends from behind the counter--full of smiles, laughter, and greetings amongst one another and with customers. My family tried a few of the musubi's, tonkatsu sandwich, anpan, and iced drinks (strawberry milk, strawberry matcha, and iced Belgian chocolate). My favorite item was the spam/egg musubi and all of the drinks--they hit it out of the park! The flavors were on point and not too sweet. I would definitely go back for a drink and melon pan--they were sold out of them when I visited but seemed to be a crowd favorite. I can't wait to go back to Jiro Cafe & Bakery and explore more of their menu. read more

A cute little bakery I've been wanting to check out for a while! I came here around noon, so they were sold out of a chunk of their baked goods, but I still walked away with a strawberry matcha latte and a loaf of cat bread (aka the star of the show). The cat bread has the light sweetness of classic milk bread, and it's in the shape of a freaking cat, so what more can you ask for. Strawberry purée in the latte wasn't too sweet and had a bit of tartness to balance out the bitterness of the matcha. Definitely check this place out, but come in the morning! read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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This cafe is like going to your favorite aunt or grandmas house who is really good at cooking and baking. There is a menu but it seems more like they make what they want and sell what they have - feels very quaint and homemade Tonkatsu sandwich - big pork cutlet with a squishy bun and a generous portion of finely shredded cabbage. Yummy and crispy, pork was a touch dry. Matcha cornet was delicious, great flavor w the cream and nice soft cornet Melon pan - did not get much melon fragrance and felt a bit dry/stale, but great crisp sugar top. There's some chocolate inside the bread which I did not expect. read more

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Yay local japanese bakery! We got two cream hornets - matcha and strawberry&cream. Freshly filled with cream and satisfying! Definitely "not too sweet". Bread is fluffy and soft. More like a to-go place as seating is pretty small, but it feels very local, homey, and just has the family business vibe that you want to support this place. The neighborhood is pretty peaceful. read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - cream hornets! - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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Trying to find something for lunch when I visited Jiro Cafe to try the Tonkatsu Sando. I was just going to get that, but I've been binge watching Japanese bakeries on YouTube and have been so curious about the curry pans. I was so excited to see Jiro Cafe makes them that I had to give it a try. I also couldn't resist ordering a coffee cream bun (last one) and the Strawberry Matcha Latte. First of all, the staff were all very friendly. When my order was ready, they didn't call my order number but brought it directly to me where I was waiting. I enjoyed the latte with the strawberry jelly (?) Both the sando and the curry bun were warm. Decided to eat the sando first. The bun was fluffy and the tonkatsu was crispy - just the right amount of sauce for me and quite filling. I was so full I had to save my other items for dinner. The filling f the curry pan wasn't overpowering, but I'm sure it would've been better warm. So, I'll just have to return and order another one. I liked the coffee cream bun as well - the coffee flavor really came through and it was just the right amount of sweetness for me. The prices seem reasonable and I will return to try other menu items. read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Strawberry Matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California

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Iced Hojicha latte and yuzu cheesecake were great, not too sweet. Tonkatsu rice plate was a generous portion and the cut of meat was thick, more meat than batter. read more

"Prior to the evolution of Jiro, were Ike's Sandwich and some other sandwich joint that didn't last long. So I was always familiar with this location and was always curious who took over, etc. (Sits on the main road of Ralston, where foot and car traffic is coming and going. Church is next door and Lunardi's is across the street. Around the corner is Carlmont Medical Center and SNF; with the mortuary across the street). Since Ike's was gone, the mystery of who took over finally unfolded, thanks to the signage Jiro got approval for displaying as it was a long battle, according to the cashier I spoke to.  The bakery has a chalkboard menu which apparently is updated daily. It is indeed a nicely decorated bakery with pink stripes on the wall---a very inviting touch. I always thought the business hours were not accommodating (11-5 on weekdays), but there were no obstacles that Friday (Veteran's Day) I came in since there were two people ahead of me and I had time to admire the shop while selecting my items to order. First thing I grabbed was the custard dessert in a glass jar garnished with cute pink wrapper, a fresh crab "sando" sandwich and a red bean pastry, which I think was called "An Pan".  My first time here and overall experience was a good one with quick service.  I would definitely return to try the rest of the high quality items/Japanese dessert. Come check out this bakery joint when in the area, you won't be disappointed! read more

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One of my favorite cafes in the Bay Area. I love their variety of sweet and savory treats. Some of our must have items are their onigiris (salmon and plum), crab sando, yaki soba plate, and cat bread. We enjoy quite a few of their other items too, but just highlighting a few that are harder to find at Bay Area cafes. I love that everything comes fresh to order, but be mindful that it also means they are making it at that time so be prepared to wait. On an average visit we're waiting at least 15 minutes for our order and that's assuming only one or two parties are ahead of us. The staff here are super friendly and always make you feel welcomed. Definitely a place I will continue frequenting for good cafe bites with a fun vibe/atmosphere. read more

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I finally got a chance to try Jiro Bakery. It has limited 20 min street parking right in front of the store. I'm not sure if there's a dedicated parking lot or not... The inside is very small and seems more like a grab and go kind of place. I don't think I would want to bring friends here to hang out; there wasn't a lot of sitting space. When we went it was 3:30pm on a Wednesday and most of the baked breads were already sold out, including the melon pan (one of my favorites). I did manage to snag a cream bread with chocolate. They have cornets that are filled with the cream of your choice when you order them which was nice. I tried the matcha and vanilla custard and both were very yummy. They weren't cloyingly sweet and I felt like the cornet was light enough that I didn't feel too heavy after eating. My in-laws also liked them. The bread itself was pretty light and fluffy. Staff was very friendly and patient when explaining the breads. I would like to come back when the baking rack has more items and I would totally get the cornets again. I'll have to try the other flavors. read more

Jiro Cafe & Bakery - Cafes Near Me - Belmont, California