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    Jiro Cafe & Bakery

    4.4 (133 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes, Bakeries, Sandwiches
    Closed 12:00 pm - 4:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Jiro Cafe & Bakery Takeout or Delivery

    Jiro Cafe & Bakery Photos

    Business Info

    JIRO CAFE & BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Jiro Cafe & Bakery

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    Inside
    Cat N.

    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.

    Tonkatsu Burrito, Spam Musubi_5.5 oz, matcha pastry
    Francie M.

    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!

    Makena L.

    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.

    outside
    Amy Y.

    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.

    Custard puddings
    Linz C.

    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

    Anna R.

    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.

    Brownie & Biscottis
    Benny W.

    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.

    Mango Matcha Latte
    Carine B.

    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.

    Tonkatsu quesadilla
    Kate X.

    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.

    Tastiest hojicha iced latte
    Li Y.

    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 !

    Order in store on a screen

    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.

    Kathy L.

    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.

    Crab sando

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    Ask the Community - Jiro Cafe & Bakery

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    Jiro Cafe & Bakery - cafes - Updated September 2026

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