They put the mochi in mochi donuts. Truly delicious and chewy. The icing is on the sweet side but works really well with the donut itself. Definitely a great place to stop by for a treat. read more

I would highly recommend the coconut matcha cloud and to get it early - it sold out by 11 AM on a Sunday. Certain drinks on the menu have limited quantities available. It came with a thick layer of cream top and the matcha flavor was perfection. When mixed with the coconut water, it was delightful. So refreshing and the perfect drink for the summer! read more

Kin Bakeshop - coconut matcha cloud - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I walked into the store and there was only one person ahead of me, so I thought, "Great, this should be quick." Instead, she proceeded to ask about practically every item on the menu--"What is hojicha?" "What's this?" "What's that?"--while the employee happily answered every question. Meanwhile, a line was forming behind me. I patiently waited and even tried giving her the eye to hint that she might want to wrap things up, but she continued. She also brought her dog into the store, and nothing was said. Then the person behind me brought her dog in too. I finally interrupted and asked if I could place my order. She then said she arrived before me. The counter guy just stood there! Well, guess what? They lost a customer. I understand asking a few questions, but monopolizing the counter while other customers are waiting is incredibly inconsiderate. The employee should have recognized the growing line and either called for additional help or politely told her he needed to assist other customers. Since I already knew exactly what I wanted, they could have taken my order and started making it while he continued helping her. My recommendations: provide informational sheets explaining the drinks for customers unfamiliar with the menu, and consider iPad/digital ordering and an order-ahead option. These would allow customers to learn about the drinks and place their orders without holding up everyone else. Also, train employees about customer service. And don't allow dogs inside. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Black Sesame Matcha - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

There is so much to be said about this wonderful and intimate cafe. I went for the first time this Monday and craved it every day since so obviously I had to return to try all the daily specials. It's hard to put into words how special this place is. The cafe drinks are out of this world and really made each day better when I went. The cookie butter was what hooked me, and I fell in LOVE with the raspberry cloud. Besides the amazing products served here something that awed me is how they bring out the drinks on a tray instead of handing it over the counter. This gesture makes each visit feel special. They also update their customer base via instagram throughout the day about what's in stock and I've found this to be very helpful. I really want to try the smoked salmon beignets so I will keep checking for those updates every weekend. The team here has completely nailed it and I am actually addicted. I can't wait to bring everyone I love here. read more

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This is one of my fav Asian spots in SB. The quality is impeccable, but I wish they had boba because it'd be the best boba in SB. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Delicious Drinks and Sweet Treats! - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Worth the hype! Came around a Saturday afternoon (3pm) and did not have to wait long. However most of the tables were taken. Parking was super easy to find. I LOVE how much cream they put in the matcha einspanner. The texture and taste of the cream really makes this a good drink. Ceremonial matcha was delicious and umami as always. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Matcha einspanner - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Super cute coffee spot, very minimal. The service was great, the guy was very nice. We tried the drink that started with an E, it had a nice cream on it. It was strong and it wasn't very sweet for my liking. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Delicious drinks and baked goods! Friendly and very sufficient staff! Kin Bakeshop has become my must visit and the main place I look forward to whenever we make a trip to Santa Barbara. Their drinks are addictedly delicious! I have tried several different ones from espresso, latte, to matcha and non-caffeinated drinks. Each one has been consistently great. 2 stars Due to their popularity, there's always almost a line out the door. However, if you follow them on IG, they do post update stories throughout the day about quantity status and how long the wait would be. They're pretty efficient, so even with a long line, I've never waited more than 20-30mins. 1 star The store is not meant for a sit down and hang out or study spot, but big enough to fit a good number of customers waiting around for drinks. 1 star They don't offer latte art or even hot drink, but ALL of their cold drinks and baked good are more than enough to make up for that! 1 star Really wish they'll start expanding soon. Central Coast can really use a great Asian coffee/bakery. As for now, I'll just have to drive down to Santa Barbara once or twice a month to get my Kin fix! This is the breakdown of my rating for coffee shops: Quality of coffee/drinks/food: up to 2 stars Consistently offer latte art: 1 Star Atmosphere: 1 Star Customer service: 1 Star read more

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There was a line out the door, so we knew we were in the right place! But the line moved pretty quickly, so it wasn't too bad. I wanted to come here because of their unique Asian flavored drinks and desserts. The shop itself has a minimal, clean aesthetic. The menu is projected on the back wall, and there is some bench seating and small chairs/tables (we saw people using them as either). The Ssuk (Mugwort) drink on the menu caught my eye, so I had to try that! We also got one of their specials for the day, the Earl Grey Matcha Cream Top. Both were yummy and not too sweet! For desserts, I tried the Pandan Mochi Muffin and the Calamansi Meringue Pie Mochi Donut. Between the two, I enjoyed the mochi donut more! I love that they have weekly specials of their drinks and desserts that change weekly, so there's always something fun and new to try! read more

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Updated review now that I've tried their mochi donuts and I'm here to report that they're the best I've ever had! I was able to get to Kin in the morning and they had all of their sweets available so of course I had to splurge and try multiple ones. Their coco Jasmine marscapone was a surprise standout. It was incredible! Their Dubai banana was also really yummy. And finally, who doesn't love chocolate cherry anything? I love how they're all really fresh tasting and not overly sweet. I also tried their strawberry rose matcha and it was amazing! My husband got the pistachio cream topped espresso and he really enjoyed it. Service was quick despite the already out the door line. read more

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I love this place. Top 3 in California, seriously. The cup is TINY... but it is SO GOOD. Matcha comes with oat milk default. Cream top is the best I've ever had. Matcha can be a BIT powdery, I would say it's a little inconsistent considering I went multiple days in a row... but it was fantastic no matter what. The pastry was very yummy, but would pass on it. Similar to a malasada in Hawaii. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is my love letter to kin. Y'all don't understand when I say I've been waiting to go to here for over 2 years AND IT FINALLY HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. ...and it was worth the hype yall. I might have been a little ambitious and went back to back days and tried 3 drinks in 2 days... The strawberry drinks were my fav and they were SO good because they use real strawberries in their puree so you can taste the chunks. The tea was also SOOO strong and you can tell they use quality powder. I'm craving the strawberry matcha or hojicha again as im writing this. The black sesame matcha was good too but the black sesame definitely dominated the matcha so it felt like i was just drinking black sesame cream which i love black sesame but just wished there was a stronger matcha taste. I'd recommend this drink if you're looking for more of a creamier, dessert-like drink. As for the treats, the ube mochi muffin was my favorite. It was my first time trying a mochi muffin and I liked how chewy it was! We went too late so they ran out of all mochi donut flavors except the cinnamon one but it was still good cuz it tasted like a churro :) i NEED to come back so i can try the rest of the drinks and desserts...until next time the wait is pretty long ~30mins to 1 hour probably depending on when you go. i went on a saturday afternoon and a sunday morning and had to wait both times interior is INSANELY cute and well decorated! read more

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I was fortunate enough to be in town during their sunset soirée where they featured in an exclusive, upscale menu where they crafted mocktails, as well as their usual Matcha drinks and refreshers. They had a live DJ playing throughout the night while others mixed in, mingled outside and inside the shop. I was so happy I was able to catch it right after a wedding and I look forward to going to many more. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came with a group of friends and family in the morning and we were disappointed that the brioche donuts were not available. We tried the mochi donut instead, and while it was still very good, it did not quite hit the spot that the brioche donut would have. The drinks we got were all very tasty. The matcha flavor was strong and not overpowered by the cream or fruit flavors and had a nice, vibrant color. The strawberry matcha latte was surprisingly the least favorite of the group--the strawberry flavor was lacking, especially compared to the blueberry one. I would definitely return to try their other options if I'm ever back in the area! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Left to right: Matcha einspanner, espresso einspanner, blueberry matcha latte, and strawberry matcha latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Delicious drinks, but wait was 1 1/2 hours long on a Saturday early afternoon. Drinks 9/10 I visit Santa Barbara a few times a year and struggle to find a good matcha place like the cafes they have in the LA area. I was so excited to find Kin's Bakeshop on Yelp. I went with my dad and sister and we tried the: -Blueberry Matcha -Black Sesame Matcha -Matcha Einspanner I was the most excited for the Black Sesame Matcha, but unfortunately I think they forgot to add the sweetener. I went back to the cafe to get it fixed and one of the baristas gave me some sweetener in a separate cup to add and it tasted much better after. The Blueberry Matcha was one of the best blueberry matchas, if not the best, I've ever had. The blueberry flavor tasted fresh and rich. All three matchas tasted high quality. I will note that they are on the smaller side and quite pricey at between $8-$8.50 each. Service 9/10 Mistakes happen, but I kind of wish they had just remade the drink since they forgot the sweetener and I was unsure of how much to add. Overall, service was great and baristas were efficient, but not hurried as they worked through an insanely long line. Ambiance 8.5/10 Ambiance would be great if it wasn't so crowded. While we were there, no seats were free and there was very little standing room with the line wrapping around the neighboring businesses. The aesthetic of the shop was very cute, very personalized with thoughtful trinkets as well as both cozy and clean. Note: they also have a bathroom. Already looking forward to going back! Hopefully on a less crowded day. read more

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Recently moved to Santa Barbara for school & all the students rave about this spot so I had to check it out. Check out their Instagram page for weekly specialty drinks and wait times. I liked how they displayed the menu with a projector & it sort of reminded me of Din tai fung because you can see the employees making the drinks. I'm a fake matcha lover so I wasn't a big fan of the Einspanner, I had to ask for extra syrup sweetener to make it more enjoyable for me. Next time, I'd like to try their mochi donuts read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You know when you see a line the food will be amazing! I've never had anything like these donuts before. They're soft, moist, and fluffy. I tried the cinnamon sugar, pandan raspberry, princess shortcake, and the gluten free ube muffin... They were life changing. Regular donuts will never be acceptable ever again after this lol. The menu offerings change so just be aware of that. The staff were so polite and helpful. read more

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A MUST! Found this place on yelp! Thank you to my yelpers! Me and my family were in town for the weekend. This place is located in a shopping center and had a line even before they opened. Thankfully the line went fast! I ordered the sesame espresso and it did not disappoint. We got there yummy donuts ! The place is small but don't let that stop you. I've been dreaming of my bev since then. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Sesame espresso - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

BEST matcha bake shop in Santa Barbara! The line out the door speaks volumes, it's absolutely worth the wait. My friends and I wanted a little pick-me-up on a Sunday afternoon, and I'm so glad we drove 20 minutes out to give this place a try! Not only was the matcha delightful, but they also gifted us a complimentary donut for my bachelorette weekend. It was perfectly sweet, which I loved because I'm not a fan of overly dense or super sweet treats. The service was incredibly kind. Even while dealing with so many customers in one day, they greeted everyone with a smile and such a welcoming attitude. The place is also really clean and well-kept. This spot will definitely be added to my go-to list whenever I'm in Santa Barbara! read more

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The service here is great despite it being so busy. They also offer barley tea while you wait and it's delicious! I've passed by twice in the morning on my way to Santa Barbara and the line is usually really long so I decided to go around 3PM. There was still a line, but it died down after we ordered. I usually go for a matcha, however if it is your thing, I really recommend trying out their hojicha. It was delicious! A bit sweet, nutty, and earthy. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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They were closed the first time I stopped by so was very happy this time to have made it just in time before they cut off the line. I tried the matcha einspanner and it was very good. I am usually wary when anything sweet is added to matcha drinks because it can so easily overpower the matcha flavor and taste, however the sweet cream was not too sweet and complemented it rather than overpower the matcha flavor. I also tried the Ube Cheesecake mochi donut and it was good, but I think the star of the show are the matcha drinks. Minimal decor, if you didn't know what type of business it was it would be hard to tell just by looking in since everything is put away when they close. Menu is projected on the wall. Seating not very inviting, probably to prevent the crowd from staying too long. read more

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I want to start my review by talking about the stellar customer service experience I received while visiting Kin's for the first time. The young lady up front was very welcoming and provided amazing service! This place has been so popular on social media and they are known for their matcha specials. If you follow them on instagram they post their daily specials and provide great updates of their inventory and wait times (a genius idea may I add). My personal favorites were the matcha einspanner and their strawberry matcha latte. For mochi donuts I especially enjoyed their lemon blueberry ricotta and brown butter turon specials. Inside they have nice seating and some stools but it gets very busy so the seating area can fill up. They also provide umbrellas if there is a long line and a hot sun outside. I highly recommend this place so be sure to check it out! read more

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BEST matcha in Santa Barbara. Visiting from San Jose (where there's a great amount of good quality matcha) and needless to say this was definitely up there. You could tell the quality of the matcha is great and the cream top is so vanilla-y and delicious. Service was top notch, they were very sweet and gave us tips to enjoy the drinks better. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Banana matcha, match einspanner, strawberry rose matcha, banana milk espresso cream top - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Not sure if it's worth the hype to be honest!! Line was long. Mochi donuts were high quality - chewy and fresh. The strawberry yuzu lemonade one tasted artificial but the brown butter crispy and apple pie were very good. The matcha wasn't the best I've had but the cream top was really good. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Matcha and cookie butter latte. Mochi donuts. - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I've been daydreaming of their hojicha black sesame everyday since I got it last weekend. I highly recommend this drink!! We arrived about 10 minutes after opening time and there was already a 20 minute line out the door. Someone would come out frequently to hand out samples and provide umbrellas for the wait. Once inside, we were greeted by the cashier, who was super sweet and welcoming! (The barley tea was delicious by the way). Because we went earlier in the day, their brioches weren't ready yet, but I definitely would have wanted to try them!! My friend ordered a matcha but she actually wasn't super impressed even though I think they're known for their matcha here. I'm glad I had a chance to try this place out! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

we came on a sunday afternoon. there was a long line out the door and took about 45ish minutes to get to the front of the line. the inside has limited seating but outside the shop has some more. i was really excited since sb has been missing a matcha place for the longest time. we got two matcha einspeiner. it was pretty good with a strong matcha flavor (though a little more on the bitter side than an umami flavor). and it was really creamy which balanced out the matcha flavor well. read more

Kin Bakeshop - matcha einspeiner - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Kin Bakeshop is hands down some of the best matcha we've ever had. The coconut matcha was definitely the star, so refreshing and perfectly balanced. Fair warning: the lines can get long, but it's 100% worth the wait. Pro tip: follow them on Instagram because they post what's available and what's sold out. We came a bit later in the day and missed out on the cinnamon sugar mochi donut, so now we've got a solid reason to come back. For drinks, we tried two matcha options (one with a foam top and the other with coconut water) plus a Thai tea, everything was amazing. The vibe is super chill with a clean, minimalist aesthetic, and a cool projector screen menu. Seating is limited, but it didn't take away from the experience. This is definitely going to be a must-stop anytime we're in Santa Barbara! read more

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The name is "bakeshop" but do not miss out on the drinks. This is definitely the best matcha spot in town. It's so good that I visited twice back to back during my limited time here. I tried matcha elsewhere and it was instant regret. For the matcha latte, the color was perfect and the tea was strong. And plenty of options for us lactose intolerant girlies since the matcha latte default to oat milk. You can also adjust sweetness and I went with 50%, which was perfect. Service is amazing and the store itself is gorgeous. I would recommend visiting during a weekday though. The line during the weekend was a little intimidating haha. It also seems that the pastries sell out fast, but I didn't get a chance to try. read more

Kin really benefits by its proximity to UCSB college students. The lines are long, and honestly (as an Asian Ame.) I've never seen so many Asian people lined up; it really feels like you're at a trendy cafe in Koreatown, LA or San Francisco. It appears that this is a mainstay for UCSB Asian/ Asian Ame. students. The shop itself is extremely minimalist- concrete, stark white walls, and light wood touches. So it's actually not that cozy and inviting to sit and spend a lot of time. And honestly there isn't room with all the traffic coming through. The workers seem to be younger college students, and they are all friendly and the hard-working baristas are able to handle the long drink lines. My first time I got 3 mochi donuts and they were super fresh, melt in your mouth. My 2nd trip, I think the donuts were sitting in boxes so they didn't have that fresh gooey texture. But the rotating flavors are so interesting, with deep flavors. I really appreciated my Black sesame one. The match and tea based cold drinks are highly IG -able. The creamy foams are impressive. Kin is a unique, very Asian addition to this area. read more

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We were in town on a roadtrip and decided to stop at Kin. The drinks are all aesthetically pleasing and honestly I had a hard time deciding but eventually went with the matcha einspanner. Glad to say the drink had both substance and style. The flavor was full and bold, the cream was sweet but just right. The lines were long-ish but trust me the drinks were worth it. The mochi donuts looked good but I didn't get to try them this time around. I wish I could try more drinks but definitely going to keep Kin as a bookmark for future visits! 4/5 mainly because the price is fairly steep but thankfully the drink itself was good. the read more

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Really loved their drinks! One of the best hojicha drinks I've had, the cream top was really good and not too sweet! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Hojicha Einspänner, matcha black sesame cream top, strawberry hojicha latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

So *aesthetic* with great taste to boot! I think the stars were the drinks with the heavy cream to0z make sure to drink it by sipping to get the full flavor and texture experience. I liked the mugwort drink, but believe their take on thai tea was better and probably the best thai tea I've had. Expect a long line, but a short wait after placing your order. They serve barley tea gratis after you place your order. Limited seating area meant for conversing and not for working so keep that in mind. read more

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This place was so good we went 2 days in a row! Whenever we are visiting new areas, we always look for new matcha places to try. We first came on a Saturday morning and there was a line, but it went by fast. The ambiance was very clean and simple, which made it very appealing. The drinks we ordered (strawberry Yakult, double matcha latte, and ube hojicha latte) were very delicious, and the food was also superb (brioche banana cream and brioche passion fruit). Staff was very welcoming and friendly as well, especially the staff member who took our order at the front. Definitely must visit if you are in Santa Barbara! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Banana and passion fruit brioche and strawberry Yakult, ube hojicha and double matcha latte. - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

First time coming here. I came here specifically to try the matcha. The black sesame matcha is good. If you're looking for something sweeter I recommend the matcha einspanner. The black sesame isn't too sweet, but it's great . Their donuts are delicious too, fluffy and flavorful. After they took my order, they gave me some tea while I waited. They have a restroom and some areas to sit inside and outside. If you're out of town, this place is perfect to go to. I suggest you get here early because the line does get long. Worth the wait though ! read more

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BEST DESSERTS & MATCHA IN SB !! I went with a group of friends, super yummy, and the atmosphere is so cute! For desserts we ordered the Raspberry Lychee and Ube Cheesecake Mochi Donut and Mango Donut. For drinks we got the Matcha Einspanner, Strawberry Matcha Latte, and the Coconut Matcha Cloud. The line goes out the door and curves onto the sidewalk so be prepared to wait. However, when you get inside there's a fun wall with a mirror to take selfies and a bunch of sticky notes to add your own messages. The staff were so kind and attentive and even let us have the very last Mango Donut. Would definitely suggest stopping by if you're in the area! read more

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It's been about six weeks since my visit and Yelp just reminded me to write a review... I forgot what drink I ordered, but it's pictured here and whatever it was it did not disappoint. One of the customers I made conversation in line with recommended. I get a doughnut and I'm so happy I listened because it's probably one of the best donuts I've ever had. In short, I give this place a 10 out of 10 for their Customer Service delicious drink and treat - line was long as I waited about 30 minutes however this place is definitely worth the hype and I can't wait to go back read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

If you're a matcha & sweet bakes fan you can't be missing out on this place! They use high grade matcha powder so it's definitely on a stronger side & you can taste the bitterness more than other places but that is how i love my drinks to be! Their mochi donuts are to die for, i like that they change their flavors every week so i'm excited everytime i come to try out new stuffs. Cozy ambiance, limited seating and expect a long line though but worth the wait read more

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Service was superb. We got there super early, thank goodness because the long got line. There is plenty of seating. I ordered a pandan coconut matcha and my friend ordered a cream top ube matcha. Both were authentically tasty, great flavor. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Pandan Coconut Matcha and the cream top ube matcha - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I've passed by Kin a bunch of times but the line was always so long. I always wondered if it was worth the hype. And I can tell you that it definitely is! My six-year-old daughter literally asked "What do they put in these? They're so good!". The line will probably be long. Every time I've passed by the line has been at least 20 people. But it's worth it! Their donuts are so good, soft, perfectly sweet, and so cute. Thai tea was delicious! The service was really friendly. It was also really quick. Lots of people sitting inside, made it a really lively environment. Lots of adorable decor. We will definitely be back! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Arrived on a Wednesday at 12:30. Received baked goods at 12:50 and drink at 1pm. Yes, there was a line, but things moved along. If you're in a rush, don't increase your own anxiety by visiting. Save this trip for a a day where you have some time, maybe at hour--to enjoy the whole experience: asking questions, ordering, and enjoying the goods in the space! Calm music, not too loud. Most customers seem to be high school or college students who know what they want. Earl grey hojicha cream top: hojicha latte with a little earl grey syrup topped with earl grey cream top. Can taste the earl grey in the cream and the latte portion--it is not overpowered by the hojicha! Delicious drink. Banana sesame mochi donut: like a chewy banana bread with a lightly sweet sesame glaze. A fun treat! Ube mochi muffin: very, very tasty, if one likes Ube. Slightly crispy outside, very chewy inside and toasty, nutty Ube flavors throughout! 10/10 all around! Will have to come back and try the rest of their extensive drink menu. read more

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