Best English muffins I've ever had! I think a big part of what makes them so good is that they're griddled with butter instead of baked like conventional English muffins. They come out with a lightly crisp exterior, a soft, fluffy inside, and are perfect with just a little butter or jam. We make it a point to stop by whenever we're driving through the area just to stock up on a few bags to take home. I also found out Oprah recommended them, and I figured, "Hey, if they're good enough for Oprah, they're good enough for me." Turns out she was right. read more

Last year a friend of mine gave me a 6-pack. I didn't know much about the hype, not a big English muffin fan, and that they're supposedly on Oprah's list. Ok! Wow! These are airy and buttery. And if you toast them at home, and spread more butter on them, you've basically died and gone to heaven. I returned a few months ago to buy more, but they were sold out. I went yesterday to take a peek around 1pm and they had a few bags left! Score!! Toasted one at home with PB and, damn, what a treat!! So good. I also got: Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie: It didn't have a lot of walnut and it was too delicate to eat. It could easily crumble on you so don't eat it in your new car. :) But it was pretty good but I've had better cookies. Banana Chocolate Bread Pudding: This was confusing because I guess I was looking for something either in a cup or a rectangular slice. I had to ask the person at the counter where this was because on the shelf, they looked more like muffins. So, guess what. They ate like muffins. They're not too sweet and they were a bit drier than I would expect a bread pudding to be. I think I was expecting it to be eggier? More moist? Chocolatey? Nonetheless it was enjoyable. Beautiful bakery with a small dining area. The breakfast/lunch menu looked good. I would like to return and try their tartines. They look and sound amazing. Service was okay. A smile goes a long way. read more

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We were drawn to this spot on a holiday weekend which I want to say is the reason why we waited so long (25+ mins), but I would still come again based on their delicious food! Food - WOW. - Smoked salmon tartine: I'm honestly still savoring this dish. The toppings included radishes, cucumber, fresh dill, etc. all made for incredible taste! - Mediterranean wrap: on the smaller size but great ingredients and flavor! Also a unique twist to use tater tots and mushrooms. So good! - Raspberry croissant: crispy and soft, jam was very tasty too! After reading about their English muffins, we decided to bring a bag home! Can't wait to try them for breakfast! read more

My husband raved about the sandwich and said it was bombbbbb . For me I'm a scone lover and it was a 5/5 sooo freaking good I came back the second day lol . I'm sad there wasn't any sourdough bread left for me to try but I'll def be back !! Service was quick and everyone was so nice read more

Model Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I always have to come to Model Bakery anytime I am in Walnut Creek. I LOVE their English muffins and usually buy a pack to bring home. I've also had their breakfast croissantwich and breakfast burrito multiple times. Their pastries are good as well and recently I also tried their coconut pie (not sure if it's a temporary item), it was delicious!! I normally am not a fan of coconut as a lot of places taste very artificial but this pie was the complete opposite. Delicious coconut filling and coconut cream on top, not overly sweet too, I would definitely get it again. Staff are always friendly, I recommend signing up for rewards with your phone number/toast app if you come frequently. read more

Model Bakery - Breakfast Burrito - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Went here for Mother's Day brunch and even with the busy morning crowd, the experience was wonderful. Ordered an iced vanilla latte with a walnut Mexican cookie, along with the veggie eggs Benedict, avocado tartine, and caprese tartine ,everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The ambience had the perfect relaxed brunch vibe, and the service was quick, friendly, and attentive despite how busy it was. You can tell the team works hard to keep things running smoothly while still making guests feel welcomed. Sadly the cornmeal cookie was sold out by the time we got there, which probably says a lot about how good it is Definitely coming back to try it next time. Always love finding local spots that truly deserve the shoutout read more

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The bakery's English muffins were the highlight of why we came; fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. I could imagine toasted with butter...The pastries were good, but they didn't quite reach the same level as the bread offerings. A small improvement would be to plate the pastries rather than serving them in the paper bags for those eating onsite. It would enhance the overall experience and presentation. It seems very much self-serve, you pick up your coffee order at the counter and you return any dishes to the conditioners by the counter, as well. Overall, it's a good spot, especially if you're a fan of quality English muffins. read more

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Model Bakery opened in late 2024 in downtown Walnut Creek. They took over the spot previously occupied by La Fogata. I first heard of them several years ago, when it was reported that Oprah Winfrey would have their English muffins flown in to her whenever she had a craving. My question when I heard this tidbit was, can an English muffin be that good? Well, I got the answer on 08/20/2025, when my friends and I stopped by here after our dinner nearby. When we walked in, I noticed the interior had gone through quite a transformation from their predecessor. We each got some English muffins and desserts. The staffers who helped us were friendly and helpful. I'm not a Oprah fan, but she was right about these English muffins. They were really, really good! Unlike the ordinary ones, they were light and airy on the inside, and the exterior was deliciously crispy. They were more expensive than the ordinary ones, but well worth it in my opinion. Honestly, they were the best English muffins I have ever had. Get them if you have a chance! read more

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A pretty good first experience here. Breakfast sandwiches were tasty and good quality, though for about 17-19 bucks or so.. it's certainly a bit pricey for what you get. At 930am on a weekday with a near empty store, the food took about 20 minutes to make. So not quick but I suppose that suggests the food was fresh and not just waiting around. Our loaf of batard bread also had a big gaping hole right through the middle which made making sandwiches a bit annoying but hopefully that was just a fluke. Check your sliced loafs next time read more

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Oprah was right... this bakery is worth the hype! My friend had been raving about Model Bakery in Walnut Creek, telling me it was newer to the area and one of Oprah's favorite spots. Naturally, that set the bar pretty high. After two visits in the same day, I can confidently say it lived up to the buzz. We stopped in early that morning for a quick coffee run and ordered a latte, an Americano, and the original breakfast sandwich. The service was friendly right from the start. They give you a buzzer while you wait for your food, and although ours didn't work, one of the employees noticed and personally brought our order over. Small moment, but great attentiveness. First things first: the latte. Smooth, balanced, and no harsh aftertaste. It's one of those coffees you actually want to sip slowly. But the real star of the morning was the Original Breakfast Sandwich. The bread absolutely melts in your mouth (which makes sense since this is a bakery). It was generously filled with egg, cheese, and bacon and honestly might be one of my new favorite breakfast sandwiches in the area. Later that same day we came back for lunch because we couldn't stop thinking about the place. This time we ordered the Smoked Trout Roe plate with mini English muffins, the Avocado Tartine, and the Vegan Chocolate Caramel Bar. The Smoked Trout Roe plate was such a fun dish. It came with house-made mini English muffins, crème fraîche, hard-boiled eggs, scallions, and the roe. The balance of flavors was fantastic. Salty roe, creamy crème fraîche, and those warm English muffins that practically melted in your mouth. It felt a little indulgent but completely worth it. The Avocado Tartine must be one of their most popular dishes because several tables around us had ordered it too. It's packed with flavor and surprisingly hearty. Definitely come hungry or plan to share. And finally, dessert: the Vegan Chocolate Caramel Bar. This was to die for. Rich, gooey, almost like a caramel cookie dough texture. It's definitely large enough to split between two or even three people, but it's the kind of treat you'll be thinking about later. Between the bakery-quality bread, thoughtful dishes, and attentive service, this spot quickly became a new favorite. Great atmosphere, great food, and clearly a place people love coming back to! read more

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A stop at one of the three Model Bakery is a must whenever we are up in Wine Country to get their famous English muffins. If you're not familiar with them, they have been featured on Food Network, and made Oprah's Favorite Things list. These thick fluffy muffins are so tasty that no grocery store bought English muffin can compare. We were in Walnut Creek for lunch with friends and had to make a stop here first to get the muffins. This was a large location with a dining room for dine-in. But the best thing is that this location is only 35-40mins away versus an hour and half to Wine Country. A lot closer if I get an English muffin craving. read more

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I ordered the tuna. To Go.. it was a mass it was unedible.. The tuna was so liquefied with liquid mayonnaise that it was like eating gravy sandwich impossible to eat.. and it was way too much mayonnaise. There was more mayonnaise than tuna. It's supposed to be the other way around a little mayonnaise to hold the tuna together very simple but this was a tuna gravy sandwich. It was awful and I couldn't eat it was a mess. read more

Model Bakery - Mess. - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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So glad to finally have a Model Bakery close by! The pastries always look amazing but I find myself leaning towards the breakfast sandwiches whenever I come. I've had a few and they all have been 10/10. It's counter service and they give you a buzzer for when your food is ready. And I'd be remiss to not mention the ambiance in the bathrooms! They are large and well taken care of. read more

We stopped in here today and tried various items. The almond macaroon cookie may be one of the best cookies I've ever had! The apricot pecan scone was coated with sugar and delicious! We also tried the harvest wheat bread which was really tasty. Of course we got a few English muffins and they were as wonderful as described. read more

Model Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

We decided to have quick bite here. There was a line at 11:15 but we waited. The cashier was friendly and apologized for the wait. We had a bear claw and almond croissant and a hot latte. Pastries were great; latte was okay. We could have shared either if the pastries, but what the heck. A visit back is probable. read more

The English Muffin was SO GOOD! Cookies, Pecan Pie, Tiramisu were all very good. Parking was free prior to 10am on the street right outside. Ambiance was cozy, yet there were tables to be sat at. There was a line when we walked in, it moved pretty quick though. The staff was friendly and helpful. Will come again. read more

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2nd visit to Model Bakery. What a difference between weekday crowd n weekend crowd....much more relaxed n service quicker Ordered 1/2 of the smoked salmon Benedict served on English muffin. I'm a big fan of smoked salmon and it was delicious Also bought 2 paks of their English muffins which are on Oprah Winfrey's favorite list read more

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I found out about this place through Yelp. When I entered the bakery I was greeted by staff. Staff were friendly and very helpful. I ordered the world famous English muffin, chocolate chip and whit chocolate macadamia cookies. The English muffin was toast and very flavorful. The cookies were delicious and soft. The ambiance is customer service friendly. This is a great place to go to for lunch or pastries. read more

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Love the fact they opened the new location in Walnut Creek and when in town, I had to get something small from them. The English muffins were of course sold out (4PM)!! Seems they ran out of them before 10AM, so be there at opening time if you want to score some. We purchased a whole loaf of sourdough bread and it did nothing t disappoint! read more

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We went on a Sunday morning and there was a line out the door but the wait was about ~20 min. Inside was packed. Service was very friendly and you get a punch card for drinks and for buying bread! Vibes were very cozy and lively. My husband and I got the Classic Breakfast Sandwich and the Tri-tip wrap for brunch. Don't skip on the Classic Breakfast Sandwich because it was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. Their English Muffin is prefect fluffy and toasted unlike your typical english muffins. I normally don't like English muffins. Next time I want to buy a bag for home. Tri-tip wrap was okay. I didn't think anything was special about it. I feel like some skillet potatoes would go better with it instead of tater tots. For baked goods, I really loved the Vanilla Custard Danish. I wish I got 2. Their coffee is very good too! They do 2 shots in all their sizes so if you want a 16oz I recommend adding an extra shot for the strength. read more

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English muffins are still amazing. Staff is on it. Why do they have the beeping turned on? Beeping every three minutes echoes through the restaurant. read more

Model Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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This place has been on my list of bakeries to try. So good! The English muffins are amazing! A must try! Cost is pricey but the quality delivers. read more

Model Bakery - Mushroom toast - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I have had their English Muffins at the Napa location and they were great. Not sure how long this location has been in Walnut Creek but sure is glad they are and much closer of a driver. This location have a much large menu. You order at the counter, pay for the food, get a buzzer find ab open table to sit and they buzzed you when food is ready. Breakfast Burger with English Muffin, Beef Patty, Bacon, Fried Egg, Cheddar, Caramelized Onion, Pickles and Dijonnaise was one of the best breakfast burger I ever had. Mushroom Lovers with English Muffin, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, Swiss Cheese, Fried Egg, Arugula Sundried Tomato Aioli was very tasty. Going to have that next time and have them add a sausage or beef patty. Both of the Garlic Fries and Cheesy Fries were good. read more

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When Oprah claimed that Model Bakery makes the best English muffin, I had to try it. The OG Model Bakery in Napa was sold out of everything during my last visit, so I was thrilled when they opened a location in Walnut Creek. On the morning of my visit, I was surprised but relieved that there were only a couple of people in line ahead of me to order...and you can even skip the line entirely by ordering at the kiosk. My mission was to try the English muffin, so I ordered a toasted English muffin with butter and a latte. This came out to about $9 and was ready in about 5 minutes. There were plenty of tables inside, and I was able to find a seat at a booth. The English muffin was toasted to perfection - it had a nice bite and was light and airy on the inside. I also liked the cornmeal on the outside for extra crispiness. While the English muffin was indeed better than those you could buy at the grocery store, it didn't blow me away. The latte was smooth and frothy, and I enjoyed sipping it out of a cute Model Bakery mug. My friend ordered the breakfast burrito and got back in line for a bear claw ("for dessert"). I tried a piece of the bear claw; while it was on the drier side, I liked that it had plenty of almond filling. While I may have set my expectations a little high, I'd consider returning to try some of Model Bakery's other pastries or sandwiches. The cute retro dining room was the perfect backdrop to enjoy a coffee and a pastry. read more

Model Bakery - English muffin and latte - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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The food here is absolutely amazing. I think they have one of the better Smashburgers in the area for sure. The reason for the one Star they will not refill an iced tea... The large tea is $5.50... No refills... Are you freaking kidding me?! I can't even think of another restaurant I've been to in recent memory that wouldn't refill an ice tea. read more

Model Bakery - Get ready to spend $5.50 on an iced tea they will not refill - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I have picked up the famous English muffins before but finally decided to try to eat in for breakfast. We ordered the breakfast croissantwich and the avocado tartine (yeah, I had to look up what a tartine was). The croissantwich was a nice flaky croissant, with bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese. The bacon was nice and crispy and the scrambled eggs were fluffy, indicating some care was used in cooking them. The avocado tartine was an excellent version of avocado toast. Built on a nice slice of griddled bread, it included an egg salad that may have had the smallest amount of mayonnaise, but was tossed with chunks of avocado and topped with greens and edible flower petals, as well as an Everything spice. The Everything spice allowed a bit of a flavor punch up of the egg salad/avocado mixture, which was not overly seasoned. I can see others complaining about how the pick-up area is on the way to some tables, the restrooms, and the dish busing station, but most people were courteous and not waiting at the counter for their order. I did notice that the place gets pretty loud with people trying to talk over others, but that seems to be a customer issue, not a restaurant issue. read more

Model Bakery - Breakfast croissantwich - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Finally got to try their famous English muffin and I must say it's pretty good. I got the breakfast sandwich. Although a little greasy it was excellent. Staff are very nice. Got a matcha as-well, which seemed good quality. Color was robust green. They won't sweeten it unless you ask btw. Also ordered a chocolate croissant, they didn't warm it up so be sure to ask. Lines seem to be out of the door nonetheless worth the wait. Cute little spot to have a bite / coffee with a friend or loved one. read more

Model Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I think I finally had my last visit to Model Bakery. The cashiers have zero sense of urgency and it seems like to work here, you have to have some semblance of your head in the clouds. This is a management problem, if a basic breakfast sandwich at a bakery is taking twenty minutes to come out, someone needs to account for why. This isn't normal but seems to be the norm for this place. read more

Very good baked goods and good lunches but the service is not of the same quality. The staff is lackadaisical at best and the food takes a very long time to come out. Management needs to step up and do some managing. read more

Delicious burger as an after shopping meal! My partner and I waited in a short line to order and then sat in the spacious dining area. It smelled a little weird... but that's beside the point. Our burgers came out quickly and hot! My blue cheese burger was very yummy and filling and my partner enjoyed his bacon cheddar burger. The blue cheese and bacon were a delicious combination. I would definitely come here again, but to try their breakfast dishes. read more

Model Bakery - Blue cheese bacon burger, Bacon cheddar burger - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

The English Muffins were on Oprah's favorite things list and I can see why -- so crispy and yet soft. The strawberry jam was amazing. Decent amount of seating inside, you order at counter and snag a number. Highly recommend getting a bag of muffins to take home! read more

Model Bakery - English Muffin with Butter and Jam - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Finally got to try this spot after passing by way too many times. I believe it's a semi-new addition to downtown Walnut Creek, and I'm pretty sure it's part of a chain. Atmosphere The space is really nice and open, with plenty of seating if you want to sit down for a pastry and coffee or grab a light breakfast. It definitely has that cozy, neighborhood bakery vibe. There's also a big selection of baked goods, which makes it a little hard to choose what to get. What I Ordered Spinach and feta croissant Bearclaw Iced vanilla latte Experience Both pastries were solid. If you like the spinach feta wrap from Starbucks but want a flakier, more buttery version, this croissant is a great pick. The bearclaw was also really good, it had an almond filling, so it basically felt like an almond croissant in disguise. The iced vanilla latte was smooth and well-balanced. You can actually taste the coffee instead of just syrup, which I appreciate (for my Asians - not too sweet!). Final Thoughts A bit on the pricier side, but that's pretty typical for bakeries in the area. I'd come back if I was craving a pastry or meeting someone for a light breakfast. Overall, a good spot to have in downtown Walnut Creek. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 and round up to 4 on Yelp. read more

Model Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I ordered food to go. I ordered a tuna sandwich, crab poblano chowder, and a peanut butter cookie. The food was ready when it said it was going to be. I was surprised to see the tuna sandwich was heavy and dense. the tomato and lettuce in the sandwich looked fresh. I added a slice of cheddar cheese. I could only finish half of the sandwich and I have a large appetite. The peanut butter cookie was good. Not too sweet. It was soft. I wasn't too impressed with the crab soup. I didn't even finish it. I will come back to try the pistachio cookie. read more

Model Bakery - Tuna sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Visited Model Bakery recently and overall it was a decent experience. The pastries and coffee were good, and the atmosphere has a nice rustic industrial style. However, some parts of the interior and table finishes appeared noticeably worn and chipped, which affected the overall impression of the space. Prices also felt a little higher than expected compared to similar bakeries in the area. Still a pleasant place overall, but I think a small refresh to the interior would improve the experience significantly. read more

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Nice and adequately priced. Lots of inside dining (communal). Good for people watching on their porche. A Also have grab and go items. Not extraordinary though read more

Model Bakery - Grab and go - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Their English muffins are so good!! I even love to get a pack and freeze them! Their pastries are also very tasty! Staff is friendly and attentive! It's got a decent indoor seating and smaller outdoor seating but overall great place! read more

Been meaning to go to this bakery ever since they opened and I finally went a couple weeks ago with my husband. I got lucky as there was no line! I ordered a few pastries all of which we delicious. We decided to go back again the following weekend to try their breakfast. There was a bit of a line on a Monday morning, but line was moving efficiently. Food was great, service was great, and the ambience in the cafe was perfect. There's not a whole lot of seating, but shouldn't be a problem and we went on what looked like a busy morning. It's a cute little spot to enjoy chatting with friends or having a quick break. read more

Busy place. Find a table and then order as you get a beeper and you have to scramble for a space. There are quieter time. My egg Benedict muffin was perfect so was the hollandaise sauce I should have read carefully as there are raw onions. Coffee is fine and reasonably priced read more

Model Bakery - Salmon egg Benedict - Bakeries Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My initial experience was a really good one. What really helped was the baked goods happy hour M-F starting at 3pmish. HH consisted of 30% off baked good and coffee drinks. Which word is out, because at 3pm, there was a line. PS: Their famed English muffins sell out. Even at about 1pm they were already out. Baked goods of breads and cookies: I've had better, but still good... again, at that 30% off HH discount, well worth it. I ended up picking up a baguette, an array of croissants and cookies. The chocolate chip was soft and buttery, while the peanut butter chocolate chip cookie was a thicker drier consistency. The baguette was more airy vs a denser variety. While I enjoy the thicker style bread, everyone did enjoy the fresh baked bread. For lunch, I went with the chicken salad and in lieu of a croissant, I had it on a roll. For $15, it could have come with a tiny side salad, but it was really good featuring sliced apples. It was very mayo forward, which I enjoyed. Not the most filling, but again, these days, that's standard. The place is very French patisserie/cafe looking, which is fun and a nice vibe for a Euro lunch. Seemingly, the one gripe is the system.. and I agree. The lovely lady at the register said my sandwich would be out quickly as it's an easy one to prepare... however, it took about 10+ minutes. Overall, a welcomed cafe addition to downtown Walnut Creek. They have a full lineup of cooked menu items for breakfast and lunch from benedicts to smash burgers, so I'm intrigued. I've only been once, but it was impressive enough for a convenient bakery and Euro cafe experience. read more

Model Bakery has the BEST English muffins, often copied but never duplicated. They have always been one of our stops when we visit Napa, so we were thrilled to see they opened in Walnut Creek. Located right on N. Main Street, parking can be challenging, and the lines can be long, but when you get your food, you'll know it was worth it. I ordered a mixed mushroom tartine and a dozen muffins, both to go. The tartine was delicious, lots of mushrooms, Straccitella, herbs, and a perfectly cooked egg. The English muffins freeze great, so that we can enjoy them between visits to Walnut Creek. A place worth checking out! read more

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