I usually enjoy Moulin cafés and have visited many of their locations, but this one was by far the worst experience I've had. I came specifically to buy a slice of Galette des Rois, which was clearly labeled "by the slice" in the display. One of the employees refused to sell a slice and insisted I had to buy the whole cake. When I pointed out that the sign explicitly said it was sold by the slice, instead of clarifying or apologizing, she changed the explanation and said she "couldn't slice it." What makes this more frustrating is that this is not the first issue with service here. My husband complained during a previous visit, and this time I personally experienced the same dismissive and unprofessional attitude from the same two young employees. This seems to be a recurring problem, not an isolated incident. What's disappointing is that I've also been served here before by another staff member - an older French woman who provided excellent, warm, and professional service, which shows that the issue is clearly staff-related, not the brand. If something is not available by the slice, the signage should reflect that. Customers should not be met with changing explanations instead of honesty and proper service. I hope the owner or management takes this seriously and addresses the ongoing service issues at this location. Update: Today was my very first time trying Galette des Rois, and I couldn't be happier. Thanks to Mr. Laurent's kindness, this long-awaited experience became truly special. The galette was phenomenal -- delicate, rich, and absolutely authentic. I'm so grateful for the care and generosity. This is the kind of hospitality that makes you want to come back again and again. Thank you! read more

Moulin - I hope we all use the same English language. This is clearly saying "by slice" - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Mom got a napoleon. The cream was very rubbery and dense. A friend got a crème brûlée and said it had no sugar. It was flavorless and she went to complain to get her money back. They said no. I got a pain aux raisin. It was dry and no flavor. The raspberry entrement was passable. The chocolate mousse was good but the insert of jelly was horrible. No distinctive flavor at all. read more

I hadn't been to SOCO/OC Mix in a few years and decided to stop in and check it out, to see what's new and different. I spotted Moulin and, having enjoyed a few of their other locations, decided to grab some coffee and a pastry. The staff were pleasant and efficient. I ordered a café au lait and chose an apple tart to go along with it. I think there was a table inside but a lot of tables outside in a courtyard area, some specifically designated for Moulin customers. There is a window behind the front counter which allows a peek into the kitchen where the pastry chefs are at work. The coffee was smooth and made with a good roast; there was plenty of foam on top and it was immediately drinkable. The tart was fantastic. A perfect crust with delicious thin-sliced apples in a yummy goo underneath (not sure what the flavor was but I loved it). The sweetness was spot on - somewhere between "Asian sweet" and "American sweet". The "sweet spot" of sweetness. This location of Moulin, like all the others, is sure to please you. Thanks to Yelper Amy B. for alerting me to this location of the Moulin chain. read more

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Finally tried this place! I was told this location at the OC Mix is smaller than their other two locations. There was one table inside only, but you can sit outside since it's really nice at the OC Mix. They have a delicious chicken pesto sandwich, and I also loved the coeur chocolat framboise. I actually got the second to last one, and by the time I left, they ran out. The strawberry jam crepe was also yummy too. Nice workers here, and they have a variety of French imported goods. The display case of pastries is so tempting! read more

Moulin - Coeur chocolat framboise - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Beautiful cakes and pastries. This is a smaller store than their siblings. But it has all the goods. Plenty of parking around the shopping complex. Just for to go but there are seatings outdoor in the courtyard. Great vibe with great service in a beautiful, bright, clean and well organized shop. They closed early so...prices can be on the high ends but worth it. read more

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Great well stocked restaurant/bakery. I have been here one time and got a tuna sandwich and a delicious cup of coffee sitting outside. They have great service and cool European feel and ambiance. Next time I go I will definitely take some pictures. read more

Love this bakery! However, it gets really pricey. Cute desserts that sell out if you don't go early enough in the weekends. We went a little before 11AM and they were already out of a lot of pastries. Service can be a hit or miss. Depending on who you get. You can order meat, cheese, and food on the other side. They also have a nice restaurant next door and a smaller one on the other side of the plaza in the corner. read more

Fresh, flakey croissants and cute cafe! We stumbled upon this place because my husband wanted to go to the cigar shop next door. We had dessert to go and ordered an expresso! Delicious! Fast and efficient service as well! read more

Some things are pretty good here, and others are not. To be honest, I'm not sure why it's always so busy though, I definitely think it's overhyped. The good things; The smoked salmon sandwich is good because the salmon they use is not overly salted like it is everywhere else. It's a pre-made cold sandwich, though, so everything else about it is average. The coffee is solid. They have very basic lattes, with store bought syrups, but the plain latte is good if you aren't into sugary drinks. The bad; The egg and cheese croissant sandwich was SO greasy and had a funky smell. I don't know if it was from the eggs or if they use some type of lard in the croissant ( which I wouldn't be surprised at since most of their desserts contain gelatin.) The brie and apple sandwich combo is oddly good, but the bread they use for it is SO tough. It kinda gives off week-old-bread vibes. If they used a different, softer bread, I'd probably try that again, but overall I would not. I appreciate the staff having a book of ingredients, so they could check which pastries contained animal byproducts. I wish they had it listed instead, though, because as busy as they are, it sucks for them having to look through a book to check ingredients. Maybe they can put the book out for the customers to look at on their own. That would be super useful to people with dietary restrictions and vegetarians/vegans. Unfortunately, with that said, I couldn't have 70% of the pastries that looked good. I tried the hazelnut mousse pastry at a different location because the staff mistakenly told me it didn't have gelatin, but I asked again to make sure, and sure enough, in her book it said it contained gelatin. I hope they consider useing agar or other vegan alternatives for the mousse desserts in the future, especially since so many people are plant based or avoiding animal byproducts. One of the few options that didn't have gelatin was the thick cream filled pastry and I thought I might like that one, but I didn't like it at all. The vanilla bean cream looked like it would taste amazing, but it was absolutely not. It was basically a custard and had a very artificial taste to it. They do have some cool grocery items in the front. I bought a hazelnut spread that was pretty good. It was sort of like a healthier version of Nutella. My husband liked this place a lot before, but even he wasn't crazy about it last time we went. I don't know if I'd want to come back. If I do, it's definitely because he dragged me there lol read more

I'm usually a big fan of Moulin but not this location. A few years back, I saw flies land on several pastries and the clerk didn't even think to throw out those. She was also extremely cold and unfriendly. I came back twice recently and it was the same lady; she was still cold and unfriendly. The pastries themselves were no longer crispy and seemed like they were more than a day old. However, I am a fan of where it's located in The Mix; I felt like the patio dining was enjoyable and elegant. The bakery itself, indoors, however, was pretty cramped and made me uncomfortable as well as question the sanitation standards. read more

This Moulin location is actually a very special & unique one, at the SoCo & The OC Mix complex in Costa Mesa, because this is where the dedicated bakers come in while most others in California are fast asleep (or maybe wishing they were) and create all of the pastries and cakes from scratch for early morning deliveries to all of the Moulin locations (in coastal South Orange County). As a result, most likely, the kitchen staff go home earlier than most or all of the cafe business hours and therefore this location doesn't make anything to order that is usually on the menu at other Moulin cafe locations, except for their super authentic & awesome crêpes, but they do have pre-made sandwiches, salads, and, of course, a nice selection of pastries and cakes, along with a fascinating array of cool drinks imported straight from France... the really neat thing also is that both of the staff members that were present today, a younger gentleman and a slightly older lady, were so exceptionally eager to tailor the best customer experience possible by being down-to-earth, friendly, intelligent, happy to go the extra mile(s), and of a very cultivated level of professionalism. The people at Moulin are so amazing & exemplify incredible teamwork!! The patio tables outside with the awesome red umbrellas specifically for Moulin customers are utterly picturesque and kind of transport customers to Paris at the same time... a really great way to recharge and enjoy seriously gourmet foods, with options for nutrition-seekers as well as epicures, made fresh to the highest standards of quality and cleanliness. Today, I enjoyed a La Mûre ("the blackberry") cake which dazzled all of my senses except the sense of sound (but this is debatable), and tasted absolutely divine in its delicate complexity and harmony of textures, colors, shapes, and tastes. I also reveled in a Crêpe Strawberry Jam, made to order by the talented younger gentleman, and noted the very delicate natural taste of the crêpe that was cooked to what I'd consider perfection, along with the authentic strawberry preserves jam (imported from France) that when combined, gives a really compelling taste of France - and Moulin makes the best crêpes I've ever eaten anywhere!! I love being a Moulin customer with my heart, mind, and soul and am very grateful to the people that keep what could very well be an impressive and respectable dream, an actual reality that inspires people with its art of visionary leadership and the granularity of commitment to creating Parisian-like atmospheres outside of France to just about every detail imaginable and attainable. The Moulin team is all about magic!! read more

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Genuine French baker making delicate and flakey traditional and innovative pastries. The wonderful variety is executed picture-perfect with full, rich flavors that are not overly sweet like some bakeries. read more

Moulin - Tarte Tropézienne and La Mangue. - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I discovered this place while driving around in Costa Mesa. This was my second visit. Since it was a short visit, I will definitely come back to try the ready-made items to go, where you can select sandwiches, salad, hot food items, pastries, desserts, bread, fruits, drinks, and etc. They also sell other items like household items, wine, jams, teas, etc. No matter which day you go, this place is always packed. They have several locations in OC. The dining area is small inside, but plenty of table outside. There is a beautiful water fountain outside. The parking is a little tricky as you will have to go around few times before you can find a spot. Ordered: Flan Chocolate - It was different texture and taste than the traditional flan. It goes nice with the hot tea. Pain Au Chocolat - I love anything with chocolate inside the croissant. Past Items Ordered: Fresh squeezed OJ, Apple Tart, Mille-Feuille (puff pastry with cream) - All the items are shareable and delicious. read more

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Every time we come here, it never disappoints! Absolutely delectable desserts that are as stunning and gorgeous as they are tasty to eat. We so enjoy the fruity black iced tea and this time around we tried the Quiche Lorraine. Oh My! Such a generous slice and so light and creamy! We had the rest for brunch the next day. It came with mixed greens and a house vinaigrette. It is so nice to have such a quality cafe. The lemon tarts were excellent, nice and perfectly tart and beautiful. read more

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Great food and staff -- terrible management. The staff are wonderful and the food is excellent (yes, even if a bit overpriced). The pastry chefs in particular are absolute magicians. But I can only give one star. Scheduling a single employee to run an entire location on a Saturday is not just poor planning, it borders on negligence. Weekends are typically busier, and expecting one person to handle customers, prep, cleanup, and transactions alone is both unrealistic and unfair. Aside from the obvious operational issues, this raises serious concerns about employee safety and legality. What happens if they need a break, a lunch, or just to use the restroom? I'm no HR expert, but this does not sound like it's in line with California labor laws, which are clear about rest and meal breaks. This kind of management not only disrespects employees, it puts the customer experience at risk. Management needs to do better -- for everyone's sake. read more

I feel this place is overrated. I've been here many many times and I've always thought it was just ok, but my last visit solidified my thoughts that it's overrated. - Ordered a ham and cheese panini and when I got home to open the package, I was disappointed they gave me the wrong order. I received the chicken pesto... - Canele: Where is the crunchy exterior? Rum flavor is too strong - Fraisier: The "sponge" cake was sooo dry it was crumbling in my mouth. - Chocolate croissant: so dry as well! read more

pastries here are delicious! they have a few locations in oc and i'd love to come back and try more. their newport location has many unique butters too! read more

Moulin - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I would not recommend if you are not taking it out. 1. There is no microwave to heat the food up. 2. By the time I ordered my food and went to sit down, the food was cold. I couldn't eat the food. The pasta was cold, the potatoes were cold, the brisket was cold... vegetables was cold. Sitting area outside was so cold and windy... everything kept flying away( like the tissues) It's was just chaotic. I walked up to the register , I explained my ordeal and requested to heat up my food but they said they do not. A representative (maybe the manager) came to me and offered me food on the house, this made me feel better , because I already trashed my food. One thing I did like from here tho is the orange juice and latte. It is Fresh & Nice read more

Moulin - My juices. - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I was excited to give Moulin a try since I've heard many good things. Upon entering the store, I was looking for the hot food menu but was told only the Newport Beach location has that. I was bummed since I saw posts on this page that showed the hot food section. That aside, the workers were very friendly and attentive. I tried some pastries and they were good. Location is great inside the OC mix. Plenty of parking and great shops all around. read more

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Moulin is outdoor seating only, but the mall is very nice and you sit by the fountain. They have a good variety of pastry, coffee, and food options. It all looks very nice and tasty. The chocolate almond croissant I got was not as flaky as I was hoping and was on the sweeter side. The apple turnover was also okay, but not that flaky. Maybe they would both taste better toasted. The fruit tart was probably the best out of the three things we got. Iced mocha was also refreshing, but pretty standard. read more

Moulin - Chocolate almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Nice assortment of breakfast pastries. I got a yummy little apricot pastry and chocolate mocha with a small chocolate square to go with it. $8 for both Shop is small with only one table inside which was occupied by employees. Plenty of tables outside but too cold for a chilly morning. Took it across the way to an open table area. read more

Moulin - Apricot pastry and chocolate mocha - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love Moulin! If you want an amazing cup of coffee and French pastries, this is the place for you! You are greeted by a nice French who will make your latte just right. The ambiance is nice, small with outdoor seating set within a home shopping complex. Perfect for a break between stores. They have great salads and sandwiches too! read more

Wow! Such a cute little place! Must stop if you're looking for a French cafe just like in Paris. Great cappuccino in which they give you a little chocolate to have with. Nice touch The pastries are Devine! The service is friendly. Just wish the full menu was more easily visible. I assumed it was all just grab n go items. There is so much going on in the small space all of which is amazing but a little overwhelming. I was searching for any menus. Left not realizing they offer a full menu here after looking at the website for this location. Definitely will be back and recommend. read more

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Very good food. Every one was very nice. The food was priced extremely well . I recommend this restaurant very highly. Give it a try.

This is a cute pastry shop by the bridge in the South Coast Plaza mall. The Saint Honore is perfectly sweet, creamy, and sits on top of a flaky croissant donut. It's def become a favorite and I definitely want to check out more desserts! The staff were friendly and attentive. read more

If you are craving real French pastries and bread - look no further! I have been in search for a aunthentic "boulangerie pâtisserie" and Moulin est la cerise sur le gâteau. I went to the Costa Mesa and Newport location and they are both delicious. Newport will have a real service en français. It is very nice to be able to converse and order our goodies in French. I love the chouquettes and chocolate chaud. Croissants are very yummy and la baguette épi is delicious. read more

Moulin - Lu Petit-Beurre Nantes - my childhood cookie - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

They have such high-quality food and their employees are always friendly and willing to help. Choose some thing from their yummy menu. Their pastries aren't to die for and their coffee is amazing. I frequent here often. read more

I discovered this location in SoCo off the 405 near Harbor Blvd awhile ago. Plenty of free parking and awesome outdoor areas to chill. There's a lot of boutiques and eateries, but nothing compares to Moulin. The croissants - regular and almond- are the same recipe as the Laguna Bch location. Espresso is fantastic too. Amazing array of cakes, including my favorite Mille fieulle. You can get a baguette to take home. Best boulangerie/patisserie in the US! read more

Finally came to Moulin. I've been eyeing this spot for awhile and the croissant craving finally was too strong. This location has plenty of outdoor space. Sunday at 10am was perfect timing. No crowds and a few others already seated enjoying breakfast. Croissant is flaky, buttery, and almond-strong. Latte was decent. Next time, come for the pastries but skip the coffee. It's about $10 for a latte and croissant. read more

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Located outside right under the Bridge connecting the 2 sides of the mall. Plenty of covered patio seating. We only tried their desserts today. Chocolate hazelnut bar- delicious w dark chocolate, moderately sweet. Everything that we like. Flan- I love Mexican flan, but this is not it. It's firm w a jelly like texture on top which I did not care for. No caramel sauce. But my partner liked it. Mini croissant- partner liked it and he's picky w croissants since he's had plenty in France. read more

Moulin - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great pastries and great shop to sit and have a cup of coffee. Service was good and fast. Outside seating area was clean and ld well maintained. I would go back again read more

Fantastic French Cafe Strikes Again Cannot remember the French cafe here, but this is 10X better than what it was before. If you have not yet come across Moulin, the wildly popular local chain of French cafes in Orange County, then you must. This needy location has only been here a few months, but definitely fills the gap the regular Moulin cafes have (the other ones close at 3 pm while this one stays open until 6) as well as addressing the gaping hole that was the previous tenant. While not exactly like other fuller service locations, it serves its purpose very well. Conveniently located on the main mall side of The Bridge at the South Coast Plaza, you can park down below in the parking garage and then take the elevator up a floor to walk into the cafe on your left. Restrooms are also quite conveniently situated on your right as you exit. Much smaller in size to its other locations, it provides premade sandwich options, a sizeable assortment of delicious pastries, breads, and drinks (yay, Orangina!) -- including wine the required coffee. No cake orders here or famous half chickens here. We ordered 3 mini pastries: a chocolate cake, a Paris-Brest, and a raspberry chocolate mousse cake. Chocolate had many different types of chocolate, so it kept the palate moving. Definitely recommend for chocolate lovers like my wife is. My 9-year-old loved the raspberry and chocolate combo of the mouse cake, which has a white marshmallow ring. She said the combination of the sweet chocolate and the tart raspberry was a tasty combo. I, however, found the marshmallow ring to be too strange to fit with the rest of the textures. Reminds me of the raspberry buche de Noel at Moulin, which I am not too keen on ordering again. Just not my cup of tea. (Recommend the classic chocolate buche, if you ever order it.) I liked their Paris-Brest a ton, which, if you don't know is normally much larger. This miniature version was quite cute but chock full of the creamy nutty flavor of pralines you expect in combination with the signature almond (here with real flakes) crunch and airiness of the pate a choux. A delight of texture and flavor in a little bite executed well here. So good I ordered a 10-inch cake from the flagship cafe in Newport... Came on a rainy day, so seating was somewhat wet. The front of the store has a nice red umbrella covered seating area. Unfortunately, the rain invariably will get chairs wet. We managed to stay relatively dry nonetheless as we ate our food. Despite this inclement weather, the cafe had a steady stream of customers. Overall, a fan of the chain walked away satisfied with his second visit to this location. Recommend you make this a requisite stop anytime you hit up the mall for your next LV, Birkin, or Cartier bracelet. Have a drink, a pastry, and then go shopping. Or the way around. Either way, Moulin just elevated your retail rendezvous to the next level! read more

Moulin - Top moving clockwise: Paris-Brest, raspberry chocolate mousse tarte, chocolate tarte - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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great brekfast and lunch not open for dinner , great bakery goods . the costa mesa location is the best so far . they make all their good in store . simple ingredience . exelent . price $$ read more

Two words. Clam chowder ! The other stuff here is okay, I haven't tried everything here but no matter what I always get the clam chowder here. Takes 10-15 min but it always hits the spot in the morning. Cheese freshly melted all over the bowl, there's no where I know that does clam chowder moulin does it. Also have tried their pesto chicken sandwich which was good. Can't find the photo in my phone atm but will edit once I do read more

This location is underneath the sky bridge at south coast plaza. All seating is outdoor and I adore this little cafe for a quick bite with friends. The ambiance is always good and there's always a seat available. Everything here is great and don't forget to try a coffee while you're here too read more

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My wife even made up a song every time we go to this place:" Moulin, Moulin, Moulin-Moulin----I'm begging you please to take my money, just take it because you can....Your Pair's Bres is beyond compare..." -Use Dolly Patron's "Jolene" Best French style pastries and dishes here in So Cal. Love the atmosphere here, staffs are all very friendly. If you ordered food items that need to be brought to you, they usually come quite quick. I'm not big on sweet stuff as you can see most of my reviews are for restaurants and savory dishes, but at this place I always grab some pastry items before I leave. The almond croissant is my favorite at all time. Pair's bres is up there too. Have to have it every time. read more

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Goodness when you walk in here do you eat with your eyes! And they crazy thing is most of them(the ones I have had at least) are all as good as they look! Staff is friendly and they make a great cappuccino. Need to go back and try more of their edible art. read more

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First and foremost, I just want to say that everyone who works here are so awesome especially the manager. I drop by this location every once in awhile to pick up their delicious pastries and cakes. Our family's favorite has to be the Saint Honore. Since it's my husband's birthday next week, I knew I wanted to get him a Saint Honore cake. I called to place an advance order and totally forgot that they close at 3pm and I can't pick up the cake until 3pm. I told the lady who picked up the phone to hold my order first as I was going to see if I could schedule some work commitments around to be able to pick up the cake before they close, but I couldn't. So I called back deflated, but she surprised me and said that the manager will be able to stay back a little after to hand me my cake after they close. You can't even imagine how beyond ecstatic I was to hear this. I mean seriously, how amazingly awesome are the staff here?! They went above and beyond and I really can't thank all of them enough. Moulin has truly hired some wonderful people here and because of them, it makes their pastries, cakes, and sandwiches even that much more enjoyable. Hands down, totally recommend Moulin!!! read more

Moulin - Our favorite St Honore cake from Moulin. - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

One of the best viennoiseries boulangeries in SoCal. French ladies at front desk could smile a little more. Non-French staff were super friendly. Nonetheless enjoyed all the goodies. read more

Yum! My boyfriend and I used to go to the one in Newport Beach and Dana Point, but since he moved to Irvine, we are so lucky they have another location here in Costa Mesa! Unfortunately, the do not have the friands (my boyfriends favorite) and no fresh squeezed OJ as of 12/6. If one of those items comes to the Costa Mesa store, you will see us every weekend! We got the ham and cheese "panini" I forgot what it was called. It looks mediocre, probably because you don't know HOW GOOD IT TASTES INSIDE! The cheese was AMAZING! Melty and when you take a bite, it does that stretchy cheese thing :) I don't usually eat pork, but the ham is of good quality. Truly love Moulin! read more

Moulin - Bakeries Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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