the mochi donuts are soooo good! i'm still thinking about them a couple days later. i wish i got more to have for the rest of the week! although i didn't try every flavor, the guava one really takes it out of the park! love it! the texture is just so soft even when refrigerated. it's very different from the mochi donuts that everyone is used to but it's so much better. the banana bread pudding was also so amazing! we got it heated up and it was just so divine. it was not overly sweet which dissolved my worries. definitely will come back to try the other mochi donut flavors! the strawberry lychee matcha was also really good! never been to a place that offers a mix like that. the yuzu sparkler and the passionfruit sparkler were also very refreshing ! read more

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always a fan of the bright pink walls, it's like a bright star among the drab, dark colored brick buildings around; I usually get one of their mochi donuts, it's more dense than MoDo which is actually my go-to for mochi donuts. this spot is a close second. however, I'm here to talk about the new savory mochi muffin they brought out about a month ago. it was their ham and cheese mochi muffin and I must say, it was not as good as I expected compared to their other mochi donuts. I think it might've been a bit undercooked... I don't think I would try another one unfortunately. I think I would also stick with the sweet bakery items moving forward. I also ordered a lychee strawberry matcha milk tea (with the oat milk option) and I was pretty happy with that purchase. Overall, I wouldn't dock them more than a star for the underwhelming pastry because most of the others are excellent. It might just be that savory isn't their thing... read more

Date of visit: 4/19/2026, a day after Cal Day 2026 I might be in the minority here, but I really did not enjoy the baked goods. I made a stop before heading back to LA after Cal Day, specifically to try their mochi donuts and a mochi muffin, and unfortunately both were much too dense for my liking. The moment I had to put effort into cutting through them, I knew this was not the type of mochi donut I would enjoy. To me, a great mochi donut should be light, airy, and chewy. These were much heavier and denser than what I personally prefer. Honestly, until this visit, I did not even realize there were such different styles of mochi donuts. Maybe I have just been spoiled by the many amazing mochi donuts I have had in Southern California and Japan, because those have completely set the standard for me. The mochi muffin unfortunately had the same heavy, dense texture. If that is your thing, you may enjoy it, but for me, both the donuts and muffin were not what I look for in baked goods. read more

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I got the Roasted Strawberry Lychee Matcha Latte. As usual, the staff is very friendly. The shop is clean and they have matcha to purchase. Thanks for a great experience! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Roasted Strawberry Lychee Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stopped by before my hair appointment and the drinks did not disappoint! I'm a big fan of Hojicha and I was very happy with my drink, I will say that it was a tad bit too sweet but with the ice slowly melting it was good! As for the donuts, I wasn't too big of a fan since the thai tea donut. It was coated with heavy amounts of sugar leaving me wanting to down a cup of water immediately. The flavor was overpowering and the texture was not the best. The line situation inside the store is also a bit tricky since the store isn't that big but they do have some seating outside for you to enjoy your treats. Staff were also super nice and assisted with sharing their specials for the day. read more

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Spent a day in Berkeley and Third Culture Bakery was our first stop! Came around 1pm and some items were already sold out, so we picked up the Raspberry Lychee Butter Mochi donut, Buko Pandan Butter Mochi donut, Ube Mochi Muffin, and the Salted Egg Yolk Mochi donut. My friend also ordered the Black Sesame Matcha which was ready after 5 minutes. Limited indoor and outdoor seating available. Loved the chewy, dense mochi texture! My favorite items were the mochi donuts as the different frostings on top made them stand out. The Ube Mochi Muffin had good ube flavor and was not overly sweet. This was my first time trying Salted Egg Yolk and it wasn't my cup of tea, but it was well made so if you are a fan of that flavor, you would enjoy this item. Friend said the matcha was pricey but good quality. I will for sure be back! Next time, earlier in the day to be able to try more of the donuts that had sold out. read more

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Still obsessed, as always. But recently tried the passionfruit matcha spritz! 10/10!! So good. I have also fallen in love with the hojicha strawberry latte. Omg heavenly. Not even a guilty pleasure, just a highlight of each week! read more

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Caramel Matcha Latte Ube Mochi Muffin Service was good. Inside was nice. But that's all it got for me. I tried to give Matcha another shot but I just can't get behind it. It's not my thing so I couldn't finish the drink. That Ube Mochi Muffin was good but it barely tasted like Ube. If something is Ube, I personally want the flavor to be there. It wasn't anything. That's so unfortunate. It's not for me. 3/5 read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Ube Mochi Muffin - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love the matcha here! By far one of my favorite places to go! The drinks are always consistent and delicious, and I absolutely love the pastries--they're fresh and flavorful every time. The service is great. This location is usually busy, but the staff always make sure the drinks are prepared perfectly. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. There is only street parking hard to find parking when it's busy. The ambiance is beautiful and thoughtfully decorated. There's limited seating inside, but plenty of outdoor seating available. I do wish they would expand to the Oakland, San Leandro, and Hayward areas--I'd love to see them grow there one day! 10/10, highly recommend. I'll definitely continue supporting this business! read more

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Surprised by how chewy these mochi muffins and donuts are compared to the common mochinut ones. Bought to share and we all like it. Not too sweet and the flavors really shine and taste authentic and not diluted. Would come back again! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Black sesame, matcha, ube coconut, buko pandan, thai tea, yuzu, banana pudding - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ate some of Third Cultures mochi donuts at the San Francisco Coffee Festival today. O-m-g! These donuts were delicious! I had a Meyer Lemon donut while my friend had a strawberry one. We shared bites and soon they were all gone! I had to buy another lemon one to take home. The counter service was prompt and very nice! The festival was really busy - a lively ambiance - but the service staff were quite calm and focused. The festival had a good mix of coffee and non-coffee beverages - perfect setting for Third Cultures donuts. Def made the event even better! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - My lemon mochi donut to take home! Nice and chewy. 11/9/25 - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

We were eating at Standard Fare nearby and came here to get Mochi Donuts for the families after. They have a small interior but it has a cool design that feels welcoming and I love the interesting merchandise they also had for sale. The also created the Mochi Muffin which I didn't try this time but my friend who ordered it loved it! Much chewier than normal muffins. Service was fast, you order at the register and staff will quickly grab your order and box it for you. Honey Bug Bite Oolong Tea: They had this for sale with an eyecathing "Top Tea Pick NYT 2023, 2024". I bought some for a friend and for home and its an excellent tea with a distinct and unique taste you won't forget. Even if you dont' get it from here I would recommend you try to find it if you like tea. Mochi Donuts: Chewy and tasty, made from California grown Mochiko rice flour. These were SO good and I loved the more traditonal donut shape compared to other Mochi Donuts. I got the Black Sesame, Yuzu, and Passionfruit and all 3 were excellent and not too sweet. read more

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Only come here for their gluten-free mochi donuts and muffins. I ordered the Ube, Mango Passion Fruit, and Coconut Mochi donuts. All of them were soft and firm to eat. I liked the Mango Passion Fruit and Ube more. As for the drinks, I got the Matcha Latte, which was alright, and the Strawberry Lychee Sparkler was a bit too sweet. I should've asked to go under 50% sweetness instead. Preferred to go to a legit cafe for matcha drinks. They even sell their handmade packaged snacks and teas, but will skip that for now. The shop was like walking into a small commercial bakery kitchen with colorful windows. Service was alright. Parking is available across the bakery. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Ube, Mango Passion Fruit, and Coconut Mochi Donuts - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My co-workers and I were blown away by how delicious the mochi donuts from Third Culture were. We had a variety pack of mochi donuts and I ate a strawberry one. The taste, texture and sweetness of the donut were different than other donuts I've had. We were all pleased with our morning snack with coffee and would definitely return for more treats! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came for the strawberry lychee matcha. Stayed for the mochi muffin. The drink is good but the fruit definitely takes over the matcha taste. The mochi muffin was so good. Also got the banana bread which is made from the same flour as the mochi so it was chewy. Only street parking. read more

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You have to come at the beginning of the day because they run out of stuff. I love coming here, but now I come for the monthly flavor, the monthly muffin and a touch more. I always feel good and love the fact that it is gluten free and quite good. There lemon muffin costs a touch more and is totally worth it. They did something different with the pumpkin that I like where the pumpkin is in the waffle and the cream was on top. I had one, many moons ago with cream and this pumpkin whip or something on top. Not good. The service is usually quite good. They had a guy there recently who made me uncomfortable but I haven't seen him for awhile. I certainly hope that he's no longer employed (found another gig) because there was something behind those eyes that was odd and disconcerting. But he wasn't there the last time I went in, so (whew...). The ambience is nice and cute, very pink. It is always clean, even the matcha station. BTW, everyone isn't in love with matcha! Just saying. But all in all, this is a cool place and I always love coming here. read more

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After seeing the Chinese new year celebrations for the past couple years, this year my friend and I braved the cloudy sky to get in line for the 9AM special: 1st 50 customers get a red envelope. not only were we second in line, we also got a cup of free tea and a red envelope with $1! We also got black sesame latte with almond milk with matcha shot, black and gold donut, ube donut, and a black sesame waffle to share. Our favorite was the black and gold donut- the salted egg flavor gave it that umami flavor. Wished that I could have tried the pork floss one - but not this time. The place is nice and airy as always - and we got to wait inside the store to avoid the chilly weather. Thank you third culture bakery for allowing me to feel a little slice of home right here in the Bay. read more

Very cute space for a quick coffee and pastry with friendly service. My coffee was delicious, I believe it was the caramel coffee latte. I also had a seasonal mochi donut and muffin. Both were pumpkin flavored which I enjoyed. I'm new to mochi and the texture was gummy like it was undercooked but it wasn't. Lol. I'll definitely go back and try different muffins and donuts to familiarize myself with mochi. read more

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Third Culture Bakery is always on my mind. Always. Inventiveness is truly in their DNA and they always manage to nail it. I love that they always have rotating seasonal specials to keep things fresh! The caramel roasted matcha latte is insanely good. I haven't had such a good drink in so long! Caramel and roasty is such a good combo! I just wish I had a little more caramel and that it didn't all stick to the bottom. The red velvet mochi muffin was pretty good but they have better ones imo. I realize I like red velvet in more cakey and crumbly forms. Cheesecake matcha butter mochi donut was also pretty good. However I think my favorites are the ube mochi muffin and passionfruit or yuzu mochi donut. Short line on a weekday but weekend line gets pretty long. Free street parking. Some seating inside and outside. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - red velvet mochi muffin, matcha cheesecake butter mochi donut - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place blew me away!!! I have to say, the pandan coconut mochi donut was one of the BEST things I have eaten this whole year. It was fresh, the flavors and textures were spot on. Kind workers. A little hard to park, but so worth it!!!! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Mochi Donuts! - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a CUTE and trendy little bakery - came here for a matcha and so pleasantly surprised to see they had a variety of seasonal and specialty flavors, and mochi muffins/waffles! -Guava matcha latte (3/5) - I love trying a specialty matcha drink, but felt like the guava flavor was overpowering and I couldn't taste the matcha as much. However; the guava jam is really sweet and yummy, and super pleasant! I think I'll try the traditional matcha next time. The shop is really cute and sells variety of Macha products as well as baked goods. There's not really seating inside, however, there are chairs outside to sit on that are scattered around the shop on the outside. Drink drinks took 5 to 10 minutes to be made, and as we were there, it seems like it was getting busy pretty quickly. In the back you could see the workers hand whisking the Matcha so you know that it's quality they also had tens of much there so I believe that they do sell Macha powder as well. They also take people's personal cups and can make drinks in those, which I thought was really clever and sustainable. read more

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Someone brought a dozen Third Culture mochi donuts to the office. Haven't had them in a while. Looks like they've expanded the range of flavors. Tried 1/4 matcha (missing from pic), ube, yuzu, strawberry. Love the soft chewy mochi texture. The icing can be tad too sweet so sometimes I just scrape off. Best when fresh, but if there happens to be any leftovers...just pop in microwave for 20-30 seconds or toaster oven for a couple minutes. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Haven't been to third culture in forever. They have so much more selection than I remember. Everyone behind the counter was eager to help. The ambience was a order your mochi to go with no indoor seating. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - apparel - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

There's usually a line and short wait to order (even longer if you're getting anything that needs to be prepared - link a waffle or drink), but the vibe is fun and treats are tasty. Good variety of flavors. read more

I've had Third Culture Bakery bookmarked for sooo long! My bf and I were in the area and visited about an hour before closing. There is a constant line out the door and down the ramp, but it moves pretty quick. The interior is very industrial, they have lots of trinkets and canvas bags for sale. There are so many muffin and donut flavors as well as a rotating seasonal waffle. We tried the ube, Vietnamese coffee, raspberry, mango passion fruit, guava cheesecake, and pandan donuts. The ube, guava cheesecake and pandan were the best! We also tried the original muffin which was great. Strong brown sugar and sesame flavor but not as chewy as I imagined. The pork floss waffle was also amazing. read more

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They only have gluten free options. There are no dairy and gluten free options. A google review said they did, the person at the register was nice. They said that in the near future there may be an option. Just want to post this review in case you go there is no dairy free options as well. read more

I stopped by while I was in the area and decided to order a drink and a few mochi donuts. They have quite a few flavors of pastries/sweets as well as a decent sized drink menu. Strawberry lychee roasted matcha latte - I tasted the lychee more than the matcha. I wish both the matcha and fruit tastes were each even stronger. I was disappointed by this one. I was hoping it would be more like hojicha given the "roasted" part of the name. Guava cheesecake butter mochi donut - It has a decently strong guava flavor, reminds me of eating a guava mousse cake. I liked it. Key lime pie butter mochi donut - I liked the key lime part. I felt it tasted stronger initially and then fades as you keep chewing so then you just taste the plainer rice flavor of the mochi. I really like the crumbs on it. Overall I felt the pastries were better than the drink. Would recommend if you want some Asian flavored sweets - they sell some with ube and black sesame, for instance. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Strawberry lychee roasted matcha latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here on a Saturday right before 4pm when they are almost closed. We got a few mochi donuts. They are all very favorful. I like the pandan and the lychee ones. Got a caramel matcha which had very strong matcha taste. Also got a black sesame latte. It tasted like a drinkable Chinese dessert "ji ma Wu". Very strong sesame flavor. Sweetness was perfect. I didn't finish the drink and saved it for the next day in the fridge. The next day most of the sesame paste settled on the bottom and the latte still had enough sesame flavor!! After mixing it , it was strong and rich again. I would say , it might be too rich since for a drink, it can be lighter for the stomach to digest. I just couldn't finish it in one setting. So if you want it to be less rich. Just wait a day and let it settle or you can even dilute it a bit more with milk at home. But if you like it as a sesame dessert , this is for you! If I'm in the area, I would definitely come back the drinks and mochi donuts. read more

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This bakery offers a number of mochi pastries and matcha drinks. The original mochi muffin and matcha latte are not to be missed! I love the texture of the mochi muffins which come in a variety of fun flavors. The bakery offers factory tours for a small fee which was amazing! It was inspiring to meet the founders, hear their origin story, and try each of the individual components that go into a mochi muffin. read more

I was a semi frequent customer here. The desserts are really good. This day I decided to order a matcha. Upon waiting I noticed my cup sitting and it was quite a lot of milk so I asked for a bit less. The gentleman making the matcha were very accommodating and listening to my request. A woman appears from seemingly the back and says... "the person who took your order dropped your cup so I made a new one and I don't know why I put that star on there" and points to a pentagram drawn in my cup. I.e. a star in a circle. Look. I don't care what your religious preference is or maybe it was a mistake but regardless it wasn't something I wanted on my cup. The fact that I just asked for less milk and all that info came out was a bit off to me. I asked for a new drink and after like 3 minutes of back and forth and basically stating my boundaries of "you can refund me or make me a new drink" ...I was made a new drink. I won't be returning here but I did love their muffins in he past. read more

I was really looking forward to trying this spot, but the drinks didn't quite live up to the hype. I had the salted maple matcha latte and the strawberry lychee matcha latte--both were a bit too milky and sweet for my taste. The strawberry lychee syrup, in particular, tasted a little artificial to me, which is why I usually avoid fruity flavors in caffeinated drinks. We also tried the mochi muffins, which they're known for (I've seen them at Berkeley Bowl). They had a firm outer layer with a satisfying chew. I especially liked the black sesame--it had a deep, nutty flavor that almost tasted burnt (in a good way). The churro flavor was decent, with a light cinnamon sugar coating, but didn't stand out as much. read more

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The original muffin is always my favorite but I've tried just about every flavor. Recently had the chance to take the factory tour which did not disappoint! Loved learning the story behind it and the ingredients involved in the process. Owners are so nice and humble. Shop is cute and inviting and happy. Love coming here! read more

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Love visiting Third Culture Bakery often to try their seasonal drinks and goods! This visit, got only drinks which included the strawberry lychee matcha latte, golden matcha latte, and the salted maple matcha latte. The strawberry lychee matcha latte is a solid option with handmade strawberry lychee puree with matcha and milk of choice. I got 1 drink with whole milk and another with oat milk. Both tasted great, milk depends on your preference. I usually prefer whole milk in my drinks! The golden matcha latte is a match latte with tumeric and honey. The menu says it has a TOUCH of tumeric, but I ALWAYS forget how strong the tumeric flavor is. Honest, the tumeric is overpowering and you don't or barely taste the matcha and honey. I may ask for slightly less tumeric in my drink next time. If you love tumeric and matcha, this drink is for you! The salted maple matcha latte is tasty and love the combo of salt and sweet maple! It's a bit sweet for me so next time I order this, I'll ask for less sugar if they can! read more

Cute bakery in Berkeley serving matcha lattes and Asian-inspired pastries! We tried their Guava Matcha Latte, Strawberry Matcha Latte, and Ube Mochi Donut. I found the matcha lattes to not have a very strong matcha taste, but the strawberry and guava flavors stood out nicely. The mochi donut was good and had a nice chewy texture to it. The storefront itself is very cute, while the counter service was speedy. There are only a few benches to sit at in front of the store, and there is only street parking in the area. Since I love the options they have and had an overall decent experience, I'd be down to come back again to try more items! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Ube Mochi Donut - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Can't go wrong with the original mochi muffins! The black sesame mochi muffins are pretty good too. I've tried other items as well, but those two are my favorites. Service there has always been pleasant. Street parking is fairly easy each time. Can always count on Third Culture to brighten my day. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I really didn't like mochi donuts until I had THIRD CULTURE MOCHI DONUTS my issue with the circular bubbly ones is that there never feels like there's enough chew, but with these butter mochi full circle donuts the most joyful part is that the amount of dough is the perfect amount for the flavor, the amount of effort I put into the chew matches the strength and deliciousness of the glaze which makes the entire donut a wonderful experience my friends and I split 6 of these once to try all the flavors but my favorite were the yuzu and guava cheesecake which we went back for this time and they remain my favorite the first time I had their matcha it was good but this time we tried the strawberry lychee matcha latte and we didn't taste any strawberry or lychee flavor and the matcha was watered down, I would give their normal matcha another try though I really wish they opened a spot in south bay but even if they didn't I would still drive to Berkeley for the donuts again I'd just be very sad about it read more

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My favorite place to grab matcha ! Discovered Third Culture in SF a few years ago and was saddened when the location closed only to find out that they were based in Berkeley . The location sits right on the boarder of Emeryville and Berkeley city line and is conveniently located near the Berkeley Bowl grocery store that I frequently visit. Parking can be challenging at times as the business is located in a mixed use area (warehouses, condos, etc.). Lines aren't typically long and service is always good. Besides matcha and coffee there are also logo based merch, take home matcha packages and various mochi based desserts and treats to choose from. My favorite is the roasted matcha and when in store either the roasted matcha or caramel flavor. Joining the email list is well advised as they often send out discount coupons, news and events that keep you well informed. Lastly, this is primarily a grab and go place with some limited bench like seating just outside the building. read more

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I've had matcha here two times now; trying their regular with oat milk, strawberry, and seasonal blackberry matcha latte. I've also enjoyed their ube mochi muffin, very tasty! Overall their drinks are good, but do not compete with other top matcha places in the area due to lacking matcha flavor. Pros: - refreshing drinks with fun flavors - gluten free mochi muffin treats! (unfortunately still made my stomach hurt...) - cute decor Cons: - no seating - lacking matcha flavor compared to other local places read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Blackberry and regular Matcha Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I attended for a Yelp Elite Event and heard the whole story by the owners themselves. I haven't been to this location before but it is tucked in a building in a very cute little store. Workers were so sweet and very knowledgeable. Ordered: Strawberry lychee matcha latte - I liked this a lot, more than the similar boba guys version. You could taste the strawberry, hint of lychee, and roasted matcha without it being overly sweet or chalky. Original Mochi Muffin - delicious love the crunch outside and chewy inside and sesame topping it gave a bit of nutty flavor Apple pie mochi muffin - good apple flavor and the crumple and icing on top was a good addition Pandan mochi donut - love the texture of the donuts. The pandan icing was good but a bit sweet for me Ube mochi donut - Ube icing was good, I think I liked this one a bit more because it wasn't overly sweet. I would return again if I am in the area! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Cute bags - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm. There was decent street parking right across from the place. The bakery itself has lots of sunlight pouring in, making it very warm and cozy. Note that the bakery is quite small, so there's no seating inside -- not a cafe you'd do work inside -- but there are a few small tables outside. There was only one party in front of us, so we were able to order quickly. I ordered the salted maple roasted matcha latte and guava cheesecake butter mochi donut, and my friend ordered the strawberry lychee matcha sparkler and ube mochi muffin. Our drinks were made in minutes, so we were in and out pretty quickly. The salted maple matcha latte tasted very much like autumn, and it leaned on the sweeter side. I will say that I didn't taste much of the strawberry or lychee in my friend's strawberry lychee matcha sparkler; it just tasted strongly of matcha mixed with sparkling water. The matcha didn't taste grassy or clumpy at all, although the drinks did lean on the sweeter side. The baked goods were amazing, with perfect flavor and texture. There was a super clear mochi texture in both the donut and muffin, making it chewy and delicious. I enjoyed how they weren't too sweet, and how the flavors weren't super overpowering. Overall, great and efficient service at Third Culture Bakery, and their baked goods are phenomenal. Would love to stop by again when I'm in the area and try more flavors and variations! read more

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