This was my second time at third culture bakery, the first time about a year ago. We arrived 30 minutes to closing, with rain, and there was still a short line out the door. When we got up to order most of the pastries/cupcakes were finished (only 10 total left) so if you want variety make sure to come earlier! We got the chili crisp mochi muffin (new year special) and the ube mochi muffin. Both were amazing. The chili crisp mochi muffin was sweet and spicy, but balanced so it didn't feel weird. There was a little bit of heat but not as much as eating an actual spoon of chili oil. If you want to try new flavors I recommend this! The ube was tried and true. Not too sweet but definitely more dessert. Both were chewy as mochi is expected to be but super soft and fluffy on the inside with a wonderful crust that gives bite. If I could have just the crust again and again I could die happy. The store doesn't have seating inside but does have some outside. They also serve drinks (I remember loving the black sesame latte last year). This Berkeley staple is definitely worth the visit! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Ube and chili crisp mochi muffin - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This was my first time at the Berkeley location, though I had visited the Walnut Creek location. Unlikely Walnut Creek, this location has a line which seemed to be the norm. We got there just before noon on a weekend and some items were already running out of stock for the day. Everything was delicious except the crust of the Banana Mochi Muffin Bread Pudding was charred/burned (unfortunately we got a corner piece). I definitely plan to come back for more of everything else! read more

I was so excited to check out and try the matcha and mochi muffins here, but it took well over 30+ minutes to get in and get our orders taken. The bakery was really nice and clean and it smelled wonderful but there is no seating inside unless you're waiting for your order. The staff were friendly and very helpful though. We got the cold brew, salted maple matcha latte (with oat milk), ube muffin, and chocolate chip muffin. The muffins were good, the drinks were meh and definitely not worth the very long wait. I was definitely a bit disappointed with my drink because of the really good reviews, maybe it was a one off but my matcha latte was 80% milk in my opinion. I couldn't taste the flavor of the matcha too much or the salted maple which I was a little bummed about especially since everything's priced a little on the higher side. The muffins are worth a second visit but don't think I'll be back anytime soon to try them! PS: They don't have a parking lot, there's only street parking and we had to park a block away which wasn't too terrible. They also have a restroom for customers only that staff will open for you. read more

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I was really impressed by the mochi donuts and muffins! Exciting flavors, I would definitely love to try more flavors in the future. The mochi texture lended itself better to the muffins than the donuts in my opinion, but both were very good! The staff was friendly and I liked the vibes inside! Not a lot of good seating, it made it a little more difficult to eat with no tables. But I managed and enjoyed the experience! read more

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Assorted 6 Pack Muffins-- my favorite are the ube and chocolate muffins. Matcha Latte -- standard latte, pretty ordinary. The milk overpowered the matcha flavor. Delicious local bakery! Love the mochi muffins and mochi doughnuts! It's not too sweet, but the flavor is just right. Also the mochi consistency is just perfect! Between muffins and doughnuts i prefer the muffins, the edges are nice and crispy, they barely have frosting on it, the matcha muffin has a tangy strawberry frosting on it. read more

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What can I say? I have a mochi waffle problem and must try all of Third Culture's waffles! Right now the special is Apple Pie. The waffle has apples folded in and topped with mascarpone whipped cream and apple pie filling. It sounds like it would be very sweet, but it isn't. As always, the waffle is soft and chewy, how you would expect mochi to be. Third Culture also has Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie mochi muffins. I didn't try either this time, but they looked delicious! I hope Third Culture keeps the Apple Pie waffle next year for the Fall season. read more

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Finally got to try this place and it did not disappoint! I went at 9:45AM on a Saturday and there were about 5 people in line. Parking was easy since I went relatively early. Mochi muffins are exceptional and there are many fun flavors. Matcha latte was high-quality. Highly recommend! read more

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Loved the ambiance! Was really clean, nice music, and aesthetic decor. The matcha latte was good too, however there wasn't much lychee flavor coming through. The Yuzu donut had a great texture, but even for a citrus dessert it was a little too strong. I'm generally a lover of yuzu/lemon too but found the icing to be too strong :( I'd really like to come back and try their other flavors though! The mochi donut texture is elite :) read more

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Went for bogo matcha was aite need to be more matchayee mochi donuts r good but maybe taste better warm black seseame taste like zi ma qiu ifykyk i feel like a matcha girly read more

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

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I went to a Berkeley vegan food festival and had these Mochi muffins from a Hawaiian sounding spot.(they were amazing, gooey inside) I can't find that spot but see Third culture makes the same mochi muffins. A friend is coming in town so I place a large order so we can binge on mochi muffins and donuts for the week. It was so bad. I don't know what happened. The couple we tried were basically burnt. The mochi it self was so dry and crumbly. And the flavors were bitter like they had been burnt. I've tried a lot of mochi and I have never had a mochi crumble into dust. The donuts were very similar. Dry and the texture was unlike any mochi donuts I had enjoyed before. I would advise against placing large orders and just go into the store and try it. Of the 38 I ordered we tried 3 and gave up. Maybe the in store ones are better? read more

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

This place had a fabulous Matcha choices and extremely delicious mochi donuts that are baked not fried. Seems to be one of the only craft Matcha places in the bay area! The server helped us by telling us some of their favorite items as it was our first time here. There are any places to sit inside, but there is outdoor seating. It was a clean and nicely decorated little shop! I would recommend and come here again. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Mochi donuts black sesame and Ube coconut NOM as well as a couple pastries from the bakery next door - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Small simple cake store and best matcha drink in Berkeley city. This will be new matcha fav spot added!!!! The fresh matcha drink will be hand crafted right on counter so you can watch them directly. Very first time try the golden matcha is made with green matcha, light of honey, and turmeric which made this drink so interesting to try. The very first few sips is little bit shocking and really strong of turmeric. I was not so sure if i like the drink. However when the drink's almost done more than half way, i feel so addictive to the taste of turmeric and matcha. We also know those things are really good for your gut health. I just wish they can let us choose the sweetness level. The drink's is made from honey and almond milk but it's still too much sweet for me. 4/5 Aside from best quality drinks. They have variety of mochi donut. I just picked randomly the chocolate muffin and mochi banana bread pudding. The muffin has good sweetness. The bread pudding with chewy mochi texture is much different than the original pudding. You should try it! 5/5 The shop is located on busy street with side street parking. It may hard to find the parking in rush hour. But if you can get the spot right in front of store so you can sit right out side enjoy your drink and keep eyes on the car. As it's the small store with no dine in table or chairs. You may find it easy to get packed but service is fast. I was on the waiting line for 4 mins. Friendly fast welcoming staff. Tip: in case you need to use the restroom. Please ask staff. They will open the door for you from inside . Restroom is for customers only. I think it's a good idea for the safety and cleanliness! " restroom is very clean" read more

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The mochi sesame seed muffin that my kids brought home for me was so good that I drove myself to the bakery and bought another! Super good flavor and texture. Adorable spot with friendly staff made it a win! read more

My daughter loves their ceremonial grade matchas. I personally need my matchas on the sweeter side. These were lightly sweetened. So if you like strong flavored matcha... this is your spot! But the creme de la creme is their mochi muffins and donuts! I have had their mochi muffins at Highwire Coffee. I loved the Brownie and Ube muffins. So I had to go to their cafe to check out their other flavors! They recently had a red velvet one for valentines... that was a treat! I don't know if this is typical for everyday or just a weekend rush... but their line was out the door! Your wait line may be a bit long on a Saturday morning, so come with a friend that you need to catch up with... read more

This is probably some of the best matcha I've had. I ordered the caramel matcha and my bf ordered the strawberry lychee one. Both were quite flavorful and not that earthy, but you could still taste the matcha. I do wish mine had a bit more caramel flavor, but it was still very good. It was such a cute little cafe. Very aesthetic. I'll 100% be back. read more

This bakery is amazing. The lighting , the vibes, and especially the guava mochi donut. They are also community based and we have enjoyed the doggy pride parade plus an incredible yoga and brunch. We go every week to pick up this donut. I've enjoyed their strawberry matcha oatmilk latte as well. Top tier. Their menu is always changing with really cool inspired new fare. I just saw they have a mochi red velvet muffin that sounds so enticing ! It's an impressive bakery with great service and their community offerings make it really impressive as well. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Guava mochi donut - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Got two mochi muffins, black sesame and lemon meringue, but they had so many more. The nicest workers, everyone here is an angel. Lovely outdoor seating to enjoy your food, and it's on a quiet street too. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - lemon meringue muffin & black sesame muffin - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

gluten free options! parking is a little difficult but not impossible. I love the original mochi muffin the best! read more

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Came here for some dessert after brunch. Got the Strawberry Lychee Matcha Latte ($6.63 - including the 0.25 Berkely single use food ware tax), the Guava Cheesecake Donut ($3.38), and the Key Lime Pie Special Donut ($3.50). Total for the order was $15.54 including tax and tip. The strawberry lychee matcha latte is a unique blend but needs really needs more of the matcha flavor to come through. The milk is the strongest taste, followed by lychee, with only a hint of strawberry. The matcha is doesn't really come through at all. It looks nice but isn't doing it for me as a matcha drink. Perhaps tweaking the ratios may help? 2/5 stars. I wouldn't order it again as it is. The key lime mochi donut has an excellent balance of sour, tart, and sweet, with a satisfying chewy texture and bright citrus flavor. The graham cracker topping adds a fun touch. 5/5 I'd definitely get it again. The guava cheesecake donut is flavorful, though less so than the lime, and has a beautiful pink color. Only major downside is that I couldn't really taste the cheesecake. However, I'd still order it again. 4/5 stars. Overall enjoyable! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Would recommend both the Key Lime Pie Special Donut ($3.50) and Guava Cheesecake Donut ($3.38) - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We were primarily looking for true matcha drinks and this place really fit the bill. We were not hungry but opted for two hot matcha drinks - a ceremonial matcha latte and a caramel matcha latte. They do it right, by whisking the matcha and some water until the right desired foaminess is reached and then put together the drink. No doubt about it - these were true matcha latte drinks, not made from a matcha mix. Lots of people ordered some of the pastries and cold drinks, but we were totally happy with our hot matcha drinks. read more

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

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I was excited to try this place because they had very unique flavors but i thought the matcha drinks were not strong enough. I got the strawberry lychee roasted matcha latte which in photos looked like a hojicha but didn't taste like matcha nor hojicha. I also couldn't really taste the lychee flavor. My friend got the strawberry lychee matcha latte and the matcha flavor for her drink also wasn't strong enough in my opinion. For $6.63 it was quite overpriced for not tasting any matcha flavor. We also got the yuzu mochi donut and the Jasmine milk tea mochi donut. The mochi texture was good but the yuzu mochi donut had no yuzu flavor. Just taste like a lemon poundcake. The jasmine milk tea flavor was not bad, I prefer that over the yuzu one. They also sold the matcha powder canisters at their store and the 200g was $163, 100g was $63 and the 20g was still $17 which is so overpriced. I've been to stores that sell the same brand of matcha at 40g for just $21 Overall I wouldn't recommend it if you want an authentic strong flavor matcha drink. But if you just want a tasty sweet drink then you'll enjoy it. There's also only street parking but it wasn't too hard to find parking which was nice. read more

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The mochi donuts have a crisp and golden exterior and a yummy gooey texture in the middle. they are so tasty! We had the black sesame, passion fruit, and white chocolate matcha. The passion fruit was 10/10 definitely try this if you stop by. We also had the strawberry lychee spritz, it was delicious and not too sweet. read more

Mochi muffins wow! Service fast. I came in on a Sunday line out the door. Small, clean bakery shop. I'm definitely coming back. Muffin's not too sweet and if you're craving something delightful that's definitely the place to check out. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Top: churro. Bottom: chocolate chip. - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food is unique and chic. We drove here to try the OG mochi muffin and Matcha. The matcha latte was authentic and the mochi donuts are delish. We tried the Ube and mochi muffin. They are both unique in its simplicity. We also tried the Yuzu mochi donut and if you like Yuzu. That's a must try. For drinks, we tried the hot Caramel Matcha latte, iced Classic Matcha Latte and iced strawberry lychee roasted matcha latte. The favorite is the classic Matcha latte. read more

this place was high on my list to visit while in the area, so much so that my sibling and i made a long trek on public transit to get there. no regrets! i ordered the kimchi waffle and an orange five-spice muffin, and was impressed by both. a mochi texture really suits a muffin well! or at least this place is doing it right, and i'm so grateful for the 100% GF kitchen allowing me to eat there with no worries or health issues i wish their online menu was a little more updated, but i guess they just constantly change flavors?? we came at 10:30 on a sunday, and as we were ordering, it suddenly got super busy. this place doesn't feel super friendly for eating there; i had to ask a very busy barista for utensils, most of the seating is just concrete, and the to-go box made it kind of difficult to cut up my waffle. not a big deal, but you definitely go here for the food and not the atmosphere read more

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The mochi donuts here are so good. I prefer these mochi donuts over the mochi-nut donuts. Better chewy factor and flavor. They have so many donut flavors, it's a shame I couldn't try them all. Guava, ube, matcha were good. Thai tea.. I wish the Thai tea had a strong Thai tea flavor. I had their black sesame latte and it was wonderfully nutty and creamy. I dont think there's any caffeine in the drink, so I wish it came with espresso as a standard. Service was friendly and polite. Parking can be kinda tight since it's in an industrial area but it's more of a grab and go place anyway. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Banana bread bread pudding - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on national donut day (we hadn't realized) and tried out some drinks and mochi donuts! The roasted matcha latte was so yummy and it wasn't watered down whatsoever. It had a great strong flavor and I like how they sweeten their drinks with honey. Since it was national donut day---they gave us a free ube donut! The ube was super good but my favorite was the yuzu bc of the tartness! It's super warm and colorful inside and the outside is a sweet area too. The service is really good and quick. Will definitely keep coming back! read more

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Love this place... super safe for gluten free I always go for the waffles! Can be crowded but worth the wait read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Wonder what I'm getting??? - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very disappointed in their customer service. Came here right when they opened at 9am. The staff who opened the door gave us an unfriendly glare as we walked in and greeted him "good morning." No response at all. Cashier also looked very grumpy and unwelcoming. Gave us our order without saying thank you or a smile like how it used to be. Used to love coming here but recently it feels like the vibe has changed big time. Wont be coming back anytime soon read more

Third culture on eighth Street in Berkeley California is a quick stop café for Japanese style beverages and snacks. Inside of the establishment is very small. There is a walk up counter no sitting room. In the services, polite, and friendly. My Matcha was good. read more

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

A Berkeley establishment! Third Culture is a cornerstone of the Berkeley food community because of its innovative treats that pay homage to southeast Asian staple flavors, blending them with western baking influences. The shop itself is small, eclectic, and takeout only, but there are ledges outside where people tend to enjoy their food. We ordered the guava cheese mochi donut, (3/5), ube mochi donut (5/5), mochi caramel banana bread (5/5), and strawberry-lychee matcha sparkler (4/5). The matcha here is very, very good -- smooth and not grassy at all. I did find the syrup to be more sugary than anything else and lacking the true flavor of the fruit in it. As for the pastries, the banana bread and ube donut knocked it our of the park. The former is gooey and not too sweet, and perfectly banana-y especially when warmed. The ube donut had great Uber flavor and a hint of coconut. The guava donut was okay -- I didn't taste the guava nor was there cheese on it. I'd probably try another flavor next time. Service is quick and cordial, and never misses! read more

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

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Strawberry lychee matcha latte was truly a treat! Not overtly sweet. A nice sweet treat on a sunny day. I also got the Ube, Black sesame, and tiramisu mochi donuts all of which I recommend. Service was good! But you may have to wait for sometime after ordering especially on the weekend. Chill vibes all around, some seating but no tables read more

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

came here because I miss the SF sunset location :"( decided to try something new today, the seasonal banana espresso mochi waffle and the salted maple matcha latte. the waffle was really delicious but the matcha latte was okay, a bit too sweet which overpowered the matcha flavor read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - salted maple matcha latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Matcha and mochi have been a part of my culture since I was born. It also shares deep sentimental value with so many others, especially the founders of Third Culture Bakery! Under one roof you can find mochi muffins, mochi donuts, and matcha drinks that so many love and adore like myself. I was a frequent customer when they opened their brick-and-mortar in Berkeley in 2018. Not much has changed. The shop is a small and inclusive spot, super cute and pink, boosting the lovely merch they sell. Their muffin and donut display rocks--items are labeled with names, ingredients, and prices. It's easy to read but hard to choose what to get! The drink menu is posted with caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks--most including matcha. The baked goods are readily available while the drinks are made in front of your eyes. Every time I've been, service has been prompt and helpful. You can enjoy your beverage and goodies to-go, or at their limited seating outdoors. My journey first started with enjoying Third Culture's pastries at local cafes. They sell both mochi donuts and muffins in diverse flavors but I'm partial to the donuts. The texture of their donuts is bouncy and chewy; slightly smaller and not ringed like other mochi donuts. The muffins are moist and spongey. I'm a fan of their Asian fusion and fruit flavors such as Matcha, Ube, and Strawberry. This go around my companion, and I shared their Black Sesame Mochi Muffin, Yuzu Lemon Butter Mochi Donut, Thai Tea Butter Mochi Donut, and Jasmine Milk Tea Butter Mochi Donut. The black sesame was nutty and slightly sweet while the yuzu lemon was citrusy. The Thai tea was a winner and packed flavor while the jasmine was subtle and floral. To drink I got their Guava Matcha Latte with Soy Milk. It was refreshingly bold, sweet from the guava jam, and earthy from the matcha. The next day I got an Iced Caramel Roasted Matcha Latte. Heads up, roasted matcha is just Hojicha. It was Hojicha forward with a subtle caramel sweetness. I have a running list of all the flavors I want to try for their baked goods and drinks. It's remarkable to see they've expanded their mochi muffin love around the Bay Area. The Berkeley location has limited street parking but is the OG. Efficient counter service and a diversity of flavorful sweet treats and beverages can be found here. I recommend checking them out if you're interested in mochi muffins or donuts. read more

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I'm a new fan of Third Culture and their matcha! I got to try some from a work care package and I loved it so much I immediately went to their online store to order a large bag. This matcha has changed my mornings and made them a bit more delicious and exciting. I LOVE matcha and would only ever have it when I stumble upon a coffee shop that sells it. So to be able to have some incredible matcha at my own home is sooooooo fun!! I can't recommend them enough. I hope to be able to visit in real life some day!!! Very happy to have been introduced to them all the way in Charlotte, NC!! read more

The drinks here are great and the vibe is super cute! I also got a strawberry lychee roasted matcha and it was the perfect combo of malty, creamy, and fruity. If you're tired of paying $8 for watered down matcha and store-bought syrup this is the place to check out! There was a bit of a line and not much seating inside, but I think the pastries and drinks make up for it. read more

Love love this place! The drinks, mochi donuts, and muffins are so tasty and exactly how you imagined only better! I love Sam and Wenter's story and we were lucky enough to meet them on a Sunday we stopped in. The location is a bit off the main road but worth the detour. Try anything that looks tasty, and you hopefully won't be disappointed. I had an ube mochi muffin and my friend got the beautiful drink pictured below. read more

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

the vibes here are amazing ! i love the outdoor seating option and the little things they sell inside. i got the regular iced matcha latte and my friend got the corn matcha latte. in both the drinks the matcha flavor wasn't super strong so i'd definitely recommend an extra matcha shot if you really wanna taste it. the corn flavor was pretty present in the drink which was nice. we also got the ube donut and the guava cheesecake donut too! we enjoyed the ube donut but the grapefruit one was quite sour in a refreshing fruit way read more

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

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Oh my goodness. Of course, the Mochi donuts here are great. Service is friendly and enthusiastic. So many donut flavors to choose from and so fresh!! I want to add that their seasonal black sesame latte is incredible. So so amazing. I ask for it to be half sweet and it hits the spot. If you are someone who likes black sesame desserts - go check it out before the end of February. You will thank me later! read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Black sesame latte - half sweet with oat milk - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is an appreciation post for the Mochi waffle. I don't care what flavors on the menu (they change fairly often) but you are a queen, a hero, a Heavenly Father if you will. I'm sad I missed the passion fruit but the banana espresso. Was incredible and I'm forever grateful for you coming into my life. Now if only I could find a man this sweet and satisfying. read more

Third Culture Bakery - Berkeley - Mochi waffle and rich latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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