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    Uncle Tetsu

    4.5 (315 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    UNCLE TETSU ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Tetsu

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    Angela C.

    I don't make it out this way often, but when I do, this cheesecake is the whole reason. Light, delicate, exactly what you want from a Japanese cheesecake. They had cookies out front this time too, so I got the taro cheesecake and matcha cookies, both good, but the cheesecake wins every time. Prices are fair: regular cheesecake is $14, mini cheese pies are about $5, and they've got new basket cheesecakes for $24 that are extra rich.

    Pinay M.

    I love this place! I think we've tried almost everything on the menu. The Oreo cheesecake, ube cheesecake, mousse au chocolat, and burnt basque but my favorite is their original fluffy cheesecake. It's pretty similar to French soufflé. It's very fluffy, and has a light and airy texture, it's very soft and delicious! They are cashless and only accept card payments or Apple Pay.

    Oreo
    Justin C.

    Uncle Tetsu serves delicious authentic Japanese cheesecakes. We tried the original milk and Oreo flavors. The texture is consistent and fluffy and you can taste the quality. The cakes are not large but we were able to cut them comfortably into 8 piece slices to serve our group. I really liked the Oreo flavor cheesecake and would definitely get it again. Looking forward to trying some of their other flavors like the Ube cheesecake.

    The new tarts that are smaller than the old style.

    You know I have always come here and loved this place (always got the tarts) However recently, or idk if I came on an odd day or two, but they have made the tarts much smaller now and still charge the same price. Kind of disappointing to be honest

    Ube Cheesecake
    Diana L.

    Small but clean. I've only gotten desserts to take home. They have always been fresh and moist. The ube is yum! Fast service, cute custom bags.

    Outside the store with my cheesecake purchase.
    Vince B.

    This is a review for my visit back in March of this year. I was coming out of the Vinh Hoa Hong after buying some winter herbal essentials when I chanced upon this small shop with a big red sign and a cute Japanese drawing of a bespectacled balding man. A "Now Open" banner invitingly waves at me together with the aroma of freshly baked cheesecake. How could I resist? I allowed my desires take over and ordered a Burnt Basque, took it back to my car and ate a small slice. Beneath that gorgeous burnt exterior lies a creamy, custard-like interior that's almost impossibly rich and decadent. This indulgent dessert will pair perfectly with whatever I'm having for dinner" I thought. If you love cheesecake, you gotta try how the Japanese make theirs, it will make a fan out of you!

    bag
    Anthony D.

    Stopped by Uncle Tetsu to pick up a box of Original fluffy Cheese Cake. This tiny bakery serves airy, soufflé-like Japanese cheesecakes in flavors like pandan coconut, burnt Basque, and black sesame, plus treats like ube cookies and cheese tarts. Their desserts are soft, lightly sweet, and delicious. The shop is small and mostly grab-and-go, but the quick service and standout flavors make it worth stopping by.

    Cookies
    David Z.

    Came here to get a cheesecake and a cookie. The inside is very small and has no seating. You order at the counter and get your food immediately. Love their airy cheesecakes. Always a treat.

    black sesame cheesecake, Burnt Basque Cheesecake
    Sharon H.

    The black sesame cheesecake had an odd taste. Good black sesame flavor and fluffy texture but somehow the mixture between cheese and black sesame made it taste strange. The basque cheesecake was on the sweeter end but still really good. Everyone preferred the basque cheesecake over the black sesame cheesecake.

    Very affordable
    Susie T.

    This place is very small inside and had no chairs. Quick service and simple. I wanted to try the pandan coconut and im glad I got it! The fluffiest and softest cake ever! Its like a souffle not a cheesecake. For me, I much prefer an American original cheesecake made with Philadelphia cream cheese. This pandan coconut cake was one of the best cakes I've had! Its semi sweet leaning towards bland side but with the shaved coconut, it added the sweetness it needed! A marvelous cake!!! Also for a slice its only 11-16g of carbs. Worth 14$. I also got the ube cookies. This was a bit too sweet for me. I only took a bite of that. I can never have too much of sweets. My sugar will spike so high. Since I don't take insulin or medications for my diabetes bc I've kept it under control through water fasting/exercise/0 carb life style, this cake is of the lesser evil and I appreciate it! I could have eaten the entire cake! But self control! Hehe Will be coming again next month. I can only cheat once every two weeks and next week im at my third home and love, vegas! so I have to save my cheat days for that! Lol! I'll be back to uncle tetsu for sure!

    Tim T.

    Awesome San Diego got an Uncle Tetsu - they have amazing fluffy Japanese cheesecakes in a variety of flavors like pandan-coconut, ube, strawberry, chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, and more, and special burnt basque cheesecakes (in normal and cookies and cream flavors) that have caramelized tops and custard centers flavored like vanilla or lemon. Moreover, they sell smaller Hokkaido specialty cheese tarts - double-baked crusts with cheese mousse inside - in original, chocolate, matcha and ube flavors as well as cookies in matcha, ube and ube crumble flavors. Prompt and attentive service, especially if you order ahead on the site or app, and cozy interior where you can purchase a variety of beverages (designed for just pick up, and there is a convenient parking spot out front where you can park to pick up the goods). Most highly recommended!

    Three G.

    My partner and I have been on a pandan hunt for MONTHS. When we saw there was a bakery nearby where we were staying in SD, we had to stop by! We got the pandan cheesecake for $14. It didn't taste like cheesecake to me, it was more spongy like a flour cake. It was also topped with coconut flakes, which aren't my favorite but this place still hit the spot.

    Rohith V.

    Quick service and a no-frills bakery setup. They're known for their light and airy Japanese-style cheesecakes, and they absolutely live up to the hype. Very different from your classic American cream cheese-heavy cheesecake -- these are incredibly soft, fluffy, and almost feel like you're cutting into a warm soufflé. Such an easy, delicious treat. Highly recommend this place!

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    27 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Ube tart is my fave! So rich and delicious. Also ordered matcha and taro/ube cheesecake. All are good. Staff and restaurant also great

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Uncle Tetsu

    I'm allergic to peanut, tree nuts, and sesame. Do any of your items contain these ingredients?

    How long do they last? Is it smart to buy ahead two days?

    I had them the day after and they were not as fresh. The third day was meh. It’s definitely better the day off.

    Does it jiggle?!?

    Not really...I think that may be when it's fresh from the oven but these have settled.

    Can you order ahead for pick up?

    Yes !! But they do have it ready already and you can pick what you want

    Can we order large orders pre sliced?

    I dont think they preslice but i have ordered 10 cakes at 1 time no problem.

    Will this location sell cheese tarts in the future too?

    Yes! We will be bringing our other flavors and cheese tarts to this location.

    View All 7 Questions

    Extraordinary Desserts

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0
    (9.2k reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$$

    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    The sugar bun was delicious! I might be a bigger fan of their pastries than their cake…read more The Shrang-la cake was decorated so beautifully! I loved the white chocolate shavings all around. Unfortunately the cake didn't hold well in my commute to Temecula (esp during the heat wave). The dairy ended up hurting our stomachs.

    Photos
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    Chocolate lemon bon bon

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    Chocolate lemon bon bon
    Flour Atelier

    Flour Atelier

    4.4
    (266 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Love the ube cheesecake and need it back asap please! The banana matcha pudding cupcakes are to die…read morefor! The sunset drink was a little overly sweet and unlike sweet, but she was accommodating to what I felt like. Love the vibe and aesthetic beautiful and cute! Hojicha and matcha are good here. The mochi and cookies yum!!!!!!!! Love how they put samples out to try new stuff that's how I tried the mochi and cookies and yummmmmmmmmm... thank you! One of my spots in convoy

    I'd been seeing Atelier Flour all over Instagram, so I decided to stop by and see what the hype was…read moreabout. I ordered the Island Girl Coffee, a macadamia latte, and asked for it less sweet. To me, it tasted very similar to a flavored hazelnut latte from Starbucks. Even with reduced sweetness, it was still sweeter than I prefer and had a slightly artificial flavor. If you enjoy flavored Starbucks-style coffee, you'll probably like it, but it's just not my personal preference. I actually didn't finish my drink because the flavor wasn't for me. That said, the cashier was very sweet, and the dessert display looked beautiful and tempting. While the coffee didn't win me over, I'd still come back to give their desserts a try since they looked much more appealing than the drink I ordered. Overall, a nice spot with friendly service, but next time I'll be skipping the flavored coffee and trying one of the desserts instead.

    Photos
    Cupcakes (Halo-Halo, Ube & Flan, Turon)
    Cupcakes (Halo-Halo, Ube & Flan, Turon)
    Bite of strawberry cheesecake matcha bar.
    Bite of strawberry cheesecake matcha bar.
    Work of art. Monogram puff pastry cake.

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    Work of art. Monogram puff pastry cake.
    Yiko Yiko

    Yiko Yiko

    4.3
    (518 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Never knew this place existed until the bf recommended that we give this a try after dinner. This…read moreis a cute Japanese cafe specializing in not so sweet desserts. My best friend wanted to order a cake with a hand piped message but the cake artist wasn't available. Ambiance was minimalist and clean. We tried a few things - Green Tea Matcha Mochi Balls - This wasn't sweet at all, but I liked it! It was dusted in matcha & you dip it into a creamy matcha and then into the matcha flakes. Such a fun dessert! The snowball mochis are the star of the show with pillowy soft mochi filled with a light custard and fresh fruit. The strawberry and mango are my faves! The Sea Salt Oreo Cake was cute and light with fluffy whip cream and melt in your mouth chiffon cake. There were several things already gone by the time we came, so if you have a favorite, reserve ahead of time or come early!

    After eating way too much savory food in San Diego, we needed something sweet to balance things…read moreout, so we stopped by Yiko Yiko for dessert. The shop is super cute and offers individual cakes that are the perfect size to share... or keep all to yourself--I won't judge! My sister and I shared the mango cake, and it was delicious. The cake was light and fluffy with fresh mangoes layered between whipped cream. I also loved that it wasn't overly sweet. The crunchy waffle cone crumbles on top added a nice texture and made each bite even better. We also wanted to try the mango mochi balls, but we got there later in the evening and someone bought the last order right before we checked out. Talk about bad timing! We ended up trying the matcha mochi balls instead. I'm personally not a matcha fan, so they weren't for me, but if you enjoy matcha, you'll probably like them. My sister was more than happy to finish them for me. Next time I'll definitely come earlier so I can snag the mango mochi before someone else beats me to it! Overall, Yuki Yuki is a cute dessert spot with light, delicious cakes that are the perfect ending to a great meal. I'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Soy Milk Custard Cake
    Soy Milk Custard Cake
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Oct 2024 Organic Chocolate Crepe Slice

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    Oct 2024 Organic Chocolate Crepe Slice
    Michi Michi

    Michi Michi

    4.4
    (247 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Everything was so good (besides matcha lattes but that was expected) the line is well worth it I…read morefear. Best to come within an hr of opening for shortest wait experience Egg Sando - soft fluffy eggs on soft fluffy bread, topped with chili oil. we really enjoyed this. Pistachio Praline Double-Baked Chocolate Croissant - heavenly. sweet. crunchy. pistachio chocolate dream. Turon Kouign Amann - personally my #1. banana pastry cream filling is not too sweet, the banana is like a sweet crispy brown sugar coating, i loved this so much Mango Maritozzi - sooo fluffy and airy and light, the mango whip is amazing! calamansi curd is tart but not overwhelming at all. fresh mango. she's 5 stars Cinnamon Roll - how can u go wrong The variety of pastries is unique and it's clear they put so much care and thought into them all. I truly can't wait to return

    Came on a Sunday afternoon and the line was out the door! Tends to move quickly though and they…read morehave a menu outside for you to look at which is super helpful. Some highlights: -Cinnamon roll with cream cheese: this isn't on their menu but I saw they had two kinds of cinnamon rolls- one with cream cheese frosting and the other with buttermilk frosting. I ended up going with cream cheese and I'm so glad I did! It looks a little intense, but the frosting was actually really light, creamy, and not too sweet. The cinnamon roll itself was also really soft and pillowy. It's decently sized too, definitely share with your group! -Whoopie pie: forgot what the full name of this pastry was but it was essentially two green tea cookies that sandwiched a marshmallow filling. So good! -Black Sesame croissant: the black sesame filling was so good! Not grainy and spread evenly throughout the pastry. I would skip the drinks and cookies. Drinks were very standard and not worth the price (each pastry is $7-$10 already) and there's better matcha at other places. Cookies were a little underwhelming- too crunchy for my taste.

    Photos
    Great vibes outdoor seatings
    Great vibes outdoor seatings
    Friendly Service :)
    Friendly Service :)
    This is what we got for breakfast

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    This is what we got for breakfast
    Bonjour Bakery & Patisserie

    Bonjour Bakery & Patisserie

    4.7
    (277 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $$

    This place has the most insanely delicious vegan pastries omg. In one of their display cases they…read morehave an entire shelf that is labelled as all vegan, and luckily I asked an employee if there were any other vegan options because he told me that one of their two rows of rolled croissants were also vegan. I ended up getting a vegan almond croissant and a vegan chocolate hazelnut rolled croissant, both of which were ridiculously good. The almond croissant was nice and flaky yet still buttery inside, and the almond filling was lovely. However my favorite was definitely the rolled croissant, the hazelnut creme inside was so light and creamy and when taken in a bite with the croissant and chocolate shell coating was heavenly. They had so many other options that looked incredible, in particular if I came back I would definitely want to try the vegan kouign amann. The inside is cute and has a small amount of seating, however the place is quite busy and fills up very fast. Me and my friend were lucky to get there early and be able to claim a table, and so they plated the pastries for us quite nicely and heated up her pizza croissant. Everyone we interacted with was lovely. This place is actually perfection I cannot recommend enough.

    One of my best friends who is on a lookout for a vegan croissant brought me here and I must say…read morethat the rave about a good, buttery, flaky croissant is true. We went during a busy day so a lot of their options were running out so we were lucky to get a chocolate almond croissant and a vegan almond croissant. My friend was also able to get a vegan chocolate croissant to go (which she told me she enjoyed after our night out of drinking haha). I am going to come back to this place because I loved it. I also tried the our vegan croissant order and I seriously will not be able to tell (but we trust the kind staff!). Amazing service despite a busy Friday early afternoon.

    Photos
    Ham and cheese croissant everything with medium roast coffee and flowers
    Ham and cheese croissant everything with medium roast coffee and flowers
    The inside of the Tiramisu filled croissant. There is actually 2 different creams inside.
    The inside of the Tiramisu filled croissant. There is actually 2 different creams inside.
    Chocolate croissant

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    Chocolate croissant
    Parisien Gourmandises

    Parisien Gourmandises

    4.5
    (371 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    When people talk about the magic of La Jolla Village, this is exactly what they mean. Nestled among…read morethe walkable, sun-drenched streets lined with palm trees and ocean breezes, this boutique café captures that rare blend of upscale SoCal charm and effortless European sophistication. It's an absolute staple of what makes exploring the Village so special. Walking through the front entrance, you're greeted by a curated retail space that feels like Crate & Barrel met a boutique shop in the heart of Paris. It's packed with unique home goods, chic trinkets, and aesthetic lifestyle items. Be sure to wander all the way to the back shelves--there are so many hidden gems worth taking home! The staff upfront and on the floor were incredibly warm, welcoming, and happy to chat while you browse. As you head toward the back, the space opens up into a dream of a café. One of the cutest touches is being able to actually watch the bakers rolling out fresh dough and crafting pastries right before your eyes. The smell of rich espresso and buttery pastry crust filling the air is irresistible. I grabbed a coffee and a fresh pastry, waited a short bit for a table on the patio, and pulled out my journal. Listening to the ambient music and ocean breeze in the courtyard while writing was pure heaven. Whether you're stopping in to shop for home decor, grab a top-tier espresso, or just soak in the slow, luxurious rhythm of La Jolla, this place is perfection.

    Why??? Why did I not know about this patisserie? It is like walking down the street in Paris from…read moreour Airbnb and grabbing a bite to eat. This is an amazing bakery, the desserts were out of this world, and the savory tarts were even better. I am not going to even tell you which ones we bought, because honestly you need to just walk in here, look at which one fills your eyes with joy and buy that one. They are all delicious. Beautiful to for all your senses. Now I will have to find the quickest route of Ramona to La Jolla, just to enjoy these delicacies more often.

    Photos
    Towards the back June 25, 2025
    Towards the back June 25, 2025
    Awesome coffees and a $10 tiny stick eclair.
    Awesome coffees and a $10 tiny stick eclair.
    Towards the back June 25, 2025

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    Towards the back June 25, 2025

    Uncle Tetsu - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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