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This has to be one of my top bakeries in Pasadena, which says a lot since Pasadena has definitely stepped up their bakery game. I visited Wairo twice and was impressed both times. The service is efficient, accommodating, and kind. The ambience of the store is super well-maintained and they have a clean bathroom. There are several tables inside and it's usually not too crowded. The drinks that I've tried were the Matcha banana, the black sesame latte, and the sakura latte. I would personally skip the sakura latte as it came off a little bit sour. They claim to have some strawberry in the latte and you can also taste the slightly artificial taste of cherry blossoms. This personally wasn't for me. The Matcha banana and the black sesame latte are both great drinks though! The tomato basil salt bread is super tasty! I think my favorite salt bread would have to be the cookie salt bread. They also have an awesome cinnamon roll - I'm usually not a big fan of cinnamon rolls because they're super sweet but Wairo uses a plain bread base and less frosting so it's the perfect balance!! The Smores danish was a standout too, a mini treat. The marshmallow is soft and toasted too. The Purin à la mode is photogenic and unique tasting. I'd highly recommend putting this bakery on your watchlist. They bake everything using Hokkaido flour and the ambiance of the cafe is super cozy and fun.
Delicious, my favorite was the cookie salt bread. Went during weekday 3pm, no line, almost closing, there is still quite a bit of pastry left, but the popular options are gone. Must order 6 pastries to get a box or else it's $1.50. Bread was good, it didn't really stand out. The employee was attentive, answered our question and was awesome. Order 6 baked goods and drink which came out to be $37. Ordered sesame latte, very sesame flavored. Strawberry matcha was average, though, it really delicious on a hot day. The cafe has plenty of seating. Onto the bread, super fresh. My favorite is the the salt and butter and curry pan. The curry has a lot of flavor. Overall, delicious bread and solid drinks.
There are so many inventive flavors, and the bread is so soft! Curry pan 5/5 - GET THIS!! The curry is flavorful and the panko crust is crispy. It's exactly what you want in a curry pan. Black sesame roll 4.5/5 - rich in black sesame flavor and surprisingly just the perfect sweetness. Tomato basil salt bread 3/5 - the bread was soft, but the filling was a little lacking. The service was quick and friendly. The interior feels very clean and modern. There's limited seating, so I wouldn't imagine bringing a laptop here. But it's a great spot to catch up with a friend.
TLDR: Cute Japanese bakery with savory/lightly sweet, soft, fluffy breads and several standouts--especially the hojicha milk cream, miso walnut roll, and s'mores Danish. Come earlier for a better selection, and plan ahead for parking. Wa-Iro is a small, charming Japanese bakery with a calm, inviting feel. I stop by about 30 minutes before closing, so the selection is more limited. I got 6 items: brioche, salt bread, lemon custard, miso walnut roll, s'mores Danish, and hojicha milk cream. Overall, the breads are soft, fluffy, and not overly sweet, which I really appreciate. The hojicha milk cream is especially good, with a rich roasted-tea flavor and balanced sweetness. The miso walnut roll and s'mores Danish are also easy reorders. The salt bread is their most popular item and has a very soft, fluffy interior, but it is just alright to me and does not stand out as much as the other pastries. Service is straightforward and pleasant, and the compact space feels cute and relaxed for a quick bakery stop. I plan to try the drinks next time. Parking in Pasadena can be a hassle, although there is metered street parking nearby; getting dropped off makes the visit much easier.
I love Japanese pastries! This bakery reminds me of the ones I ate in Japan. When I arrived, I was shocked to see a short line. Then shortly after ordering, the line was out the door. Boy was I lucky! Bakery is clean and has some seating but it's not very big. It got really crowded by the register area as there were many people waiting for their drinks. Ordering the pastries is quick but it took awhile for my sea salt matcha cold brew. Thankfully it was worth the wait. It was yummy! The pastries I ordered were delicious and very fresh. My favorite was the egg salad salt & butter. There was a good amount of egg salad and it went well with the bread. The matcha melon pan was good too. Overall yummy breads and solid drinks. Looking forward to coming back.
I was looking for something unique and not very sweet, and this place caught my eye. The hype is real. I came during the morning time in the middle of the week (since they close so early) and all the seats were full of people. Luckily there wasn't a line, but when I paid for my order, a line already had formed. I took advantage of my luck and ordered a box of savory pastries and a box of sweet pastries. I got their signature pastry - the salted butter bread - and it was..okay. I'll be honest I really liked everything else they offered more than their signature lol. Nothing was overly sweet, and my favorite pastries were the red bean mochi, the panini's were so good - especially the ham and pesto, as well as the spicy curry bun. I don't know if I'd wait in a long line for these pastries, but if I'm ever in the area, I'd definitely drop by again for their panini. Also I had not tried their drinks either. All servers were very friendly and parking can be found on the streets or in the parking garage across the street.
Wa-Iro is the latest place to draw long lines for their baked goods. As you know, this Diva ain't standing in line for nothing unless it involves fashion or booze. I happened to drive by just before they opened on the Friday before the July 4th weekend. There were only a few people out front, so I decided to give it a try. The staff have an assembly line system, so the line moves fairly quickly. The salt breads disappear fast but are replenished fresh out of the oven. Made with flour imported from Hokkaido, the salt breads are all the rage but I decided to try the cinnamon roll instead. Apparently, the specialty flour produces an extra fluffy bread. I could tell because the cinnamon roll was soft & fluffy and was artistically topped with a dollop of cream cheese icing that I spread to cover the top. It added the perfect touch of sweetness. The cinnamon roll was exceptionally good but I wouldn't stand in a long line for it. They also serve frothy matcha lattes & espresso-based beverages. *Metered street parking or $1 90-mins parking in the structure across the street.
Cute cafe, clean, great service, and the natural light in there is doing everything right. Very good bones. Husband got the sea salt matcha cold brew and loved it. I got the dirty black sesame latte and wanted more coffee flavor from her. She was pretty but she needed to commit. We got there late so pickings were slim and split a japanini and sausage panini. Both were fine! The sausage panini had arabiki sausage cut into pieces instead of whole which was a choice. A strange choice. But a choice nonetheless. Go early because the pastries sell out fast and I have a feeling I missed the best part. Will be returning to find out.
This place is 100% worth the wait! The pastries are so yummy and fresh and the drinks are so good and pretty! We got a few different pastries to try and the line moved pretty quickly, the staff was so nice and the inside is really charming! there's seats available so if you wanna eat inside you can. Definitely coming back to try as much as I can!
Wa-Iro Bakery brings a taste of Japan to Pasadena with an assortment of freshly baked breads and pastries. The space has a cozy, minimalist interior, though seating is quite limited, so we opted to take everything to go. Service was polite but fairly routine, without leaving much of an impression. **Takoyaki Pan: 2.5/5** I was especially excited to try this unique pastry, which playfully resembled an oversized takoyaki ball complete with the classic toppings. Inside was an actual piece of takoyaki, though it lacked the signature crispy exterior and instead had a mushy texture that blended too closely with the already soft bread. Unfortunately, it contained only a small amount of octopus, and the sauce was noticeably too salty, overpowering the other flavors. **Cheesy Jalapeño Panini: 3.5/5** This savory panini was simple but satisfying, with sliced jalapeños providing a gentle kick of heat without becoming overwhelming. The combination of toasted cheese and Japanese mayo added a touch of creaminess, especially after being warmed up. However, the bread was slightly dense and a little dry, and it could have benefited from a more generous amount of filling. **Curry Pan: 4/5** The Curry Pan featured a delicately crisp panko-coated exterior that gave way to a soft, pillowy interior. At its center was a rich, savory Japanese curry studded with tender cubed vegetables, creating a warm and comforting bite. While delicious as is, a spicy version would add another layer of depth and complexity to the flavor profile. **Honey Butter Toast: 2/5** This toast was a bit too over-the-top for my taste. A thick slab of butter made each bite uncomfortably heavy, while an excessive coating of honey made it overwhelmingly sweet, sticky, messy, and surprisingly difficult to bite into. Although the red bean filling was enjoyable on its own, it wasn't enough to offset the richness. **Purin à la Mode: 4/5** Easily one of the standout items we tried, this pastry showcased exceptionally soft, fluffy bread paired with a silky smooth custard filling reminiscent of flan. The visually stunning presentation was complete with a dollop of whipped cream and a bright maraschino cherry on top, while a small pipette of caramel sauce nestled into the cube-shaped bread added a fun finishing touch. **Chocolate Salt & Butter Roll: 3.5/5** Since Wa-Iro is known for its salt and butter rolls, I had high expectations for this variation. The chocolate filling complemented the salted butter, creating a pleasant balance of sweet and savory. However, I was disappointed that it lacked the signature golden, crispy bottom I typically look for in salt bread, keeping it from being particularly memorable. While Wa-Iro offers a creative selection of Japanese-inspired baked goods, the overall experience felt somewhat inconsistent. Although there were a few highlights, other items left me wanting a bit more in terms of execution. Given Pasadena's growing selection of excellent bakeries, I ultimately left feeling underwhelmed and would probably explore other nearby options before returning.
I tried Wa-Iro on 2 separate occasions and it is my favorite japanese bakery ever! So so so worth waiting for! GET THE SALT & BUTTER ROLL AND HONEY BUTTER RED BEAN TOAST!! The first time I went, it was on a Wednesday afternoon and I waited in line for about 15 minutes. The second time I went, it was at about 8:35 (35 minutes after open) on a Sunday morning and there was no line. Both times I went, the service was fast and the workers were always so, so friendly! I loved them shouting out fresh bread when pastries straight out of the oven were added to the lineup. There are limited seats there so I suggest bringing the pastries to go if you are able! FOOD TRIED: -Salt & Butter Roll -Chocolate Salt & Butter Roll -Egg Salad Salt & Butter Roll -Honey Butter Red Bean Toast -Yakisoba Panini -Japanini -Takoyaki Pan -Smores Danish -Matcha Mochi Anpan DRINKS TRIED: -Sakura Strawberry Latte -Sea Salt Matcha Cold Brew My favorites have been the Salt & Butter Roll (always gone for a reason - a classic and BEST when fresh!!) and the Honey & Butter Red Bean Toast! Can't wait to try the rest of the pastries and drinks!
The salt and butter rolls are a must have when stopping by Wa-Iro. Got to Wa-Iro a half hour after they opened on a weekend and there was a long line. There was limited space inside, which made it difficult to find a spot to stand around while waiting for my drink. I ordered: Mentai salt & butter roll - super soft and filled with roe. Lightly salted and didn't leave my hands oily at all. Matcha cold brew - I really liked the matcha foam, but could not say the same for the cold brew. The two did not mix well, and after mixing, you lose the matcha flavor from the foam.
I FEEL THE NEED TO write a review to defend whoever is saying this bakery is meh. This place is SO GOOD. The bread is fluffy and not too sweet. The flour is definitely better quality. I love Japanese food so so much because of the dedication to small details and mastery of the craft. To the people saying there's no flavor- MAYBE ALL baked goods don't need to be overly sweet??? And if you're complaining there isn't a selection that's your own fault for going too late- if you're disappointed go earlier LOL. I am guilty of clearing out their inventory when I go. My bread bill last week was almost $200 for my weekly trips as a "treat yourself" for working so hard. I literally look forward to going here every week! Their melon pans is the best I've had in the Us. I usually get the max 6 everytime I go- and have to deal with the annoyed looks behind me but WHATEVER I REFUSE TO SHARE WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD SON and I always get a few to share with family and friends. Their matcha melon pans is also good but i prefer the original. Other favorites - matcha red bean mochi bun- the mochi is soooo delicious I love this combo. The strawberry cream on a danish is so good- the milk they use for the cream is amazing. The white milk bread, curry pan, cinnamon roll are also good. The salt bread was just ok- surprisingly I thought I would like this the best. Matcha latte (I think) was just ok but the cold brew with matcha cream was fire. Service is ok- they move quickly- they sometimes seem kind of stressed and not so friendly but whatever just gimme my delicious bread I don't mind the service. I do think some of the workers are from Japan- so culture is just very different here. Shop is cute and clean- not a lot of seating and mini tables so more of a grab and go place. Street parking or the structure down the street. Also a cute little park across the street for kids. Only downside is some of the street smells like pee lol and be careful for some of the crazies
My girlfriend and I came by around mid day Saturday for a mini meal of bakery pastries, and coffee after shopping in the area. I was not expecting to fall in love on first bite the way I had here. When I was browsing around for local pastries prior to deciding I was intrigued and curious to try Japanese pastries as I don't believe I've had many experiences trying 'em before. When we were walking up to the bakery we saw there was line out the door and got in queue. That was a promising sign. While my girlfriend stood inside I did some recon to get an idea of what we might want. I was already salivating at their creative savory options and unique espresso menu. We ended up trying almost a dozen separate pastries mixed between sweet and salty options. It's safe to say to we were easily impressed by the quality of bread, traditional Japanese flavors featured in their different bites and brew. I loved my black sesame latte as well. It wasn't exactly a stinger coffee choice, but it was certainly delicious and not too sweet for me. I'd certainly plan on returning when in Pasadena again. I had only found out they were only open for a couple of weeks prior to my visit but from my experience I can see them being a cornerstone for pastries in the area. Their staff and presentation were quality and made our visit memorable. read more
24 days ago
WOWWWWWW I am so impressed with my experience here!! I got the curry pan, cinnamon roll, and iced latte. The curry pan was excellent. The curry was flavorful and delicious. The bread was a dream, it had a slight chewiness which I loved! Almost like a mochi chewiness but I loved it. The cinnamon roll was yummy, the frosting was very good. The iced latte was surprisingly amazing. I am sooo picky when it comes to my coffee, and this iced latte gets a double thumbs up from me. If you only want to order drinks, you can go straight to the register, I was told. Good to know. But I probably will always want to get a bread with the drink :-) Excellent experience, can't wait to return. Also, I didn't have to wait much at all when I came on a Saturday afternoon, I was surprised! read more
3 months ago
What a beautiful quiet chill bakery that's in the heart of Old Town Pasadena! The wait isn't too long after day 5 (30minutes). Just be aware of line cutters and just be patient. Order the matcha bolo bread, jalepeños salt butter bread, red bean butter bread, salt butter bread, and Purin a la mode. Ordered a hot matcha latte and it was delicious. Roughly the pastries are roughly 4-5 dollars. Spent about 30ish$. Definitely worth coming again read more
Dear Wa-iro, you had me at first bite. As my teeth sank into that crispy shell only to further sink into a pillowy soft center. My tongue tasted salty and sweet deliciousness. The cloud like texture was unbelievably melt in my mouth goodness. Lastly that buttery richness filled my senses and made me smile. Where have you been all my life? The salt & butter bread definitely lives up to the hype. You can definitely tell the quality of the ingredients and balanced flavors in every bite. The line moves pretty quickly and currently is only allowing 6 items per person. Definitely plan to get here early and wait. Parking is along the street or at the green street garage. It's a cozy spot but definitely plan to take your order to go as it can get crowded. The staff are friendly and kind. Bon appetit yelpers! read more
Newest bakery in Pasadena. The line was out the door. When we arrived around 11:30 am, there were prob 10 people ahead. By 12pm, one of the staffs came out to announce that they will be outta bread soon. We weren't part of the cutoff line so we stayed. There were only 3 or 4 options left when it was my turn. The salted breads were part of the new batch. Right when I got to the register, another different batch of bread came out. I m surprised that they didn't offer to those in line getting ready to pay. They headed straight to put the breads on the display. THEY SHOULD ASK since we all been waiting for breads!! Tried to call out to ask what kind of breads, but they walked by like no one was there. Service was really really slow. The staffs also looked worn out or something. Not to be mean, but they need to open up their ears. I get it that it could be loud there...however, I repeated myself like 5 times, but none of the staffs said anything. Basically all the customers behind me heard me lol maybe the staffs were too tired and chose to ignore...I dunno The breads were fresh. Salted breads were ok. The takoyaki exterior was too salty. The filling was somewhat bland. The square pastry was not bad, but also nothing special. The drinks were ok. A little more on the creamy/milky side. I would like to return to try the other breads. The savory ones looked good, but sadly they ran out of almost everything... read more
I've come here a few times now and have tried an assortment of things. The line moves kind of slowly so keep that in mind, and the inside has very limited seating. Personally, I don't think the Salt Bread is that great; and it's best while it's still fresh. My favorites so far have been the Curry Pan and their Fish Filet Panini. The curry flavor was perfect and I do like that it's vegetarian. Out of the few times I've come here I've only been able to get the Curry Pan once because it sells out quickly. I didn't expect to like the Fish Filet as much as I did, but it was perfectly balanced in flavors. I also really enjoyed their Cheesy Jalapeño Panini. I haven't particularly liked their sweet breads that I've tried, but I've enjoyed all of the savory ones! I also tried their Hojicha and was disappointed. It tasted more like milk and didn't have a strong Hojicha flavor, but they do have my favorite Koatji milk here! Overall experience has been great and the staff is lovely as well. Will continue to keep coming back to try new things! read more
New Japanese bakery on Old Town on Raymond Ave. Expect lines and a long wait time. Good service takes time and since there are so many options, people need time to peruse and decide what they want to buy! :) Staff are friendly and welcoming. When I went, there was a sign limiting the number of items one could buy (6) and no more than 4 salt and butter buns. The breads and pastries are incredibly fresh, bouncy, and soft. No vegan options that I saw, unfortunately. Good mix of sweet and savory. Some fun and creative options like the Purin a la Mode. My favorite was actual the simpler salt and butter buns: I tried both the original (plain) and red bean. The matcha pineapple bun was also good. I didn't like the honey butter toast. It was way too sweet for me and the slab of butter in it was overkill, but I'm not a butter fanatic. I like small amounts in some items, not on everything. I didn't order a drink but excited they offered Kaotji oat milk. Also, since they are baking throughout the day and there are so many people, they will run out of items. After I had paid for my box of pastries, they came out with a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls! Disappointing! The store itself has a decent amount of tables and seating. It's a welcoming, well designed space. I'll be back to get a latte with the Kaotji dairy alternative and a less sweet and buttery baked item, but will probably let the hype mellow out a bit first. read more
Visited Wa-Iro during their soft opening and there was already a line. It moves on the slower side but granted this was during the soft opening. The menu rotates as items sell out and new ones get introduced, so keep an eye on what others are ordering while you wait. I tried the salt and butter which was so simple but so delicious, the zoof, the bacon, and the japanini. I also got the premium matcha latte, which they sweeten with Monin simple syrup. As someone who is particular about matcha, I was genuinely impressed. They hand whisk every order and the matcha quality is excellent. All the pastries were dangerous, I had to pace myself not to finish it in one sitting. read more
Stopped in for a mid afternoon snack on a Sunday, and we saw the employees restocking various savory pastries. I tried the following: 3.5/5 Shumai Bun: Molded into a triangular shape, it looks more impressive than it tastes. It was like a non-soupy pan fried pork bun (sheng jian bao) with pork filling you may find in such a bun. 5/5 Matcha Melon Pan: The best melon pan I've had in any Japanese themed bakery or grocery store in the U.S. (so far). It was covered in crunchy sweet bits, and not too sweet, like a sugary version of Korean salt bread. The matcha flavor was there, and the bread under the crunch lent a nice chewiness that was as soft as a pillow. Very satisfying to bite into. There was some seating in the bakery, and I took a mental note of an intriguing square-shaped pastry I may try for next time. read more
I finally made it to Wa-Iro now that the initial hype has died down a bit. I used to love Okayama Kobo Bakery in Anaheim and Little Tokyo, but Wa-Iro is officially my new favorite. Every bite is fresh, soft, salty, buttery, and chewy. It's like stepping into salted bread heaven and never wanting to leave. We showed up on a recent Saturday around 8am and the line wasn't bad at all. The only thing that took a while, almost 15 minutes, was my hot hojicha latte, which is handmade by just one worker, while the cold drinks came out much faster. It was flavorful and delicious, but I really wanted to enjoy it alongside my bread rather than after. Something to keep in mind for next time. Don't sleep on the salted bread "cookie," which has a delicious crumbly bottom, or the green red bean mochi, which is amazing. read more
Salt bread in the 626! I love the salt bread craze that's taken over social media and coming in bakeries. I saw this spot on TikTok and finally decided to stop by after their grand opening. There's very minimal street parking available but we were able to find one that's 15 minutes since we were going to do a grab-n-go. Unfortunately, I know that they're still figuring things out but I would've loved seeing all their baked breads displayed in their display case out front. When we walked in, it was clear display cases with signs of what breads they might have or might not have. They do let you know how long you have to wait for the breads to come out and it took a few minutes but hey, fresh bread! I ended up getting 7 breads since you have to order 7 in order to get their box. The total came out to be $30. Food: Salt and Butter Bread (8/10): This was heavenly! The bread was soft and the salted butter melted through all the layers. The butter hole was there too! I do wish the top of the bread was more brown in color and the bottom was fried more from the butter. This was still a delicious tasting bread after a day. Salt and Butter w/ Chocolate (5/10): This one was interesting. I took a bite after I got into the car and I was disappointed that the chocolate wasn't melted at all. Maybe these were sitting for a while? I'm not sure but this one didn't hit the spot for me. read more
There's always a line, and they clearly haven't figured out the baking-to-waiting ratio yet. First visit was at 1PM -- big mistake. Everything was already sold out, we waited 45 minutes for nothing. Someone needs to do the math: if you know how fast your stock moves, you stop the line before people waste their time. Came back a second time at 10AM, which worked out better. Still grabbed a few things, though a lot of items were already gone, and some had a 30-minute wait even after you'd reached the front. That part's genuinely frustrating. We tried the Original, Cookie, Takoyaki, Jalapeño Cheese, and Ham & Cheese. The Original is basically a softer Shio Pan -- not bad, but it wasn't even warm, which was a letdown. The Cookie one was the clear standout: a sweet cookie layer on top that hits that perfect salty-sweet balance. The others were fine, just nothing memorable. Drinks selection is solid, I'll give them that. Overall though, between the wait times and the hit-or-miss availability, I don't see myself going back. read more
A very welcome to addition to the Pasadena bakery and coffee scene. I was not disappointed- the service, the bread, and the coffee were superb! Definitely coming back. I ordered a variety of savory pastries, salted bread, and a s'mores puff - all yummy. Coffee was perfection. Service from the staff - amazing. Parking is street or on the nearby parking structures. read more
4 months ago
My sister and I arrive on a Saturday morning 7:30am in early May to park in front of the bakery. There instagram mentioned of soft opening hours of 8am. So we arrived early and waited outside at 7:45am. We were first line and soon more people came after 8am. While waiting in line, the staff was placing more bread in the glass counter. The ambiance was nice and clean of small tables. There were cinnamon rolls, salt butter croissant, fish bun, Sui Mai bread, curry bread, bacon bun. Nice staff and the owner was helping us and explained some of the breads. My favorite was bacon bread and salt butter bread. As we're leaving, the line got longer. Nice addition in old Pasadena. Best to park at the school house parking lot for 1hr free. read more
3 months ago
Came for the hype and was not disappointed. Enjoy my banana cream Matcha. It was not too sweet and had the perfect balance. Got the regular soft bread as well as the salt bread with the red bean filling. I preferred the latter as the plain salt bread was a little too plain. It is also more of a Japanese milk bread soft texture rather than a flaky texture. We got a few more pastries to try as well. I really liked the takoyaki bread and the sausage bun. The Matcha mochi bun as well as the honey toast with red bean filling was just OK. Overall, really interesting selection of pastries. Will return again. read more
3 months ago
Would have given 5 stars without the 40 minutes wait LOL. And I am talking about the line being up to Blick Art only', as I have seen some people seeing line up to the street corner. Their servers delivered top-notch service though. Warm welcome and very helpful even they didn't seem fluent enough in English, which was so appreciated. Decent despite not many sit-down spaces to dine indoor. We got their Takoyaki, Curry Pan, Japanini, and Anpan/red bean salt bread. The takoyaki was literally the octopus ball in soft fluffy bread with the sauce itself being so flavorful. The curry pan had generous filling and rich seasoning; bit greasy for my liking but expected as it's indeed fried one. Love the Japanini with chunks of bacon and abundant melted cheese; so tasty especially when served warm. My top pick though was the sweet one - red bean. Their salt bread being so moist with nice milky touch was certainly the key, but the twist of sweet red bean paste with salty bread top created stellar duo. read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
What's not to love about this bakery & cafe? Forget the hype because it's cute, Japanese-inspired, and an influencer convinced you to come here, but instead focus on the quality of the goods. The flour that they use produces airy, soft pastries that does go stale quickly if you don't eat it within a small window of time, but it is the best when its fresh out of the oven. My favorites thus far have been their plain salt bread, shumai bun, and their french toast. Their sea salt foam cold brew and banana cream iced matcha latte are so good. Pro-tip: if you don't like overly sweetened drinks, get it without any sugar since the foam or cream topping has enough sugar in it to balance out the beverage. I've been here during their early soft-opening phase where there was a line to the Blick art supply store before their 8 a.m. opening time and then wrapped around the corner when I left. Today, while they are still in their soft-opening, is much more calm with a couple of people ahead of me around 8:45 a.m. I was told by the cashier that it's slowed down a bit and the best time to get here are on weekdays when they first open. Thank goodness I live walking distance from here. read more
6/24/2026 3 1/2 Stars DIRTY BLACK SESAME LATTE Creamy coffee, but coffee is not strong, pretty much watered down coffee. Also, coffee gets lost in the cream. The black sesame flavor is not strong either. You can taste it at first sip, but as you drink it, you can barely taste it. It did taste like hazelnut coffee, which I don't like. Wouldn't recommend. BANANA CREME MATCHA LATTE Fake banana flavor right off the bat. You can barely taste the matcha. It is drowned in cream and matcha flavor is not strong either. If I blind tested this drink, I would not think matcha was added in it. But yes, I would detect that fake banana flavor in there. Strangely, this was the slightly better drink than the Dirty Black Sesame Latte. However, I would not recommend this drink either! Both drinks were very disappointing and below average of what most coffee shops and bakeries would make for the price. Save your money and get your drinks elsewhere! Two things that really bothered me. 1) The carriage for drinks had no handle! How are you supposed to carry your drinks to your car? It was so uncomfortable carrying my drinks and making sure it will not spill! 2) The station where they had drink lids and straws at the front needs to be moved elsewhere! People pick up their drinks at the same place. Drinks are so close together and easily can spill. Very small space too. SALT & BUTTER This was really good! I did not eat it as is, but I reheated it in the toaster oven because it always tastes better that way! Warm and crispy on the outside, warm, and soft on the inside. You can taste the butter inside. Loved the sea salt on top! This tasted the same as Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe's Salt & Butter Roll! Minus the sea salt on top. SALT & BUTTER COOKIE It was good, but I think Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe did it better. They make it with a thicker cookie crust, which makes it stand out more. Wa-Iro's cookie crust melted on top and basically nonexistent. There were some on the side of the roll, so I got to taste some of it. It was a good flavor, just wish it wasn't melted and barely there. I recommend the Salt & Butter over this one. SAUSAGE PANINI Simple and straight-forward sausage and American cheese, maybe mustard in it and baked in a roll. Was craving a hot dog with bun, so I got it. The sausage was thinner than the usual hot dog sausage and had a good snap to it, which I liked. However, it is what it is. Nothing special about it. If they did serve it like a hot dog, I think I would have loved that. CURRY PAN This was a regular curry pan. Good curry flavor with vegetables in it. Not sure what's exactly in it, but I think potatoes and onions were in it, at the very least. Maybe carrots too. This was good and ate it after heating it up in the toaster oven. It tasted exactly the same as Okayama Kobo & Bakery making me think someone from their team opened their own bakery! Wish they had spicy curry pan, a little bit of spice is always better! HONEY BUTTER TOAST Toast was very, very sweet, drenched in butter and honey. The only good part is that you can really taste the honey and butter in the toast! The red bean is slightly sweetened and the cold sweet butter that was added to the toast was creamy. The toast itself was not crispy, but the edges were dense and difficult to bite into. The toast is very sticky from all that honey and butter. As you bite into it, butter oozes out, as it is drenched in butter and honey. So that can be unappetizing for some. I regretfully bought another one based off of another review that this was really good. I did reheat the second Honey Butter Toast in the toaster oven, but it was more difficult to eat because everything was more stickier, a bit more hardened than before, and the honey gets stuck to your teeth. Strangely, toast did not crisp up because it was drenched in butter and honey, so it came out more soggier than eating it as is! Based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend this toast. LOCATION Right next to Sato Ramen House, Blick Art Materials. Right across from Church of Scientology Pasadena. Wa-Iro sign is small, so make sure you look out for Sato Ramen House and Blick Art Materials. It is right between these two places! AMBIANCE / SEATS + TABLES It is a small bakery and it does feel crowded inside. There were indoor seats and tables, but it's small tables for two. It would seat about 12 people total. There's one outdoor wooden bench as well. One unisex bathroom available. CUSTOMER SERVICE Service was great! Staff was friendly! PARKING Parked at School House Garage on 33 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105. But there was a parking garage right across from Wa-Iro if you want to park closer. Based on my experience, not sure if I will return. Not many baked goods that intrigued me to return. It was also too similar to Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe and we don't need a copy of that. read more
pastries: we got the curry pan, salt & butter shiopan, tomato basil shiopan, matcha pan, fish fillet panini and sausage panini. all were pretty good and soft but my favorite was the fish fillet panini and matcha pan. there was still a good selection of all the pastries. service: line moves quick and staff are friendly. ambiance: can get pretty busy. we went on a weekday around 10:30a and it was pretty busy inside. there is some tables and two benches outside for seating. bathroom is pretty clean as well. parking: your typical old town pasadena parking so either metered street parking or nearby parking garages. we parked in the schoolhouse parking structure which is right across the street. read more
1 month ago
4 months ago
Visited on a Thursday morning around 9 am and there was a small line. Although the line was small, the wait was a little long as they only allow a certain amount of people inside. The staff is super friendly and the interior is very modern and spacious. Whenever a new batch of bread is brought out, the staff all yell "French bread". The woman who took my order was very happy and super friendly. Ordered a box of goods and a matcha latte with almond milk. The matcha latte was smooth and not overly sweet, although I did order half sweet. Salt & Butter Roll: so soft with a crispy bottom Honey Butter Toast: very sweet and surprisingly loved the addition of red bean Matcha Mochi Anpan: the dough tasted a little undercooked and was not that impressed with this one Sunrise: very good! The bun was soft but the top was crispy! Takoyaki Pan: such an interesting combo! Tasted exactly like a takoyaki! read more
This Japanese bakery's take on salt bread is airier & softer in the mouth than a Korean bakery's take but just as buttery and crispy with less emphasis on cream fillings and leaning toward savory. My salt bread was still slightly warm and had a crispy bottom! The Bacon danish was fine and less of a standout since it was super mild in flavor with a couple decorative bacon nubs on top. They announce "fresh bread" when restocking their display case. A tray of cool looking Takoyaki bread came out after I had bought my limit of 6 pastries for the day. Will be back to try that! The friendly staff are still getting their footing but they're eager and smiley toward the line of customers. There's a relaxing seating area with upholstered chairs and wood benches to enjoy your baked goods with an iced hojicha (it wasn't too sweet nor too strong) or matcha latte. read more
Came to check out Wa-Iro before their grand opening but they're still ironing out some details with soft opening. I arrived promptly at 7:55am to get in line as they open at 8am but sadly they didn't actually open their doors until 8:25am (not sure if they're trying to create a buzz with the line or what). The girl that helped me actually couldn't answer a lot of my questions (what's inside this bread, is it savory or sweet) as it was her first day at work. I got 6 breads - 3 of their salt breads (original, red bean, and jalapeño), their curry bun, ham panini, and shumai bun. The salt breads are where it's at for me - my favorite one was the red bean - it's not too sweet and has a great texture. My least favorite was the shumai (not memorable) and curry bun (very greasy). All the breads came out to under $30 - it's about $4-5 per bread and all of their signature drinks are $7. If you're in a rush in the morning, I wouldn't come here because the actual opening time is hard to gauge. Weekend lines seem long and I hear they tend to sell out before noon. They have seating indoors but only for parties of 2 and the tables are very limited. Theres also one gender neutral restroom. Parking is generous as it's on the corner of Old Town Pasadena - so lots of metered street parking or you can park and walk over from one of the garages. I actually came on Tuesday but nowhere said they were closed on Tuesdays until I saw it on their instagram story. They later added it to their instagram bio but still sucked that I had to make the drive twice. To be honest, it's yummy but I'll probably wait for the hype to die down before visiting again. read more
We originally came just to try their salt bread, but when we walked in, everything looked so good that we ended up leaving with a whole box of goodies. Our favorite was definitely the salt bread, and I loved that they offered so many unique flavors. We tried the curry pan, takoyaki, tomato basil salt bread, and the original salt bread, and everything was delicious. The coffee was also really good, and the employee helping us was so sweet and welcoming. Such a great spot, and I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the area! read more
Discovered this place after a Liverpool game (YNWA! ) at the bar across the street at 9:30am. Saw a line. My poor decision-making skills kicked in, so I waited 30 minutes for the privilege of... buying bread. It was a soft opening, so they kindly allowed us to purchase six whole items. Six pieces of bread. Not loaves--pieces. I've tried two so far, and neither made me want to write home, let alone wait half an hour again. It's good bread. But not good enough for 30 minutes of my time. Grabbed a matcha cream cold brew. It was too sweet for me, but that's on me--I drink unsweetened stuff like a bitter old wizard. The flavor itself isn't bad, just aggressively sweet for my zero-tolerance palate. Staff was nice. A little inexperienced, but they're trying. You can see the effort in their eyes. Like golden retrievers operating an espresso machine. Cute, but chaotic. read more
This place is still in its first soft opening week, so theres a rotation of items that dont show up every day or maybe later in the day including the takoyaki bun, the curry puffs, various red bean pastries, etc I like the japanini (egg, ham, some basil pesto) and the red bean butter toast. Everything here is pretty fresh, expect ~5$/item , 7$/drink read more
First time trying Wa Iro. Plenty of street parking in Old Town at 7:50am on a Saturday. Arrived about 8mins before opening and there were about 6-8 people in front of me (some invited their friends to join them in line so it grew by about 4 people before we got in). It took 30ish minutes to get through the line, order, and pay for/receive my pastries. Did not order drinks this time. Here's what I tried: Salt and Butter roll - this was the crowd favorite. Lightly crisp, salted exterior. Soft, butter flavored interior Honey Butter Toast - this was sweeter than I wanted it to be. The filling is a slab of butter and red bean paste. The exterior is crunchy and honey-coated Cheesy Jalapeño Panini - filling is exactly what it sounds like, though it's in a bun not a pressed panini. It's ok Sausage Panini - again not pressed like a panini, there's mayo and mustard under the sausage and cheese which I wasn't expecting. Also just ok for me. Spent about $25 on 6 pastries. Service was cheerful and welcoming. It was a touch slow but I think they were taking time to answer questions and offer suggestions. read more
6 days ago
The pastries are simply amazing. I want to try everything. The line is very long at 10 a.m. on a day off. read more
1 month ago
We just happened to be in the area and decided to stop in, and I'm so glad we did. The highlight was definitely the mentaiko salt bread. We got lucky because it had just come out of the oven, so it was warm, pillowy, and incredibly soft. I would've bought another one if I had room. The hojicha cream bread was also really good. There was a bit too much cream, but the bread itself won me over. It was light, fluffy, and had such an amazing texture. The only thing I'd skip next time is the fish filet pastry. It wasn't bad, but it was pretty forgettable and didn't really do the bakery justice. Definitely worth stopping by if you're nearby, and if you see the mentaiko salt bread coming out of the oven, don't think twice!! read more
One of my favorite bakeries in SoCal is Okayama Kobo, and I was intrigued to try this spot because the packaging and some of the breads look so similar. There wasn't too long of a wait when I went Sunday morning, and I ordered an assortment: salt bread, salt & butter mentai, red bean salt & butter, takoyaki bread, and honey butter toast. The staff member informed me that I could get a box if I got 6 breads but I didn't care for it, so they packaged each bread separately. Of all the breads I tried, the honey butter toast was so so good. I don't even like red bean, but the paste was smooth and the slab of butter on the crispy honey toast was chef's kiss and my new guilty pleasure. Probably way too many calories but totally worth it. The salt bread was good, but I wish it was warm. Overall, I would definitely return when in the area! I really wanted to try the pudding bread but it wasn't available, so there's always a next time. read more
We will definitely be stopping by here again. The salt bread here is absolutely delicious especially when fresh out of the oven. The staff was courteous and amenable. The space was clean and tastefully decorated. You also have the option to purchase frozen salt bread to enjoy at home. Be prepared to queue and wait. read more
WA-IRO is an authentic Japanese bakery and cafe located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. The bread is hand-made. They are using Hokkaido flour. S'more The bakery was superbusy even in early morning. It smells so fragrant inside. They have delicious varieties of fresh baked goodies, to mention a few: Japanini, the bacon, fish panini, cheesy Jalapeños panini, sausage panini, yakisoba panini, oyaki shumai, spicy curry pan, An-Hana, salt& butter tomato basil, salt & butter choco, cinnamon roll, s'more danish, honey butter toast and more. Their drink menu includes coffee and signature drinks. The bakery has a cozy and relaxing vibes. They have several table inside and restroom is available for customers.The staff were very nice. The service was efficient. I ordered the following: -2 salt & butter choco 5/5 -1 salt & butter cookie 5/5 -1 Tomato basil salt & butter roll 5/5 -1 fish fillet panini 5/5 - 1 sausage panini 5/5 - 1 curry pan 5/5 - 1 Matcha strawberry 5/5 -1 banana creme matcha latte 5/5 Everything was outstanding! The bread is so fluffy, flavorful, light and freshly baked. Their banana creme matcha latte is the best! I was really impressed; the quality, the freshness, the reasonable price and the collection of pastries. I will definitely go back very soon to try more of their delicious pastries WA-IRO is the BEST Bakery I have tried recently. read more
2 months ago
What a wonderful little bakery in Old Pasadena. Stop by for a quick treat and delicious drinks. All bakery items are very unique. read more
1 month ago
After I paid, the cashier literally tossed my bag of pastries at me I Let it go. Then I politely asked if I could get a small cup of milk on the side ( was happy to pay for it, and she asked, "What is this for?" My drink was just too sweet. When I explained, she replied, "Bring me your drink, I'll do it myself. It wasn't about the milk, it was the attitude. Really disappointing experience. I definitely won't be coming back. read more
Cute bakery but food was so-so. I ordered a Takoyaki bread (hilarious and cute looking but was too salty), a hojicha puff (very ugly but pretty good), and a salt and butter tomato basil bread. There was a 20 minute line around 11am on a Saturday. I do not recommend driving out specifically for this bakery but might be fine if you happen to be by in the area. read more
Came at a perfect time with hardly a line. They were still constantly baking so every so often, you'd hear the staff yell "fresh bread". We were lucky enough to get some fresh baked original salt & butter bread. Super yummy! Also tried the choco. Bought a few other items (some sweet and some savory). Everything was delicious. Premium matcha latte was spot on! Hubs ordered the cold dirty black sesame latte and that was delicious as well with just the right amount of sweetness. Staff was friendly and didn't hurry any customers (given the line that was forming outside), place was clean and spacious enough with ample seating and in and out customers. read more
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3 months ago
Wa-Iro - bakeries - Updated August 2026
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