Great new Chinese bakery in Saint Paul! They had a wide variety of different buns when we arrived just slightly after opening - a number of both sweet and savory. You pick the buns out yourself on a tray before heading to check out. You can then choose to pack up your buns to go, or eat them at one of the tables in the cafe. They had a decent amount of seating for the size of the building. Checking out was a bit slow, but the staff were friendly and excited to have us try our buns. Our favorite was the chicken bbq - very flavorful with a soft, flaky exterior. The fresh soy milk was also delicious and a refreshing treat to go with the savory pastries. read more

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I was excited to try this new Asian bakery in town and was a little disappointed in the pineapple bun we got, it was a bit more stiff than I wanted but I liked the flavor and topping. I would give the bakeries a 3/4 and the soy milk a 5/5! I liked how the drink wasn't too sweet. There's ample parking as well which is always a plus in the cities. There's plenty of seating for a large group too read more

Great pastries, fast service and fun vibes. I definitely will be back to try some of the rice and noodle dishes!

I've been several times since they opened and I will be back several more! Their pastries are always top notch and there's always a good selection. The cafe is clean, cosy and inviting. The family that runs Zao has always been sweet and welcoming and I'm always happy to support them. My personal favorites are the egg and spam bun, the hot dog bun, pumpkin bun, anything with matcha custard, and the durian bun (a rare find though). read more

Went on a Sunday. Had to wait a bit for seating but so worth it. We sample many of the pastries. All were very good. Done perfectly. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I ordered the pork meatball congee. It was delicious and a very generous serving. I couldn't eat it all. I saw that the noodles dishes were very popular and will have to try them next time. read more

Shout out to Yelp who showed me this as a bakery option in the search engine. I'm not sure if I'm more pumped about this being in close proximity to my home or the fact that the buns were so good I am already planning my next visit. Zao Bakery operates primarily on a self-service model where you grab tongs and make your way through the pastry cabinet selecting all the goodies of choice. Each item is labeled very clearly including any dietary restrictions. Items range from pineapple buns to BBQ chicken buns. I got both and enjoyed the contrast of savory to sweet. In addition, I also ordered the Ginseng coffee which was excellent and perfectly sweet. Do note: if you order the coffee it is drip made so it takes a little longer and is 100% worth it. The ambiance is cozy filled with plants, bamboo style seats and large natural lightening from the windows. The cashier was extremely helpful and able to stay calm while fresh buns were brought in and out, delegating drink tickets and overall crowd management. I went around 10 am on a Saturday and it was packed. Surprisingly, many dine in. There is an entire separate menu of soups which I have photographed to help show the other side of this business. Yet another reason why I look forward to returning. Glad you are in the neighborhood, Zao Bakery! read more

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Well, yum. Had the wonton noodle soup. Delicious. The broth was perfect and the wonton soft with just enough chew. The staff helped us choose several pastries and they were all very good. Decided to purchase more to take home. The ambiance is bright and clean. read more

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Visited for the first time and was very impressed by the rich flavors and the beauty of the pastries and buns! We tried 6 of them and they're very delicious and filling. The hotdog flower was my favorite! Can't wait to come back to try their soups. read more

ZAO Bakery + Cafe - Hotdog Flower and BBQ Chicken & Curry Chicken Pastries - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The curry chicken bun and the chicken bao were delicious! They also have great drinks and I loved the coconut cloud coffee.

Zao has the best congee, amazing bao, delicious pastries, and great, friendly service. I love the atmosphere there, too--it's so bright and warm! read more

Food was great, chili oil was spicy and delicious. Service was very friendly and helpful. Quiet and clean environment with parking.

This place has great food, friendly staff, and good prices!! Will definitely be back soon!

Before we eat, fresh congee is good, but save the meat. The pork ball is old and expired, so it's not safe to eat. People prefer fresh food. read more

ZAO Bakery + Cafe - The congee with pork balls is old and tastes terrible. - Bakeries Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Zao Bakery has been on my list to visit since I caught news that it had opened last month. There is alleyway parking and side street parking. Main things they sell: buns/pastries, noodle soups, congee, drinks (and soy milk made from scratch). Bakery options (buns, baos, etc.) rotate on a regular basis. Bread is on point, nice and fluffy, with the right amount of chew. There is also ham sui gok options is perfectly done with the right amount of crispiness on the outside, and the right QQ with the glutinous rice, and the fillings go very well. Steamed bao are also airy and are perfectly QQ (way better bread compared to Ha Tien's baos, where the bread is insanely dense and not really proofed well and possibly doesn't use hot water dough). Standout pastries to get (to date): barbeque pork bun (flavor bomb), pineapple bun (probably the best I've had in the Midwest), steamed pork bao (filling is also very QQ as well, and reheats very well at home in a steamer), youtiao (the best I've had in the Midwest as well). Overall, though, you can't go wrong with the pastries. It's very hard to not walk out with one or two of everything. This is where I take a break and mention that the restaurant is run by a family whose parents are Chinese and Thai respectively. I suspect that the Thai side has some influence on the the noodle soup and congee. Portions for both are generous. The noodle soup broth is a little bit on the sweeter side in comparison to the typical HK style that the noodles soups would otherwise be. Meat selection comes with a side of vegetables. The congee is also garnished with cilantro, fried onion. Overall, I recommend the noodle soup and congee if you're looking for a hearty (but not too heavy) meal. I had the chicken congee, which included chicken oil/fat where the chicken is nicely tender and slightly salty. I've also had the roast pork noodle soup, which also has tender pork and the right amount of flavor. I recommend getting the youtaio to go with the congee for textural contrast. Also recommend adding chili garnish available at the tables to the soup and congee for extra kick. The drink that needs to be spotlighted is their soy milk. It's made from scratch. That's right. They make it the old fashioned way by soaking soybeans, blending it/pulverizing it, straining it, and cooking it. It's thick. Fresh batches every few days. None of the store stuff where it's almost always either too thin or all sorts of thickeners have been added (usually carageen and guar gum which ruins the flavor of the soy milk and the mouthfeel is still off). I've done it at home, and it's not easy. It's worth the $3.50-ish for the drink. Get it without sugar. No ice, if it's cold (and tip accordingly). Add a little bit of salt if it's hot. It's supposed to be slightly beany, but also thick and rich as well. I've looked for good soy milk in the Twin Cities for years and never found anything satisfactory. Now I've found it, and it gets very close to what you'd get if you were to go to Taiwan. Of note, the owners say that they do flavor it with pandan when they cook the soy milk, kind of the Asian version of vanilla. My preferences are more puritan with straight soy milk, but the Zao makes it so well, that I'm fine with the slight twist. Honestly, I'd buy it in half gallon containers, if they every decide to scale up the process. Yes, they make teas and milk teas as options, but I think the soy milk is the underrated star on their drink menu. Get the soy milk. It's not a health fad. Asians have been drinking it for centuries (if not millennia). Zao does it right. I find excuses to go out to get their breads and soy milk, and with Shuang Hur pretty much kitty corner, it's excuse enough. Yes, the bakery items are on the pricier side (about $4 per bun), but they are done so, so well. Go early for the freshest selections. Their selection runs out at the end of the day and gets a bit stale. They are also constantly looking to experiment to improve current items and also to try to bring new items up to the menu in the menu. I'm so excited for them. No disrespect to the new Keefer Court in Asian Mall in Eden Prairie. Honestly. But Zao is fills the hole when we lost Keefer Court on Cedar Ave. during the Pandemic. Zao is everything the new Keefer Court in Asia Mall in Eden Prairie wishes to be (and with the higher prices), but does it much, much better. 5/5 read more

The food was amazing! I got a sesame noodle bowl and the flavors were great and my husband got the beef noodle soup and loved it!

Wonderful family bakery/restaurant. Many Chinese pastry options, and large bowls of noodle soup or Congee with various ingredient options. Very clean and nicely decorated atmosphere. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Even remembered my name from my first visit. Beware, they are closed on Thursdays. I will return! read more

Very nice, clean, friendly service. I went there for the buns. Pork buns were gone by 10am, must be excellent. So I got taro buns and chicken buns. Pretty good. Also got two bowls of wonton noodles soup. Broth tasted toward the salty side, otherwise overall is pretty good. Prices aren't bad either. Will return for pork buns. read more

So so good and such friendly staff! We came late so they only had a few things left to pick from, but their chicken bun and pork bun are amazing... read more

This place is great. It reminds me of a bakery just down the street from me when I lived briefly in Hong Kong. The pineapple buns are wonderful and the bao are quite good. I tried the congee, too -- very nice, but maybe a bit salty. I can't wait to go back and try more baked goods and/or the soup. read more

The food was great! Service was excellent! We will definitely be back again. Parking was convenient.

Great buns! We've been so lacking in good buns since Keefer Court left the Twin Cities, so I'm thrilled to see this place open. I really enjoyed the pineapple cream cheese bun and the red bean. I would love to see more savory vegetarian buns in the future, and saw on their sign that they are planning to introduce more! I'll definitely return :) read more

Exceptional staff, baked goods, and ownership. 10/10 would recommend. Additionally, a vibrant and positive environment.

The food is delicious and all homemade- the pineapple bun is especially good! The staff are all so nice and sweet! The interior is really cute and good spot for a casual hangout! read more

Great food and beautiful ambience in the building! Tried the spicy pork congee anf the Thai tea and it was delicious! Local family restaurant with the kindest staff. Please go here!! read more

We tried three different times. One was at 12:40pm on a Saturday. One was around 10:40am on a Wednesday. One was at 09:00am on a Monday. Its a hit and miss with their buns, not enough varieties or always sold out. First impression when we first check it out, there was only two choices. As I was going to pay, another came out so I got to tried that. Second and Third time, they are not fully stocked and when you asked about it, it's an hour wait. One of the staff give us a card and tell us to call ahead to see what they have. It's unreasonable since their hours are from 9-5pm. They should have stuff there without customer have to call to see what they have in stock. Other than that, we do enjoy some of their buns and would like to see more. Staff are friendly. We just wish they are fully stock with their buns. So I don't think it will be my to go for Chinese Bakery due to not having enough varieties for us to choose from. read more