These Are the Best Places for Baked Goodies in Town
We can buy ourselves flowers, but when it comes to flours, we’ll leave that to the pros. Listen, there’s few things better than a warm baked good first thing in the morning. A fresh, flakey croissant can solve most of your problems, and a hot coffee can solve the rest. Let’s talk grains, shall we? These Orange County bakeries are doing sweet, savory, salty and always a little sinful in all the right ways. Some spots are Newport staples; others are OC newbies, but these pastry pit stops are curing all of our breakfast cravings. Screw a baker’s dozen—we are going to give you 12 of the best bakeries in Orange County that are doing the wake and bake the right way.
Rye Goods
This place is all that and a slice of sourdough. Like every great success story, Rye Goods started in someone’s garage and has since expanded into three brick-and-mortar shops with countless other vendors vying to carry these beloved baked goods. What sets this shop apart is that they are working with freshly milled heritage grains, wild yeast and an 18-year-old rye sourdough culture that gives all of their pastries a little extra pizzazz. The backbone of this spot is its iconic morning buns, which are essentially a hot-girl cinnamon roll dipped in a sanding of sugar. Other fan favorites are the breakfast bagel, the almond croissant and the chocolate chip cookies. Don’t sleep on their display case items either! The nut butters, made in-house, will make you question your Jif loyalty, and the premade options are perfect when you’re on the go.
Locations: Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Tustin
Blackmarket Bakery
Blackmarket Bakery, located at The Camp in Costa Mesa, is all about creating fluffy, flaky and unforgettable treats for everyone in the family. Be sure to set aside enough time to properly peruse their endless inventory of sweet treats and tempting takeaways. What we love about Blackmarket is the motto: “If we can’t pronounce it, we don’t use it. If your grandmother wouldn’t bake with it, we won’t either.” Now those are words we can live by. They brew local coffee and are always trying to create that Hallmark moment of indulgence where you can just get lost in that bite and forget about all your troubles. The chocolate hazelnut twist is a must-try treat!
Location: Costa Mesa
Starbread
This is a story of a California family with five children trying to make ends meet and finding their niche in the world of pastries and pan dulces. Specializing in Filipino-style bread and pastries, Starbread will transport your taste buds to the tropical paradise of the Philippines. The aroma of their signature pandesal (soft bread rolls) and ensaymada (sweet, cheesy bread) is simply irresistible. With a cozy, homey ambiance, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a warm pastry and a cup of coffee. Plus, Starbread is a hop, skip and a 10-minute drive from Disneyland, so it’s a great pit stop after working up an appetite at the theme park!
Location: Anaheim
Pandor
If you don’t identify as a quiche person, Pandor will make you reconsider. This 17th Street spot is a bakery, sure, but their quiches are where it’s at—and that’s coming from a former quiche hater. They are making all of their own breads and baked goods in house and using them to make amazing dine-in and to-go eats. Their Instagram showcases their visually appealing treats that taste even better than they look. Pandor’s ambiance is akin to a Parisian bistro, and they feature seasonal specials regularly, which makes it a go-to spot for pastry lovers all year round.
Locations: Newport Beach, Orange, Irvine, Mission Viejo
Porto’s
Porto’s in Buena Park is a legendary Orange County bakery that has captured the hearts of Buena Park residents for generations. With Cuban heritage and a mouthwatering array of pastries, sandwiches and cakes, Porto’s is a must-visit. The bakery is always busy and bustling, reflecting the diverse and welcoming community it serves. You’ll likely have to wait in a line, but it’ll be well worth your time once you get your hands on fan favorites like the dulce de leche besitos and the cheese rolls. You can also take advantage of their bake-at-home kits to cook some refugiados (guava and cheese strudels) in the comfort of your own home!
Location: Buena Park
Sweet Jill’s Bakery
Sweet Jill’s Bakery in Seal Beach is a hidden gem that brings a touch of nostalgia to your taste buds. Specializing in classic American baked goods, this bakery is renowned for its specialty pies, cookies and cakes and has been around since founder Jill Pharis opened her bakery namesake in 1987. Her business was founded on the back of her famous cinnamon rolls (always request icing) and expanded into coffee cakes, bars and just about anything that has frosting. If you’re anything like us, you can always find an excuse to get yourself something sweet; this is the spot to satisfy that craving. Mere steps from the sand, we recommend taking your treat to go and enjoying it with views of the Seal Beach Pier and California coast.
Location: Seal Beach
Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café
Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe in Anaheim offers a fantastical fusion of Japanese and European baking styles. Their unique creations, from matcha-infused pastries to delicate European-style breads, are a testament to their culinary innovation. The modern and inviting cafe atmosphere provides the ideal setting to taste test their exquisite treats. All of their products are made with 100% Hokkaido flour with no additives and baked fresh daily. Their Kobokumas, filled with vanilla bean custard, are almost too cute to eat, and their Kurogoma Cubes are flaky like croissants and topped with black sesame cream. Pair any pastry with one of their delicious iced coffee creations!
Location: Anaheim
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FKN Bread
Prepare to be wowed at FKN Bread in San Juan Capistrano. This Orange County bakery is all about pushing the boundaries of traditional baking with innovative and mouthwatering creations. From savory stuffed croissants to indulgent danishes, they take pastry artistry to a whole new level. The quaint ambiance adds to the overall charm, making it a must-visit for pastry aficionados. And while you may think the name deserves to be bleeped, it’s actually inspired by the owner’s three boys: Finn, Kane and Nash—and it’s pronounced “eff, kay, en.” Be sure to score one of their sourdough cinnamon rolls, served with orange zest cream cheese frosting. Check out their Instagram for more edible inspiration.
Location: San Juan Capistrano
Chaupain Bakery
Chaupain Bakery specializes in delicate French pastries that are the best way to end any meal. With locations in Laguna Hills and San Clemente, this place is fusing together all different flavors for the perfect bite. We are big fans of their croissants (filled with strawberries and cream) and their seasonal fruit tarts. This family-run bakery is serving up breakfast and lunch and is open everyday from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Locations: Laguna Hills, San Clemente
C’est Si Bon
C’est Si Bon is a Newport Beach staple. If you haven’t heard of it, well, now you have. This place has been slinging some of the best sandwiches in town for decades and is also one of our favorite bakeries in Orange County to binge a bun or two at when nobody is watching. Their chocolate croissants are iconic—they have regulars lined up around the block to get their morning pastry fix. For $2, you can get a freshly brewed hot or iced coffee and take advantage of their coffee bar’s options to properly zhuzh up your morning brew. Take advantage of their open-air outdoor patio, which is always great for people-watching and planning your day.
Location: Newport Beach
Cream Pan Bakery
With three locations open seven days a week, Cream Pan is a French-style bakery with Japanese influences. They are known for their famous strawberry croissants, which are basically strawberry short cake in sandwich form. They also have savory options like their chicken katsu curry, which is a total flavor bomb of sweet, salt and spice wrapped up in a crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside nugget of deliciousness. Be sure to grab some of their fresh-baked breads before you leave!
Locations: Tustin, Lomita, Fountain Valley
OC Baking Company
OC Baking Company in Orange is a haven for bread lovers. With a commitment to using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, this bakery churns out artisanal bread that’s craved by troupes of Orange County natives. The charming rustic interior is only made better by the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread. From sourdough boules to handcrafted baguettes, their bread is a staple in many OC households and is ideal for sandwiches, toast or dipping into just about anything and everything.
Location: Orange
Born and raised near the Pacific Coast, Jordan Nishkian is a California girl through and through. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, and her favorite place to be is curled up in a comfy chair with a book in her hand and a pen in her hair.
