Bake Sum

Bake Sum is doing something genuinely special with pastries right now. This is a modern bakery built on Asian American influences, which means you're getting the precision of French viennoiserie technique mixed with flavors and inspirations that actually reflect the Bay Area around you. Everything is made from scratch, and the whole operation feels like it's coming from a place of real creativity rather than just following a playbook. They've earned the recognition as East Bay's best bakery, and once you've tasted what they're doing, that makes complete sense. What makes Bake Sum worth seeking out is the fact that these pastries manage to be both nostalgic and surprising at the same time. There's something fun and memorable about the whole experience, from the visual presentation to the actual flavors on your plate. You're not walking in expecting the same croissant you can get anywhere else. This is the place where pastry gets reimagined through a different cultural lens, and the result is something that feels fresh without being pretentious about it. The space on Grand Avenue has that straightforward bakery vibe where you can actually see what's in the case and grab whatever catches your eye. Whether you're stopping by for breakfast or picking something up for later, Bake Sum has the kind of selection that makes you want to try multiple things. This is the place you end up going back to, discovering something new each time.