Cream Pan, Japonaise Bakery

image via flickr

I sometimes miss living in Los Angeles because I am so far away from my favorite bakery, Porto's. Luckily, I think I have found a good substitute in Orange County - Cream Pan, Japonaise Bakery is a hidden treasure in a Tustin strip mall.

Cream Pan is a Los Angeles branch of Japanese Bakery in Boston, Massachusetts, which has maintained an excellent reputation for the past 18 years. Our motto, is to bake delicious bread using the best hand-selected ingredients.

When I arrived at Cream Pan for lunch there was a line, so I knew that there had to be some merit to the place if people were willing to wait. As I stood in line I looked at all their delightful goodies from a variety of quiches to croissants, it was hard for me to make a decision. I settled on their namesake, a Cream Pan (a type of cream puff) and a Strawberry Croissant. Both were delicious, I shared them with my son, but I have to admit it was hard to share, they were that good. The filling was a perfect blend of sweet and creamy surrounded by a perfect crust.

Did I mention they offer lunch? They have fresh soups, salads, and sandwiches. For those who want something different they have Chicken Katsu and Curry. Next time I visit I promise to not to just get dessert and let you know about their lunch menu, but for now I am still dreaming about their dessert.

xoxo, C