Oakland's most-recognized pastry is the mochi muffin: glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and pandan, with a chewy bite. Bake Sum runs the city's version.
The mochi muffin originated at Third Culture Bakery in Berkeley in 2016, an Asian American take on the cupcake. Bake Sum opened in Oakland's Lake Merritt in 2021 and built its own version into a daily-sellout staple, alongside Spam musubi croissants and ube cookies. The pastry style is now a Bay Area Asian American canon.
3 editor picks for Bake Sum mochi muffin in Oakland, ranked by editorial score. All Oakland signature dishes · Bake Sum mochi muffin across every city.
Bake Sum ★ 4.5
lake-merritt · 3249 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Bake Sum on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt pours coffee with the city's most-loved Asian American pastry program. Mochi muffins, Spam musubi croissants.
Timeless Coffee and Bakery ★ 4.4
piedmont-avenue · 4252 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
Timeless Coffee on Piedmont Avenue runs a vegan bakery counter beside the in-house roaster. Pastries, cakes and chocolate, all plant-based, daily.
Sweet Bar Bakery ★ 4.3
uptown · 2355 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
Sweet Bar Bakery on Broadway in Uptown Oakland was the first artisan bakery in the neighborhood. Bacon-gorgonzola scones, gluten-free cupcakes.