Ono Bakehouse - Berkeley
Ono Bakehouse
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Opened in late 2020, Ono Bakehouse is the creation of Desiree Valencia, a baker who grew up in Maui and has brought her unique take on Aloha to the Bay Area through her delicious baked goods. **The Good:** - **Pro Tip:** To ensure you get your goodies before they sell out, order and pay online through their website as soon as they open. The menu goes live every morning at 9 a.m. - Make sure to follow them on Instagram @ono.bakehouse to stay updated on their seasonal and special offerings. - The Berkshire Pork Sausage Buns were outstanding; with their buttery, crispy exterior and a tasty pork sausage filling, they made for a delightful combo. - The Chocolate Tahini Cookie was also a highlight! The chocolate flavor was rich without overpowering the subtle tahini and sesame notes in the cookie. The texture of the exterior was excellent, too. - Though the service was a bit clumsy, the staff were friendly. **The Meh:** - The Liliko'i (Passionfruit) Poundcake was just average. We found the flavor of the Liliko'i not bold enough, although the cake's texture was acceptable. - The Taro Pie had a nice crispy crust, but the Taro filling could have used a little more flavor. I know Taro isn't the strongest taste, but it could still have been punchier. - The stock can be unpredictable on a daily basis, making it hard to know what will be available. **The Ugly:** - We visited specifically for the Malasadas, only to find out they're only made on Fridays and Saturdays. Overall, this is a fantastic Hawaiian bakery with some delicious treats. We're looking forward to returning to try those Malasadas!
I am so thrilled that Ono is reopening! I have a couple of thoughts to share about their pastries and a recent pickup of the Queen Emma Sheet Cake. My absolute favorite is the taro pastry; it's simply delicious! The outer layer is wonderfully flaky, and the filling has a strong taro flavor without being overly sweet. My family absolutely loves the Queen Emma Sheet Cake, which I ordered for my sister’s birthday. It features layers of guava and other elements that aren’t too overwhelming. The sheet cake was $65, and the ordering process was very straightforward. We picked it up from the ghost kitchen in Oakland at 8 AM; there was a slight delay, but the staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating! Individual slices of the Queen Emma cake are $8 each, so getting the whole sheet cake is definitely a better deal. The bakery itself is small and cozy, and the team there is always so lovely!
The malasadas are just okay; they don’t quite compare to Leonard’s from Hawaii. However, the higher price makes sense given their limited availability in California. They’re about a third the size of a typical malasada, yet the price is similar. The dough was soft but a bit dry; I think they would be more moist if stored in a controlled environment instead of being exposed to the elements. On the bright side, the haupia pie was quite good!
Why did I decide to give this perfect Hawaiian gem in my neighborhood, only a year later moving around this block? No one will ever tell. Great pastries, absolutely loved the poundcake, and super friendly staff.
Oh my, Ono, why had I not noticed this compact Hawaiian bakery before? Well, its nondescript location on MLK Way is easy to miss, especially since their signage is barely visible. But more likely, I wasn't even that keen on Hawaiian baked goods until I was in Honolulu recently and inadvertently discovered Leonard's and their heavenly malasadas (review: bit.ly/3KYkRlC).The chef and owner is Desiree Valencia who was raised in Maui and earned her pedigree as a pastry chef in top Bay Area restaurants like Morimoto and Saison. In other words, she knows her stuff. Jamie W. and I finally came here at around 3PM. Sadly they were out of malasadas, and we were told they usually sell out of them by 11. Oh well, how could they be as good as Leonard's anyway? Several other delectables awaited.We bought a couple of the $5.75 Butter Mochi and decided to split the $4.50 Lilikoi Poundcake. Yep, now I had proof she knew her stuff. The butter mochi looked like large English muffins drenched in melted butter and coconut shavings (photo: bit.ly/3P5eZc3). Sinfully melty. The fluffy poundcake had a liberal layer of lilikoi icing on top sprinkled with poppyseeds (photo: bit.ly/3PaQcUg). Quite yummy.Weeks went by, and Jamie and I were chasing the 12 bus when we noticed we were walking by this bakery. It was around 3PM again, and based on the last visit, I just assumed they wouldn't have any malasadas. Lo and behold, they had a full variety neatly laid out in two rows on a baking tray. It was a sign from a higher power that life was good and worth living.They were $4 each, so we went to town two filled with Lilikoi, two filled with Coconut Custard, and one Plain all were dusted with sugar (photo: bit.ly/3qwNC0i). We just couldn't help ourselves, as memories of Leonard's flooded through our heads. Gratefully, Desiree and her staff have the chops to make them soft, pillowy, and packed with flavor that wasn't overly sweet. We felt the aloha breezes as we devoured them. Leonard would be proud.BAKED GOODS 5 stars...malasadas that'll make you do the hulaAMBIANCE 4 stars...pretty plain and clean and really no seatingSERVICE 4 stars...pretty much grab and go with no incidentTOTAL 5 stars...malasadas are donuts with the aloha spiritRELATED Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2CbVh8u
