85°C Bakery Cafe, a popular Taiwanese bakery chain, is opening an outpost in downtown Berkeley. Berkeleyside reports that it will open inside the former Viceroy Indian Restaurant and Copy Central at 21 Shattuck Square, after the building gets seismically upgraded and remodeled. Opening date is still TBD.
I’ve been to the 85°C in Hacienda Heights down in Southern California and will say that if you’re a fan of Asian pastries and bubble teas and coffees, you’re probably not going to be disappointed when this chain opens its doors. But be prepared for lines. Apparently, there are constant lines at the location in San Jose, so you’ll probably be queueing up at this Berkeley location, too. Still, it could be worth the wait if you’re a fan of freshly baked taro swirl bread, hotdog and cheese buns, coconut twists, raisin milk butter breads, and blueberry cream cheese buns.
Or, if you’re not into waiting in a line, you could always go to Sheng Kee Bakery, which also specializes in Taiwanese cakes and pastries. There are several locations in San Francisco, Daly City, Berkeley, and Richmond.
Photos via 85°C
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