Sesame Tiny Bakery

I had Sesame a Tiny Bakery on my to-try list since forever! It looks so cute and I love the name of it, but I don't come to this area often, so I didn't get to try it ... that is until today! We came around 11:30AM or so (on a Saturday), and some of their items were already sold out for the day (I believe they open at 10AM). They have their own parking lot, so that's not something you'll need to worry about. Sesame a Tiny Bakery is a little hidden. Their entrance is located behind the parking lot, and through a little alleyway, where a few outdoor seating is available. But there are signs pointing you to their spot! Between my partner and I, we ordered a Walnut Financier, an Apple Frangipane Tart, Linzer Cookie, Plum Crumble Cookie, and a slice of the Kabocha Tea Cake! By the time we went, they had already ran out of their Sesame Butter Cookie, so I'm guessing that's a popular item! If that's what you want to try, make sure to go early. So since I haven't tried everything yet, I will only do a review for the items I've tried so far.1) Kabocha tea cake slice - This was amazing! It's so moist and a slice is pretty generous. It's as big or even bigger than the slices you get from Starbucks from what I remember, haha. I like the added pepitas on top for that slight added crunch. And the sprinkle of sugar on top makes the top the best part to eat! The edges were the best, but the middle is far from disappointment too. It's not too sweet, and not too heavy. Perfect breakfast item or midday snack!2) Plum Crumble Cookie - Such a unique cookie! It's naturally on the sweeter side thanks to the plum. It's a two biter cookie that would leave you craving for more. It doesn't look like your regular cookie, but it's definitely worth trying. My favorite part is the crumble parts of the cookie! I love that it's a bit jammy too. As far as service goes, their staff was really friendly. We had a nice conversation with her about the current menu selection and their collaboration with other shops (I think they partner with Song Tea in San Francisco). I like that they have flyers for local events, love seeing the support! I can't wait to try the rest of my goodies. Highly recommend this cute bakery!

I have been dying to go here forever and my friend finally took me! It was the most perfect sunny day to relax outside with the tea set:- Song red tea - nice and earthy- cookie assortment (adjustments made for my UNFORTUNATE walnut allergy) - the chocolate owl was adorable, and the mini tart and sesame cookie were buttery and crumbly and so yummy - raisin scone with jam - just love a good scone and fresh jam, that's all - the last part is supposed to be a cake, but I wasn't able to try it, again due to my allergy (although it sounded absolutely delicious - I tried my best to live vicariously through my friend). Marykate the baker was so sweet and made me a persimmon tart instead and it was so perfect (subtly sweet and paired with a cute dollop of fresh whipped cream) Now to just wait for the walnut menu to rotate out..!

We had the sesame cake slice, which was really excellent. The other reviews are not wrong in that this is cake is pricey at $8+ and the slice is small, but I think this is the reality of running a business nowadays. It is totally worth it as a special treat, and I will be back! Service was warm and friendly.

This bakery has been on my list to try! It's located in the more industrial area of Berkeley and there is only a few tables to sit at. I ordered one slice of cake. It was $8 a slice and the slice was SO tiny! Honestly I was a bit disappointed. I truly thought the slice would be a bit bigger based on a $8 slice. The cake was extremely lights and was not sickly sweet like typical cakes. It was refreshing for sure!I probably won't come back because of the cost but it was nice to try.

I went there at around 1:00 PM and they only had some cookies and apricot cake left so I recommend going early to try more things from the menu. I ordered the apricot cake a citrus shortbread cookie. The citrus shortbread was a bit dry and was not as citrusy as I expected so o give it a 7.5/10. The apricot cake is this almond chiffon cake base. The apricot tasted a bit tart and was strong, so I didn't enjoy it as much but it's still good (8/10). The best thing I had there was the complimentary slice of rhubarb almond chiffon cake to celebrate their one year anniversary. The almond cake was not dry at all. The cream is this super light cream and paired so well with the cake. The rhubarb didn't have much flavor. I would order this next time.

This was such a quaint and lovely experience. The Japanese woman at the front was so fun and kind and guided us through some of the menu items that ended up being delectable. My favorite was definitely the strawberry chiffon cake. I adore how thoughtful and handmade all of their branding is and how their menu is also seasonal!

Love this little cute shop tucked away in an industrial part of Berkeley. The food is more expensive than we expected. The cherry tart was $10! But the quality was AMAZING! I can feel the love of food from the owner in the first bite. Cherries and cream are both so fresh. The antique plates they use are really cute which add to a great experience.

Food - Droooooool. The most perfect cakes and pastries. I've been several times and order something different each time. I honestly cannot pick a favorite. Everything is delicious.Service - wow. For all the intricate work that is put into every single pastry this is such a well operated bakery. The line just moves along and whoever is at the register is always the friendliest. I can tell that everyone at the bakery is genuinely stoked on their menu. Ambiance - It really has tiny bakery vibes like you stumbled across a gem in a magical dream. The menu is hand-painted by the owner/baker and a lot of the artwork and displays are her work as well. Anything that is not her own work is thoughtfully and beautifully curated by her. Sometimes I go in just for the vibes when I'm in the area. Of course I end up getting a tasty treat, too. Haha

Thanks to a (Portland, OR!) friend, I finally found out about this lovely near-secret* little oasis. There's so much care in every detail, from the pastries and handwritten/drawn signs to the flowers and charming vintage tableware - and local, organic sourcing. A half hour in umbrella-shaded sun, with perfect scone, plum jam, and coffee, fully reset what had been a difficult morning. :-) Looking forward to next time and maybe a blood orange marmalade chiffon cake, or a class? (All the cakes - by slice or to pre-order whole - look amazing! As do Sesame's local partners...)* The entrance is actually on Parker St., just off/east of 7th, at the back of the little parking lot.

What a hidden gem! We ordered a custom cake and it was phenomenal. It was a delicious cake that incorporated seasonal fruits. The buckwheat chiffon base balanced out some sweetness of the blood orange marmalade and lemon curd. Everyone that tried this cake loved it. Placing a custom order was seamless--the customer service was reliable and smooth. The bakery is an adorable cozy spot not too far from Berkeley Bowl West. Plenty of parking and easy to find.