Arai Pastry

The Best Bakeries in Phoenix, Arizona | Eater Phoenix

"This unassuming strip mall shop near Fujiya Market quietly produces some of the Valley’s best Japanese-style baked goods. Arai specializes in shokupan — ultra-soft milk bread with a whisper of sweetness — along with featherlight strawberry cakes, matcha rolls, and red bean buns. The egg salad sandwich, layered between two thick slices of that signature bread, is quietly brilliant. Desserts lean subtle rather than sugary, with just enough sweetness to let the ingredients shine. There’s minimal seating, but a couple of tables make it easy to hang out over a slice of green tea cheesecake or a wedge of Japanese flan. The filled crepes, UFOs (melon pan), and one-off pastries tend to sell out early — basically, don’t sleep on the pastry case." - McConnell Quinn