Beard Papa

Dessert shop · San Diego

Beard Papa

Dessert shop · San Diego

3

7874 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

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Beard Papa by Helen I. Hwang
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Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
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Beard Papa by null
Beard Papa by null
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Highlights

Beard Papa's in La Jolla serves up fantastically fresh cream puffs with countless flavors, capturing the essence of Japanese sweetness since 1999.  

Featured in Eater
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7874 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

beardpapas.com
@beardpapaslajolla

$ · Menu

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7874 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

+1 858 900 2069
beardpapas.com
@beardpapaslajolla

$ · Menu

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Jul 6, 2025

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@eater

"If you’re looking for specialty cream puffs from Japan, this bakery group has found an abode on Girard Avenue in La Jolla after opening in San Diego for the second time. Started as a tiny shop in Osaka, Japan by Yuji Hirota (known around town for his recognizable fluffy white beard), there are now 400 stores in 15 countries. Their dessert is made of a double layer of choux pastry crowned with a sprinkling of crispy pie crust, with fillings made of ice cream or the original version, a mix of whipped cream and vanilla custard." - Helen I. Hwang, Candice Woo

22 Delightful Asian Dessert Spots in San Diego
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@eater

"After a short stint in National City more than a decade ago, Beard Papa’s is back. The famous dessert shop, which serves filled-to-order cream puffs, is returning to San Diego with a new location set to grand open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 26 in downtown La Jolla with specials for its first 100 customers. Going strong for over 20 years, the chain was launched in Japan by owner Yuji Hirota, whose snowy white beard served as inspiration for the brand’s name and cheery logo." - Candice Woo

Cream Puff Pro Beard Papa’s Opens New Location in La Jolla - Eater San Diego
View Postcard for Beard Papa
@eater

"A global Japanese bakery chain with more than 400 stores in 15 countries that built its empire on cream puffs is in construction on a storefront in downtown La Jolla. Beard Papa’s incoming shop on Girard Avenue is actually a return to San Diego; for a short time, the company operated a spot in the Westfield Plaza Bonita food court that shuttered back in 2009. Founded in Japan in 1999 by owner Yuji Hirota, whose own beard inspired the chain’s name and iconic logo, Beard Papa offers a menu based on cream puffs constructed from a double layer of choux pastry topped with bits of crispy pie crust. Customers can choose between the original shell or one with a chocolate, strawberry, honey butter, or green tea glaze while other puffs are crowned with crushed Oreos or toasted marshmallows. The filling, made of whipped cream and custard, comes in vanilla, chocolate, or green tea. When the new La Jolla store opens, it will likely carry a secret flavor exclusive to San Diego. There are also cream-based beverage versions of the puffs, as well as lattes, tea drinks, and other desserts like cheesecake and chocolate cake." - Candice Woo

Japanese Cream Puff Pro Beard Papa’s Opening in La Jolla - Eater San Diego
View Postcard for Beard Papa

Seon

Google
They were out of original so I got honey butter instead and it was so good. I got it with chocolate filling. Crust was very crunchy and had the right amount of saltiness+sweetness. Chocolate filling was also not too sweet but flavorful.

Elma

Google
If you're looking for a delicious and unique dessert, Beard Papa's is the place to go. They have a wide variety of cream puffs to choose from, with flavors like original, chocolate, green tea, and many more. The cream puffs are made fresh to order, and the filling is creamy and flavorful. The only downside is that the service can be slow. There is usually only one person working, and they have to handle everything from taking, This can lead to long wait times, especially during peak hours.

Brooke Halle

Google
We tried the honey butter puff with chocolate cream & the smore puff with cookies and oreo ice cream filling. The cream is light & not too sweet but I wasn’t a huge fan of the puff itself. It was crunchy hard on the outside and not too soft throughout, maybe thats how it’s supposed to be. If so, its not really for me then. We both left kinda meh about the snack in general. The young ladies working behind the counter got our puffs to us in a timely manner. They were a tad cold at first, talking amongst one another. Overall it was an okay experience.

Felicity

Google
I was pleasantly surprised to see Beard Papa in San Diego!!! Came here on a Saturday. Parking was hit or miss. Line was short. Service was great. Ordered a Macha eclair with vanilla filling and smore with chocolate filling. Both were very delicious. My only complaint is that the puff crust didn't taste as fresh as I expected.

Ronald Woody

Google
Purchased half a dozen original cream puffs with vanilla filling. The filling was great, but the puffs were a bit over cooked and tough.

Jeremiah Bonds

Google
So excited. This place is good. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of the pastries and the efficacy of the staff. They were also very nice and accommodating. The chocolate eclair with chocolate cream was my favorite but I tried original and matcha as well! All very good.

Karina Mikhalchuk

Google
So excited that this place is now open in San Diego! And what a great location! If you like puffs you will definitely like these. They are soooooooooo good! There are several flavours to try. And they have buy 5 get 1 free. So make sure to try the variety. They vary $3.60- $3:80 . Open at 10am so you can even have them for breakfast! Definitely coming back whenever we are in La Jolla

Danielle M

Google
Yum, I love cream puffs! I like all the different flavors they offer. You choose the shell and then the filling. I tried the green tea shell with vanilla filling and a plain shell with green tea filling. I'll try oreo next time.

Jennifer N.

Yelp
Located in downtown La Jolla, street parking. A small little place with all the shopping in the area. There was only one worker and he was nice. I was excited to hear they were coming to San Diego since I've had them in Los Angeles. Love me some cream puffs and these ones are one of my favorites. Their outer shell is not too soft, it still has a crunch to it but is not overly hard/chewy. They fill the puffs to order which helps with keeping that outer shell from getting soggy. They don't skimp on the filing and you can mix & match outer and inner flavors which is fun! Their original ones are pretty large, they also offer mini cream puffs. When I come I alway get the buy 5 get 1 free. So 6 for almost $22. I love the vanilla & matcha filling. The outer shells that are chocolate on the outer part (matcha, strawberry, chocolate), I like to take home and air fry for about 1min to soften the chocolate without hearing/meting the filling and it's oh sooo good! Crème brûlée and cookies&cream are always good. I have yet to try their limited edition Ube and ice cream fillings. Come earlier in the day if you can because they do run out of flavors.

Sam A.

Yelp
I'm not sure if they are under new management but I have been there before and did not experience the service as I did most recently. I placed my order and noticed one of the workers in the back seemed upset already as if she was inconvenienced that customers had entered (the place was empty). The gentlemen took my order. There was a bit of a language barrier with the gentlemen and I. So maybe I misunderstood or didn't place my order correctly. Once I received my order and noticed it was incorrect I asked if it can be corrected. The female worker in the back overheard me talking to the gentleman and says " NO I heard what you ordered you did not order that !" I was surprised by how angry she got . I offered to pay the extra amount if needed. She angrily took my pastry and added the ice cream. She was genuinely mad over it. I did not even give her pushed back and tried calming her down. This could have been handled completly different if her approach was different as I was willing to pay the extra and even agree that I may have misunderstood when I placed my order The ambience is a little off it's completely empty and bare the tables were not clean and they were not busy at all. I will likely not return to this place again as there are many other desert places in the area that will provide great service.

Luis F.

Yelp
stumbled here by chance and sometimes those are the best finds! These puffs are flakey, light, creamy and addicting!! I got 6 puffs ranging from original, cookies n creme and chocolate covered. So many options here for the filling, the chocolate and original vanilla were delicious. The times I do come here later in the day, place is empty but with limited selection. My guess is to come here right when they open for a wider selection. Looking forward to visiting again!

Ellie K.

Yelp
I was impressed the beard papa which was gifted from my client and I went back there yesterday, and still it was great! The person who was working there was very nice also! I am definitely coming back!!

Maria H.

Yelp
I have been going to Beard Papa's in LA for years, so I was excited to find out there was one in San Diego. Unfortunately this location really was lacking in cream puffs, literally. We went around 3:30pm on a Sunday and all they had left was 1 original puff, yes 1 puff, even though they are open till 8 pm. I understand some flavor options can sell out as you get closer to closing time, but they still had over 4 hours till closing. They were also out of some cream flavors. So you can say our visit was somewhat of disappointment after making the drive to La Jolla, looking for parking and only having one to choose from. We shared the original puff with vanilla cream. The good thing is that the cream puff itself makes up for the disappointment, cold cream filling and soft puff, with powered sugar sprinkled on top. I hope the staff can better control their inventory, as it's a mission to get down to La Jolla to this location. Also the trash can was overflowing with trash and tables were dirty which is kinda gross. Seems like they need more staff to attend to baking more cream puffs, keeping cream filled, and overall cleanness of location.

Lam B.

Yelp
Having I arrived 1.5 hours before closing, I was surprised to see almost everything sold out. Although the buy 5 get 1 option was still available, there wasn't even a solid variety for me to take advantage of this deal. There menu consisted of chocolate, green tea, honey & butter, strawberry, cookie crumble, s'mores and creme brulee cream puffs. After choosing the exterior, there was vanilla, chocolate, ube, green tea, cookies and cream, and vanilla ice cream as possible fillings. The creme brulee was an extra 20 cents above the others and resembled an open faced creme puff. The filling unfortunately didn't handle the toasted sugar well and became a mushy mess. The caramelized sugar wasn't noticeable so I recommend picking any other option. The green tea crust had better integrity and was still airy and crispy. However, the green tea top had minimal flavor. The classic crusts were filled thoroughly with creme and it was satisfying otherwise. The trash cans were filled and tables were dirty so I preferred to eat elsewhere. Service was minimal. The cream component was the only redeemable quality and I wouldn't return here otherwise. Considering their haggard state with several hours until closing, Beard Papa's should keep their quality up to par throughout the day.

Isabelle T.

Yelp
I came on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised it wasn't that busy at all! We ordered one cookies and cream one as well as three minis in matcha, ube, and vanilla. They were delicious and I haven't had anything like it before. However, they are pricey. I don't think I would come often or go out of my way to stop here though. It was very clean in there and there's some tables inside and some benches outside. The young blonde at the counter serving is wasn't the most friendly though, we had a few questions and asked for some recommendations but she wasn't super amiable and it felt like we were bothering her.

Sara A.

Yelp
I love this place. The shop is located in La Jolla and there's tons of street parking. I got really lucky and was able to park right up front. I usually find parking but sometimes have to walk a block or two. It's a colorful store and both times I've come, the people working have been very friendly. It's a cute little spot. Today was my second visit and it was just as delicious as I remembered. Each puff is about four dollars each, but it is absolutely 100% worth it. They have several different variations of cream, and puffs and they make them to order. I purchased the buy five get one free box and half-and-half of s'mores and Oreo with both vanilla and chocolate cream. They were so good and the group that I shared them with loved them as well! The drinks were buy one get one free so we ordered two of the strawberry watermelon juices. I loved the drink, it wasn't too sweet and so refreshing. They have disposable plates and forks for you to take if you want to enjoy them right away. We had ours packed to go. They wrapped each one for us and they were still perfectly beautiful when we ate them about an hour later. They're so fresh and very satisfying which is SO important for someone hooked on sweets like me. One is perfect, I'm full and my craving is met!! I will definitely be back, a lot.

Rose F.

Yelp
Strolling along the shops in La Jolla, I spotted cream puffs a few steps away and conveniently located near Peets Coffee shop. Since we were walking off our breakfast, there was room for dessert! I had recently had Beard Papas at a Yelpies event and wanted to try a new flavor. We purchased one Green Tea and one Creme Brule. They have many flavors to choose from, it was not an easy decision! Their pastry is so light and flakey, it simply perfect in every way! The shop was spacious and clean, the employees were really helpful and friendly. A+ in customer service!! I was tempted to buy a box of minis to take home, it's a good way to try and share with family and friends! You will enjoy this treat, try 'em and don't forget to tell 'em Rosemary sent ya!!

Anna N.

Yelp
I decided to come to beard papa's the other week because I had a strong craving for cream puffs. I couldn't stop wanting cream puffs and this was the only place I found that was opened after work for me. Parking is not too bad late on a weekday. There were a few spots in front. I did the buy 5 get 1 deal which was $24. My eyes were more hungry than my stomach. They're big cream puffs so I wouldn't have been able to eat all 6. I'd say a good serving per person would be 1 or 2 cream puffs. The lady working behind the counter was so nice. She recommended the honey butter shell which was good, but I liked the original shell the most since I don't like sweet things. The cream puffs were average and were a bit stale, but maybe that was because I came right before closing. These were not fresh when I came. My favorite fillings were the green tea and ube. I feel bad not giving this place 5 stars since I thought the service was good.

Javier B.

Yelp
Cream puffs from Japan 1. Pick a puff 2. Pick the cream Buy 5 get one free sale Double layer puff Public parking in the street La Jolla Filled at the order Small inside (2 tables) Crusty shell lots of filling

Faye L.

Yelp
There have been so many places that have on my bucket list there to try and Beard Papa's was one of them. We were in the area to walk around and decided to come here after a late lunch so i could try a cream puff. The place was empty that hot afternoon. One younger gentleman was working there. It was incredibly hot and stuffy inside. Me and the guy were both sweating when we spoke about how to order. You choose a cream puff, a filling, and then the guy goes to fridge to take out this heavy pump contraption to fill the puff. So I was surprised to see my puff was made to order. I chose the chocolate puff filled with Hazelnut chocolate. The total was about $5.50 after tip. The cream puff was thick and the chocolate glaze on top was also thick. The hazelnut was nicely cold. I'm not sure if the weather was just too hot but the cream puff didn't taste that great to me. I LOVE darker chocolate so I appreciated this semi-sweet topping BUT it was just too thick of a glaze topping for me that day. The hazelnut just tasted like pudding . My uncle didn't want to try any of it so I didn't manage to finish much of the puff. I'd return another time to perhaps try another flavor. Service was really nice so I hope they continue to do well at this La Jolla location.

Audrey C.

Yelp
I used to go to Beard Papas all the time in NYC so I was happy when they opened a location in La Jolla. The staff here are super friendly and greet you when I come in. There's also two tables for seating inside. Their cream puffs are a good size and have ample amount of filling. I'd suggest not eating this while eating and eating over a plate (that they provide at the counter)...I say this cos the filling easily oozes out all the time when you bite into the puff. Lol The puffs have a lil crisp to it but it's not hard to bite into. The filling isn't too sweet at all, which is great for me. My faves are the chocolate shells, green tea and strawberry. I usually combo them with vanilla, chocolate or green tea filling. The green tea filling has a strong green tea taste which I love. They also have mini cream puffs which are easier to eat!

Bea P.

Yelp
I've had Beard Papa's years ago in LA. It's nice to finally have one in SD and see how their menu has evolved. I ordered the winter melon milk tea and the strawberry filled strawberry cream puff. The winter melon milk tea was on the sweeter side even after reducing the sweetness level to 50% but was still delicious. The strawberry on strawberry was delicious as well and had the right amount of filling. I'm interested to try other cream puffs at the next visit.

Doria R.

Yelp
Best of the best!Creamiest and fluffiest cream puffs and always great service !Cant visit too often because I can feel my pants tightening from the first bite lol ,but what a delicious treat !!!!Always busy but always great service and always clean inside

Janette A.

Yelp
Last time I had yummy cream puffs were the ones from Costco. For all you non-Costco cardholders wanting cream puffs, this is the spot! I know downtown La Jolla is rough to pass because of the traffic and limited parking they have, but I was able to find good parking! I got the the s'mores with vanilla cream, original with ube cream, matcha with matcha cream, oreo with chocolate cream, ube with ube cream and strawberry with vanilla cream. My personal fave was the Oreo flavor with chocolate cream. Can't wait to come back and try more flavors. ⁣

Tim A.

Yelp
From Chicago, first time at Beard Papa's today. We saw "cream puffs" on the sign outside and decided to give it a try. We had the original cream puff (4/5) with vanilla cream filling. The outside was flaky and good, the inside was sweet and delicious. Not the best I've ever had, but enjoyable none the less. The store inside feels very large. We were the only ones inside (Monday around lunch time). Didn't get a strong vibe. I would say it's worth trying.

Saya H.

Yelp
I absolutely LOVE the cream puffs from Beard Papa's!! I loved the ones in LA so I am so happy it has opened in San Diego. We got the Crème Brûlée with Vanilla filling, Original with Matcha filling, and Original with Strawberry filling. They all had the perfect sweetness, and the shells were crunchy on the outside, soft in the inside. Matcha filling had a good bitter matcha flavor! Surprisingly, the crème brûlée shell was my favorite! It went really well with the vanilla filling. Parking was a hassle as expected from downtown La Jolla but definitely worth a stop if you are nearby!

Jenelle s.

Yelp
I love beard papa's! I always receive fast service when I come here. It's usually empty with tons of seats so I plan on earring my puffs inside the store. Note, they do sell out and close early! I like to order the chocolate covered puff with oreo ice cream, or the oreo puff with vanilla ice cream. The filling really takes it to the next level. The puffs themselves are soft with a nice icing on top.

Tammy N.

Yelp
I love cream puffs so I was excited to try Beard Papa's. Located in busy downtown La Jolla so parking was difficult. Ended up just paying for parking at the nearby parking structure. I got the matcha eclair with matcha filling and a strawberry eclair with strawberry filling. I didn't taste much matcha at all. But the strawberry filling is really good! I do like that they aren't too sweet. The eclair shells were just sitting out with no cover or anything. They were hard to bite into and stale. It would have tasted a lot better if they were fresher. Service is friendly. Some seating inside and this is a very spacious spot. Definitely worth a try but little disappointed this time!

Jane A.

Yelp
ECLAIRS aka CREAM PUFFS (5 stars) Japanese chain! Finally has a presence in La Jolla. First in San Diego county. - Food: yum - Service: good - Price: fair and affordable - Portion: filling Guilty confessions... I love Beard Papa's. I've taken Beard Papa's for granted as they have many locations in SF/BayArea and was so accustomed to having it around it wasn't as exciting because it was easily accessible but moving to SD there has been none until 2022! And now I'm appreciative to see it. My excitement got me all frazzled over these Japanese chain cream puffs. This tickled my sweet tooth! Pick your cream puff Pick your custard filling And Pay S'MORE WITH VANILLA CUSTARD ($3.90) - I love s'mores so this is always my go-to and I keep it basic with some vanilla custard. Honestly, the s'more is the same as the chocolate but has two roasted marshmallows on top. Overall, the cream puff it has the perfect light crunchy yet fluffy like a cloud and with the delicious cool custard oozing out. I literally could eat an entire box of these as my heart desires. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Will be back very very soon! JABA APPROVED. Until the next cream puff.

Audrey B.

Yelp
What an interesting concept. Custom cream puffs with cream OR ice cream inside. Different topping options as well. We got a few and they were so yummy. I really liked the vanilla cream filling with the creme brulee topping. The "beard papa" logo is cute and funny. There isn't much to the inside besides that. Just a couple of tables. I'd say it's better for takeout.

Nancy Z.

Yelp
What's not to like about cream puffs?? I got an ube cream puff (limited edition flavor!) with vanilla cream inside and it was ok. The ube does taste artificial and mostly of sugar but the vanilla cream and puff redeemed it. It's a small ish shop with a few tables and there's also a bench outside. The cream puffs are made and sits outside until you order them so the fillings are freshly added. The person that helped me gave off "this is a summer job and I don't wanna be here" vibes ‍ Good for a snack, nothing fancy.

Julie B.

Yelp
I wish beard papa was in a more convenient location for me but I'm glad I was able to stop by and give these cream puffs a try! They have a deal if for buy 5 get 1 free. I got 2 cookies n creme, matcha, strawberry, original and a creme brûlée one for ~$20! The size of these cream puffs are pretty hefty! They are so goood with the right amount of sweetness. Definitely worth a try!!

Andrew B.

Yelp
Custard filled pastry!? Ice Cream!!? Boba Teas!!!? Too much sweet stuff. I can't visit often while I want to maintain my martial arts physique. If you enjoy donuts, STOP! PUT IT DOWN! EAT JAPANESE CREAM PUFFS AS YOUR FINAL DESSERT!

Saleen D.

Yelp
Funny thing, I was just in Osaka last month & I did not see any Beard Papa's. & when I came into this store, they have a story on how Beard Papa's was created in Osaka. I am typically not a cream puffs girl, but these hit differently. They are huge, crispy shell outside, fluffy inside. They have different flavors of shells & then different flavors of cream. I really liked their Creme Brulee with Vanilla, mmm! They also serve bobas, teas, & other drinks.

Michele T.

Yelp
Needed a quick pick me up break, and haven't had Beard Papa for a while. Decided to stop for a sweet treat. The person behind the counter was very friendly and polite. Ordered the chocolate eclair with chocate filling- hubs fave. I ordered the Honey Butter with vanilla. Both were freshly made - crispy choux and not soggy at all. Not too sweet and they were the perfect snacks for a quick break.

Stefany C.

Yelp
Service was excellent. The worker was extremely friendly and helpful. All of the cream puffs we ate were delicious. My favorite was the ube Ube with ube custard :perfect amount of sweetness and taste Strawberry with vanilla custard: scrumptious Chocolate with chocolate custard: yummy Mini puffs: perfect size and filling

Vivek S.

Yelp
I visited this small shop following a craving for something novel and sweet. The inside wall of the shop displays the story behind Beard Papa's and it only piqued my curiosity further. I ordered the chocolate chocolate eclair with the vanilla filling. I was expecting a fluffy pastry as described in the story, but was disappointed to find the pastry to be hard and crunchy. The saving grace however was the filling - a blend of whipped and vanilla custard cream. We came to the shop late in the day, and perhaps the pastries would have been fresher if we had made the trip earlier. That being said, I did enjoy the cream puff and I would welcome the opportunity to give some of the other flavors a try!

Boris A.

Yelp
Love Beard Papa's. Great service. Addicting smell of freshly baked puffs! Tried four different flavored puffs with four different fillings. Amazing! Also love their Vietnamese coffee with Boba! This is our sweet-tooth stop every time we are in downtown La Jolla. So sweet and so good! Will definitely be back, again!

Christina R.

Yelp
Delicious! After lobster rolls around the corner, my friend insisted we pay a visit for dessert, lol! No line at 2:30 pm on Wednesday. However they were out of lemon filling, sadly enough. So I ordered: 1. Honey butter shell with vanilla fill 2. Lemon shell with vanilla Both were yummy with generous amounts of crème pat. I have made croquembouche after binge watching the Great British Bake-off and it is a pain. A heavenly pain, but it is so much easier just to go buy them! Usually $3.80 each, it's definitely a treat, but they do offer half a dozen with the sixth one free.

Julie B.

Yelp
These cream puffs are my new favorite dessert. They aren't too sweet & I love how the cream puffs are crunchy on the outside and soft inside with the yummy fillings. They fill the creams puffs right in front of you, so if you're in a hurry-it's better for you to call them in ahead of time. Sometimes there's only one person, so you'll have to be patient. Sometimes it's busy and sometimes it's not. You can eat inside the store where it's quiet.

Wai Y.

Yelp
I really enjoyed the crème puffs. Very flavorful, not too sweet. Washed it down with a taro milk tea with boba and that was the icing on the cake!

Tommie Z.

Yelp
On my way down to sushi restaurant, I walked this place. I was like, I'm not going to eat a lot cause I want to save some room in stomach for desert. I got done eating and walked back to my car & I did a quick stop at the desert spot. The place is cute & with some delicious puff sitting out for your quick. Right behind it is the cream, they fill up the puff. I grab mine to go, so I can have a big ass glass of milk, Netflix & just veg out

Krypton C.

Yelp
Food: Good place for sweets while in the area! We found the shell itself with good texture and a hefty amount of filling, no never a dry bite. Honey Butter with Vanilla Filling - favorite shell option, but the vanilla was bland Cookies n Creme with Strawberry Filling - cookie shell is good but with the sweet strawberry filling, it became too sweet Green Tea with Green Tea Filling - best filling in our opinion, so we got two haha Creme Brûlée with Vanilla Filling - decent combination, we recommend this shell as well Strawberry with Chocolate Filling - can't go wrong with a classic flavor combination Service: Friendly staff with great recommendations for flavor combinations. They also mentioned their "buy 5 get 1 free deal." Atmosphere: Nice area for a quick dessert! Yellow and vibrant interior, and a few tables and chairs for dine-in; that's okay because we prefer to eat our sweets by the water, a view of La Jolla nature.

Dung N.

Yelp
I've had Beard Papa's before, but not in San Diego! I was excited that they opened up a location in La Jolla. The first time I went, they ran out of almost all the flavors, but I was able to snag a cookies and cream shell with vanilla filling inside. The next time I went, I decided to go earlier, so I got a box of 6 and chose different flavors and fillings for each one. I got a creme brûlée, strawberry shell with green tea filling, s'mores shell with vanilla filing, green tea shell with chocolate filling, cookies and cream shell with vanilla filling, and a chocolate eclair with strawberry filling. I like how they fill up the shells with cream after you place your order, so it's fresh. They also torch the s'mores and creme brûlée shells as well. The fillings were so creamy and rich. My favorite shells were the s'mores, matcha, and chocolate. As for the filling, I liked the vanilla, chocolate, and green tea. Certain combos can be too sweet together, so I tend to go with the vanilla filling the most.

Sally M.

Yelp
We happened across Beard Papa's on a Saturday morning recently and decided to try a couple cream puffs to go. I was greeted right away and asked if I had any questions. I decided to try the creme brûlée and my husband got the chocolate eclair. We both opted for the vanilla filling. Service was quick and friendly and there wasn't a wait at all. We didn't eat our cream puffs right away and by the time we ate them, mine was a little soggy; the bottom was still crisp though. I think it was because mine was brûléed right before it was filled. My husband's wasn't too soggy. Next time, we'll make sure to eat them right away! Pricing averages ~$4/puff and they offer a special of buy 5 get 1 free.

Laura J.

Yelp
I got a matcha eclair with strawberry filling. I love the matcha strawberry combo and wanted to try it with the eclairs and I think it worked out wonderfully. The eclair itself was light and soft, matcha on top was a little on the sweeter side. The filling was very refreshing and had a rich taste of strawberries. I think it would be amazing if there were some strawberry bits inside. Overall it was a light and refreshing dessert. I think it would go amazing paired up with some iced coffee, on a hot day.

Aseel K.

Yelp
Best Thai drink ever!!! Their desserts are so good, the matcha flavored one is my favorite

Swan L.

Yelp
I've had Beard Papa in SF before and it's great to see that they have a location here in SD. I was a bit taken aback by the number of choices for the shell and filling at this location, my recollection of the times I've been to Beard Papa in SF were the simple original and chocolate shells with either vanilla or chocolate filling. Here I selected one of their special shells - honey and butter with the original vanilla filling. I saw a bunch of shells sitting ready on the counter for filling. Sure enough when I bit into my cream puff it was not as good as freshly made shells, almost a little stale tasting. I also didn't think the honey and butter shell stood out in terms of flavor. Service was also a little slow as they only had one person filling the puffs. Overall just ok.

Emmett T.

Yelp
Another Asian dessert chain has entered the San Diego market, this time in the village of La Jolla across the street from Catania. On Beard Papa's opening day last Saturday, the line was long. Actually, there were two lines, one from the sidewalk to the service counter to place an order, and another inside the store to wait for your cream puffs to be readied for pick up. Despite the high demand, I thought the staff did well to hold it together under such duress. The menu is not as extensive as the established locations in other cities, but that was understandable as they are trying to get up to speed as a new franchisee. Three of the eight shell types were being sold... Original, Chocolate Eclair, and Green Tea Eclair. The available fillings matched the shells... Vanilla, Chocolate, Green Tea. The prices were $3.60 or $3.80 each with a special promotion of buy five puffs, get one free. The free puff had to be an Original shell but could have any filling. About an hour into the first line, I reached the counter and ordered each of the three shells with each of the three fillings. I added an extra Original/Vanilla, Chocolate Eclair/Chocolate, and Green Tea Eclair/Green Tea to round out my quantity of a dozen. An order number was listed on the receipt, and it was going to take a while before my puffs would be ready so I left to get lunch and returned to the store 45 minutes later. After waiting another 15 minutes inside, my puffs were finally placed into two separate, bright yellow take-out boxes. I also scored a blue tote bag which was the surprise gift for the first 100 customers. The scent emanating from the boxes was quite pleasant. The flaky puffs were fresh and still warm after removal from the oven. Over the next several days, I tasted each of the flavor combinations in my stash. None of them were too sweet. The puffs that had an Original shell or a Vanilla filling were the best ones. The Green Tea Eclair had a fair amount of matcha powder so the green tea flavor was prominent. For the size of these baked goodies, the prices were appropriate.

Ryan M.

Yelp
Came here after dinner one evening closer to closing time, there were only 2 people ahead of me so very little wait time. By this time they were out of some of the fancier toppings like the oreo cookie and chocolate topped cream puffs. They still had the Original and creme brûlée and still had all the filling options of vanilla, chocolate and green tea creams. I got a chocolate and vanilla cream in the original shell. The shells are made that day and they fill them as you order them so theres a little wait as they fulfill each order. It's totally worth the wait because the shells are still crispy and the cream filling is delicious. The vanilla is what you expect nice and creamy but the chocolate has a very strong chocolate flavor that comes thru more than most other chocolate fillings. I've been to other locations in the past and they all seem to close after a few years. I know its a good product but they basically only have 1 item so it's not like you're gonna go out of your way just to get a cream puff all the time. I think if they had another complementary product it would help them stay in business, like gourmet coffee. Even if they didn't sell coffee themselves if they were to share the space with a high end roaster they'd get cross over traffic. Who wouldn't get a cream puff with their coffee, or vise versa? Symbiotic relationship. Staff was informative and friendly, the cream puffs were nice and crunchy on the outside and the cream was very flavorful. It's best to eat them shortly after you receive them so the shells are still fresh and haven't picked up any moisture from the filling. They were having special if you order 5 puffs you get 1 free, not sure if thats a forever thing or just an introductory thing.

Tania H.

Yelp
First time here! Such a cute store and story about Bearded Papa. Love the set up of creating your own cream puff with filling and shell. Definitely go during the day when they have more items available. We went around 6 and they ran out of most things. I had the Chocolate shell with green tea filling, and boy did it taste like pure green tea. Pretty good! Took an original home for later!

Jennifer A.

Yelp
Sooo excited that beardpapas just opened up in Lajolla Since 1999, Beard Papa's has been baking the world's best cream puffs. They began in Japan and are committed to bring you a pastry that is super oishii! (delicious!). Featured flavors Original vanilla Oreo crumble Chocolate eclair Green tea eclair Honey butter Strawberry eclair S'mores eclair Creme brule eclair It is all so yummy get everything

Akemi W.

Yelp
I haven't had Beard Papa's in a decade and I was worried that I had built it up in my mind to be better than the reality. They had their grand opening today, and I'm very happy to report that I have not! Their cream puffs are just as excellent as I remembered. The shells are fresh and since they don't fill them until you place your order, they're still perfectly crisp when you eat them. The filling is creamy and sweet, but not overwhelming. For their opening they only have plain shells or ones topped with chocolate or green tea. Fillings are vanilla, chocolate, and green tea. But don't worry! You're really not missing out on anything with the fancy flavors. The absolute best thing to order is the original shell with vanilla cream. It might seem plain, but simple really is the best. Try it for yourself and you'll see! Be prepared to wait. But the wait is worth it.

Niko A.

Yelp
Bearded papa is a spot that can fill your cream puff cravings. The are a large variety of flavors that you can choose from such as oreo to even creme brulee! The creme puffs are decently sized as well! I got the creme brulee creme puff and it was delicious with the hand torched sugary coating adding an amazing addition to its flavor. I would say that it is a little on the pricey side, but for the size, delicious flavors, and the amazing location, give it a try!

Calina N.

Yelp
Came on opening day. I know Beard papa's from Los Angeles so I was excited they were coming here! I usually get their plain cream puffs but i decided to try the buy 5 get 1 free deal and get 2 of each flavor. They only had chocolate, plain, and green tea at the time. I wish they put this business in convoy because i feel like it's a bold move to put this in la jolla and doesn't fit the demographics there but maybe because UCSD is nearby? It's kind of out of the way for me, i like their cream puffs but i dont know with the crowded parking and location if i want to drive all the way to la jolla just for this. The wait was pretty long for opening day but that is expected. I'm hoping to see more flavors soon!

Tammie W.

Yelp
I was stoked to find out that Beard Papa's opened a shop in La Jolla. The first time I had my joyous experience was in SF with friends. This time around, it was the hubby and I wandering aimlessly on empty stomachs. What did we find? A bright yellow storefront with a bearded man on the sign luring me in. If you've never been, the way to go is to order a 6-pack of minis with different fillings to try the vanilla, chocolate, green tea and ube. Then you go for the big boys and get a couple of those as well, so you can taste the different shells. I ordered the butter & honey shell and asked for the vanilla filling but light on the vanilla. I wanted more shell and less filling. My husband however wants all the filling, so he asked for a chocolate shell with heavy vanilla filling. Both were delicious. The cookies and cream shell was the most popular and had one remaining until they pulled out sheet pans full of warm shells. Drool.

Michelle N.

Yelp
How could anyone say no to delicious Cream Puffs?? I've heard lots of good things about Beard Papa's, and for them to open up a location here in San Diego is definitely a blessing - even if it's in La Jolla! - PARKING - Street parking! Downtown La Jolla will always be somewhat crowded, so be prepared to walk a block or two. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - A few small tables inside, but a nice walk along the street isn't bad either! Staff is very welcoming and friendly! Right now they're doing a Buy 5, Get 1 deal, so hurry in - not sure if this is a limited-time offer! - FOOD - Strawberry Shell + Strawberry Filling ($3.80): WOW. This has such a great Strawberry flavor without tasting artificial like other desserts usually do. I was honestly shocked at how much I enjoyed this since I'm usually content with Vanilla - I would highly recommend giving this a try! Amazing cream texture, even some small bits of Strawberry! Green Tea Shell + Green Tea Filling ($3.80): I'm a huge Green Tea/Matcha fan, so this was right up my alley. Really nice Tea flavor, I feel more similar to Matcha than a simple Green Tea. I do think the cream filling clumped up a bit in comparison to the Strawberry filling that was still super smooth. Creme Brulee ($4.00): Literally a Creme Brulee, but in Cream Puff form! The custard was so delicious, but I do wish the top was caramelized a bit more. However it's understandable if it can't get to the same texture since it's in a puff form. Original Shell + Vanilla Filling ($3.60): The OG. You can't go wrong with the tried and true, although I'm sure you'll have a fun time trying out all the other flavors they have in store! - OVERALL - Amazing dessert spot to pick up a quick treat. Definitely wish this was more centralized, but I'm willing to go through La Jolla traffic for Beard Papa's!

Sepi A.

Yelp
I'm giving 5 stars because the cream puff was very very fresh and delicious. The inside of the store was really warm...and to be honest, it smelled like wet dog, and I almost wanted to leave because of the smell alone, but I didn't want to knock down stars for that because I don't know what was causing it or if it's temporary. There were three people working behind the register which I think was a little excessive for how slow it was. You could hear them laughing and talking from outside of the store.... The staff were young and it wasn't busy, so they were just keeping themselves entertained...I get it, but there can sometimes be something off putting about employees being overly talkative and laughing when food is involved that causes some reservations when you're thinking about eating there. The cream puffs were about four dollars each, which I think was a great value because they were big and as I said before extremely fresh. I will definitely come back for more.