Helms Design District
Shopping mall · Mid-City ·
Pastries, sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, ice cream, gifts
Pastries, sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, ice cream, gifts
"Set inside a historic Culver City building that housed a wholesale bakery from 1931 to 1969, this ambitious 14,000-square-foot daytime cafe, bakery, and shoppy-shop reopened on November 1, 2024 under chef Sang Yoon with executive chef Nanor Harboyan and head baker Jacob Fraijo, drawing crowds for impeccably laminated croissants at the coffee bar, sourdough country loaves nestled in wood baskets, and seasonal fruit tarts dotted with sliced figs and blueberries. From the back-corner deli counter, fried chicken emerged at 11 a.m., while a long refrigerated section held soft drinks, gimbap, and pints of Thrifty ice cream, and the center of the room displayed knick-knacks and other shelf-stable goods; heartier plates like pastrami sandwiches and chicken pot pie rounded out the menu. Conceived to bring back a beloved piece of Los Angeles history for Angelenos after nearly 12 years of delays, the Helms Bakery complex is now closing on December 14, 2025 amid the mounting challenges facing independent restaurants and shifting dining habits; a planned standalone restaurant, Dinette, has not come to fruition." - Rebecca Roland
"After 12 years of development, chef Sang Yoon (Father’s Office) finally opened the long-awaited Helms Bakery. With a team led by executive chef Nanor Harboyan and head baker Jacob Fraijo, Yoon reimagined the historical space into a new daytime cafe, bakery, and shoppy shop with plenty of pastries and bread, alongside heartier dishes like fried chicken, pastrami sandwiches, and chicken pot pie. Make sure to check out the freezer section, which is fully stacked with ice cream options, including pints from Thrifty." - Rebecca Roland
"“Now, that’s a bird!” said the lady next to us at Helms Bakery. She was talking about the giant crow on the patio, but she could’ve easily been referencing our rotisserie chicken, shining in the sun like char sui. The coriander-rubbed skin snaps away nicely, revealing moist meat beneath. This chicken doesn’t come with dipping sauce (or need one technically), but here’s a hack: Order the $20 half-chicken combo plate with two hot sides, and get the giant grilled artichoke with herby aioli dip. No offense to vegetables, but the dip was made for white meat." - brant cox
"After a 12-year delay, chef Sang Yoon of Father’s Office has finally opened the doors to Helms Bakery. Located on the site of a wholesale baking operation that was founded in 1931, Helms has brought new life into the space and some of Los Angeles’s best baked goods. Along one side of the expansive building, loaves of bread, cake, and croissants are on display. The other side offers pre-packaged warm and cold meals, including gimbap and a breakfast plate. But if in search of a full meal, head to the back for the deli-style counter that serves chicken pot pie, fried chicken, and more." - Rebecca Roland
"Sang Yoon’s decade-plus effort to open an all-day cafe and bakery has finally come to fruition, opening in November 2024 to big crowds that have mostly settled down. The idea is to offer fresh pastries, breads, and prepared foods throughout the morning and into lunch so that there’s always something new to enjoy. Most flavors will hew to classic American, touching on international influences here and there like gimbap. The sandwiches and hot plates are the best move for lunch, tender but thick-cut pastrami smoked in house and placed between two pieces of house-baked bread. Carb fans should raid the pastry area for sweet and savory specialties, like croissants and pies, to share at the table. Eating here is a real choose-your-own-adventure, potentially a little headspinning but that’s half the fun." - Matthew Kang
