Ebbie C.
Yelp
As someone who gets genuinely excited when a new bakery opens in Beverly Hills, especially with so many great coffee spots around. I'm always hopeful for a fresh place to pair a good pastry with a drink. I was particularly intrigued when I saw HiBake had opened, as I'm familiar with them from my frequent travels to Hong Kong.
One of the things I love about many Asian bakeries is their lighter touch when it comes to sugar. HiBake stays true to that tradition, which I appreciate. It makes the pastries feel less heavy and a bit more guilt-free.
The egg custard tarts come in several flavors and are enjoyable, but beyond that, the offerings start to fall flat. The much hyped Tokyo Banana Roll was a major letdown. It's essentially a banana with a light cream (which tasted artificial) wrapped in a bland sponge cake. At the price point, it felt more like a novelty than a truly satisfying dessert. It was awkward to eat, overpriced, and frankly, not something I'd recommend.
But what really dragged down the experience were the drinks. Unfortunately, they were some of the worst I've ever had. The dairy and matcha were low-quality bulk ingredients from Costco, and the flavors were off in every way. They clearly haven't figured out their beverage game, nor do they seem to understand the expectations of the local crowd, especially given the café competition in the area. After requesting remakes, both drinks still ended up in the trash after just one sip.
I truly hope to see improvements. The concept has potential, and it would be wonderful to have a bakery offering these unique items thrive in Beverly Hills. But for now, it's not a place I'd return to.