"The kalbijjim croissant from this Japan Center Mall bakery is filled with umami-packed short rib from Daeho, topped with mozzarella, and torched until charred. It’s savory-sweet perfection, and there’s nothing else like it in the city. This place also does other flawless Korean- and Japanese-inspired pastries, like the squishy butter mochi that has just the right touch of vanilla, seasonal kouign amann with sugary, golden-brown shells, and injeolmi croissants covered in stretchy rice cake. Grab one of each to go." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"This Japantown bakery is doing the most creative croissants in town, full stop. There’s the kalbijjim croissant, which is neatly stuffed with beef stew from nearby Daeho, topped with mozzarella, and torched. They also have an injeolmi version that’s dressed up with a layer of chewy rice cake, and round social media-friendly ones filled with sweet-tangy lemon curd and finished off with a smattering of sesame seeds. Order one of everything from the pastry case and eat your treats in nearby Peace Plaza, if you can get that far without inhaling the golden brown stunners immediately." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"The kalbijjim croissant from Jina Bakes will change your life. It’s stuffed with well-spiced short rib (made at Daeho), and topped with mozzarella cheese that's torched until bubbly and charred. It's just one of many examples that show off the Japantown bakery's pastry wizardy, and balanced flavors that typically involve a Japanese or Korean twist (never leave without a bag of butter mochi). Cream puffs are generously filled with hojicha or matcha cream, and perfectly stretchy injeolmi croissants are covered in chewy rice cake and roasted soybean powder." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"This modern bakery pulls sweet and savory pastries out of the oven six days a week. Expect a menu of Japanese-inspired baked goods such as the locally famous kalbijjim croissant, which comes topped with Korean spicy braised short ribs and melted mozzarella cheese. Other fan favorites include the injeolmi croissant, dusted in roasted soybean powder; matcha, black sesame, and hojicha-filled cream puffs; and slices of burnt Basque cheesecake." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The kalbijjim croissant from Jina Bakes will change your life. It’s stuffed with well-spiced short rib (made at Daeho), and topped with mozzarella cheese that's torched until bubbly and charred. It's just one of many examples that show off the Japantown bakery's pastry wizardy, and balanced flavors that typically involve a Japanese or Korean twist (never leave without a bag of butter mochi). Cream puffs are generously filled with hojicha or matcha cream, and perfectly stretchy injeolmi croissants are covered in chewy rice cake and roasted soybean powder." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong