Noe Valley Bakery

"Thanks to the model train in the window, we’ve walked by this Noe Valley spot a few times thinking it was a hobby shop even though it is in fact an awesome bakery. There’s usually a line, but the bread and pastries are worth it, and it gives you time to dream about starting your own service that’ll be the “Uber of bread delivery.” Whether you roll up to this one or their West Portal outpost, take a few of their not-too-tangy-not-too-sweet lemon tarts, any of their seasonal mini cupcakes, or a loaf of onion sesame bread to a birthday or dinner party, and you’ll be a hit." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"Noe Valley Bakery (with another location in West Portal) has been serving a long list of pastries and breads since 1995, including excellent pumpkin-centric items every fall. Among them are pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice cookies, and pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies. We suggest getting one of each, but if you’re avoiding gourd overload, prioritize the cheesecake and bread. The two-person cheesecake is light and airy, and the graham cracker crust has hints of spiced ginger. The loaf is springy and topped with cream cheese frosting. There’s no seating, but plenty of public benches right outside. " - ricky rodriguez, patrick wong, julia chen 1

"If you’re in charge of dessert this year, make sure to get a pie from Noe Valley Bakery. They’ve got everything from pumpkin or pecan pie to a pear frangipane tart. Order by November 20th here for pick-up before November 25th." - julia chen 1

"Noe Valley’s resident bakery has been serving the small children of 24th Street for more than 20 years, doing a steady business in mini cupcakes. The custom cakes are from scratch and reasonably priced, and the red velvet has a tender buttermilk crumb and tangy cream cheese frosting. The bakery also has some gluten-free options if that’s what you’re looking for." - Dianne de Guzman, Becky Duffett

"Noe Valley’s favorite neighborhood bakery celebrates the new year with all manner of freshly baked breads and sweets. Choose from plain, sesame, raisin, and poppyseed spiral challah or honey cakes, apple streusel cakes, apricot or raspberry hamantashen, coconut macaroons, and rugelach. The “once-a-year specialties,” per the bakery’s website, will be available between Thursday, September 19, through Saturday, October 12." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff