Katy C.
Yelp
Shoutout to my foodie friend and fellow Elite Tiffany S. for recommending Ondo Bakery & Cafe! I was so excited upon walking in because it was just like the cafes we visited in Seoul! Very bright and airy, and way more spacious than I was expecting, with lots of seating for eating, studying, and hanging out with friends.
The pastries are self-serve, so after we took a look around, we grabbed a tray and some tongs and tried to restrain ourselves from picking every item we saw. They had a huge selection of sweet and savory pastries, so it was really tough to narrow down our selection. We picked a strawberry New York roll, an Earl Grey doughnut, and a matcha scone. Each item is labeled by name only, so it is a fun adventure if there's something unfamiliar.
Once you're ready, take your tray to the counter and order any drinks. I got the black sesame latte, iced at the employee's recommendation. Our drinks came out quickly and they arrange them alphabetically by name like they do at Starbucks (bonus points for taking my name). The black sesame latte was SO good - super creamy, nutty, and just the right level of sweet. I want to drink this every day.
The pastries were all delicious but my favorite was definitely the New York roll - it's basically a circular, filled croissant with some icing. It was crispy and flaky, sweet but not too sweet, and I want to try every flavor! (They had at least 8 different flavors.) Apparently this is a viral thing that started in NYC and I hope to see them make their way to GR!
It wasn't too crowded in the pastry area when we were there, but it was also during U of M's spring break. I could see it getting packed! I asked if this is a chain, and they said it's not - it is a local Korean owned business and they make all their pastries in house. Amazing! I loved this taste of Seoul right in Michigan and can't wait to stop in again next time I'm in town.