Sage French Cake & Coffee

A go to place for a dessert after lunch or a birthday cake for loved ones! Especially enjoy the Elby and strawberry shortcake, there’s texture, right amount of sweetness, and the freshness from the cream and fruits. Preorder in advance for round cakes, you will feel the warmth and delicacy the owner put into each cake!

Love this bakery, all the cakes are delicious. My favorites are the Elby, strawberry shortcake and the fruit tart. Friendly owner, but it seems it’s usually just him running the shop. Will rarely be able to get him on the phone if you call. All cakes need to be ordered days in advanced!

Passed by here plenty of times because of the japanese market next door. Stopped in by chance just to grab some coffee and wound up buying a slice of cake. Turns out this place is a hidden gem. Handmade cake and great espresso drinks for a much better value than you get for similar quality. A slice of handmade cake here is the same price as a cookie at panera, think about that for a second. They earned a regular customer whenever I stop by for groceries

This place has the most amazing fruit tart ever. I am not a fruit tart kind of person but here, it is made to perfection. When I fly home to see family and friends, I have so many requests for the fruit tart and have to fly it back home for everyone. Every single person I have given a tart to, loves it so much. Their carmel mousse is amazing as well. It's lighter and bittersweet. If you like a sweeter dessert, the Elby is very popular. This place has truly amazing handmade French style cakes.

I love Sage! This is my go-to dessert spot. Sage has been in the Convoy area for a very long time. Help support small business and support the owner. He is so nice. Go get the Elby! It's soo delicious! It’s a chocolate mousse cake and it is heavenly. It is decadent - a symphony of rich, velvety layers that melt in your mouth. Each layer unveils a masterpiece – a perfect balance of moist chocolate cake and heavenly chocolate mousse. The cake is dense yet surprisingly light, while the mousse is the epitome of silkiness. It's a dance of textures that leaves you craving each subsequent forkful. If you're a chocolate lover, this cake is your nirvana. The deep, intense chocolate flavor is a testament to the quality of cocoa used. It's not just a dessert; it's a chocolate celebration. The cake is not only a treat for the taste buds but also for the eyes. Impeccably crafted, each slice looks like it belongs in a gourmet magazine. It's almost too beautiful to devour – almost. The sweetness is spot-on. It's not overly sugary but hits that perfect note that satisfies your sweet cravings without overwhelming your palate. A dessert that knows how to balance its flavors. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a slice of luxury, this chocolate mousse cake is the answer. It's versatile enough to be the star at any gathering or a delightful solo indulgence. Pair it with a cup of coffee or a dollop of whipped cream – it elevates the experience. I pair it with mint tea! The cake's flavor profile complements various accompaniments, making each bite an adventure. I've been a regular patron, and what impresses me is the consistency. Every time I order this chocolate mousse cake, it's a symphony of flavors and textures, unwaveringly delightful. Sometimes I buy a few slices to save and eat a little bit during the week! Surprisingly the taste a few days later is just a good as the day it was made!! This cake transcends the realm of desserts; it's a memorable experience. From the first bite to the last lingering taste, it leaves an imprint that beckons you to come back for more. **Recommendation:** If you haven't experienced the joy of this chocolate mousse cake, try it! Treat yourself, celebrate life's victories, or simply indulge your chocolate cravings. This cake is more than a dessert; it's an exquisite journey for your taste buds. A definite must-try!

2 days ago, I pre-ordered a slice of each cake flavor and just picked up today! I knew how fast the cakes sell so I wanted to order ahead. Every slice was such an experience, my favorites are the caramel mousse, Japanese cheesecake, fruit tart, and tiramisu. The owner definitely has fine dining pastry experience; the flavors and textures marry so well. I suggest you pre-order at least 2 days in advance to guarantee you get what you want. You might be able to get away with pre-ordering the day before. I was thankful he had my slices packaged already in the fridge b/c there was a line, and I'd hate to make him feel rushed or keep anyone else waiting. Also peep the dry ice he includes, and this photo was taken 1 hr later b/c I had to do other errands. I love the quaint ambiance with classical music in the background. Would be a great study place if it weren't for the pandemic. Please support this small business established since 1995, especially during these hard times.So many great businesses were forced to close down; I hope to continue to support this one :)

Love coming here for cakes! Super fresh, light, and not too sweet at all! Service is fast & you can tell the owner cares about the quality of his cake!

I've been coming here for probably ten years now? The owner is soft spoken and polite, clean space. Best espresso I've ever had and the cakes? Definitely worth a try. Seiji-san blends French pastry techniques with Japanese flavors and the result is extraordinary. Never too sweet and always presented with such a refreshing feeling. The Elby is starting to become harder and harder to find but you can special order slices and entire cakes well ahead of time. Tiramisu, cheesecake, tarts, strawberry cake, you've gotta try them all! Please support this business, the owner has clearly dedicated his life to his craft! 💖

Hidden gem for sure. Espresso and Elby are exquisite. Don't pass this place up, it should be on the top of your list for French Bakeries.

Sage French Bakery is Japanese-French (I believe?) bakery in Convoy. I've always passed by it in the plaza but never actually stopped by until recently. I came here at around 3 pm on a weekend afternoon and understandably, a lot of the pastries were gone. I was really looking forward to trying the strawberry shortcake that they had but ended up getting the Mistral, which was $6. The cake itself was light and not too sweet, which I liked. The fruits were also really fresh. Only downside I noticed with the mistral was that the cake was relatively dry. Got the other pastries for some family and they said they were really good overall. I'll come back sometime to try their strawberry shortcake! Other thing is there is a $10 card minimum!

Randomly stumbled into this desert shop and I couldn't be happier about it! The shop itself is nothing special, and definitely didn't have any cute modern decorations or anything to attract young customers, but that's where most of the best desserts are found! They didn't have too many options like a regular bakery would have, but all the three items I got were very delicious. Nothing was too sweet or overwhelming, which was absolutely perfect for me!! Everything was reasonably priced around $4-5 as well. Sometimes all I want is a little treat and my regular places in SD can get boring overtime so I'm very glad to have found Sage French Cake!

2023/06/04 14:00 Japanese cafe with cute cakes and coffee - only take cash for orders under $10 - look forward to going back and trying some other desserts! Strawberry Shortcake ($5.25): sponge cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries - very light sponge cake, but it was a little dry - cream was refreshing, sweet but not too sweet - both the strawberry on top and the sliced strawberries were very fresh and sweet - little dollop of cream on the strawberry was different from the rest of the cream, it tasted richer

I really respect the man! Looks like he is a 1 man show. I purchased a whole elby cake for I think $29 and it was light and delicious. I look forward to trying his other cakes for future occasions. When I picked up the order, he told me it is very important to keep the cake in the fridge. I wish I would have known that in advance because I was going to be out and about all day :(

This is the place I stop by every time I go to Nijiya Market or Okan. The best strawberry short cake I had ever had in my life. Can't wait to order a birthday cake for my son in this year!

We ordered the Mont Blanc and the caramel mousse. Definitely prefer the Mont Blanc more, which is a chestnut flavored dessert and this version was different from the ones I've had in the past. Both cakes were not too sweet, which I prefer. Total came out to be $12.60ish for the 2 slices. There were a few small tables inside and it wasn't crowded at all. Note: There is a minimum $10 purchase for credit cards.

Delicious and thoughtfully prepared desserts. Japanese style means you can expect a delicate taste, nothing overpowering or too sweet, just right. I really loved the tiramisu and caramel mousse along with the fruit tart. This is a small shop in the same parking lot as Nijiya Market. Highly recommend giving it a try! I don't know of any other place in San Diego that makes Japanese style desserts like this!

Classic. The desserts have never lost the quality. Prices are still very reasonable. Been going since it first opened in 1995.

About $5 for a cake but they are rich and flavorful. They really gave attention to the detail and texture of these cakes. Will be a returning customer

Their desserts are so good and they are not too sweet! The Elby is my favorite. It's better to go there earlier since they run out of stuff, and what is on display is what is available.

Underrates Japanese-french cake shop run by a super friendly dude. Also serves coffee. Absolutely slaps.

I ordered a couple custom cakes for a birthday recently and received incredible responses from my friends who have tried the cakes. Highly recommend ordering from this location for delicious and light cakes for any occasion!

Such an amazing business! Ordered an 8" strawberry shortcake for my friend's birthday/bachelorette celebration and the staff here were so nice and communicative about when to arrive, how the cake would be, etc. I was calling in from the Bay Area about 3 days before our San Diego trip and needed to choose a cake for our special woman of the day! Super happy I stumbled upon Sage. The shop is a typical local bakery style shop - small and straight to the point, but when you come in, you know the staff have been putting in good work and quality effort into their craft. The ambiance here just showcases local business. The person helping me was an older Japanese man and he was an absolute joy to work with - he would ask about presentation and gave tips on how to upkeep the cake for the evening when we'd be celebrating. The cake itself was delicious, soft, and light! I'd come back again when I'm in the area!

10/10 I'm writing this review right in front of the place. Just finished my fruit tart slice, and gosh it was soo good. This is probably the best fruit tart I've ever had. What can I say??? The fruit pieces, the custard cream, the crust, everything was perfectly balanced! All my next birthday cakes will be ordered here from now on. There is only one man running this shop. According to other reviews, he is also the owner and the chef. He is usually inside the kitchen to work his magic. I heard he couldn't hire more staff because of the pandemic. So if you come in and see no one, be patient, take pictures, and he will come out to greet you soon. Also, make sure you get here early, at least before 2pm. I was here at 3pm and most of the slices were gone. Thank God there was still one last slice of fruit tart . I'll def be back tmr to try more flavors.

What a delicious cake. Fast turnaround and great customer service. Definitely will order from here again.

The deserts are delicious, service is very professional and polite, and the ambiance is Zen. I would have taken images of the food however the didn't last long and the review was an afterthought.

A beautiful shop, nice music and fantastic desserts. Really respect this old man who seems to run the shop alone. Highly recommend coming by. The cake is not too sweet, a perfect fit with coffee.

A very high quality Japanese bakery that makes great fruit tarts and cakes. This gem of a cake shop is my favorite in all of San Diego. The owner is a quiet, older man who runs everything single handedly and puts a lot of care into his cakes. Although I cannot say i recommend their coffee or the ambience of the shop, the cakes are truly the best!

I wanted to try this place for sometime now. Had the caramel cake and it was quite bitter. Not what I was expecting.

Amazing cakes that are full of flavor. I've tried them all, and they were all delicious. My favorite is the chocolate cake with caramel, it's absolutely stunning.

Always a one man show The owner baker cashier is always and only person I have seen in this dessert spot The cakes are all amazing my fave is the caramel mousse or the Elby I always stop by a pick up a cake or two everytime I am in the area I always order cakes here for special occasions and it's always a hit Totally a hidden gem

This small bakery has been here for a long time which means the cakes are excellent. They are light and not sickly sweet. I have yet to be disappointed with any of their cakes. I recently had their cheesecake which had a sponge-like consistency and was very delicious.

Glorious. Such professionalism, artistry, and YUM. Ordered a basic strawberry shortcake, and said nothing about decoration. I picked up a piece of art, handled with care. The cake was fluffy but had just the right amount of flavor, the whipped cream was fresh, and the strawberries were cut to the perfect size. A gentle, palate-cleansing sweetness; not the extraordinary, sickly-sweet that prevents you from finishing your portion.

The man who makes the cakes here exercises his craft because it's what he loves to do. He's not there to be your friend (since some people were commenting on his less than welcome reception)... He's there to make delicate cakes with fluffy cream.. with a balance in sweetness. I think COVID has hurt this business like many other small business owners. I remember coming here in the past where the selection was broad and lots to chose from. Coming back was a bit heart breaking. The man was all alone in the back just entranced in his craft.. in midst of setting a tart crust. Even though I walked in.. his focus was on the crust.. and he held up a silent hand that i understood to mean wait (which some might misinterpret as rude). I watched him dance around the kitchen in a well practiced movement. You could see his concentration .. and in that there's some honor of exercising passion for your life's work .. even if it's hard times. The glass case at the end of the day was almost bare.. showing signs that he made enough for what he believed he could sell for the day.. and so that there would not be much going to waste. There were only slices left of 4 varieties.. and I took one of each to go. I do appreciate the asian/ french baking where it's not too sweet or dense on flavors or textures. The fruit tart is impeccable. Lovey custard atop buttery crust. This is my favorite. The mistral (pink layered circle dessert) had a fluffy and delightfully tart pink mousse with moist cake. It's just the right amount of sweet and fresh fruit. Chocolate slice was heavenly and every chocolate lover's dream. The fresh fruit and cream cake also was delightful. Can never go wrong with that. All in all it's a business i do recommend and hope y'all on Yelp will support. There is an art to what he does and I deeply appreciate it. I don't know the story of this business but I'd love to hear where he was trained. It's yum and definitely one I would come back to.

Love this bakery, all the cakes are delicious. My favorites are the Elby, strawberry shortcake and the fruit tart. Friendly owner, but it seems it's usually just him running the shop. Will rarely be able to get him on the phone if you call. All cakes need to be ordered days in advanced!

This place is one of my favorite bakeries in San diego. The dedication and attention to detail is what makes their desserts perfect. Went in on a summer day for some pastries after having lunch next door. Owner placed some dried ice in our pastry boxes to ensure the heat didn't ruin our desserts. I appreciate the thoughtfulness. We bought one of everything. The fruit tart was perfect and so was the strawberry shortcake. Light, yet flavorful and satisfying. Thank you

Excellent cake, prompt service, clean establishment, will definitely come back again.

Sage Bakery has the best Japanese Fluffy and Light flavored Cakes! They have limited flavors, but they're all very delicious. Strawberry Shortcake feeds 3-4 people $26 Elby - chocolate flavoured kind of like tiramisu, it's $26 dollars as well! They have fruit tarts, tiramisu, mont blang, and a couple other flavors. $4-6 dollars per slices They also have tea and coffee! Drinks are around $2-5 dollars This is our favorite place to come visits Amazing prices and the best flavors as well! You can call ahead to order a cake in advance to ensure you can get a Cake! It can be for a birthday, Mother's Day, or just treat yourself cake! Parking is abundant for the most part.

Umm...i dont get it. The reviews seem off. This place seems average. 1/ the owner wasnt grumpy but quite nice 2/ the cakes tasted average--both the famous elby and the chocolate mousse cake...frankly, the elby was just an extra cream layer of the mousse cake 3/ when i asked which cake was the best, he said all were...usually a red flag, lol 4/ again, i dont get it

Love the pastries here. This place is a rare gem! Definitely recommend stopping by for a dessert after kbbq

I'm new to Yelp but i am not new to Sage Cake. Ive been a loyal customer for 12 years and this has been one of the greatest cake shops i've ever visited. Having lived in Japan for 10 years prior coming to America, I was looking for a place that could remind me of the desserts I yearned for. The man at Sage Cake did exactly that. The cakes are so delicate and delicious -- you can see how much effort and pride he puts into his cakes. Some people may have commented on his poor customer service but I think it may be due to a language barrier as well as his focus on creating the best desserts for you. I've spoken Japanese to him and he immediately lit up! The cakes are well priced, with slices being around $5-6 and whole cakes ranging from $30-50. Support this small business -- you really won't regret it :)

Limited options. There were maybe 6 options. The cake was kind of dry, but okay. Not bad. But there is better out there. When I was ordering my 4 year old began to touch part of some Christmas lights that were on a counter. (It was July at the time) The man stopped in the middle of the order, pointed at my son, and glared at me silently until I told my toddler to not touch the display. I had to guess what the man wanted from me while he just silently stood there. It was so strange. He frowned the entire time I ordered. You would think someone who runs a dessert store would be okay with kids wanting to eat cake too. Oh and the water cups are the same tiny cups you get at the dentist's office. So if you are a water drinker, bring your own bottle.

The best and highest quality cakes anywhere in San Diego! Made every day on the spot! Simply amazing ! Delicious

Sage French cakes are light and airy, so if that's your style, I recommend you try them. You can taste some enhanced flavoring in the cakes (artificial vs natural I'm not sure) which for the chocolate (elby) and tiramisu cakes, made it taste less good for me. I think their fruit cakes are good though. What makes them stand out is the right balance of sweetness, creaminess, and the very soft fluffy texture. The place is minimally decorated , so the ambience isn't the best. But I think most people who eat their cakes take them for to-go anyways.

If you don't order ahead of time, it's helpful to know that there are only individual slices for sale for walk-in. I ordered five individual little pastries to-go, for a luncheon the next day. EVERYTHING looked delicious, but I picked the tiramisu, caramel brûlée, mistral (raspberry mousse), strawberry shortcake, and the cheesecake. The owner/pastry chef even packaged for me with a little bit of dry ice to keep them cool during the transport home. 10 out of 10 for every pastry but my favorites were the brûlée and the mistral. Will definitely be back to order a whole cake and to try the other desserts as well.

First time ordering cake from this bake shop and definitely will not be the last. Ordered the elby cake and strawberry shortcake for Father's day and it was delicious, not too sweet. It's a cash only establishment so plan accordingly. Service is also great! Looks like a nice place to enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of one of their yummy cakes. Will surely try other options next time.

2 days ago, I pre-ordered a slice of each cake flavor and just picked up today! I knew how fast the cakes sell so I wanted to order ahead. Every slice was such an experience, my favorites are the caramel mousse, Japanese cheesecake, fruit tart, and tiramisu. The owner definitely has fine dining pastry experience; the flavors and textures marry so well. I suggest you pre-order at least 2 days in advance to guarantee you get what you want. You might be able to get away with pre-ordering the day before. I was thankful he had my slices packaged already in the fridge b/c there was a line, and I'd hate to make him feel rushed or keep anyone else waiting. Also peep the dry ice he includes, and this photo was taken 1 hr later b/c I had to do other errands. I love the quaint ambiance with classical music in the background. Would be a great study place if it weren't for the pandemic. Please support this small business established since 1995, especially during these hard times.So many great businesses were forced to close down; I hope to continue to support this one :)

Awesome Japanese bakery that my family had been visiting for more than a decade. Strongly recommend you try it out.

This is my absolute favorite Asian style French cakes. Not too sweet, moussey texture, goes well with tea or coffee. The chef seemed distant at first but that's when you know the cakes are GOOD He usually only sells a limited amount and sold by by 5 pm. Sometimes I come here too late and most cakes are gone or sometimes he closes earlier than his stated store hours. It is absolutely worth trying though. 10/10!!

I went in to pick up a cake but they are all pre order good thing i went in a day early! I think owner baker was the man who helped me. He was very direct but polite. I order the Elby cake for 10. I just picked it u. It was ready! Iam so excited for my girlfriends to try this cake since its my fave from this bakery. Parking was ample considering it was at 130pm.

So fluffy and delicious! Perfect sweet balance I went to pick it up and it was all ready l. Very punctual.

Elba is the best cake I've tasted. I tried the fruit tart and strawberry cake and both delicious as well.

The cakes are amazing at this place. There are unique flavors too. One of my favorite cake places in San Diego.

Japanese cakes are a special delicacy that doesn't compare to American cakes. I was so excited when I found this cake shop, because it had the exact single serving cake I was searching for for a birthday. The cake is very fluffy and the toppings are the perfect amount of sweetness. Nothing is overbearing and the fruit toppings are such a perfect balance. I've only gotten cakes to go but it looks like you can eat the desserts there and get a yummy drink - there are tables inside!

As soon as I walked in I felt rushed, the gentleman was working the register and assisting others. The bake goods lacked flavor and not much of a selection to pick from. Not sure if it was because it was late in the day and they don't refill items. I also ordered an ice coffee and the gentle literally got a cup poured cold brew in a cup and handed over no cream no sugar. Very unfriendly customer service.

I love this little bakery . The owner says that they get slower in the summer so please show them some love. A cute little corner place to get dessert that's a little lighter than your mango or somi somi on Convoy. I also don't like my desserts too sweet, so this is a great place for your 25-50% sweetness level people.

Local friend recommended this place. When i first walked in the store, honestly I hesitated, I guess I am kinda used to the modern and instagram style bakery stores. When I tried the cakes, it is a WOW. It has perfect moist texture and sweetness. I don't normally eat fruit tart but I enjoy it this time. Tiramisu and cheesecake mousse ( i think its this name) all taste fantastic. It's completely a hidden gem. But be aware, if u go there late, there may be only a few left. That's why the second time when i went, I called and preordered one of each flavor ;)

I came to Sage French Cake this past week with my friend and our college professor. My friend is a fan of Sage and she really wanted us to try this place out. The menu is simple and the dessert options are limited. My friend was raving about this sweet potato pie/cake? so we got one of those along with a cheesecake. The sweet potato dessert tasted a lot like flan or creme brulee to me. It tasted pretty good. Their cheesecake is less sweet compared to the typical cheesecake, it doesn't have as much cream cheese and it's more cake and cream. It reminds me a lot of the cheesecakes that you'd find at an Asian bakery like at 85 Degree or at Ranch 99. Overall it's a cute small dessert cafe. Not bad if you're craving something small and sweet.

Pre-ordered a birthday cake (Japanese style strawberry shortcake) for my daughter. It was cute and delicious! Plan to try other cakes next time!