Tai Zhan

Businesses like Tai Zhan make me proud to shop local! This plant based bakery pop-up is a heartfelt operation slinging out flavorful and inventive sweet and savory treats. You can see the hard work and dedication on the owners’ faces when they serve you! My favorite is the coconut bun—the cream, coconut flakes, and density of the bun are perfectly done. I also enjoyed the hot dog bun on a recent visit. Definitely order a special menu item as they rotate every few weeks—I tried the mango mousse crox and it was phenomenal! That said, be prepared to wait in line when you visit the Saratoga shop. I waited about 70 minutes before I got my goods which can be tougher in the warmer months. It’s a small operation so things take time but since I think all their goods are tasty, I’d be fine getting their pre-order box! I live about 45 minutes away so can’t drop by easily but when I’m in the area I will make it a point to go back.

Plant based, vegan, micro bakery that has sweet and savory indulgences. Everything felt so fresh and straight out of the oven. It is buttery, crunchy, airy, flavorful, and delicious. Loved it! The savory ones take you down the memory lane. The sweet ones are sweet but not too sweet (unless you opt for the cream filled treats). This takeout only bakery is tiny, bustling with energy, and aromatic. I’d definitely visit again! This bakery is quite popular: we arrived 10 mins before it opened on a Saturday and there were 10 parties ahead of us, and by the time they opened at 11 am, there were 10 more.

CROISSANT PARADISE! I've been craving these flaky, buttery treats for years, but every place I looked for had eggs. These guys nailed it with their egg-free croissants! Perfect for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Trust me, you need to try them! The onion and cheese bun was also terrific and melts in the mouth!

I visited Tai Zhan on a Saturday afternoon after brunch, and by the time we arrived around noon, the line was already quite long. We ended up waiting for about an hour and a half—but it was worth it! Thankfully, there was still a good selection of breads and pastries available when we got to the front. We picked up the pineapple bun, eggless tart, green onion bun, and black sesame bun. Tai Zhan is a fully plant-based bakery, so the flavors and textures lean a little lighter—less buttery, less sweet—which is to be expected. That said, I really admire how they’ve recreated nostalgic Asian bakery flavors I grew up with in Taiwan, all in a plant-based way. Our favorite was hands down the green onion bun! We’re definitely planning to come back to try more items. Currently, they’re only open two days a week at the moment, so make sure to check their website or social media for the most up-to-date hours.

Amazing vegan hong kong style bakery. Open on a pop up basis, would love if they were open more consistently. Went to the pop up December 20, got there about 11:45 (they opened at 12pm), and the line was already two blocks long. Got our pastries around 1:45pm - they still had a quite a bit in stock but some items were sold out. If you have the time, definitely worth it to wait in line to get these pastries as they can be hard to find vegan. Heard other customers in line saying the line is not usually this long so may be different on different days. All the pastries were delicious. They taste very similar to a traditional hong kong style bread. Really liked the hot dog bun, focaccia pizza, and matcha bun. Also liked the eggless tart, though it did have a coconut taste.

Hands down the best vegan microbakery! They sell so many good things but I absolutely love the sesame bun! The owner couple are really nice people. They were closed for the summer to take the kids out camping. Now they are back open again. Things sell out quick so get there early.

Absolutely incredible vegan pastry place run by the nicest people. It’s not often I get to enjoy such quality baked goods as a vegan and I’m so grateful for bakeries like this! Highly recommend the strawberry croissant.

Everything tastes really good and you won't get such a wide variety of vegan pastries anywhere else. The lines are long but the preordering system is super convenient!

Yumm. I heard about Tai Zhan from a coworker who mentioned she'd come here especially for the vegan Hong Kong style breads and pastries. I've never had vegan Asian bakery goodies before so I was intrigued. We ended up visiting mid-afternoon on a Saturday when they were open. There were just 3 types of pastries left when we entered, but the lady in front of us grabbed most of them. We were lucky to snag one of the last remaining pineapple buns though. At $6 a pastry, these buns cost a pretty penny and definitely would qualify as a once in a while treat splurge for me. I was hoping to try some other flavors too and the "egg" tart, but guess that'll be further down the line :) The pineapple buns itself was MARVELOUS. I could not believe that it was completely vegan! It had the delicious buttery soft flavor and texture of Asian bakery buns. The pineapple topping was sweet and perfectly crumbly. It could totally pass as a normal non-vegan bakery buns! Super impressed with the texture and flavor. I hope to one day also try the egg tarts, green onion bread, and other buns. Great job Tai Zhan!

Love that there is a vegan bakery out here! Super cute location and all around the pastries were yummy. I like that it's only 1-2 groups at a time so you're not too crowded inside. Only feedback is that I wish they would warm up the pastries. We put our pizza bread in the air fryer when we got back and it was much better. They also cut down their hours quite a bit so make sure to check their website as it can fluctuate. I'd recommend the black sesame and cookies.

I was torn between two and three stars - and opted for three (it's a small business that's serving a need for vegan options, and it really isn't fair to compare a bakery using only plant-based ingredients with ones that can use animal products). But it definitely hit a few sour notes for me, and this isn't my standard flavor palate. Open only a few hours each week - and without online orders - but surprisingly busy on a Saturday afternoon. By 2 PM, there's fewer selections, and much of it is room temperature. As other reviewers noted, it's great if you're missing Chinese bakeries and are vegan. But for a curious passerby, it might be a skip.

We drove past quite a long line while we went to park for Darla Cafe. We thought, whatever this place is, it must be good! After finishing our brunch at Darla's, we thought we'd swing by and saw the line was still long, but not quite as long as when we first drove past. We got in line, which was just long enough where you could still see through the window to see there were quite a few pastries left, but as the line got shorter and shorter, so did our hopes of getting anything at all. I think the people behind us were getting the hint and some of them left, but we ended up being the 2nd to last. When we got to the front, all that were left were the egg tarts, about 6 of them. We ordered 3 and asked a few questions about how to reheat. What I presumed to be the owners were very nice, friendly, apologetic for running out early. Very interesting concept considering everything here is vegan. While they typically close at 4, I think we were out the door just a little after noon time. Well, I guess next time I'm in the Saratoga area, I know where to go first.

This place offers classic Chinese pastries, but all of them are plant-based! I'm not vegan myself, but I have some friends that are, so I wanted to check it out and share it with them. Honestly, the pastries taste pretty close to the real thing, so if you're vegan and miss those Chinese bakery favorites, this is the spot for you! They're only open on Saturdays for now, so I'm hoping they expand in the future. Overall, it's a cute little shop. Just keep in mind that, since it's plant-based, the prices are a bit higher.

Swung by for the cause and the photos -- would likely suggest the spot to a practicing vegan. Very pretty bread selection. I'll hold back from commenting on the food because it isn't fair to compare against our expectations for bakery with animal products-based ingredients. 30 minutes minimum wait since they are open 4 hours every week.

First heard of them when I saw them as a vendor for the San Jose Japantown Farmer's Market. By the time I got there that summer Sunday morning, they only had their pesto cheese croissant left. We bought 2 and enjoyed them. Fast forward to the Saturday after Halloween when I found myself in the area again. I arrived shortly after opening and there were only 2 other parties in front of me. Everything was beautifully arranged in their display case, and they were very patient with each customer as they had questions about the specials. I made myself only pick 5 as I knew that I would want everything. Our favorites were the green onion bun and the pumpkin almond croissant followed by the egg tart. The chocolate things were good but not as big of a wow effect. Since they are only open Saturdays it might be a while before I can make it back, but they are a delicious vegan baked good option!

Delicious vegan pastries and baked goods! We look forward to every Saturday afternoon to go her

Wendy and Keith are so awesome. I discovered Tai Zhan on IG. They're only open Sats 12-4pm. I try to come right at 12pm. There's street parking and also a parking lot behind the building. This place is my fave bakery. I love the chocolate chip cookies. They're pretty bomb for vegan. I've tried matcha bun, black sesame bun, hazelnut bun, pumpkin almond tart, chocolate custard tart, etc. There can be a line but it's def worth the wait! Keith and Wendy are so friendly with me. I like how they have the pastries are on display. I'm so happy you guys exist. I could eat these everyday! And after I eat them, I don't feel bad. They're not that sweet or too heavy for me.

We saw a long line outside, so decided to go inside and see what all the hype was about. We ordered a garlic butter bread and a pumpkin almond croissant. Both of the pastries were cold when he got them, which definitely tampered with the experience. TBH, the pastries did not impress me very much. All the pastries are vegan, which was nice. But the garlic butter, bread and croissant were both seeming to lack another dimension of flavor/texture. The croissant had a pumpkin pie, kind of filling inside, but the pumpkin flavor was so slight that it felt like it was kind of watered down? There is no seating indoors or outdoors, so you have to take it to go. But there's a lot of parking near the downtown Saratoga area. there was a wide variety of pastries, so I want to try something else in the future, but I wouldn't go for the two that we got today.

What a great find! Stumbled upon here to see the delicious pastries which reminds me of the Chinese bakeries but with a twist, plant based! First off, great little place with cute decor! Very simple and modern. Service was great! The person working was very nice and friendly. Ordered the green onion bun, garlic butter bun, and the rhubarb. It was delicious! Obviously it doesn't taste the same like your usual Chinese bakery but it was very tasty! The garlic butter truly melts in your mouth and it was warm as well. The green onion wasn't overpowering at all and the mayo or whatever it was complement the bun well! And to top it off was that rhubarb which I totally recommend. Great place!

I've tried a number of pastries from Tai Zhan since it's so close by. My husband and I agree that they bake really good stuff! Plus, it's vegan and they use organic ingredients and it's a small, family-owned business. Our favorites so far have been the chocolate chip cookie, kouign amann, and "pepperoni" pizza. The kouign amann really impresses me because it is tastes so rich and good, I would have never guessed it's vegan. I just picked up a slice of the pandan cake and will update my review after trying it! They also offered complimentary hot cocoa since it's a rainy day today. I really look forward to trying more of their items and hope others hear about it so they can expand their hours. Right now they are only open Saturdays from 10-3pm. You can preorder online or walk in as well.

Cute little micro-bakery for plant-based pastries! I have ordered from their pop-ups before and managed to navigate their Mid-Autumn Festival box with vegan moon cake, and this was my first time visiting the actual storefront! We have had several pastries from Tai Zhan, and my non-veg husband and I have enjoyed all of them. My husband's favorites have been the monkey bread and the pineapple bun, and I wish they had the moon cakes for order more frequently (or that you could get extra with the box), heh. I also really loved the mushroom BBQ bun and the strawberry rhubarb croissant I picked up while we were there, and there are so many more things I want to try! I wish they were closer to where I lived (although I might be several pounds heavier if that were the case). Also wish they were open more than just Saturdays, but you gotta respect the quality they pour into their goods, so I am happy enough with Saturday! It's a small bakery, so there's not really seating or anything, but you can pick up a box of goodies and snack on a few while strolling down the cute downtown area and shops (and maybe even pick up a coffee to go with it). We usually pick up some pastries for that Saturday and a couple for Sunday, as they keep well enough for about a day or two, depending on the pastry type and how you store it. They take credit, and the staff seems really friendly and happy to be there--I can't wait for my next visit!

One of the toughest things about going vegan is missing out on Chinese bakery staples like pineapple buns, scallion buns, sausage buns, egg tarts etc. Tai Zhan is the only bakery around to offer a wide selection of household favorites. It's a little pricey but it's a small price to pay for the ONLY bakery around to make your Chinese bakery treats dreams come true! I love that this is a family affair and that every pastry is was carefully tested and approved by family members before hitting the shop. Their "milk bread" base is just as I remember, and their "egg wash" really achieves the same look and texture as the conventional counterparts. What works out (for me) is that the egg wash isn't very eggy at all, which I really appreciate. be prepared to wait a little bit for your order, but the service here is always super nice. The patrons outside the shop are generally pretty nice folks too, so no worries about hangry/rude strangers at this spot! Pro tip: ARRIVE EARLY so you can get all the tasty treats in the quantity you want! They sell out very fast!

3.5 STARS If you grew up on Chinese bakeries, brace yourself.... You can't tell your parents how much Tai Zhan's baked goods are, or you'll have to...lie. "Ma, the dan tat is $1.70 not $7...when is the last time you got your eyes checked?" Ok, maybe not unless you want to get yelled at. Initially, I had sticker shock at Tai Zhan's but after thinking about it, I get it. They may the first plant-based Chinese Bakery brick and mortar shop in CA, maybe in the country? Plant-based eats is niche market so they're always more expensive. They require more R&D. Plus, if a pâtisserie can charge $7 for a tart, why can't a Chinese bakery? Lastly, you're supporting a small local business. Tai Zhan opened their first shop in Saratoga in late September. I never made it to their pop-ups so thank you, Dawn B. for this. While there's an abundance of Chinese bakeries in the city, I was very curious to try plant-based versions of HK/Cantonese classics (I'm not a vegan). They're open for takeout only on Saturdays (12 pm - 4 pm). No seating but there's plenty of benches on the street. M E N U HK/Cantonese baked goods and pastries: pineapple bun, green onion bun, coconut bun, hot dog bun, egg tart, etc. There's also French viennoiseries like croissants and kouign amann. Menu changes weekly. Prices: $6-$9. Love that the goods are packed in iconic pink boxes. B A K E D G O O D S ***Spread: https://tinyurl.com/5ce7hj3e * Coconut Cream Bun ($6) Fav of the four items and the one that tasted most like the real deal. Soft bao studded with sweet coconut flakes, generously filled with an airy, rich whipped cream. Not too sweet. Tastes like my childhood. * Pineapple Bun ($6) The bao was denser than the classic bolo bao but it's completely draped in a golden-brown crust. It's always about that sweet, buttery crumbly cookie crust! This one had the proper crunchy texture but drier, not as buttery with a slight coconut taste. Despite its name, there no pineapple in it. The name refers to the golden cross-hatched cookie crust that looks like a pineapple. * Hot Dog Bun ($6) I usually love hot dog buns but this one wasn't a successful vegan dupe. The bun was dry and the vegan sausage had that distinct flavor that I can't describe, you just know it's vegan. * Eggless Tart ($7) Sadly, it was my least fav item that left me craving the real dan tat. While the crust was flaky and crunchy, it was dry with a thin layer of custard that unexpectedly tasted like coconut. It was like 80/20 crust:custard ratio. Maybe it was an off-batch? S E R V I C E Friendly and prompt service with only two customers in front of me around lunchtime. A M B I A N C E Takeout only operation with the goods nicely displayed in a glass case. P A R K I N G Street parking. Overall, while not everything I tried was a hit, I appreciate businesses like Tai Zhan bringing their HK/Cantonese baked goods to the South Bay where there are very few locally owned Chinese bakeries. Def worth stopping by if you're in the area to see if it hits for you.

Cute little bakeshop that has amazing vegan breads. The egg custard tart has the best crust ever!! I wish they were open other days. Currently only open on Saturday mornings. The lines are long but go at a decent speed. Recommend to go at least 15mins before they open. I'll definitely be back here.

Love Tai Zhan Bakery! They used to be a pop up, but now are a full blown bakery as of today! All their pastries are vegan, but executed so well you cannot tell the difference. While I love all their items, one of my favorites is their green onion bun. The bun is so well flavored and topped with yummy green onions. Super excited for future return visits to explore their expanded menu over time. Currently they are doing preorders via their website and weekends only. Said they will expand hours and dates as time goes on. Owners were onsite handing out preorders today and were kind enough to explain any menu items to us.

Check out Tai Zhan for tasty, plant based treats! I had the chance to try their baked goods at the Love Our Earth Festival, including a green onion bun, pineapple bun, and coconut cream bun. The items were $6 each, so definitely a splurge compared to Asian bakeries serving similar items, but you can tell everything is made from scratch with quality ingredients. I liked the coconut cream bun the best as it had a nice balance of flavors and sweetness. The green onion bun and pineapple bun had a denser texture than I'm used to but tasted good nonetheless. Service was quick and friendly with the owners ringing up customers and packaging orders. I hope to visit their Saratoga storefront soon and try more of their offerings.

Very pricey but one of the only places in the bay to get such amazing vegan pastries! While the line moves slowly, the owners are incredibly nice and there is always a huge array of unique offerings.

Tai Zhan made us an amazing mango cream wedding cake and mini pineapple buns for our all-vegan wedding. The cake was stunning, delicious, and so nostalgic for me - growing up in Hong Kong, my family always bought mango cream cakes for celebrations. The pineapple buns were such a hit too and it meant a lot to have a taste of home at our wedding. The whole process of placing the order and picking it up was super easy; Wendy made the whole experience a breeze. Thank you Tai Zhan for making our day even more special and we can't wait to come back :)

There was a short wait outside the door, but I quickly reached the front of the line where I could order from a large variety of pastries and bread. A little pricey but very tasty!

This is the best bakery. They featured Asian and western plant-based bakeries. The bread, croissants, with many varieties. Often, there are special items every time. Everything is very delicious.

best vegan pastries ever! if you've been to a Chinese bakery like 85C or Wheat Field, it's like that but 100% plant-based. my all-time favorites are the hot dog bun and scallion bun (which comes with a generous amount of mayo-scallion topping), followed closely by the egg and cheese bun. also can't go wrong with the matcha bun, pineapple bun, or pesto croissant (so buttery yet somehow it's not butter?). the cookies are just ok. it's take-out only and often has a long line, so be prepared to wait outside for a while. there is a nice park down the street with picnic benches if you want to eat nearby. unfortunately they don't serve any drinks.

One of the best vegan bakery i have came across so far . They have amazing and delicious options available in the store. They serve only on Saturdays from 10am-3pm . We ordered their OG butter garlic bun, green onion bun , Trimashu cake , strawberry croissant and pesto cheese bun . To be honest it is so difficult for me to choose one, i like almost each and every thing what i ordered. They have good ambiance but no sitting area. You have to always to go your order .

After eating a bite of 10 pastries from two boxfulls I purchased that morning, I was quite satisfied with each one. It wasn't until the evening when I sat with my wife and told her, "you know, Tai Zhan might actually be one of my favorite bakeries" that it caught both of us by surprise. As an avid and voracious pastry hunter and eater, I've tried just about every pastry shop in the Bay area multiple times -- that's not counting all the ones not around here-- and Tai Zhan met all expectations of tastiness. What makes it such a special place is the fact that it's vegan and Asian as well. It checks off my millenial checkboxes of being healthy-ish, sustainable-ish, and authentic. You know that feeling you'd normally get when you ate two boxfulls of pastries? That lingering heaviness much like after a Thanksgiving feast? I didn't get that bad of a slump with Tai Zhan probably because it wasn't as buttery. The future of food is less animal-product based so to have something so tasty yet not requiring eggs, butter, or milk was mind-blowing. I've had other vegan pastries and it's led to regret for ever trying anything vegan. This definitely wasn't the case. If you get the chance to catch them during their currently limited hours, support them. The highlights in my boxfulls were the mushroom filled croissants that were so savory and delicious, matcha bun folded like cardamom buns and had such good matcha filling, kouign amann that you couldn't even tell the difference between ones with butter, and the pizza focaccia. All others were pretty good like the hojicha or black sesame cookies, pineapple or red bean bun, black sesame bostock.

Truly amazing vegan treats! I haven't had pastries this good in a long long time! You definitely need to preorder or get there when they open, because they sell out FAST!

Came here for my second time today and could not be happier! I am never able to get pictures because it's too delicious! I had the mushroom spinach croissant, egg and cheese croissant, green onion bun, garlic butter bun, hot dog bun, and the chocolate custard croissant. I tried the spinach mushroom one last time and it is truly amazing. The garlic butter bun was the perfect savory salty treat, and the chocolate custard was the most amazing dessert croissant I have ever had! I really think this place is such a gem and look forward to the new selection and flavors every week. Thank you for all you guys do and for making my Saturday afternoons so special. I know the location is small now, however I see big things for this place in the future!

Delicious Asian pastries and buns! New options each week so recommend checking out their instagram page for the weeks offerings. Also you can preorder a preset box online.

It's amazing to see a tasty not even knowing vegan bakery. It's nice to be unhealthy but feel healthy. Love this place they have yet to fully open but the pop ups and just the hospitality with out even a menu with fresh warm pastries on their first opening day was amazing. Can't wait for the full experience.

Love the cocktail bun, mushroom bbq bun, the focaccia pizza... I haven't had anything I didn't like. I missed my Chinese baked goods, so happy to have these plant based options now!! Also love that they provide a little paper handout telling how to reheat and store the goods.