The Blessed Braid

I always pass this place and finally decided to give it a try, I’m so glad I did. I was extremely happy with what I had. It’s a charming little shop with a nice variety of baked goods. I ordered the waffle and was amazed, it was freshly made, which I didn’t expect. The staff was also really friendly. She answered all of my questions, and the overall atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I’d definitely go again. The lack of reviews really doesn’t do this place justice.

Everything we tried was amazing! (Cupcakes, Belgian waffle, cookies, challah). The bakery is beautiful - love the open concept with the counter you can walk around. And there’s a large window where you can watch the staff baking in the back. We will definitely come back whenever we’re in OC!

Amazing bakery, happy to find it, definitely return to buy more healthy treats

Challah was not only unfresh but also had bad quality ingredients (bleached flour among others) and preservatives, which should not be the case for such a high price. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

Delicious Challah bread!!! And their pecan cookies are to die for ♥️ so happy this place exists, it’s amazing having such a lovely local bakery - especially with such wonderful vegan options! Thank you blessed braid 🥰

Wow! What an amazing bakery!!! Cheryl at the Blessed Braid bakery in Irvine is so good!! The vegan Challah is delicious and the right size for 2 people. We almost ate the entire loaf and the wedding cookies?? Omg! Just go!! So happy to have found this bakery!!

So this is a legit professional bakery but it's not a sit down and sip latte with your pie bakery. You just order and go. They specialize in challah breads and other kosher goodies and it smells divine. Service is super friendly and the few things I tried were so good. The mint brownie is a gooey wonder.

Truly blessed! The best place to get truly original pastries and challah. Yum! And get there quick for some free vouchers!

Wow! What an amazing bakery!!! Cheryl at the Blessed Braid bakery in Irvine is so good!! The vegan Challah is delicious and the right size for 2 people. We almost ate the entire loaf and the vegan Hamantaschen, vegan black and white cookies and the vegan almond drops / wedding cookies?? Omg! Just go!! So happy to have found this bakery!! Will be back next week! You can order in advance!!

I was looking for 12 vegan cinnamon rolls, and a quick Google search brought me to The Blessed Braid. I inquired via email, and Cheryl was quick to respond. We coordinated the order through email, and I was able to pick up the rolls two days later. Cheryl was super pleasant to work with, and she was quick and kind with her responses. And the vegan cinnamon rolls - to die for! The woman I purchased them for loved them, and every non-vegan who was hesitant to try them all commented on how they would have no clue they were vegan if I hadn't said anything. The cinnamon-y dough was chewy and the frosting was perfectly sweet. I'll be going to Cheryl at The Blessed Braid in the future for my vegan and gluten free treats.

This bakery is in among a few eateries within an Irvine business complex which is usually overrun by Blizzard employees from across the street. I was on my way to an appointment in the area, felt hungry, and stopped in this complex to get a bite to eat at a cafe. Afterward I noticed this bakery which had a sandwich board out front, pitching their various flavored lemonade drinks. I went inside to order a lemonade and noticed their cookies and logically thought that lunch shouldn't be complete without a dessert. So I asked for a chocolate chip cookie too. There is no seating inside this place - it's a bakery with an interior window through which you can see bread and pastries being made. But there was a single small table with chairs outside where I was advised to sit and relax and my drink and cookie would be delivered momentarily. And they were! The cookie was delicious with countless tiny chocolate chips. The cookie itself was fresh and moist. The lemonade had a perfect balance of citrus and sweet. It was cold and refreshing, a perfect drink for this warm day. The woman helping me was very sweet and kind. I hope to return to the area sometime to try their other drinks and bakery goods.

First time coming here and it's a cute little store. I got their peanut butter cookies, chewy molasses cookie, and one black and white cookie. All were around $3 each and delicious especially the black and white. The texture is spot on and they use milk chocolate and white chocolate instead of icing. Quite an elevated flavor. We also got a few cups of coffee for $2.50 each. We spoke to the owner and she's really nice. Will be back here soon to try their bread and cake selections.

Was excited to try the Knish, but I was disappointed. Very dry and to much pepper. Balbka was ok, seemed undercooked, rubbery. So just 3 stars , prices were OK and the owner was very nice

Amazing Jewish bakery which has a very clean store front and reasonably priced bakery items along with a very good rotation of new items weekly. I also like that they do big orders and have great service staff, always very friendly.

Amazing! Just a great bakery with a clean and quick experience. Loved the specials.

We actually ordered 2 Challah bread for Rosh Hashanah through Bengies. We were disappointed that they were not the braided challah bread, but they were more oddly shaped steeped and round. They were very dense and not moist. Although, you could tell if it were fresher, it would have a better flavor. I've never had this type of challah bread before. Maybe people like it? But, I definitely was not a fan.

Got sufganiyot here for Chanukah. They were very good, everyone liked them! They had a dense bready texture, which was different than other donuts, but tasty. We got the raspberry filling which was really good!

My blind 89 year old mother loved the Black and White cookies sold years ago at the Kaplan's Deli in South Coast Plaza. I've been trying to find some that are similar for quite some time. The packaged grocery store ones are a very poor substitute. Then I ran across The Blessed Braid. After each bite my mother kept saying "These cookies are incredible." We have one very happy senior.

So excited to find this little bakery! It's the first Kosher Jewish Bakery in Orange County! Brand new, soft opened. When you enter their bakery, you are confronted with a large rectangular table of their delectable goodies. You can also have a peek into their kitchen through their transparent glass window. The staff was SO sweet and helpful. She patiently explained the items to us and processed our order with a smile. They had 5 different types of challah breads!!! We ordered freshly baked challah, the Butterscotch haystack and the kichel sugar pastries. We loved their goodies and will be back! Highly recommend stopping by!

Stopped in for some last minute treats for Chanukah.. As expected, they were sold out of a lot of goods, but I was still able to get an abundant amount for my family. Everything was delicious and the staff was very accommodating and helpful.

Saw the Blessed Braid while stopping at the Peruvian restaurant in this small center. No visibility from Alton Parkway. Decided to make a small purchase and keep in mind when I needed Jewish Breads, pastry and bagels. Strictly takeout. Growing up in Philadelphia, I a choice of Jewish Bakeries. Hoping to relive my youth. Being in SoCal, I personally was disappointed. But if you are a homegrown Californian, the place is fine. The bakery is Kosher and I believe non dairy. I had a Mini-Challah and a Raspberry Donut. Both were good, but not my style. Being old and lazy, I have started to prefer less dense baked goods.I really wanted some Rye bread or Pumpernickel. Have to special order. For me, way too much planning. The people were very nice, helpful and graciously handled my very small order. Prices were commensurate with Specialty Shops.

Haven't tried it yet.but I have heard good things about them. They specialise in braided chale ie egg bread.

I looovvveee this place, what a gem. I preordered 2 dz sufganyots for Hanukkah and they were ready at the appointed time and carefully packaged... not to mention delicious. While I was there I was tempted to get a Raisin challah and it was the best decision I made all week. I took it to my parents and it was gone in less than 24 hours. It reminded me of my mom's homemade babka in a way. Love love love

Very nice service. Pre-ordered GF challah, which was moist and flavorful. Limited walk-in menu. Get a coffee next door to pair w their excellent macaroons. Best decaf mocha oat-almond latte ever.

It is very difficult to analyze this place. The various cookies I have eaten are excellent. The small piece of bialy I've eaten so far is good with lots of onion and a spiciness (chili powder?) that make it enjoyable. The raisin challah is also good but not great; on the other hand, the regular challah is the worst I've ever eaten. I suspect the reason for this is the very strict religious strictures placed on it making - no butter, milk or eggs. So my answer is ' go for the cookies or the bialys but leave the challah alone'. Okay.

What sets places apart for me is customer service and high quality food. The Blessed Braid has both! The staff is super helpful and friendly and they can explain all of the yummy goodies! We've tried a few things and the stand outs are the chocolate soufflé cookies, coffee cake muffins - perfect for meetings! and Belgium waffles! A must try for high quality and unique baked items. Oh and I can't forget to mention the chocolate chip challah loaf! We love it fresh or as French toast if it lasts a few days in our house!

This bakery has super fresh baked goods. Their waffles are the best waffles I've ever had. Not too sweet, don't need syrup and are super fresh. Ive tried about everything and it's all great quality and unique. I love how the baked goods are dairy free parve. It's nice to have a Jewish bakery here in Irvine, there aren't many Jewish foods places around!

Oops my previous review meant to say gluten-free scones... that I was so excited they made gluten-free, scones.... But as mentioned, , I drove over an hour to find out, they had to be ordered in advance‍ which I think should have been mentioned when I sent them the response I would be driving up that day ....

I absolutely love The Blessed Braid. Not only do they have delicious and unique treats, but the owner Cheryl and her staff are so kind and accommodating. I've reached out to the owner multiple times about different orders I wanted to place and each time she was thorough and patient. They are always on time and accurate. They go above and beyond. Thank you!!!

Tasty! Tried the apple muffin, plain challah, and gluten free peanut butter cookie. The store smells delicious when you walk in. Staff was friendly and welcoming, and the packaging was really cute with the sticker denoting it's a women owned business. Great job!

This place has the best gluten free challah I have ever had. I can't wait to see the 8lb challah I ordered today. I only wish they made take home meals. All the pastries look delicious.

It's so nice to find a jewish bakery in orange county. I went here with my girlfriend and picked up some chocolate challah and little butterscotch haystacks. The challah was so delicious and fluffy and the butterscotch by itself was worth the trip out! We definitely have to come back here.

I Just received cookies from this bakery as a gift and they taste so fresh and flavorful! The chocolate soufflé cookie is light but chewy with just the right amount of chocolate flavor...I couldn't believe they were vegan! My favorite was the tahini cookie sprinkled with sesame seeds. Apparently the tahini is made in house and I'm not surprised! They were the perfect consistency between flaky and moist with a soft, sweet tahini taste... perfect to pair with your morning coffee! This bakery has a great variety and is a must see for locals and beyond! Highly recommend!

I went to the bakery with my boyfriend because he was really excited to try their challah bread. The place did not disappoint. We ordered the plain challah and the chocolate marble challah and our favorite is the chocolate marble challah. We also tried other pastry desserts like the pecan drop and the butterscotch haystacks. The staff were also friendly and nice. Definitely check it out!

We just had our wedding challah made by The Blessed Braid. It was in the shape of conjoined rings with sesame and poppyseeds denoting the bride and groom. Not only was it gorgeous, it tasted wonderful. I would highly recommend this bakery for their excellent quality and service!

What a beautiful bakery! Such an outstanding job with all the details and display. We tried the Belgian waffle, kichel, butterscotch haystack, and the pb&j cookie. Everything was sooo sooo delicious. The food is made with so much love and care, I can't recommend going here enough.

This place is amazing. Everything I've tried here is delicious and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. It has a boutique feel with all of that days products on display on a central island counter that you can walk 360 around. Once you're ready to order, the final preparation (or fresh cooking in the case of the waffles) can be seen through a giant window connecting the showroom and kitchen. They bring your full order out to you hot and ready to go! When you can support our local peeps and get something of excellent quality in return, it's a no brainer.

Great experience at The Blessed Braid today! I previously ordered challah from Cheryl through delivery and finally made it out to her store in Irvine. The challah is the best I have ever tasted and I grew up on the East Coast with quite a few Jewish bakeries/restaurants. I love the homemade taste of the challah at The Blessed Braid. The black and white cookie was so fresh and light. My husband and I loved them. Just perfect!! I also really enjoyed the kichel, very light and crunchy. I had kichel growing up and I can't remember the last time I've had one as you don't see them around Irvine. The employee, Carol, who walked my husband through all the bakery items was so sweet and helpful. They also had a lot of seasonal items like apple crumble bar, apple challah, pumpkin spice cookies, etc we need to come back to try some other items very soon! So exciting and happy to have Jewish/Kosher bakery in Irvine!

Service was incredible! Brought waffles to the office and everyone loved them! Can't wait to try the other pastries.

We ordered challah for our son's wedding and it was a huge hit! The young woman behind the counter was wonderful and we are so pleased to have found this bakery! We had to backtrack from the wedding location (1/2 hour drive), but it was so well worth it! We also got a black and white cookie and some rugelach, both of which were equally delicious.

Literally the second best baked goods I have ever eaten in my life (best being a small bakery outside Paris, but this is close). The service was also wonderful. I cannot recommend this place enough!

I can't say enough about this bakery. Ever since I discovered I had a gluten allergy, it's been tough finding places I could eat at. My husband found this place and told the owner about my allergy, and she told him that she wanted to challenge her bakers to try and make anything I wanted. I haven't had a really good Gluten-free pie for years, and for Valentine's Day, the Blessed Braid, made the most delicious Gluten-free Peach Cobbler I ever tasted. Thank you so much!!! This is my new go to bakery...Five Stars all the way!!

Purchased honey cake challah and bialy and a crisp type of cookie. Of that I could not eat the Bialy it was either too much salt or baking soda- I honestly think there was a error as it was just unpalatable and atrocious and they did not taste their product. The Homey cake was very good. Would love to support and give them another try when they shift their menu and are more established.

Such a darling spot. Firstly, you walk in and will be met with the most delicious of baking heavenly scents! There is a display of sugary goodness, with a friendly face willing to walk you through it. Best tour ever. You must try their waffle (served to-go , hot & fresh & melt in your mouth) Their cookies (chocolate chip & soufflés) are out of this world. It's a mom & pop shop vibe, clean and adorable, I totally recommend it. The lovely folk who work there are helpful and kind, definitely try it out if you're in the neighborhood and / or work for Blizzard, which is a hop skip & a jump away :) Support small businesses y'all, it's a treat!

Everything we tried was amazing! (Cupcakes, Belgian waffle, cookies, challah). The bakery is beautiful - love the open concept with the counter you can walk around. And there's a large window where you can watch the staff baking in the back. We will definitely come back whenever we're in OC

We went when they first opened and it was delish! The layout was simple, but it's great that you can see your product being prepared in the kitchen. I think we got one of everything! Here it is months later and I went to a meeting where they had chocolate cookies individually wrapped for the event and again ... really delicious! Simple chocolate cookies, but wow! I'm glad to see that they're able to get out to different events so that more people will have the opportunity to taste. The menu seems simple (compared to bakeries with a huge case of 100 items), but the items are SO GOOD!! I'm not Jewish so some of the items aren't as familiar to me, but I know they're really tasty and we need to get back there pronto. Highly recommend them if you're near Irvine!

Cute little kosher bakery, affordable prices and yummy food! We come up and pick up some treats every once in a while. The service is great too!

What a lovely addition to the neighborhood! Such friendly staff and delicious treats. Tried the lemon blueberry scone - great texture and packed full of flavor! Will definitely be back for more

Amazing service and a very helpful and polite staff. The Belgium waffles made to order are so delicious. Highly recommended!

If you want tasty breads and pastries that happen to be dairy free this is the place. Fantastic challah and delicious mini waffles.

Very dried out challah roll, with no flavor. Had one bite and threw it out. Challah, imo, should be pillowing and dense with a hint of sweetness. None of that here. It tasted stale.

Ordered the Belgian waffles and wow! Possibly the best Belgian waffles I've had! I cannot wait to go back to get more and try their other bread.