ZUbakery

These are the best croissants I've ever had, including the ones I've had in France. It's always worth it to get there 15 minutes before they open.

We wanted to check out both the new James Beard award winners while we were in Portland so after making it through the line at Norimoto we headed over to Zu. We got in line at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and made it to the front of the line in under 15 minutes. That was the good news, the bad news was that the only items available for purchase at that time were a brioche roll, a brownie, granola and a few wheat loafs. We purchased a brioche loaf and a bag of granola. Both were quite tasty but I was disappointed that there wasn't more on offer. They said that there would be scones and focaccia available in the next 20-45 minutes so it seems our timing was just bad. Street parking was easy to find and everyone working there was very friendly. Would happily give it another go if I lived in the area.

Line forms up fast and early so if you’re not in line by 10 you’re probably gonna be out of luck. The pasties here are good but don’t think I would come back just for the many variations the croissant they serve here. The pizzetta was very nice and flavorful and the bread is also very good.

Truly excellent bakery - the James Beard is well deserved. Not only are their pastries excellent (we got one of every croissant and the ham and cheese was a little less flaky than the others, which I guess is to be expected from the extra moisture, but not a single miss), but their breads are top notch as well. Would highly recommend coming back at 1:30ish for their focaccia. Because the reviews all warn of them running out of pastries very early in the morning, we got here at around 8:45 on Saturday morning and there was already a party in front of us, and by the time 9 rolled around, the line behind us was already quite long, so make sure you plan accordingly.

Hands down worth the wait and a huge high point in our visit to Portland. Wonderful baked goods and customer service. Very smooth and quick line. Loved every second of the croissant and the scone so beautiful and simple but creative and rich. One of my favorite bakery experiences in the east coast.

Tiny bakery on Clark St near Danforth. Divine croissants! Choc croissant best in world! My fav breads are Rustic, Buckwheat, 60% Wheat. Love love love candied orange brioche rolls sliced with cheese spread, cream cheese, butter, marmalade or apricot jam! Always find a parking spot but might have to walk a couple blocks! Well worth it!!

Each pastry is a meal in itself because they are large and dense. It was a joy to eat, great "tear", many dense layers, and tasty chocolate. Worth every bite.

Had their ham and cheese croissant this morning— it was lovely. It wasn’t heavy but still had a lot of flavor, there was plenty of ham and cheese, it was well priced, and the bakery was on a quiet street near the water and Portland Bridge. We ate on a bench just outside. It was, again, lovely. It reminded me of my recent trip to Europe.

Probably the best bakery I've been in, in the US, which explains the James Beard award and lines a block long to match. The croissants were the best I've had outside of Paris. It's so clean, you could eat off the floors. The kids working the counters actually had manners and greeted customers appropriately - a rarity these days!

They just won a James Beard Award and a week later I am in Portland standing in line awaiting to try Zu. (my trip was pre-planned so it just worked.) Stood in line for about 20 minutes. Zu is a very small bakery with no indoor sitting area but has 2 benches outside. So grab and go it is! It was 10 am and when I entered all they had out to sell was brownies, almond croissant and raisin croissants. I felt very let down as I just wanted a croissant. I asked and the young gentleman behind the counter pulled out teh tray and their happened to be two croissants in the back of the baking tray! WIN! I can share- clean facility. The bakers were right there doing their thing. Unphased by customers comign and going. The two young folks behind the counter were super sweet and thankful1 They thanked us for waiting! How stinkin nice! The croissant was flaky, buttery and soft. It was good. It didn't knock my socks off per se but it was good. My husband got an iced coffee- no complaints.

Had to stop by the James Beard award winning Zu Bakery during our trip to Portland and it did not disappoint! From the incredible smells of fresh baked goods wafting towards the line outside to Chef Olins himself overseeing the baking process, it's clear this bakery does a few things and does them incredibly well. I only got a (huge) chocolate croissant, but many other items called my name for next time. The chocolate croissant had a fantastically flaky exteriors with a soft, buttery, layered interior. The chocolate was rich and my only qualm was that I could have used a little more, but I'm just a chocolate lover. Everyone in the bakery was friendly and attentive, and they move the line through quickly. Food: 1. Chocolate croissant (5/5)

Another 2024 James Beard winner in Portland- Outstanding Bakery. There was a line out the door when we arrived. It is quite small inside, with no seating. There are some benches outside though. I ordered the ham & cheese croissant. It was good, but not too memorable.

Delicious, fresh, efficient ordering system, unbelievable smells, solid value. The croissant with ham and cheese was divine.

We wanted to check out both the new James Beard award winners while we were in Portland so after making it through the line at Norimoto we headed over to Zu. We got in line at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and made it to the front of the line in under 15 minutes. That was the good news, the bad news was that the only items available for purchase at that time were a brioche roll, a brownie, granola and a few wheat loafs. We purchased a brioche loaf and a bag of granola. Both were quite tasty but I was disappointed that there wasn't more on offer. They said that there would be scones and focaccia available in the next 20-45 minutes so it seems our timing was just bad. Street parking was easy to find and everyone working there was very friendly. Would happily give it another go if I lived in the area.

Excellent bakery. I had a chocolate croissant and was absolutely superb. My only qualm is that they don't have very many drink options. Black Coffee, water, and camomille or black tea.

They sell out crazy fast. It's hard to get anything if you don't come right at the opening. But I did manage to get a focaccia at around 12:15pm and it was the best focaccia I've ever had and a very delicious pizza around 1pm. The sauce on the pizza is highly flavorful and different from any pizza sauce I've had (in a very good way). Highly recommend and the staff are very friendly.

ZU Bakery is in the west end and has a small selection of laminated pastries and bread for the taking. We tried a chocolate croissant and a regular croissant and they were both delectable! Huge pastries. I wished I would have gotten the almond croissant to try -- it's shaped like the pain au raisin but apparently doesn't use the almond paste gunk that is standard in almond croissants (and I find ick). Owner is lovely and there's no rhyme or reason to the name except he wanted it to be easy to pronounce for kids. Super cute shop!

If I could give this place 6 stars I would. I lived in Paris for a year, and the croissants we had at Zu were perhaps better than any I had in Paris. Just go here and buy croissants - they are heaven. They have a schedule for what they make at what times, and when it's gone it's gone, so check the schedule. We had one each of an almond and raisin croissant. I was in heaven - these are the flakiest, butteriest pastries I can recall eating. Zu has ruined me from buying croissants anywhere else, but I live in Tucson, what am I to do?! Boohoo.

Happened upon Zu Bakery this morning when walking around the West End with a pal. We walked into a small, open baking space. It felt as though we were walking right into a bakers kitchen. There was a small glass window on the right displaying croissants, an interesting pinwheel type almond croissant, a loaf of money bread and some currant scones. There were also several loaves of fresh wheat bread out cooling on shelves. I left with one of the almond croissants and a warm loaf. The baseline pastry for the croissant was warm buttery and flaky on the inside and perfectly brown and crispy on the outside. It was so expertly crafted that I (mostly) didn't mind the absence of almond paste. Maybe the thin almond slices imbued within the layers, were there as representation? The large loaf of bread was spectacular. Once I got it home, I wished I had better butter available, although with ubiquitous grocery store butter, it was still pretty epic!

one of my new favorite bakeries. We had the French baguette and the sourdough with sesame seeds. The baguette was crusty on the outside and soft inside. They both tasted so good that it was hard to stop eating. I love their approach and staff.

We got there after they closed but the owner let me in with a smile. There was not much left but we had the chance to try the focaccia and it was incredible. The whole experience was A+. So friendly, great service and beyond delicious. !!!!

Warm fresh artisanal bread and pastries. Fascinating baker and incredible work ethic. We rented in the neighborhood for a few months and I miss that morning smell of fresh baking

A wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Barak's bread and pastries are delicious and there is no better treat than to walk down in the morning to get a croissant or to drop by to pick up bread or a baguette. They take their craft seriously here and all of us are the beneficiaries of their hard work.

I dream about this bread. It's perfect. I lived in NYC prior to moving to Portland, and I would put this up against the best of anything there. The pastries are also excellent, although they are usually sold out by the time I get there. This place is a real gem, and it's clear that Barack's obsession with his craft has led to something special.

What a wonderful bakery. The baker/owner Barack is SO passionate and dedicated to his craft. The chocolate croissants and the blueberry scones are a must. The breads that we bought are incredible and are made from flour milled in Maine. The space is tight but filled with fun and amazing product. They start at 6AM so be patient as some breads are not available until a bit later. A MUST if you are in Portland.