Kean’s Bakery

NOW THIS IS A BAKERY.
— a bakery should not be for those trying to cut calories … it’s not
— a bakery should run out of certain baked goods … fresh is fresh
— a bakery should have me wanting to try one new thing each time I go … «Random Item» is on the grocery list
My family asks me to bring their donuts to almost every gathering we have. 2 out of 5 times it actually makes it there, with the chances being better if I never take it home.

Really like the baked goods these guys make, defiantly would recommend these guys to anyone who is willing to pay a little more for a quality food product.

This bakery is just so so. Nothing really special and nothing I would come in for special. The girls working are very helpful though. Small place though, if you didn’t know it was there, you would never find it. Right by the train station next to a diner.

If I could put 10 stars, I would. This is an AMAZING bakery. By far, the BEST cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had. We order donuts, pastries and coffee cakes through my company from Kean’s and we have never been disappointed. I pick up our huge order first thing when they open and everything is always ready. Everyone at my company looks forward to the day we are having Kean’s. I also highly recommend the apple strudel. YUM!

In my family, we’re serious about our baked goods. I mean, like we’ll drive an hour for our favorite doughnut kind of serious. Which is why I have to write a review for Kean’s. While most of their items (breads, cake) are standard for a very good bakery, they have something that I’ve never tasted better before… ever: their in-​house custard. And specifically, their old school style coffee cake filled with custard and pecans. You will have to sit down to eat it – it’s that good. If you’re not a custard or coffee cake kind of person though, their muffin loaf breads are very moist and flavorful. And their pecan cookies are not to be missed. Lastly, their cream cheese cinnamon rolls (and coffee cakes) are far from bland or ordinary. It’s really a flavor that you’d travel for: unique, fresh, and lovely.

We happened to be dining at the next door diner and decided to try this little bakery for dessert… we we’re NOT disappointed! Oh my gosh!!! SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM!!! I guess this bakery has been in business for decades. We met the owner who threw in some freebies for us to try.
We tried the assorted cookies, two cupcakes some donuts… COMA. They were all super fresh, extra moist and PERFECTION!!!
I love supporting small businesses and will definitely be back… and often!!!

We used to frequent Kean’s on the weekends. We would pack the kids in the car for a 25 minute drive out to Itasca for their wonderful chocolate donuts. One time we decided to add a delicious looking chocolate coffee cake to our order. When we arrived home, opened the bag, slid out the coffee cake, we just stared. And stared… Thinking these are pretty strange looking chocolate chips. Dozens of black ants were either baked into the coffee cake, or found their way into the coffee cake, got stuck into the icing and died. In horror we called Keans, explained what we were looking at! The woman on the phone did apologize and said she would add our name to the wall and to tell them it was on their list next time we come in and they would replace the coffee cake. I think not. We have never returned.

Kean’s is a family owned small business.
Located right by the Itasca METRA station this bakery rocks.
They have a good range of bakery items including (but not necessarily limited to) breads, pastries, cookies, donuts and cakes.
Everything is is good, but the cookies and the donuts are especially great. Need to impress your office mates? This place will do the job.
I do note that the pricing is a little higher then other places-​such as dunkin– but the quality of the products more then makes up for that. They offer Latte’s etc, but really for elite coffee items, go elsewhere.
This place is all about the sweets.

Kean’s is an Itasca staple, so when I needed to bring a treat to one of our offices I knew Kean’s would help me out. I came here to get donuts to bring in. There were so many to choose from! They’re going to cost you more than Dunkin, but they’re well worth it. Fresh, original donuts (more flavors than your average chocolate long john). To this day every time I visit the office who I brought Kean’s to they still talk about those donuts and how they’re still thinking about them, months and months later. I also that day picked up some day old italian cookies to bring into my own office (didn’t want to break the bank getting donuts for both offices) and the cookies were still fantastic! Next time I need pastries in a pinch that I know will be a hit, I’ll stop by here.

If you’re taking a coffee cake to work, you’ve gotta try Kean’s chocolate frosted cc. It’s a real good size, VERY delicious and you’ll be a hit! Grab a handful of the bakery’s business cards because I’m sure your co-​workers will ask you the address of the place. Easy enough to find, on Arlington Hts. Road off of Rte. 19 (Irving Park Road) just past (or before) the RR tracks.

Another weekend, another bakery to try!
I stopped in this past weekend after a breakfast at the adjoining diner. We tried the red velvet donut, the cinnamon roll, the apple bear claw, and the chocolate/​rasberry muffin. The red velvet donut is a must try, and the apple bear claw was perfectly flaky with smooth filling that wasn’t overly sweetened. The Chocolate muffin was huuuuge, with just a hint of rasberry in the muffin top. The service was quick and friendly, as the two young women running the counter never seem flustered or irritated, the way some bakery workers can get late on a Sunday morning after the morning breakfast rush. It is slighty pricier than most bakeries, but nothing terribly egregious. In a folish move, I passed on getting one of the delicious looking Rye loafs (only $ 1!)…but now I have an excuse to go back and try the breads and cookies here!

Best bakery ever hands down!!! Their donuts are always fresh and their Danish coffee cakes are amazing! Sooooooo delicious!

Kean’s Bakery is an old family favorite and there are so many reasons why. I grew up in the area and if there was a special occasion you could almost be positive a cake from Kean’s would show up. I specifically recall a Cabbage Patch Kid cake from the ‘80s…long before my Unilocaling days.
These days, I don’t live in the Itasca area, but I do work here and the Kean family and their staff are still rolling out some of the best baked goods six days a week. They’re closed on Mondays because everyone needs a day of rest.
Favorites include any and all of their coffee cakes. Cherry cheese coffee cake, chocolate chip and the pecan custard are big winners at the office. Their cookies just melt in your mouth. I’m especially fond of the turtle ones with the giant blob of chocolate on top. Even the simple sprinkle cookies are buttery-​good! Recently, I tried a pumpkin slice. This was so much better than expected! Think large square of pumpkin cake, thick cream cheese frosting and a custard filled cream puff on top decorated to look like a Halloween pumpkin. Too cute, way sweet, but such a nice Fall treat. Share one! I haven’t tried their cake in many years, so that’s on the list.
The staff. I love bakery ladies!!! I was one many years ago… my very first job. They are sweet and kind and patient and know you and your likes. That sums up my favorite bakery lady at Kean’s. Their back of the house staff are great too. I’ve been treated to an extra taste of something good which is always a nice surprise. And did I mention there are always a variety of samples on the counter to try? Yeppers. I even wondered out loud how something would taste and before I knew it… we were tasting it.
So for your bakery fresh, sweet fix, stop at Kean’s in downtown Itasca. There’s plenty of street parking and a small parking lot too. They’re easy to find directly across from the 7 – 11. And a few storefronts from the Metra if you’re just swinging through town.

It’s a small place with a large selection. Good bakery items. However, not the best, but decent.
However, my only complaint is the staff. When I went there, a young, blond high school student came out of the back room. She did not say «hello» or «how are you». She had no manners whatsoever. She simply gave me my order and expected me to leave.

The donuts are amazing and the service rocks. I will go out of my way to get donuts here. Oh, and the apple and cherry squares are divine.

Red Velvet Donuts… we had a Feb 14^th Donut contest at Willis Tower between all the hip trendy places; Stan’s, Glazed and Infused, Do-Rite…and the Kean’s Red Velvet was the winner. Just amazing in taste. And the frosting is simply delicious.
The coffee cakes are amazing too. They have a fruit pizza separated into 4 sections and everyone loves this treat on their birthday.

Some of the best donuts you can get in the Chicago area.
They’re always fresh, perfectly fried, and always something different.
Aside from not having my favorite staple donut and being so far away from me this place couldn’t be better.
If you’re in the area it is worth a visit. Trust me you will fall in love with the donuts and the coffee cake. They are darn near perfect to my taste buds!

I drove 14 miles one way today to find out they only had one chocolate covered cake doughnut this morning. What a big disappointment, and this has happened before. I really wish they would plan better. They had a crap load of Xmas cookies that are untouched, and no CCCD. Time to drive to Heidi’s in libertyville.

I really appreciate that I do not have to drive far to get a fresh pastry. I enjoy their almond pastry. They are typically offered every day and are reasonably priced.
The only think I would like to change is the donuts options. It is near impossible to get regular glazed donuts. All of their donuts or covered with icing, toppings or cinnamon.

Excellent chocolate donuts and a variety of mini-​poundcakes that are delicious. I haven’t tried their breads but they seem to have a nice variety as well.
They missed the 5^th star by that much due to weak coffee and less than friendly weekday morning service. Baked goods are excellent and worth the trip as Joyce mentioned.