Gemmae Bakeshop & Cafe

Bout to bash this place after I show my best friend how the cake turned out. Really pissed!!! (I’m really a fan of this place, except today)
Ok… As seen on the photo I ordered a simple décor cake for my bff’s baby shower. I wanted the cake to be exactly as is, instead of purple use baby blue. Now why is the cake all blue, with extra sloppy dots, and inside border frosting. The dots and side frosting are suppose to be green and thick. You’re suppose to mirror the design.
Anyways I was really disappointed. They said they attempted to call me to confirm the color, but they had the wrong number on the receipt. You can’t just proceed with the design and assume it’s what I wanted. Should have waited until I arrived to satisfy your customers. I ordered 126 $ SIMPLE designed cake and they couldn’t even get it right.
The owner wanted to fix it to make sure I was happy… Too late for that and would have wait another 20−30mins. I had to drive to LA, no time.
#falseadvertisement
At least the cake was good.

The best pandesal ever. Theirs is the only pandesal my son called, «Delicious pandesal». Their bag holds only 10 pcs. unlike other bakeries that have 12. However, Gemmae’s pandesals are the tastiest. I buy a bag to bring to work for breakfast.
Already on its second week kept refrigerated, I toasted the bread and still tastes like it was just baked the day before.

I’ve been guilty of stopping by here for lunch the last few weeks whenever I work nearby. I’ve had the siopao, ensaymada and the toasted siopao and they’ve always been delicious. They do serve main dishes too but I try to keep my lunch somewhat light. Service depends on who’s on the register, 50 cent charge on orders under $ 10, but otherwise it’s a good place to just sit down or grab some goods to go.

Hands down the best ube-​mac cake on the face of the earth!!! Their buko pandan cake is delish as well! I love how you can call them last minute to order a special occasion cake and they’ll have it ready for you — decorated and all! :)

I wish I could put zero stars. The website says they close at 5pm, but I came by at 430pm and it was closed early with no sign or explanation

This is a great place to get filipino desserts and treats! I been grabbing my birthday cakes from here for many years and have always been fully satisfied!
I love the ube flavored cakes and the little savory snacks.

this is a great mom and pop restaurant specializing in Filipino baked goods and kare kare. Their kare kare is usually sold out by 2pm (if that). They make baked good daily. The family that runs this café is also very nice and easy going.

I like the lumpias here better than the Mira Mesa one and I always stop by after church across the street to pick up empanadas. The crust is buttery, flaky good. My girlfriend loves the ube cake as well. I’ve been coming here for as long as I remember for our family birthday cakes.
The owners and workers are also very sweet!!!

Prior to our recent visit to this bakery, I had no complaints about their Ube/​macapuno/​chocolate cake. However, this visit was a great disappointment. The cake was dry, bland and stale. When I contacted them to make them aware of this, they stated that they had not changed anything about their cakes. I know this is not the fact.

O_​O THE EMPANADAS. HEAVENLY. HOLY SHIT
All that flaky, salty, beefy, savory goodness that just transpired in my mouth is now sitting PWNED in my tummy.
/life’s purpose fulfilled. Can die happy now

My girlfriend’s family always gets Birthday cakes from their best. They have the BEST Ube-​Macupuno (Purple yam and young coconut) cake. It is soft and delicious. If you are a fan of sweets and are open to something different than your usual chocolate, vanilla, etc. cake then I highly suggest you check this place out.

If you want a taste of Filipino cuisine and you don’t want to drive to National City, you go to Gemmae’s

Four star since I am only reviewing a specific dish-​Kare-​Kare. For those that are healthy conscious, it is all beef meat, the vegetables are not overcooked, the gravy is like my lola’s, then you have to add the fish paste (bagoong) for added flavor (optional). Don’t forget to try their other dishes too! Also, you know that they will make Baked Pork Asado Siopao on special order only, and they are so good

I’m a fan of their green, purple, and brown (pandan, ube, mocha) cakes! Not too sweet, moist, and just right. Dangerous I say, it’s one of those cakes that I can just keep eating because it’s not too rich. Just enough flavor to keep chasing bite after bite… ayayay smh…
The empanadas are oily but the the flavor, meaty-​ness, and flaky-​ness make up for it.
Recommended spot to hit up for a birthday cake or a snack run.
$ 10 minimum purchase required for credit/​debit card use.

Stopped by to kill some time before a meeting. Ordered the orange soda and a beef empanada. Spent less than $ 4 for all of it. The empanada was pretty good.

I’ve been going to San Diego to visity my big sis and her family 2 to 3 times a year. Last weekend I was down for four days and my sister took me to Gemmae’s Bakeshop that Friday afternoon I arrived since I was a bit hungry. She told me that they had the best empanadas in Nat’l. City and according to her, she’s gone to different Filipino bakeries and tried their empanadas, but alway went back to Gemmae’s. She wasn’t kidding. Not only were they delish (beef and chicken), but affordable. I live in San Francisco and the best chicken empanada that I’ve had here in the City cost me $ 3.00 and it was half the size that Gemmae’s sell. I bought six and my sis and I each had two each and saved the other two for my brother-​in-​law. Needless to say, I was craving for more the whole weekend I was there, so I asked my sister to stop by the bakery before she dropped me off at the airport that Monday morning. I bought three beef and three chicken empanadas and two polvoron pinipg. I ate two empanadas at the airport, two when I got home, and the other two the next day. Ugh! And I’m still craving for some more… yum!

Ok so its Friday and I’m bored. Gonna make a PAN DE SAL RUN! Oh yeah baby. Soft and warm, fresh pan de sal. I love coming to Gemmae for pan de sal. You can usually get a dozen for around $ 2.25. Nothing beats warm pan de sal and butter. They sell other goodies as well: kutsinta, puto, suman, and more. Next time, I’m gonna have to pick up some balut! They have some warmed up and ready to crack open and slurp!

I used to go here for lunch when I was in shore duty. Obviously we had longer lunch. It’s close to the base and the food’s awesome. They gave us some heaping portion all the time. The place’s kind of small though to dine in. So have it to go. And I think they only serve during lunch.

Birthday Cake… It’s a fine art. Gemmae has a Ube– Macupuno (Purple yam and young coconut). It is sweet and soft and delicious.
If you’re a fan of supporting international multi-​milliondollar corporations, then don’t buy your Filipino cakes from here.
If you want to support Filipino local business… purchase your next birthday cake from at Gemmae (Mocha is also really good).

This Filipino bakery is my go-​to spot for ube cake. I love how there’s macapuno (coconut sport:
) and ube jam sandwiched between two layers of ube cake batter. If you’re not a fan of macapuno like my sister, Happy Bakery makes an equally delicious ube cake minus the macapuno. I think it’s cool how you can order a sheet cake with ½ one flavor, ½ another. My personal favorite is ½ ube, ½ chocolate.