Duke Bakery

Got the truffle bread. Omg it is so good! My husband likes the Hokkaido red bean and milk toast, which is their top ranking item. Spent $ 9.6 for 3 breads and one scone (check in to get one free scone) with 20% off grand opening discount.

Eh.
Is it a good thing for shelves to be empty at a bakery on a Saturday afternoon? On the one hand, maybe they’ve sold out of everything, but on the other hand, maybe I don’t walk into a bakery to choose from whatever scraps happen to be left. I’d say at least ¹⁄₃ of the compartments that COULD potentially hold bread were totally empty!
I did appreciate that they put out samples to try, but I feel like their prices necessitate this system. I wouldn’t want to commit to a $ 5 bread without having tried it first…
Sadly, of the pieces I sampled, none of them stood out to me. Most tasted quite bland. It’s a shame, really!

3.5 stars
After hitting up Boiling Point, we discovered this fancy bakery right next to it! Walking in, I guess the similar closest bakery would be Bake Code… kinda?
They have shopping carts! It’s adorable! :3 They put the paper and the tong inside the mini shopping cart so you can put all your bread in there. If you get more than 2 – 3 pieces, it’s gonna have to stack on top of each other, so it might not make sense to do it, but it still looks cute and is more relaxing than holding it, especially if you’re busy taking pictures of bread.
They have a good amount of variety here (they even have a truffle bread). They have red wine+pineapple bread as well (which was alright). The reason why this is rounded down is because of the price– the price clearly matches the market scheme. To their credit, they do have a couple simple breads for less than $ 2, but most of them go for around $ 4. Which is a hefty sum to pay. The best bread that I had? The Unilocal check in offer of the chocolate bread, because you get some tasty chocolate taste in the middle of the bread.
The thing here is that they currently (as of the time of this review) have 20% off M-​F, and 30% for VIP members (only given to those at grand openings) of your purchase. They have cakes and slices as well, and some of them look delectable (their top 2 were slices of cake, with number 1 being their tiramisu!). Didn’t get to try them, but looked good.
Their bread? It really is you get lucky with what you get. Some of them (the Italian cheese bread, Snow bread) were lacking in flavor, while others (the chocolate bread) were great.
Texture– fluffy like a bubbly bath.
Service here? Pretty good. Easy to flag someone down and if you have questions they will most definitely answer em~.

I have tried most bakeries around Rowland Hts area such as 85 degree bakery, Kiki bakery, and JJ bakery.etc. This one by far has the best tasting bread in the area, here is why:
When you go into the store, it’s very clean and there are little shopping cars with tongs for you to shop for bread. All the selection of bread are encased in clear display boxes. Each breads has small sample box for you to try, and they are very generous with the sample portion!
Their bread is super fresh, soft, not oily, and you can taste the aroma of the fresh risen bread flour, and not stale at all. They put real ingredient in the bread that you can see with your eyes and taste the flavor, they are not stingy with their fillings, and very generous in ingredient use. Their bread are all very health conscious with lots of dried fruits and nuts selection.
Even though the price may be slightly more expensive, but one bread size is big enough to be worth the price.
I have also tried their mango mousse cake, and it definitely tasted very authentic, has real mango flavor, and no American level of sweetness (in which I do not like my cake or bread too sweet).
Although, I do recommend they create new varieties of bread with fresh fruits, and new flavors of bread in the future. Their current selection will still satisfy my snack craves! You go Duke Bakery!

I don’t really like the bread here. They don’t have a huge selection and everything is kind of tasteless and bland. Plus they charge a fortune for it! Don’t think I’d come here for my asian bakery needs. There are much better places in Rowland Heights.

This place deserves 5 star for couple of reasons.
1. Bread is very fresh.
2. VIP cards give you additional 10% off. so 30% off during M-​TR. but the only time you can get a VIP card is when DUKE decides to open another new location.
3. Bread always run out before 6PM. So for me, I finish work around 5:30PM, and if I can’t make it before 6:00pm. I don’t bother to go because there is a 75% chance that all breads are sold out…
I go to this place on a weekly basis.

Breads are very fresh with great quality.
The price is on the more expensive side but it is worth the money. I recommend their scones, honey cake and cheese bread.
They have weekday special for 20% off or 30% off if you have the VIP card. (VIP cards were passed out during the grand opening period)

I have read a lot of reviews and I have been to the ones in Rowland Heights and Irvine.
While the price is up there, in all of my experiences (I have gone in at least 5 times), the quality is very good and I believe it’s worth the price. The service has been great to me and I have had no problems what so ever.
The bread is not greasy, oily, or shiny like a lot of other Asian bakeries that use a lot of butter (like 85C).
I really like the texture of all of the breads and they can vary from being on the moist side, to more on the fluffy side depending on which bread you buy. The ones with nuts tend to be more dense. But I like all kinds of bread textures!
All in all, I really like this bakery and it’s the only one I go to now when I want to buy bread.
I am a person who doesn’t like very buttery, greasy, strongly flavored, or super sweet or salty foods. So please keep that in mind.
I have only tried 1 cake (which i forgot what it was, but it had chocolate cake and vanilla cream layers with bits of chocolate) and it was good. Not mindblowing, but I enjoyed it!

I had came in the night about 530pm, and the shelves were pretty empty by that time but they had a few loaves out. Got a few loaves but the one that stood out me the most was
the Wolf bread! oh man so super good! Just toast that bad boy in the toaster oven and a little bit of butter and im telling you i could have ate the whole loaf by myself!
the custard pie was delish! i ate half of one just waiting in line to pay.
Oh and they have samples! you can literally get full from sampling!
Their mango cake we bought a whole and it wasn’t to sweet and it was just right enough sweet, it was like and cakey. The aunites back at the house raved about.
Price is moderate.

Totally coming back during the day to get more selection.

Went in here after eating Boiling Point, thinking that this bakery would be something similar to 85 Bakery. but this place blows 85 bakery out of the water. Though the price tag is similar to 85 Bakery, the bread is definitely larger in size here. And let’s talk about the bread… I picked up the ones with a «top ten» sign. so I got a strawberry cheese bread ($ 2.5), garlic soft bread ($ 3), and a Pineapple&bacon bread ($ 2.5).
The size of the garlic soft bread is at least 3x the size of the ones I normally get at 85. They definitely named this bread correctly when they say «soft» you can expect it to be soft. I like my bread warm, so I warmed it up in the oven and the interior of the bread was so soft. It was like biting into a cloud. Other bakeries, when their bread is soft it tends to get stuck to the roof of my mouth due to the density, but Duke’s bread so soft and doesn’t get stuck like the others. This is comparable to the Vie de France in Costa Mesa, but Yayyy now I found my new favorite bakery. The Pineapple&bacon Bread was delicious, also very soft. I like my bread savory and let’s just say I’m satisfied:) Over the years I’ve noticed that 85’s price have gone up and the size have gone down, let’s hope Duke doesn’t pull this on me. I’ll definitely be back! Can’t wait to try more of their other selections.

Given it is a «bakery» don’t sniff in here at 5pm and think you’ll find much of a selection left. «When it is gone, it is gone»…
We tried various sweet or zesty bread flavors and they were lightly flavored (norm for an Asian bakery) but quite good. I took home a CREAM CHEESE TART which had a nice firm graham cracker crust and nice cheese which wasn’t too sweet (again, shock-​HER!).

I passed by this store and immediately thought it was interesting from the brand design to the notice that they have multiple stores. I really liked the design layout and the marketing of this bakery. Their business card even had instructions on how to keep specific types of bread fresh.
There weren’t that many breads on display but the presentation made it look so delicious. However, it was pricier but the increased portion size rationalized it in my mind. I selected two breads, one was a tuna cheese and another was a chicken cheese bread. Then I tried both the next day for breakfast/​lunch — it was just not good. I did not pick their favorite breads, but I didn’t like even one of them. It was a lot of bread, but not enough filling inside, which made it feel dry and not flavorful. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt since I didn’t try their favorite items.

THE CHOCOLATE BUNS ARE WHAT YOU COME HERE FOR. I mean that’s the most sold item here… so that must mean something. But don’t get shy with trying he other popular items!
They have really cool breads with different kinds of flavors that you can’t get at 85 Degrees or Bread Farm. They also have a lot of samples, so you can try before you buy. However, they do tend to sell out quickly, so either call ahead or come when they open.
Don’t be intimidated by the prices on the Unilocal pictures. They are somewhat lower ranging from $ 3 – 5. You can taste the quality and freshness of the ingredients, so you get what you’re paying for.
Parking can be an issue since the plaza is always packed.

I come to this plaza pretty often and I love Chinese bread, so naturally I’ve been here a few times. They have cut up samples of every type of bread inside the cases, so you can try before you buy, which is awesome! Most of the breads cost anywhere between $ 3 – 4, with some trending as high as $ 11 or so! But the prices are actually somewhat merited — the breads are much softer here, fresh baked on a daily basis, and the ingredients are simple, so you can really taste the difference. Their breads are also bigger in size than most of their competitors, so I’m always able to make one bread last for at least two servings, which makes the bread actually a bit more affordable than other places.
The inside of the bakery is very clean, spacious and extremely sanitary — perfect for me, since I’m a germaphobe! They even have a pair of tongs for every sample and every tray is freshly lined with parchment paper, so you can pick and choose your bread with the utmost cleanliness :) My favorite breads here are: hokkaido azuki toast, black sesame, chocolate buns, and any of the cheese breads. All of their breads are on the less sweet side and might seem a bit bland to most, but I personally appreciate how subtle they taste because I really don’t like things that are too sweet. The biggest drawback about this place is simply the lack of variety. Although they seemingly have a decent amount of different types of breads (like strawberry milk, banana, etc.)…they still don’t have nearly the same level of offerings that other Asian bakeries do because they don’t sell drinks, cakes, snacks, etc. I can appreciate their concept for sure, but I’m not sure if others will be able to. Despite all that, they told me they’re opening up another location in Irvine soon… so I guess we’ll see what South OC thinks of their concept!

I heard about this new bakery in Diamond Plaza so I made sure to stop by to check it out.
Everything is so expensive! The single pieces of bread costs around $ 3 – 4 or more. Also, a bag of plain toast costs $ 4! If you thought 85 bakery was expensive, you don’t even have to enter this place.
The good thing about this place is that they have samples where you can try the breads before buying them! I tried a few and ended up getting this cheese bread. It looks like a slice of pizza!!!
The cheese bread was actually… really GOOD! Even though it was $ 3, I think I might actually go back to get another one! The bread and cheese combination was actually really amazing.
I think I can only afford this place once a month, definitely not on a daily basis.
Also they have this fresh durian bread for $ 11! WTF! Who would pay over $ 10 for ONE bread? This is crazy.

It appears as though this is a new thing brought over from Singapore. It’s basically very similar to all other Chinese bakeries where you get a platter and prongs and walk around the store picking out the breads and treats you want and then pay at the register.
The best thing about this place is that they give you samples. And they are generous samples that are self serve. So after sampling about an entire loaf’s worth of bread, i picked 5 winners that included 2 garlicky breads, the yam bread, chocolate coffee bread, and the logan wine bread. The thing to keep on mind is their breads arent like regular pastry sized. They are gargantuan. Like, family style bread.
They also have a VIP member card that gives you 10% off all regular priced items $ 15 minimum purchase which really isnt hard to achieve. They wrap each bread in its own brown bag which makes it super clean. I likey!
Definitely worth a stop folks!

I tried to go here one weekend, and made a big fail attempt as I found out later that Duke Bakery was located in the Life Plaza, not the Four Seasons Plaza.
Another weekend went by, and going to the correct plaza, I swung by Duke. (Yes, I know that they were planning to open one in Arcadia, just that I didn’t know when, and didn’t want to figure it out. Found out today, it opened over the weekend.)
Going in on a Sunday afternoon, a small amount of their display cases were empty. Besides that, the shocker thing was the pastries were on the higher end, in terms of price. Instead of going home empty-​handed, I decided, for the sake of Unilocal and my stomach, to suck it up and cough up some cash to try this place out.
A few people would compare this place to 85, and even though both are bakeries, it’s not the same. Duke has a more bouncy texture to their breads, possibly from the Singaporean background; so a better place to compare it is Bake Code (which I will be writing a review for this place later). Overall, if you kind of overlook the price tag, it’s not a bad place to get a pastry or two. I do like that they are being a bit more modern with their flavoring, so maybe it’ll catch on with the public.
As for the pastries themselves, there’s not too bad. Like I said earlier, a bouncy texture, something different from all the other Asian bakeries around the SGV. Do note that if you grab a business card, there’s instructions on how to preserve and enjoy your purchase, something that I’ve only seen on Pizza Hut boxes.
The three stars is because I felt they could have a more diverse display of pastries, as I felt that it was a little underwhelming. Though, when I was there, there were fresh pastries coming out from the kitchen. I do like the little basket/​try you get, so you can «carry» your bread, instead of putting it on a tray and carrying it like any old bakery. And the other reason is that I still can’t get over the price tag; $ 7 for a freaken pastry? Maybe I should a bit more research on Duke, and with the new-​found knowledge, give them another try at the Arcadia branch.

I guess this is the newest bakery that is opened in Rowland Heights inside the Diamond Plaza where everything used to happen. I guess it is kind of gettinng busier again with many new businesses opening within the plaza including Creamistry, Phở Consommé, Gen BBQ and now Duke Bakery.
On my first time here, I was just amazed by all these loaves of bread on display. They were quite large and lists all the ingredients in a small tag for each bread they have. Not only that, they also have samples in small pieces that you can try before making your selections.
This bakery definitely is different from other bakeries nearby like JJ Bakery, 85 °C, and even Eat Cake. First of all, they do have variety of bread but the bread is a lot more than what you have been paying elsewhere. Minimum goes from $ 3 to even $ 11 per bread. But nevertheless, its pretty big and its on the ‘healthier’ side. They offer many breads without sugar and they seem to use the finest ingredients available.
I dont know if they have any drinks here because I didnt see any menu by the register but as the bread goes, its big, healthier options with nuts, cranberries as well as some with sugar, chocolate and also coffee.
One thing I really liked about this place was the tray where you place your bread before taking it to the register. Not like other bakeries, it’s just not a simple tray you have to carry with both of your hands but it has handles so you can actually hold it so much easily with just one hand. A sheet of paper is already placed on the tray as well.
The girl who greeted me upon entering was very helpful in explaining each bread and made recommendations but she mistaken me for Chinese and talked to me in Chinese for awhile. I was like uh… But whatever, I cant really complain because I am literally in China.
Despite all the healthier options and pretty nice looking and tasting bread, I dont know if I will be a regular. I like the sweet, garlicy, savory bread more than no sugar breads. I guess my taste buds are too young to know the better taste for bread.

Finally something different !! We know that around RH we are surrounded by so many different bakeries but honestly they offered pretty much the same bread. Duke Bakery offers quality and a different taste of bread.
Prices are higher than other bakeries but it’s sizes are also bigger. Also their breads can be heated in a microwave and they still taste fresh and great. I don’t think u can do that with another bread somewhere else !! Awesome taste, quality and selection.
They do have a great selection but they run out pretty fast!
Recommendations:
— Mt blue coffee
— garlic
— milky read bean
— Durian (only if you like the fruit)
ENJOY!

Duke Bakery (located in the Diamond Plaza) just opened on Sunday and decided to come by here with my husband this evening after having dinner at Tokyo Shabu Shabu. Usually when a new bakery opens, there are lines out the door with people waiting to get inside… but that didn’t happen here. During our short visit here, we saw plenty of people just walk in and walk out without purchasing anything.
With only a few cases with baked breads, (most of the cases were empty) there wasn’t much of a selection to choose from. It was nice that there is sample pieces for some of their baked items. But what was truly disappointing was the prices! Items are anywhere as low as $ 3 and as high as $ 9! Wow that is expensive, especially for an Asian bakery.
For their soft opening, they currently had their a 20% off your total purchase, however that ended today. With only picking up 2 baked items, my total came out to over $ 10. And although the baked breads I purchased were good, they weren’t great. Nor was there anything unique about their breads that would make them stand out from other Asian bakeries (such as 85*C or Kee Wah).
I really had high hopes for this place and had long awaited their business opening, but unfortunately they failed. This place will not survive unless they lower their prices, especially with many Asian bakeries nearby with similar items for a much cheaper price.