85 Degrees C Bakery

In many parts of America, the mere presence of an 85°C Bakery would be nothing short of miraculous. Especially during breakfast and lunch hours, it’s easy to find something good at this full-fledged Taiwanese bake shop with an affordable coffee and tea bar: The sweets and drinks include classic French and American items like ham and cheese croissants, plus more contemporary treats ranging from chocolate hazelnut muffins to matcha red bean cake rolls, tiger-striped brown sugar boba, and mango coconut pearl drinks. Refrigerated cases beautifully display multiple full-sized cakes and single-portion desserts, while tables and shelf displays hold room temperature baked goods and small bags of cookies.

Since 85°C Bakery’s first U.S. location opened in Irvine back in 2008, its locations have become so common in Orange County that they’re easy to take for granted – and yet still sometimes get overwhelmed with customers. Service hiccups that developed during the pandemic have thankfully been resolved, and prices haven’t swelled as much with inflation. While 85°C wouldn’t generally be our first pick for weekend coffee or tea drinks, they’re more affordable than at many other cafes these days.