Diotima Bakehouse

One of the most interesting bakeries in Orange County is only open three days a week, with lines forming outside each day before it opens, while seemingly always operating on the very edge of its capacity. Having celebrated its first year in business in 2024, Diotima Bakehouse is the Mission Viejo storefront run by Kian Moltaji, a charming and humble young chef whose personal Instagram account is more frequently updated than the restaurant’s social media or webpage.

The latter still lacks any menu after more than a year in business, and solely advertises baking classes at time of writing. Customers either have to visit the shop to learn what’s there – or what’s left by the time they arrive – or look at the chef’s briefly-posted Instagram stories to see a given day’s sweet or savory specials, which could be anything from a French cuisine-inspired pastry (beef bourginon) to smoked salmon or something distinctly Persian.

As you’ll learn once you visit, Diotima’s display case is filled with flaky pastries – croissants and kouign ammans – as well as cookies, cakes, miniature pies and tarts. Anything with pistachios, from their baklava croissants to pistachio-chocolate chip cookies, is a must-try; the pistachio baklava croissant may well be the single best crossaint served anywhere in Orange County. (And that’s saying something, given nearby Little France Bakery’s obvious talents.)