Little France Coffee & Bakery Mission Viejo
The original location of a leading OC bakery specializes in French pastries and cafe items
Little France Coffee & Bakery is the original Mission Viejo location of a small chain that now also includes the former Shokuh Patisserie in Newport Beach. While these locations have similar names and overlap in some items, the Mission Viejo shop has more of an outdoor cafe vibe with a heavier emphasis on croissants, salads, and sandwiches, while the Newport Beach location now has a full-service creperie.
While Little France Bakery makes attractive and delicious sweets, including gold-flecked chocolate balls and a nice range of small and large macarons, its mastery of the look, textures, and flavors of viennoiserie croissants is what truly won us over. Bicolored and laminated to a glossy finish outside, they’re flaky and buttery inside with nut or fruit flavors that are nearly as impressive as their looks. You can pair them here with handmade coffee drinks, including lattes.
Perfectly baked croissants, caneles, fruit tarts, and kouign ammans are available at this location, alongside “croissandwiches,” salads, omelettes, quiches, croque monsieurs and madames. Miniature cakes and oversized macarons are beautiful, and though they’re a step below Shokuh’s in their prime, truly won us over with delicate baking and strong ingredients, including high-quality chocolates and fruits.
There’s just enough seating outside for a small collection of families and friends to enjoy cafe-style dining while a line forms inside, with impressively friendly counter and table service. We would recommend a visit to either or both of this bakery’s locations; they’re both delivering French-style baked goods on a level rarely seen elsewhere in Orange County, and certainly worth a premium compared to store-made alternatives.
Stats
Price: $-$$
Service: Counter
Open Since: 2019
Addresses
Little France Coffee & Bakery
28181 Marguerite Pkwy. #21
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
949.218.4327
Instagram: @littlefrance.bakery