Bonchaz Bakery Cafe
Matcha Green Tea Bonchaz
426 West Hastings St. Vancouver
If you like the smell of freshly baked bread and also appreciate cozy, hipster joints with open-concept kitchens and coffee served in a french press then you’ll love Bonchaz. Since it opened earlier in the year, I have been hearing about Bonchaz non-stop. Bonchaz is also situated at a great location right beside the #135 bus stop on West Hastings Street. So it’s pretty hard to ignore the warm air and tasty, buttery smells of baked milk buns wafting from Bonchaz while you’re waiting for that #135 bus (which is always late!).
Bonchaz Bakery Cafe, 426 W. Hastings St.
A bonchaz is a type of pastry- a yeast milk butter bun that is baked. And the buns are literally baked before your eyes just like their slogan claims. I bought half a dozen buns (one of each flavour), and my server took each bun straight out of the little ovens behind the cash register and put them into a box for me. When I opened the box at home, the smell was extraordinary. Each bun is topped with a thin crispy topping and filled with flavoured filling. The flavours available at Bonchaz include: Original, Matcha green tea, Chocolate truffle, Banana walnut and Apple cinnamon. My favourite is a tie between Original and the Chocolate truffle. The Original bonchaz filling reminded me of the tasty Chinese custard buns, the bonchaz filling tasted buttery with a custard-like consistency and a hint of sweetness. The Chocolate truffle bun was decadent with thick, rich chocolate filling inside and chocolate sprinkles on top. I also loved the Apple cinnamon bonchaz with diced cubes of real apple mixed into the filling and baked on top of the bun. The actual buns are as soft and flaky as feathers. It’s pretty hard to eat just one.
Chocolate Truffle Bonchaz
Original Bonchaz with real butter and sea salt
6 Responses to Bonchaz Bakery Cafe
foodess
on August 13, 2010
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I could definitely do a buttery sweet custardy bun… I gotta try one!
food punk
on August 13, 2010
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Make sure you eat it hot… it’ll melt in your mouth…
MizzJ
on August 24, 2010
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Wow these sound amazing!
food punk
on September 5, 2010
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You definitely have to try the original flavoured Bonchaz… that hint of coffee in it is perfect for a cold morning… especially now that Vancouver’s trademark rainy days are back…
Anabel
on February 3, 2011
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I had this for the first time in Korea last fall – they were “all the rage”. I always appreciate it when something tastes the same no matter where you are in the world…doesn’t always happen. I’ve just read about 20 of your posts…and really miss Vancity now! Thanks for the food reminders.
food punk
on February 5, 2011
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Thanks for reading! Yes, these bonchaz buns were delectable… they’re not as stuffed with filling as traditional custard and red bean Chinese steamed buns though. Which are also readily available in Vancouver… Where are you living now? I saw some NYC posts on your blog… now THAT’S a foodie dream city…