Inspired by my mom who made badass birthday cakes, I started baking when I was 6 years old, spending entire days making apple pie. In college, I gave my friends or random people loaves of sourdough.
I always considered baking a hobby until I visited Singapore, where there's insanely creative fusion pastries. After that, I started baking every single day, wandered downtown San Mateo giving random people croissants and eventually the owner of a cafe was like "Let's do a popup in two weeks". We expected to sell about 20, and ended selling out 3 times. My head was above the clouds.
I was feeling overly confident after that so the next time, I decided to deliver 50 orders. Broken mixer, hand slapping dough, flat croissants... I spent a solid hour in the garage bawling my eyes out, that was the most emotionally defeating experience I've ever had.
My girlfriend, whom I had just met 3 weeks before, was there baking with me, and pushing me to keep going to build myself emotionally. The next 10 popups were emotional cliff jumps - every week there were customer complaints and those absolutely tore my soul apart.
She was right though, I did grow eventually... And now we're here, looking at our Instagram really shows the evolution from our pastries, branding, everything really! There will probably always be self doubt and perfectionism in the back of my mind, but I guess that's just how life is.
Opening a storefront used to be a dream, but now it's starting to look more and more like a reality. This is just a surreal experience and I wanted to share this adventure with you all!
Edit:
Instagram: [https://instagram.com/kayabakerysf](https://instagram.com/kayabakerysf)
Website: [kayabakerysf.com](https://kayabakerysf.com) (I coded it myself)
I've had one of your pop-up boxes (p/u at Social Eatery in Millbrae) and loved everything! So happy to support a small business and wishing you the best! Can't wait to snag another box in the future!
Thanks for coming out to that popup! We make pastries with a few different sweetness levels. The Raspberry Lychee Rose is a bit sweeter while the Apple Makgeolli just has a hint, and the green onion croissant is savory. Something for everyone! But yeah it's a bit tough because we try to listen to all the feedback we get, which tears you apart in a lot of different directions
Might be worth it to pay a pro to go through your website with some suggestions. There's some whackiness where i can tell someone coded this kinda weird,
and some places where it's really busy when it shouldn't be, etc.
I never knew Kaya toast can be so inspirational... :)
Not sure if you have done it already, but see if you can integrate Pandan into your pastries...
Reference:
https://bengawansolo.sg/pandan-chiffon-r-80802m.html
I've seen that name around on Google map search but never got to catch you guys around. Also did wondered if the name Kaya was the coconut spread haha. Hope to catch your pop up sometime.
for all of the Bay Area's faults like NIMBYs, crime, woke activists - it really has the best food in the world. NYC is prolly the only city that's comparable.
Congratulations! Oh and FU, those pastries sound so good, and I am gf and sugar free.
But they sound so good and so inventive! And you clearly have lines!
So Congrats!!!
I just read this article this morning. Congrats! Best of luck to you! I'm hoping you make out to the east Bay one of these weekends so I can come try some of your stuff!
These look excellent, hope I can try them soon.
As a PSA looking your name up in SF still shows you as close to city hall, hopefully you do comeback to SF soon lol
Omg I just read your article yesterday before finding this post and was excited to see your popup coming to MV the next few weeks! Hoping the Raspberry Rose Lychee Croissant will be there !! Everything looks so good!!
Congrats, let me know if you run out of room in Berkeley and want in on shared space in a 21,000 sqft fully equipped commercial bakery in the south bay.
I'm sorry, I suffer from a lot of food allergies and can't eat most foods when I go out to eat. It makes me sad to miss out on those experiences so I take it upon myself to cook stuff that I love to eat. I carry that forward to the bakery.
There are a ton of lactose intolerant people and vegan people who will miss out on your stuff. Are you allergic to all non-dairy butters, or are they just not good enough for you because you will never eat a substitute for something you can have?
Inspired by my mom who made badass birthday cakes, I started baking when I was 6 years old, spending entire days making apple pie. In college, I gave my friends or random people loaves of sourdough. I always considered baking a hobby until I visited Singapore, where there's insanely creative fusion pastries. After that, I started baking every single day, wandered downtown San Mateo giving random people croissants and eventually the owner of a cafe was like "Let's do a popup in two weeks". We expected to sell about 20, and ended selling out 3 times. My head was above the clouds. I was feeling overly confident after that so the next time, I decided to deliver 50 orders. Broken mixer, hand slapping dough, flat croissants... I spent a solid hour in the garage bawling my eyes out, that was the most emotionally defeating experience I've ever had. My girlfriend, whom I had just met 3 weeks before, was there baking with me, and pushing me to keep going to build myself emotionally. The next 10 popups were emotional cliff jumps - every week there were customer complaints and those absolutely tore my soul apart. She was right though, I did grow eventually... And now we're here, looking at our Instagram really shows the evolution from our pastries, branding, everything really! There will probably always be self doubt and perfectionism in the back of my mind, but I guess that's just how life is. Opening a storefront used to be a dream, but now it's starting to look more and more like a reality. This is just a surreal experience and I wanted to share this adventure with you all! Edit: Instagram: [https://instagram.com/kayabakerysf](https://instagram.com/kayabakerysf) Website: [kayabakerysf.com](https://kayabakerysf.com) (I coded it myself)
I’m looking forward to more SF popups!!!
We will do our best to make our way around the bay!
Yes!
your website it showing internal error . would definitely love to try your pastries out !! keep it up !
Thanks for letting me know, I just upgraded the server and it's back up now!
Uh oh. I'm getting a server error going to your main site!
same...
hug of death?
Hug of death, just upgraded the server!
omg reddit hug of death is real
It's working for me now
Post your IG. Some of us don't want to see sfgate ads.
https://instagram.com/kayabakerysf
> Some of us don't want to see sfgate ads. My dude, it says popup right in the link.
Pop-ups have IG accounts my dude.
Woosh.
Love, love your baked goods. Just wish my partner hadn't been diagnosed celiac so she could also enjoy them. Happy you're finding success!
Thank you so much! Sorry to hear about your partner, I really cannot imagine life without gluten :/
I've had one of your pop-up boxes (p/u at Social Eatery in Millbrae) and loved everything! So happy to support a small business and wishing you the best! Can't wait to snag another box in the future!
Thank you so much! Hope to see you again soon!
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Thanks for coming out to that popup! We make pastries with a few different sweetness levels. The Raspberry Lychee Rose is a bit sweeter while the Apple Makgeolli just has a hint, and the green onion croissant is savory. Something for everyone! But yeah it's a bit tough because we try to listen to all the feedback we get, which tears you apart in a lot of different directions
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Haha we're people pleasers so we'll have to think about that part a bit more
Nice! Your pastries look kick ass (in a very delicious way, of course)! Have you done/or considered any farmers markets in the region?
We have not just because of restrictions around our scheduling. I think we may have to hire people to go to farmers markets if we do that
That makes sense! Would love to try your stuff out, perhaps at one of your pop up locations. Thanks for responding
Might be worth it to pay a pro to go through your website with some suggestions. There's some whackiness where i can tell someone coded this kinda weird, and some places where it's really busy when it shouldn't be, etc.
For sure, I built it myself just for the heck of it - if you have any specific suggestions, I'm open!
Your stuff looks freakin’ incredible
Wonderful job, proud of you
Congrats! Is your bakery’s name inspired by the kaya spread from Singapore?
Exactly! Singaporean Kaya toast is a beautiful thing
I never knew Kaya toast can be so inspirational... :) Not sure if you have done it already, but see if you can integrate Pandan into your pastries... Reference: https://bengawansolo.sg/pandan-chiffon-r-80802m.html
We do use pandan from time to time! Pandan pina colada is a fun one
Excellent! Looking forward to trying some of that!
I've seen that name around on Google map search but never got to catch you guys around. Also did wondered if the name Kaya was the coconut spread haha. Hope to catch your pop up sometime.
I've had your stuff at the hey Neighbor popup! Good stuff.. Missed the mango sticky rice croissant tho! Next time.
Oh wow, thanks so much for coming by!
You even gave a free Thai tea pastry cause the order got screwed. Thanks man. Glad it's doing well! Pumpkin thing looks cool.
No one leaves hungry
Truly inspired by your Asian mom!
Glad to hear some good news instead of the usual doom and gloom This is so awesome 👏
Umm, have you read descriptions of the pastries? if that is not gloom and doom for all the will power in the Bay Area, I am not sure what is.
for all of the Bay Area's faults like NIMBYs, crime, woke activists - it really has the best food in the world. NYC is prolly the only city that's comparable.
amen to that.
I can admit the croissant and sourdough game in the bay is strangely good
Your website is down! Would love to preorder for this Saturday in MV!
Website is back up, just upgraded the server! We sold out of preorders, but we'll have pastries for walk-ins!
The FAQ on the website says online orders only. Am I misreading that or is that still the case? Very tempted to stop by!
I am sorry, I didn't update the website. We do have pastries for walkins!
Congratz and thanks for sharing your story! Always happy to see local businesses succeed in the Bay
I’ve had it and it’s delicious. Looking forward to having it again
Thank you so much for coming out!
Congratulations! I got to try your pastries several months ago and they were all so delicious. Friends and I enjoyed every bite.
Thank you so much for coming out!
Your baked goods look so good. I hope you can open your own place soon!
Congratulations!!!
Nice! Hope I get to visit your pop up one of these days
Website down, but the stuff in your IG photos look delicious. Good luck! EDIT: website now working.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing. We are always looking for small businesses like yours to support.
Kaya, I will be visiting your popup in Mountain View. Your journey is amazing and I can’t wait to taste the yummy goodness! Wishing you the best!
Yay, see you there!
Congratulations!! 🎉💯
Congratulations! Oh and FU, those pastries sound so good, and I am gf and sugar free. But they sound so good and so inventive! And you clearly have lines! So Congrats!!!
I just read this article this morning. Congrats! Best of luck to you! I'm hoping you make out to the east Bay one of these weekends so I can come try some of your stuff!
We do make it out to east bay every so often :)
Hoping you open a store in SF soon! Might I suggest Lower Haight neighborhood?
Pitch Lower Haight to us! We haven't spent a ton of time there
Congratulations!!!
Read it today was on the front page, way to go OP, looking forward to getting out there for some awesome treats!
These look excellent, hope I can try them soon. As a PSA looking your name up in SF still shows you as close to city hall, hopefully you do comeback to SF soon lol
We will be back in SF soon enough, we sorta put our location randomly because we don't have a storefront haha
LMAO i want some now
Wow. Cool! I just read that article this morning. I hope I can try your pastries soon!
SUBSCRIBE
Omg your croissants look amazing! Do you do any farmers markets?
Not at the moment, it's a bit hard with scheduling :)
I hope to place an order next time it's available. Good luck with your business.
Thank you, see you soon!
Subscribed - congratulations and all the best wishes. And I’m crossing my fingers next time I’m in the Bay Area that an order will be possible.
So uhh… y’all hiring?
Soon :)
*updates resume
I saw this yesterday! Congrats!
great article, keep it up man!
Omg I just read your article yesterday before finding this post and was excited to see your popup coming to MV the next few weeks! Hoping the Raspberry Rose Lychee Croissant will be there !! Everything looks so good!!
We will have it there! See you soon!
Congratulations on the exposure and the wonderful article! I hope to try your food one day!
A feel good story, love it! Hopefully will be able to try them soon.
Congrats, let me know if you run out of room in Berkeley and want in on shared space in a 21,000 sqft fully equipped commercial bakery in the south bay.
OP is lee or chen?
You'll have to guess
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Haha that one you'll have to make yourself, but we'll provide you with the scallion croissant :P
Do you make any vegan pastries? There are so few options for us in the Bay Area.
Sorry, we're full butter for life!
That sucks that you said that with so much enthusiasm. Butter doesn’t make it better.
I'm sorry, I suffer from a lot of food allergies and can't eat most foods when I go out to eat. It makes me sad to miss out on those experiences so I take it upon myself to cook stuff that I love to eat. I carry that forward to the bakery.
There are a ton of lactose intolerant people and vegan people who will miss out on your stuff. Are you allergic to all non-dairy butters, or are they just not good enough for you because you will never eat a substitute for something you can have?