Japonaise Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Brookline

I first heard about Japonaise over 5 years ago, so when we were stuck in a long line for Kyo Matcha and saw Japonaise next door, it felt like fate. I hopped on over and checked out their offerings. They have a display shelf of all of the non-refrigerated pastries so that you can peruse them before ordering. They also have day old pastries and bread sold at a discount, as well as shokupan loaves. There were so many cute and interesting pastries -- so hard to choose! I ended up choosing 4 items to bring back home, which we ate later that evening.

I got the shio butter roll ($2.50). It was very light and fluffy, with a slightly buttery inside, mild sweetness, and some salt crystals on the top. This was quite simple and good.

We also tried the chikuwa pan ($4.75), which has a cylindrical fish cake running lengthwise, stuffed with tuna, wrapped in Kewpie mayo, all inside of a soft bun (similar to the shio butter roll). It was quite the interesting pastry -- certainly unlike anything I've tried before. I probably wouldn't get this again, but I'm glad I tried it!

We got the kinoko cream ($5.00), which is a puff pastry with mushrooms and cheese. I really liked the mushrooms and crispy cheese on this pastry, though I don't think the pastry itself was that flaky/good. It's possible that it would taste much better heated/crisped up in an oven, though!

Finally, we got the black sesame melon pan ($3.95). The black sesame cookie topping was indeed pretty crunchy, while the bread was similar to the other breads we had tried -- light and fluffy. Since the topping and bread were not very sweet, I found myself wanting a filling. I think melon pan is usually more sweet/has more topping.

Overall I enjoyed trying the unique flavor combinations at Japonaise, and everything that I tried was good. If I came back, I would want to try one of their custard cream filled pastries -- I felt like the breads that I tried were quite plain and could use more...

I have been a fan of this bakery for many many years, it is with sadness that I report a low rating. This bakery has changed a lot over the years. First of all, I find their space to be more and more messy and disorganized over the years. This is quite not Japanese like. I would also like the owner to consider renovating a bit to refresh the look. It has a tired and stale smell which does not help selling yummy goods. Especially since new competitor Tatte is right across the street. This bakery calls itself Japonaise, the name carries weight of the Japanese spirit. It really does not reflect that nowadays other than its pastries...

Second of all with their classic offerings, the Japanese strawberry cake. Over the years, fresh cream recipe has changed or the cream ingredient has changed. It no longer tastes as good. It has also gotten sweeter. The sliced strawberries in between the layers got replaced with the strawberry jam. A true disappointment to be honest. The Azuki cream bun reduced its size by half. Again the cream has lost its previous fresh cream taste. The Japanese chicken sandwich bun was replaced with a bland bread... all these subtle changes, if you don’t have the history in mind, if I had not liked this bakery so much in the past and had eaten these for so many times, would not have been noticed... That’s why it saddens me.

What I notice is the business spirit behind this shop has changed. I feel the owner does not convey the intent of delivering delightful goods, instead I got the sense they are doing things from a cost saving perspective. Dear owner, I don’t mind paying more for a truly divine piece of pastry. You do have a bunch of loyal followers. Some of your goodies are still quite good. Please consider improve on the details. Please clean up and try better. I would like to continue to be...

Brookline's beloved Japonaise bakery is BACK!! After a long wait, Japonaise Bakery is back in business! All your favorites are back and better than ever. Featuring:

Totoro Pan: Totoro Pan is a reference to the character Totoro from Studio Ghibli's iconic film "My Neighbor Totoro." This pastry is shaped like Totoro, offering a cute and whimsical treat. It's a must-try, and it has a loyal fan following.

Ichigo Cream: Ichigo means "strawberry" in Japanese. Ichigo Cream is a pastry featuring a creamy and luscious strawberry filling. It's a delightful choice for those who enjoy the combination of creamy textures and the sweet-tart flavor of strawberries.

Azuki Cream: Azuki beans are commonly used in Japanese desserts. Azuki Cream is a pastry filled with a smooth and sweet red bean paste and complemented with a creamy component. It's a classic Japanese treat appreciated for its balance of flavors and textures.

Matcha Azuki Cream: Matcha is powdered green tea, and it's a beloved flavor in Japanese cuisine. Matcha Azuki Cream combines the earthy and slightly bitter taste of matcha with the sweet, nutty notes of azuki bean paste. The result is a harmonious blend of flavors that many find irresistible.

These pastry items showcase the bakery's commitment to Japanese-inspired flavors and creativity in pastry-making. If you're in Brookline, it's definitely worth stopping by Japonaise Bakery to savor these delicious offerings and experience their delightful interpretations of classic and unique pastries. Don't forget to take the Green (C) Line towards St. Mary's St station for convenient access.

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