Buka Bakehouse — Restaurant in Grand Rapids Charter Township

TLDR: I would give this bakery 6 out of 5 stars if I could.

I’ve been gluten free for about 6 years (not celiac, gluten intolerance). Last week I made the decision to start integrating gluten back into my diet, so I searched out bakeries in the area (I wanted “real,” fresh, hand-made bread). Buka exceeded my wildest dreams. I entered the store, and immediately Bujar greeted me and helped me select a loaf (split wheat) and also gave me a free sample of his olive loaf right there, still warm from the oven and slathered in butter. It was so good I almost cried. I’ve now bought 3 different loaves from him, each better than the last. While my journey to reintroduce gluten has not been completely without symptoms, I’m doing so much better than I thought I would. I believe much of the reason is that I’ve been eating this bread - it’s all made from sourdough (and therefore lower FODMAP) and is made with wholesome flour and good, clean ingredients (and very few ingredients at that). I’m looking forward to being able to eat real bread from now on!!! I really can’t explain how life changing this is. Thank you so...

Super disappointed to find cavernous holes in my $10.50 loaf, which is otherwise delicious. Knead out the holes, and I'd be able to add a spread or make a sandwich. The giant hole really was a cavern. :(

Good: An "open crumb" has large, consistent holes throughout the interior of the bread. This creates a light, airy texture that is very appealing. Bad: If you have scattered, excessively large holes with dense spots around them, or "tunnels" along the length of the loaf, this can indicate issues like: Under-proofing Insufficient kneading or gluten development Improper shaping (trapping large air pockets) Oven not hot enough Ultimately, while many sourdough bakers strive for an open crumb with large holes, the "ideal" crumb can also depend on personal preference and what you intend to use the bread for. Some people prefer a slightly more closed crumb for things like sandwiches, where fillings might fall through...

I didn't expect it, but this bakery brings a little bit of life to my day, and it stands for so many things I think deserves the almighty dollar. My wife suffers from an inflammatory gut and usually can't consume dairy, and she can literally eat anything prepared in this bakery. A huge blessing for us. Burek's are staple in my house and we look forward to getting 'em. We don't eat fast food, and that thing is perfect for us to grab on the go, guilt free! It's so stinking good. .. and the owner, Bujar, that dude is so awesome. You can tell he loves serving his community through baking. It's so palpable. I love it. He brings a foundation of great culture that shines through his staff. Talk to him for 2 minutes and you'll feel his energy. The heart of this bakery is something we don't see often in America anymore. It reminds me of how small business used to be; prepared from scratch with love, delivered with...