ZAO Bakery + Café — Restaurant in Saint Paul

There is alleyway parking and side street parking.

Bakery options rotate on a regular basis. Bread is on point, nice and fluffy, with the right amount of chew. There is also ham sui gok options is perfectly done with the right amount of crispiness on the outside, and the right QQ with the glutinous rice, and the fillings go very well. Steamed bao are also airy and are perfectly QQ (way better bread compared to Ha Tien's baos, where the bread is insanely dense and not really proofed well and possibly doesn't use hot water dough). Standout pastries to get (to date): barbeque pork bun (flavor bomb), pineapple bun (probably the best I've had in the Midwest), steamed pork bao (filling is also very QQ as well, and reheats very well at home in a steamer), youtiao (the best I've had in the Midwest as well). It's very hard to not walk out with one or two of everything.

Noodle soup and congee portions for both are generous. The noodle soup broth is a little bit on the sweeter side in comparison to the typical Hong Kong-style noodles soups. Meat selection has some vegetables for noodle soups. The congee is also garnished with cilantro, fried onion. Both recommended if you're looking for a hearty (but not too heavy) meal. I had the chicken congee, which included drizzled chicken oil/fat where the chicken is nicely tender and slightly salty. I've also had the roast pork noodle soup, which also has tender pork and the right amount of flavor. I recommend getting the youtaio to go with the congee for textural contrast. Also recommend adding chili garnish available at the tables to the soup and congee for extra kick.

The drink that needs to be spotlighted is their soy milk. It's made from scratch. That's right. They make it the old fashioned way by soaking soybeans, blending it/pulverizing it, straining it, and cooking it. It's thick. Fresh batches every few days. None of the store stuff where it's almost always either too thin or all sorts of thickeners have been added (usually carageen and guar gum which ruins the flavor of the soy milk and the mouthfeel is still off). I've done it at home, and it's not easy. It's worth the $3.50-ish for the drink. Get it without sugar. No ice, if it's cold (and tip accordingly). Add a little bit of salt if it's hot. It's supposed to be slightly beany, but also thick and rich as well. I've looked for good soy milk in the Twin Cities for years and never found anything satisfactory. Now I've found it, and it gets very close to what you'd get if you were to go to Taiwan. Of note, the owners say that they do flavor it with pandan when they cook the soy milk, kind of the Asian version of vanilla. Honestly, I'd buy it in half gallon containers, if they every decide to scale up the process. Yes, they make teas and milk teas as options, but I think the soy milk is the underrated star on their drink menu.

Bakery items are on the pricier side (about $4 per bun), but they are done so, so well. Go early for the freshest selections. Their selection runs out at the end of the day and gets a bit stale. They are also constantly looking to experiment to improve current items and also to try to bring new items up to the menu in the menu. I'm so excited for them.

No disrespect to the new Keefer Court in Asian Mall in Eden Prairie. Honestly. But Zao is fills the hole when we lost Keefer Court on Cedar Ave. during the Pandemic. Zao is everything the new Keefer Court in Asia Mall in Eden Prairie wishes to be (and with the higher prices), but does it much,...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting ZAO Bakery and Deli located on University and Dale in Saint Paul, and I must say, it's a delightful addition to the area. For those who remember Keefer Court Bakery on Cedar Ave in Minneapolis—now closed—you'll find this new spot to be a fantastic alternative.

Ambiance: The layout is clean, bright, and inviting, creating a pleasant atmosphere for customers. The baked goods are beautifully displayed in buffet-style cases, making it easy to choose your favorites. Once you've made your selection, you simply pay at the end of the line. The deli side offers spacious seating, and your food is brought to you when your name is called—quite convenient!

Baked Goods: The selection of savory and sweet options is impressive, featuring delightful items such as curry chicken and BBQ pork buns, along with delicious pineapple and almond cookies. Be sure to check out the full menu!

Deli Offerings: The menu also includes comforting congee and noodle soups, perfect for a satisfying meal.

Parking: A dozen or so open lot parking spots available, located on the side of the building. Enter on University Ave, cross street is Kent (half a block EAST from Dale).

Overall Experience: Everything I tried was fantastic, and the prices are quite reasonable compared to other local options. For just $3.99 a bun, $9.99 for congee, and $12.99 for noodle soup, you get delicious food that’s even better than what you might find at the new Keefer Court in Asia Mall, Eden Prairie.

If you’re looking for a new favorite spot in Saint Paul, I highly recommend giving ZAO Bakery...

I went here for the first time today, 8/10, and I really enjoyed it. I got a coconut cocktail bun, a ham, cheddar, and egg sandwich/bun, and green tea. The coconut bun had just enough flavor to tell it was coconut, but it wasn't overpowering. The ham, cheddar, and egg bun was also delicious. The buns were fluffy and light, perfect for something early in the morning or if you're not too hungry. The green tea was also good. The employee told me it would take a minute to steep and she brought it out to me when it was done, which I thought was really nice. I don't know her name, but she was really nice. Pricing is pretty good; I initially got the coconut cocktail bun and the green tea came out to $7 and some change (got the ham, cheddar, and egg bun a little bit later because it also looked good to me and I wanted to try a few items)

The décor added a nice touch. There were paper lanterns, plants, and statues. It wasn't overwhelming or made the café feel overcrowded. They had some light music playing and it wasn't loud or anything like that. The seating area, though limited, was spacious and there was a lot of windows, which let in a lot of natural light. There wasn't much of a wait and I found a table right away. I did come in a few minutes after they opened though, so I don't know what it's like later in the day.

I wish I could give more stars, but Google only lets me...