85C Bakery Cafe - Balboa Mesa — Restaurant in San Diego

Dear 85° Bakery Management,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share my recent experience at your Balboa Shopping Center location, which was unfortunately quite disappointing.

During my visit today (September 2, 2024), I ordered a smoothie and several pastry items (order: 02944). Unfortunately, I noticed that the male barista who started making my smoothie left it unfinished on the counter while he went to the kitchen for an extended period. After several minutes, he returned but completely forgot about my order.

Meanwhile, the female barista continued to process new orders and made drinks for customers who had ordered after me. When the female barista called out for customers to collect their drinks, I politely brought my situation to her attention, pointing out that my smoothie was sitting there and that I had been waiting for quite some time. To my surprise, she responded that she would finish it but then proceeded to work on new orders instead.

After a few more minutes, she finally completed my smoothie and handed it to me, wishing me a "have a nice day." Regrettably, the smoothie was melted and warm by that point, and I was disappointed that she did not offer to make a fresh one. The overall service from both baristas was lacking, and I believe they should be held accountable for the level of care and attention given to customers. I have always enjoyed your products, but this experience has left me frustrated.

I hope you will address this issue to ensure that others do not have a similar experience in the future. Thank you for taking the time to consider...

85°C Bakery Cafe: Where Nostalgia Meets Perfection

By: Sidd Captures

Some places don’t just serve food—they evoke memories, transporting you to moments in time when every bite felt like home. 85°C Bakery Cafe does exactly that. With its endless display of perfectly golden pastries, pillowy breads, and decadent cakes, it’s a haven for those who believe that the best things in life come fresh from the oven.

Stepping inside, you’re hit with the unmistakable warmth of a bakery in full swing—the scent of buttery brioche, rich coffee, and caramelized sugar wrapping around you like an old friend. The Sea Salt Coffee is an experience in itself, a masterclass in contrast: smooth, bold espresso meets the delicate sweetness of cream, finished with a briny kiss of sea salt that lingers just long enough to keep you coming back for more.

But where 85°C truly shines is in its pastries—the delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cheese tarts, the soft, custard-filled brioche, and of course, the legendary taro buns, each bite a balance of sweetness and texture that reminds you why great bakeries are timeless.

In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the legendary Junior’s Cheesecake in New York City—not just in its quality, but in its ability to create an experience. Like Junior’s, 85°C isn’t just about desserts; it’s about craftsmanship, nostalgia, and the universal comfort of a perfect bite.

Whether you’re stopping in for a quick treat or leaving with a box filled with your new favorites, 85°C Bakery Cafe is proof that some places don’t just make pastries—they...

The founder of 85°C Bakery Cafe, Cheng Hsueh Wu, wanted to provide high quality coffee, bread, and cake at an affordable price and I have to say, he doesn’t disappoint. 85°C is a wonderful bakery considering the comforting atmosphere, pleasing customer service, and delicious confections. I visited this location back in June 2018, and it was great weather to enjoy an Iced Hazelnut Latte with a Mangotale while sitting under the umbrella covered tables outside the cafe. My all time favorite bread would be the Brioche because of the soft, fluffy texture and light sweetness; but I like to try something different every time I stop by. The best time to visit is in the midmorning so that you can avoid the traffic but also enjoy fresh bread since the chefs bring a new batch out the kitchen routinely. The only down side to this is you might miss out on a particular product or have to wait for the new batch to finish baking. The staff are very accommodating; once when I went in with my two children to grab a big order, they offered to hold onto my box while I took my kids to the restroom and even ask if I needed help bringing it to my car. I definitely make it a priority to stop by here whenever I'm in the area. I hope that this review helps and that you have a great experience at this...