Bits & Bites Bakery + Cafe — Restaurant in Saugus

I rarely write reviews unless I am impressed and truly believe in a product. So here goes:

I first heard of Bits and Bites and Kristine back in 2021 when she still resided in Washington. Her ensaymadas (Phil brioche-like roll) were recommended to me as being the best compared to the ones we could purchase locally in metro Boston. I received it promptly in the mail and was amazed. Her shipping and packaging process caught my interest. It was well wrapped and vacuum sealed to ensure freshness. It was then I knew she had "it." I tried one ensaymada and I was hooked. It was the most moist and sublime roll I had ever tasted and still continue to crave it up to this day. When I heard that she would be moving back to Massachusetts, I was elated! Since then I have been a loyal customer trying all her wares. Everything that comes out of her oven is simply magical and delicious.

I was ecstatic at the news of her opening a brick and mortar cafe. I attended the soft launch she held last Sunday. As always, everything that was offered did not fail to satisfy. There was ensaymada, puff pastries, banana bread, cookies (including ginger molasses my fave) and scones to name a few. She also has sandwich offerings (breakfast wraps as well as lunch sammies) which I sampled and rated certified "Yumme!" I went home with two bags full of tuna salad, Buffalo dip, cheese pimiento spread and potato salad as well as a tuna melt, grilled cheese, 4 Sisig taco. Of course,, not to forget to mention --- 2 individual servings of Ube Tiramisu and 2 Ube key lime pie which were quickly and happily "inhaled" by the family.

I have also tried her specialty cakes such as Ube Custard Cake, Mango Crunch cake, Mocha, Chocolate and Sans Rival (a Philippine favorite made of layers of chewy cashew or pistachio meringue alternating with French buttercream) and they have been all excellently executed with just the right amount of sweetness. Hopefully, she will include this in her menu of whole cakes to order for everyone to enjoy. These are all worth giving it a try and you will never be disappointed.

Meanwhile, the cafe exudes a cool vibe with attractive murals of savories and sweets included in the menu. It is light and airy with high ceilings. There are tables and chairs comfortable enough to hang out and enjoy your coffee, tea or other beverage partnered with a pastry or sandwich.

I am sure this cafe will flourish and the neighborhood is lucky to have...

Bits & Bites Bakery + Cafe — Saugus, MA Bits and Bites by Kristine 📍 488 Lincoln Ave, Saugus, MA 01906

Wow — what an incredible spot! Bits & Bites Bakery + Cafe truly does it all — breakfast, bakery, lunch, and everything in between — and they do it so well. This is the kind of place that makes you want to come back before you’ve even finished your meal.

Drinks: Ube Matcha Latte 🍠💚

Matcha Biscoff Latte If you’ve got a sweet tooth, these two are calling your name. Both are super sweet, indulgent, and absolutely satisfying — perfect dessert-like drinks. 9/10

Hibiscus Mansi A bold, refreshing combo of tangy hibiscus and zesty calamansi — citrusy, floral, and super bright.

Calamansi with Butterfly Pea Flower Tea This drink is magic in a cup! It starts deep blue and shifts to golden sunshine, with a vibrant lemony, citrus-forward flavor.

Both of these non-latte drinks lean tart and citrusy, and I loved how refreshing they were. 8/10

Bakery Items: Ube lovers — do not, I repeat, DO NOT skip the ube here.

Ube Crinkle Cookies

Ube Cannoli

Ube Ice Cream The ube cannoli is a standout — such a creative and fun twist on a classic. Everything ube here is spot-on and worth ordering 10/10

Breakfast & Lunch: Tapsilog (10/10) If you’re only getting one thing — let it be this. The beef is marinated using the owner’s grandmother’s recipe, and you can taste the love. Paired with garlic rice and a perfectly cooked egg? Absolute perfection.

Birria Tacos (9/10) Better than some dedicated Mexican spots I’ve tried. The broth is flavorful, well-seasoned, and — importantly — not greasy.

Ultimate Breakfast Chorizo Sandwich (9/10) A chorizo patty, hashbrown, cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg on an English muffin — it's heavy in the best way. Super satisfying, and exactly what you want in a breakfast sandwich.

Ambiance: Adorable cartoon-style decor, plenty of seating, and an overall welcoming vibe. 8/10

Affordability: Pretty standard pricing for a bakery/cafe spot. The meals were well portioned too 7/10

Final Thoughts: If you’ve been curious to try Filipino food, or just want really good food, this is your sign to go. Bits & Bites is a 10/10 spot, hands down. Don't...

The place is small, but they did the best that they could with the space that they have, with cutesy wall art and extra chairs for sitting without a table. They’re working into expanding into the space next door, though.

It was packed on the weekend of their one-year anniversary. It seemed like there were a lot of locals, so service was a little slow as the workers chatted with the customers (not a big deal). The atmosphere was very lively.

Trisilog ($15.95): Decent portion size for the price. The meat was tender and flavorful (more sweet than savory, but the vinegar/salsa added a nice contrast). I especially liked the mini meatballs. However, the garlic rice, which is what I had been most excited about, was very bland and watery. I don’t know if it was a rushed batch because of how busy it was. Iced Ube Churro Latte ($7.95): I was hoping for a tea latte like matcha lattes, but this had espresso. I could’ve asked when ordering, but I wanted to try it regardless because I gravitate toward all of the flavors in this drink except for coffee. The churro cream was delicious, and the coffee was smooth, but I couldn’t taste the ube despite it being the dominant color. Matcha Crinkle Cookie ($2.50): It might have been because of how sweet the cookie was, but the taste was reminiscent of matcha Pocky (so more like the cheaper matcha that you can buy in supermarkets here). However, it was a proper crinkle cookie in terms of texture. Peach Mango Ice Cream ($1): This was my favorite of the things I ordered. It was SO good! Not too sweet, and I liked the frozen peach chunks. I was also pleasantly surprised that it came in a cone (was expecting a cup).

Overall, the food was okay, but the menu is very diverse, and I love that they have new specials weekly. Service was also great. If I lived closer, I would come back to try more things and give the garlic rice...