Looking for a Bakery in South Bay Area (Between S.J. and Palo Alto)...

Updated on April 23, 2008
S.G. asks from Los Altos, CA
47 answers

I have been looking for a bakery that makes great birthday cakes....cakes that taste great and look great (I traditionally design my own cake decorations and purchase my own items to be placed on the cake -- offering the baker the layout of the cake on paper). I went to Fuji Bakery in Sunnyvale for several years (now closed, gone), Wilson's Bakery in Santa Clara (gone now), Aki's Bakery in San Jose (but not too impressed the last year, after new ownership)...and recently went to the local grocery store (Andronico's) for a birthday cake (tasted good, but they are not "decorators" in the way I like to have my cakes done --- theme specific).
Does anyone have any recommendations for a baker that is able to offer both -- great tasting birthday cakes (usually a 1/4 or 1/2 sheet cake) and the ability to take a photo or drawing and recreate it on the cake? Aki's, Fuji and Wilson's were able to do this but they are all gone or under new management that does not compare.
I do not mind traveling to get the cake but hope to find a baker as far south as San Jose and as far north as Palo Alto...
Thank you for an suggestions -- would love to try them out!

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So What Happened?

"THANK YOU" to ALL! It was wonderful to find out about all the great bakeries that I have to try...yummy! I was so happy to find out that there are still bakeries that pride in taste, decorating and customer service --- especially for someone as picky as me! It was interesting to see some of the same bakeries being consistently recommended --- which is a good indication that they must be GREAT! Again....Thx!

Featured Answers

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E.P.

answers from San Francisco on

The bakery that I know is in Redwood City and the name of it is San Francisco Bakery on Middlefield Rd. (close to Costco).
I know you said something between S.J. and Palo Alto, but they make good cakes.

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T.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I know that Dicks Bakery is awesome. They are in San Jose on Bascom (I think) But cakes are beautiful and taste great.
good luck!!!

T.

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R.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Aki's Bakery on Meridian in San JOse off 280. Just did my son's 14th birthday and will do my other son's 12th with them. Very good. I recommend their pull-apart cakes. Really fun. Very nice and fast service. Good luck!

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S.T.

answers from San Francisco on

When my kids we little, I use to get my cakes at Safeway bakery. I used the one in Sunnyvale first on Hollenbeck and then on Bernardo in Sunnyvale. You might also check with Costco-Sunnyvale. They keep popping in my mind too

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Hey there is a good bakery that does Photograph cakes and themed cakes called Goldilocks which are all around the bay area. They even have a website. I've been going to Bijan Bakery lately but their cakes are on the expensive side! Try Goldilocks if you want kid themed cakes. http://www.goldilocks-usa.com/

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S.H.

answers from San Francisco on

The best bakery ever is "Iceing On the Cake" in los gatos, it's amazing I had my wedding cake from there as well as my nieces 1st birthday sugar plum fairy cup cakes. Everything looks and tastes amazing! Hope you like it!

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M.K.

answers from San Francisco on

I have used three bakers over the years. Prolific Oven on Cowper St. in Palo Alto between Hamilton and University, Palo Alto Baking Company on California Ave., between El Camino and the train tracks, and Gerry's cakes in Menlo Park (I think it's on Chestnut between Santa Cruz and Oak Grove). Prolific Oven has the best cakes of the three but they are all really good.
I don't know if any of them puts photos on cakes. You'll have to call and find out.
Good luck!
(mom of three: 21 yrs., 17 yrs. and 15 yrs - so lot's of cakes!)

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C.N.

answers from San Francisco on

You could try Goldilocks in Mtn View (next door to Costco). They are pretty decent cakes and have a lot of cake designs, that are nicer than standard grocery store themes.

This year we went all out, since we did a joint birthday party for our two boys and went with Kathy's Kreative Kakes in San Mateo. Now it is a little out of the way but was well worth the trip and price tag. They did a custom 3D Thomas the Train cake- Let me tell you the look in my 3 yr olds eyes made it more than worth it. They will work with you to create exactly the cake you want and the cake was quite good.
http://www.kathyskakes.com/

Good Luck,
C.

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C.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I met a woman Friday night at a candle party -- her name is Denise Faria: ###-###-#### ____@____.com She decorates cakes (works at a bakery...but I don't know which one)... If you contact her, let her know that C. from the candle party recommended her.

I also have a friend who does cakes out of her home: Gloria Paquin (she lives off Meridian& 85) ###-###-####

Good luck!

C.

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L.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Try checking out Sugar Butter Flour in Sunnyvale (www.sugarbutterflour.com). I don't know that they specifically will do what you want but they make great specialty cakes.

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V.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos on Main Dt. is absolutely the best they have the best cakes ive ever had, i always use this bakery for every occasion!!!

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S.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Greenlee's on The Alameda in San Jose. They've been in business for years. I had them screen a picture of my two Scottish Fold brothers onto a cake for their first birthday and shared with my human friends. It was a hit.

S. Lee Adams

p.s. No kids, just kitties. Amanda T. got me on the site.

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G.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Bijan Bakery & Cafe
170 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
http://www.bijanbakery.com/
Is a wonderful place to look for a specific cake. They are amazing...and really good.

Another amazing place to go is : Fleur de cocoa in Los Gatos . It's a French pastry...and it's divine ( BTW..I am French)
http://www.fleurdecocoa.com/

Visit their website and ...make your pick! Both of them uses real butter, and fresh ingredients. It's European style.
I don't want to influence you, but you ought to try!

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I.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Check out www.mycakegenie.com/gallery she's a SAHM in Cupertino who's teaching cake decorting at Michael's and does custom cakes. She's done two cakes for me and you can see from the photo gallery that Really Custom is no challenge for her. The Wiggles car and the NY Yankees baseball hat are my favorite true custom cakes and the simpler bow-tied cakes are very elegant. She makes the cakes from scratch... not box mixes. My family has egg allergies and she accomodated that with a chocolate cake to die for... without eggs!

Stef:)

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E.F.

answers from San Francisco on

You should try "Flower Flour" on Willow Street in Willow Glen. They have beautiful cake and they are yummy. They are a Florist and Bakery

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C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I like Los Altos Bakery in the Rancho shopping center on Foothill Expwy. (Palo Alto Bakery is under the same ownership). They are more of a traditional European bakery (Black Forest, Princess cake, etc), but they also make decorated sheet cakes to order. My daughter has actually sat down with the baker and explained what she wanted, and we've had pictures recreated on the cake in the past, too. More recently, I've ordered birthday cakes from Sugar Butter Flour in Sunnyvale (they're closer to me). I'm not sure if they recreate photos for the cakes, but they are very creative and the cakes are great. You can check out their web site.

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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

There is a great new bakery in San Jose called AJ's Moonlight Bakery, http://www.ajsmoonlightbakery.net/. They specialize in custom and special occasion cakes so it's not a walk-in place, but you just call them to meet and they're really accommodating. And their cakes are SO yummy!! They made a Little Einsteins Rocket cake last year for my son's birthday. I also just recently bought a cake from them for a baby shower that looked like three baby blocks, and it was so incredibly moist I couldn't believe it! I would definitely recommend them when you are looking for something special... and tasty!

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R.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.,

I can highly reccommend Kathys Kreative Kakes in San Mateo. She can turn just about anything into a cake! We had our wedding cake done there and she managed to turn our personal theme of penguins into a beautiful and very delicious cake. She had our penguin topper on top and between the layers where many put flowers she placed an igloo "floating" on a blue sea with our initials in a heart above the door. It was a marble cake with bavarian cream cheese filling and fresh raspberries. I believe it was the best cake I have ever had! She isn't cheap but well worth the drive!

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K.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos is wonderful. They have done birthday cakes for me with lots of different decorations - a friend dressed as a biker, a baby in scuba gear, a baby in a diaper playing hockey...all sorts. The cake is fabulous and the icing not too sweet. Good Luck.

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P.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi, S.. Gerry's Cakes in downtown Menlo Park is amazing. They will do a fabulous caricatur-ish drawing on any one of a number of cake and icing flavors. The first one they ever did for me was from a verbal description and it was fantastic! Even better, of course, would be a photograph. They have made many a special occasion cake for me over the years and everyone has loved them.

The website is www.gerryscakes.com.

Best, P.

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C.G.

answers from San Francisco on

We love Dick's bakery in San Jose. Best burnt almond cake in the world.

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D.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Try Cosentinos at Union/Bascom Ave in San Jose..Truly works of art.

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P.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Greenly Bakery and the Alameda in San Jose. Close to the Shark tank. I've been going there for around 24yrs. For Picture's on cake Lucky bakery's. The cake aren't as good as Greenly's

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C.W.

answers from San Francisco on

S. G.
I don't know the name, but do know the location
and have heard rave responses and read print
on it..
Location: Bernardo & El Camino Real, Sunnyvale.
it's in the Safeway Shpg. center, but an
Asian restaurant..I went inside and everything
is fresh and beautiful! Very upscale designs..
C. M.

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M.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I usually get my cakes at Safeway...they are suprisingly delicious...and they do photo cakes. Also, Bijan Bakery (San Jose) and Dick's bakery (Campbell) are good places as well.

Good luck!

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.

I know that Fujii bakery is closed. The pastry chef is moved to Seto Deli. ( That's what i heard in Japanese mom's group. my girlfriend liked it)
http://www.seto-deli.com/

These are my favorites

Satura Cakes (los altos, palo alto)
most of my friends order cakes from them. I love it.
http://www.saturacakes.com/store/pages.php?pageid=5

Fleur de cocoa (los gatos)
http://www.fleurdecocoa.com/

Sugar butter and flour
http://www.sugarbutterflour.com/

I hope that this is helpful to you.
M.

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J.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I've used Prolific Oven several times for work and for personal functions and they do a beautiful job and taste fantastic. They have 2 locations actually, one in downtown Palo Alto and in Santa Clara. Good luck.

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L.E.

answers from San Francisco on

Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos. Best in the South Bay.

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C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Try Sugar, Butter, Flour in Sunnyvale. There cakes are beautiful and very good

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L.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Totally agree with most everyone....Icing on the Cake is the best! I love the banana cake (great for kids and brunch time) and the lemon is yummy too.... Go by and pick up a piece of them all to try. I have had them do photos before and they come out great. Beware..you do pay for the quality. For chocolate cake...go to The Flames Coffee Shop and Bakery (San Jose locations)...they have the best chocolate fudge cake although no fancy decorations but very large as it's 3 layers tall!

Best of luck!

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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi S.,

I actually had my wedding cake (for 250 people) done through Freedom Bakery in Salinas (there's one in San Jose, 1375 Blossom Hill Rd, 95118), and they did a great job. The cakes taste good, and their prices are reasonable. I was pleasantly surprised during cake tasting. I know that they have photo processing on cakes as well. Hope that helps!

~ J.*

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R.L.

answers from San Francisco on

There's a great little bakery in Los Gatos called Icing on the Cake. They do cakes for all special occasions and they are delicious! I've never had them do a custom one for me but I'm sure they do. Check out their website......

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S.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Oooh...good question.I don't have a very high opinion of ANY of the local bakeries, but for sheet cakes that are nicely decorated,a long-time favorite is Gerry's Cakes on Chestnut Street in Menlo Park (between Santa Cruz Ave. & Oak Grove). Some people swear by The Prolific Oven, on Waverley Street in Palo Alto, but I find the cakes to be very heavy. One of the most wonderful bakeries is too far away, but it is La Farine in North Oakland. They make the most tender light strawberry cream cake. I guess I would give Gerry's a try - their specialty is decorated cakes.

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B.J.

answers from San Francisco on

Aki's Bakery on Meridian in San Jose does amazing cakes! They used to do weddings also, but they've scaled back to just birthdays, etc. Wonderful flavors, and beautiful designs. Enjoy :)

Also, the Prolific Oven in Palo Alto is wonderful!

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M.D.

answers from San Francisco on

I use the Safeway close to my home on Stevens Creek and Lawrence Expwy and have had beautiful and delicious cakes made for my kids parties. Everyone has raved about how yummy they are. They can put a picture on the cake there. My husband had it done fora friend, so I know they can do it. Also, Mi Pueblo is a Mexican market on King and Story in San Jose. They do beautiful cakes, however I do not know about their ability to import a picture into their work. Safeway is great, as a 1/4 sheet is $26 and I believe a 1/2 sheet runs about $40-$55 if I remember correctly.

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J.P.

answers from San Francisco on

We used Cake Expressions at 1849 Little Orchard Street in San Jose for our wedding and they were *wonderful.* Everyone raved about our cake. Also, I was very specific about what I wanted the cake to look like and brought in photos and color swatches and they were able to perfectly create my vision. It is a small, family-owned business and the owners are characters who really enjoy what they do for a living. You can contact them at ###-###-####. Ask for Cero Anthony. Here is a link to their website: http://www.cakexpressions.com/ but I think it is pretty outdated. Good luck!!

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D.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Cathy's Cakes in San Mateo hands down. When you walk in you will see pictures of all the celebrity's she has baked for. Even the Major and so on... her prices are not cheap but you will get the most beautiful designs, shapes, colors and the highest quality cake w/icing (I ran out of cake once because so many people wanted seconds).

Address: 631 Sout B Street San Mateo, CA 94401
Telephone: ###-###-####, ###-###-####
Website: www.kathyskakes.comny people wanted seconds).

Enjoy,
D.

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D.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Have you tried Dicks backery on the corner of Hamilton and Meridian. They make beautiful wedding, and birthday cakes. I haven't been to them in a while, but I think they are still open. Their burnt almond cake is to die for.

Hope you have success. Bakeries are getting to be a lost art.

ddThompson

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J.B.

answers from San Francisco on

If you're willing to go a little farther north (Menlo Park), I can recommend Gerry's Cakes. They do custom decorating for you. Wide choice of cakes, filling and frosting as well. Delicious and delightful. http://www.gerryscakes.com/

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V.V.

answers from San Francisco on

We have used Aki's several times in San Jose and love them. Also, Greenlees does really good cakes. I don't have addresses for them, but they both have websites and are both in San Jose.

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H.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Dick's Bakery at the corner of Meridian and Hamiliton in San Jose is awesome! They are so creative and super yummy! Enjoy!

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S.D.

answers from San Francisco on

I have two great ones that we use, both are in San Jose... Bijan Bakery www.bijanbakery.com , fabulous cakes that always taste heavenly, and have great decorators. The down fall, is that they can be a bit pricey compared to other places, but I think they are definitly worth it, especially if you are only buying them for special occasions. The second is Sweet Passions, www.sweetpassionsbakery.com They make amazing cakes, but again, they are also a bit more expensive, but well worth it. Good luck!! ~S.

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D.B.

answers from San Francisco on

We've used Dick's Bakery on the corner of Meridian and Hamilton for the past 40 something years. They have great cakes, but can also do a decoration from a picture.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Have you tried Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos? It's my absolute favorite.

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K.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Check out Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos. I love their cakes. I usually ask for 1/2 the icing though since they usually put on more than I like. I think in regard to decorating they can do almost anything. I've seen several and am very impressed. This year for my son's second b-day I gave them the napkin that went with my decorations and they copied the design onto the cake and it looked great. good luck. Hope you get a great cake that looks and tastes great. -K

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S.H.

answers from San Francisco on

You might want to try Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos. They are very creative and cakes taste great.

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