A&J Bakery

My dad is hard-​core Taiwanese and this is the only place he wants to get his mung bean cakes (lu dou pong) from. Doesn’t matter that they’re $ 3.75 each. All other places pale in comparison. Patrons, including me, often use these cakes as their go-​to for gifting Asian parents. Do be sure to call ahead and place your order, though. That will guarantee you fresh ones (and available ones).
I’ve tried their bento box once. It’s super Taiwanese as well, which I appreciate. Like other people have worded it, it’s like a homemade lunch/​dinner. I also think it’s cute that they have a rotating menu of what they’re serving that day. Just like how my mom’s kitchen operates haha. Portion size is designed for a mid-​sized adult with normal metabolism. They do shut down bento box production during peak season of the moon festival to concentrate on the mung bean cakes. So don’t be surprised if you drop by in late September and they tell you they don’t have bento boxes.
Mung bean cakes ⁵⁄₅
Bento boxes ⁵⁄₅

Very good Taiwanese homemade lunch and pastry. So glad I work close by :)
I pick up their homemade lunch at least 2x a week.
There’s always a different variation of brown/​white rice with tofu/​vege, pork and chicken made different way. I never ask what they serve. I just order a box when I’m hungry :)
Their homemade pumpkin bread and flax seed cranberry bread is the best in the world. I don’t like to eat a lot of bread, only baguette and the one they have here.
Must try if you like an easy place to pick up home cook meals

This is a hidden gem of a store. I mainly come here for the bento. Last time I checked, I think it was $ 7-​$ 8 a pop. Not too shabby, eh? I love having different dishes all packed into one lunch. It’s the one surprise of my day I look forward to. The contents it holds vary from day to day though, so you might want to check with them to see if it is to your liking. But there are a number of things in it, a veggie dish along with brown, fried rice, or white rice, and chicken leg as the main dish, etc. (this was just an example based on what I had). Upon entering the store, I think you’ll be surprised at how small and empty it actually looks. When I last checked, all the food they have is listed on the wall… in Chinese (here, I was so very out of luck). The store owners know English to an extent, so feel free to ask what else they have. Please don’t be offended, this is advice for those who can’t read Chinese or speak mandarin, like myself. Everything suggested above, I have done each, if not every time that I have gone. I will admit, it is slightly difficult. I speak Cantonese and English. Many years of Mandarin couldn’t help, but in the end, the food is worth it. The owner told me she would put up the English translations of the food items, just for me, next time. That’s sweet, ain’t it? The little mochi cakes are cooked perfectly and not overly sweet too me, if mochi is your thing. If it is Chinese New Year’s or a special occasion like so, they have special items. They also have Chinese tamales with different kinds of fillings, like pork, vegetarian, and so forth running at $ 3 each. There’s more types of food they serve. I’m just pretty sure I haven’t figured out what it’s called just yet. Let me know what they are T^T Next to the front desk, they also have a fridge, in case you’re feeling thirsty. Before I forget, it is CASH ONLY. Sorry, guys. Happy munching: D

Review for to-​go lunch box.
It is pretty good and perfect for anyone who doesn’t have time cook. The lunch boxes comes with rice (you can sub for brown rice), half of boiled egg, vegetables and meat. Pretty much like a home cooked meal by mom. Mines cane with curry so it wasn’t too bland.
Overall it is good-​okay.

If you are looking for a quick bite that is authentic Taiwanese this is the place to go. It comes in a wooden box held together with rubber bands. I’ve been eating here for years and have never been disappointed. The menu changes and the supply varies. But it is always delicious. Try it!

I love love their lunch boxes. It is the perfect amount and is a taste of home cooked lunch. I l9ve the vegetarian vermicelli but it is not always available. Also love the little radish cakes and variety of pastries. The front service lady is also really nice!!!

The best place to get «nian gao» !!! Or in english, rice cake, year cake, Chinese new year cake.
You have to preorder to get the bigger ones (size of a small pie, $ 12) but they sell tiny individual ones on the spot!
I love the nian gao here because it’s always soft, chewy, not too sweet, and has the perfect layer of red bean on the bottom! Make sure to eat them in a day or two, they get old fast!

this bakery is overly sboiled. the people who are working there have no manner and unprofessional! they don’t even care to greet with customers! I am totally lost my interest on any stuffs they serving there cause they have no idea of servicing!

The little wooden box bento is adorable. And the food is actually not bad. It’s a quick fix for Taiwanese food :-)

Giving this place 5 stars because I was surprised how simple and good it is. I wanted a quick healthy lunch and found this place on Unilocal.Their bento lunch boxes were simple home style meals packed in stylish little wooden boxes. With veggies, meat and brown rice it really hit the spot! I will definitely be back here.

The first time I went to A&J, I was referred by a Taiwanese friend 4 years ago. My 9-​year old kid and I then become a regular customer ever since.
Healthy, Healthy, Healthy. I am always after delicious, healthy food that does not cost a lot. I have been telling all my friends about this bakery (Especially their lunch box) and now I am telling you. You got give a visit and a try.

5 stars because they offer railroad bento in the compact wooden container I’ve only seen in Taiwan! I got the one with pork chop/​braised chicken, and was really surprised at how much food they were able to pack into those tiny wooden boxes. It was all pretty tasty too. I plan on coming back to try their other desserts.

Lunch boxes and mung bean pastry!

Super Taiwanesey. Their bentos are really good, especially the chicken curry and pork with preserved vegetable combo. Super old school wooden bento box, nostalgic and environmentally friendly. I love the brown rice option because it makes me feel like I’m eating healthfully. Everything on their menu is printed in traditional Chinese characters on 8×11 pieces of paper, and taped on the wall (see what I mean by «Taiwanesey?»).
The truth: Call ahead. Order a bento. Or go there, and get some baked goods– it’s not a huge selection but it’s made with plenty of TLC.

It look me a while to actually find this place… as I don’t think I recall seeing the English sign. Finally got there, too me by surprise, it is a to-​go only place. They also have some bakeries that are Taiwanese style, but, calling a bakery is probably misleading as it doesn’t seem bakery is their main product. But, their bakery does taste good. I also like their combo meal, and uses wooden box. Too bad that I don’t work around that area; otherwise, I would love to eat those combo meal as they are fresh and fast and provides more balanced meal, perfect work lunch. Their to-​go box also provides a very nice presentation.

In Mandarin, this place is called Ke Le Mei… never knew why it was called A&J Bakery in English (Like other Unilocalers say, it’s not really a bakery). This used to confuse me with the restaurant chain also named A&J, but they’re not related. This place is privately owned by a nice Taiwanese couple… Alice and James, hence the A&J.
Tip 1: you have the option of white or healthier brown rice. :)
Tip 2: you can have a vegetarian version of your lunch box because it’s all made to order. :)
Tip 3: order over the phone if you know what you want, so you won’t have to wait there.
Tip 4: sometimes they stop making the lunch boxes around holidays (ie Chinese New Year) so they can concentrate on solely making specialty items. They have limited staff, so they can only handle so much.
Interior: It’s really just a tall ordering counter. You walk 2 steps in, and you just start ordering what you want. There is no indoor seating… that one table’s usually for people waiting. All pastries are displayed in the glass cases.
Food: ⁵⁄₅. I am a huge fan of their lunch boxes and my family and I have been getting them at least once every other weekend. All their food has a very homemade feel, which makes everything very delicious. I am always, always excited to introduce this hole-​in-​the-​wall gem to my friends. Their food AND pastries are of the highest quality in the SGV and that’s says a lot. I will always be a regular.
Overall: You gotta drop in for their lunch boxes and green bean pastry (in Mandarin: lu dou pong; I recommend what is called the ‘vegetarian’ version– without meat– for first time experimenters).
***Reminder*** They are CASH ONLY.

The «green bean w/​meat» taiwanese style mooncake here is like cocaine. Can’t get any better. It’s the best taiwanese mooncake possibly out there. Man like crack.
Found this place 6 years back. A little hidden store in a plaza that’s a hidden gem. Serioso dude. Place is empty and sells nothing but like less than 8 items. I’m only there for the «lui dao pong“with meat. They have the vegetarian version with no meat as well.
I never thought that a taiwanese mooncake can get this good. I’ve had them all from like 4 different taiwanese bakery but none can beat them.
It’s like $ 4 a pieces but a solid taiwan favorite.
Must pre order during peak season. That’s when the autumn festival draws close.

I agree that this should really be a 4 and ½ stars deli. It is not a restaurant because there are no seats. I don’t know why it’s called bakery, either, because it does not serve many items of pastries, sometimes none. It is known for serving healthy Taiwanese wooden plate lunch box. The owner pays a lot of attention to healthy cooking. The lunch box always comes with an item of meat and a couple vegetable items. The meat items, such as stewed pork, are not oily though they should be. The box does not come with too much rice. It is only $ 5.50 per box. It is really delicious.
Their bakery items, such as moon cakes and other pastries are very good, too, if the owners care to make them when they have time. This is really a hidden gem in San Gabriel Valley.

4 ½ STARS really. (minus ½ star for being so far from my work)
It’s one of those hole in the wall hidden gems in SGV that offers Taiwanese-​home-​cooking-​dishes in a ‘wood’ lunch box that keeps me going back for more. I also enjoy their pastry items such as the green bean moon cake, red bean cake and Pine nut mochi cake. Everything tastes fresh, health and good.
Oh this place accepts CASH only.

I can’t believe I didn’t know this Taiwanese Deli/​Bakery while they have been open for 10 years. My cousin told me about this place selling the Taiwanese wood lunch box last month.
The store is located in a plaza which many people never paid attention to but we have passed it thousands times.
Although their business card shows its name with «Bakery», I consider it more as a deli without any tables for you to dine-​in. Since I went into the store, two more ladies followed in. They seem knowing this place quite well. One of the ladies even suggested the store owner to make «sticky rice» not only on Saturday. That’s why I know they make something not on the menu during the weekends or holidays. The store seems to be run by two Taiwanese women making all kinds of Taiwanese snacks & lunch boxes. Today, they have two types of lunch boxes. Pork or Chicken with walnut. Since I couldn’t decide which one to get, they mix both in one for me. How nice! They also had «Fried Rice Noodles» for lunch but I didn’t get it. It smelt good! Maybe, I will try it next time. I bought some of Taiwanese snacks. I posted their photos here. Check it out. It tastes good. They also have vegetarian bun which I didn’t get it today. For sure, I will come back for the rest!