Royal Bakery

My guys love big pork bao (steamed buns).
Especially the Vietnamese version because of the added hard-​boiled egg & sweet sausage hidden inside.
They prefer these over all the other Asian versions of steamed buns.
Thanks to Unilocal buddy, Wendy B’s review, I HAD to go check this place out.
The hubby– «Oh damn! This $%#^‘s good!» High praise from him.
#2 Son thought these were the best he’s had so far.
This bakery is going to be our new go-​to for these baos.
Can’t get them any fresher; right out of the steamers and hot!
I’ve found these elsewhere, mostly at bahn mi places. Where it’s questionable as to how long they’ve been sitting around and they ask you if you want them heated up in the microwave.
Gotta say, it makes a big difference getting them this fresh!
The price is $ 1.75 now.
Worth it!
Also picked myself up a Lotus Bun as a treat for my next sugar low. That very nice guy behind the counter suggested heating it in the microwave for 30 seconds when I’m ready to eat it.
They’re pretty big here compared to other places.
And only $ 1.
This word-​of-​mouth through Unilocal is the best thing ever!

Usually I try to swiftly correct my mistakes, but it took a sweet Unilocal friend (thank you Lynette T) who gently and recently called attention to my «bao» ignorance, sadly finding my mistake 4 long years after Royal Bakery abstinence (not by choice). Curses to my All-​American white-​ness! But better late than never?
His signature product I had correctly called a «bao» in my review of 2012. But if I had taken a look at the signs, it was clearly NOT Chinese as I surmised. And the patient, multilingual man behind the counter spoke English, albeit haltingly. I have no idea if it was the same guy as 4 years ago, but his kindness and wonderful, edentulous smile completely disarmed me this time around. «Please, please, please be the same baker,» my most desperate thoughts raced inside my head.
So what do we really have here?
Today, the bakery looks much more modern and cleaner than I remembered. Still tiny, and still sporting just under 20 reviews after all these years (WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUSE GUYS?), this bakery offers a real treasure, Vietnamese baos called Bánh bao thit heo (I know I got it right this time because I sneaked a picture to cover my a**). Those steamed Bánh baos are just as I remembered, still as massive, but mostly because of the generous filling. The steamed bread was delicately sweet and not too thick; the copious filling consisted of finely ground pork and minced water chestnut (for that ever so subtle crunch), just a touch of Chinese sausage, wood ear mushrooms (yum), and a chunk of hard boiled egg.
You will have to trust those other Unilocalers who are «in the know» as to their authenticity, but you can also trust me when I say, these are delicious and a real bargain. $ 1.75 buys you one huge, tender, satisfying combination of the most mouth watering steamed bread and flavorful filling known to man (and this wo-​man).
I am thrilled he is still in business. Let’s keep it that way, bao seekers.

It’s always hard to find mom and pop shops like these around. Traditional offerings and everything is hand made in the store. My family swears by this place and my faves are the oh so addicting peanut candy (think peanut brittle but better), taro biscuits, and easy steam buns.

These are the best baos I have ever eaten! I buy them in the dozens for trips and just to keep in my fridge since I don’t live close to this bakery. All my friends agree that this place is so tasty. The bao bread is tender and moist, the meat is juicy and savory, and they keep so well in the fridge. I also like the people working there, always so friendly. They speak Teo Chew! Whenever I’m in the area, I never hesitate to stop by. Yum yum yum! #guiltypleasure

I pretty much come here for banh bao exclusively. They are the best! Other than that, I’ve tried their other pastries and I liked them but no where near as much as the pork buns. They used to be $ 1.50 but as of the new year, the prices have been raised to $ 1.75. They also accept credit cards. Nice little hole in the wall spot and the people there are friendly.

Best Pork Buns (Banh Bao) hands down… If my mom has to send me down here to ship these back to her then I know these are serious. At $ 1.50 a piece it’s a steal. Wait til you eat one that’s fresh out of the steamer. The outer skin is soft and the pork is very tasty. Make sure they have some before you stop by otherwise you might be waiting for awhile until they have a new batch coming out.
They also take credit card which is a plus!

As I was walking around the shopping center, I didn’t realized that this bakery sells Pork Banh Bo with boiled egg. Me and my dad bought about 10 Pork Banh Bo. As we went home, I tried the Banh Bo and it was delicious. I recommend people coming here to get Banh Bo.

Best giant pork bun in the SGV. Always a batch fresh out of the oven. Perfect ratio of meat to bread. Excellent flavors in both. I always bring home a dozen and end up eating two on the way home.

The pork bun is too thick for me and the meat inside is not moist enough. The same fornthe taro bun… too thick… Small family owned shop with good service.

Before I start Unilocaling away,
I’m just grateful that this bakery except credit cards now!
All my visits prior, it was cash only.
I always head to Vegas after, so I need the cash for some gambling.
This is a must go for me!
before I leave Cali, to pick up their yummy cakes! (moon cake)
To bring back home to Hawaii.
I always get taro and durian.
This visit, I notice the prices has gone up for the cakes.
It’s a treat! When I eat the taro cake with tea,
I’m so happy!
Very happy! Sometime I regret not buying more.
I bought 3 boxes this visit. :)
The taro is 3.50 per cake, 14.00 for box of 4
The Durian is 3.75 per cake, 15.00 for box of 4
There are other flavors, these are my favs!
Besides the cake, the Vietnamese pork bun (called Manapua back home, in Hawaii)
Its soooooo good! Love the boiled egg and lup chong along with pork and bun.
I can eat this everyday! & Only 1.50 for this bun!
The parking lot can get very busy! They share the same lot as Banh Mi Che & Cali & many other eateries and shop.
This place is a Gem! In the San Gabriel area. Until nexts time Royal Bakery! :0)

Royal Bakery (San Gabriel) bao (nikuman) are pretty good at $ 1.50 each. Bits of crisp water chestnut and wood ear mushrooms with egg & sausage in the middle. Standard but at least there’s no funky stuff (by my standards).

First time coming here for wedding «bee”(pronounced in Vietnamese) cake and the baker was very nice! Tasting her bee cakes it’s different from ones I have tried before. And the cost is cheaper than other places but it was also depending on the filling. Overall I will gladly come back for more

My parents, family, aunts and uncles have been going to this bakery for over 17 years now… yes, they have been open for that long and you probably didn’t even know it. The reason why the place looks empty is because (I think) they are an already established bakery – they don’t have shelves filled with food and items to sale because they already have a list of clients/​customers that pre-​order from them. They receive a deposit and put in the order when requested. No need to make a bunch of food that would go to waste. Thus, there are only few banh baos, nutty-​soft chew peanut nuggets, and banh in.
Come the mid-​autumn festival, and you’ll be lucky if you can score a mooncake or banh bia from them. People pre-​order these items from them at least 3 months in advance so they can make it in time for the festival. Some varieties of mooncake they make are: lotus, lotus with egg, mixed nut/​meat/​etc, mixed nut/​meat/​etc with egg/​red bean (I think). They are a bit more expensive compared to the mooncakes sold at the super markets… but you pay for what you get. You want quality and craft? or mass production? I’d go with the first. I encourage for everyone to try the banh bia. Outside is flaky like a crossaint but inside is dense and soft, filled with a filling — mung bean or taro. These foods taste very yummy with tea.
If you come around September/​October, try a mooncake or banh bia. They only make it during this season, I believe, unless you preorder way in advance some other time. You can pass the banh bao and get one of these (but definitely get one of each, including the banh bao).

Yum! Their pork bun bao and egg custard are my favorite here. It’s looks very dirty and small inside this bakery, but I don’t think I’ve had better bun baos. People that own this place and make them look dirty too, lol. They are Chinese and old – (grandma and grandpa). Very worth it here. Don’t be fooled by the outside and people working– and the smell.

I’d love to rate this place higher, but I felt like John Cleese in the «Cheese Shop» Monty Python skit. The time was around early afternoon, their sign said «bakery», the shelves were labeled for baked goods, there seemed to be some baking and steaming equipment, but NO PRODUCTS.
You probably think I’m being dramatic, but I’m not. There were literally 3 – 4 banh bo steamed buns and nothing else but empty shelves. I asked the man where all the food was and he said «sorry, it’s our grand opening. It not ready yet.» ??? I guess it’s a new fangled thing to forget to have any of the sole thing you exist for available when you have your grand opening. So, if I get back to them I’ll try their food (assuming they’ve gotten around to cooking any) and update the rating.

You got to try the Chinese bows. In my opinion, it’s the best in the west. The ingredients are fresh and the hard boiled egg gives this bow a unique and flavorful treat. Grab one for lunch or a snack. It’s perfect for any occasion.

I can’t stop talking about the meat buns that they make here! The skin of the bun is made like no other place! Me, my mom and aunty flew all the way from norcal just to buy their sweets! My favorite is their taro white stamp cake! It is so soft and flaky!!! Everybody is so nice there and they all speak teo chiu! It feels like home when we walk in there! I will definitely be back soon!!!

This bakery is AMAZING!!! Everything here is Fabulous!!! a MUST try!!! They are known coast to coast for their Pork Banh Bao– which I found out that also gets distributed throughout markets and other bakeries in California. I was recently there to purchase pastries for Chinese New Year– super duper busy! Everyone knows its the greatest place to buy treats to give as thanks!
Its always fresh! They are just known for EVERYTHING, Peanut Candy, Sesame Candy, Tikoy, and pastry items filled with red bean, mung bean, black bean, durian, and winter melon. Absolutely Delish! Prices are fairly low!
Service if fast fun and friendly. In particular, Jeff– he’s GREAT! speaks 2000 languages– and giggles in between sentences. He makes spending money fun!
If you ever need anything– they are very accommodating and will get you whatever you need whenever you need it.
Recommend for EVERYONE to try at least once in their life– WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Royal Bakery is a gem. The location is so discreet, it’s located on a main street, however, the store itself is tiny. You could walk by it so many times and not even know it’s there.
This place is family owned. They speak Teochew, a Chinese dialect that I also speak. The food here is delicious. They specialize in cakes, but at Chinese New Year, their food is AMAZING. Everything is made fresh, DAILY. They have all my favorites for the hoilday, including peanut brittle, banh tet (sticky rice with beans and pork), sticky sesame candy, and many other bakery items. I literally buy two of everything in this store. But it ends up being more money than I have.
Love the service here. If they run out of something you like, just let them know, they will make it for you. Or if you need to make arrangements for pick up, they will accommodate. Places like these make mom and pop the place to shop!

At my cousin’s engagement party a few years back, I ate the most delicious little pastries. My mom and I copied down the bakery’s address found printed on the box, and visited that following Chinese New Year.
It’s a tiny family-​run store nestled in a strip-​mall. My family has been purchasing our traditional Chinese sweets/​desserts here ever since, like peanut and crunchy sesame candies. Their sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves are very good also.
Just a random note: The family that owns this place speaks DioJiu dialect of Chinese, which is pretty cool. I was raised speaking this dialect. but it seems like it’s very uncommonly spoken now days…