On my way to Costco I wanted to get some bread so where better than Tokyo Bakery in Scarborough. How many Japanese do you think live in Scarborough. I'm not sure either but I was definitely excited that I found a pocket. Maybe, I thought to myself this will lead to great noodles and sushi. So first I called the Tokyo Bakery to make sure it actually exists. Someone answered the phone, who couldn't speak English very well. I asked if this was in fact a bakery and the person said yes.
I was then off to Scarborough with the baby to Tokyo Bakery and of course Costco. While driving up to the Tokyo Bakery I noticed a lot of Chinese shops and restaurants. As I stepped into the shop with the baby at my side saw the typical pineapple buns/ pineapple black bean buns, and the bbq pork buns. Also at the front counter I saw some small cakes but as I approached the counter my baby started to whimper lightly. As I stepped to the front of the counter my baby was full out wailing. Then I also notice that they don't take credit card so I thought it was about time to skedaddle. I left without any intention of returning.
As I walked to my car I notice a Korean dumpling house (Dumpling Restaurant - Mandu Jang) two doors down. Since I speak Korean and I noticed Korean letters on the front of the store I approached the people inside. I asked the lady if they sell Mandu (dumplings) to go. She said they do and I asked her if they take credit card and she said yes. I talked the owner for about 15 minutes while waiting and asked him if the owner at Tokyo Bakery is actually Japanese, I told him they look Chinese to me. He said that they were definitely Japanese. The Mandu were ready in 15 minutes and I pulled out my wallet and asked the owner to swipe my card. He said sorry we don't take credit card. You can imagine my confusion. I said Ok I will go to the bank and get some cash. He said fine.
I returned from the bank and paid for the Mandu and decided to go back to the Tokyo Bakery. Again I entered the bakery with the baby and started to look around reassured by the fact that this time I actually had cash. I picked up some pineapple bread and some red bean pineapple bread. I brought the two buns to the front and again as soon as I approached the counter my baby started wailing. Not to be deterred this time I order three small cakes and the buns. The baby was screaming and going crazy so I gave the lady my 10 dollar bill and left the store as quickly as possible. Before leaving I took a quick look around to see what was freaking her out. There were too men in the back room baking and some "not so clean" cooking utensils. As soon as we left she stopped crying. I really wish my baby could speak because before eating the baked good I really wanted to know why she cried. Unfortunately, at 10 months mama and dada is about all I get. Baby laughed and giggled all the way home.
I took my Mandu (see separate review@ Dumpling Restaurant ), pineapple bread and cakes home without stopping at Costco because the baby was just too tired by that time. The mandu was excellent. After seeing the dirty utensils and the grunge on the walls and floor I had difficulty forcing myself to eat the buns. I ate the pineapple bun and it was excellent. I also ate part of the sweet black bean bun, it was ok.
I will finish the review after I eat the cake or not later on. I finally tasted each of the three cakes when my wife returned from work. The chocolate moose cake was excellent. The white chocolate was also very good. The final cake was I think mango but there was no real discerning taste to it so I'm not totally sure, it was just ok. All in all the baked good were VERY good. Unfortunately my baby doesn't like the bakery so I will not likely go back.
(Note: I finished the chocolate moose, left half of the white chocolate because I couldn't tell exactly what was inside, although it did not taste bad and I didn't finish the fourth cake because I couldn't identify the flavor.)