85°C Bakery-Café Opens in Hacienda Heights

By Jim Thurman Mon., Aug. 15 2011 at 1:49 PM

Jim Thurman

Line at grand opening of 85°C Bakery-Café, Hacienda Heights

The number of international chains with outlets in Los Angeles County grew by one when 85°C Bakery-Café opened in Hacienda Heights on Saturday. The Taiwanese chain, with nearly 500 stores in Taiwan, China and Australia, opened its first U.S. location nearly four years ago in Irvine. Since the September 2008 opening, the Orange County location has become known for long lines and traffic issues.

The new location is larger than the one in Irvine and sits in a shopping center on the southwest corner of the busy intersection of Colima Road and Azusa Avenue, catty-corner from the Puente Hills Mall. The center is home to an Albertson's and popular Taiwanese shaved ice and snack spot, Guppy House, which is just across a narrow portion of lot.

So, what happens when a new branch of a wildly popular Taiwanese bakery opens in an area with one of the largest ex-pat Taiwanese populations in the world? Some predicted it would be "the real carmaggedon" or we'd see lines longer than the latest Harry Potter movie.

While it didn't quite reach carmaggedon level, parking was extremely difficult with many commenting they had never seen that shopping center lot so full. Then there was the line. It stretched around three sides of the building and took an hour-and-a-half just to get inside. People driving past on Azusa Avenue slowed and pointed with jaws agape. Workers from the Taco Bell came by, drinks in hand, to look over the throng in awe.

Jim Thurman

Fresh tray of marble taro buns at 85°C Bakery-Café

What could have proven a nightmare was orderly and efficient. Folks were allowed inside in small groups, which mitigated the chaos of people armed with plastic tongs running around to load up their trays from the bread bins. Shouts of "fresh bread!" by servers emerging from the swinging bakery doors inspired hungry patrons to descend on the fresh trays like a pack of cheerful and mannered vultures. (The trademark cries of "fresh bread!" are as familiar a sound in 85°C as the ringing of the bell to Trader Joe's patrons.) If that tray was full of one of their marble taro buns, it was immediately scavenged for every last crumb.

The line proceeded to tables, where breads were individually wrapped and boxed before moving on to a bank of cashiers. Drinks were ordered at the cashier and picked up at the far end of another counter.

Jim Thurman

Trays of bread at 85°C Bakery-Café.

85°C is known for several items: the aforementioned marble taro buns, cakes and other various breads and buns, including a squid ink bread. They are also noted for their sea salt coffee and sea salt teas, which feature the salt mixed in with the whipped cream for a zing in each sip. Flavored teas, milk teas and fruit slushes are also among the fare. While some refer to 85°C as "the Taiwanese Starbucks," a better comparison for Angelenos would be Porto's.

85°C Bakery-Café: 17170 Colima Road #A, Hacienda Heights; (626) 839-7885.

Tags:

85C Bakery-Cafe, Bakery, Cafe, Coffee, Hacienda Heights, Jim Thurman, Taiwanese

We Recommend

Bad service which I never had before, not recomman to anyone.

Khiyloesingsay

its not that bad unless your hungry for real food.

Don Lutes

Hi Jim - as always, very interesting article. I love bakeries - but can't come to terms with waiting so long, in such a long line, to get in one no matter HOW good it is...

Do you think, when "the novelty wears off", that the line will come down to a size that will let someone just walk in and order something without having to wait???

If ever I get out your way we'll have to go there together - as well as about 100 of those other great places you've uncovered in the SGV...

Don Lutes

Jim Thurman

Clearly it will ease up, but exactly when, I just don't know. The lines are still long in Irvine, nearly four years on...though that location is smaller than the new one.

lesliegant

I just found a place called "Printapon" where I can get my fav. restaurant coupon for 90% off!! all you have to do is just print and take it.

Jen Kuo

The reference to Taiwanese Starbucks is that 85°C has multiple locations in TW and is outdoing Starbucks in sales in TW. Of course in the US, there are only 2....so far.

Jim Thurman

True, in that regard 85°C is very much comparable to Starbucks. I also understand they can be found seemingly everywhere around Shanghai.

Randy Rodriguez

"a better comparison for Angelenos would be Porto's."

Porto's is a faux Cuban bakery that has one or two decent items but which, to a Miami ex-pat like me, isn't worth walking across the street for (unless you're a starving student who'll eat anything, as long as it's cheap). You're saying that 85°C Bakery-Café is that lousy? Wish you'd put that at the top.

Jim Thurman

Only in that 85°C is much more a bakery than a coffee shop, hence more comparable to Porto's than Starbucks...in tone.