Japanese
Take-out
Bakery
French
Vegan bakery offering breads to desserts and savory snacks. Open Wed-Sun 8:30am-6:00pm.
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Last update on 18 Dec 2021 by craigmc
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Added by JackieJans on 11 Jun 2020
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54 Reviews
First Review by JackieJans
millymwah
Points +193
quaint neighborhood cafe - Edit
Universal Bakes and Cafe is a wonderful, 100% vegan spot to enjoy a coffee and treat. The location, while merely a few steps away from Setagaya-Daita Station, is a quiet reprieve from the busy Tokyo life. A place to savor a delicious bread that stands apart from the monotonous baked goods you find again and again in every bakery in Japan. The quality is superb, and doesn't come across too bread-y and sweet as Japanese pastries tend to do.
Read moreIt's a bit costly but worth it. However, there is a requirement for one beverage per person if you dine in, which really hikes the cost up.
Seating is minimal, so be careful going on very hot/cold or rainy days.
My favorite: almond croissant and avocado toast thing (i don't recall the name now hehe♡), cold brew coffee
English: some items have English, some don't! I speak Japanese and usually visit with my half-Japanese partner but they still seem a bit hesitant when we order, so do your best!☆
Updated from previous review on 2024-10-01
Pros: many options, amazing quality, creative
Cons: very minimal seating, one bev per person for dine in
Guest
leanagga
Points +65
Amazing vegan bakery - Edit
Had French toast and muffins to takeaway. Amazing food also very very close to the station which makes it easy. Would definitely recommend.
Read morePros: Food, Choice , Easy to get to
Guest
桜井 花
Points +43
Best - Edit
価格は少し高めですがとにかく美味しい。
Read moreこれからの時期はテラス席も気持ちよさそう。
Guest
kaname2907
Points +93
Cute fully vegan bakery - Edit
Nice place has many vegan baked goods sweet and savory. Got their cucumber sandwich and fig dessert. They also have croissants and sometimes gluten-free options.
Read morePros: Cucumber sandwich
Guest
Moodiees
Points +242
Vegan pastries 🤤 - Edit
Love me a good bakery!
Read moreA little tough with the language barrier to navigate a nut allergy for my partner. One of the staff members took out a sheet for us to mark which specific allergies we were looking out for and then she helped point out the pastries that were nut free, however, when we went back in for seconds to take with us, another woman helped us out and told us the one we wanted had nuts (even tho it was one we had just ordered and eaten earlier) so it made us question which others we might've been able to get but didn't :(
Overall, the ones we had were delicious and we were able to enjoy our drinks outside.
Pros: Tasty flavors, All vegan
Cons: Limited seating
Guest
drea1981
Points +1048
Amazing amazing amazing - Edit
Everything is delicious
Read moreCute outside patio
Staff are so friendly
Walked here after visiting the cat temple !
Also amazing iced matcha
Updated from previous review on 2024-05-02
Guest
mtyk
Points +192
Fully vegan bakery - Edit
Great selection and very yummy. They often have something that has just come out of the oven.
Read moreA very chill sitting area and it’s a great place for a chill breakfast on a sunny day.
Pros: Yummy, Fully vegan, Great selection
Guest
sailor.aries
Points +126
Good Food / Bad Service - Edit
I really wanted to like this place but my experience was soured by the staff here. The food was good and we ordered a lot of it but we were told we had to order two drinks to sit there when my partner and I were going to share one coffee since we also had water. The rule wasn’t clear at first and then we were asked to order another drink after receiving our food. It was just odd and they were pretty rude in the delivery as well. I’ve been in Japan a month and haven’t had a similar experience so I don’t know if it’s standard to require that since we haven’t encountered that anywhere else. She had also implied my partner would need to be outside if we didn’t order another drink, mind you it’s raining, cold and we’d paid for a lot of stuff already.
Read moreGuest
ScoobysPerson
Points +310
Cutest cafe - Edit
A cute cafe in Setagaya City area of Tokyo. We stopped by for coffee and breakfast before heading to the Gotoku-ji Temple. The baked goods were delicious and not overly sweet, and we enjoyed the toast with roasted leeks. Definitely recommend for anyone passing through!
Read moreGuest
magicalzebra
Points +54
Tasty! Friendly, allergy aware - Edit
Had a few oat and soy lattes so far in Japan, and I have to say Universal Bakes is the first one that's really hit the spot. They know what they're doing here.
Read moreAlso had a chocolate bread baguette thingy which was delicious and a great balance between crunchy and chewy.
My partner has a nut allergy and the staff were very helpful with what would be safe to eat. If you have a very sensitive allergy though, be aware as there are lots of nutty items in the space.
Guest
KateTelford
Points +73
Loved this place - Edit
This is such a cute little place, and the food is AMAZING! A must visit! I literally had to drag my parter out or we would have been there all day and sampled everything! We had 4 pastries/breads and 4 drinks between us 😂 Staff were super friendly
Read morePros: Tasty breads/pastries, Non-dairy milk coffees
Cons: Maybe a little expensive but worth it IMO
Guest
ilar
Points +132
Tasty selection of sweet and savory! - Edit
Had a sandwich with salad and dressing, coffee/cinnamon-roll and coconut scone, all tasted very nice! The sandwich bread was actually very good, given that it’s super difficult to find actual bread in Japan (or maybe I’m a silly goose). Will come back!
Read moreGuest
kai36
Points +154
Incredible Pastries - Edit
Went with a nonvegan and we got almost one of everything they were selling, it was amazing! They had a delicious Earl Grey cream cheese and fig pastry that was to die for, and their chai was great as well. They have a seasonal menu that changes every few months or so.
Read morePros: Unique flavors, Great range of pastries, Good drinks
Cons: No indoor seating (terrace)
Guest
Biancajakon
Points +318
Good bakery - Edit
Good convenient food for snacks. We ordered quite a lot and shared it. Only thing I don’t enjoy having to order a drink to eat in, but I understand. I’d prefer to get more food at the price of the drinks haha!
Read moreGuest
Sunny420
Points +66
Must visit if you like baked goods! - Edit
Went here with five friends vegans/non vegans and everyone was so impressed with the food. We got the french toast, soup, great iced coffee, almond croissants, curry buns and some type of onion pastry and it was all EXCELLENT!!!
Read morePros: Curry bun, French toast, Almond croissant
Guest
rklevens
Points +520
Absolutely incredible - Edit
This place is incredible. Everything I tried was delicious and the staff is very helpful and friendly.
Read morePros: Variety , Taste, Prices
Guest
Miki_0617
Points +201
Various pastries - Edit
In addition to simple breads, they have many Japanese soft breads like melon-pan, curry-pan, and nori-shio rolls! We know how difficult to find those Japanese original “soft breads” for vegan even in Japan, but here is one of the places we actually wanted!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-11-13
Pros: Fresh, Close to the station, English OK
Guest
fabiandelrey
Points +196
5 Stars! - Edit
Great choice of baked goods, be it croissants, scones or sandwiches. We had a sandwich with pimientos, some roll with a kind of herbed vegan butter and a muffin with plenty of blueberries. The place is very well designed and you could even sit outside. Make sure to grab a shirt!
Read moreGuest
kylijshaw
Points +598
Vegan baking everywhere! - Edit
How fun to have so many baked goods to choose from!!
Read moreWe had the avocado toast, banana toast and potato toast (possibly the favourite of the 3, the seasoning and cream cheesey spread were so good) And we also shared the chocolate “croissant” type thing, not actually sure what it was but the chocolate was so tasty and reminded us both of Easter chocolate we used to have lol
Guest
mysticsonic
Points +799
Wow! - Edit
!!! FYI: There are 2 Universal Bakes locations in fairly close proximity to one another - the one near Setagaya-Daita station, and the other in Shimo-kitazawa. This one near Setagaya station had a wide selection of savory items, while the other was pretty much exclusively baked goods and donuts. !!!
Read moreWe tried the potato toast, avocado toast, banana caramel toast, and some kind of chocolate stuffed pastry, and literally everything was delightful.
The interior of the cafe was peaceful, the staff were friendly and spoke English well. Oh, and the Soy latte was super yum too.
The savory toasts were the highlight, and I will be trying in vain to recreate them at home haha.
Guest
alan850
Points +99
Expensive but tasty - Edit
Very nice boulangerie with a lot of vegan choice
Read morePros: Healthy choice
Cons: Expensive
Guest
VeganEnrique
Points +29
Great croissants, great scones - Edit
Cozy place nestled in a cute neighborhood. Don’t see many vegan scone places in Tokyo, and this place does them really well. Great staff, who seem to know a lot of english.
Read moreGuest
Milaaukema
Points +48
So many vegan options! - Edit
Favourite bakery! They had many vegan options, everything was so pretty! Very yummy 🫶
Read morePros: Many vegan options , Presentation and taste of food , Friendly staff
Guest
luvmishelly
Points +35
Delicious coconut scone - Edit
My first vegan baked good from an establishment (not homemade)!
Read moreIt was really delicious and I’m definitely going again on my next trip to Shimokitazawa!
Pros: Delicious variety, Friendly staff, Credit cards accepted
Guest
SophiaMT
Points +197
Phenomal - Edit
Tucked away in the back streets of Setagaya, this little cafe and bakery has everything to offer! A wonderful range of sweets, savoury, and bread and a sit down option of French toast or soup. The coffee was delicious and the French toast was a great serving and not overly sweet. Additionally, the staff were so friendly! I am so glad we came here!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-21
Pros: Delicious, Good variety , Good atmosphere
Guest
eam
Points +204
So good! - Edit
I can finally understand the appeal of melon bread!! Oh my god it’s so good. Lovely staff. Almost too much to choose from, but if the melon bread is in stock- get it.
Read moreGuest
catandcupcake
Points +4775
Delicious and so much savoury choice 😋 - Edit
It was difficult to choose what to have, but everything we tried was delicious, and very fresh tasting. We got three of the flat breads - pizza, sweet onion, and potato & mushroom curry - all were very good, I think my favourite was the onion. Got the vegetable focaccia and it was nice, but if you're only getting one thing, I'd say the flatbread is better. My partner got the almond croissant (apparently only available on Wednesdays) and it was very good! Coffee was also great!
Read moreGuest
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