Welcome to Year of the Snake
At "Year of the Snake," we celebrate the art of baking through a unique fusion of Asian-inspired pastries. Located in Berkeley, CA, this charming bakery offers exquisite items, notably their acclaimed egg tarts, featuring a perfectly flaky crust and creamy custard. Each creation, from savory Chinese sausage biscuits to fluffy Meyer lemon cheesecake, reflects culinary artistry and innovation. Customers rave about the harmonious balance of flavors — sweet, savory, and everything in between. The warm, inviting atmosphere and attentive staff enhance the experience, making each visit a delightful adventure in taste. Come indulge and discover why this bakery is a local treasure!
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2701 Eighth St #114, Berkeley, CA 94710 Hotline: (408) 666-4584
Year of the Snake, nestled in the heart of Berkeley, California, is a culinary gem that beckons pastry lovers with an irresistible charm. Located at 2701 Eighth St #114, this bakery has quickly gained a reputation for its innovative Asian-inspired pastries, crafted with a blend of traditional techniques and modern flair. If you find yourself in the area or simply craving top-notch baked goods, a visit to Year of the Snake is a must.
Walking into Year of the Snake, you're immediately enveloped by the warm aroma of freshly baked goods, a welcoming atmosphere, and the vibrant energy of its enthusiastic staff. The variety of pastries on offer is nothing short of impressive. Each visit reveals new delights, allowing for endless exploration and discovery of flavors.
- Egg Tarts: The true star of the show, as echoed in multiple customer testimonials. With their crispy, multilayered crust and silky custard center, these egg tarts are described as "life-changing" and even rival the famed pastel de nata from Portugal. It's no wonder they’ve been singled out as a personal favorite by many!
- Curry Focaccia: Savory and crunchy, this unique take on focaccia is best relished warm. It offers a perfect blend of flavors that keeps customers returning for more.
- Meyer Lemon Japanese Cheesecake: Light and fluffy, this cheesecake has become a favorite for its delicate balance of sweetness and zesty lemon flavor, making it a delightful treat after a hearty meal.
- Chinese Sausage and Chive Biscuit: A standout savory item, this biscuit is both soft and packed with flavor, perfect for any time of day.
- Sesame Cookies and Salted Egg Yolk Cookies: Both cookies have been praised for their creative flavors and excellent texture. The peanut buttery goodness combined with sesame is particularly noteworthy.
Year of the Snake thrives on innovation, frequently updating its menu with seasonal items and creative twists on traditional favorites. You might stumble upon intriguing delights like a veggie cream cheese pretzel cone or a refreshing lemon lime bottle cap cake, ensuring every visit feels like a new adventure. In a world where bakery menus can often feel repetitive, Year of the Snake stands out for its creativity and quality.
With glowing reviews from patrons like Jessica M. and Eunice K., it’s clear that every dish emanates a commitment to excellence. Whether you come for the flaky egg tarts or the savory delights, the artistry that this bakery embodies is palpable in every bite. The welcoming atmosphere, complemented by attentive staff, enhances the overall experience, making it not just a meal but a cherished memory.
In conclusion, if you're in Berkeley and have a taste for baked goods that transcend the ordinary, Year of the Snake should be at the top of your culinary bucket list. It combines skill, creativity, and a passion for pastry that guarantees a delightful experience with every visit.
Best egg tart I've ever had, all of the pastries were amazing, definitely coming back! Tried: Curry foccacia (great served warm, nit Chinese sausage and chive biscuit Lemon lime bottle cap cake Meyer lemon Japanese cheesecake Sesame cookie Veggie cream cheese pretzel cone Egg tarts
Happened upon this place on the happiest of accidents. If you're on the fence I hope I can help sway you to them. Probably the best Egg Tart I've ever had in my life. The focaccia was savory and crunchy With a soft middle. Never thought i needed a pretzel cone full of cream cheese but apparently I do now. Please do yourself a favor and go visit this place.
Yummy. The egg tarts and the tea eggs are my top top top items. The egg tarts are crispy and creamy and the tea eggs are packed with five spice deliciousness!!! The other items are also inventive and wonderful but since I don't have much of a sweet tooth, I will likely stick to the egg and tea eggs. But if you have a sweet tooth, then this is a great place to try everything.
A Sunday morning must! Highlights: the Chinese sausage and scallion biscuit is like no other. It's not too dry and is great cold or warmed up. I'm also a huge fan of the salted egg yolk cookie. It's not too strong but the specks of yolk are perfect. And it's huge!
Some of my favorite egg tarts in the East Bay!! They also have lots of other delicious Asian inspired pastries that are a good addition to the egg tarts and seem to have new items each time I go! The staff are very nice and if there is ever a line it goes by pretty quickly.
Absolutely delicious egg tart and tea egg. The egg tart had a multilayer flaky crust, custardy center, and touches of brûlée deliciousness. It reminded me of pastel de nata from Portugal. The tea egg was perfect savory snack. The staff and baker are super sweet too. I can't wait to come back and try other items.
All the pastries here are SO good! Decided to drop by on a whim on a Sunday while I was on my way to third culture bakery for a matcha latte. I got 3 pastries total even though everything looked so delicious: - black sesame Bostock: so fluffy and crispy, and the sesame is so creamy and flavorful - blackberry Japanese cheesecake: SOO FLUFFY - my favorite. I definitely will be coming back for another one in the future - egg yolk cookie: very crispy and the egg yolk flavor is light. Definitely coming back here for more sweet treats in the future!
It's a family affair here (almost) every Sunday at Morell's bread. I am so wildly in love with all the baked goods here, there's not a miss on the menu, but here are my favorites: Sesame chip cookie - two types of chocolate chip (dark and dulce), crunchy butter toffee, a little tahini and rolled in roasted sesame. It's a chewy flavor BOMB and maybe my favorite cookie ever. Egg tarts - super creamy and rich filling, buttery flaky crust. The star of the show. Coconut lime cake - Dense, rich, packed with coconut and brown sugar flavor, topped with lime zest in crunchy royal icing. A (not too) sweet, decadent treat. Rice balls / onigiri - Seasonal offering! The slow roasted early girl tomato ones was bomb but I'm really loving the charred scallion and anchovies. Sesame silhouettes - You get there free with a bevvie! Crunchy, buttery and light, with a creamy sesame filling. The variety on the menu is unmatched. Go and pre-order a mixed pack on her website and you'll get some extra treats!
The egg tarts blew my mind and I don't even like egg tarts. I am a pastry person and the tart part of egg tart blew my mind. It was so crispy and perfect and you can taste the layers and the artistry that went into prep. Everything we got here was well-balanced not too sweet. I will absolutely be back for more egg tarts!
Holy moly!! Best Portuguese egg tart ever! It is life changing. The custard is so silky smooth, and the crust is sooooooo freaking flaky. I also got quite the haul and was able to try a selection of items! Meyer lemon japanese cheesecake was so fluffy! I was amazed at the salted egg yolk cookie- definitely not a common bakery item, and I have no regrets trying it. The korean army stew focaccia was a unique menu item, so I had to try it. It was decent and a nice savory item. Since I ordered a lot and they were about to close, they threw in a little gift (hazelnut baby cake) for me, which was nice of them! The tea eggs were a nice addition because I needed some savory to balance out the sweet.