I have always been a fan of Japanese desserts. Needless to say, I’m always on the lookout for authentic Japanese bakeries that really transport me back to the days of me eating my way through Japan. Hattendo did just that.
They recently opened up a new location in Markham so there’s now another location to satisfy my cravings! Especially with the savory sandwiches available now, this really is a one-stop shop for a quick lunch or a light dinner.
Locations (some locations are temporarily closed so make sure to check with the store before heading over):
13 Baldwin Street, Toronto
50 Bloor Street West, Unit 9, Toronto
100 City Centre Drive, Mississauga (Square One)
3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto (Yorkdale Mall)
7357 Woodbine Avenue, Markham (NEW location!)
Hattendo’s menu does not disappoint. There’s lots to pick from, depending on your cravings! From cream buns to melon buns, savory sandos to fruit sandos and of course, the perfect little jars of pudding. Definitely something for everyone!
The menu includes some of my favourite things and captures everything I love about Japanese desserts. Light, not too sweet and the perfect portions. I had a chance to try pretty much every item on the menu and these are the 3 items that stood out for me.
Puddings
Hattendo may be known for their cream buns, but these puddings stole the show! I cannot get enough of these little pudding jars.
The pudding is so creamy and smooth. There are a few pudding flavours to choose from. I definitely recommend trying them all, but the classic caramel pudding is my favourite. It’s made with natural ingredients, no preservative or artificial flavours. Because the pudding itself is not too sweet, that extra caramel sauce balance it out perfectly.
Pudding flavours:
Caramel pudding
Almond tofu
Matcha annin tofu (a combination of almond tofu and matcha. They’re a real matcha made in heaven!)
Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate these super cute and sustainable packaging? These reusable jars are such a fun little bonus!
Cream Buns
These light and airy buns hold a generous amount of cream in the middle. There’s nothing more disappointing than biting into a filled bun, only to find a little dollop of filling. Hattendo has the perfect cream to bun ratio for their cream buns. You can taste the cream in each bite. These little buns are bursting with flavour!
These individually packaged buns are perfect to take on the go and for sharing.
Classic cream bun flavours:
Custard
Whipping cream
Matcha
Chocolate
Red bean
In addition to the classic flavours, there are always interesting seasonal flavours too. I personally love citrus flavoured things so the seasonal Yuzu cream bun is my favourite. It’s not tart but the citrus is so refreshing. There are real chunks of yuzu in the buns too!
Sando
Now, let’s talk sandwiches (aka Sando). Hattendo offers a unique selection of sandwiches.
Sando flavours:
Tamago burger
Egg salad sando
Fruit sando (strawberry, grape or mango)
To me, an egg salad sandwich is classic because this was something that my parents used to make for me when I was little. There was something nostalgic about eating this sando. Making the perfect egg salad sandwich is practically an art. This made the top 3 list because the egg is soft boiled so the yolk is not too dry. The mayo to egg ratio is just right so I’m not just eating mushy goo. Lastly, the sando was made with sweet milk bread. I absolutely love milk bread and can just eat plain slices of milk bread on its own. This Japanese milk bread has a slight sweetness to it and it’s so soft and airy. All of these things together equals a perfect egg salad sando!