Gloucester Bakery

No closing sale here. They usually sell out most items after the afternoon weekend rush. Pay with cash and you get 20% off and if you buy 6 or more items, no taxes :) since it’s the one and only Chinese bakery around the area … It’s a 3 stars. If you compare it with ones in Richmond Hill or Markham, I’d say his is a 2 stars (taste wise)

The baked goods here are not cheap compared to some of the other Chinese bakeries out there ($ 1.00 for a hot dog bun as opposed to like $ 0.80), but some of their desserts seem fairly reasonably priced (see cappuccino cup below).
I can’t say how good my baked goods are, although my mother seems to have quite enjoyed her cappuccino cup (single serving cappuccino mousse cake — $ 1.60).
My reason for the 2 star rating is because of the service I received today. My total was $ 8.10. I put $ 13.10 on the counter (so I could get a $ 5 bill back. I know for sure I put $ 13.10 on the counter because I made sure to pay with the least shiny loonie I had in my wallet. The cashier tried to give me back $ 2 as change, and I told her that I gave her $ 13.10. She told me I gave her $ 10.10. I told her I also gave her a loonie and a toonie. She gave me back my $ 5, but she exclaimed fairly loudly in Cantonese that I was scamming her out of her money. The rest of our transaction had been in English, so I’m assuming she thought I couldn’t speak it. I then replied in Cantonese that I was not trying to scam her at all. Not cool at all.

Located inside adjacent to a supermarket, we wandered in aimlessly after Congee Wong in search of pastries. Get 20% off when you pay with cash! How delightful! Compared to the pastries I get at the Chinatown in Chicago, this place is miles/​kms ahead in freshness and taste. I LOVE my pineapple buns and Gloucester serves up the regular kind, red bean filled, plus a darker-​chocolate/​coffee? version. I couldn’t resist on getting all three and then some. While none can compare to the life-​altering warm pineapple buns I got in a Taiwanese night market years ago, this bakery’s pineapple buns were still slightly warm and soft. With my bag of fresh pastries for the road, it definitely eased the pain of the long drive back to the states.

You can get pandan sponge cake here on Saturdays — but it goes fast so get in there quickly! Perfunctory service without a smile, but who cares, the baked goods are excellent. My personal faves? The pandan sponge (of course), the raisin twists, the regular sponge and the coconut tarts are particularly heavenly. Love this place. Right next door to Congee Wong, how convenient! The da’an ta here are ok, but not excellent. You can walk out with a basketful of carbelicious delight for a very reasonable price …

This review is for the egg custard tarts only.
Gloucester Bakery’s egg tarts are quite good. They were fresh and still hot when I bought them. Custard filling tastes very fresh and eggy. Crust is a bit too crumby and thick. I’d prefer a thinner, more delicate crust.
6 egg tarts cost $ 6.60.

There are way better places to get your fix of Chinese buns from. There is zero customer service here. The buns were sub par. I’ve had much better buns from the local Loblaws and No Frills that sell the prepackaged 3 variety selection. And it was expensive — BBQ pork bun was $ 1.10 — which would be okay if there was actually BBQ pork meat inside it! Just a dollop of red goop. Quality of other buns were the same — no filling and undercooked dough.
I was gifted a certificate from a wedding invitation so I had to spend it. First off there’s no address on the voucher so I had to call them. The woman who picked up the phone was so rude — like I was making her do some exhaustive task by simply asking what their address was.
When I went, I picked what I wanted, brought the tray to get rung up and it came to $ 10 exactly — value of my voucher. I handed my voucher to her and she said «you have to pay $ 2 if you’re going to use this.» They apparently give a 20% discount on cash purchases and this voucher doesn’t count. Okay… So I give her $ 5. She gives me back $ 2. I look at my hand and said. «Didn’t you say $ 2?» She said «yea, so I’m giving you change» I said «but you owe me $ 3». She gave me the dirtiest look and threw a loonie into my hand and gave me by bag.
I am not returning to this bakery.

We love to drop by here while picking up groceries. The pastries are reliable and the kids are big fans. Meat pies, coconut tarts and egg tarts and buns are great. We don’t get the cakes often but it is a great place to pre-​order cakes when we need one, usually fruit cakes or durian cake. Yummy! Recently we’ve been requesting them to seal pastries in individual packages, keeps them fresh longer. :)

The worst customer service. Staff was extremely rude, yelled at customers. Will never return.

Bread is as big in China than it is here in North America, in the same sense that China is the largest English Speaking Country than anywhere else in the World.
Although, the quality of Chinese baking is far superior in comparison.
There are a steady stream of young Chinese girls who find work here in this small bakery, but it’s far from the reason why this place is so successful.
Hong Kong people love their bread, plain bread, coconut bread, sausage buns or just egg tarts, it’s inherent in their epicurean culture.
Everyday towards the afternoon the bakery fills with patrons snapping up the daily goods on their trays, and bringing it to the cashier for it to be boxed.
I’m sure many frugal parents has gotten away with purchasing their children’s birthday cakes here, as there are half a dozen cakes ready to be sold at all times, and they are A-​OKAY.
My parents tried to have me on the Gloucester Baker diet during junior high for all my lunch needs, but even as a youngin’ my palate was developed enough to reject this on a daily bases, but my sister on the other hand is just fine with her unchanging cheap guardians pulling the same trick.
It certainly is cheap, at most single piece of bread at under a dollar. They get somewhat creative here with the toppings they put on the breads, but for that price is tempting not to buy the store.
I’m not big on bread, but I can occasionally be found picking up a loaf of this bread they have with a sweet yellow filling which also consists of coconut shavings. It really is the best thing since sliced bread.
Yeah, bread is the best thing since bread…

My family’s been purchasing buns here forever!
While the décor/​shape of the place is lacking, it’s all about the products here. The buns, bread, etc. almost always sell out. They are super fresh and I love eating them once they are just out of the oven!
It’s hard to pick one thing to recommend. But I say try it all :) I find their cookies super obsessive (prob so fat but so good!), pineapple buns, egg tarts, square bread, butter cake, small chicken pies, bbq. the list goes on. The cakes are decently priced as well. Other pastries are also available.
CAKE CARDS (Chinese Weddings)
We purchased our cake cards here for my 2011 wedding. This is the breakdown of the price.
Less than 50 cards = $ 8 each
50 cards or more = $ 7.50 each
120 cards = $ 7 each
They accept cash/​chq. Please allow 3 days for them to prepare the cake cards.
The cake cards are pink/​purple/​white and printed on glossy paper (approx. 5.5″ X 3″)… not bad. But it comes with a pink envelope (ugh pink…). I ended up returning all the pink envelopes to them & just included the card w/​the rest of the invite. Sorry no one mess with my purple colour scheme please lol
PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL CAKE CARDS HAVE BEEN STAMPED :)

This place does not even deserve a star.
I was buying these sponge cakes for my dad. Then the lady came out with a new batch and yelled to get out of the way in cantonese.
Even though it’s my 5^th language, I still understand it perfectly, and was ready to say something really nasty to her.
These people have no class, next time I will throw the sponge cake in her face!
As for the taste? Personally this type of dessert doesn’t appeal to me.
I think everyone should go in and throw egg tarts at the cashier. They are quite nasty too. It is not my fault I am beautiful and stunning, and that they’re not.

You cannot go wrong with this bakery. Their bread is fresh and they sell out everyday. They have many locations but this one is the best. Their cakes are just delicious. Their cream is not thick but asian style cream which is very light. I like their buns. Its so soft it melts in your mouth when you bite into it. I can’t believe anyone would say anything bad about this bakery. It’s been there a long time and it’s still really good. What can you get for a dollar now? I’ve tried almost everything here and they are just all good. I like the custard buns the best. Try their chicken pies and egg tarts. You will not go wrong with these. So good!

If you are seeking good bread buns then I’d much rather go to GrapeVine just east of this place (Vic Park and Cummer). The owner here is so stingy (about things like giving you a box for your baked goods!), and bread is just alright.
The red bean rice cakes are pretty good. I’ll give them that.

Man, I grew up with this bakery. I remember having their buns for lunch in elementary school. This place is part of my childhood. I still buy bread here ’cause it’s inexpensive just plain delicious. They also have a variety of Chinese-​style cakes and hong kong style coffee!
Personal favorites:
P l a i n B u n
It’s amazing when it’s fresh from the oven. The bread is soft and on top of it is a sweet crust. One word: amazing. I also love their red bean bun, which also has the sweet crust, but with red bean stuffing inside!
E g g T a r t s
I’ve mentioned before in my other review that I. freaking. love. egg tarts. LOVE THEM. and these guys have some amazing egg tarts. If you’re lucky, you’ll buy them when it’s still piping hot. Honestly, at this point, you can’t just buy one. With the light eggy taste, canary yellow colouring, flaky crust, and irresistable smell, how can you?! Impossible, I say!
Barbeque Pork Bun
Stuffed with BBQ pork with a perfect golden brown layering. Need I say more?
I reccommend this place to anyone who would like to grab a few buns for afternoon tea or lunch/​snack. If you buy 6 of whichever buns or egg tarts, there is no tax! What a steal. So what you waiting for? Go steal.