Lucullus Bakery

Came here for lunch after an introduction from my work friends. I did come here once to try their milk tea and although it was good, I did not get a good impression by the girl who worked behind the counter. It was my first time there and I asked how much milk and sugar they put in the HK tea and she kind of looked at me like I was clueless. Sorrrrry… who knew you had to put in your own sugar? Some places I went to downtown asked me how much cream I wanted.
Anyways back to my lunch review. The server was a lot nicer. He was quick behind the counter, asked what drink I wanted etc. This café throws me off because it’s an HK café, but it’s also very Westernized. I end up ordering a steamed rice with chicken and mushroom. Friends ordered chicken fried rice (was so good — I tried a bite) and ribs and steamed rice (pretty typical). They came with HK tea or green tea or anything from their drink fridge (vita drinks, pops etc.) I thought it was a good price for what I got. The seating is great. They have a few seats downstairs and a lot more seating upstairs. It’s nice and comfortable.
Forgot to mention, they also have a bunch of cakes and Chinese buns so I do see a lot of people snacking on those with a milk tea.
I’ll be back but won’t go out of my way to come here.

Passed by here for some goodies. Tried the mango sticky rice cake, traditional bun and pineapple bun w/​custard. All three were amazing. I particularly liked the mango cake, which had a custard centre with pieces of fresh mango. The pineapple bun (which I had never tried before) was AMAZING. I foresee myself getting much fatter in the near future. I need more. Go here. The staff is super friendly too, btw. There’s a fifty cent surcharge if you pay by debit and if you buy more than six items, there’s no tax!

This was such a hidden gem! I’m glad I found it finally!
So I was trying to order a birthday cake for dad, and they wanted an Asian-​type cake that’s not too sweet. I was on the quest looking for a semi-​decent cake calling a whole bunch of chinese bakeries. Had some terrible rude experience I stumbled upon Lucullus on Elm.
Never did I think this place was simply awesome! first of all, they sell so many type of things, not just a dessert house with coffee. there’s actual lunch options that are enticing.
I said to the lady behind the counter I had to travel with the cake, she recommended against my first choice. She didn’t want the fresh cream to taste bad due to the pro-​longed exposure. She called and texted her manager to recommend the perfect cake. She gave me several options and I was amazed that she even cared. Most other bakeries didnt’ care if your cake no longer tasted the best it could, they just sell it.
Two days later when i picked up the cake it was kept refrigerated and kept aside. I ran a few minutes late, almost closing time and the clerk was perfectly nice about it. They even got Chinese writing placed on the cake like I wanted.
In the end mom and dad loved the cake. It was just what they wanted.
Good job lucullus, definitely will come back.

Outside is beautiful. It was a interesting place. They have chinese pastries and some of dims and coffee. They have meals in the menu. I did not find varieties of pastries. Most buns look were similar. They have good size space and seats to eat. I do not think they are using their space well, though.

Great Chinese bakery with all the Chinese bakery selection I would normally get… coconut buns, hot dog buns, HK style tea… were all great. I also tired the spare rib dish and the burger and both were a little disappointing. It tasted ok but the portions were way too small. I’ll be back for the pastries and tea.

Great place to get HK milk tea and a few different HK café style lunch options!

I have been to this downtown location several times but most of the time it was for a grab and go. This time, my girlfriend a d I decided to chill here. We grabbed a snack and hong kong milk tea. We sat on the second floor. I have to say, I really like the seating on the second floor, it is so comfortable. It was spaceous and comfortable. It wasn’t crowded at all. I think I have found a great place to chill and catch up with my girlftiends.

Lucullus was a hidden gem in the neighbourhood but now word has spread and it is getting busier!
It is a mix between a bakery and a café, and caters to Hong Kong and Western tastebuds.
The first area you see upon entering is a small seating area, followed by an area of freshly baked Hong Kong buns. Grab a tray and tongs and pick out what you want! Most items are $ 1.35/ea, no tax for 6+ items. I am a huge fan of their egg tarts with the hard crust. They have a variety of hot food available as well, including breakfasts and rice combos. I have had the milk tea and find it only okay. Grab some of the olive lemon pine nut shortbread to share – those are addictive and the flavours are complex but come together nicely.
Note that there is a 25 cent surcharge for credit card (VISA/​Mastercard) transactions less than $ 10.

*The bakery is spacious with 2 floors of tables and lounging areas, perfect for a coffee date or study.
*Although the place is kept really clean, I find it strange that there is only one server for this massive bakery, so occasionally tables don’t get cleaned out as quickly.
*They sell the typical chinese pastries that you would find in Chinatown. Although these aren’t cheap, the buns at Lucullus Bakery have no artificial flavors or preservatives, plus they are located in downtown core so that justified the prices.
*Lucullus Bakery also carries a good selection of cakes and Asian drinks.
*Steamed Chicken and Mushroom + drink — $ 5.95:
Ordered the steamed chicken and a drink combo for $ 6, which was definitely a steal when you are living in downtown Toronto! The Hong Kong milk tea was really smooth and silky, and well balanced with creaminess that isn’t too rich and sweetness that doesn’t overpower. Since there was too much green onions, that was all I tasted when I tried the steamed chicken :(. However the portion is generous and the dish wasn’t too salty nor greasy, it actually tasted quite good for $ 6!
*Strawberry Meringue cake :
I didn’t enjoy the texture of the cake, but then I never had a proper strawberry meringue cake so I’m not sure if this is how the texture is supposed to be? It wasn’t overly sweet and there was even layers of whipped cream and almond meringue, so with every bite you are getting everything. The texture just wasn’t my cup of tea as it was incredibly chewy and it crumbled easily.
*(Matcha) Green Tea Latte:
Interestingly on the second floor, they had a banner which stated that Lucullus Bakery have the best Green Tea latte in town. With that said, I was really disappointed as the tea was extremely bitter and I found lumps of matcha powder at the bottom of my cup.

My fav lunch place when I was living downtown. Arrive early to avoid disappointment — lunch boxes (5.95) are only available starting 11 – 11:30am ish and run out anywhere from 1 – 3. The boxes consist of rice and a meat and have about 5 selections. Good controlled portion, and includes a drink! The cakes are quite good too. Their all day menu boasts many yummy breakfast items — I personally quite like the avocado egg sanwich and the mushroom soup (4.95).

Like the Matrix of Leadership, Lucullus came to light my darkest hour…
Part of me hates living downtown because of the lack of good, authentic and inexpensive Chinese food — check that, CANTONESE Chinese food. Let’s face it — Spadina Chinatown caters to the lowest common denominator and the real spots are more targetting Mainlanders looking for a taste of home. It’s nigh impossible to find a good HK-​style café with good milk tea and a bakery that isn’t trying to fill the 3 buns for $ 1 pricepoint with a smear of filling encased in flavourless bread.
So I was shocked, to say the least that Lucullus opened up on Elm — a strip better known to serve up pricey dishes to tourists being so close to the Chelsea. It’s a cross between a Chinese bakery and a trendy Western café. I have to say, it’s a bit odd being served Chinese food by a ethnically-​diverse staff.
You can get lattes and free WiFi on both floors (great for student study sessions and random mobile office sessions), but you can also get delicious Chinese baked goods. Most of the buns are around $ 1, which is expensive compared to Chinatown, but the difference is Lucullus is actually have good baked good with quality ingredients.
In addition, they have steamed baos and lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf — $ 3) if you’re looking for something more substantial. Still hungry? They have cheap lunch options (sandwiches, soups & omelettes) for $ 5 — $ 10. They have a small selection of rice dishes (i.e. curry chicken on rice) with a drink for $ 6. Nothing amazing but solid and incredibly rare for this area.
And most importantly, they have some great HK-​style milk tea. It’s very fragrant and pairs well with most of the baked goods. Do not confuse this with bubble tea or some of the garbage they call milk tea in Chinatown. The consistency is excellent as I often pop by here for a quick lunch/​snack.
A place like this may be a dime-​a-​dozen in the burbs, but I’m so glad Lucullus is filling a much-​needed niche within the city.

So far the best HK style Milk tea I’ve had. There has always been a certain consistency except for last week when I went there, it seem more diluted than usual and doesn’t have the fragrant smell of tea.
Still, I think it was a onetime off inconsistency out of all the times I’ve been there. They have recently too started roasting their own coffee beans?
The best bun to me? Their pineapple bun. Have it in-​house when its hot or fresh off the oven, its probably the best tasting pineapple bun. The staff is friendly, and the place is clean. Although the best Lucullus branch I find bakes the yummiest buns is still the one up in Markham. Personal preference really… but if you’re downtown the one on Elm Street is probably closer in distance.
The Elm Street downtown seems more trendy and dressed up to be more like a café style instead of bakery.
They also have breakfast and lunch menu sandwiches and fried and steam rice Chinese style. Absolutely tasty and packs a punch in a small takeaway box. Definitely a nice Chinese bakery/​café on Elm Street.

This is a nice little Chinese bakery/​café. They have some cooked food as well as a selection of baked goods. I got the bbq pork bun and the coconut bun. Both were delicious and larger than usual. The price was higher than usual as well though. Still, I felt the size and taste made up for it. Also, though it’s more expensive than it’s Chinatown counterparts, it’s still cheaper than say Starbucks or your mainstream bakeries. The interior is also very nice and classy.

I can’t believe this café is just around the corner from campus and that I just found out about it today! It is a quaint Eurasian style café/​bakery. Lovely aesthetic, fresh pastries, wonderful and friendly staff, and agreeable prices. The seating area (two levels) is comfy and sophisticated. It is well lit & relatively quiet — a great setting for conversation, business meeting, study space, a quiet corner to read… $ 2.75 gets you a full hot kettle of tea (of choice green teas) — worth. There’s free WiFi and plugs so it is a great place to get work done (this is one of my lowkey study spots).

I feel much obliged to comment on the quality of the sweet and savoury offerings of this bakery after two separately disappointing trips – the second was in hopes of a redeeming experience.
That said, items that should be avoided are the steamed vegetable and meat buns, BBQ and sausage roll buns, and mango glutinous rice puddings. How on earth can they get away with advertising a bun as either containing vegetables or meat when they both lack just that; the filling-​to-​bread ratio is seriously incorrect – I apologize if I refuse to buy another one to show you photographic evidence, but take my word! Mr. BBQ and sausage roll are, too, guilty of falling short on delivering excitement of flavour and content. Lastly, it was not pleasant biting into the mango dessert since under-​ripe mangoes were used for the filling – gross!
The thing is, it is evident that the staff are incredibly friendly and efficient; thus, what a shame!

The scribbled sign on the window stated «go ahead… spoil yourself» so I ventured into Lucculus bakery while downtown on errands. Staff are very enthusiastic, nice and friendly; appears to be an Asian family run business.
Not into all the Chinese buns and baked goods that looked delicious. They have a full breakfast and lunch menu while also having barista style coffee. The Asian fusion is confusing but went along with chicken noodle soup, the burger and fruit salad combo.
While the presentation was great and the fruit salad was very good; the thin burger appeared fried and mushy; one bite into it and it didn’t taste good at all; bun looked great; no issues with the presentation. The chicken noodle soup was filled with salty noodles and water with a hint of chicken flavour. The only good thing about this lunch was the fresh fruit cup but at $ 20 it is a rip off and not a good stop.

Came here, wondering if it would be anything like the Lucullus uptown in Richmond Hill… while hoping to grab a quick simple dinner of soy pork pattie on rice with dim sum on the side… surprised by nice décor, and no Asian style meals or dim sum… but I guess having just the Asian buns like any Asian bakery would sell, along with some sandwiches, salads and soups mesh well for the customers in this location.
Got the Russian borscht (typical HK café style) and I was not disappointed because it was packed with veggies and meat. The sesame bun on the side was unfortunately a bit hard.
Anyhow, awesome location to satisfy chinese bun cravings. Would like to try their breakfast meal sometime soon

I absolutely adore this café/​Chinese bakery!
Stopped in toward the end of day so bun selection was limited. I ended up getting a «hawaiian» pizza which was ham/​cheese/​pineapple in a hot pocket shape ($ 2) and a HK style milk tea ($ 1.50).
Service was good and they heated up my pizza upon request. Saw lots of other goodies that I want to come back and try.
Pricing slightly higher than their Chinatown competitors, however, I think it’s worth it. Their healthy ingredients take away a bit of the guilt in consuming multiple red bean buns and egg tarts in one sitting.
Definitely a nice refuge from the fast food chains and generic eateries on Yonge St and around the Eaton Centre area. Delightful.

I’ve been to this gem on Elm St. at least a dozen times since they’ve opened and finally decided to sign up to Unilocal to write a review. I love this place.
I snap up at least one sticky rice packet to go each time to keep me and the wife happy. The fresh ingredients and comfort factor are why we keep returning.
The first time I bought one of their BBQ pork buns I was pleasantly surprised they weren’t glowing red but a more natural colour. These are also a regular buy of mine.
Perhaps my favourite guilty pleasure is the fried curry beef buns. They have a deep fried and very slightly greasy outer texture that tastes like I’ve happily traded a few extra hours (days?) of life for the experience of their vaguely donut-​y savory goodness.
Since opening, their prices have changed (gone down slightly) and I usually find myself buying half a dozen items which avoids some tax. Another change since opening is a change of their to-​go bags from an impractical paper to a much more durable plastic bag.
More recently I’ve been enjoying a tall drip coffee on a semi-​regular basis. Although milder than most places I enjoy the blend they use as a change of pace from the harshness of most Starbucks blends.
Finally, my most recent experience and the reason I decided to write this review: breakfast. Today I had the «corned beef hash duo» (uploaded a picture) and was more than pleased with the result. I asked for sunny side up and 7-​grain toast and was not disappointed; the eggs were simply done with golden yolks and the bread was fresh and lightly toasted. The hash and mushrooms (the «duo») were fried and paired surprisingly well with basil leaves and greens piled on top of pre-​made (from frozen?) hash browns. Even though everything was fried the meal didn’t leave a grease-​y after effect. The bread and the garnishes all helped to balance the plate.
Overall I’m beyond happy that this bakery/​restaurant/​café opened in the neighborhood and look forward to my next visit.

Lucullus Bakery has a few branches in the Markham/​Richmond Hill area, but they recently opened a branch here in the heart of Downtown Toronto. That should be a good thing, This would be a good thing, I mean Lucullus is definitely one of the better bakeries here in the north end.
The interior is decorated much better than the northern counterparts. In fact, it looks so chic and modern that I had to double check I was in the right store. The buns are also fresh and delicious, although price is higher than a normal bakery store.
I haven’t had the chance to try out the other items yet, but I’ll be sure to update this review when I do! So far my first impressions have been good though!