4. Restaurants

Arai Pastry

1335 W University Dr,Ste 4, Tempe, AZ, 85281
  • (480) 966-9002
  • Store is closed

Arai Pastry Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • Liz V.

    I drive 30 minutes for this bakery because I love it so dearly. But I've been there twice and I have never seen nor tried the famous green tea cake!!! I tried the green tea mousse, though, and it was amazing. Not overly sweet and very smooth! I also tried the earl grey cake and it was amazing!!! Definitely a must try. I usually don't like sweets but this place is worth every calorie and blood sugar spike.

    (5)

  • Shigeru Y.

    Not a fan of the citrus that they put in with their flan and cakes. My custard bun was pretty lackluster. It had a strange aftertaste I couldn't figure out and was not very eggy or vanilla-infused. It had very little filling. It could not hold up to other custard buns sold at Lee Lee or Asahi Bakery. They would sell a lot more bread if they bought a slicer. The cashier said many people ask them to slice the bread and I am positive they would sell more loaves. The $6 minimum charge to use a credit card is also annoying.

    (2)

  • Farisa A.

    The green tea mousse wasn't here today 05/19/15 :( :( :( :( :( which is the only reason I stopped by today so I opted for green tea leche instead :/ I highly doubted it would be as yummmmmmmmsssss as the mousse and I was unfortunately correct :/ Why oh why did you stop making the green tea mousse, Arai? It was the reason I fell in love with you (ehem...referring to the desserts;) in the first place. My friend from out of town also fell in love with your little shop because of the green tea mousse. I hope you bring it back. Yours is the only shop of its kind around these parts. 5 stars once green tea mousse graces us with its presence again.

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    In December my boss was flying into town to help celebrate a major service anniversary. I knew immediately who I wanted to bake the cake - Arai Pastry has been my first choice for all special occassions. I ordered a half sheet whipped cream chiffon cake. The filling too would be whipped cream with strawberries and the top was decorated artistically with mandarin oranges, strawberries and kiwi. The cake when we picked it up two days later was so picture perfect, it didn't look real. Back in the office when everyone got to have a piece, the question asked repeatedly was where did this cake come from. Everyone commented how light it was and that it wasn't overly sweet like the typical sheetcakes from other bakeries. If you need a cake for a special event, this is the place to come. I ordered it over the phone giving them the 2 days notice they requested and then made special arrangements to pick it up early before the shop opened. Arrangements could not have been any easier and the cake was out of this world.

    (5)

  • Sarah L.

    Decided to try the bakery after reading other's reviews. Spot on...delicious! Customer service excellent. I think she was an owner because she thanked us for supporting local. She also took the time to explain their bakery and show us their design book. I will be ordering from them. And the plus...it is not sweet!

    (5)

  • Trin W.

    Great food, great service. The curry pan and sandwiches are both amazing, but definitely save room for dessert!

    (5)

  • Leah P.

    I love this Bakery! Their cakes are so amazing! The people there are always so friendly! it always makes my day to get a yummy Curry pan, or a strawberry cake! :D すごく美味しいです！

    (5)

  • Kaori M.

    Love love love... Japanese desserts. Even the fresh made breads are great... Whenever I have a dinner party I bring a box of these tiny desserts and get the best feedback on them. Something different and something delicous!

    (5)

  • Susan K.

    Cute little bakery tucked in the corner of a little strip mall. The lady behind the counter is so delightful and helpful. We got the flan and cream puff which was delicious but I must admit after a while I was custard out. I would come back and try their sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Adam H.

    This place is ridiculously amazing. I went in and couldn't decide what I wanted. it all looked way too delectable, so I had them pick out some items for me. Was not disappointed. I'm hooked. Very friendly staff, and you can tell they love what they do. Left with a smile, and was even happier when I got home and stuffed my face. Thank you, arai pastry!

    (5)

  • Haley H.

    I absolutely love this bakery! They're super friendly and all of their pastries are to die for, but my personal favorites are the chocolate cornets. I just finished the last of the ones I picked up yesterday, they never last long! Strongly recommend!

    (5)

  • Maia S.

    The desserts are delicious! Their drinks are very good, too. Green Tea Milkshake tastes a lot like the Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks, but you get much more for same price! Earl Grey tea cake an green tea mousse are my favorites.

    (5)

  • Tiffany V.

    Tried a slice of strawberry cake. The whip cream frosting was nice and light with a dense vanilla cake. There was a very small selection of desserts to choose from. Overall the dessert was nice, not too sweet, but could have used more strawberries.

    (4)

  • Yu K.

    Everyone should try this awesome bakery. My favorite are strawberry and chocolate cakes!

    (5)

  • Janelle E.

    I would highly reccomend trying the UFO bread. It's basically fluffy bread with a crunchy cookie coating. You will not be disappointed. I almost didn't try it because I wasn't sure about the name. I'm assuming the name comes from the shape if the pastry. I looks like a flying saucer. I'd love to go back and try more of their pastries!

    (5)

  • April S.

    If you want to know how cakes should really taste like, this is the place to go. The bakery chef is originally from Japan and this is a family owned business. Whenever I am here, I usually get the green tea and strawberry cakes. They usually have between 9-12 different types of cakes to choose from and many delicious ones are usually taken by the end of the day. I am not a Baker, but I do know cakes should not taste like a full mouth of sugar with no taste of the cake flavor. This place knows how to make their cakes. You can also order a birthday cake here.

    (5)

  • Brad H.

    This is a gem of a Japanese bakery. You will pay Japanese prices, though. We love going here to pick up some kreme and an pan. Those go for $1.75 a piece. The kreme is a little more eggy than what I ate in Japan, but it is still very good. The an pan is wonderful, too. They do have the strawberry cake, of course. This is the one thing that they seem to have the reputation for. It doesn't come cheap. $3.75 a slice is very reasonable but be prepared to spend $28 for a 10" cake. They have various sizes, I do not know who many, but they do have an 8" cake as well as larger. Japanese strawberry cake is prized in Japan and is a lighter, less sweet cake than what we are accustomed to. I haven't tried theirs yet, but look forward to another visit. They have flan (Japanese flan is better than Mexican flan, IMHO), green tea cake, and other goodies. They also serve Japanese style lunch sandwiches and you better get there early before they sell out. They all speak Nihongo, so if you are First, Second, or Third generation and speak the language, you will feel right at home here.

    (4)

  • John F.

    I worked very close to Aria and would buy the Cream Puff a long time ago. They were the best. I hope to Special Order a Box soon.

    (5)

  • Yerim K.

    I've been looking for Asian Japanese French style bakery long time here. It was small Japanese shopping mall complex right next to Japanese grocery. They make cakes, sandwich, sweet bread and nice coffee too. We tried strawberry short cake, green tea cake and coffee there. It was amazing! Very light texture of cake, real creamy but still very light refreshing whip cream with fresh strawberry! Real clean flavor of green tea cake! They are very serious baker! I love here so much if someone looking for Japanese Asian bakery, this is the one.

    (4)

  • Christian A.

    I have been coming here for years and have NEVER been disappointed :D Now i buy my birthday cake from here and my family loves it!

    (5)

  • Youyoen C.

    I visited there a week ago and it was a good place to enjoy some asian desserts and bread. The owner was really sweet and kind. I tried EARL GREY CAKE and it was awesome! $3.95 is a reasonable price for this wonderful cake. It was not too sweet, and I could taste the flavor of earl grey. In case of CURRY BUN, it was nice but little bit salty for me. (But my husband loved it.) I rated 4 stars for this bakery because it was delicious, but the looking of them- they do not look like "delicious desserts". I'll definitely go there again to try other cakes.

    (4)

  • Sha S.

    The cakes here are so delicious and beautifully presented! A hidden gem next to the Japanese grocery store!!!

    (5)

  • Jeremy J.

    So my wife and I go up to the little Japanese market in the same complex to pick up some ramune and on a whim went into Arai's to see what they sold since we both love pastries. It was one of best impulses we have ever had. The shop is small but very cute while still being professional. We ordered a slice of the strawberry cake to share since the shop has a few tables we are it there where the young lady working served us the cake as if we were at a restaurant and not inside a bakery. The staff was extra nice, the strawberry cake one of the best cakes I have had in my life and we also left with some fresh baked bread that was great. The shop is way out of my way, I live in the far East valley, but I still make sure to head to Arai's every time I have the itch for cake.

    (5)

  • Mostafa A.

    Excellent cakes! Hands down the best in Phoenix area. Chocolate cake is my favorite. It's a bit pricey but well worth the price.

    (5)

  • Karen W.

    Whenever I'm craving dessert, this is the first place I want to go. I've been here quite a few times since my first review, and every item I've had has been delectable. Today I had a curry bread, iced coffee, and picked out an assortment of sweets for a get together in the evening. While the guys that are typically baking in the back can be brusque, the young woman that works here is always so cheerful, pleasant, and eager to help. Upgrade 1 star!

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    Great desserts. Less sweet than my bachelor american pallet is used to... But that made the desert feel less guilty while still tasting fresh and delicious! I will be stopping by again .

    (4)

  • Daniel K.

    Waltzing into Fujiya I noticed a Japanese bakery right next door. Oh Joy! After pillaging Fujiya of some much needed pantry staples I walked into Arai and picked up the Curry Bun, Yogurt Mousse, and the UFO. The Mousse and the UFO we're just A-ok but...... THE CURRY BUN WAS THE BOMB - And full of carrots. Seriously folks if you like Japanese curry and a nice pillowy airy bun this culinary piece can be yours for $1.75. I agree with a lot of John C.'s points - food is pretty quality but pales in comparison to other bakeries along the West Coast. But we're in the middle of the desert so I'll round up. (I also will be back to try Asian Birthday Fruit Cake and Strawberry Slice)

    (4)

  • Albert W.

    Apparently this is the only japanese bakery in PHX. Since I was on the way to the airport, I decided to drop by. The place has a range of pastries and drinks. I had the green tea mousse (if you like light and not very overpowering sweet with subtle taste, get this) and true Japanese coffee (mild with a strong coffee taste with liquid sugar and milk - think blue mountain.... personally I think most american coffee is burnt as hell and too bitter). Oh yeah... these guys are from fukuoka on the west tip of japan.

    (4)

  • John F.

    I worked very close to Aria and would buy the Cream Puff a long time ago. They were the best. I hope to Special Order a Box soon.

    (5)

  • Yerim K.

    I've been looking for Asian Japanese French style bakery long time here. It was small Japanese shopping mall complex right next to Japanese grocery. They make cakes, sandwich, sweet bread and nice coffee too. We tried strawberry short cake, green tea cake and coffee there. It was amazing! Very light texture of cake, real creamy but still very light refreshing whip cream with fresh strawberry! Real clean flavor of green tea cake! They are very serious baker! I love here so much if someone looking for Japanese Asian bakery, this is the one.

    (4)

  • Christian A.

    I have been coming here for years and have NEVER been disappointed :D Now i buy my birthday cake from here and my family loves it!

    (5)

  • Youyoen C.

    I visited there a week ago and it was a good place to enjoy some asian desserts and bread. The owner was really sweet and kind. I tried EARL GREY CAKE and it was awesome! $3.95 is a reasonable price for this wonderful cake. It was not too sweet, and I could taste the flavor of earl grey. In case of CURRY BUN, it was nice but little bit salty for me. (But my husband loved it.) I rated 4 stars for this bakery because it was delicious, but the looking of them- they do not look like "delicious desserts". I'll definitely go there again to try other cakes.

    (4)

  • Sha S.

    The cakes here are so delicious and beautifully presented! A hidden gem next to the Japanese grocery store!!!

    (5)

  • Karen W.

    Whenever I'm craving dessert, this is the first place I want to go. I've been here quite a few times since my first review, and every item I've had has been delectable. Today I had a curry bread, iced coffee, and picked out an assortment of sweets for a get together in the evening. While the guys that are typically baking in the back can be brusque, the young woman that works here is always so cheerful, pleasant, and eager to help. Upgrade 1 star!

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    Great desserts. Less sweet than my bachelor american pallet is used to... But that made the desert feel less guilty while still tasting fresh and delicious! I will be stopping by again .

    (4)

  • Daniel K.

    Waltzing into Fujiya I noticed a Japanese bakery right next door. Oh Joy! After pillaging Fujiya of some much needed pantry staples I walked into Arai and picked up the Curry Bun, Yogurt Mousse, and the UFO. The Mousse and the UFO we're just A-ok but...... THE CURRY BUN WAS THE BOMB - And full of carrots. Seriously folks if you like Japanese curry and a nice pillowy airy bun this culinary piece can be yours for $1.75. I agree with a lot of John C.'s points - food is pretty quality but pales in comparison to other bakeries along the West Coast. But we're in the middle of the desert so I'll round up. (I also will be back to try Asian Birthday Fruit Cake and Strawberry Slice)

    (4)

  • Albert W.

    Apparently this is the only japanese bakery in PHX. Since I was on the way to the airport, I decided to drop by. The place has a range of pastries and drinks. I had the green tea mousse (if you like light and not very overpowering sweet with subtle taste, get this) and true Japanese coffee (mild with a strong coffee taste with liquid sugar and milk - think blue mountain.... personally I think most american coffee is burnt as hell and too bitter). Oh yeah... these guys are from fukuoka on the west tip of japan.

    (4)

  • Jeremy J.

    So my wife and I go up to the little Japanese market in the same complex to pick up some ramune and on a whim went into Arai's to see what they sold since we both love pastries. It was one of best impulses we have ever had. The shop is small but very cute while still being professional. We ordered a slice of the strawberry cake to share since the shop has a few tables we are it there where the young lady working served us the cake as if we were at a restaurant and not inside a bakery. The staff was extra nice, the strawberry cake one of the best cakes I have had in my life and we also left with some fresh baked bread that was great. The shop is way out of my way, I live in the far East valley, but I still make sure to head to Arai's every time I have the itch for cake.

    (5)

  • Mostafa A.

    Excellent cakes! Hands down the best in Phoenix area. Chocolate cake is my favorite. It's a bit pricey but well worth the price.

    (5)

  • Lily L.

    In December my boss was flying into town to help celebrate a major service anniversary. I knew immediately who I wanted to bake the cake - Arai Pastry has been my first choice for all special occassions. I ordered a half sheet whipped cream chiffon cake. The filling too would be whipped cream with strawberries and the top was decorated artistically with mandarin oranges, strawberries and kiwi. The cake when we picked it up two days later was so picture perfect, it didn't look real. Back in the office when everyone got to have a piece, the question asked repeatedly was where did this cake come from. Everyone commented how light it was and that it wasn't overly sweet like the typical sheetcakes from other bakeries. If you need a cake for a special event, this is the place to come. I ordered it over the phone giving them the 2 days notice they requested and then made special arrangements to pick it up early before the shop opened. Arrangements could not have been any easier and the cake was out of this world.

    (5)

  • Sarah L.

    Decided to try the bakery after reading other's reviews. Spot on...delicious! Customer service excellent. I think she was an owner because she thanked us for supporting local. She also took the time to explain their bakery and show us their design book. I will be ordering from them. And the plus...it is not sweet!

    (5)

  • Trin W.

    Great food, great service. The curry pan and sandwiches are both amazing, but definitely save room for dessert!

    (5)

  • Leah P.

    I love this Bakery! Their cakes are so amazing! The people there are always so friendly! it always makes my day to get a yummy Curry pan, or a strawberry cake! :D すごく美味しいです！

    (5)

  • Kaori M.

    Love love love... Japanese desserts. Even the fresh made breads are great... Whenever I have a dinner party I bring a box of these tiny desserts and get the best feedback on them. Something different and something delicous!

    (5)

  • Susan K.

    Cute little bakery tucked in the corner of a little strip mall. The lady behind the counter is so delightful and helpful. We got the flan and cream puff which was delicious but I must admit after a while I was custard out. I would come back and try their sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Adam H.

    This place is ridiculously amazing. I went in and couldn't decide what I wanted. it all looked way too delectable, so I had them pick out some items for me. Was not disappointed. I'm hooked. Very friendly staff, and you can tell they love what they do. Left with a smile, and was even happier when I got home and stuffed my face. Thank you, arai pastry!

    (5)

  • Haley H.

    I absolutely love this bakery! They're super friendly and all of their pastries are to die for, but my personal favorites are the chocolate cornets. I just finished the last of the ones I picked up yesterday, they never last long! Strongly recommend!

    (5)

  • Maia S.

    The desserts are delicious! Their drinks are very good, too. Green Tea Milkshake tastes a lot like the Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks, but you get much more for same price! Earl Grey tea cake an green tea mousse are my favorites.

    (5)

  • Tiffany V.

    Tried a slice of strawberry cake. The whip cream frosting was nice and light with a dense vanilla cake. There was a very small selection of desserts to choose from. Overall the dessert was nice, not too sweet, but could have used more strawberries.

    (4)

  • Yu K.

    Everyone should try this awesome bakery. My favorite are strawberry and chocolate cakes!

    (5)

  • Janelle E.

    I would highly reccomend trying the UFO bread. It's basically fluffy bread with a crunchy cookie coating. You will not be disappointed. I almost didn't try it because I wasn't sure about the name. I'm assuming the name comes from the shape if the pastry. I looks like a flying saucer. I'd love to go back and try more of their pastries!

    (5)

  • John F.

    Love me some Arai Bakery. My wife is from Japan, so we pretty much come here weekly. It has become the only place were we buy birthday cakes since my wife moved to the Phoenix area 13 years ago. Kind of pricey but ohh so good. The bread they make there also can't be beat. The word on the street is that since Ichiro Suzuki started spring training in AZ that he has the bread express delivered too him weekly. As a side note you can make the absolute best grill cheese sandwich with Arai white bread. Mmmmh bread! Cream Pan, Curry Pan, An Pan (filled with anko bean paste which is an acquired taste) are all really good. Arai-san is truly an artisan who takes great pride in his work. Consistently delicious baked goods

    (5)

  • Nataya W.

    Everything's just right! My favorite dessert here is "green tea mousse cake" it's not too sweet and rich creamy green tea whipped. I have tried all their cakes and pudding. Those are good too! Also the packaging is adorable. Nice staffs, always give me big smile every time I walk in.

    (5)

  • Alan H.

    Arai is absolutely adorable! The staff members there are friendly and handle your transactions with every semblance of care. My personal favorites from here are the chocolate coronets and the melon bread (UFO pan).

    (5)

  • Billy P.

    I cannot say enough good about the artistry done on two birthday cakes we ordered. They were light, not too sweet, absolutley delicious, fresh, and artfully created. Everyone loved them and asked where we got them. Additionaly, the staff were wonderfully pleasant and accomodating. We will order all of our cakes there from now on!!!!

    (5)

  • Iti A.

    Arai Pastry is, hands down, the best pastry place ever! Their cakes are so fluffy that they melt in your mouth and are really delicious. My husband and I surprise each other with their pastries and those are the best surprises ever. :) Because of Arai, birthdays are eagerly looked forward to in our home. We love the strawberry cake/pastry. Another flavor to die for is kiwi/orange. Plus they decorated most of my cakes with cute sheep made of whipped cream. An added bonus. :)

    (5)

  • Billy P.

    I cannot say enough good about the artistry done on two birthday cakes we ordered. They were light, not too sweet, absolutley delicious, fresh, and artfully created. Everyone loved them and asked where we got them. Additionaly, the staff were wonderfully pleasant and accomodating. We will order all of our cakes there from now on!!!!

    (5)

  • Iti A.

    Arai Pastry is, hands down, the best pastry place ever! Their cakes are so fluffy that they melt in your mouth and are really delicious. My husband and I surprise each other with their pastries and those are the best surprises ever. :) Because of Arai, birthdays are eagerly looked forward to in our home. We love the strawberry cake/pastry. Another flavor to die for is kiwi/orange. Plus they decorated most of my cakes with cute sheep made of whipped cream. An added bonus. :)

    (5)

  • Gracie O.

    Haikus... or rather, Araikus *** Homemade cartoon bread On which you can lay your head Or toads in the hole *** Sukiyaki Beef a sandwich that will keep you coming back for more *** Bring a few pastries to your next dinner party impress all your friends *** Order your loved one a special "I'm Sorry" cake if you were a jerk *** The Arai Brothers will hook you up with sweetness and won't let you down *** Try the curry pan I really think you'd like it be adventurous!

    (5)

  • John F.

    Love me some Arai Bakery. My wife is from Japan, so we pretty much come here weekly. It has become the only place were we buy birthday cakes since my wife moved to the Phoenix area 13 years ago. Kind of pricey but ohh so good. The bread they make there also can't be beat. The word on the street is that since Ichiro Suzuki started spring training in AZ that he has the bread express delivered too him weekly. As a side note you can make the absolute best grill cheese sandwich with Arai white bread. Mmmmh bread! Cream Pan, Curry Pan, An Pan (filled with anko bean paste which is an acquired taste) are all really good. Arai-san is truly an artisan who takes great pride in his work. Consistently delicious baked goods

    (5)

  • Keran L.

    Best (Asian) Pastry in town!!! Sooo Yummy!

    (5)

  • Artemis S.

    Oops! Looks like I'm breaking the trend of five-star reviews. This place is okay, but definitely not 5 star-worthy. First, the eats: The pastries, while I'm glad to say are made with decent ingredients (they post them, and there's no soy crap or margarines/hydrogenated oils), they're not very impressive. Their cookies are the hard, crunchy kind which I generally dislike (especially when they look big enough to be the soft kind). The other pastries, like their red bean rolls and things of that nature, are reminiscent of a sweet hot dog bun filled with whatever filling. I will admit I haven't tried any of their cakes, but given that I didn't like the other stuff... Next, they're not too great with customer service; especially ostensible contrast. What I mean by that is that both times I've been in there, I have been preceded by a Japanese customer to whom they were very jovial and nice. Then, here comes the white guy (me) and they're kinda like "eh." They also really oughtta hire a woman to be up front, as the guys there (including the old guy I saw in the back) all seem pretty brooding and preoccupied. I dunno; I get the tendency of people to give 5 star reviews based on the fact a place is locally owned and/or novel (Wow, real Japanese people!). I just feel that in this case, it's hype.

    (2)

  • Jess T.

    I buy cakes from here especially for birthdays! Love their breads such as an pan, ufo and curry bread. Never tried their sweets so cant say anything there. Dont really care for their greentea shake because I dont like the strong milk flavor and weak matcha... they should offer a soy option and not skimp on the matcha... then id get a shake everytime. For the most part...best pastry bakery shop with the best cakes. Okay.

    (5)

  • Nataya W.

    Everything's just right! My favorite dessert here is "green tea mousse cake" it's not too sweet and rich creamy green tea whipped. I have tried all their cakes and pudding. Those are good too! Also the packaging is adorable. Nice staffs, always give me big smile every time I walk in.

    (5)

  • Alan H.

    Arai is absolutely adorable! The staff members there are friendly and handle your transactions with every semblance of care. My personal favorites from here are the chocolate coronets and the melon bread (UFO pan).

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    This place is great! Friendly service and gorgeous, tasty baked goods. The green tea flan is amazing as are the sukiyaki beef sandwiches and curry pan. It's hidden but the price is great and this place is heaven for savory dessert lovers!

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    The raisin bread its to die for. FUWA FUWA bread time! Gloriously soft, I could eat the loaf in one sitting. Also the anpan is airy, light, and delicious as well. I haven't had a chance to try the deserts, but I swear each slice and cup look absolutely adorable and perfect.

    (5)

  • Aaron H.

    Everytime I'm in Tempe I have to stop here. The white bread is delicious. The flan is amazing. The curry-pan (curry filled bread) is almost as good as what you buy in Japan. The cakes are expensive, but the quality is so much better than what you get at a grocery store. If you're traveling within 10 miles of this place, do yourself a favor and stop here. Your stomach will thank you =)

    (5)

  • John C.

    Don't judge by appearances when you first enter. You won't be blown away by the decor. This is a great place. It's not as great as the places found in San Francisco and LA, but it's passable. I want to give it four stars, but I'm a bit torn, if I could, I'd give it 3.5. What this place does really well is cakes and pastries. The cakes are light, fluffy and moist. Like Asian pastries should be, it's not overly sweet and oil. The flavor, taste and texture are right on. The bakers here also don't skimp on using good ingredients in the right proportions. The matcha mouse tastes like matcha and the frosting on the cake tastes like whipped cream beaten from heavy cream. What this place doesn't do well is baked goods. Their breads aren't great. It's kind of small and too airy and it just isn't very satisfying or impressive. I've tried multiple times and I'm just not a fan. If they just sold cakes and pastries I'd give the place four or maybe even five stars, but the breads are really lacking and detract from the overall quality of the establishment and experience. As I'm writing this, I realized that 3 stars is just cruel to a place like this, but I keep my ratings pretty strict, four stars is four stars and 3-3.999 is 3. Also, this place is a bit pricey if you're use to Safeway prices, but the taste is definitely better than Fry's or Costco. p.s. The cookies aren't great either.

    (3)

  • Matissa Y.

    if you want, Cheap-ass Japanese cake, you come here. If you want "good" cake, you go to AJ's pastry section, that's the real cake. Service: three male employees working there seem to have no soul.....poor them. They work without a word. They need to be trained how to be friendly and attentive.

    (3)

  • Josh W.

    I wrote a faux review for a college class on this place. I can't recommend it enough. They make some really fantastic looking cakes but I can't say I've ever had the occasion to pick one up. What I have had, however, is the bread. This place is loads better than the bakery outside the Mekong Market and their curry pan is downright sexy. This is a great place to take someone who has never experienced being in a bakery before (as supermarkets seem to dominate this country, and especially Maricopa county) as the smells began to swirl around your head the moment you walk in. They have items for just over a dollar (little chocolate buns, sweet bean paste trifles and the like) and even make sandwiches for 6 or 7 bucks, which are made in the traditional Japanese style, but didn't impress enough for a second try. A freshly made loaf of bread here is a must. If you grew up eating Aunt Hattie's or Wonderbread your brain might bleed out of your ears after trying something hot from Arai. As a final note, this place is sort of hard to find. You can use the Dunkin Donuts as a land mark to make sure you're in the right place. There is also a hoagie shop and a computer repair/parts store. Good luck!

    (5)

  • Stephanie H.

    I was at the Fujiya Market (which is next door) and saw this place and decided to stop in. The place smells amazing! We got the strawberry cake and a flan. The flan was my absolute favorite. It's not like the traditional mexican flan you are thinking of. They take a smaller version of that and stick it on top of what seems to be a few layers of custard and soft pound cake. They then top it off with fresh strawberries, blueberries and kiwi along with a few dollops of whip cream. It's seriously to die for!! The staff was nice and helpful too...very patient while we tried to figure out what to get!! I'll be coming back here for sure!!

    (5)

  • Alexandra B.

    Ordered a strawberry cake here for a party. Everyone liked it and it had a cute frosting puppy decoration on top. The selection of fruit arranged on the cake was also nice. It looked quite fabulous. They sell weeaboo-friendly foods like chocolate coronets, ufo-pan, an-pan, and puddi.

    (4)

  • Linda K.

    Um, what can I say?!? We always stock up on the breads here. My hubby loves the butter white bread. Cut it into thick pieces and just toast. Yum! And we both enjoy the wheat bread. We both love all the selection of their pans, esp the curry, sausage, chocolate, and cream ones. (I do wish they had more selection of breads cuz I think they do them so well!) The desserts - I like the flan, the earl grey cake, and pretty much all of them. I can't remember. We've tried so many. I like to experiment ;) And the mixed sandwich. Nice and refreshing on a warm/hot day. A good snack to satiate the hunger. Try the sukiyaki beef sandwich. Don't forget to ask to toast the bread. SOOO good! I prefer the beef over the chicken. It's juicier. And the cakes! If you've never ordered a cake here, it's a must! For your next special occasion! The whipped cream is not too heavy and sweet, the cake in general is airy and light and perfect on the sweetness (meaning not too sweet like most desserts you eat these days). Filled with different fruits depending on what you order. Just get one and see for urself! A few years ago we ordered a cake and then bunch of different cakes and asked them to cut it into little pieces as desserts/cake for our wedding guests. Everyone LOVED it! (I know... shame on me for not posting till now, but hey, I'm fairly new to yelp ;) ) We love the service here.

    (5)

  • Joyce W.

    Ever since I moved to the Tempe area, I've been making occasional appearances whenever I stopped by Fujiya next store. Surprisingly though, I've stopped by twice this week! Now my wallet [I spent at least $20 each time]and waistline begs me to stop, I'm addicted to their sukiyaki beef sandwiches on fluffy white bread and their miscellaneous selection of adorable and yummy pastries. While I sit here typing this review, my mind is wandering to the green tea mousse, green tea pudding, and the cute cream puff in the fridge. Yummy! Now if they would just hire me...!

    (4)

  • Sunny B.

    Went back and got the green tea mousse, I wasn't expecting the cake bottom, or whipped cream middle, but it was pretty delicious.

    (4)

  • Laura O.

    We found them on Yelp when we needed to order a birthday cake for my daughter's 12th birthday party, AND needed a place that was open later on Saturdays (being open on Sunday was a definite bonus). My daughter wasn't convinced--she's watched too much Cake Boss and wanted fondant on her cake. (they don't do that) Short of spending $250 for cake, we weren't having much luck. We were going to leave, but decided to try some cake from the display. WOW!!! My daughter fell in love with the strawberry cake. Not only was it light and delicious, they were willing to put on the design my daughter wanted--a My Little Pony character. They just told us to bring the picture and they would do their best. Their best was AMAZING!!! My daughter was overwhelmed, they had done such an awesome job! Nearly all the kids (and ALL the grownups) at the party loved the cake. It was very nice to have something light on a hot summer day. I will go here from now on for cake and other yummies! THANK YOU!!!

    (5)

  • Kat V.

    Everything is delicious!! I always could not decide which one to have for the day. If you love bread, this is the place for it. If you love cake, this is the place for it. If you love love sweet/dessert, this is the place for it. At the Masuri Festival, they were so nice....they made the beef teriyaki sandwich for me even though they already started to pack up their stuff to end the festival. Thanks a lot and it was yummy.

    (5)

  • Jackie N.

    I lived in Japan as a kid and regularly stuffed my little face with Japanese French style pastries. I always worried I wouldn't be able to find similar bakeries States-side. Well, Arai's cakes taste EXACTLY how I remembered mine from Japan. Lightly sweet and airy. Freakin perfect! And the goodies look super kawai, too. My Arai faves are the strawberry short cake, rolled crepe with fruit, and fluffy ass wheat bread loaf. I must stress that the pastries here are lightly sweet! If you like to taste nothing but overwhelming sugar in your mouth, then don't come here.

    (5)

  • Robert O.

    Arai pastry is so delicious! ironically i come here not for the sweeties: confections, cakes, cookies, cremes, not being my style- but for their delicious savory treats! The breads they make here are top knotch, the various salty pastries are all worth exploring, the red bean one and the curry filled ones being my favorites. But the real deal, the Coup de grâce, the mamoth reason of what makes this little japanese pastry shop (in my mind) is their sandwhiches/ green tea shakes that powerful one two punch of savory sagacity is what makes me want to live sometimes yes yes i find the world to be a better place with those items in my tummy

    (5)

  • Decy M.

    We tried the eclair and the strawberry cake there. They are so good! I will definitely come back to buy birthday cake. The dessert is not too sweet and it is authentic Japanese dessert taste. Eating their dessert is definitely not give you guilty feeling at all.. because it is so fresh and light. I will come again to try the green tea mousse cake and the green tea drinks as people recommended here.. hopefully it is as good as what they say.And I heard Ichiro came here when he stays for spring training to get his favorite bread and desserts

    (4)

  • Mimi U.

    Delicious! I got the tea sandwiches, strawberry mousse, and chocolate cake here. I am currently eating my way through them all and was so impressed that I decided to put up a yelp review during my lunch break! The mousse is sweet, with a delicious layer of spongy cake underneath, and the tea sandwiches are absolutely perfect to go with a cup of green or black tea. The packaging that my cakes came in was beautiful, and service was very Japanese (which is good!). Next time I am in the area, I will definitely try out the other types of sandwiches.

    (5)

  • Wendy G.

    The best birthday cake in town! The sandwiches are super delicious! Love this place!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    I wish they had more of a selection, and a lot of times when I go in, they are out of things. Yet, I love this place, almost everything I have bought has been delicious. I try to go here once a week. It's great.

    (4)

  • Cafe O.

    This is as close to an Andersen (Japanese) Bakery (Google it...) as we are gonna get here in the PHX area...I almost always make a trip right next door to this bakery when I make my bi-weekly visit to Fujiya, the Japanese grocery store next door.... The only reason I give it a 4 star as opposed to a 5 star is because as many times as I have been there...the dude (younger cat) who usually waits on me is still as robotic as ever. Always the same expression, never a smile, just take my order, get my stuff, give me my change, thanks and bounce! I don't expect to be treated as warmly as Norm on CHEERS but damn I've been there a million times...sigh....oh well, on to the guts of the review.... Arai has great authentic Japanese deserts and breads...Azuki (sweet red bean) An-Pan buns as well as Creme-Pan (custard), Melon Pan and Hot dog-Pan (I think that's what its called, LOL!). They sell freshly baked Japanese bread, which is that tall extra moist and yeasty sweet bread as well as assorted crispy cookies! In the case there are different mousses, strawberry layer sponge cake (my fav, see pics), creme puffs and fruit tarts! They also sell dainty premade sandwiches (think afternoon tea selection) as well as made to order tuna and chicken sandwiches on their wonderful breads! They also sell custom cakes (that are delicious by the way) and you can see examples of their work on the right hand wall as well as look through a picture book they have...in fact a couple of my own Hello Kitty themed birthday cakes are in there! ;) (THE CAKES ARE EXPENSIVE) Prices for everything are a wee bit on the pricier side but considering everything's handmade, it balances it out.... TIP: They sell a cup of refreshing iced green tea thats only .99 cents and its made with real matcha! (not ice cream but iced green tea)

    (4)

  • Esti W.

    I can't say enough about this bakery, everything is so delicious! The bread is fresh, soft and light as a cloud in your mouth. I only wish we had a bakery like this in San Diego. Each time I go to Phoenix I visit the bakery daily. The chocolate horns are to die for, the lightly sweet soft horn really blends well with the not overly sweet chocolate filling. I bring several loaves of bread home with me every visit. I can't get enough. If your ever in the area you HAVE to visit this place.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    Wacky sandwich! Damn, I love me some wacky sandwich. Backstory: Someone left a Lee's Sandwiches menu on the kitchen counter. It could have been me; I'm really not sure. But I spotted it while making coffee, then spent the next four hours lusting after a ham, head cheese and pate bahn mi. Yes. Ham, head cheese and pate. Fuck you. It's delicious. But it's also in Chandler. I think. Gilbert? Edge of Mesa? I don't really know, but what I do know is that the corner of Dobson and Warner requires that I cross both the 101 and the 60. Both of them. In one trip. I was tired just thinking about it. Instead: Arai Pastry. Japanese sandwiches. Not the same as bahn mi, no, no at all. But it was Euro-Asian goodness, and that's what mattered. Spicy teriyaki chicken topped with a slice of American cheese (wha?), spicy mayo (not "chili aoili," mind you -- Arai is not that kind of place), jalapenos, lettuce and tomato. On a nice big wheat baguette. Spicy. Random. Delicious. And thanks to good ole American ethnocentrism, my stomach is more than happy to lump all Asian sandwiches together under the same umbrella. Hunger solved. Thanks, wacky sandwich!

    (4)

  • Ann R.

    Finding [delicious] Japanese bakery goods fresh is hard in AZ - you either find it, or you don't, there's no mid-way point! A friend of mine brought me here, it was my first time and I was looking forwards to it! Upon entering the cute little bakery, it had a very light atmosphere, they have classical music playing, three table sets you can sit at (although I was hoping you could also sit outside to enjoy eating the sweets and the weather) and in the back through a window where they place the finished orders through, you can see the Patisserie making sandwiches or new bakery items! It's really fun when you're waiting for your food! I really love their curry bread ("an-pan" [or "pan"] in Japanese), I had bought a Fraise and it was REALLY good - the cream was "heavy" but also light and sweet, the strawberries were sour, but they complimented the cream nicely along with the strawberry jam and shortcake at the bottom. When we went back the next day they didn't have it - so I'm assuming they keep a rotated bakery menu so you always have to go back to see what new pops up! (Which, in my opinion, is very smart!) Personally, the price for their deserts are set just right because of how high quality they are. I am going back when I have the free time to go again since I still have to try more of their menu!!

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    This place is a perfect combination of very simple and fresh food with a very unique local feel. Their service is like their food: consistent and simple. My favorite item is their Sea Chicken sandwich. It's chunks of tuna with cheese, mayo and jalapeño peppers. I'd never have imagine it would be so tasty! Their bread is soft and a good choice for a sandwich -- or I'll buy a loaf (which they will slice for you by hand while you wait) and make french toast. Their desserts are smooth and creamy with a perfect amount of sugar. I can't get over how good their food is. Again, it's a very simple shop. Don't expect frills, except with the food that you order. Get some cookies to go, any of their unique Japanese pastries or some very traditional American ones, too.

    (5)

  • Marco C.

    I have ate here quite a few times for lunch since their bread is so soft and delicious, especially love the teriyaki sandwich. They also have pretty decent pastries from the ones I have tasted. The two brothers that work the front counter are ok to work with, one is more personable than the other. Now my complaint is not over the service or the pastries but more specifically, a wedding cake I recently ordered. I went with my fiance to look at some options and they had only a few pictures of some decent wedding cakes. We wanted to see more examples but didn't really have any and practically insisted on us bringing in a picture of one to make identical. Now this is where it got interesting, the cake I gave them a picture of was white frosted with black icing design and red flowers. They let me know the red may not come out that dark which I was fine with. Turns out they couldn't even give me black but dark brown instead. So I have a dark brown and medium pink decorated cake and that's not even the worse part. The fact that it looked nothing like the picture I provided them and would barely be passable at a child's b-day party, but certainly not a wedding. I'm just glad I didn't select the next level (3-tier) one that would have required them to bring it out and have to pay substantially more money, which this one was expensive enough as it was. The cakes was just so simplistic, not anywhere near wedding caliber, tiny for a wedding cake due to probably portion sizing for Japanese vs Americans I'm thinking. This size claimed to serve 30-40 but more like 25 at most if everyone has a small slice. Anyways, I ended up not taking the cake but only the mini cakes I ordered to go with it and let them keep the whole deposit, even though it was twice as much as the mini cakes should have costed but thought it'd be nice to compensate them a little for their time. From the pictures I saw they do pretty good kid b-day and fruit cakes that are quite colorful, but yet they told me they don't work with a lot of color. I just think they should just get out of the business of doing wedding cakes altogether. Not to be mean, but I picked up an all white coconut cake for under $20 at Sam's Club that looked a whole lot better and only a fraction of the price ($16 vs $140).

    (2)

  • Akiko I.

    I was a brat to think that I'll be deprived of Japanese pastries and baked goods in AZ. Of course, it is not the same compared to L.A. Japanese Bakeries but Arai Pastry is more than what I expected. *Selection = not as many BUT they are all pretty good. *Quality = spongy is better than mousse (it is surprising because I usually like mousse way more) *Bread Loaf = Amazing! Very spongy (fuwa fuwa) and freshly baked. *Service = Polite and attentive *Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich = Yummy *Green tea smoothie = GOOD :)

    (4)

  • James Y.

    With the little amounts of Japanese people in Arizona I am surprised there is a bakery. I am glad there is. I have seen this bakery for year as I frequent the neighboring businesses. On one such occasion I decided to give them a shot and ordered a sandwich and some pastries. I have to say, as good as it gets here in Arizona. From what I can tell they are very consistent and the staff have been here for a very long time so you know they know what they are doing. A hidden gem in the valley!

    (5)

  • Anisa Y.

    I'm so excited that I'll be able to eat shokupan even when I'm not in Japan! The bread here is soooo good! It definitely takes me back to breakfasts at my Grandma's in Japan. I also tried the cheesecake and the strawberry shortcake. I've had better (while in Japan...), but they were still pretty good and authentic. My only wish is that they had a better selection--as soon as they start making Mont Blanc cakes (my favorite!!!) I'll give them 5 stars!

    (4)

  • Yuson K.

    Over-rated! It's pretty decent bakery but if you get there after lunch not much left. They bake very few qty at a time and I think they only bake stuff once a day cuz they never have enough. They're never busy so I don't know where all of there stuff go cuz I never get I want to eat there.

    (3)

  • Sheetal R.

    I am actually very content with their Japanese desserts. My personal favorite and must have when I'm in the area is the green-tea mouse cake. I've had better in LA but considering I am currently located here and its actually good, it definitely hits the spot when the craving arises for Asian desserts. The people are friendly and willing to explain what is in everything and are very attentive.

    (4)

  • Margaret L.

    UPDATE: I hate to take away a star, but they've since lost a star in my book due to inconsistancy with offerings. What they consider their best sellers and best desserts they don't even carry all the time. Boo. It's rare to find a patisserie that I can rave about, especially because I do a lot of my own desserts at home. What I look for in a good dessert: If it's a rich dessert, it should be thick and moist or indulgently creamy. Eating a rich dessert should make you feel sexy and naughty, like stealing a peek at a hot guy across the way to find he's looking at you too. If it's a light dessert, it should be just sweet enough to invite you in bite after bite. It shouldn't make you feel guilty, but it should satisfy a sweet tooth at the same time. Arai has both for the taking. Conveniently next to Fujiya, a cute little Japanese market, this bakery has a small selection of desserts, but what they do create, they do well. The Green Tea Mousse is to die for, resuscitate, and die for again! The light pillowy mousse has just enough hint of green tea to let you know what you're eating, and isn't so sweet you feel like you just invested in grills made out of sugar crystals. It's pretty much the only thing I order there, although I've tried the fruit tart as well (delish too!) and I've heard the blueberry mousse is great, but they seem to run out when I get out there. On top of the desserts, they offer fresh breads and cakes to order. The staff is friendly, which is always a plus. I can't wait to get back there to try their other offerings!

    (4)

  • candice s.

    Yummy Japanese desserts. I just wish there was more of a selection. I've been here about 4-5 times and each time they have the normal 5-6 offerings. Not sure why they don't have more a variety, I think the majority of their business is from special order cakes or something. I really love their cream pan and hot dog pan. The bread is so airy and delicate. I also like their strawberry shortcake. I ordered one of their strawberry shortcakes for my anniversary and loved it, but it was a bit pricey. Next time I'm going to try their Japanese bread loaves, they look so good and soft.

    (4)

  • Mari B.

    my absolute FAVORITE! i've tried pretty much everything on the menu, & regardless of what you get, it's always delectable. simply put, anything you get from there is absolute perfection!!

    (5)

  • B D.

    The desserts are a little bland and are pricey given the small size. I've had better Japanese bakery items elsewhere.

    (2)

  • M B.

    my absolute FAVORITE! i've tried pretty much everything on the menu, & regardless of what you get, it's always delectable. simply put, anything you get from there is absolute perfection!!

    (5)

  • Sasa S.

    oh yes. i had the strawberry cake. it is GOOD. truly japanese pastry, not the extremely rich/sugary typical american pastry. if i ever come back or if anyone ever craves for japanese pastry, this is the rockin' place in AZ. wish we had this kind of place here in austin.

    (5)

  • John C.

    Don't judge by appearances when you first enter. You won't be blown away by the decor. This is a great place. It's not as great as the places found in San Francisco and LA, but it's passable. I want to give it four stars, but I'm a bit torn, if I could, I'd give it 3.5. What this place does really well is cakes and pastries. The cakes are light, fluffy and moist. Like Asian pastries should be, it's not overly sweet and oil. The flavor, taste and texture are right on. The bakers here also don't skimp on using good ingredients in the right proportions. The matcha mouse tastes like matcha and the frosting on the cake tastes like whipped cream beaten from heavy cream. What this place doesn't do well is baked goods. Their breads aren't great. It's kind of small and too airy and it just isn't very satisfying or impressive. I've tried multiple times and I'm just not a fan. If they just sold cakes and pastries I'd give the place four or maybe even five stars, but the breads are really lacking and detract from the overall quality of the establishment and experience. As I'm writing this, I realized that 3 stars is just cruel to a place like this, but I keep my ratings pretty strict, four stars is four stars and 3-3.999 is 3. Also, this place is a bit pricey if you're use to Safeway prices, but the taste is definitely better than Fry's or Costco. p.s. The cookies aren't great either.

    (3)

  • Matissa Y.

    if you want, Cheap-ass Japanese cake, you come here. If you want "good" cake, you go to AJ's pastry section, that's the real cake. Service: three male employees working there seem to have no soul.....poor them. They work without a word. They need to be trained how to be friendly and attentive.

    (3)

  • Sara B.

    Wacky sandwich! Damn, I love me some wacky sandwich. Backstory: Someone left a Lee's Sandwiches menu on the kitchen counter. It could have been me; I'm really not sure. But I spotted it while making coffee, then spent the next four hours lusting after a ham, head cheese and pate bahn mi. Yes. Ham, head cheese and pate. Fuck you. It's delicious. But it's also in Chandler. I think. Gilbert? Edge of Mesa? I don't really know, but what I do know is that the corner of Dobson and Warner requires that I cross both the 101 and the 60. Both of them. In one trip. I was tired just thinking about it. Instead: Arai Pastry. Japanese sandwiches. Not the same as bahn mi, no, no at all. But it was Euro-Asian goodness, and that's what mattered. Spicy teriyaki chicken topped with a slice of American cheese (wha?), spicy mayo (not "chili aoili," mind you -- Arai is not that kind of place), jalapenos, lettuce and tomato. On a nice big wheat baguette. Spicy. Random. Delicious. And thanks to good ole American ethnocentrism, my stomach is more than happy to lump all Asian sandwiches together under the same umbrella. Hunger solved. Thanks, wacky sandwich!

    (4)

  • Ann R.

    Finding [delicious] Japanese bakery goods fresh is hard in AZ - you either find it, or you don't, there's no mid-way point! A friend of mine brought me here, it was my first time and I was looking forwards to it! Upon entering the cute little bakery, it had a very light atmosphere, they have classical music playing, three table sets you can sit at (although I was hoping you could also sit outside to enjoy eating the sweets and the weather) and in the back through a window where they place the finished orders through, you can see the Patisserie making sandwiches or new bakery items! It's really fun when you're waiting for your food! I really love their curry bread ("an-pan" [or "pan"] in Japanese), I had bought a Fraise and it was REALLY good - the cream was "heavy" but also light and sweet, the strawberries were sour, but they complimented the cream nicely along with the strawberry jam and shortcake at the bottom. When we went back the next day they didn't have it - so I'm assuming they keep a rotated bakery menu so you always have to go back to see what new pops up! (Which, in my opinion, is very smart!) Personally, the price for their deserts are set just right because of how high quality they are. I am going back when I have the free time to go again since I still have to try more of their menu!!

    (5)

  • Mimi U.

    Delicious! I got the tea sandwiches, strawberry mousse, and chocolate cake here. I am currently eating my way through them all and was so impressed that I decided to put up a yelp review during my lunch break! The mousse is sweet, with a delicious layer of spongy cake underneath, and the tea sandwiches are absolutely perfect to go with a cup of green or black tea. The packaging that my cakes came in was beautiful, and service was very Japanese (which is good!). Next time I am in the area, I will definitely try out the other types of sandwiches.

    (5)

  • Wendy G.

    The best birthday cake in town! The sandwiches are super delicious! Love this place!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    I wish they had more of a selection, and a lot of times when I go in, they are out of things. Yet, I love this place, almost everything I have bought has been delicious. I try to go here once a week. It's great.

    (4)

  • Anisa Y.

    I'm so excited that I'll be able to eat shokupan even when I'm not in Japan! The bread here is soooo good! It definitely takes me back to breakfasts at my Grandma's in Japan. I also tried the cheesecake and the strawberry shortcake. I've had better (while in Japan...), but they were still pretty good and authentic. My only wish is that they had a better selection--as soon as they start making Mont Blanc cakes (my favorite!!!) I'll give them 5 stars!

    (4)

  • Yuson K.

    Over-rated! It's pretty decent bakery but if you get there after lunch not much left. They bake very few qty at a time and I think they only bake stuff once a day cuz they never have enough. They're never busy so I don't know where all of there stuff go cuz I never get I want to eat there.

    (3)

  • Sheetal R.

    I am actually very content with their Japanese desserts. My personal favorite and must have when I'm in the area is the green-tea mouse cake. I've had better in LA but considering I am currently located here and its actually good, it definitely hits the spot when the craving arises for Asian desserts. The people are friendly and willing to explain what is in everything and are very attentive.

    (4)

  • Kat V.

    Everything is delicious!! I always could not decide which one to have for the day. If you love bread, this is the place for it. If you love cake, this is the place for it. If you love love sweet/dessert, this is the place for it. At the Masuri Festival, they were so nice....they made the beef teriyaki sandwich for me even though they already started to pack up their stuff to end the festival. Thanks a lot and it was yummy.

    (5)

  • Gracie O.

    Haikus... or rather, Araikus *** Homemade cartoon bread On which you can lay your head Or toads in the hole *** Sukiyaki Beef a sandwich that will keep you coming back for more *** Bring a few pastries to your next dinner party impress all your friends *** Order your loved one a special "I'm Sorry" cake if you were a jerk *** The Arai Brothers will hook you up with sweetness and won't let you down *** Try the curry pan I really think you'd like it be adventurous!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    This place is great! Friendly service and gorgeous, tasty baked goods. The green tea flan is amazing as are the sukiyaki beef sandwiches and curry pan. It's hidden but the price is great and this place is heaven for savory dessert lovers!

    (5)

  • Linda K.

    Um, what can I say?!? We always stock up on the breads here. My hubby loves the butter white bread. Cut it into thick pieces and just toast. Yum! And we both enjoy the wheat bread. We both love all the selection of their pans, esp the curry, sausage, chocolate, and cream ones. (I do wish they had more selection of breads cuz I think they do them so well!) The desserts - I like the flan, the earl grey cake, and pretty much all of them. I can't remember. We've tried so many. I like to experiment ;) And the mixed sandwich. Nice and refreshing on a warm/hot day. A good snack to satiate the hunger. Try the sukiyaki beef sandwich. Don't forget to ask to toast the bread. SOOO good! I prefer the beef over the chicken. It's juicier. And the cakes! If you've never ordered a cake here, it's a must! For your next special occasion! The whipped cream is not too heavy and sweet, the cake in general is airy and light and perfect on the sweetness (meaning not too sweet like most desserts you eat these days). Filled with different fruits depending on what you order. Just get one and see for urself! A few years ago we ordered a cake and then bunch of different cakes and asked them to cut it into little pieces as desserts/cake for our wedding guests. Everyone LOVED it! (I know... shame on me for not posting till now, but hey, I'm fairly new to yelp ;) ) We love the service here.

    (5)

  • Joyce W.

    Ever since I moved to the Tempe area, I've been making occasional appearances whenever I stopped by Fujiya next store. Surprisingly though, I've stopped by twice this week! Now my wallet [I spent at least $20 each time]and waistline begs me to stop, I'm addicted to their sukiyaki beef sandwiches on fluffy white bread and their miscellaneous selection of adorable and yummy pastries. While I sit here typing this review, my mind is wandering to the green tea mousse, green tea pudding, and the cute cream puff in the fridge. Yummy! Now if they would just hire me...!

    (4)

  • Sunny B.

    Went back and got the green tea mousse, I wasn't expecting the cake bottom, or whipped cream middle, but it was pretty delicious.

    (4)

  • Laura O.

    We found them on Yelp when we needed to order a birthday cake for my daughter's 12th birthday party, AND needed a place that was open later on Saturdays (being open on Sunday was a definite bonus). My daughter wasn't convinced--she's watched too much Cake Boss and wanted fondant on her cake. (they don't do that) Short of spending $250 for cake, we weren't having much luck. We were going to leave, but decided to try some cake from the display. WOW!!! My daughter fell in love with the strawberry cake. Not only was it light and delicious, they were willing to put on the design my daughter wanted--a My Little Pony character. They just told us to bring the picture and they would do their best. Their best was AMAZING!!! My daughter was overwhelmed, they had done such an awesome job! Nearly all the kids (and ALL the grownups) at the party loved the cake. It was very nice to have something light on a hot summer day. I will go here from now on for cake and other yummies! THANK YOU!!!

    (5)

  • Esti W.

    I can't say enough about this bakery, everything is so delicious! The bread is fresh, soft and light as a cloud in your mouth. I only wish we had a bakery like this in San Diego. Each time I go to Phoenix I visit the bakery daily. The chocolate horns are to die for, the lightly sweet soft horn really blends well with the not overly sweet chocolate filling. I bring several loaves of bread home with me every visit. I can't get enough. If your ever in the area you HAVE to visit this place.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    This place is a perfect combination of very simple and fresh food with a very unique local feel. Their service is like their food: consistent and simple. My favorite item is their Sea Chicken sandwich. It's chunks of tuna with cheese, mayo and jalapeño peppers. I'd never have imagine it would be so tasty! Their bread is soft and a good choice for a sandwich -- or I'll buy a loaf (which they will slice for you by hand while you wait) and make french toast. Their desserts are smooth and creamy with a perfect amount of sugar. I can't get over how good their food is. Again, it's a very simple shop. Don't expect frills, except with the food that you order. Get some cookies to go, any of their unique Japanese pastries or some very traditional American ones, too.

    (5)

  • Marco C.

    I have ate here quite a few times for lunch since their bread is so soft and delicious, especially love the teriyaki sandwich. They also have pretty decent pastries from the ones I have tasted. The two brothers that work the front counter are ok to work with, one is more personable than the other. Now my complaint is not over the service or the pastries but more specifically, a wedding cake I recently ordered. I went with my fiance to look at some options and they had only a few pictures of some decent wedding cakes. We wanted to see more examples but didn't really have any and practically insisted on us bringing in a picture of one to make identical. Now this is where it got interesting, the cake I gave them a picture of was white frosted with black icing design and red flowers. They let me know the red may not come out that dark which I was fine with. Turns out they couldn't even give me black but dark brown instead. So I have a dark brown and medium pink decorated cake and that's not even the worse part. The fact that it looked nothing like the picture I provided them and would barely be passable at a child's b-day party, but certainly not a wedding. I'm just glad I didn't select the next level (3-tier) one that would have required them to bring it out and have to pay substantially more money, which this one was expensive enough as it was. The cakes was just so simplistic, not anywhere near wedding caliber, tiny for a wedding cake due to probably portion sizing for Japanese vs Americans I'm thinking. This size claimed to serve 30-40 but more like 25 at most if everyone has a small slice. Anyways, I ended up not taking the cake but only the mini cakes I ordered to go with it and let them keep the whole deposit, even though it was twice as much as the mini cakes should have costed but thought it'd be nice to compensate them a little for their time. From the pictures I saw they do pretty good kid b-day and fruit cakes that are quite colorful, but yet they told me they don't work with a lot of color. I just think they should just get out of the business of doing wedding cakes altogether. Not to be mean, but I picked up an all white coconut cake for under $20 at Sam's Club that looked a whole lot better and only a fraction of the price ($16 vs $140).

    (2)

  • Akiko I.

    I was a brat to think that I'll be deprived of Japanese pastries and baked goods in AZ. Of course, it is not the same compared to L.A. Japanese Bakeries but Arai Pastry is more than what I expected. *Selection = not as many BUT they are all pretty good. *Quality = spongy is better than mousse (it is surprising because I usually like mousse way more) *Bread Loaf = Amazing! Very spongy (fuwa fuwa) and freshly baked. *Service = Polite and attentive *Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich = Yummy *Green tea smoothie = GOOD :)

    (4)

  • James Y.

    With the little amounts of Japanese people in Arizona I am surprised there is a bakery. I am glad there is. I have seen this bakery for year as I frequent the neighboring businesses. On one such occasion I decided to give them a shot and ordered a sandwich and some pastries. I have to say, as good as it gets here in Arizona. From what I can tell they are very consistent and the staff have been here for a very long time so you know they know what they are doing. A hidden gem in the valley!

    (5)

  • Margaret L.

    UPDATE: I hate to take away a star, but they've since lost a star in my book due to inconsistancy with offerings. What they consider their best sellers and best desserts they don't even carry all the time. Boo. It's rare to find a patisserie that I can rave about, especially because I do a lot of my own desserts at home. What I look for in a good dessert: If it's a rich dessert, it should be thick and moist or indulgently creamy. Eating a rich dessert should make you feel sexy and naughty, like stealing a peek at a hot guy across the way to find he's looking at you too. If it's a light dessert, it should be just sweet enough to invite you in bite after bite. It shouldn't make you feel guilty, but it should satisfy a sweet tooth at the same time. Arai has both for the taking. Conveniently next to Fujiya, a cute little Japanese market, this bakery has a small selection of desserts, but what they do create, they do well. The Green Tea Mousse is to die for, resuscitate, and die for again! The light pillowy mousse has just enough hint of green tea to let you know what you're eating, and isn't so sweet you feel like you just invested in grills made out of sugar crystals. It's pretty much the only thing I order there, although I've tried the fruit tart as well (delish too!) and I've heard the blueberry mousse is great, but they seem to run out when I get out there. On top of the desserts, they offer fresh breads and cakes to order. The staff is friendly, which is always a plus. I can't wait to get back there to try their other offerings!

    (4)

  • candice s.

    Yummy Japanese desserts. I just wish there was more of a selection. I've been here about 4-5 times and each time they have the normal 5-6 offerings. Not sure why they don't have more a variety, I think the majority of their business is from special order cakes or something. I really love their cream pan and hot dog pan. The bread is so airy and delicate. I also like their strawberry shortcake. I ordered one of their strawberry shortcakes for my anniversary and loved it, but it was a bit pricey. Next time I'm going to try their Japanese bread loaves, they look so good and soft.

    (4)

  • Mari B.

    my absolute FAVORITE! i've tried pretty much everything on the menu, & regardless of what you get, it's always delectable. simply put, anything you get from there is absolute perfection!!

    (5)

  • B D.

    The desserts are a little bland and are pricey given the small size. I've had better Japanese bakery items elsewhere.

    (2)

  • M B.

    my absolute FAVORITE! i've tried pretty much everything on the menu, & regardless of what you get, it's always delectable. simply put, anything you get from there is absolute perfection!!

    (5)

  • Sasa S.

    oh yes. i had the strawberry cake. it is GOOD. truly japanese pastry, not the extremely rich/sugary typical american pastry. if i ever come back or if anyone ever craves for japanese pastry, this is the rockin' place in AZ. wish we had this kind of place here in austin.

    (5)

  • Josh W.

    I wrote a faux review for a college class on this place. I can't recommend it enough. They make some really fantastic looking cakes but I can't say I've ever had the occasion to pick one up. What I have had, however, is the bread. This place is loads better than the bakery outside the Mekong Market and their curry pan is downright sexy. This is a great place to take someone who has never experienced being in a bakery before (as supermarkets seem to dominate this country, and especially Maricopa county) as the smells began to swirl around your head the moment you walk in. They have items for just over a dollar (little chocolate buns, sweet bean paste trifles and the like) and even make sandwiches for 6 or 7 bucks, which are made in the traditional Japanese style, but didn't impress enough for a second try. A freshly made loaf of bread here is a must. If you grew up eating Aunt Hattie's or Wonderbread your brain might bleed out of your ears after trying something hot from Arai. As a final note, this place is sort of hard to find. You can use the Dunkin Donuts as a land mark to make sure you're in the right place. There is also a hoagie shop and a computer repair/parts store. Good luck!

    (5)

  • Stephanie H.

    I was at the Fujiya Market (which is next door) and saw this place and decided to stop in. The place smells amazing! We got the strawberry cake and a flan. The flan was my absolute favorite. It's not like the traditional mexican flan you are thinking of. They take a smaller version of that and stick it on top of what seems to be a few layers of custard and soft pound cake. They then top it off with fresh strawberries, blueberries and kiwi along with a few dollops of whip cream. It's seriously to die for!! The staff was nice and helpful too...very patient while we tried to figure out what to get!! I'll be coming back here for sure!!

    (5)

  • Keran L.

    Best (Asian) Pastry in town!!! Sooo Yummy!

    (5)

  • Liz V.

    I drive 30 minutes for this bakery because I love it so dearly. But I've been there twice and I have never seen nor tried the famous green tea cake!!! I tried the green tea mousse, though, and it was amazing. Not overly sweet and very smooth! I also tried the earl grey cake and it was amazing!!! Definitely a must try. I usually don't like sweets but this place is worth every calorie and blood sugar spike.

    (5)

  • Shigeru Y.

    Not a fan of the citrus that they put in with their flan and cakes. My custard bun was pretty lackluster. It had a strange aftertaste I couldn't figure out and was not very eggy or vanilla-infused. It had very little filling. It could not hold up to other custard buns sold at Lee Lee or Asahi Bakery. They would sell a lot more bread if they bought a slicer. The cashier said many people ask them to slice the bread and I am positive they would sell more loaves. The $6 minimum charge to use a credit card is also annoying.

    (2)

  • Farisa A.

    The green tea mousse wasn't here today 05/19/15 :( :( :( :( :( which is the only reason I stopped by today so I opted for green tea leche instead :/ I highly doubted it would be as yummmmmmmmsssss as the mousse and I was unfortunately correct :/ Why oh why did you stop making the green tea mousse, Arai? It was the reason I fell in love with you (ehem...referring to the desserts;) in the first place. My friend from out of town also fell in love with your little shop because of the green tea mousse. I hope you bring it back. Yours is the only shop of its kind around these parts. 5 stars once green tea mousse graces us with its presence again.

    (4)

  • April S.

    If you want to know how cakes should really taste like, this is the place to go. The bakery chef is originally from Japan and this is a family owned business. Whenever I am here, I usually get the green tea and strawberry cakes. They usually have between 9-12 different types of cakes to choose from and many delicious ones are usually taken by the end of the day. I am not a Baker, but I do know cakes should not taste like a full mouth of sugar with no taste of the cake flavor. This place knows how to make their cakes. You can also order a birthday cake here.

    (5)

  • Brad H.

    This is a gem of a Japanese bakery. You will pay Japanese prices, though. We love going here to pick up some kreme and an pan. Those go for $1.75 a piece. The kreme is a little more eggy than what I ate in Japan, but it is still very good. The an pan is wonderful, too. They do have the strawberry cake, of course. This is the one thing that they seem to have the reputation for. It doesn't come cheap. $3.75 a slice is very reasonable but be prepared to spend $28 for a 10" cake. They have various sizes, I do not know who many, but they do have an 8" cake as well as larger. Japanese strawberry cake is prized in Japan and is a lighter, less sweet cake than what we are accustomed to. I haven't tried theirs yet, but look forward to another visit. They have flan (Japanese flan is better than Mexican flan, IMHO), green tea cake, and other goodies. They also serve Japanese style lunch sandwiches and you better get there early before they sell out. They all speak Nihongo, so if you are First, Second, or Third generation and speak the language, you will feel right at home here.

    (4)

  • Artemis S.

    Oops! Looks like I'm breaking the trend of five-star reviews. This place is okay, but definitely not 5 star-worthy. First, the eats: The pastries, while I'm glad to say are made with decent ingredients (they post them, and there's no soy crap or margarines/hydrogenated oils), they're not very impressive. Their cookies are the hard, crunchy kind which I generally dislike (especially when they look big enough to be the soft kind). The other pastries, like their red bean rolls and things of that nature, are reminiscent of a sweet hot dog bun filled with whatever filling. I will admit I haven't tried any of their cakes, but given that I didn't like the other stuff... Next, they're not too great with customer service; especially ostensible contrast. What I mean by that is that both times I've been in there, I have been preceded by a Japanese customer to whom they were very jovial and nice. Then, here comes the white guy (me) and they're kinda like "eh." They also really oughtta hire a woman to be up front, as the guys there (including the old guy I saw in the back) all seem pretty brooding and preoccupied. I dunno; I get the tendency of people to give 5 star reviews based on the fact a place is locally owned and/or novel (Wow, real Japanese people!). I just feel that in this case, it's hype.

    (2)

  • Jess T.

    I buy cakes from here especially for birthdays! Love their breads such as an pan, ufo and curry bread. Never tried their sweets so cant say anything there. Dont really care for their greentea shake because I dont like the strong milk flavor and weak matcha... they should offer a soy option and not skimp on the matcha... then id get a shake everytime. For the most part...best pastry bakery shop with the best cakes. Okay.

    (5)

  • Cafe O.

    This is as close to an Andersen (Japanese) Bakery (Google it...) as we are gonna get here in the PHX area...I almost always make a trip right next door to this bakery when I make my bi-weekly visit to Fujiya, the Japanese grocery store next door.... The only reason I give it a 4 star as opposed to a 5 star is because as many times as I have been there...the dude (younger cat) who usually waits on me is still as robotic as ever. Always the same expression, never a smile, just take my order, get my stuff, give me my change, thanks and bounce! I don't expect to be treated as warmly as Norm on CHEERS but damn I've been there a million times...sigh....oh well, on to the guts of the review.... Arai has great authentic Japanese deserts and breads...Azuki (sweet red bean) An-Pan buns as well as Creme-Pan (custard), Melon Pan and Hot dog-Pan (I think that's what its called, LOL!). They sell freshly baked Japanese bread, which is that tall extra moist and yeasty sweet bread as well as assorted crispy cookies! In the case there are different mousses, strawberry layer sponge cake (my fav, see pics), creme puffs and fruit tarts! They also sell dainty premade sandwiches (think afternoon tea selection) as well as made to order tuna and chicken sandwiches on their wonderful breads! They also sell custom cakes (that are delicious by the way) and you can see examples of their work on the right hand wall as well as look through a picture book they have...in fact a couple of my own Hello Kitty themed birthday cakes are in there! ;) (THE CAKES ARE EXPENSIVE) Prices for everything are a wee bit on the pricier side but considering everything's handmade, it balances it out.... TIP: They sell a cup of refreshing iced green tea thats only .99 cents and its made with real matcha! (not ice cream but iced green tea)

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    The raisin bread its to die for. FUWA FUWA bread time! Gloriously soft, I could eat the loaf in one sitting. Also the anpan is airy, light, and delicious as well. I haven't had a chance to try the deserts, but I swear each slice and cup look absolutely adorable and perfect.

    (5)

  • Aaron H.

    Everytime I'm in Tempe I have to stop here. The white bread is delicious. The flan is amazing. The curry-pan (curry filled bread) is almost as good as what you buy in Japan. The cakes are expensive, but the quality is so much better than what you get at a grocery store. If you're traveling within 10 miles of this place, do yourself a favor and stop here. Your stomach will thank you =)

    (5)

  • Alexandra B.

    Ordered a strawberry cake here for a party. Everyone liked it and it had a cute frosting puppy decoration on top. The selection of fruit arranged on the cake was also nice. It looked quite fabulous. They sell weeaboo-friendly foods like chocolate coronets, ufo-pan, an-pan, and puddi.

    (4)

  • Jackie N.

    I lived in Japan as a kid and regularly stuffed my little face with Japanese French style pastries. I always worried I wouldn't be able to find similar bakeries States-side. Well, Arai's cakes taste EXACTLY how I remembered mine from Japan. Lightly sweet and airy. Freakin perfect! And the goodies look super kawai, too. My Arai faves are the strawberry short cake, rolled crepe with fruit, and fluffy ass wheat bread loaf. I must stress that the pastries here are lightly sweet! If you like to taste nothing but overwhelming sugar in your mouth, then don't come here.

    (5)

  • Robert O.

    Arai pastry is so delicious! ironically i come here not for the sweeties: confections, cakes, cookies, cremes, not being my style- but for their delicious savory treats! The breads they make here are top knotch, the various salty pastries are all worth exploring, the red bean one and the curry filled ones being my favorites. But the real deal, the Coup de grâce, the mamoth reason of what makes this little japanese pastry shop (in my mind) is their sandwhiches/ green tea shakes that powerful one two punch of savory sagacity is what makes me want to live sometimes yes yes i find the world to be a better place with those items in my tummy

    (5)

  • Decy M.

    We tried the eclair and the strawberry cake there. They are so good! I will definitely come back to buy birthday cake. The dessert is not too sweet and it is authentic Japanese dessert taste. Eating their dessert is definitely not give you guilty feeling at all.. because it is so fresh and light. I will come again to try the green tea mousse cake and the green tea drinks as people recommended here.. hopefully it is as good as what they say.And I heard Ichiro came here when he stays for spring training to get his favorite bread and desserts

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Delivery : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes

Arai Pastry

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