There’s something incredibly cozy about nibbling on yummy baked goods over a hot cup of coffee. No matter the sweet or setting, each bite conjures up warm, fuzzy feelings, like celebrating a birthday or holiday with family and friends or simply enjoying a lazy weekend morning or a rainy afternoon. To me, even more unfamiliar snacks—from stuffed Somali sambusas and pillowy Mexican concha bread to sticky Yemeni honeycomb bread and airy Japanese cakes—evoke a similar response. I might not have grown up with them, but I still find them equally comforting and, of course, delicious. I can tell that someone, somewhere, is pouring just as much love into them as my grandma did into her chocolate chip date nut cake (seriously, if anyone has a recipe, please share it in the comments below) or my mom did into her s’mores bars. It’s the edible equivalent of a hug or a fluffy blanket. It just feels (and tastes!) good. Fortunately, if you feel the same way, there are plenty of global bakeries and cafes in Rochester, MN, that cook up sweet treats and savory pastries with international flair.
These Global Cafes and Bakeries in Rochester Are a Treat
Whether you want a nostalgic snack or are in search of a new go-to treat with a sprinkle of cultural culinary traditions, these Rochester-area international bakeries and cafes are sure to hit the spot. From sit-down cafes to grab-and-go and home-baked cottage bakeries, from Asian and African to Mexican and Middle Eastern, there’s something for every mood and occasion.
Don Panchos Bakery
Taking up residence in what was once Fiddleheads Coffee Co., Don Panchos Bakery is a classic panaderia and pasteleria, specializing in breads, cakes, cookies, and sweet and savory pastries, as well as a selection of coffee drinks and other beverages. While you can enjoy the colorful and festive atmosphere from the minimal counter seating, I prefer to take my treats home to enjoy later. Simply pick up a paper-lined basket and a pair of tongs to stash your goodies in, then take your haul up to the register to be bagged up. Items are unlabeled, meaning that the experience is a bit of a mystery in terms of both price and flavor, but I think that’s part of the fun. However, you can also ask the staff for help if you have questions.
1610 W Center St, Rochester, MN 55902
Freddy’s Bakery & Cafe
There’s a new Mexican bakery in town! Although the selection isn’t quite as extensive as what you’ll find at Don Panchos, Freddy’s Bakery & Cafe is perfect for those who are still testing the panaderia-and-pasteleria waters. All items are conveniently labeled with pictures, prices, names, and a brief description of each pastry, so you’re never surprised when it comes time to check out or take a bite. Whatever you choose, I highly recommend trying a cup of café de olla, a spiced and sweetened Mexican coffee, to pair with it. While the bakery is slightly out of the way, seating is abundant, and there might even be more food items offered in the future. So, I’ll definitely keep returning when I need a snack break while out and about.
1610 W Center St, Rochester, MN 55902
Homebakedbypat
For sweet treats with Asian flair, be sure to check out Homebakedbypat. This cottage bakery, run out of the home of Pat Anderson, is an edible ode to the tastes and textures of Pat’s home of Thailand. Like other Asian-style baked goods, Pat’s sweets are lighter and fluffier than those typically found in the United States, thanks to the addition of ingredients like meringue, with flavors like matcha, passionfruit and ube. (I was lucky enough to score one of her addictively airy cupcakes at the farmers market last summer and can confirm that they are delicious.) To order, reach out to Pat through Facebook or Instagram, or catch her at the Rochester Farmers Market or other pop-up locations.
Pickup, delivery, or pop-up appearances only
Maro & Calal Boutique and Cafe
Part shop and part snack stop, Maro & Calal Boutique and Cafe is full of Somali charm. While the back half of the boutique is devoted to items like Middle Eastern-style clothing, fragrances, and temporary mehndi tattoos, the cafe side of things offers a small selection of snacks and sips, including sambusas, malawah (a crepe-like pancake), baklava-like pastries, coffee, and sweet Somali tea with warming spices. Prices are incredibly affordable, and the seating area is bright and airy, making this a nice spot for a small bite to eat and a unique shopping experience.
601 6th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Mochinut
While not really a cafe or a bakery, I had to include Mochinut on this list for one reason and one reason only: the counter-service spot’s namesake mochi donuts. Although you can also get other Asian-inspired eats, including boba tea and Korean-style corn dogs (sweet-meets-savory snacks on a stick swathed in glutinous rice flour batter, diced potato, crumbled cereal bits or even crispy ramen noodles), the real highlight here, in my opinion, is the colorful array of donuts. Made with glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch, mochi donuts are delightfully chewy and delicate, with flavorful glazes and toppings like ube, mango, churro and pistachio. Shaped like a circle made up of eight small balls, they’re also easy to pull apart and pop in your mouth. Grab one for the road or go home with a dozen.
102 20th St SE Suite 600, Rochester, MN 55904
Onii-Pan
For light-as-air breads with Asian influence, don’t miss Onii-Pan, a Japanese-inspired cottage bakery known for its shokupan (fluffy milk bread) and melonpan (sweet buns with a crunchy topping, similar to Mexican concha bread). Every batch is baked without preservatives or additives and uses locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, ensuring that each item is as fresh and delicious as possible. Pick up a loaf of shokupan for a soft and squishy sandwich or to toss in the toaster and slather with butter and jam at the Rochester Farmers Market, or place an order through Instagram.
Pickup, delivery, or pop-up appearances only
Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
If you’re looking for a new coffee date spot or a place to get some work done while you sip and snack on something yummy, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. is for you. With the recent opening of this café, Rochester is finally part of the Yemeni coffeehouse trend that is sweeping the nation. Open late, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere to match the tasty array of Middle Eastern-inspired bites and beverages on offer, Qamaria is sure to be a cultural hub and communal gathering place. The menu here runs the gamut from savory pies and samosas to flaky croissants, traditional honeycomb bread, milk cakes in an assortment of flavors, and much more. A wide range of spiced coffee and tea drinks, as well as smoothies and refreshers, are also available.
1529 US-14 Suite #100, Rochester, MN 55904
SETO Bakery
For homestyle Middle Eastern baked goods just like grandma used to make (seto means “grandma” in Arabic), be sure to place an order with SETO Bakery. Started by Chef Eman Abdulmuaty as a tribute to her heritage and her mother’s love of baking, SETO seeks to share ancestral recipes with the greater Rochester area. Middle Eastern classics such as baklava, basbousa, konafa, and crunchy, Egyptian-style breadsticks called boksomat are available, as are familiar favorites like apple and cherry pies, chocolate-chip cookies, and cakes in flavors of blueberry-lemon and orange. Orders can be placed directly through the bakery’s website, with items delivered directly to your address of choice.
Delivery or pop-up appearances only
What globally inspired snack or sweet is on your to-eat list? Leave a comment below!
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