Rating: 8.5/10

    Since I was a toddler, my family and I have dropped by Sunmerry Bakery every time we passed by Irvine. When I found out that they were opening a new branch in Mira Mesa, I knew I had to visit.  

     All you need to do is put any items that you want onto your tray, then bring your tray to a cashier. At the register, there’s also a large display of cakes, along with 35 different drinks you can choose from.

A single pastry from Sunmerry ranges from $2-$3, with a slice of cake being $4.50 and drinks being $5-$6. Each one features a distinct flavor, texture, or filling. My personal favorites are the green tea croissant, the taro bread, and the classic brioche. Everything tastes extremely fresh, and all of the bread is relatively large with lots of filling compared to bread from 85℃ bakery — a similar Asian-style bakery. It’s also worth mentioning that my dad, who has a very specific taste for bread, said that their white bread loaf was some of the best he’s ever had. 

Although the bread is a highlight, I find Sunmerry’s cake and drinks to be average. The cake is packaged sideways into a bag, so it ends up being smushed to the side of the box. The slices themselves are small and the cream tastes a bit artificial. 

On that visit, I ordered a black sesame milk tea, which was supposed to have black sesame cream on the sides of the cup. Unfortunately, the man who made my drink shook the drink before handing it to me. The cream ended up thoroughly mixed into the tea, and I was left with a normal, slightly creamy milk tea. Having toppings and my drink separate is just a preference, but I felt my heart break a little when he decided the drink should be mixed without my consent. 

Overall, I would definitely come back to Sunmerry Bakery for the bread but would hesitate to buy drinks and cake again.