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Astor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
I ran in the other day because I was going on a mini-trip to NJ and needed sustenance. I grabbed four items from the glass case - two savory and two sweet.
- Savory: sausage roll, which is basically a hot dog in holey-bread, and the tuna corn bread. I was disappointed. The bread was too rough and dense for me. I prefer Cafe Zaiya or the Chinese bakery savory items.
- Sweet: pear danish and the chocolate banana croissant. These two were delicious and I'm really glad I didn't give them away as a thank you. I was pretty close. They were much lighter and fluffier. They even tasted good after one day of life. I think if I heated them up, they would've kicked ass. At the same time, they do not hold a torch to a real Danish (I tried some in Denmark and they are the flakiest thing ever) or an authentic French patisserie, but I tell myself those have way more butter. There are plenty of other flavors of danishes. I would heartily recommend that or the choc banana croissant!
I'm happy to see that Panya is finally open again. I stopped by Monday night to grab a bento ($5.25… Read more »
I'm always going to have a soft spot for Japanese Bakeries for it has played a significant part of my childhood...
Something about Japanese bakeries,how do they manage to make the bread and pastries so perfect and cute looking every single time?
Bought a Strawberry shortcake home for Thanksgiving and I gotta say it was pretty mediocre. The Cake was a bit on the lumpy grainy side and the cream was not impressive.
I was expecting a bit more but i think it might have been a hectic day since it was Thanksgiving.
Location and selections are amazing though. Gotta try the food to rate it as I know they have Tonkotsu, Bento Boxes and other goodies as well.
Overall, a great option for a budget lunch in the neighborhood
If you're a fan of Japanese desserts and savory treats, trot over to the East Village to this local fav spot: Panya. Can I say it's also a BARGAIN?!
Located around the corner from St. Mark's Book Shop and Sunrise Mart, this cute bakery/cafe serves up the best treats that would cost more in a Japanese restaurant. My favorite? Japanese Curry for $6.50 which would cost about $9-$10+ elsewhere, $2.75 for a Egg Salad sandwich, .99cent onigiri (rice) balls, etc.
Since I walk past here everyday on my way to school, I always pick up an easy lunch or breakfast and coffee. FYI, bring cash, its a $10 min. purchase here.
Reopened bigger and better!
I was really depressed about not being able to get the green tea shortbread cookies but they are back and just as delicious as I remembered. The loaves of unsliced bread are also delicious (I like to get them sliced thick) and everything looks and smells soooo good.
They also have hot, made-to-order sandwiches now, plus a few seats and tables.
I love Japanese pastries - whether it's the cookies or the thickly sliced bread.
Whenever I'm in the…
Read more »
While I'm filled with mirth to finally be able to grab quick Asian bites as I run through my day, the quality of the products still remain unimproved.
Not saying that they're terrible, but I think there's room for improvement. Nevertheless, the new renovations, and increased variety of choices, much like that of Cafe Zaiya, is definitely a refreshing touch.
It got bigger.* More options in the way of food and drink too, but when it's cold and wet out, and I see steaming Hot Apple Cider and that moist Pumpkin Muffin ($1) there's just no other choice. I'm a loyal girl, what can I say?
FUN FACT: As Central Perk is to Friends (ican'tbelieveijustmentionedthat TERRIBLE showinareviewahhh), Panya is to NYU's art department.
*That's what she said. Panya's a grower and a show-er, if I ain't bein' too subtle...
I love their whole wheat croissant and their Asian toasts are simply delicious and soft. If you like high quality Asian bakery, this is the place to go.
Now they added sandwiches and seating area and sells simple Japanese meals as well. It is a great Asian bakery in East Village.
really good japanese bakery. tried some pastries that were really quite good - tasted better and more french than some french pastry places do. lots of interesting teas and drinks in the case. reasonable prices and some seats outdoors for when the weather is nicer. if im around here at breakfast time i would stop in for some miso.
They're OPEN again!
Payna soft reopened this past Wednesday, one store front over from their previous location (where Around the Clock used to be). The store is awesomely larger, maybe 4 or 5x with plentiful seating. They also now carry a full selection of sandwiches, salads and drinks. You can see through the back of the store in to the kitchen and bakery. Radical.
Best of all, the same friendly folks still work there. I'm really glad they're back open again...this used to be my default morning pastry stop on the way to the subway. Mmmmmm koshian doughnut things.
Glad Panya has reopened!!!!!!! My friend and I shared the Apple Pumpkin Tart and it was DELICIOUS!!!!!! There are also sandwiches and hot food now. I want more tarts!!!!!!
I can't believe she's back! I love Panya's japanese style pastries including the strawberry shortcakes & tiramisus,their fresh loaves of bread, & crustless asian style sandwiches! The storefront is bigger than before with available seating. Panya even serves hot foods which i have to try next time. Nothing but a nice japanese style hot breakfast or maybe a bento box for lunch! Does that mean the late night haunt - Around the Clock is reopening, too? Maybe, too much to ask for!
This place opened across the street from me. This and the fact it is so great immediately put it into my top place to go for a quick lunch and dinner. I was surprised it already had so many reviews, kind of freaked me out as if it has been there the whole time and I never noticed.
New to the city and looking for some good Asian-style pastries. Read some reviews about this place and decided to try it out.
This is as good as it gets. The cheese souffle and green tea cookie custard are amazing. The coffee and chai tea are really good too. The more traditional sweets like the ogura and koshian pans are not too sweet like some other places I have tried. You know they are doing something right when most of their customers are Japanese people FROM Japan.
Definitely reccommend! And to ...reviewer Darren S. -- good call. That assistant manager was the one that rang me up today I think. Very nice and gorgeous girl! And that British accent is just hot!
I checked out the new reopened location. The onigiri (and most of the cold foodstuff) are from Sunrise Mart. Have yet to try their baked goods, but the hot chai is horrible! It is literally hot water with a packet of sugar. Hopefully things shape up soon. Oh, and it's still cash only.
They are my staple for lunch. I usually have a spicy tuna sandwich on whole wheat and a hot chai.… Read more »
yayyyyyy
words cannot describe how happy i was this morning to see panya open again. i was starting to feel like i was the only person that doesn't like crappy coffee off an orange truck or equally crappy coffee at the evil monster chain.
but alas, through my half-asleep eyes there it was, except now it's a full coffee shop with seating and a menu and sushi. my latte this morning was really good (erm, by morning i mean at 2pm, and by really good i mean i'm still awake at 5am writing this review, which may or may not be panya's fault. but probably isnt)
i will be back at some point to try the food. i'm hoping the year-long hiatus allowed them to properly clean the old around the clock kitchen. or if everything's from sunrise mart, as others have said, that's ok too-- saves me a shady elevator ride.
in conclusion, YAY PANYA
I'm so excited that I found this Japanese bakery in East Village. I also found out from previous reviews that this place was closed earlier this year and just reopened recently, yay! I'm most excited about Japanese authentic baked items such as curry pan, sausage pan and yakisoba sandwich. The place is super clean and well organized. Plus 1 star for super friendly customer service!
I love buying my sashimi here after I work out! Its very fresh, I hope it stays this good!
They re-opened on Friday, Oct. 23 in the Around the Clock space. Lots of small table/chairs on the outside, a few on the inside. Definitely a bigger, better space, with a wider selection of yummy food. Oh, and a super nice staff. Old customers should come back and new ones should come, it is well worth it. That's the good news. The bad news is the coffee. The coffee is about as bad as coffee gets.
i adore panya. it used to be this cute, little hole in the wall japanese bakery. it closed for some time, but thankfully it's opening again and it's much, much bigger!
i am a huge fan of their cookie custard, cookie croissant, curry pan, hot curry pan, takoyaki (even though they're cold and you get three), and tuna roll. actually, just about everything is good. definitely try the green tea cookies- they're unusual, but delicious.
i have a huge soft spot for panya because it's just a stone's throw away from where i have classes, and it's so affordable and convenient for a quick snack during break. also, nobody makes coffee quite as hot as panya, so watch out.
it looks like panya is reopening very soon. i can't wait!!
This review is based on their red bean pastries. I went this morning at 7:30 am for the first time, thinking I'd get a batch fresh out the oven for me and my friends at the office. Gotta say the bread was too tough and dense for my liking. Red bean pastries should be light, chewy.... the paste itself was pretty standard. I've had better at a number of regular spots in Chinatown.
My first experience at Panya was in 1999 while visiting my sister who was a Tisch student, and I started going there regularly in 2000 when I was myself a Cooper Union student. Every day on my way to class I got my coffee and croissant from a borderline TOO nice, friendly, Japanese girl who was polite and respectful in only the way the Japanese can be - there were some guys who worked there as well, but it was a predominantly feminine place which gave it that soft touch only a woman's place can have. It was one of those places that is completely neutral - either you are at Panya, or you are not... there is no like or dislike... everybody likes Panya... You are either at Panya or you are not.
The charm of Panya is that it was small, hidden, and on a side street (kinda) in a busy part of the city. There were two or three (at most) tables to sit at, and they were ONLY available outside and when the weather was nice - there was no inside seating. And even the outside seating was shady - on one occasion they got a ticket because they didn't have the right "permit" to have tables on the sidewalk, nevertheless they paid the ticket and kept on offering the 2-3 tables on sunny days until they did acquire the right "paperwork." Across the street were TWO Starbucks with TONS of tables and seating, but everybody that I knew still always went to Panya despite the convenience of Starbuck - usually we just sat on the sidewalk or stood outside smoking a cigarette by the street; also, convenience-wise, Panya only took cash for coffee and sweets.
It's pretty much the only place like it in the USA (maybe there's one in San Fran / LA?... but I don't know) that offers a Japanese bakery vibe that's geared specifically to Japanese. They are unapologetically Japanese, and their food tastes good because of it. The language is Japanese (they understand English, but it's a strained conversation). The menu is Japanese. The customers are Japanese. The packaging is Japanese. Everything about this place is as authentic as a little shop you might find in Shibuya or Shinjuku. It is (was) even cramped and tiny, just like a shop might be in Tokyo/Osaka. They have curry pan, soba pan, Green Tea Tiramisu and Latte's... delicious European style bread, and thick-sliced white bread that makes the best damn toast ever. You have to get there early in order to get what you want. The spicy tuna sandwich on white bread, as well as the avocado sandwich on raisin bread, were two favorites of mine.
Some of my best memories are at Panya - a book, a pack of smokes, and a safe haven where extremely friendly and dedicated people (who are young and attractive) are offering 50 cent refills on coffee. I talked to an old friend who used to work there, and she had recently talked to the owner(s) and she said that the closing was in fact due to the looooong overdue desire to offer a more café atmosphere by offering inside seating!! Woohoo! It's hard waiting for them to reopen, but I can not wait to see what the changes bring. Around the Clock will kinda be missed, due to many drunken nights spent there on those benches, but I'm glad that Panya's FINALLY getting the space it deserves, I just hope it doesn't lose some of its charm by becoming overly busy and crowded.
I really like this bakery. Not for the coffee, but for its Euro-Japanese pastries. From the crusty, just-sweet-enough baked "french toast", savory corn & cheese bread, (super fresh & soft) danish bread, to their satisfying "tiramisu", almost every pastry that I've sampled tasted good to me.
Very very sadly, Panya is closing according to http://Eater.com. So if you adore Panya like me, go pay your respects before it closes on 1/18/09. Don't worry, I was just there and if you go in the morning, they are still fully stocked and baking everyday.
Will be closed soon :(
http://nymag.com/daily...
Panya is a-ok in my book. Just recently tried their strawberry shortcake, green tea tiramisu and yuzu cake--- which i think is more like a muffin.
To be honest, I'm not incredibly astounded by their stuff but its not bad to have. The tiramisu was 15% cake and 85% cream/mousse. And I am a fan of a strong taste of matcha and a more even distribution of cake and cream/mousse, so I was a bit disappointed. The strawberry shortcake earned points for not being overly sweet and for being light and delicate tasting. The yuzu didnt feel heavy at all, it tasted very refreshing. It was buttery and not to sweet and the yuzu was not an over dominant taste, but was still present.
I once ate the yakisoba pan the other day, and I felt like they should have added more sauce to the yaki soba or try more of a crunchier bread. I usually go there also for the Matcha au Lait, which tastes pretty good and I recommend it.
Maybe I havent tried the right pastries? I'm surprised not being obsessed about this place. But the service is pretty nice, they close at 8:30 apparently and didnt pressure us too much to leave and waited patiently. (We left like, after 15 minutes) They gave us a nice bag of tissues and utensils on the go, plus they have a microwave inside to reheat stuff.
I have a soft spot for Panya simply because it was the bakery around the corner when I used to go to college near there (which might be why this has 5 stars instead of 4). I don't think I could ask for anything more than an exceptional Asian bakery that's not in Chinatown. It provides a large variety of cakes, pastries and breads that is only limited by its small size. Off the top of my head, I have tried their Sugar Toast, French Toast, Curry Pan, Melon Pan, Chocolate Chip Melon Pan, Yakisoba Pan, Green Tea Cookies, Croissants, and Chocolate Almond Croissants. They offer a number of delicate cakes that are displayed in the window such as Strawberry Shortcake, a variety of mousses, and a Key Lime flavored cake(pie?).
Panya has many drinks to go along with your baked good of choice such as teas and coffees. I particularly am a fan of their yuzu tea which they only serve during the winter months. Though, admittedly, I sometimes indulge in the green tea au lait. The blackboard that hangs overhead lists a lot of options (both hot and cold) which you can spend a good couple of minutes deciding what to order.
Though almost too obvious, you should be reminded that this is a Japanese bakery and its products are made with Japanese tastes in mind. The main reason why I emphasize this point is because their products (relative to Western bakeries) are less sweet and focus more on subtle flavor and texture. I suppose that it's only a cultural gap, however, expectations sometimes make all the difference.
The most disappointed I have ever been at Panya is when they run out of Sugar Toast. They make only so many in the morning and often they do not survive past noon. Highly recommended. (Actually, I take that back. Stay away from my Sugar Toast!)
I love how Japanese bakeries produce such lovely and superior products at the same low cost of those in Chinatown... I don't know how they manage to pay rent in the east village and still sell a crustless (yay!) tuna sandwich for under $3. No complaints on my part though!
The whole wheat ham & cheese croissant was decent, although the slightly sour taste of the bread made it a little strange. I'd probably go for the regular one next time. The apple danish was smothered in fruit - really tasty.
I liked the super sour ice blended lemonade as well. Will have to update this review after I've had a taste of the curry bun. Mmm, can't wait.
I don't like their bread or coffee that much. but their cakes are wonderful!
I always annoyed by the overloaded sugar and artificial colors in american pastry. TRY the Japanese!
CHESTNUT CREAM, GREENTEA TIRAMISU, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, PUDDING... delicately made and not too sweet. goes well with tea or coffee.
Recommended for: Japanese confections, bread (pan), coffee, tea and more.
Service 5, Selection 4, Quality 5.
Oh how I love 9th St... and Panya, you just make it better! After hearing about this place from my good friend Keiko, I just had to try it. But each time I tried to find it, it was as though a midst had clouded over, keeping this hidden gem away from me. Yet one fine day with none other than Julie Sillyholic in tow, I come upon the promised land!
Indeed Panya is all that was said and more. They have yuzu flan (oh yes, and it was good!), melon-pan, macha-pan, puffs, chocolate cakes and so much more. Everything is sweet in terms of its taste. If you are into eastern sweet (not western sweet sweet), then you'll really like Panya. Everything is fresh, and served with a polite smile that makes you want to order more and more. There's nothing more I enjoy going to an authentic place and speaking the language - it just adds to the experience I think.
You can either order their desserts and eat inside or outside, or take them to-go like I do. When I'm missing Tokyo and in the mood for some yummy dessert, pan, or what-have-you, Panya is definitely a place to go. Oh, and if you happen to like the show Yakitate Japan - you'll definitely want to come here and enjoy, the ja-pan!!
Sean Approved: Zettaini ita houga ii yo!!!
I first found their buns in the Sunrise Mart and wanted to see the actual bakery (I love Japanese bakeries). It's not as cute as I expected and there are no seats, but the pastries look tempting: lots of croissants (plain, cookie, mini, red bean, chocolate, whole wheat, savory), danishes, pan/buns (Yakisoba! Curry! Croquette! Red bean!), bread loaves, bread rolls, cakes, baguettes, cookies, etc. The buns and croissants are about $1.25 - 2 each.
* Pumpkin cupcake ($1.75): It's more like a small muffin with powdered sugar and almond silvers on top. There isn't much pumpkin or pumpkin spice flavor but it's moist and tasty.
* Azuki cream croissant ($2): Fairly hefty powdered sugar dusted croissant with many layers of flaky goodness and a strong buttery flavor. The inside has a generous amount of sweet, creamy red bean paste. I thought it would have red bean and whipped cream but it seemed to be more like a creamy red bean paste. Not as good as the Japonaise Bakery (Boston) version but still quite nice.
I am also intrigued by the yuzu cake, green tea biscotti, baby donuts, spicy tuna roll, cream puffs, and yakisoba bun. The buns are larger than Clover's - generously sized for Japanese pastries.
Four things:
1. Yuzu cake
2. Cream pan
3. Green tea cookies
4. Green tea pound cake
Skip the coffee.
Go. Now.
There was a time that Panya was an "alright" bakery but, lately they've gotten better. Although Panya might seem like a typical small-narrow'd Japanese bakery, the sweets and sandwiches they have are delicious, and cheap. I personally am addicted to their Yakisoba pan. It's nothing new but, I just love it. Also, their ice coffee is really delicious. They know how much milk and sugar to add to their ice/hot coffee.
The only thing is that I feel that Panya is a bit lacking.. in sweets & sandwiches.
Say goodbye to Panya...It is closed.
I had a huge tiramisu cake from here for one of my birthday parties.......I LOVED IT........
Panya, I will always love you! kisses
Delectable little sweets and inexpensive sandwiches have kept me coming back....
... as of July 1st the Health Dept has kept me out.
UPDATE:
Panya is open again. Yay! Peach Danish. Yay!
I've tried a couple of Japanese bakeries in this city, and I think I'm ready to rank Panya as my most favorite 'everyday' bakery!
First of all, I love the name. "Panya" literally means "bakery" in Japanese. How much more straightforward can they be?
There's no particular "hot" item to rave about (for example, there's no famous mochiyaki or mochi donut of Zaiya), but it's a solid bakery where you can find most staple cakes and pastries, such as cream-pan, an-pan (tsubu is better than smooth azuki, in my opinion!), melon-pan, curry-pan, chocolate croissants, cheesecake, strawberry shortcakes, custard cups, sandwiches, etc. There are several green tea/matcha delicacies, too...and the more unique items include pumpkin cupcakes and "milk" breads. Oh, and try the sandwiches, like the ones with avocado and spicy tuna. They're delicious.
Great prices, and they aren't skimpy on the fillings, either.
It's nothing fancy, but just a local "panya"...and yep, I love this place.
Review is submitted in celebration of Anya's birthday - Happy Birthday!!
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This bakery is the Japanese version of the ones in Chinatown -- Miniaturized* The customer area fits about 3 people comfortably. Standing. Those who wish to sit can try their luck at the 3 tiny tables outside. Weather permitting.
Inside, the scent of warm pastries & dessert wash over you.
Offered:
Hot / Cold beverages
Croissants & Danishes
Bread - Rolls or Loaves
Bread - Sweet or Savory
Cake - Whole or sliced
Sandwiches
Prices comparable to those in Chinatown, usually within the range of $1.00
Much more affordable than the Upper East Side. But what isn't?
* Then again, most things Japanese are miniaturized (& usually cute-ified, too) versions of something else, no?
Though I've only had one thing from Panya, I already know that giving it five stars is a safe assumption; the two staff members were kind, the treats plentiful, and what I purchased was only two dollars, large, and tasty.
The sweet in question was a "green tea cookie," which is not a cookie at all, but rather a bun filled with a green-colored, hardly green tea-flavored cream and topped with a crispier, cookie-like green crust of sorts. Again, this barely tasted like green tea, but it was still incredibly good, and I wolfed it down happily.
I can't wait to try their green tea tiramisu and pumpkin tart.
It's nice to have a place like this in the hood. The only drawback is that it's so close to the NYU dorms. So, this bantam place can get stuffed with chubby dorm girls with their back fat spilling out over their low-waisted jeans, clamoring for sweets. I find that to be particularly dissonant with digestion.
I like all of their stuff, from the Green Tea Tiramisu, Yuzu Cake, Chocolate Croissant, Almond Croissant, Banana & Chocolate Croissant to their savory items. I also groove on the Strawberry milk.
There is seating outside so on a nice day you can breath in the fumes of 3rd Avenue.
_________
One of the best things about NYC is this little bakery in St. Mark's Place.
All the sandwiches and breads are definitely Japonesque and fresh. It almost feels like I'm back in Tokyo when I eat there.
it's so good that I always stop by this place the morning I fly out to stock up on some CURRY PAN for myself and for my co-workers who demand it in the office. If you don't eat it immediately, it's just as good if you pop it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. O-ishiiii ne!
I love Asian bakeries, actually any bakeries for that matter. Panya has now become one of my faves in the neighborhood. They offer a great selection of all sorts of pastries, bread, cakes, desserts, sandwiches, cookies, and any other form of sweet carbs... ranging from the traditional Asian stuff (i.e., potato croquette, red-bean stuffed bread) to the more ordinary (i.e., croissants and cheese danish).
I love their flaky croissants and melon pan, which is a nice crusty sweet soft bread with chocolate chips on the outside (not sure if there's any real melon in there). Their red bean stuff and mochi donuts are pretty damn good too. I also tried the potato croquette and though not everyone may like the idea of mashed potato with pieces of carrots and onions in a croquette, it's quite tasty and a great little snack (esp if you warm it up). I also got a wide selection of individual slices of cakes and souffles last night for a dinner party and what do you know... every single one of them was a hit. I assumed that it would be a collection of hit and miss... but either I picked all the right ones or they just have an excellent dessert selection here. Stand-outs were the yuzu souffle and the chestnut cream cake. YUM!
My only complaint here is that their coffee sucks. Given that bakery items go so well w/ a nice cup of coffee, it's a shame that their coffee is only mediocre at best. Thus, my recommendation is to get a variety of "pan" to go and get your coffee elsewhere (there's Mud right around the corner and a bevy of Starbucks as well).
Yumm, Panya.
I won't repeat what others have said well, but two things worth considering...
The red and the green (two variations) bean buns are an interesting, and addicting, baked confection. Think of a sweetened, dense bread encompassing a slab of red or green sweetened bean paste. In truth, it comes across as a Japanese donut. They are one of my favorite things in the world.
The other - white bread. It has the texture of silk and is wonderfully dense. You get it cut in big slabs, and it makes about the best french toast in the world, as well as the best pb+j.
Be warned - the reason why all this stuff tastes so good is because it is chock full of shortening, egg, milk, butter. Yup, even the white bread has the same stuff in it. Good for the tastebud, bad for the waistline.
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bakeries
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