Saint Anna Bakery & Cafe
2158 S Archer Ave
(between 21st St & Cermak Rd)
Chicago, IL 60616 (312) 225-3168
- Nearest Transit:
Cermak-Chinatown (Red)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
41 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
"They have really delicious sandwiches, soups and baked goods, at reasonable prices. The service is always friendly and attentive- and…" read more »
22 Reviews for Saint Anna Bakery & Cafe
I came here this morning after finding out they lowered their prices for their HK-styled breakfast. The food is relatively authentic with a killer (probably the best I've had in Chinatown) hot milk tea. I had a spam and egg over instant noodle and my gf had the congee meal that came with fried dough and a rice roll. Both breakfasts were decent but lacked flavor. The pastries don't look extremely appetizing and the buns are decent. I would rather get my pastries and breakfast at Captain (across the plaza) and the buns at Chiu Quon on the old side of Chinatown. But I give this place 4 stars, for their great milk tea which just makes me remind of home!
Foods to try:
HK-style hot milk tea.
I absolutely love the cake here. It is light, fluffy, slightly sweet and airy, and so is the frosting. The fruit is a nice touch too. You don't feel sick after having this cake!!!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I had a bubble tea. I said no bubbles. But what do ya know, I got the bubbles. I also bought some deep fried pastries with meat inside of it for later... my favorite in general, not from this particular place. Here's my gripe and I wish I can give no stars at all actually. The bubble tea was below average and they gave me bubbles when I said NO. Then when my friend and I sat down at a small table so I can drink my bubble tea (I was thirsty from dim sum), a lady came over and yelled at us saying we can't sit down., that we have to leave WTF?! I'm a paying customer. You fucked up my order and I didn't bitch you out. There's no lines, crowds or people waiting for tables, there were sooooooooo many empty spaces and you're gonna throw me out? wow. In most NORMAL establishments, you can purchase and sit down if you want, consuming what you bought there. Not here. Then again Chinese people can be fuckin rude. So we went outside and sat on the benches.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
3.5 stars
My backup bakery (number one is Chiu Quon on Wentworth). My mom and I always get the same stuff there... the fried salty dumpling, the sesame balls and the paper-wrapped sponge cake. They're good, but not as good as Chiu Quon. I've never really wanted to try their cakes, though they certainly look pretty.
What Chinatown in the US is complete without a bakery? Not only do they offer up that role, but they go a bit beyond and give it a Taiwanese twist (which interestingly enough involves lots of good Hong Kong style iced teas).
It's not nearly as good as what you might get in SF or NYC, but fantastically good for Chicago.
My childhood favorites are all there from the flaky and nutmeg galore napoleon to the ever so vanilla flavored egg custards. They also have a beautiful array of small cakes from black forest, strawberry shortcake, to a deliciously refreshing peach creme cake. These individual sized and inexpensive treats are a perfect compliment to a Chinatown meal.
Personally, I found the teas/smoothies here to be much better than Joy Yee's down the street, and much cheaper at about $2.00 each.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Good bakery, but I like St. Anna for the cheap, substantial FOOD food. Every dish tastes very fresh. Every time I went to St. Anna it was PACKED, and this was before the smoking ban (making it a pretty miserable place to be). I'd imagine that, since the ban, more people are eating there rather than taking out. They have a good array of Chinese and traditional pastries and baked goods.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I used to be a regular there, but decided not to come anymore because the waitress there tend to keep my change everytime I pay the bill. Where's my change? They are not the one to decide how much tips they can keep. Also, everytime I order carryout, I order the same food and each lady there charges me a different price each time for the same food I order consistently? I asked one of the ladies why each one of them charge me a different price. She told me because I don't understand Chinese and I've misheard her. She also said they charge extra for carryout and containers. The food is okay overall and some foods on the menu are kinda nasty to eat so choose your poison.
I cant possibly be the only one on Yelp who's had their awesome baked rice dishes. They have baked coconut fried rice dishes for about 4 bucks. Complete with chicken-on-the-bone. They also have a potato coconut version as well. Although I do not know the true scoop on the place, I theorize that the name reflects Macanese-Catholics. The handful of food dishes are cooked Macanese style, which is extremely hard to find in the US. Recommended for a good cheap lunch of baked fried rice.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
St. Anna is the best bakery in chinatown. It has all the essentials (bubble tea, coffee cake, fried rice balls, mochi, fruit tarts, fruit cake, egg tarts) - you name it! And they're all delicious. They also serve food here, which I'll have to try next time.
Ah- this is one of the few places I know that sells the snowballs - sweet sticky balls of rice rolled in coconut and stuffed with peanuts. You can't go wrong with the sesame balls stuffed with mung beans.
the sweet coconut bun and hong kong style iced tea are fantabulous. the service, however, is not: the last time i tried to go, they shooed people out and locked the doors while dealing with what appeared to be a complicated customer issue. although i guess you don't really eat in chinatown for the phenomenal customer service :P
Ever since they banned smoking in restaurants, this place has been super crowded during lunchtimes on weekdays. I think we've been there so often that they recognize who we are, and basically know what we want to order. Needless to say, service is great. Food is pretty good (and quick!!) The desserts are one of a kind, I must say. I tried this coconut tapioca custard the other day, and it was delicious! They don't make it too sweet, but it's definitely not bland. And THAT is what keeps you eating more.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This place is not fancy but the food sure is good and sure is cheap!!! They have tons of pastries, smoothies, bubble teas, and fresh fruit drinks. I like the fact that their cakes are not super sweet. Which I guess caters more to their asian clients. Their menu does not consist of typical chinese dishes (which you would expect because it is a chinese restaurant in chinatown square). They serve dishes such as baked pork chops with carrots and potatoes and baked chicken.. yummy!!!
I think its the baking goods are good there. Their egg tarts are one of a kind. They make special cakes too other than fruit cakes, such as black forest. I like their curry fish balls. The curry sauce is nice and thick, unlike some places its watery. However, there is not much curry taste to it. Some dishes are also very delicious.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
I love their egg tarts here - they're something about them that just tastes like it was just freshly made. My boyfriend's mom prefers getting her bubble tea here instead of Joy Yee's which is across the way. They're just as good and service is a lot quicker, too.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
St. Anna is my favorite restaurant in Chinatown. It's a legit, no nonsense restaurant where you can always count on great, great food, excellent/personable service and fresh pastries like no other. I was very surprised by the great food. The singapore noodles is the best in town. I love the tomato/egg rice with beef combo. Chow fun is the kind you'd expect to buy at a 5 star restaurant with it's crispy/soft noodles. Their soups are always fresh. Their bubble tea is excellent.. The pearls have the perfect texture and taste. Unlike other commercialized, popular hot spots like Joy Yees, you can eat and talk in a quiet environment which is ideal to take that "special someone" there to have a low key and exceptional meal. The desserts are superb. I LOVE the butterfly cookies. They are not too sweet and is very crisp and fresh. I love the custard buns. They have this one custard/jello bun dessert that is the best. The mango pudding is dynamite. But the cream of the bakery is definitely the custard egg tarts. WOW.... In other local restaurants/bakeries, they have the greasy, very flaky crust but St. Anna has the secret ingredient. The crust itself is very tasty and compliments the sweetness. Overall, the pastries aren't overly sweet which I love. Their cakes are like pieces of art. They take great pride to make their cakes look as beautiful as it tastes. It's understated and perfect without the hype. Don't leave without getting the Hong Kong Tea with sugar. Word on the street is that this place is the only restaurant in Chinatown that has the imported Tea. I believe it. I just wish it came in a big gulp size but you can't have everything. I just get two small cups every time. St. Anna is by far, Chinatown's best kept secret and a sleeping giant. Nowadays, you find way too many trendy places without a lot of substance. St. Anna is one of the rare restaurants that stays true to what it does best without the razzle dazzle..........authentic, hearty meals and perfect pastries.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Thus far the best egg tarts in town; They make them Hong Kong-style with a "cookie crust" vs the usual flaky crust. Too much tobacco smoke to dine or partake comfortably in the bakery/cafe itself.
I was shopping around and stopped by here for a smoothie. It was a cantaloupe/honeydew. I hadn't gone for melon before, but I was amazed at the great combination I had created. Tasty is the least I can say.
This is one of my favorite smoothie spots in the city. They will even give a couple kinds of fruit in each smoothie for no additional charge. They also serve desserts and Chinese food.
It's slightly pricier than its competitors down the street in "old" Chinatown, but the goodies at St. Anna are soooo worth it. I'm a huge fan of the fried sesame ball with red bean. No matter what time of the day I go, the red bean balls taste just as fresh. Delish!
You can get all the traditional Chinese bakery items here plus custom cakes for special occasions. Their bubble teas and other drinks are realllllly great here! When everyone is crowding around Joy Yee's waiting for 20 minutes, I am here.
One of the things I hate most when I get a Barbeque Pork Bun is if I bite into it and find that it's mainly bun and only has about a mouthful of BBQ pork. That doesn't happen at St. Anna Bakery. Their prices are slightly higher than at other bakeries, but it is worth it. They have a great selection of different buns, tarts, and cakes as well as a terrific smoothie selection. As one of the other reviewers mentioned, there are a lot of smokers so I recommend getting your food to go.
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
Taking it Down to…
A grand ole tour of Chinatown from a highly… -
Kill Me Now
These places are dead to me! In no particular… -
The Bakeries Makeries
Bakes have a soft spot in my tummy. There's always… -
Preferred Chinese…
Since I'm Chinese - nothing beats home-cooked…
Hot and New
- Mana Food Bar
22 reviews
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
- I Monelli Trattoria Pizzeria
26 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
- Haro - tapas y pinxtos
36 reviews
Neighborhood: Pilsen
- Roy's Furniture Co
54 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
- Piccolo Sogno
27 reviews
Neighborhood: Near West Side
