Cream Pan Bakery Tustin: A Local's Honest Review

Tustin Local Favorites: Cream Pan Bakery, Home of the Strawberry Croissant

There are places you try once, and places you grow up with. Cream Pan is the second kind for me. I have been walking through its doors for more than twenty years, first as a customer chasing a pastry I could not stop thinking about, and eventually as the person my friends text when they want to know where to pick up something special on the way to a party.

If you have not been, here is the short version. Cream Pan is a family owned Japanese bakery on El Camino Real in Old Town Tustin. It is best known for its strawberry croissants, and yes, they live up to every bit of the hype. But after two decades of visits, I can tell you the croissant is only where the story starts.

The famous strawberry croissant

Let us get the legend out of the way first. The strawberry croissant is a flaky, buttery croissant filled with a light custard that is not too sweet, finished with slices of fresh strawberry. People buy them by the dozen. I buy them by the dozen. They show up at birthday parties, office potlucks, and holiday tables all over Orange County, and they never last long on the plate.

Here is the insider part. These sell out, often within a few hours of opening. If you have your heart set on a box, go early or order them ahead. Showing up mid afternoon expecting a full case is how you end up disappointed. Come in the morning, grab your box, and you will understand why people drive in from out of town for these.

Beyond the pastry case

This is where I lose people who think Cream Pan is a one trick bakery. It is not.

My own go to is the sandwich box, a little sampler of ham, turkey, egg salad, and tuna salad. It is the kind of thing I grab when I want lunch handled without a second thought, and it has never let me down.

My son has his own loyalty. For him it is the Chicken Katsu Curry every single time. If your family has a picky eater who lights up for crispy chicken and warm curry, this is the one to put in front of them.

We also work our way through the Japanese classics. Sometimes it is the anpan and anman, soft white rolls built around sweet red bean or chicken.

The bread you did not know you needed

If you only ever stop at the pastry counter, you are missing half of what makes this place worth a regular trip. The Japanese breads are quietly excellent. There is always a good selection, including cut loaves that are perfect for sandwiches during the week or for turning into French toast on a slow weekend morning. That soft, pillowy Japanese loaf makes the best French toast you will have at home (tip: use the extra thick cuts for the French Toasts).

And of course there is the everyday lineup you would want from any good bakery: croissants, scones, cookies, and more. Whatever mood you walk in with, something in that case will meet it.

Know before you go

Where: 602 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780, in Old Town Tustin Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week Best tip: Come early for the strawberry croissants. They sell out fast, and a morning visit is the surest way to get the box you came for.

Why this one is first

I started this Tustin Local Favorites series because the best part of living somewhere for a long time is knowing the good stuff, the places that are woven into everyday life rather than just reviewed once and forgotten. Cream Pan is at the top of that list for my family. If you go, order the strawberry croissant because you have to, then come back for the curry, the sandwich box, and a loaf of that bread.