Okay Nomsters, let me put you on to one of my favorite Asian bakeries in Maryland: Japong Bakery in Rockville. I first went for their cream puffs (delicious, obviously), but I’ve loved pretty much everything I’ve grabbed since, so now it’s a regular stop.
It’s a Taiwanese-and-Japanese-style bakery with a case full of soft milk breads, savory buns, and cute little pastries, and almost everything’s just a couple bucks, so it’s easy on the wallet too. The two things that keep pulling me back? Those cream puffs and their Japanese cheesecake. If you love a good Asian bakery, this Rockville gem needs to be on your radar.
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What Japong Bakery Is Known For
Japong’s an Asian bakery with Taiwanese and Japanese roots, which basically means the case reads like a greatest-hits of soft breads and pastries. Owner and baker Hung Su opened the shop back in 2018, and it’s built a real following since, they’ve even leveled up to a roomier spot along Rockville Pike with indoor seating.
The cream puffs are the runaway fan favorite, and their Japanese cheesecake is a close second (it reportedly sells a couple hundred a week). Beyond that, the case runs deep: pineapple buns, taro treats, black sesame buns, takoyaki buns, flossed pork rolls, croissants, brown sugar and mango cakes, even panna cotta. Rockville Pike’s quietly stacked with great Asian bakeries too, so make a day of it and swing by Gwenie’s Pastries, the longtime Filipino spot nearby.
What to Order at Japong Bakery
Here’s what I got this time around, plus my honest take on each.
Japong Puffs ($2.75 each)
Start here, full stop. They come in original, matcha, and chocolate, and they’re the reason I keep coming back. My personal favorite’s the matcha, though they were sold out the day I went (always a good sign), so I grabbed the original and chocolate and both were bomb as usual. Grab one of each, you won’t be sorry.
Japong Cheesecake ($5 for a slice)
This was my first time trying it, and you guys, I LOVED it. I usually have to trek to NY to get my Japanese cheesecake fix, but this one’s legit, IMO. It’s the original flavor, light and not overly sweet, so it doesn’t sit heavy the way a dense Western cheesecake can. I loved it so much I’m planning to grab a full size for my mom’s birthday. If you try one thing besides the puffs, make it this.
Pineapple Bun ($2.75)
One of my absolute favorite things to get here. Fun fact: a pineapple bun (or bo lo bao) has zero pineapple in it, the name comes from the crackly, sugar-cookie-like top that cracks into a pattern like pineapple skin. It’s a soft, pillowy bun under that sweet crust, and @deke_dc is a big fan too.
Black Sesame Bun ($3)
I’m a sucker for black sesame, so I had to give this one a try, and it did not disappoint. Very tasty, and I especially loved the texture of the pastry.
Taro Donut ($2.75)
A must for taro lovers. Simple, delicious, and worth tossing in your box if taro’s your thing.
What Makes Japanese Cheesecake Different?
Since Japong’s cheesecake is such a standout, here’s why it’s its own thing. Japanese-style cheesecake (sometimes called cotton or souffle cheesecake) is made by folding whipped egg whites into a cream cheese batter and baking it in a water bath. That gives it a light, airy, almost jiggly texture, and it uses less cream cheese and sugar than the Western kind, so it tastes milder and less sweet. If you’ve only ever had the dense New York style, it’s a completely different (and very craveable) experience, which is exactly why I keep going back for a slice.
The Vibe
Japong’s a clean, bright bakery, and since the move it’s got actual indoor seating, so you can grab a few pastries and post up for a bit or just box up a haul to go. It’s low-key, friendly, and easy, exactly what you want from a neighborhood bakery run. If you’re in a cake mood specifically, they do birthday and specialty cakes here too, and for another Rockville bakery I love, there’s Les Delices down the road.
And if you want something to sip on your way out, Molly Tea just opened nearby on Rockville Pike serving Chinese jasmine milk tea brewed without syrups, which pairs really well with a cream puff.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 765 Rockville Pike, Unit A, Rockville, MD 20852 (in the Ritchie Center; they moved along the Pike in 2023, so double-check the unit before you go)
- Hours: Open daily, roughly 9AM to 7:30 or 8PM (a little later on Fri and Sat)
- Phone: (301) 762-2853
- Prices: Most pastries run $2.75 to $5, so it’s very affordable
- Custom cakes: They do birthday and specialty cakes (fruit, matcha, and chocolate cheesecakes and mousse cakes, roughly $23 to $34)
- Delivery: Available via DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Caviar
- Seating: Indoor seating at the current location
- Website: japongbakery.com
If cream puffs or a good Japanese cheesecake are your love language, definitely make sure to stop by. It’s affordable, it’s quick, and the case has enough range that everyone in your crew walks out happy. It’s earned its spot as one of my go-to Asian bakeries in the area, and I don’t see that changing.
If you want more spots like this, I rounded up the best Asian bakeries in Maryland, ten stops across the state, and Japong’s on the list.
Have you guys been to Japong yet? Tell me your favorite flavor in the comments, and keep those Rockville recs coming, Nomsters. If you want a savory Rockville meal to go with your bakery run, I’ve also got Mahdang on the blog.