Daeji Dough Company
1360 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
Crema's Take
“This Korean-inspired café in Chicago has mastered the art of thoughtful hospitality, blending exceptional specialty coffee with inventive laminated pastries that you genuinely can't find elsewhere—think tteokbokki croissants with their surprising spicy-savory magic and kimchi focaccia alongside matcha drinks that taste authentically crafted. The compact, intentionally curated menu skews savory and unexpected rather than typical bakery fare, making it feel less like a coffee shop and more like a neighborhood gathering spot where every detail, from the design to the smoked brisket roll, shows the owner's genuine care.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Have been wanting try this cafe for a while and glad I finally did!! I got Kiki Matcha with sesame syrup and then Kimchi Focaccia! Both were really great. The focaccia was fresh and is definitely large enough to share. The matcha was delicious and I will be for sure ordering it again!! Staff were both extremely kind and helpful with suggestions. While I was there I saw staff putting out more fresh made coconut croissants. Thank you :)
Very solid Korean inspired bakery! As a Korean my favorite was the tteokbokki croissant and their matcha mingle! You definitely can’t find their pastries anywhere else. Matcha tasted authentic and enjoyed every sip of it! I have high expectations for Matcha and this definitely was the place for great Matcha. Other reviews mention they don’t have too many options for pastries but I personally think having too many isn’t great and can be overwhelming. They have a solid amount of sweet and savory pastries to try. I will definitely be back!
Incredible specialty coffee + Korean inspired laminated pastries! The tteokbokki croissant was a standout - buttery and flaky with chewy rice cake and a gentle spicy kick that worked surprisingly well. The sesame croissant was equally satisfying, nutty, and well layered. We also enjoyed the sesame latte and pie latte, both smooth and balanced without being overly sweet. A thoughtfully crafted bakery with lots of heart, and it’s wonderful to see an Asian-inspired pastry shop thriving.
Daeji’s recent opening isn’t quite perfect yet, but is a very strong showing The menu’s a bit limited and leans more savory than a typical bakery selection. The smoked brisket roll is a highlight - reminiscent of a mix between char siu and southern bbq, with a good sweetness level and perfectly flaky pastry. The tteokbokki croissant also nails its textures and the chew on the tteok is an impressive delight The other items showed potential, with some room for improvement - the bulgogi mushroom focaccia has good flavor but the texture is a bit off (oddly stiff) and the miso cornbread cookie is a bit too dry and has a heavy hand w/ the miso Still, it’s worth going out of your way to visit Daeji and I’m excited to see how they continue to refine and expand their menu
Great coffee + Korean inspired pastries! This is a great addition to the neighborhood and the owner definitely put a lot of thought into the design and atmosphere of the store itself. We tried the Teokkbokki Croissant, Smoked Brisket Handpie and the Blueberry Yuzu Scone. My favorite was the Teokkbokki Croissant even the day after the rice cale had the right amount of softness and chew to it. Sauce was on point. We also had the Mocha, which was the perfect amount of sweetness balanced with chocolatey richness. Would definitely come again to try other things on the rotating menu!
Crema Reviews
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