A French Hidden Gem Bakery: Mantap Taste, but Anjay Service?
qponx
2026-01-24
Discover a hidden French bakery in South Jakarta where the pastries are absolutely divine! While the "Anjay" service might test your patience, one bite of their flaky croissants or legendary French toast will make you forgive everything. This no-frills spot is all about authentic, "Mantap" flavors. Get the full scoop on this love-hate relationship, including crucial tips on parking, reservations, and scoring the best bread before it sells out, so you can navigate this gem like a pro.
When I finally found this place in the Terogong area of South Jakarta after a bunch of twists and turns, I almost turned around and left. The sign is pathetically small[1], and if it weren't for a few French people who happened to be walking out the door, I really would have thought my navigation app had tricked me again.
It was even more ridiculous inside. I, a living, breathing person, stood at the counter for almost ten minutes, and the staff girl just treated me like I was invisible, looking down and processing delivery orders the whole time without even bothering to greet me[2]. At that moment, I was thinking: Anjay, what is going on? If my friend hadn't recommended it so highly, I would have really left.
One bite of the bread, and I forgave 80% of it
But! The moment I took a bite of their bread, all my previous annoyance instantly vanished. This shop is a classic example of a place where the product's quality completely makes up for its shortcomings in service.
🥐 Croissant: You can tell from the first bite that their croissant[3] is the real deal. The outside is so flaky it crumbles everywhere, the inside has a beautiful honeycomb structure, and the buttery aroma hits you right in the nose, Mantap! It's totally on par with what you'd find in a small French bistro.
🍞 French toast: If the croissant was amazing, then this French toast[4] is legendary! The toast itself is as soft as a cloud, fully soaked in the egg and milk mixture, paired with the sweetness of maple syrup and the tartness of raspberry sauce, plus that dollop of mascarpone butter which is the perfect finishing touch. The layers of texture are simply explosive!
🍩 Brioche Buns: The friend who went with me ordered the brioche buns[5], and the buttery aroma was criminally rich. The texture was as soft as silk—another one of those heavenly, one-bite-and-you're-hooked items.
As for the ambiance, it's just a small neighborhood bakery, perfect for coming to Nongkrong with friends. Don't expect any fancy French decor; it's just a very ordinary-looking place. The AC wasn't even working very well when I was there[6], but it lets you escape the city noise and just Chill for a bit.
But don't rush to praise it, we have to talk about the downsides
To be fair, the service here is really hit-or-miss, basically a"blind box" experience. I've seen a lot of complaints online, saying they ignore customers with mobility issues or just tell customers that something they want to order is unavailable (when they're actually just too lazy to make it)[7], so it seems I'm not the only one who got the cold shoulder. So if you're planning to go, just manage your expectations.
Also, I heard from a regular that while the flavors are very authentic[8], the quality can be a bit inconsistent at times. Maybe it depends on the baker's mood that day? 😅
A Guide to Avoid Pitfalls, You're Welcome!
Finally, for the girls who want to go check it out, here are some solid tips:
- 🚗 Parking is extremely difficult: There are very few parking spots[9], and they're shared with a few neighboring businesses. It's nearly impossible to find a spot during peak hours, so I recommend taking a taxi or parking farther away and walking over.
- ⏰ Reservations! Reservations!: The shop is tiny with not many seats, and it can be full even on weekdays. If you want to sit down and enjoy your meal properly, it's best to book in advance[10].
- 🌞 Go early: If you want the full selection of bread, you have to come in the morning![11] If you go in the afternoon, many of the popular items will be gone.
- 🤫 Money-saving secret: You can quietly ask the staff if they have any discounted bread left over from the day before[12]. They still taste great, and the value for money is maxed out
- Service is nil, sign's tiny, almost left [1][2]. But one bite of the flaky-crisp croissant instantly erases all annoyances! [3]
- Cloud-soft French toast? Legendary! Custard-soaked, with maple, raspberry, mascarpone butter, it's a texture explosion! [4]
- Decor's plain, but product quality trumps poor service. Every bite screams authentic French bistro! [5][6]
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