The Back Door Bakery and Cafe (Tujunga, CA)

On the way home from hiking Strawberry Peak, I stopped at The Back Door Bakery and Cafe. I heard from a few locals that it was good, so I was excited to give it a try.

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe Atmosphere: A

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe sits in a busy shopping center. It’s attached and not a stand-alone building but there is plenty of parking so it’s easy to find and get too.

Like many modern cafes, you walk in, stand in line, and order. Then you can sit wherever you want, although it’s very clear to sit inside that you must be vaccinated. Standing in line, you look at the wonderful bakery filled with lots of different baked goods, from cinnamon rolls to freshly baked bread and cupcakes. They have almost everything you can think of.

The outside patio has plenty of seating as well. While not a traditional diner, it’s close enough.

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe Coffee: A

The coffee was brewed hot and fresh, and I enjoyed it. While there wasn’t anything unique about it, it did taste good.

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe Food: C

The Back Door Bakery & Cafe has everything you can imagine on the bakery side. From cupcakes to cinnamon rolls and even miniature cakes. They also have a full coffee bar with every option you can imagine. For food, they have several options, including sandwiches, salads, and full meals. You can see the full The Back Door Bakery & Cafe menu here. I decided to order the vegan sliders, which came with french fries. According to the menu, it’s their homemade vegan parties served on brioche rolls with potatoes. You can order with cheese, mushrooms, bacon, or avocado for an additional charge.

When they came out, they looked great. I was extremely excited. Sadly, they didn’t live up to their expectations. The portion was small, and the sliders were drier than I was expecting. The meal was decent and not the worst I’ve had lately, but definitely not what I was expecting. The french fries tasted great, and I loved the thin shoestring fries. The bread and fries were my favorite part, but I could have used 2.

The Back Door Bakery and Cafe Service: A

Everyone in the restaurant was friendly, and even for being busy, the food came out fast. I can tell why people rave about them! I was impressed.

Cost: $$

For the coffee and sliders, it was $13. They had several salad options that were above $20, and most of their items were above $14.

Overall Thoughts/Would I come back to The Back Door Bakery & Cafe?

I want to come back to but I’ll probably be trying something different. Their cake is calling my name, and I saw several things on the menu that looked good. Or also several things in the case.

Atmosphere: A

Coffee: B

Food: C

Service: A

Price: $10-$25

Overall: B