Japan Food Series: Bakery Finds in Sapporo — Bostonbake Review

Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa

Introduction

This post is part of my Japan Food Series, which is a little different from my usual Ottawa restaurant reviews. Instead of focusing on sit-down meals, I wanted to share some of the everyday foods I came across that made the experience of travelling through Japan even more fun.

Bostonbake is a casual, neighbourhood-style bakery chain you’ll see around Sapporo and other parts of Hokkaido. It’s not a boutique patisserie or a trendy café-style bakery. Instead, it feels practical, approachable, and very Japanese in how it balances variety with affordability. The shelves are packed with everything from sweet pastries and buns to savoury sandwiches and curry breads, clearly aimed at locals grabbing breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon snack.

Walking into Bostonbake, the selection can almost feel overwhelming. There’s a lot to choose from, and not everything is meant to be flashy or artisanal. Some items are clearly designed to be filling and convenient rather than refined. That made it a good fit for this Japan Food Series, since it represents another side of everyday food culture that’s very different from what I usually review in Ottawa.

Over multiple visits, I tried a wide range of items to get a good sense of what Bostonbake does well and where it falls short. As expected with a bakery offering this much variety, the results were mixed.

Sugar Glazed Donut

This was a very simple donut. The glaze was light and not overly sweet, which I appreciated. The donut itself was tender, but I was hoping for something a bit softer and fresher. It wasn’t bad, just slightly underwhelming for such a basic item.

Buy again? No.

Melon Pan

The flavour here was great — lightly sweet with that familiar melon pan taste. However, the texture didn’t fully deliver. I was hoping for a crispier outer crust to contrast with the soft interior. While enjoyable, it didn’t quite reach the level of a really good melon pan.

Buy again? No.

Croissant (French Style)

This was one of the weaker items I tried. The interior felt dry, and the exterior lacked the crisp, flaky structure I expect from a good croissant. Overall, it didn’t resemble a strong French-style croissant, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Buy again? No.

Mini Croissant

Better than the full-size croissant, mainly because it was softer inside. Still, it wasn’t particularly memorable. It worked as a small snack, but there was nothing that really stood out.

Buy again? Maybe.

Mini Chocolate Croissant

A decent chocolate croissant. The croissant base itself wasn’t outstanding, but the chocolate flavour was pleasant and balanced. It met expectations without exceeding them.

Buy again? Yes.

Almond Chocolate Mini

This one missed the mark. I didn’t enjoy the texture of the almonds mixed into the bun, and the chocolate flavour was extremely subtle. Overall, nothing about this worked for me.

Buy again? No.

Croissant Danish Polonaise

This was one of the highlights. The pastry had a layered structure with nice crisp folds, and the glaze on top added sweetness without being overpowering. The texture was addictive — crisp on the outside with a satisfying bite throughout. Easily one of the better pastries I tried here.

Buy again? Yes.

Coconut Cream Bread

This was one of the highlights. The pastry had a layered structure with nice crisp folds, and the glaze on top added sweetness without being overpowering. The texture was addictive — crisp on the outside with a satisfying bite throughout. Easily one of the better pastries I tried here.

Buy again? Yes.

Butter Roll

As straightforward as it gets. A soft roll with a mild buttery flavour. Not exciting, but not bad either. It did exactly what it was supposed to do.

Buy again? No.

Melon Croissant

This felt like an experiment that didn’t fully come together. It combines melon pan flavour with croissant texture, but the result was a bit strange. I much prefer traditional melon pan over this hybrid version.

Buy again? No.

Soft Rice Bread

This one did exactly what I wanted. Extremely soft, pillowy, and simple. No strong flavours, just a well-made, comforting bun. Sometimes simplicity wins, and this was a good example of that.

Buy again? Yes.

Soft Bread with Chocolate

Similar to the rice bread, but with a light chocolate element. The flavour wasn’t intense, which I actually preferred. The texture was soft and consistent, making it an easy, pleasant snack.

Buy again? Yes.

Chicken Curry Bun

The outside of the bun was nicely fried and crispy, which was the best part. Unfortunately, the curry chicken filling didn’t impress. It was filling, but the flavour lacked depth. Not something I’d order again.

Buy again? No.

Sandwich (Cheese, Ham, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Mayo)

This was excellent. The white bread had a soft, chewy texture, and every ingredient tasted fresh. The balance between the ham, cheese, vegetables, and mayo worked really well. Easily one of the best items from Bostonbake. Didn’t expect to like a simple sandwich this much.

Buy again? Yes.

Pork Cutlet Sandwich

Just okay. The pork cutlet wasn’t crispy, and the flavour was quite mild. Compared to how good katsu sandwiches can be in Japan, this one didn’t stand out.

Buy again? No.

Final Thoughts

Bostonbake feels like a bakery designed for volume and convenience rather than specialization. With such a wide menu, it’s not surprising that some items shine while others fall flat. The strengths here were clearly in the softer breads, simple pastries, and basic sandwiches. The sandwich with ham and cheese, the soft rice bread, and the croissant Danish Polonaise were all solid choices.

On the other hand, the croissants and some of the filled or flavoured breads didn’t quite meet expectations. Texture issues showed up more often than flavour problems, which suggests freshness and execution vary by item.

As part of my Japan Food Series, Bostonbake was still worth exploring. It represents another slice of everyday food culture in Sapporo — a bakery locals can rely on for quick, filling options. While it’s not a destination bakery, knowing what to order makes all the difference.