Pain au Chocolat Near Me
A good pain au chocolat is all about contrast. The outside shatters into buttery flakes the moment you bite in. Inside, soft honeycomb layers give way to two dark bars of chocolate that have just started to melt. Pair it with a coffee, and it’s one of the best ways to start a morning.
The trouble is that not every bakery gets it right. Some versions are bready, some are greasy, and some skimp on the chocolate. So when you search for pain au chocolat near me, you want more than a list of coffee shops with a pastry case.
This guide covers what makes a great pain au chocolat, where to find standout versions in major US cities, and how to judge one before you buy a dozen.
What Is Pain au Chocolat?
Pain au chocolat is a French viennoiserie made from the same laminated dough as a croissant. Bakers fold butter into yeasted dough again and again to create dozens of thin layers. The dough is cut into rectangles, rolled around one or two sticks of dark chocolate, proofed, and baked until golden.
In parts of southwest France, people call it a “chocolatine,” and the name debate is a running joke in the country. In the US, many bakeries simply call it a chocolate croissant, so try both names when you search for pain au chocolat near me. A true pain au chocolat is rectangular rather than crescent shaped.
Pain au Chocolat vs. Other Pastries
| Pastry | Dough | Shape | Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain au chocolat | Laminated croissant dough | Rectangle | Buttery with dark chocolate |
| Croissant | Laminated croissant dough | Crescent | Pure butter |
| Almond croissant | Day old croissant, filled and rebaked | Crescent | Sweet almond frangipane |
| Kouign amann | Laminated dough with sugar | Round, caramelized | Sweet, salty, crunchy |
| Chocolate twist | Croissant or puff dough | Twisted strip | Light chocolate filling |
If you love caramelized pastry, searching for kouign amann near me is worth it too. This Breton pastry from Brittany layers sugar into the dough so it caramelizes in the oven, creating a crisp, glossy shell.
Where to Find Great Pain au Chocolat
If you’re searching for pain au chocolat near me in a major city, start here. These bakeries stood out for their pain au chocolat or chocolate croissants based on what customers say. Hours and menus change, and popular pastries often sell out by late morning, so go early.
San Francisco
Arsicault Bakery (397 Arguello Blvd) Often called the best croissant in San Francisco. Customers say the chocolate croissant lives up to the hype, flaky and buttery outside with a soft interior.
Juniper (1401 Polk St) A newer favorite where customers praise insanely flaky croissants. Try the classic pain au chocolat or the unique banana chocolate croissant.
b. patisserie (2821 California St) Famous for its kouign amann, which many visitors call the best they’ve had. If you’re hunting for kouign amann near me in the Bay Area, start here.
Tartine Bakery (600 Guerrero St) A legendary Mission District bakery whose chocolate croissant is crisp outside and flaky inside. Grab one before heading to Dolores Park.
Los Angeles Area
Petitgrain Boulangerie, Santa Monica (1209 Wilshire Blvd) Customers rave about a crunchy, flaky pain au chocolat that’s nearly the size of your head.
Des Croissants Paris, Culver City (8539 Washington Blvd) A small French bakery where customers call the pain au chocolat one of the best they’ve ever had: soft, buttery, and perfectly flaky.
Lou, The French On The Block, Burbank (4007 W Riverside Dr) A neighborhood French bakery with crispy, buttery croissants and pain au chocolat, plus almond chocolate croissants.
New York City
Supermoon Bakehouse, Lower East Side (120 Rivington St) Known for creative, colorful pastries, with huge chocolate croissants that customers love.
Unregular Bakery, East Village (124 4th Ave) Offers both classic and vegan pastries. Customers say the vegan pain au chocolat has a great texture without the odd feel some vegan butters cause.
Chicago
Bad Butter, Bucktown (1655 W Cortland St) A creative bakery where customers call the fancy chocolate croissant a favorite.
Guillotine Bakery, West Town (1711 W Chicago Ave) Known for pastries like the praline cruffin and kouign amann. Lines can form, so plan ahead.
Seattle
Mirabelle by Orphée, Pioneer Square (616 1st Ave) Customers describe the flakiest pain au chocolat they’ve ever had, with buttery layers and evenly spread chocolate.
Le Panier, Pike Place Market (1902 Pike Pl) A long running French bakery in the market, popular with locals and visitors for classic pain au chocolat.
Austin Area
Baguette et Chocolat, Bee Cave (12101 FM 2244) An authentic French bakery where customers love the almond chocolate croissant and call the kouign amann the best they’ve ever had.
Quick Comparison
| Bakery | City | Standout Item |
|---|---|---|
| Arsicault Bakery | San Francisco | Chocolate croissant |
| Juniper | San Francisco | Pain au chocolat, banana chocolate croissant |
| b. patisserie | San Francisco | Kouign amann |
| Petitgrain Boulangerie | Santa Monica | Oversized pain au chocolat |
| Des Croissants Paris | Culver City | Pain au chocolat |
| Supermoon Bakehouse | New York | Huge chocolate croissants |
| Bad Butter | Chicago | Fancy chocolate croissant |
| Mirabelle by Orphée | Seattle | Flaky pain au chocolat |
| Baguette et Chocolat | Bee Cave, TX | Kouign amann, almond chocolate croissant |
How to Spot a Great Pain au Chocolat
When your pain au chocolat near me search lands you at a bakery, look for these signs:
- Visible layers. You should see distinct, thin layers along the sides.
- Deep golden color. Pale pastries are often underbaked.
- Shattering crust. A good one leaves flakes all over your plate.
- Honeycomb interior. Cut it open, and you should see open, airy pockets, not dense bread.
- Quality chocolate. Two bars of dark chocolate are classic. It should taste rich, not waxy.
- Real butter flavor. It should taste buttery, not greasy or oily.
Tips for Buying Pastries
Once your pain au chocolat near me search pays off, these habits help you get the best one:
- Go early. The best bakeries often sell out of pain au chocolat by mid morning.
- Ask what’s freshest. Staff can tell you which batch just came out of the oven.
- Warm it up. A few minutes in a 350°F oven brings back the crispness of a pastry that’s a few hours old.
- Skip the microwave. It turns laminated dough soft and chewy.
- Try the specials. Many bakeries offer seasonal twists like pistachio, raspberry, or almond chocolate.
How to Find the Best Pastries Near Me
If you’re looking for the best pastries near me in general, not just pain au chocolat, try these strategies:
- Search for “French bakery” or “boulangerie.” These shops specialize in laminated doughs.
- Read reviews for specific items. Search reviews for “pain au chocolat,” “croissant,” or “kouign amann.”
- Check photos. Customer photos show layers, color, and portion size.
- Follow local food accounts. Social media often highlights new bakeries before review sites do.
- Visit farmers markets. Many small bakers sell their best pastries at weekend markets.
The best pastries near me are often at small, independent bakeries rather than chains, so it pays to explore.
More Sweet Treats to Explore
If you have a sweet tooth, there’s more to discover:
- Cookies at home. Try these Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies for nutty, toffee notes, or bake the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe for a classic.
- Gifts and celebrations. Our guide to Chocolate Covered Strawberries Near Me explains how to find a great box.
- Latin American cookies. If you love buttery treats, the Best Alfajores Peruanos Near Me are delicate sandwich cookies filled with manjar blanco.
Making Pain au Chocolat at Home
If your pain au chocolat near me search comes up short, you can try making them at home. Laminated dough takes time, but it’s rewarding.
Homemade versions also let you control the chocolate and butter quality.
Shortcut method: Use store bought puff pastry or frozen croissant dough. Cut it into rectangles, place a stick of dark chocolate at one end, roll it up, brush with egg wash, and bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
From scratch: Make a yeasted dough, chill it, then fold in a block of cold butter several times over a day or two. Roll, cut, fill with chocolate batons, proof until puffy, and bake. It’s a project, but homemade pain au chocolat fresh from the oven is hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
A great pain au chocolat is worth seeking out, and a little research makes every pain au chocolat near me search more rewarding. Look for distinct layers, a deep golden crust, an airy interior, and rich dark chocolate. Start with standout bakeries like Arsicault and Juniper in San Francisco, Petitgrain in Santa Monica, Mirabelle in Seattle, and Bad Butter in Chicago. And the next time you search for pain au chocolat near me, go early, because the best ones disappear fast.
Key Takeaways
- Pain au chocolat is a rectangular French pastry made from laminated croissant dough rolled around bars of dark chocolate.
- It’s called “chocolatine” in parts of France and often “chocolate croissant” in the US.
- Standout bakeries include Arsicault, Juniper, and Tartine in San Francisco, Petitgrain and Des Croissants Paris in the LA area, Supermoon in New York, Bad Butter in Chicago, and Mirabelle by Orphée in Seattle.
- For kouign amann, try b. patisserie in San Francisco, Guillotine Bakery in Chicago, or Baguette et Chocolat near Austin.
- A great pain au chocolat has visible layers, a deep golden color, a honeycomb interior, and quality chocolate.
- Go early, ask what’s freshest, and reheat pastries in the oven rather than the microwave.
- Search for French bakeries and boulangeries, and read reviews for specific pastries to find the best options near you.
