Even though London is no longer my home, I regularly make the trip up to the capital on free weekends to explore exciting events or the latest must-visit food spots – and that's precisely what I did a few weeks back. My aim for the day was to finally sample some Japanese soufflé pancakes, though things took an unexpected turn when I accidentally stumbled upon a viral bakery along the way.
As mentioned, I was on the hunt for soufflé pancakes, so I made my way to the well-known Fuwa Fuwa in Soho. Having heard the café frequently draws lengthy queues, I joined what I assumed was the right line as I turned the corner. As I waited, a member of staff approached and asked whether I'd be happy with a takeaway, as that queue was considerably shorter. I agreed, and was swiftly guided inside, only to find myself puzzled by the sight of bakery goods rather than pancakes.
Realising I was in completely the wrong establishment, I headed off to try Fuwa Fuwa. But having noticed the crowds outside the place I'd inadvertently wandered into, I decided to look up Onsu and find out what all the fuss was about.
What is Onsu?
Onsu is a hugely popular Asian-inspired bakery and patisserie that launched on Soho's Dean Street in January 2026. The concept was brought to life by chef Michael Kwan, the former executive pastry chef at The Dorchester, who also boasts experience at prestigious culinary institutions including Ladurée, Hakkasan, and the three-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck. The bakery prides itself on baking throughout the day to guarantee its products remain consistently fresh, marrying traditional French patisserie techniques with classic East Asian flavours.
Celebrated for its light textures and delicate, understated sweetness, the bakery currently boasts an impressive range of tempting products. These include the Wagyu Beef Curry Bun, widely regarded as the star savoury offering, alongside its Salted Egg Yolk Mille-Feuille (flaky puff pastry stacked with rich, savoury-sweet salted egg yolk cream) and Garlic Shio Pan (Japanese-style salted bread roll infused with rich garlic). On the sweeter side, highlights include the Popcorn and Miso Caramel Paris-Brest (a French classic pastry filled with deeply complex, nutty, and salty-sweet elements) and Purple Yam (Ube) Bun (a pillowy soft bun reminiscent of a Chinese custard bun, filled with an earthy, lightly sweetened purple yam paste).
The Viral -86°C Iced Drinks
Beyond its baked goods, Onsu went viral across social media for its -86°C iced drinks. Drawing inspiration from a coffee trend that originated in Shanghai, hot espresso, matcha, or ube lattes are poured directly into glasses flash-frozen to -86°C. This technique instantly transforms the outer layer of the drink into a smooth, ice cream-like slushy consistency without watering down the original flavour with ordinary ice cubes.
Having already filled up on pancakes beforehand, I decided against sitting down inside the bakery and instead rejoined the takeaway queue. The wait wasn't long and I was swiftly ushered inside, where a staff member looked at me expectantly. Given that I hadn't seen a menu and was faced with an abundance of tempting options, I asked for a moment to decide.
The Taste Test
Being a devoted coffee lover, I was keen to try the -86°C latte, but sadly discovered I couldn't, as it's only served in a glass and therefore unavailable as a takeaway option. Instead, I turned my attention to food and opted for savoury items, having already enjoyed the pancakes. I chose the Wagyu Beef Curry Bun (£5.20) and, given my obsession with all things garlic, simply had to try the Garlic Shio Pan (£3.20).
The bun is a sophisticated twist on the classic Japanese Kare Pan (curry bread), and food lovers and critics alike across social media have unanimously awarded it 10/10, praising its outstanding texture and premium ingredients. I have to say, I wholeheartedly agree — it really is that impressive. The outer shell is crafted from soft milk bread, coated in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried to a gorgeous golden colour. It's wonderfully crispy, holding its shape brilliantly without feeling greasy, heavy, or overly doughy. Inside lies a rich, gently spiced curry packed with premium wagyu beef mince. The meat is slow-cooked to a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, delivering a beautifully balanced combination of warming, savoury flavours with a subtle hint of sweetness, characteristic of traditional Japanese curry.
The Garlic Shio Pan was equally outstanding. During the baking process, the butter rolled inside seeps onto the tray, essentially deep-frying the base of the bun, resulting in an ultra-crispy, intensely buttery crust. The bread itself, by contrast, is wonderfully soft, pillowy and springy compared to the lightly crisp exterior. The garlic flavour is seamlessly woven throughout, delivering a rich and aromatic fragrance, beautifully balanced by a scattering of sea salt crystals on top.
Food bloggers across TikTok and Instagram regularly hail it as the 'ultimate savoury comfort snack', likening it to a more refined, lighter and more delicate take on a garlic dough ball — and let's face it, you can never go wrong with one of those, particularly when the flavours are this good.
Final Verdict
Although I stumbled across the bakery entirely by chance, I came away genuinely impressed by everything it had to offer, and it's easy to see why it has generated such enormous excitement. Given all the social media buzz surrounding it, I was also pleasantly surprised to find the prices remain quite reasonable. It's safe to say that this sought-after bakery is absolutely not a case of style over substance.
