Wa-Iro Review: How Are the Viral Japanese Salt Breads in Old Town Pasadena?

You can smell Wa-Iro from a block away, the scent beguiling enough to turn passersby into vintage cartoons floating over to its window. This Japanese bakery and cafe in the heart of Old Town Pasadena is riding on the salt bread trend with fresh baked treats made using flour imported from Hokkaido and matcha powder from Kyoto. Butter-filled salt bread remains the specialty here and you plan your visit around it — but sugary sweets, like a purin-inspired bread and a crusty French toast, should find their way into your pastry box, too. And no cafe experience is whole without drinks; find a selection of espresso beverages and frothy matcha lattes to pair with the baked goods.

The matcha drinks at Wa-Iro tend to venture into dessert territory — especially the strawberry matcha latte and the banana creme matcha latte — but nevertheless, beneath fluffy cream tops, you’ll get deep green, quality matcha flavor from Kyoto in both. Coffee enthusiasts can select a black sesame latte for something on the sweet side or dive into espresso or cold brew.

Although Wa-Iro sells a selection of salt bread sandwiches that look wildly appealing, like a yakisoba panini and a sausage bun, I’ve found its sandwiches to be dry and overbaked in my multiple visits. Skip those and stick with the classic salt bread and sweets.