Gemmae Bake Shop

Gemmae Bake Shop: A Taste of the Philippines in the Heart of Long Beach, California

For over three decades, Gemmae Bake Shop has stood as a culinary cornerstone in Long Beach, California, offering residents and visitors a warm, authentic, and delicious taste of Filipino tradition. Established by Prescilla Tolentino, who first opened the bakery in the Philippines in 1979 before bringing the successful concept to California in 1993, this family-owned business has become much more than just a bakery. Led by the dedicated mother-daughter duo, Prescilla and Catherine Tolentino, Gemmae Bake Shop has evolved into a vital, fast-casual Filipino bakery and restaurant, blending classic Filipino baked goods with a menu of hot, traditional dishes. This establishment has cemented its place as a celebrated representation of Filipino food and culture within the Long Beach community, a city with one of the largest Filipino populations in the United States. Its commitment to freshness, consistency, and a friendly, local atmosphere keeps customers coming back year after year.

Gemmae Bake Shop began its journey with a focus on classic Filipino baked goods such as ube loaves, ensaymadas, pandesals, and mamons. Over the years, it has skillfully expanded its offerings to include a full range of prepared Filipino foods, satisfying the demand for both a quick snack (masienda) and hearty family meals. This evolution into a bakery and full-service eatery ensures that whether you’re looking for a fresh, buttery pastry for your morning coffee or a savory, home-style dinner, Gemmae Bake Shop has something to delight your palate. The dedication to quality and traditional recipes, often passed down and refined within the family, is evident in every bite, making it a must-visit destination for anyone in the Southern California area looking for authentic Filipino cuisine. The shop also engages with the local food scene, introducing monthly specials like unique stuffed pandesal variations and collaborating with other local chefs to keep the menu vibrant and exciting. As a long-standing fixture on the West Side, Gemmae Bake Shop embodies a true community spirit, welcoming everyone to share in their love of Filipino food.

Location and Accessibility

Gemmae Bake Shop is conveniently located in the West Long Beach area, making it easily accessible for local residents, workers from nearby businesses like Memorial Hospital, and visitors traveling from across Southern California. The business has proudly operated at the same location for over 30 years, becoming a familiar and trusted fixture in the neighborhood. Its accessibility and consistent hours of operation cater to a variety of schedules, ensuring you can pick up a fresh loaf of Pan de Sal early in the morning or a tray of hot Pancit for an afternoon meal.

The bakery operates seven days a week, with morning hours starting bright and early to serve those looking for a grab-and-go breakfast or snack:

• Monday - Saturday: 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
• Sunday: 6:30 AM - 4:00 PM

The ability to open at 6:30 AM has historically been a significant convenience for the local community, especially for those working early shifts, allowing them to grab freshly baked goods and hot food to start their day.

Services Offered

Gemmae Bake Shop goes well beyond traditional baked goods, offering a comprehensive menu of authentic Filipino cuisine and services designed for individual patrons, families, and catering needs. They are truly a one-stop-shop for Filipino culinary delights.

• Handmade Breads and Rolls: Freshly baked daily, including the popular traditional Filipino bread roll Pan de Sal, Ube Bread rolls, Pan de Coco, and savory options like the Chicken Adobo Roll and the monthly featured stuffed Pandesal.
• Filipino Pastries and Snacks: An extensive selection of treats such as various Ensaymada options (e.g., Cheddar Cheese, Ube & Macapuno), soft and fluffy Mamon sponge cakes, buttery Hopia (with fillings like Mongo or Ube), Bibingka, and the famous Lumpia Shanghai.
• Full Meal Dishes: A selection of classic, prepared Filipino hot foods, including family recipes for Pork Adobo, Beef Mechado, Beefsteak (Bistek), Lechon Kawali, and Kare Kare, which are all available for individual purchase and catering.
• Noodles and Rice: Various Filipino noodle dishes (Pancit) such as Pancit Miki Bihon, Pancit Canton, Pancit Palabok, and steamed Jasmine rice sold by the scoop.
• Cakes and Desserts: Decadent desserts perfect for any occasion, including their signature Ube Tres Leches Cake, Ube Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, Leche Flan, Crema de Fruta, and the original Double Decker Ube Flan Dessert.
• Beverages and Cold Desserts: Refreshing Filipino favorites like Halo-Halo (a mix of sweetened beans, jellies, and ube ice cream over shaved ice) and Mais Con Yelo.
• Catering Services: Many of the prepared food and noodle dishes are available by the tray, making it an excellent choice for parties, gatherings, and special events in the Southern California area.

Features / Highlights

Gemmae Bake Shop’s longevity and reputation are built upon several key features that set it apart in the vibrant Long Beach food scene. These highlights underscore its significance not just as a business, but as a cultural establishment.

• Three Decades of Long Beach Heritage: The business has proudly served the Long Beach community from the same location on the West Side since 1993, representing over 30 years of commitment and tradition in California.
• Authentic Family-Owned Business: Run by the mother-daughter team of Prescilla and Catherine Tolentino, the shop maintains a welcoming, family-run atmosphere, with recipes that have deep personal and cultural roots, including the popular Lumpia Shanghai recipe, which originated with the grandmother.
• Filipino Cuisine and Culture Hub: The shop is recognized as one of the finest representations of Filipino food and culture in the city, contributing to Long Beach's reputation as a prime location for enjoying delicious Filipino dishes.
• Daily Fresh-Made Goods: All their Filipino breads, desserts, and prepared foods are made fresh daily, ensuring the highest quality, consistency in taste, and authentic texture in every item, from a roll of Mamon to a slice of Sans Rival.
• Creative and Seasonal Offerings: The bakery keeps its menu fresh with modern twists and seasonal specials, such as monthly stuffed Pandesal flavors and collaborations with other local culinary talents, always honoring Filipino flavors.
• Dedicated Customer Service: Reviews consistently highlight the kind, happy, and accommodating employees, who contribute to the friendly, well-established local eatery atmosphere.

Contact Information

To visit Gemmae Bake Shop or inquire about their menu and catering services, please use the following contact details:

Address: 1356 W Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90810, USA

Phone: (562) 492-9119

What is Worth Choosing

Selecting a handful of items at Gemmae Bake Shop can be a delightful challenge given the sheer variety and quality of the menu. Whether you are a long-time fan of Filipino cuisine or a curious newcomer, there are several must-try items that encapsulate the very best of what this local California gem has to offer.

For a savory and satisfying experience, the Lumpia Shanghai is universally praised and is one of the shop's most popular items. These crunchy pork egg rolls, filled with a secret blend of pork, vegetables, and spices, are made fresh and cooked to order, offering a perfect, bite-sized appetizer. Pair them with a staple main dish like the Pork Adobo—a family's cherished recipe of pork cooked in a delicate balance of soy sauce and vinegar—or the hearty Beef Mechado, which features tender beef cooked long and slow in a rich tomato sauce. For a quick and savory snack, the Chicken Empanada, with its buttery crust and savory chicken and potato filling, is another customer favorite.

On the sweeter side, anything featuring the vibrant purple yam, Ube, is considered a winner and a signature of the shop. The Ube Tres Leches Cake, a light Ube chiffon cake soaked in a rich trio of milks and topped with Ube whipped cream, is highly recommended. The Ube Cheesecake is another decadent option, offering creamy richness made with real ube in a scratch-made graham cracker crust. For smaller treats, try the Ensaymada, a rich and buttery pastry, particularly the variants stuffed with Ube & Macapuno or the traditional Cheddar Cheese topping, which a customer noted as a must-try. The Bibingka, a traditional Filipino snack cake made with rice, coconut milk, and salted egg, is also a highly recommended authentic choice.

Customers who have frequented the shop for years often point to the consistency of the taste and the warmth of the service as the primary reasons for their loyalty. One visitor, who had been a loyal patron for a decade, noted that the food is a perfect 5/5, with the Lumpia, chocolate cake, empanadas, and Ensaymada all being spectacular choices. Another highlighted the unique and delicious Ube cheese coconut macaroons. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick sweet treat or planning a family feast, choosing any of the popular items at Gemmae Bake Shop guarantees an authentic, high-quality experience that celebrates the very best of Filipino culinary traditions right here in California.

Gemmae Bake Shop

1356 W Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90810, USA