Shilla Bakery & Cafe - Annandale

I came here with my daughter to try Tanghulu. Shilla Bakery did NOT disappoint. We loved the Tanghulu, strawberry short cake, and boba smoothie.

This review is for the chain as a whole. There are many locations and obviously has an audience who have a different idea of what makes a good bakery. Looks great when walking in and the hours are ideal, and grab and go is convenient. Went there to check out birthday cake options and walked out with 3 different slices to try at home. Bland butter cream (almost waxy), moist but odd-textured and bland cake. Seems like they add marshmallow to keep moist but it does not add to the flavor. Overall would say it’s gimmicky, and the bakery uses additives that are functional for shelf-life purposes only. No point in returning with so many better options within the same price point.

A Beautiful Bakery. Lots of wonderful options for all appetites. My kids really enjoyed their macaroons. Their coconut pound cake is good. Love that they pack your selections with care. Everything in tact when we got home🙂 The bakery is immaculate clean. Staff is friendly and very nice. Bakery is a little on the pricey side. Would love to come back and try their coffee and tea. We will definitely be back.

Vacationers on the way to get on the freeway to head home and happened to drive by the store. We turned around and gave it a try. And we were so glad we did. The almond bread pudding was recommended by the helpful staff, and it was our favorite. The best pastry we had in a very long time. Paired it with a cup of coffee for a quick but delicious breakfast. When we come back to vacay in the area, we'll definitely make this a must stop.

I ordered a tiramisu hot cocoa, but unfortunately I was only given a regular hot cocoa and it was still sold to me as a tiramisu drink. The hot cocoa itself was fine, but it was not what was advertised, especially considering the higher price. I called to clarify the issue, but the lady who answered was very brief and dismissive. She simply said, "oh, it’s fine, thank you, bye," without really listening. I want to mention that the tiramisu they sell is actually very good, which is why this experience was disappointing. However, it is not right to sell a regular hot cocoa as a tiramisu hot cocoa. In other places, such as Shilla-Vienna, a true tiramisu-style hot cocoa is served, clearly distinguishing it from a regular hot cocoa. I hope they can improve product accuracy and customer service, as quality and honesty truly make a difference.

Update 2025: still the best bakery around DMV. Added new photos so people can start drooling… 🤣 I’ve been coming here for almost 25 years!!! Excellent place to get tasty breads. They always seemed to be crowded all day long, but that's actually a good thing. Some breads that I like actually get sold out by the afternoon, so I used to go in the morning just in case.

They have some delicious cakes and some sweet treats. I think they are really good in their bakery treats, snacks. We love the fact that they had samples to taste and that helped us chose treats that we hadn't planned to buy. Staff is great and helpful. They answer all questions. There were treats that I saw that are very unique and some I have seen only abroad.