Cherry Beans transitioned its coffee-forward cafés in West Ryde and Lidcombe into bakery cafés in 2024, focusing on Korean-style breads.

Black Sesame Twisted Doughnut ($3.40)

This was a  light and tender doughnut with a crisp exterior and a pronounced black sesame flavour, more intense than the version from Kmall. The toasty, aromatic black sesame developed further with each chew.

Black Sesame Ball (4.9)

This was visually similar to a kwabaeggi, though in a different shape. However, the dough had a mochi-like chewiness, restrained sweetness, and crisp exterior with a gentle savoury undertone, making it highly moreish. Unlike the Chinese-style black sesame ball, which features a black sesame paste filling in a glutinous rice shell, this version was closer in texture and execution to a Hong Kong pontikege.

Salted Butter Bun ($3.90)

The Lidcombe version (top) was not salty enough, with a firmer texture and only slight crunch at the base.

The West Ryde version (bottom) was superior, featuring a golden-brown top, crisp base, and a generous sprinkle of salt—a version worth repurchasing.

Squid Ink Salted Butter Bun ($5.30)

This was even crisper than the regular Salted Butter Bun. Though the butter slab appeared substantial, it was perfectly balanced when eaten, complementing the crisp bread, salt crystals, and the gentle sweet nuttiness from the red bean paste and mixed nuts. A well-executed balance of textures, sweetness, and savouriness, making for a pleasant surprise.

Rice Bean Bun (5.9)

This was denser than expected, with a sweet, savoury, fried flavour reminiscent of bánh tiêu. The generous mix of walnuts, chestnuts, red bean, green bean and injeolmi, offered a layered nutty flavour with complex textures.

Apple Pie ($5.50)

The pastry was incredibly crisp, flaky, and buttery, but the apple filling was lacking in both volume and texture.

Cherry Beans Bakery Café delivered well-executed Korean-style breads, with standout items like the Squid Ink Salted Butter Bun and Black Sesame Twisted Doughnut showcasing balanced flavours and textures. However, consistency varied between locations, and some items, like the Apple Pie and Lidcombe’s Salted Butter Bun, fell short in filling or texture.

Cherry Beans Bakery Cafe is located at Level 1, Lidcombe Shopping Centre, 92 Parramatta Rd, Lidcombe NSW 2141 and 979 Victoria Rd, West Ryde NSW 2114.