Bonchaz Bakery Café

Delicious sandwiches! Definitely recommend to others in the area. Lots of seating and free WiFi. If you’re a student with a valid student ID they offer a 10% discount, but it excludes some things. I can’t recall what it was off the top of my head.
After finishing all the food from Bön Chaz, I think I should write a lengthier review.
The sandwiches are great! I think I’ll stick to the sandwiches, some of the other food I’ve had — for instance their mushroom bacon soup and their ratatouille, or was it their vegan lasagna, (I can’t remember) they loaded it up with pepper. You could taste nothing but the pepper, that kind of takes away from the entire dish itself. It was kind of unbearable for me to eat. I can’t handle my spice either.
My boyfriend loves their smoked salmon wrap, served on a baguette, while I love their Garlic Tuna sandwich.

I’m a little on the fence about this place. Theyre open early enough that you can get lunch before 10 which is something of a comodity in the area. I love the sandwiches. The pulled pork is excellent and the pastrami was also really good. Dont bother ordering the vegan as they pretty much just shove some stuff in the sandwich and call it a day. The tomatoes are sliced very very thick and you get a pinch of sprouts to go with your abundance of tomato. The FOH staff are usually pretty crabby in the morning as well.

The sweets are great, but I usually go for coffee and sometimes it tastes like burned coffee…
I recommend the coconut macaroon and coconut cookie jumbo.
If they be more careful with their coffee it would be 5 stars for sure. Service is quick and welcoming.

This is one of my go-​to lunch places because it’s a short walk from the office, there’s rarely much of a line, service is quick, and it’s a reasonable amount of food for $ 8.
I usually go for the pulled pork or tuna sandwich, and quinoa salad.
Their baked goods have usually gotten a bit of a «meh» response from me. Tasty, but nothing I’ve gotten too excited about getting again.

Mocha tasted different from what I’m used to (Starbucks’ Mocha). It’s not bad, just different… less sweet. I also got their banana walnut bread which is decent.

Quick service, delicious homemade soup and a great combo option. I have tried a few of there different soups which have all been great and there quinoa black bean salad is delicious. I recently had an underwhelming Turkey wrap but I will still be back.

I always get catering from these guys and they are simply awesome. Great tasting food and wow so many healthy options! Very easy to work with and they show a true dedication to customer service and loyalty.

Had Bonchaz cater at a function this morning. Ordered their Bonchaz-​es in original, chocolate truffle, and banana walnut. The delivery came (early!) and the buns were freshly made and still warm. The buns were a hit for everyone. Everybody seemed to have their favourites, but I think chocolate truffle came out ahead.
I’ve been at the café previously, and strongly recommend the pulled pork sandwich and the vegan chili. The pulled pork sandwich probably had the most pulled pork I’ve ever had in a sandwich and it was delicious as heck. I think there were even pieces of bacon on top of that: p~. A bit greasy, but I think it is expected.
Even though I’m quite the meatasaurus, I absolutely love the vegan chili. It’s hard to imagine something so tasty, but meatless! After few sips, it does get a bit spicy for me, but I still continue to stuff myself with the chili while my tongue is on fire!

I’m sitting in this cute little café as I write this. It is my first time coming here.
My husband and I discovered the café we were originally going to go to was closed on sundays, so after googling a bit we found out about this place and walked over.
The atmosphere is really welcoming, they have chalkboards with their menu, nice lighting, comfy chairs for pairs and regular chairs for more.
My husband and I ordered ham and cheese croissants, «vegan mocha cake», for our drinks my husband ordered an iced mocha, and I a London Fog. The croissants were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and perfectly flakey. The cake was amazing, you would never guess it was vegan. As for the drinks my husband’s iced mocha he enjoyed it a lot, it was just the right amount of bitter, and just the right amount of sweet. And my London fog, I don’t have anything to compare it to as this is my first one, but it’s amazing and I want to drink them forever.
The dude with the beard that served us was pretty awesome. I could see us being chummy with him if we were regulars. It’s a shame we live outside of the city and don’t come in too much, because if we did I could see myself spending a lot of time here.
Edit: oh my god as I was leaving I noticed that they had a bookshelf that you can take a book or leave a book, or maybe just read while you are there. That is so cute.

I don’t remember how I came across this place online, but I knew I had to check it out. I went there on Nov 22, 2014.
The moment I walked in, the guy came to the counter. I hadn’t decided what I wanted so I let 2 people order. Even though 2 other people had ordered sandwiches before me, I felt that the service was fast. I wasn’t waiting long. I got it to go because I thought I might not finish it. I scarfed it down pretty quickly.
The Vegan Sandwich — $ 4.98
First things first, I will say that I should have gotten the lunch combo (w/​veggie lasagna for an extra $ 2.50!). I got the vegan sandwich. Great choice! I loved how it was cut. The veggies used were all so fresh. The humus! I like humus, but I never love it. This time, I LOVED it! There was something about it that made it different from the humus I’ve tired before. I’m usually not a fan of sandwiches in baguettes because I find them to be too hard; the baguette used for this was great — I didn’t find it to be hard and at no point did any of the ingredients fall out. I’d SO get this again.
Chocolate Truffle Bön Chaz — $ 1.75
This look and felt more like bread. I liked the softness of the bread with the crunch of the sprinkles (which I normally don’t like). I thought it was okay until I got to the chocolate truffle chunk on the inside. It sucked that it was off to one side so all my previous bites didn’t get any of the chocolaty inside, but at least I had a sizable piece to bite into at the end. I’d for sure get this again!

We ordered catering from Bonchaz for a corporate event. They get a solid 4 star rating from us.
The delivery was on time and there weren’t any issues with that.
The food was all well prepared and packaged great. The buns were tasty and it was clear they were made with quality ingredients. Not a donut, not a muffin, but somewhere in between, the buns have a bit of a crusty exterior and then soft interior. They are filled, except for the plain ones.
I’ll be using Bonchaz again!
Food: 4
Service: 4

Solid 3.5 stars, it’s not as nice as its newer one on Broadway just over a year ago or so.
Easy to miss this as it’s not in the most glamourous side of Hastings but much safer in the daytime.
I do like the banana walnut bun, and can’t beat the value too. Free wifi and quite the nice casual atmosphere here. Great for the SFU students and other English colleges too.
Also offer a fair selection of desserts: nanaimo bars, macarons and eclairs.
Some window action seating.

If you feel like a donut, but don’t really want a donut, then this place is for you!
These buns are filled (accept the plain ones) with goodness, but they are covered in greatness. And by greatness, I mean they are covered in cookie dough! The cookie dough adds a little crunch, to contrast with the soft pillowy interior of the bun. The other thing that is great about this place, is that they are reasonably priced too. If you want a quick snack, or breakfast on the go, those buns will do the trick. If I lived in Vancouver I would totally make use of this place, but alas I do not.

Great lunch option!
Get the «choose 2» combo for under $ 7 including tax.
Can get a good sized bowl of soup and a hefty sandwich, or a plate of pasta.
I would suggest their daily soup, especially when it is bacon cream of mushroom… mmmmmm.
Any of their sandwiches, be it tuna, turkey, or salami are all made to order and on fresh baked bread. And the bread makes the sandwich. It is crunchy but soft and warm on inside. Perfect.
Can’t go wrong here. The only thing is the lack of seating in the bakery, but they is to be expected in a small downtown storefront.

I went there because I had coupon from Vancoupon (Japanese guide book).
Their food was ok.
They are in the area where I will not go by myself…

* A version of a Malaysian Mexican bun *
What the heck is a «Bonchaz?» Melissa C. regularly was reminding me to try it out for myself to see. Ok, Melissa, I’ve tried it!
It basically is really similar to a Malaysian Mexican bun in slightly different form. There is less of a coffee taste to the topping, and less of a chunk of butter in the middle. It was almost a cross between a Mexican bun and a brioche in terms of consistency and flavour.
After ordering they pop the freshly baked bun back into the oven to make sure it is nice and warm for you. The crust was slightly crisped, the butter dripped nicely to make your fingers greasy (yes, that is a good thing), and the inside was slightly fluffy while still being a bit dense. It was a nice bun. Photo:
Thanks, Melissa, for making sure I find good buns!

I’ve come here twice and both times I had the craving for the Smoked Alaskan Salmon Sandwich (~$ 8). The bun is soft and not soggy, the smoked salmon was delcious (I wish there were more), and the tomatoes and lettuce were fresh and crisp. Along with the hearty chicken soup with rice (~$ 2), it completed my lunch very well. Without the Living Social and Groupon deal I had, it’s a little pricey for what is given, but still good.
I’m not a coffee drinker but with all this chatter about the French Press, I had to try it with my friend. There must have been some drugs in there because it got me addicted. The next day, I kept thinking about that smooth coffee taste… drool*
Lastly, a perfect pair with the french press would be there Original Sweet Bun (no I’m not talking about that model’s behind). This dense, soft and sweet piece of bun is what will keep me coming back to Bonchaz. Merci!

I’m upping my rating this week.
Recent improvements at Bön Chaz have made me change my mind about the espresso review I gave below. The quality is now starting to show and I’m enjoying the americano and truffle Bön Chaz combo in the morning. A dangerous addiction.
— — – previous review —
Ok, I’m a sucker for baked goods. These little warm treats are delicious. The chocolate truffle is my favourite. And thanks to a morning promotion they’re running, it comes free with a coffee purchase.
Bonchaz serves personal french press coffee which adds to the charm. it took a while after opening to start fully serving espresso drinks. Unfortunately the espresso is simply not up to par. My double americano came in a 16oz cup at a steep 2.95 before tax, and was bitter and without any crema to speak of. Perhaps the double should be limited to a 12oz cup. I’d like to keep coming back to check on improvement, because this could be a nice one-​two punch. Until then, you’re only halfway there.

Can I say Chinese Pineapple bun mixed with a Donut!!!
Yes yes, the crumbly topping with a hot gooey centre, fresh out of the oven. I don’t think the original has the centred goodness, but if you get banana walnut — you will be satisfied. My first bite into the Bön Chaz oozes out with hot smoke as you see banana filling inside. Don’t wait for it to cool down. I think it will just ruin your experience.
I came back a couple days later and got carrot giner soup for $ 1.95. Thick and full of flavour, I was happily warmed up as it soothed my sore throat.
As I walked by today, they now offer a soup and sandwich combo for $ 6.95. If you want to enjoy your meal in time, there are chairs and tables in a long open space… feels like something else can occupy it as it seems a little bare.
Samples are available — just ask!

Pretty amazing brioches! A cute little space within the financial district, this is a perfect place to grab a brioche, or sit down and enjoy their sandwich+soup, and they also offer French pressed teas and organic teas.
Bonchaz are a hyrbid of a Mexican bun (conchas) and brioches (French buns.)
Brioches are freshly baked’; the sweet aroma fills the place. There are 3 choices of brioches-​plain-​$ 1.25, French truffle, and banana walnut-​$ 1.75 each. I order a French truffle one. (They are soon to have a matcha green tea flavour!!)
The bun is warm, and topped with a soft crispy crust. One bite into this, and OMG, soft slightly sweet texture, and the crust just melts in your mouth. The French truffle filling is just melted, and sooo delicious!
Simply amazing. Perfect for a snack, or a lazy afternoon muching on Bonchaz all day.