Azuki Bakery

Azuki Bakery is a Japanese bakery in Wolli Creek, New South Wales, serving Japanese-European baked goods alongside coffee and tea. Locals will tell you the shelves cover plenty of sweet and savoury ground, from pastries and breads to cakes, and that it all tastes like it came out of the oven that morning.

The savoury side gets a lot of love. The curry pan is the one people rave about, with the beef and butter chicken versions both getting a mention, and the katsu sando has its fans too, especially the pork one with its wasabi kick. We've also heard good things about the wagyu yakiniku cheeseburger for a brunch-style meal, and about the chicken sausage roll, which comes with a spicy yuzu kosho mayo and has won over people who didn't expect much from it. On the sweeter side, the melon pan, daifuku, custard and matcha puffs, and red bean buns come up often.

Drinks are a big part of the visit. The houjicha latte and the almond matcha get praise, though opinion on the matcha is a little split, so it may depend on your taste.

It's a small space with limited seating inside and a few tables out the front, and it gets busy at lunchtime. Takeaway is the main way people use it, though you can dine in too, and we hear they'll reheat your bread or pastry if you do. The staff are regularly described as friendly and welcoming, which makes the quick-stop-for-a-coffee habit an easy one to form.

A couple of practical notes. One local mentioned that they don't use halal ingredients. The entrance is wheelchair accessible, there's free street parking nearby, and they take cards and mobile payments. It's worth confirming the opening times, as the bakery closes one day a week.

If you're after a Japanese-style bakery in Wolli Creek for a curry pan, a pastry or a relaxed brunch, this is a spot people return to.