Breadtop Chermside

If you're after an Asian-style bakery in Chermside, Breadtop is worth a visit. It's part of a chain with locations across Australia and New Zealand, but the Chermside shop has its own following for the range on the shelves: buns, loaves, pastries and cakes, some of it still warm when the trays come out.

Ask around and a few favourites keep surfacing. The coconut loaf gets praise for being fresh, fluffy and just slightly sweet, and the custard tart, custard-filled buns, croissants and pork floss bun all have their fans. One local, who has been back several times, put it simply: the pastries taste good and the portion sizes and prices feel fair. Value is a common thread, and several people say the prices are reasonable for what you get.

It's a self-serve style of shopping, so you pick your own, take it to the counter and watch the quick bagging process, which one first-timer found surprisingly fun. If you're after something fresh and warm, a tip from a local: some items are even better gently warmed up at home. There are savoury options alongside the sweet, and the shop also takes custom cake orders if you're planning a celebration. Takeaway is the main way people shop here, though you can also coffee up while you're in.

The friendly, patient staff get plenty of credit, with people mentioning helpful answers about the range and a quick in-and-out visit when it's quiet. We've heard a couple of grumbles about service at the counter, particularly later in the day, so it may pay to go earlier if you can.

Access is straightforward, with a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, and you can pay by credit card, debit card or phone. Opening hours run most of the day, seven days a week, but check the hours before you head in, especially if you're coming close to closing.

For a bakery in Chermside with a big selection and fair prices, Breadtop is an easy one to add to your list.