Masarap Bakery

Masarap Bakery is a Filipino takeaway bakery in Maidstone, Victoria, and the name is a fair promise: "masarap" means delicious. It's the kind of place people drop into for the Filipino breads they grew up with, and for Melbourne locals craving that taste of home, it gets mentioned often.

Pandesal is the headline act. We hear it described as some of the best around, and the tip passed along is to aim for mid-afternoon, when it tends to come out hot. The soft ube pandesal is mentioned too. Beyond that, the shelves carry ensaymada, siopao, hopia, puto and spanish bread, plus the likes of leche flan, sapin-sapin and pichi-pichi. One local called the ensaymada "incredibly soft, fluffy" and said it was the reason they'd be back. Another found the spanish bread a touch light on filling, so it's the one item opinions differ on.

Value is a big part of the appeal. People talk about a pack of pandesal stretching across a whole week of breakfasts, and about leaving with a good haul of mixed breads and buns without spending much. It's a small shop and a busy one, with a steady stream of customers coming and going, so expect to queue a little at peak times.

Service is where locals are a little split. Some describe caring, helpful staff, while others have found the counter hurried and would like a warmer welcome. We've also heard prices can be hard to spot on the shelves, so it's worth asking if you're unsure. If you pay by card, check how the bakery handles it before you order.

You can take your bread away or pick it up in store. There's free street parking and a car park, including wheelchair-accessible parking, and they take cards and mobile payments. They post long daily hours, but check before you head in. If you're after fresh pandesal in Maidstone, this is a sensible first stop.