For cakes so light and airy that you’ll swear they must be calorie-free, head to Angel Maid Bakery. This family-run Japanese bakery creates the most delicious cakes in town. If you’re familiar with Asian pastries, you’ll know that these creations are not as sweet as their Western counterparts and won’t sit in your stomach like a brick.

The most popular cake is probably their Strawberry Shortcake and understandably so. I had grown up eating similar cakes from Chinese bakeries, which were also less sweet but were more leaden in execution and had subpar fruit. Here, each cake layer is accompanied by a whipped cream layer that is simply heavenly.

Since strawberry season is over, I recently ordered a chocolate mousse cake, which from a typical bakery would be so rich and dense that you would need a glass of milk after a couple of bites. Angel Maid’s cake is magically fluffy and delicious, impossible to resist.

Don’t leave without picking up some cream puffs, and by some I mean more than one. The first time I bought one to sample and then drove away, greedily biting into it at a red light. I instantly regretted only buying one and had to fight the temptation to turn the car around to get more.That same magic they use on their cakes is in play with their cream puffs as well.

Unfortunately, Angel Maid stopped doing elaborate custom cakes, but it’s a small price to pay considering how amazing  these cakes are. The bakery has a very small parking lot, so if you have a big car, find street parking.  No matter what you buy, make sure to pick up some cream puffs too. You can thank me later.

Location –4538 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles 90066
Website – No website but they do have a Facebook page.
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan/Gluten-Free Options – Not that I know of.