Just when I thought I’ve seen the wackiest croissant creations…. I’m slapped with something totally new:
An Onigiri Croissant.
AKA the “cronigiri,” “oniwassant” and “onoissant.” (None of these portmanteaus really roll off the tongue, if you ask me.)
This sucker blends the classic French pastry with flavors of Japan, making for a totally unique creation that dispels all those “nothing is new anymore…” cynics. Cafe W Bakery/Cafe in Flushing, Queens is the only New York City bakery that’s making these viral croissant creations. So of course we had to pay a visit to see if it’s worth the hype, or if we should just leave the pastry alone.
The Onigiri Croissant’s Story.
The onigiri croissant’s origin story starts in Singapore at La Levain bakery. It hit the menu in 2023 with four fillings: Lao Gan Ma chili crisp, scallions with sour cream, Sicilian pistachio, and Taiwanese taro. People went sauvage for these French-Asian creations.
More people lined up, more flavors hit the menu, and more social media posts flooded TikTok and Instagram. It didn’t take long for the onigiri croissant to go totally viral. New York City bakeries know that people have no qualm lining up for a #viral treat that could get them millions of views (and hopefully taste good.) It didn’t take long for the onigiri croissant to make it’s way to the Big Apple.
Getting to the only Onigiri croissant in NYC….
The only onigiri croissant in NYC is located at Cafe W Bakery/Dessert in Flushing, Queens. Flushing is the bigger, arguably better, Chinatown of NYC. (Get a brief history and the low down on a Flushing Food Crawl HERE.) But it ain’t close. The journey from the Upper East Side involved taking the Q to the F to the 7 to a bus. Many New Yorkers have a, “If there’s more than 1 transfer… I’m not going!” motto. We endured the 4 transfer, 1 hr+ journey for the sake of food. Not all heroes wear capes, after all.
But was the journey worth it?
The Experience at Cafe W
Cafe W is a sprawling two story cafe with high ceilings and no shortage of tables. It’s designed for extended stays, and is perfect for hanging out with friends or working remotely. The selection of Asian-inspired baked goods, desserts, and coffees is impressive. Options range from corn cheese croissants to red bean walnut bread to basque cheesecake. Plus, the prices are reasonable, with most options well under $6.
It’s designed like a classic Asian bakery. You get a tray and tongs. Load up your tray. Then head to the register to pay. Easy!
There were many tempting treats whispering my name, but I only had eyes for one thing: the onigiri croissants.
Onigiri Croissant #1: Mayo and Pollock Roe
We started with the more traditional onigiri croissant: mayo and pollock roe. The cut open revealed a gorgeous orange filling tucked into the tight pastry layers. Bite one had my taste buds spinning. It was a bit salty and a bit sweet with a unique textural blend of crispy, flakey, and creamy.
One bite I loved it. The next bite I didn’t. Between each chew I exclaimed, “This is wild!!!!! The filling was fantastic, but something about the texture of the croissant was amiss. In order to get the triangle shape, the dough needs to be thicker and tighter. Meaning less airy, buttery layers and flakiness. Maybe the texture would be better fresh? Maybe that’s just what it’s suppose to be like? Because this is the only onigiri croissant in NYC, I have nothing to compare it too.
Onigiri Croissant #2: Bacon and Chive Cream Cheese
Cafe W offers an onigiri croissant with a New York spin: the bacon and chive cream cheese. The filling was thick and rich with saltiness from the bacon and freshness from the chives. It almost reminded me of a loaded baked potato…. which I’m not convinced pairs well with a slightly sweet croissant.
To be honest, I still can’t decide if I liked it or not. Jeremy decidedly liked it. You can see both our opinions on the Youtube video at the bottom of this here post. (And hey… might as well subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)
Cost the Onigiri Croissant
Each onigiri croissant is $6.50, which I think it reasonable given the skill and time each one requires.
So, Is the Onigiri Croissant Worth the Hype?
I’m mixed. I loved the experience of trying something so totally unique. But I’m not convinced I loved the flavors and textures. This croissant is a tricky one to review because there’s just nothing to compare it to. Check out the video below for the full scoop!
