Mabel Suen
Since opening its first St. Louis location in February, Tous Les Jours has served countless flaky pastries and fluffy cakes from its bustling bakery storefront. The French-inspired South Korean franchise, which was founded in 1997, is the first multinational brand of its kind in the area and offers sweet and savory baked goods that fuse classic French pastry with Asian flavors. It adds another option to the ever-changing baking and pastry landscape of the area, which includes well-established independent Asian bakeries including Kim’s Bakery and Foundry Bakery. The selection varies throughout the day as dozens of different items are baked off and stocked in grab-and-go display cases, making it an exciting place to check out across repeat visits.
Whole cakes come in a variety of flavors.
Mabel Suen
While there is no shortage of restaurants in the neighborhood to choose from, the Delmar Loop has not offered much in the way of bakery nor dessert options in recent years, and Tous Les Jours fills that void with modern elegant style. The 35-seat cafe features a gold, pale pink and pastel green color scheme along with white marble countertops.
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The South Korean bakery-cafe has 35 seats.
Mabel Suen
Hong Zheng, the owner of the Pan-Asian Supermarket chain of grocery stores, brought the well-established brand to the area. Pan-Asia Supermarket currently has five locations across the Midwest. The University City location of Tous Les Jours is the first in Missouri, joining 150 stores in the United States and around 1,600 worldwide.
Drinks include an assortment of lattes in flavors including matcha, strawberry and ube.
Mabel Suen
Packaged cookies make it easy to grab and go.
Mabel Suen
“With a deep understanding of consumer preferences and a passion for artisanal food, expanding into the bakery industry was a natural progression,” Zheng says. “The team chose Delmar Boulevard in University City for Tous Les Jours because it’s a vibrant and dynamic area with a diverse community. University City is known for its blend of residential, commercial and cultural spaces, making it the perfect location to introduce a bakery that caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences.”
Since debuting, the cafe has been a popular destination for dessert lovers from all corners of the city and for college students, who can be found on both sides of the counter. The line can get long on a busy day, but thanks to a streamlined team of personable staff, items get packed up quickly for people on the go. A comfortable banquette allows visitors to stay awhile and enjoy their goodies on site.
Breads, cookies, donuts and cakes galore.
Mabel Suen
For maximum efficiency, trays and tongs located at the entrance enable guests to hand-select their own treats. Simply slide open the display case doors to grab freshly baked snacks and sweets, and then make your way to the counter – where the bakery’s signature macarons, cakes and beverages await – to pay.
The hallmark of Tous Les Jours products is its commitment to keeping things on the subtle side of the sweetness scale. Buttery croissants and soft milk bread make up the foundations of many items such as matcha croissants, cream-filled donuts and a best-selling mixed berry pastry topped with fresh fruit and cloud cream – a lightly sweetened whipped cream. The same cream comes on the brand’s signature cloud cakes in flavors such as mango and chocolate.
Seating by the entrance.
Mabel Suen
To drink, choose from coffee, tea, matcha, juices and smoothies. Popular picks include an ube latte and honey lavender macchiato. Savory bites include kimchi croquettes and red bean soboro bread (a soft, sweet Korean streusel bread), and visitors can also look forward to seasonal specials to lend even more variety to the experience.
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Light sponge cake and lightly sweetened whipped cream are hallmarks of the brand’s cakes.
The interior has a pastel pink and green color scheme.
Cakes are available behind the counter.
Goods can be bagged up individually to go or are available to enjoy on site.
Soboro, a soft, sweet Korean streusel bread.
Macarons come individually as well as in gift boxes.
The self-service pastry case.
open in the Delmar Loop.
“We wanted a brand that could help us stand out in the market while offering our customers unique and innovative options to keep them coming back,” Zheng says. “What sets them apart is their ability to continually introduce exciting new flavors and products, keeping the menu fresh and engaging.”
A second St. Louis-area location of Tous Les Jours is coming to Manchester near Pan-Asia Supermarket tentatively in the fall. “Just as Pan-Asia Supermarket has become a staple in the neighborhood, the team envisions Tous Les Jours as a gathering place where locals can enjoy fresh, handcrafted baked goods in a welcoming environment,” Zheng says.
Tous Les Jours is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tous Les Jours, 6681 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 314-926-0799, tljus.com
Dining and Cooking