A James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery went to a little Oregon shop that once had zero indoor seating. That alone made me sit up. People happily ate award-winning croissants on the sidewalk.
The story gets better. The owners began with wholesale chocolate in Las Vegas. Their handmade bonbons still sit right beside the pastries, and that pairing feels like a dare.
Then the shop closed its first space after outgrowing a tiny kitchen. Customers, real estate agents, and even politicians helped hunt for a new home. I love that a bakery inspired that kind of teamwork.
Now the new space has nearly double the kitchen and small custom oak tables. So the treats can stay longer than a sidewalk bite. Still, with cakes, tarts, and chocolates this pretty, can you really leave without a box for later?
An Award-Winning Bakery Gets A Bigger Second Act
Plenty of bakeries hope for a national award. JinJu Patisserie actually took home the 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery.
That win came after a finalist nod in 2024. So the honor wasn’t a fluke or a lucky bounce.
The bakery first opened on April 8, 2019, in North Portland. By that same year, The Oregonian already named its croissants among the best in the city.
Willamette Week also tipped its hat in 2020. The paper listed JinJu among things that didn’t suck that year, which is high praise for 2020.
Owners Jin Caldwell and Kyurim Q Lee built all of this from a small storefront. Eventually, the little kitchen simply couldn’t keep up with demand.
The original shop closed on December 28, 2025. An expiring lease and a cramped kitchen pushed the team to look for something larger.
Now the owners call the new home JinJu Patisserie 2.0. It still aims to stay boutique and flexible, just with more elbow room.
I like that the growth didn’t erase the personal feel. The goal stays the same, which is careful craft served with warmth and community spirit.
Croissants Big Enough To Need Their Own Parking Spot
One writer called these stellar croissants the size of a Buick. That’s a funny line, but it also sets expectations pretty high.
The croissants bake to a dark, golden finish. Some sources even say they rival the best croissants in France.
Bold claim, right? Yet the James Beard win suggests the hype has real butter behind it.
Signature styles include almond, chocolate, and ham-and-cheese versions. Each one gives you a different reason to show up early.
The plain butter croissant is a smart starting point. It lets you judge the layers and color without any distractions.
After that, the chocolate croissant feels like a natural next step. Then the almond version makes things richer and a little fancier.
Savory fans get their turn too. The ham-and-cheese croissant gives breakfast a heartier angle for anyone skipping sugar.
Note: At the soft opening, croissants may not be available initially due to equipment issues; check ahead if croissants are your priority.
The bakery opens at 8 AM on its open days. Getting there near opening gives you the best shot at the full lineup.
Buying an extra for tomorrow? Honestly, that sounds like excellent planning.
The Weekend Crown Jewel Has A Chocolate Secret Inside
Saturdays and Sundays bring a pastry with royal energy. The gianduja kouign amann is a weekend-only treat at JinJu Patisserie.
Picture the shape first, because it really matters here. It’s crown-shaped and crusted with caramelized sugar.
Inside sits a core of hazelnut-kissed chocolate cream. Gianduja is the classic pairing of chocolate and hazelnut, so the name tells you a lot.
Many fans of the bakery call this pastry its crown jewel. Given the crown shape, that nickname practically wrote itself.
Kouign amann comes from Brittany in France. The name roughly means butter cake in the Breton language, which feels very fitting.
JinJu’s version shows off the bakery’s French training and chocolate background in one bite. Two specialties meet in a single pastry.
Timing is everything with a weekend-only item. If your schedule only allows weekdays, you’ll have to plan a special trip.
Should you bring one home? That depends on your willpower more than anything else.
A caramelized crust tastes best fresh, so eating one on the spot is wise. Grabbing a second for a lucky friend might win you serious points.
Chocolate Is Where This Story Really Began
Long before Portland lines formed, Jin Caldwell and Kyurim Lee ran a wholesale chocolate business in Las Vegas. That background still shapes the bakery today.
JinJu is known for luxurious handmade chocolates and bonbons. They sit right alongside the pastries, so you don’t have to choose a lane.
Bonbons make a great case for taking dessert home. They’re small, pretty, and travel far better than a flaky croissant.
A box of chocolates also works beautifully as a gift. Showing up to a dinner party with these beats a grocery store bouquet.
The menu has also mentioned a Dubai chocolate bar. That style became a viral sensation, so it’s fun seeing a pro chocolatier take a swing.
Hot chocolate rounds out the cocoa options. On a gray Oregon morning, that sounds like a very good idea.
My advice is simple. Eat a pastry at the shop, then pick up chocolates for later.
That way, the visit lasts a few extra days. Your future self will appreciate the thoughtful planning, even if a few pieces vanish on the drive home.
Cakes And Tarts Practically Beg For A To-Go Box
Here’s where the title really earns its keep. The cake and tart lineup at JinJu Patisserie looks made for carrying home carefully.
Options have included carrot cake, chocolate mousse cakes, and coffee cake. Fancy cakes also appear for anyone celebrating something special.
Tarts bring even more variety to the case. Fruit tarts, cinnamon apple tarts, and pumpkin pie tarts have all shown up.
Seasonal specials keep things moving throughout the year. Cheesecake and pumpkin pie have joined the menu when the timing fits.
Savory tarts deserve a mention too. They give lunch a buttery upgrade for anyone who already finished their sweet quota.
So why take these home? A delicate tart deserves a plate, a fork, and your full attention.
Sidewalk snacking works great for a croissant. A layered mousse cake, though, feels much happier at a kitchen table.
A smart move is choosing one pastry to eat now and one dessert for later. That gives you breakfast and an after-dinner treat from one stop.
Just drive gently on the way home. Nobody wants a fruit tart doing somersaults in the back seat.
Brown-kies, Morning Buns, And Other Sweet Surprises
Brownie or cookie? At this bakery, you don’t really have to pick.
The brown-kie is a cross between a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie. It’s the kind of treat that settles debates instead of starting them.
Morning buns and danishes also share space in the pastry lineup. They show off more of the bakery’s laminated dough skills.
Laminated dough means butter and dough get folded together again and again. That careful folding creates all those thin, flaky layers.
Delicate macarons add color to the mix. They’re a tidy option for anyone wanting something sweet without committing to a full slice of cake.
Cookies also make excellent take-home picks. Macarons and brown-kies survive the trip better than most fragile pastries.
I believe this variety is a quiet strength of the place. Families with different tastes can all leave happy.
One person wants chocolate, while another wants fruit. Someone else wants something buttery and simple, and the case can handle all of them.
Make a little sampler box for home. Then everyone gets to vote on a favorite, which sounds like a delicious family meeting.
Korean And French Ideas Meet On One Pastry Plate
French technique forms the backbone of this kitchen. Korean sensibilities add a personal twist that helps the bakery stand apart.
JinJu Patisserie specializes in artisanal French baking. Croissants, kouign amann, and tarts all point straight back to that tradition.
The Korean influence shows up in the overall approach and point of view. It’s part of what makes the bakery feel distinct in a city full of pastry shops.
Owners Jin Caldwell and Kyurim Q Lee bring that blend together. Their path from Las Vegas chocolate to Portland pastry gives the whole menu extra depth.
Jin Caldwell also designed the new space. So the person shaping the room is deeply tied to the craft happening inside it.
That kind of connection matters more than people think. A bakery feels more personal when the owners are involved in the details.
The team aims for a warm, approachable atmosphere rooted in craft and community. Fancy pastry doesn’t have to feel stiff.
I like that balance a lot. You get serious technique without the snooty vibe, which makes the whole visit more fun from start to finish.
Oak Tables And A Double-Size Kitchen Change Everything
The old shop had no indoor seating at all. That made sidewalks the unofficial dining room for years.
The new home sits at 3494 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227. It’s still on the same street, just down the road from the original 4063 N Williams Ave spot.
Inside, the space is described as chic. Small custom oak tables now give guests a place to pause.
Seating still looks limited, so don’t expect a huge café. Taking extras home remains a very practical idea.
The biggest upgrade happens behind the counter. The kitchen is nearly double the size of the old one.
More room means more production and new bakers on the team. The bakery aims to cut wait times and keep popular items available longer.
That’s great news for anyone who missed out on croissants before. Fewer sellouts would be a welcome change.
Finding this space took real community effort. Customers, real estate agents, and politicians all helped the owners land here.
Honestly, that’s a sweet backstory. Portland clearly wanted this Oregon bakery to stay, and now it has room to grow.
Plan Smart So You Leave With Breakfast And Dessert
Timing can make or break a bakery run. JinJu Patisserie keeps fairly short hours, so a little planning helps.
The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM. It stays closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The new location began with a soft opening on October 21, 2026. Early days at any new spot can bring changes, so check hours before heading out.
Lines have long been part of the JinJu story. The bigger kitchen should help, but patience still seems wise.
Arriving near opening gives you the widest selection. Croissants especially tend to go quickly.
Here’s my game plan for a great visit. Pick one pastry to enjoy right away, then build a box for home.
Chocolates and cookies travel well. A cake slice or tart makes a lovely after-dinner reward.
Weekend visitors should add the gianduja kouign amann to the list. It only appears on Saturdays and Sundays.
North Williams Avenue makes a fun Portland stop too. Few Oregon outings end better than with a pastry box riding shotgun beside you.
