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Frogtown · Saint Paul

Baked before the avenuewakes up.

A Chinese bakery and noodle house on University Avenue. Buns, egg tarts and you tiao out of the oven every morning, clear-broth egg noodles and congee from the kitchen, soy milk pressed in house.

575 University Ave W · Open 9–5, closed Thursdays

What to get

If it is your first time, this is the order. The case sells down through the day, so the pastries reward getting there early.

Everything on the menu →
  • Egg Tart

    Flaky shell, glossy set custard, still warm if you get there early.

  • BBQ Pork Bun

    The baked one — burnished top, sweet-savory char siu inside.

  • Pineapple Bun

    No pineapple — a sweet crackled sugar-crust top over soft milk bread.

  • Hot Dog Flower

    Sausage petals opened out on enriched dough, sesame across the top.

  • Taro Twist

    Earthy, faintly sweet taro braided through a pastry twist.

  • Roast Duck Egg Noodles

    Tender roast duck over the noodles.

    $12.99

  • Chicken Congee

    Seasoned boiled chicken folded through the porridge.

    $9.99

  • Coconut Matcha Cloud

    Matcha under a cap of whipped coconut cream.

    $3.99

  • ZAO Soy Milk

    Ground and pressed in house. Order it hot.

    $3.49

  • Hot Ginseng Coffee

    Coffee brewed with ginseng — bitter, sweet, bracing.

    $3.49

Our story

A family business, three doors long.

The Ratsamy family has been feeding this stretch of University Avenue for two decades — first at 88 Oriental Foods, then at Basil Cafe, and since December 2024 here at ZAO.

William Ratsamy trained as an architect before he trained as a baker, and it shows. He designed the room and built much of what is in it by hand: the tables, the chairs, and the twenty-foot triple-decker case that runs down the middle of it. The idea came from Chinese street markets — everything out in the open, under the light, where you can point at it.

His mother, Sisouvanh Soumounpha, runs the café. The baking starts long before nine.

Come by

575 University Ave W
Saint Paul, MN 55103

On University between Dale and Mackubin, next door to Basil Cafe. Green Line riders: Dale Street station is a two-minute walk.

Hours

Sunday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday
Closed
Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The bakery case is fullest in the morning. Popular buns can sell out well before close.