Three bakeries are located within a one-block radius of each other in Manhattan’s Koreatown. But don’t bother looking for traditional Korean desserts there. These establishments offer pastries such as croissants and tarts.
Paris Baguette, the leading brand in the Korean bakery market, even has the Eiffel Tower in its logo. Ever since the first store opened in 1988, a host of other European-style Korean bakeries seem to have sprouted. The franchise has become so well-known that it has even expanded to Paris.
Paris Baguette calls itself a “traditional French bakery,” but the bread is made in South Korea before it is frozen and shipped. In fact, it sells mostly fusion cuisine, just like many other restaurants in NYC. Aside from a few pastries, such as the croissant, the selection of bread is generally more chewy, and is often stuffed with fillings such as red bean to cater to Korean tastes.
Maybe that's why European-style cafes are so popular here, especially in Flushing and Manhattan where thriving Koreatowns exist. The trend also doesn't seem to be dying out anytime soon, so I can't help but wonder how these type of bakeries are faring in Paris.
