Kanto Cafe & Bakery, a Filipino-owned bakery in Cambridge, has been named one of Britain’s Best Bakeries for 2025, according to the Good Food Guide.
It was founded by Theresa Pascual, a 29-year-old Filipina, and her Korean husband, Seungnim Kang. It started as a simple hobby during the pandemic, when Theresa tried baking to entertain the family.
“My family really missed Filipino food, so I thought of making ensaymada,” Theresa says. Later, she also made pandesal, and shared it with friends and relatives. Theresa used to be a web developer and had no background in baking, but with her family's dedication and support, she turned it into a business. In December 2023, they opened Kanto Cafe & Bakery.
They chose to name it Kanto because we often ask “Where did you buy that?” – answer: “Only at the corner!” They want to bring the familiar warmth and deliciousness of the corner to every bite. Now, they have products that mix Filipino and Korean flavors such as ube pandesal, garlic cheese bread, and calamansi cinnamon buns, their best-seller.
At first, it was a slow start because the cafe was quite far from the city center. But because of word of mouth, the number of customers also increased, especially after they were included in the Good Food Guide. “It's great to see that they enjoy our products,” said Theresa.
They now dream of a bigger space to create new pastries – like French-style with a Filipino twist. And for our compatriots who dream of doing business abroad, Theresa's advice: “If you're ready for the hard work and you have a good idea, just go for it. People are open to new things—success will come.”
