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Just a 10-minute drive from the buzzy Korean food complex Jagalchi is a smaller, family-owned Korean supermarket named Kukje.
Meaning “international,” Kukje Supermarket has been around for 35 years, first established in San Francisco before moving to Daly City in 2002. Now, the family behind Kukje is embarking on a new journey – opening a bakery just across the street from their supermarket.
Expected to open this fall, Kukje Bakery will offer fresh, housemade baked goods including castella cake and red bean buns, as well as a full espresso bar. Both the pastry and coffee menus are yet to be finalized, but expect typical Korean bakery items and a few more modern, Asian fusion items as well, said Annie Kim, Kukje social media manager and the niece of owner Haesoo Park.
The bakery will seat about 50 and have a rustic Parisian ambiance, similar to Korean bakery chains Paris Baguette and Tous Le Jour, Kim said. Baked goods will be displayed in cases for customers to self-serve before paying at the register.
“My uncle’s been wanting to have a bakery for a long time as a part of the market, and he couldn’t get the permit to do it,” Kim said.
Park’s sister founded Kukje Supermarket in San Francisco in 1990. When she was looking to retire, Park took over and decided to move the market to a larger location in 2002, relocating it to its current location in Daly City.
In 2020, Park opened The K Market in Sunnyvale, which included a bakery, Kim said.
“He loved it,” Kim said. “That was his favorite part of the whole store.”
Kukje Bakery is located in the former Jade Dragon Restaurant space. Courtesy Kukje Bakery. 
Kukje Bakery will offer an espresso bar and a self-service pastry case. Courtesy Kukje Bakery. 
Kukje Bakery, expected to open in the fall, has about 50 seats inside. Courtesy Kukje Bakery. 
The interior of Kukje Bakery in Daly City, which is still under construction and expects to open in the fall. Courtesy Kukje Bakery.
A few years later, Park sold The K Market, which is now Mega Mart. In 2022, the owner of the nearby Jade Dragon Restaurant was looking to retire, and she approached Park asking if he was interested in buying her space.
“He was like, ‘Oh my God, I know exactly what I want to do with that,’” Kim said.
Kim hopes Kukje Bakery will be “a nice little community spot” and is thankful for all the support and excitement she’s been receiving from social media and Kukje Supermarket regulars.
She noted that despite initial worries that Jagalchi would negatively affect Kukje’s business, it hasn’t proven to be the case. She posited it’s because Kukje is meant to be a one-stop-shop for everyday items, like groceries and houseware, whereas Jagalchi is more of “a spectacle or a fun place to go,” she said.
Kukje Bakery, 2368 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City. Opening fall 2025.
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