A proper look at Buns From Home beyond the hype

Buns From Home is everywhere in London right now, so we popped by their Islington shop to see what all the fuss is about.

This is Buns From Home, a bakery that has expanded at speed. In just five years it has become a cult London name, now operating more than twenty locations from Hammersmith to Islington, with ambitions stretching beyond the city.

The Buns From Home menu offers just one thing – hand-rolled croissant buns, heavily filled with custard or cream, and unapologetically indulgent.

The question is whether the buns are worth the hype.

Quick info before we get into the buns

• Restaurant: Buns From Home
• Where: Islington, London
• What they do: Hand-rolled croissant buns with maximalist fillings
• Must order: Dubai bun with pistachio, kataifi and vanilla cream
• Skip (for me): Tiramisu bun
• Best way to eat: At home, seated, with napkins
• Good to know: The boxes travel extremely well

Read our Buns From Home review to find out more.

First impressions of the Buns From Home menu

Walking in to the Islington Buns From Home shop, we see a semi-open kitchen, in front of which is a display of buns.

Buns From Home release various ‘special’ flavours, which include Dubai Chocolate and Tiramisu.

The next thing you’ll notice is how large the Buns From Home buns are, and easily shareable between two. And as the Bun From Home shops don’t have sit-in tables, you’ll probably want to take the buns home to enjoy them properly.

I did wander if the buns would travel well, seeing how full of cream they are. Happily, they’re well packaged in individual boxes, and survive being lugged around London for a few hours before going home.

Even after the journey home, everything arrives intact. The cream stays put, and the pastry holds its shape. For something with this level of filling, that’s an achievement.

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The Dubai bun delivers on texture and indulgence

If you’re choosing one item from the Buns From Home menu, this is the obvious place to start.

The Dubai bun is filled with pistachio and vanilla cream, with kataifi folded directly into the filling.

The result is thick, rich and unctuous, with the shredded kataifi adding structure and bite. Pistachio and vanilla are evenly balanced, though I’d happily take a slightly stronger pistachio note.

As expected, the filling-to-pastry ratio is generous. The pastry itself is flaky, well laminated and sturdy enough to carry the weight of the filling without collapsing.

On top of the bun sit a few shards of chocolate – tasting somewhere around 65% milk – finished with chopped pistachios. It’s polished, on-trend and indulgent. More importantly, it eats well. The contrast between cream, kataifi and crisp pastry is excellent.

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The tiramisu bun starts strong but loses ground

The tiramisu Buns From Home bun is another special, and one I want to like more than I do.

At the base is a ladyfinger soaked in what I assume is espresso, topped with a thick layer of cream that comes across as whipped mascarpone rather than coffee-forward. The cream itself lacks any real coffee flavour, which is disappointing.

Dark crumbs sit on top, possibly cocoa or chocolate, adding bitterness and texture. It’s alright, but at the second bite the soaked biscuit underneath reveals itself as being overly soft, tipping the mouthfeel into soggy territory. Once that happens, it’s hard to recover.

What we desperately need from this bun is more coffee and more structure – both would go a long way here.

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The original vanilla bun quietly proves the point

Then there’s the original vanilla bun from Bun From Home, and it’s a reminder that restraint can be powerful.

The custard-to-bun ratio is spot on. The vanilla custard is rich and well flavoured, and the pastry stays crisp enough to provide contrast. Without trends or extras competing for attention, the quality stands out.

It’s a simple bun, both confident and genuinely enjoyable.

Final thoughts on Buns From Home

So where does this Buns From Home review land?

Overall, Buns From Home in London delivers on its promise. The buns are generous, indulgent and carefully constructed. When the textures work, as in the Dubai bun, they’re genuinely excellent.

Would I return regularly? Probably not. I’m glad I tried them, and I understand the loyalty they inspire. Some people absolutely love these buns.

For me, Buns From Home sit firmly in the nice treat rather than essential stop category. If you’re visiting Buns From Home in Islington, I’d recommend either the Dubai bun or the simple vanilla custard bun. Take it home and give it the time it deserves.

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Buns From Home review
Address – 12 Camden Passage, London N1 8ED
Nearest Tube – Angel