Diamond Bakery (CLOSED)

The Diamond Bakery is the oldest Kosher bakery on Fairfax, having stood there since the '60s in the street’s Jewish heyday. This old-school, family-owned and operated Russian bakery is especially famous for its authentic New York corn rye bread and racetrack cake (a decadent multi-layered chocolate and cinnamon concoction), as well as staples such as twisted chocolate babka, challah (try raisin), dreamy NYC cheesecake, a wide variety of rugelach (uniquely twisted rather than rolled, and more crispy than the classic kind), mandelbrodt, Russian coffee cake and much more, all sold by the pound at amazing prices. They bake every morning, so it’s best to head over early for fresh-out-of-the-oven pastries that will melt in your mouth.