
Modern Coffee House: Chinatown Bakery Serves Roll Cakes
Modern Coffee House is a bakery at 105 E Broadway in Manhattan, cash only. Tucked behind a stairway entrance on East Broadway, this spot offers a quiet respite. While opinions on the pastries vary, the counter serves taro and original roll cakes alongside red bean pineapple buns filled with a textured, lightly sweetened paste.
Is it worth the trip?
Yes — Modern Coffee House is a bakery at 105 E Broadway in Manhattan, rated 4.1 out of 5 across Google reviews. The short version: cash only. Tucked behind a stairway entrance on East Broadway, this spot offers a quiet respite. While opinions on the pastries vary, the counter serves taro and original roll cakes alongside red bean pineapple buns filled with a textured, lightly sweetened paste. If you want to sit, note that senior citizens fill the tables early in the morning, leaving the space much quieter later in the day. The schedule is 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day, so the visit fits an ordinary afternoon rather than a planned night out. Order by the case rather than the menu: what looks fresh in the tray is usually what was baked that morning, and small counters sell out of the popular rolls and buns before the afternoon. Ask for a box if you are carrying anything home, and expect counter staff to move quickly when a line builds.
Quick facts
Modern Coffee House is a bakery at 105 E Broadway, Manhattan, New York. Hours: Mon: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tue: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wed: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thu: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Fri: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The schedule does not change across the week, so a mid-afternoon visit and an evening one run the same way. Good to know: cash only. Phone: 9172672333. Rating: 4.1 out of 5 across Google reviews.
What do regulars say?
Regulars put Modern Coffee House at 4.1 out of 5 across Google reviews, and the comments repeat the same handful of details rather than a long list of complaints. Tucked behind a stairway entrance on East Broadway, this spot offers a quiet respite. While opinions on the pastries vary, the counter serves taro and original roll cakes alongside red bean pineapple buns filled with a textured, lightly sweetened paste. If you want to sit, note that senior citizens fill the tables early in the morning, leaving the space much quieter later in the day. What comes up most is cash only, which shapes how the visit feels more than the menu does. Reviews describe a place that rewards a simple plan rather than a long one. Order by the case rather than the menu: what looks fresh in the tray is usually what was baked that morning, and small counters sell out of the popular rolls and buns before the afternoon. Ask for a box if you are carrying anything home, and expect counter staff to move quickly when a line builds.


How does ordering work?
Ordering is straightforward once you know the pattern: cash only. You queue, you say what you want, you pay, and the food arrives at the counter or the table depending on the setup, which is why the door-to-table time stays short even at the lunch rush. If you are with a group, send one person to hold a table while another orders — the queue moves faster than the kitchen does. Order by the case rather than the menu: what looks fresh in the tray is usually what was baked that morning, and small counters sell out of the popular rolls and buns before the afternoon. Ask for a box if you are carrying anything home, and expect counter staff to move quickly when a line builds. It sits at 105 E Broadway in Manhattan, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip. Hours run Mon: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tue: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wed: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thu: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Fri: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, so the two questions worth settling before you travel are the day and the time.
When should I go?
Modern Coffee House keeps one set of hours: Mon: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tue: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wed: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thu: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Fri: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. If you want to sit, note that senior citizens fill the tables early in the morning, leaving the space much quieter later in the day. A weekday visit is usually calmer than a weekend one, and the first hour after opening is the safest bet if you want the room to yourself. Order by the case rather than the menu: what looks fresh in the tray is usually what was baked that morning, and small counters sell out of the popular rolls and buns before the afternoon. Ask for a box if you are carrying anything home, and expect counter staff to move quickly when a line builds. It sits at 105 E Broadway in Manhattan, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip.
Before you go
Is Modern Coffee House cash only? Yes — bring bills. Payment happens before you eat.
Do I need a reservation? No — walk in and order at the counter.
Can I take the food to go? Ask at the counter; takeout is not guaranteed at every hour.
What are the hours? Mon: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Tue: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wed: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thu: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Fri: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sun: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Where exactly is it? 105 E Broadway, Manhattan, New York, reachable at 9172672333.
What should I order first? Start with whatever the counter is known for — cash only — and keep the order short on a first visit.
Is it good for a group? Yes, though the room is small, so a group should arrive early or split up.
What if the line is long? The queue moves quickly because the order is taken at the counter.
Can I call ahead? Yes — 9172672333 is the number the counter answers, and a quick call settles whether today's hours differ from the posted ones.
Is the schedule the same every day? Yes — one set of hours covers the whole week.
What should I check before leaving? Two things: the day's hours and the payment setup. Both are listed above, and both are the usual reasons a trip gets wasted.
Is it worth a special trip? If you are already in Manhattan, yes; the visit is short by design, so it fits into a larger afternoon rather than replacing it.
More New York pages
Five more New York pages worth opening next: Bagel Sandwiches Made Before Your Eyes on Broadway; Smash Burgers Meet Twisted Sidewinder Fries in Manhattan; Caribbean Bakery Favorites Meet Karaoke Nights in Brooklyn; Chewy Bagels with Chunky Cream Cheese in Washington Heights; Custom Dominican Cakes and Pan Relleno on Dyckman Street. Each one is a single place rather than a list, so you can check the hours, the payment setup and the walk from the train before you leave the house. Read the closest match first, keep a second as backup, and treat the rest as a shortlist for a day when the first room is full. Each is a single place you can check before you leave.
Bagel Sandwiches Made Before Your Eyes on BroadwayDeli dining · Hot BLTs · Manhattan kitchen
Smash Burgers Meet Twisted Sidewinder Fries in ManhattanCounter dining · Imported sodas · 4.7 rating
Caribbean Bakery Favorites Meet Karaoke Nights in BrooklynBaked bites · Black cake · Nostrand Avenue
Chewy Bagels with Chunky Cream Cheese in Washington HeightsBreakfast pickup · 4003 Broadway · Early starts
Custom Dominican Cakes and Pan Relleno on Dyckman StreetCaribbean pastries · Fruit fillings · Seating available
