At long last, Kora, the beloved Filipino doughnut pop-up, has opened its very first permanent bakery in NYC!
The brick-and-mortar bakery arrived in the heart of Sunnyside, Queens earlier this week at 45-12 Greenpoint Avenue, welcoming customers to try out the viral pastries that skyrocketed its business back during the pandemic.
Kora first gained widespread attention in 2020 when co-owner Kimberly Camara, like many in the hospitality industry, found herself out of work due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Formerly with the prestigious Union Square Hospitality Group, she turned adversity into opportunity by launching an online bakery from her apartment—a story that might sound familiar but is anything but ordinary.
Within a year, Kora had amassed a staggering 10,000-person waitlist as Camara’s Filipino- and Queens-inspired doughnut flavors took the internet by storm.
To keep up with the overwhelming demand, she and her co-founder, Kevin Borja, relocated to multiple commercial kitchens, scaling their passion project into a culinary sensation.
“We are incredibly excited to bring KORA to the Sunnyside neighborhood” Camara told Eater last July.
“Our new storefront will allow us to better serve our loyal customers and create a space of commune for the tight knit community in the area.”
Since opening on Tuesday, the bakery has already amassed huge lines down the block, and expect more on Saturday (March 29th) for its grand rollout.
Kora’s menu at the new flagship stays true to its roots: Ube custard-filled, leche flan-topped doughnuts and pastries (like Pain Suisse with Spam, pimento cheese, hot honey, and chile crisp) that range in price from $4.25–$8.75.
The couple also plans to transform Kora into an all-day café serving breakfast and lunch down the road.
📍 45-12 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside, Queens
🕒 Open now (main ribbon cutting on Saturday, March 29th) – 9 am – 4 pm