Former Johnson County Mexican restaurant will become multicultural bakery
Ying-Chu Chuang is well-known in the baking industry in Taiwan.
She’s taught many of the country’s greatest chefs for 30 years, trained bakers who went onto 85 Degree Bakery Cafe (a chain that’s recently made a splash in Johnson County), and instructed students at Hungkuan University and the country’s Vocational Training Bureau. But soon, the baking master is shifting gears to move to the United States and open her own spot.
One of her students is a real estate agent and helped her find seemingly the perfect spot for her new business: the former Abelardo’s spot at 12210 W. 135th St. in Overland Park.
Chuang is calling the spot CT Pastry (CT stands for Chinese Taiwan), and she hopes to open it in May.
Alexandra Huynh, a future employee who translated for Chuang during a recent interview, said CT Pastry will serve Chinese and Taiwanese goods, as well as a few other delicacies from around the world.
“She taught all the different types of bakery skills from different regions, and different styles,” Huynh said.
Some of the menu items that customers can expect when it opens: a variety of types of moon cakes, chiffon cake, sponge cake, pineapple buns, fresh soy milk, coffee and more.
Chuang will occasionally visit the U.S. and sell her pastries at popups. Customers who are familiar with her work locally will stand in long lines to get her goods, which often sell out quickly
Huynh said Chaung’s taro cakes are made by steaming and sieving the purple Southeast Asian vegetable to make a mix into the dough. Chuang is strict about not offering overprocessed foods.
“All these are naturally flavored,” Hyunh said. “Whatever the ingredients are, we have to get it from the original one and make it on the spot.”
They’re still working out specifics on hours, but they’re hoping to catch both the morning and afternoon crowds.
Hyunh admitted that it can be hard for she and her friends to find the beloved Taiwanese treats in the metro for a reasonable price. Translating for Chuang, Hyunh said the teacher aims to make the beloved treats accessible for Kansas Citians of all walks of life.
“She’s hoping that with all the experience she has in the past years, she can turn all these skills into something where … everyone can buy it without having to go to Taiwan to learn it from her,” Hyunh said.
Meanwhile, other international bakeries in the metro are finding success. Taiwanese chain 85 Degree Bakery opened a spot at 12061 Metcalf Ave. last year, and South Korean chain Paris Baguette has spots at 11125 W. 95th St. and 15895 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.
Pan-Asia Supermarket also moved into a larger space last year at 12035 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park, replacing Bed Bath & Beyond.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 3:18 PM.