Beard Papa's Japanese cream puffs coming back to San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The Japanese bakery chain Beard Papa's is bringing its fluffy cream puffs back to San Diego!

The company announced it will be opening a new San Diego location in Kearny Mesa's Convoy District at 4488 Convoy St., Suite E, in a small plaza right across from 7-Eleven.

Beard Papa's previously had a presence in San Diego's La Jolla neighborhood on Girard Avenue, but that location closed last year.

Now, it currently has 16 locations throughout California, with multiple other U.S. locations spread across 11 states and 500 worldwide.

Beard Papa's started as a small bakery in 1999 in Osaka, Japan. It rose to popularity for its double-layered puff "choux" pastry recipe, pie crust outer layer and vanilla custard cream filling.

The current menu offers a wide array of customizable flavors. Customers can choose the flavor of their cream puff "shells," which range from basics like the original, chocolate eclair or strawberry to more experimental flavors like Oreo cookie crumble, honey butter and ube.

Next, people can choose a filling of either vanilla, green tea or chocolate for their cream puffs.

To celebrate its upcoming San Diego location, Beard Papa's is offering guests a chance to win free cream puffs, gift cards or merchandise on opening day, which is slated for Saturday, Aug. 30.

Information about the grand opening can be found on Beard Papa's website.