As I sit here writing this article about one of Los Angeles’s most popular bakery, I’m mentally making a note of what I want to order at Porto’s next time I go there, which is probably tomorrow.
I was first introduced to those delicious cheese rolls and potatoes ball from Porto’s almost 10 years ago when a friend bought some on our road trip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon.
After that, I was hooked and often journey to Glendale or Burbank to buy some more tasty treats.
They have since expanded to 5 Porto’s Bakery locations across Los Angeles.
Even with their expansion, it’s not rare to find many of these bakeries with long lines with almost a hype-up following.
Us Los Angelenos know that the lines at Porto’s are completely warranted and the hype is real!
Here are the five locations Porto’s bakery is currently located across Los Angeles city and county:
With over 25,000+ positive reviews on Yelp.com across their 5 locations, many Angelenos would agree that Porto’s Bakery may be the best bakery in Los Angeles!
Here are 23 best things you must try on their menu!
Bake goods:
Chocolate Chip cookie
- A classic cookie with Belgian chocolate chips, a chewy center, and crisp edges.
Dulce De Leche Besito Cookies
- A shortbread cookie with Porto’s signature dulce de leche filling. Topped with powdered sugar.
Cheese Roll
- Traditional puff pastry made with European-style butter with Porto’s signature cream cheese filling, topped with sugar.
Potato Ball (Papa Rellena)
- Porto’s signature potato puree are filled with Cuban style ground beef with onion, bell pepper, olive, and Spanish seasonings with a crispy panko crust.
Guava & Cheese Strudel
- Puff pastry with cream cheese filling and guava jam
Chicken Empanada
- Savory hand pie filled with Cuban-style chicken fricassee (slow-cooked chicken breast, carrot, raisins, peas, onion, tomato sauce, and Spanish seasonings)
Meat Pie
- Puff pastry filled with Cuban-style ground beef with onion, bell pepper, olive, and Spanish seasonings
Spinach Feta Empanada
- Traditional puff pastry made with spinach, feta, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese.
From their Café Menu:
Ham & Cheese Omelet sandwich
- Cage-free egg omelette with shredded Jack and cheddar cheeses and sweet, roasted ham a spread of mayonnaise and mustard. Served on a butter croissant.
Medianache (Midnight Sandwich)
- Slow-roasted pork, sweet roasted ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and Cuban dressing (mustard, mayonnaise, and house seasonings). Served on a Medianoche roll (a sweet bread) and pressed.
Cubano (Cuban sandwich)
- Slow-roasted pork, sweet roasted ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and Cuban dressing (mustard, mayonnaise, and house seasonings). Served on a Cuban roll and pressed.
Plato De Pollo
- Grilled, marinated, skin-on, free-range chicken breast served with steamed jasmine rice, Cuban-style black beans, and maduros (sweet, fried plantain). Served with a side of cilantro salsa verde (fresh herbs, citrus, crushed red pepper, and a touch of avocado).
Ropa Veija Plato
- Cuban-style stewed beef with bell pepper, onion, olive, tomato sauce, and Spanish seasonings served with steamed jasmine rice, Cuban-style black beans, and maduros (sweet, fried plantain).
From Their Cake Menu:
Fresh Fruit Tart
- A buttery tart topped with a layer of sponge cake, vanilla custard, and an assortment of fresh fruit including locally grown, California strawberries and blueberries, imported mangoes, and other seasonal fruit. The tarts are decorated by hand, so designs may differ slightly.
Mango Mousse Cake
- Made up of a sponge cake that has been lightly soaked with passion fruit, layered with mango mousse. Finished with a mango glaze and fresh fruit.
Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake
- A rich, creamy cheesecake topped with strawberry glaze & fresh strawberries on a graham cracker crust.
Dulce De Leche Cake Roll
- Almond sponge cake, whipped cream, and dulce de leche custard. Covered with dulce de leche and a dark chocolate drizzle with dark chocolate.
Mike ‘N Berry
- Sponge cake heavily-soaked with condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream, and a touch of brandy. It’s layered with whipped cream and a blend of blueberry, strawberry, and blackberry. Finished with whipped cream, fresh berries, and powdered sugar.
From their Beverage menu:
Mango Smoothie
New Guava Smoothie
- This smoothie is made with Pink guava
Mamey Shake
- This shake is made from Mamey (a tropical fruit with sweet, floral, and nutty notes) ice-blended with whole and condensed milk.
Dulce De Leche Latte
- Medium-roast espresso made from Arabica beans with dulce de leche, sweet vanilla, and whole milk. They have ice or hot options.
If you can’t get to any one of the 5 Porto’s locations, you can order from their online store.
They ship nationwide pre-baked goods and ready to eat Milk ‘N Berry cake once thawed.
History
With her husband in labor camp, Rosa Portos was trying to make ends meet.
Here’s a picture of Rosa herself:
A neighbor asked her to make them a cake and through word of mouth, she was getting orders from her neighbors.
All of a sudden, she was running an illegal bakery under the communist Cuban regime, cooking for neighbors who couldn’t get enough of her cakes and pastries.
They would give her ingredients when it was hard for Rosa to obtain them.
When searched by police, neighbors would hide her baking supplies to protect her.
After 8 years, Rosa and her family were able to immigrate to the United States.
They settled in Los Angeles because Rosa’s husband had family in the area.
As soon as she landed, other recently immigrated Cubans would ask for her cakes.
Operating out of her house, Rosa baked and care for her family.
Finally, in 1976, they secured a bank loan and opened their first bakery in Echo Park.
By 1982, they relocated to a bigger store in Glendale, CA. The rest, as they say, is history.
They currently have 5 locations across Los Angeles.
As one of Porto’s biggest fan, here are the reasons why this bakery deserves at least one visit if you’re visiting Los Angeles for the first time.
Taste & Quality
From Cheese rolls, Guava Strudel, Cubano Sandwich, Dulce de Leche Cake Roll, to Hibiscus Strawberry tea, every bite and drink has always been delicious.
This is true wherever I pick up my order, from Burbank or West Covina’s branch.
The consistency and high standards in ingredients are never compromised even though Porto’s is servicing probably tens of thousands of costumers daily in each of their branches.
Porto uses authentic Belgian chocolate to make their chocolate chip cookies.
By listening to the changing taste of their community, Porto introduced lighter version of their Dulce De Leche cake by adding fruit to the now extremely popular Mike ‘N Berry cake.
Overtime, Porto’s has become more than just a Cuban bakery, they have created a melting pot of savory, sweet pastries and cakes that have make up the diverse Los Angeles cuisine.
Price
Porto deliver great taste at a reasonable price because the Porto family leverage their large quantity purchase of ingredients at low prices so they can pass the competitive pricing down to their customers.
Everything is very reasonably price and Porto family has kept it so because they know that their loyal customers are those who have families and they have budget limitations.
Diverse Choices
If you go on their website (www.portos.com) right now and count how many items they have on their menu, you’ll come up with 100+ items.
Not surprisingly, this diverse and large menu fulfill any sort of savory or sweet taste bud. Thirsty?
There will be something on the menu to quench your thirst! I have talked long enough, let’s jump into what I recommend when you’re going to Porto’s for your 1st or 10th visit.
Have you tried Porto’s yet? What are your favorites at Porto’s?