Cuban Cuisine in Los Angeles: Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
Seeking delicious baked goods with a Cuban twist? Then Porto’s Bakery and Cafe in Burbank has you covered. This busy shop is always hopping, a result of its famous pastries, savory lunch specialities, and reasonable prices (most main dishes are in the $4-7 category).Once you step though the front door, you’ll be greeted by a busy world of chatter and clanking dishes. Surrounded by plenty of natural light, long counters showcase both traditional and exotic pastry creations. With breakfast delights like Chorizo and Cheese Omelets on Cuban bread and house specialties like Ham Croquettes, Cuban-style Tamales, and Chicken Empanadas, Porto’s has you covered for a meal or just dessert.
For standout sandwiches try the Cubano, piled high with slow roasted pork, ham, & Swiss cheese on Cuban bread. Vegetarians can rejoice with the meatless Feta sandwich, a savory combination of feta, tomatoes, olive oil, red onions and flavorful fresh basil on a baguette. Sandwiches come with crispy plantain chips and are best washed down with an all-natural smoothie, my personal favorite being the horchata.
Best of all are the array of baked dessert specialities inside the glowing counters, most ranging from $.50 to $2.00. Choose from cupcakes, puff pastries, strudels and croissants. Or cookies, brownies, Danishes, and cakes.
Two not to be missed pastries are the fancy bite-sized Mango Mousse and Piña Colada Mousse cakes, the latter topped with a fuchsia orchid and dusted with coconut flakes. The mango mousse is so velvety it feels like it’s melting on your tongue and sending fresh bolts of tropical flavor straight to your brain.
The pastries at Porto’s are absolutely sensational, and with such a large offering, dessert aficionados will find themselves coming back often for periodic doses of sweetness.
Details:
Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
3614 West Magnolia Boulevard Burbank, CA
(818) 846-9100
(additional locations in Glendale and Downey)
