This is a 5-star neighborhood bakery. They have a great selection of breakfast pastries as well as Mexican specialties and their prices are very reasonable. They are cash and carry, so don't expect to sit and drink coffee - they have no tables at all. I emphasize neighborhood bakery, so don't go there expecting an upscale patisserie either.
I found them looking for breakfast while my kitchen was being renovated. Most places are closed Monday and Tuesday, but I had a go-to place nearby. When that place changed its hours one Tuesday, I spotted the bakery and decided to grab something to tide me over. Their selection of pastries is impressive, but what really thrilled me was when I saw their tamales in the hot case behind the counter.
If you don't know, tamales are a pain to make properly and they take a long time. In the end they are not fancy so they don't reward the bake with a big profit. Also, they are too messy to be finger food so they will never be very popular in our culture. However, they are a hearty traditional working-persons breakfast, and since they had a few left (at about 9:30am) and since the counter person said they were a specialty, I was determined to try one. I also grabbed a peculiar roll that was a small muffin wrapped by a ring of flaky pastry.
In short, the tamale reminded me of those made years ago by a friend's mother (she spent about a week to make them once a year for the holidays). It stayed hot all the way home and onto a plate. The ones I had were pork with red sauce, but they also make cheese and a chicken with green sauce. Since they wrap up three together, it was more than enough for breakfast and it made a delightful change from eggs. I think it was about $3.
Since then I've returned several times despite the fact that I need to pass through about 10 other neighborhoods to get there. I've also enjoyed their flan from the cold case - smooth-textured style rather than grainy, and a little firmer than ideal, but the flavor is delicately wonderful. Because of another review, I also brought home a tres leche moccha with walnuts that might not make it until dinner.
I will be a steady customer from now on despite the fact that it is a bit of a trek.
A couple of things that makes them special to me:
1. They work on great flavors and careful preparation instead of sugar, sugar, sugar (lots of bakeries, supermarket brands, and big chains - Panera, for example - are way too sweet for me). Of course, the kids' cakes may be different.
2. They have a great selection of unusual and different things, including a bunch I still need to try. Don't overlook the cold case. Not been disappointed yet.
4. Friendly service and very reasonable prices. read more