Buena Gente Cuban Bakery
Bakery · North Decatur
1365 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033
Highlights
Authentic Cuban bakery with flaky pastries, savory empanadas
Authentic Cuban bakery with flaky pastries, savory empanadas
"Lines tend to form out the door at this Cuban bakery and sandwich shop, especially on the weekends. The Cuban sandwiches from Buena Gente ares simply top-notch and come served on the bakery’s freshly baked bread. The medianoche is the move. Throw in a couple of ham croquetas and one of the daily empanadas. Wash it all down with a guanabana milkshake." - Eater Staff
"This bakery started as a food truck in 2016 and operated as a “rolling ventanita” (a window on wheels) until its brick-and-mortar space opened in Decatur a few years later. “It’s been lovely to see how people have embraced us and made us a daily or weekly stop, just like Cuban bakeries back home in Miami [which] are an integral part of daily life,” said Stacie Antich, who opened the bakery with her partner Manny Rodriguez. The small team produces labor-intensive menu items, which frequently sell out. Fan favorites include the guava-and-cream-cheese pastelito, the beef empanadas, the ham croquetas, and sweetened coffee. The trigo (puffed wheat cereal) milkshake is a must-try, but the mamey (a tropical fruit that tastes of sweet potato or pumpkin pie), guanabana (soursop), and frutabomba (papaya) are also delicious." - Allison Ramirez
"Other James Beard awards semifinalists from Atlanta this year included Buena Gente Cuban Bakery in Decatur for outstanding bakery." - Beth McKibben
"Even when Buena Gente was a mobile food business, it was consistently serving some of the best Cuban street eats in metro ATL. Owners Manny Rodriguez and Stacie Antich took Buena Gente permanent in 2020 and continue offering their flaky and buttery empanadas on the menu, along with ham croquetas and beef pastelitos. Order a meaty Cubano sandwich on fresh-baked bread, and make sure to throw in a side of plantain chips. Buena Gente was named numerous times by Eater readers surveyed as one of their favorite spots to dine in Atlanta this year." - Beth McKibben
"While the Cuban sandwich here may be the star of the show, the empanadas are definitely part of the strong supporting cast at this bakery and sandwich shop. Buena Gente offers three types of fillings: beef, chicken, and spinach with Swiss cheese. Order online for takeout." - Lia Picard
