Daniel L.
Yelp
I miss having pan dulce and decided to visit this Mexican bakery after finding it on Yelp. This bakery is located in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood and highly popular among the locals. Like many Mexican bakeries, the protocol consists of picking up a tray and tong by the entrance, and survey around the large interior to gather the choices before paying at the cashier. The vibe is family friendly as the adults were piling the colorful breads onto their platters while small children used the open floor to roam between the glass displays.
I couldn't resist the sweet aroma in the air, and got a Chocolate Concha, Strawberry Concha, Pan Fino, and Cema for 50 cents each. Everything seems bigger in the Midwest and these breads were no different. Dense, buttery, and sugary summed up the visit, as they were good fillers throughout the day. I didn't care for the Pan Fino since it tasted more like a stiff biscuit with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top. However, the Conchas had a nice cinnamon flavor and the eggy star anise qualities in the Cema really stood out. Cema is typically used in sandwiches so I thought the challah and brioche-like textures could be a good ingredient for burgers, sandwiches, and even eggs benedicts.
While I understand the reasons this bakery is so popular, I also thought the breads lacked the soft spongy textures that I had experienced in other panaderias. Service was kind, friendly, and responsive. The turnover rate for their pan dulce is high, so interested visitors can always take a quick peek next door to see how they're made. Based on the price and value, I'm definitely interested in coming back.