Tony T.
Yelp
I am definitely not expert on Colombian cuisine or their pastries, but as an accidental "tourist" that stumbled upon this new establishment in that giant plaza famous for Lotus of Siam, here is my stab at a wordy review.
The bakery is surprisingly spacious inside, with tables and seatings spread out comfortably. The tables all have some kind of games for guests that are here to hang out. I only know the Jenga, but there is a game called Rummikub at the table I sat at, and Mancala at another, both games that I am unfamiliar with.
Anyway, I have never been to a Colombian bakery before, and decided to check them out. I took a look at their menu, as well as, the baked goods in their display, which are filled with items I am clueless about. The cashier was friendly and briefly explained them to me. Empanadas was not one of the items on their menu or on display, so I was a little disappointed, but asked if they have empanadas just in case. Turns out they have 5 baking in the oven almost ready to come out!!! It was meant to be mine.
Years ago I had the best empanadas while in Lima, Peru. It was from some grocery store, probably high end one, since it was near the beach in a upscale tourist area that have Dunkin' Doughnuts, Hard Rock Cafe (maybe even a Hooters), and many mall retail brands Americans would be familiar with plus it looks like it would fit right in in Santa Monica, CA.
Oh yeah, about the empanadas from Peru that I still have fond memories of, even after 15 years. It was so good that I bought 2 more to eat on the plane. And I crave it that much more, because Peru "TSA" made me throw them away at airport security check, because I couldn't explain what it was to them when it got flagged going through the x-ray machine.
The Beef Empanadas served here is pretty good, the pastry crust is not too thick or chewy, and eating just minutes after it came out of the oven made the experience that much more delightful.
The Pandebono con Guayaba, Colombian Cheese Bread with Guava Paste, is also pretty good. The cheese bread reminds me of the ones served at Texas de Brazil, which would be an awesome snack on its own, but with sweetness from the guava paste inside.
If you are not familiar with Colombian bakeries and up for an adventure, consider checking out this gem on E Sahara.