Cherylynn N.
Yelp
MmMmm Masarap...
Ok, that's sadly the extent of my tagalog that I picked up from my Chinese/Filipino father when he would eat something he found deliciously satisfying. And, "MmMmm Masarap" is all I can say about Valerio's.
Having an upcoming picnic to attend to, I thought the empanadas would be a great item to bring given the rave reviews on Yelp. It's been over 10 years since I had any baked goods from Valerio's so I thought I do what any foodie (and fatass) would do and "taste test" before buying them in bulk for a picnic.
Although there's two Valerio's locations, I choose to come to this one to avoid the horrid parking situation at the King Plaza location. Though parking was a breeze, I wasn't able to escape the *bleep*tard drivers. Listen my Asian peeps, if you can't drive in the first place with glasses thicker than the hubble telescope, you should NOT be driving while talking on the cell phone. *ahem* Lady driving the brown Honda CRV yesterday. But, I digress.
Valerio's is an old-school Filipino Bakeshop that carries a plethora of breads (savory and sweet), empanadas, cupcakes, turon (fried banana egg roll), etc. Everything is under $3, which is a great reason to derail off your lo-carb diet; well for a day at least.
Being born into Generation Broke, I rarely carry cash on me so I started grabbing random things that I remember having as a kid to make the $10 minimum so I can use my credit card.
Although Valerio's carries a wide variety of baked goods, as other Yelpers have mentioned there's only TWO THINGS that you should come get: CHICKEN EMPANADA and PAN DE UBE!
*MINI CHICKEN EMPANADAS (3 for $1.99) - Generously filled with finely shredded savory pieces of chicken with a hearty crunchy crust. The empanada is more crumbly and dense as opposed to flaky.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nKcCBO_jbn5zkJ0aO2VGLw?select=fW0HmyIgLhJBF3ju8jcpBQ
*PAN DE UBE ($2.99) - To non-asians or those unfamiliar with Ube, don't be daunted by its vibrant purple color. Ube is just a purple yam. Valerio's fills their fluffy soft pan de sal with ube that's creamy smooth with a delicate sweetness. A quick 10 second pop in the microwave and you have the perfect breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nKcCBO_jbn5zkJ0aO2VGLw?select=i1qLIbnzuE_fyRWvb7czPw
*MINI BEEF EMPANADAS (3 for $1.99) - Filled with ground beef, potatoes and peas. Bland compared to the chicken empanada.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nKcCBO_jbn5zkJ0aO2VGLw?select=kHPhYZtQ9uvG6VnmdQ5d1g
*UBE CUPCAKES ($1 each) - Like a Filipino version of a cinnamon bun shaped into a cupcake and topped with a smearing of buttered crystallized sugar. The ube and the sugar balance each other out so it's not too sweet.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nKcCBO_jbn5zkJ0aO2VGLw?select=HZMgIGsAAHvtli5ANbMINw
*CHEESE PIMIENTO ($1.99; but $2.79 was on the price tag) - Soft fluffy pan de sal filled with a cream cheese like filling with a very subtle kick from the pimiento peppers.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nKcCBO_jbn5zkJ0aO2VGLw?select=3jreUj4z62HaxLUMML4MxQ
Valerio's baked goods are just as good as I remember them. Maraming salamat sa inyo, Valerio's for bringing me back to my childhood days. Oh, where would I be without Google Translate?