Macondo Bakery

Tastes like my Colombian family made it! So good! Came back twice in one week and ate more the 2^nd time! Nice, clean and comfortable space.

It was a rainy day and we had a craving for empanada and coffee. This part of Passaic has several South American restaurants bunched together on Main, and on impulse we wandered into Macondo. Pleasant little bakery that also serves savory Columbian specialties luncheonette style. This food is still a mystery to me, mostly because in many respects it is indistinguishable from the cuisine and dining style of many other Latin countries, except of course to the natives. Most folks know empanadas, and they do a decent one here stuffed with beef, chicken or potatoes (or some combination of these). They were fried to a nice crisp and flavorful on our visit, served with a spicy red sauce on the side, sorta like a sriracha. The chicharon was good too, if a bit chewy. We split a Fritanga Bandeja, a kind of Columbian National dish. This huge plate of mystery beef smothered in beans, rice, fried plantains with an egg on top was accompanied by Arepa (a cornmeal bread). The coffee was very good. It was a filling and flavorful meal and the tab was very modest. Could never eat this way regularly, but it was a pleasant escape to the land of Columbian comfort food.

Macondo is a great spot for Colombian foods and pastries the place is very welcoming and cozy. I particularly enjoy their collection of antique artifacts throughout the store. The girls at the counter are always friendly and pleasant. Food is always fresh, love the empanadas.

BEST empanadas!!! I’ve tried a lot of empanadas and never had better than here. Same goes for the sauce they come with (for some extra $ they will give you as much as you want and I use A LOT)
The other food and baked goods are yummy as well.
The only reason they don’t get 5 stars is because no one there speaks English, and I don’t speak Spanish, so it always takes me too much time, frustration, awkward stares, and some attitude from the workers to get what I want
P.S.
the empanadas are worth the frustration

mehhh nothing noteworth. wouldn’t go back

The empanadas are nice and crispy on the outside, but the filling is very bland in all types-​chicken, beef, and cheese. They have a delicious hot sauce to go with them, but I always have a hard time getting extra hot sauce. I am not asking for a freebie. I tell them I will pay for the extra sauce, but they act like I am stealing from them. I won’t be going back.

The place is cute and cosy, decorated with Colombian décor. I come here for their chicken empanadas not only are they huge but delicious!
Wayyyy better then Banana King (paterson/​passaic) also if you are not Colombian or hispanic definitely try a caribañola its also a dollar, smaller than the empanada but yummy