Porto’s Bakery & Cafe

The best bakery in Los Angeles. My favorite would have to be their Potato Balls and Guava Strudel! The potato taste amazing when it’s fresh and hot. It has a lot of fillings inside. The guava is super sweet and it’s best eaten within that day! The line at Porto’s can get a little hectic but it’s definitely worth the wait.

I’ve been a Portos customer for nearly a decade and I’m severely disappointed in my recent food. This review is targeted towards this visit and I ordered to-​go.
1) my mojito had a fly in it. I would not have known if my friend (who has never tried Portos) hadn’t asked to try my drink.
2) I ordered a bunch of desserts to go and Portos did not provide and forks or spoons. We had to go out and pick up utinsels to enjoy or cakes.
3) The meat in our sandwiches is very dry and the sauce tasted off, sour.
What happened?!

You know… I like it… It’s good, it’s definitely not bad… but it’s not my preference. It feels like an overrated, overcrowded, overpriced coffee and sandwich shop. Definitely not my spot for lunch. My boyfriend really likes it, though, and he got me my birthday cake from there, which I simply loved. Therefore, I will definitely go back for something like that. For his birthday or a cake. In fact, we went there for his birthday and greatly enjoyed it as a special occasion.
Maybe I just need to try it more times. I like it as much as I like In And Out. It’s good, but I don’t get the widespread, almost religious following.

Portos is one of the most popular bakeries in the LA area, and it can live up to the hype. Most of its baked goods are delicious, especially their guava pastry and the cheese rolls. Even better are the potato balls which are extremely savory, rich, and filling. My favorite cake of all time is the Milk and Berry’s. This is like a moist cake with a lot of berry flavors. It is huge for the price. Another hot item is the tart cake. You can request different sizes.
Unfortunately, I don’t like the physical Portos bakery. Because of its popularity, the wait is REALLY LONG and the inside is mayhem due to large orders and confusion. Make sure to put one hour in your parking meter when you come to here.
Also, there are two sides to the bakery. Both sides serve pastries, but there is a larger display on one side. The other side is where people order sandwiches and savory items.

What an efficient run operation. Now I know ju it has the reputation it does. First time I’ve been here but I’m positive I’ll be back. Great pastries & Service!

This is the jam. Seriously, everything here is good from the Guava Cheesecake to their Mango Smoothie!
I love their selection and even their cake.
I HIGHLY recommend this place (especially for take-​out)!

What can we say about Porto’s that hasn’t already been said. This has to be one of the best Cuban places in all of LA. The fact that it’s kept its consistency while crawling and adding multiple locations is a testament to their high quality and extremely delicious food. Porto’s originally started as a bakery in their bakery goods are still amazing to this day. Their selection of Cuban food is highly delicious and fantastic. It’s like if epic and awesome had a love child then out popped Porto’s. There’s usually a line here so I recommend knowing exactly what you want by time you get to a register. Sometimes that line is out the door and you’re waiting for 30 minutes just to order. After you get your food sometimes there is a wait to sit down at a table. It’s not a free-​for-​all find a table and sit. During their busiest times there is actually a Q for tables so be sure that when you get your receipt you find the waiter who is over the queue to let him know how many people in your party and he will in sure to get you a table as soon as available.
There restaurant is always very clean and neat and busy. I don’t think I’ve ever been where there wasn’t a crowd. I typically order a Cubano and potato balls because they’re so amazing and delicious. I highly recommend you try them and Porto’s.

I’ve been to this Porto’s many times and I’m never disappointed. It’s a great bakery with tasty, reasonably-​priced coffee and the food is pretty good too. Most of the time I get pastries or desserts there, but I’ve had the food as well. I love the variety of pastries and desserts they offer, although sometimes it’s difficult to choose.
Some of the my favorites are:
Spinach & cheese savory tarts in flaky pastry– Porto’s does flaky pastry really well; the pastry is very flaky and has that nice buttery flavor
Opera cake– very well done with a good (not dry) sponge cake, coffee buttercream, and ganache. We served this at our wedding
Mariquitas (plantain chips) — these are served a la carte or with sandwiches. They are lightly salted and with a nice crunch
Tuna sandwich– I love the way they do their tuna melt. It’s a simple thing but sometimes delis and restaurants get the proportions of cheese, bread and tuna wrong. Here the sandwich is just right.
The potato balls (filled with seasoned ground beef) and guava cream cheese pastries are also very good. I’ve also had one of their meat sandwiches and really enjoyed it but I can’t remember whether it was the Pan con Lechon or the Cubano. Either way, the meat was well seasoned and tender.
The lines are long but they move quickly. I read another review that mentioned 50-​minute waits but I’ve honestly never waited that long. Ever. Also, finding a table can seem overwhelming during the busy hours (always) but the staff will help you. We also had no problems with our wedding cake order.

Always a line and always allow yourself 1 hour window to eat in peace.
****BEWARE, PRICES online are NOT always accurate, call to confirm****
The king of Latino cakes.
Yes, they are freaking amazing and although the rest of the food prices are low-​ish, the cakes are somewhat pricy. No problem, the quality makes up for it.
—¼ sheet TRES LECHES CAKE (tons of berries inside but you cant see them (reason why its $ 35+) make sure you ask if its the TALL or SHORT cake, because they can have both and the whole «¼ sheet» isn’t 100% descriptive.
—FAVE: Chocolate Parisian Cake ¼ sheet $ 38.50
Lines are EXTREMELY LONG. Wanna get a quick in store order to go? Forget about a 10 – 15 minute wait. On a weekday you will wait up to 50 minutes, from start of ‘cake only’ line until payment.
As much as they try to work fast, it is still not fast enough. And I don’t think that’s fixable because they are human and so are we, the indecisive hungry fatties that makes life worth living.

Must-​stop at Porto’s on the way home, whichever Porto’s is nearest. I’ve been to the Burbank one, but this time Glendale won. Made it out with some potato balls, cheesy spicy jalapeño potato balls, cheese rolls, and guava cheese streudels. Yum! Got all those from the bakery side, then placed a to-​go order for a Cubano sandwich which had to be picked up at the restaurant side. The bread on that sandwich was divine, so simple yet tasty, especially for the road trip home. It was Ani’s first time hearing of this Cuban bakery, and I’m glad she liked the pastries that she brought home. The cakes are lovely but don’t travel well, y’know? Parking available on the street, pay the meter.

Amazing!!! Line is long for a reason. Didn’t mind the wait because food is worth it! I wished they got one in Sacramento though. Can’t come here and not get their delicious cheese rolls and potato balls! Everything is yummy!!!

You know a place is good when it’s packed and the lines are long. I came around 1:30ish, thinking I avoided the lunch rush. Nope! There was a good 10 minute wait. But the food is worth it!
I always get their midnight sandwich (I like the sweet bread more than the French roll that the cubano comes on). I usually get some potato balls too. They have cheesy pepper potato balls, which I tried. I think the plain ones taste better.
They have a variety of pastries and desserts, which I successfully stayed away from this time.
But if you want a good dessert, their mango mousse is bomb!
Sandwiches, dessert, coffee… Portos has everything you need :)

Best desserts in LA!
I was introduced to Porto’s by a co-​worker and I was really blown away by this place. It is a Cuban bakery and it has the best pastries, cakes and bread in the city.
My favorites are the croissants and the chocolate cakes. The croissants are flaky and light. The cakes are a must have for any birthdays and celebration. My favorite cakes are the chocolate raspberry and Parisian cakes. The chocolate mousse are intense but not too sweet.
Prices are very reasonable at $ 2 for pastries, $ 5 for sandwiches and $ 24 for cakes.
This place is always crowded and the multiple lines in the restaurant is confusing. I was told there is a separate line for cake vs. sandwich but I was allowed to order a birthday cake as well at the sandwich line.
Highly recommend!

Tip: look at the persons face who is helping you. Memorize it. Because they’re the ones who walk your order to the cash register. One time I forgot who was helping me because I was too absorbed in looking at all the food.
Uhmmmm. You just need to come here and buy everything. I don’t know if I’ve ever had anything here I didn’t like.
They’re super efficient here. I’ve been to quite a few Porto’s locations. This one has a parking lot in the back which is quite helpful for lugging all your boxes of baked goods!
When I first discovered Porto’s I would always get the potato balls. They’re best when fresh. BUT if you do plan on hoarding some, all you need to do is stick them in an oven and they’re good as new. Soooo after my first few visits I discovered that they actually had chicken croquettes which are similar to the potato ball, but even better. I prefer these over the potato balls which has the beef in it I believe. The last time I came here I notice even more options! The ham croquette was good. The cheese pepper one??? Was also really good.
I tried the guava smoothie the last time I was here and I was not sorry at all. Man. I want one.
Buy at least 3 dozen or more cheese rolls because all your friends and family will eat them all and you will be sad.
Mango mousse is phenomenal! It melts so pack or eat it strategically.
Spinach feta Croissant is one of my favorite pastries here.
I know a lot of people will probably hate me for saying this, but the guava cheese strudel is NOT all that. Maybe I need to give it another chance. I thought the guava flavor was lacking. It was mostly flakey crust. I could barely taste the guava.
Tamales are unique. Texture is much different than your typical Mexican tamale. Has corn kernels in the masa. Softer texture. Yummy pork inside. I usually try to buy a million of these.

If this place was local, I’d be a regular for sure!
Their Cheese Rolls were only 75 cents a piece and were lovely flaky pastries filled with sweet cheese. Potato Balls were crisp hot treats stuffed with savory ground meat for 98 cents. Green plantain chips were available by the box for $ 2.65. The garlic salt chips were tasty, but lacked the crispness of those which come alongside Porto’s selection of sandwiches, which are likely fresher.
Limited bathroom with just one in either room. Some seating available for dining in for those who can’t wait to dig in.
Note to self: My friend highly recommends the Lechon here (slow roasted pork mojo) which arrives as a plate.

This place. jeez. I have eaten so much Porto’s over the years that friends have brought to me, but I’ve never actually been to the store.
Although we waited in line for ~30 minutes, it was totally worth it. The pastries are actually extremely reasonably priced. I got 3 potato cheese pepper balls, an apple danish, a guava roll, a guava/​cheese roll, a cheese roll, an almond danish and a spinach croissant (I shared with other people, don’t worry!!) Oh, I also got the iced coffee. (eek!)
The guava/​cheese rolls are awesome (that’s what everybody goes there for anyway), but the almond danish was surprisingly one of the most delicious things I ordered! Unfortunately, the iced coffee was a little too sweet for my liking, they make it with condensed milk. It would’ve been great on its own, but not in combination with all the other sweet pastries.
Next time, I’m going to try their Horchata latte. that sounded really good.

Dude this place gets crazy pack but so does EVERY Porto’s. We got in the less filled to go line and were quickly assisted. Gerardo helped us and even though he was «in training», he surpassed in terms of delivering superb service. So enthused and positive and quick! Thank you for making our experience so delightful!
Lilian rang us quickly and had a very sincere smile.
Really happy about stopping

After coming to Porto’s so many times I’m surprised I haven’t wrote a review yet! I’ve always been a fan of Porto’s ever since I had my first taste. Love at first bite!
The two top things I love to get are cheese rolls and potato balls!
The lines can be long, but don’t fret, the wait is definitely worth it. I would love to always come back again and try other pastries, but then I see the cheese rolls screaming my name so I couldn’t say no!
Park in the structure: free 90 minutes!

I’ve never been to LA before, but my friends have recommended Porto’s for years. We walked in on a Sunday afternoon, half-​expecting it to be a lazy Sunday. Not the case. This bakery was bustling, but not in a bad way at all! The line was almost all the way to the door, yet we were able to get our food and find seating for a table of five in no time.
My friends opted for real food (i.e., sandwiches), but I couldn’t stay away from all the treats. I went for the ham croquette, chicken croquette, guava strudel, pineapple danish, and Italian cheesecake (to share with others!). I’m not a fan of potatoes at all, but Porto’s croquettes are amazing. Those little fried nuggets of goodness just melt in your mouth. Guava strudel and pineapple strudel were the perfect amount of sweet, flaky deliciousness. The Italian cheesecake was airy and fluffy.
The guy who helped me at the counter was extremely helpful and patient, and his recommendations were on point. I super appreciate his patience, because as a first-​timer at a place with a long line, I was a little anxious about potentially angry customers behind me.
I can see what all the hype is about — definitely lived up to the hype! Did I mention it was extremely cheap? It cost me $ 7 to get five items (the cheesecake alone was $ 3). I would come back to SoCal just for Porto’s!

I know I will get some flack for this since it is a Cali institution but as a whole, I was pretty disappointed. Yes, the Cheese Rolls were good and the Guava & Cheese Strudel was great but I didn’t really care for anything else. Yes, I know, the shock… If I only ordered the Cheese Rolls and the Guava & Cheese Strudel, then this place would easily be a 4 star for me, but I made the mistake of trying everything that people on Unilocal said to try and out of the nine things I had, I only enjoyed two items. I shared everything with two other people and since we only liked two things, I had to drop a star. The place is super popular so waits can be long but at least the restaurant is gigantic, so seating is pretty decent.
The food:
Guava & Cheese Strudel– I thought this was the best thing I had that day. The strudel was excellent, it had a nice sweetness from the Guava filling and had a really nice flaky dough. I think this should be their number one and Cheese Rolls should be their number two.
Cheese Roll– I did enjoy this but it just tasted like a regular good Cheese Danish but with a crisp and flaky outer layer with sugar sprinkled on top. It was kinda like a croissant met up with a Cheese Danish. It was just good.
Potato Ball– Everyone on Unilocal talks about this but it was a miss for me. It really just felt like mashed potato with unseasoned ground meat with a crisp outer shell. It wasn’t terribly flavorful and kinda plain.
Pork Tamale– I was excited to try this since I am a fan of Tamales but the one here was very plain. It was kinda lifeless with no distinct flavor.
Meat Pie– I didn’t really care for the dough, it was kinda dry and felt stale, the meat reminded me of a old Jamaican beef patty filling but with a wetter consistency, kinda like a paste.
Chorizo Pie. The dough was crunchy borderline hard, I thought the dough felt like it was leftovers from the day before. The chorizo had OK flavor but was on the greasy side.
Seafood Potato Ball– This was kinda plain as well, it tasted like mash with the generic American seafood sauce inside. Meh
Tiramisu– It was pretty good, but a tad too sweet and I didn’t like the caramel flavor, the caramel flavor tasted too artificial. I did like the crunchies on top, though.
Raspberry Passion Fruit Macaron– This was easily the prettiest thing I tried. The raspberry was good and the filling was nice, but the chewy macaroon was kind off putting since they are supposed to be light and airy yet this was stick to your teeth, chewy.

Pretty much I hate my meal for good today, I asked for a plate with chicken rice beans and banana, I never taught the chicken will come with the whole skin, that was gross…

Best cheese rolls and potato balls in all of southern californiA
Throughout the years that I’ve live here u always come back when I crave for sweets.

Drove 30 minutes for these Guava rolls and worth it every time!!! I seriously love Porto’s! I have been going there for years and years, actually since I lived in Glendale. A few of my favorites that never disappoints are the Guava roll, cheese roll, potato balls (drool!), meat pie, and my ultimate favorite the Dulce de leche Napoleon! And may I add the they have the best fresh squeeze orange juice!
Porto’s may always be busy but they actually have very good service! They are organize and they definitely know how to take care of their customers. It is so popular and they have great products so your gonna wait every time! But that really is part of the experience, no way of getting around that! But I can assure you that it is worth the wait!

⁵⁄₅ stars… ALWAYS!
Can’t go wrong with Porto’s. The Cheese Rolls and Potato Balls are two of my favorites!
I tried the Passionfruit Mojito, and it was pretty
good.
It’s always busy at Porto’s, but they do their best to get your order to you in a fast and timely manner. Everyone is really nice there.

They are a 4.5 star affair or better…
I’ve been coming here since at least 2006 and while they don’t add a lot of new pastries they do a very good to excellent job on about anything they put their hand into.
Our standbys are the CHEESE ROLLS and DULCE DE LECHE SHORTBREAD KISS COOKIES. The cheese roll has that bit of cream cheese sourness which I love. The bread is light and flaky and fresh.
The kisses are a firm shorbread cookie with delicious caramel delight inside.
The CHICKEN EMPANADA was better than most Argentinean ones I’ve had. The bread was lighter and flakier and not too heavy. It served as a nice little snack along with a cheese roll until dinner time.
The ICED DULCE DE LECHE COFFEE is pretty good but maybe needs a touch more coffee to balance the sweetness of the caramel. Also, they need a real LARGE size. There is like a .30 cent different between their sizes and this time the price is right and you can barely tell which is bigger. Often there is an incentive to upgrade because you get a good amount more for not that much money. Not here…
Bring on the GRANDE my friends! For us java with our pastry lovers…
They now serve traditional CUBAN MEALS which means we’re «getting all up in this mug» for lunch or dinner the next time we’re in town.

It’s usually crowded (any location you go to), and parking can be a pain, but it’s so worth the wait. I think they put crack in the potato balls — so addictive. And in the coffee. And in everything they make.
If I could give Porto’s 10 stars, I would still push for 20.
#fatkid

First and foremost, I am a Cuban from Miami with high standards when it comes to the food I was raised on. I’ve only found a couple of spots in L.A. that kinda get it right but Portos is certainly not one of them, even though it seems to be the popular one.
The first disappointment is their croquetas… The ham and chicken both suck. The ham filling is far too creamy and the chicken is just gross, not the flavor I grew up with … And they certainly do not look like drumlets in Miami! The Papa Rellena or potato balls as some of you like to call them are boring and overpriced.
Their Cuban bread is a monstrosity and should not be called Cuban bread. Way too big and turns hard within 8 hours.
I also have issues with their semantics. I asked for a chicken and a beef empanada… but they gave me a pastelito de carne and a pastelito de pollo… which technically I guess you can call them empanadas… but any Cuban worth his/​her lechon knows the difference. Regardless, the pastelitos were nothing special and they were NOT empanadas. Oh, how I miss La Carreta in Miami!
The Cuban coffee was probably the highlight but overpriced. (You never pay more than 75 cents for a shot of Cuban crack in Miami) The Media Noche, which is my favorite Cuban sandwich, was fairly decent and probably the only thing in the menu I would ever re order… but I doubt that I will go back.
If you never had real Cuban food, then I guess it’s ok to like this place… you don’t know any better. But if you are a Cuban or a Miamian that was raised on this stuff, you might be disappointed. I certainly was and now I’m homesick! :(

Once we realized we were staying in Glendale and Porto’s made Unilocal’s top 100 list, we couldn’t resist coming here, even if it meant waking up at 7:30 and sacrificing our Sunday morning sleeping in. We were worried about the over hype, but it was totally worth it. We got the potato ball, which was nice and hearty. Confused by other Unilocal reviews, we got both the guava roll and the guava cheese streudel. The guava roll was good, but a little drier like a cookie. The guava cheese streudel was amazing. It was nice and flaky, and the guava gave such a nice tang that I never tasted before. We also got the coconut streudel which also melted in my mouth. I was worried about the coconut flavor being hidden, but it was the perfect amount. The best part? Everything was super affordable– we paid 3.75 for everything. I wish I lived next door to Porto’s.

Wow this place is packed! Super long line but also moves super fast!
Everything is very cheap and most of the pastries are under a dollar.
I got their guava strudels, cheese rolls, and seafood rolls.
Guava strudels will have to be one my favorite here and I know it is one of their popular item! The guava is not overly sweet and the outside part is flaky. Even after a day or two, it still tastes so good and not soggy.
Seafood roll and it was pretty good! Crispy outside like a mozzarella stick type of batter. A lot of hot fillings but a bit on the salty side.
Cheese roll was too salty for me but def got its unique taste to it but I’m not sure if I’m a fan of it.
I’m hoping to try more later on so yes I’ll come back for sure.

When I used to work down the block from this place, I would stop by here at least 2 – 3 times a day! In a way I miss that, but then I don’t miss the calories. This place was pretty dangerous to me. Things I have tried that are my personal favorites.
–Cubano Sandwich. Hot sandwich with a lightly crisp bread, light mayo/​mustard (which you can request on the side), ham, cheese and roast beef in it. Not to greasy at all or overwhelming in flavors and oil. It was perfect! Downfall is they do not include any plantain chips with to-​go orders which is a bummer because I love those darn chips. I think they should provide it as well to orders regardless if to go or eat in. Order is an order and should be consistent. I am paying the same amount, aren’t I? (minus ½ star)
–If you love a nice Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks, then you will like their dulce de leche latte. Taste very similar and yummy. Don’t mistaken it for their espresso macchiato as that is a straight shot. The way its suppose to be. Another hint is its cheaper than a typical latte drink so you know its something else.
–What they are known for: LOVE their potato balls, guava rolls, guava and cheese rolls, ham crochets etc. Majority of their pastries are delicious.
— What I don’t care too much for, is their cakes. They look really pretty and fancy but it looks better than they taste. To me, they are way too sweet! Maybe I am used to the fluffier and less sweet Asian style cakes. Their cakes remind me of ones from the supermarket. A bit more on the dry side and very sweet. But if you like them sweet, then these are for you! (minus ½-​star)
Service:
Its a hit and miss. Some are rude, some are rushy (I can understand why on that one and don’t blame them) but generally they are ok. Lines are SUPER long but I usually go around 10−30−11:30 or after 1:30pm, the lines are much shorter but still around a 5 – 10 min line just to order though. If to-​go, thats another 5−10min wait. During rush hour, expect to wait 30 min to order and another X amt of time to get your order number called. (minus ½ star)
Price:
They have raised their prices. Guess since they are so popular and its smack in the middle of busy downtown Glendale, they can. Example: 89 cent EACH for a potato ball is a tad too much. It adds up you know. I can easily spend over $ 40 with a few of those yummy pastries, a sandwich and latte! Yikes. But they are so yummy! (minus ½ star)

I’ve been to this Glendale Porto’s over hundreds of times in the passed 10 years. I love their potato balls, pastries and desserts. I always order their fruit tart cakes, potato balls and cheese rolls for birthday occasions. I think the fruit tart cake is the best tasting cake that they have. All the other cakes are too sweet. Occasionally, I’ll order mango mousse, raspberry cheesecake and oreo cheesecake by the slice.
But, the passed 3 times that I’ve been here… I’ve notice the food quality has gone down. Especially, their raspberry cheesecake (ordered by the slice) today. My fresh raspberry on the top of the cheesecake had mold on there. Yuck! What a waste of $ 3.15. I think the slice that they gave me was probably over a week old. I know how to make cheesecake. If it’s new the raspberry wouldn’t stain part of the cheesecake (see the pictures provided).
Wish I’d check before leaving Porto’s. You can bet I’m never coming back to this location again.

Rated Unilocal #1 and it does live up to that title!
Came here for lunch before going back to SF. Line was pretty long, waited for a good 20 min before ordering. I bought BOXES of goodies to bring back to the bay. I ordered:
Seafood Croquette: This was something new apparently. It was OK.
Ham Croquette: Delicious!!!
Chicken Croquette: Loved this one! I would say I like this one better than the ham.
Cheese Rolls: My favorite, it goes great with coffee, just the right amount of sweetness! I love it with my coffee
Guava Rolls: Pretty good, recommend cheese rolls more
Empanadas: I like this as a little snack, its the right amount if you are craving something salty
Tamales: LOVE! So good!
Guava Smoothie: Super refreshing!
With all the savory goodies, it all goes well with Tapatío sauce which they include in your order! Prices are great here, I bought a full 4 big boxes and only cost me $ 50, what a deal! Definitely recommend this place!

Portos is so good. Always crowded, good quality food at fair decent prices. The service is generally more than decent, unless they make a mistake.
So we bought several desserts for our Super Bowl party, including Mini mango mousse. They all looked great and in the 3^rd. Qtr the deserts came out.
To our dismay the mango mousse was salty, really really salty. Inedible, a ridiculous of salt. Seems they subbed salt instead of sugar. Oh man, it was bad.
We called and spoke to someone who assured us a manager would call before closing. No call came. Don’t have your employees say something that you’re not going to do. You look bad when that happens.
So we returned them today, they said ‘oh yeah, we know, sorry’ and just replaced.
No more Glendale. Downey is closer anyways

Porto’s is awesome!
This location is great. Finding metered parking in the front was very easy. Service was great. I’m a huge fan of their cheese rolls and their potato balls. The iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk is delicious too!
I would definitely return to this location.

I ordered a TERRIBLE King Cake from Porto’s. The order was two hours later than the original pick up time. When we saw the cake, my heart dropped. Terrible. It was thrown together, terribly misshapen and obviously done last minute. The cake was ordered for a work event and was so poorly done that we left the cake at the bakery and missed the event altogether due to the cake being completed pretty much after the event was over.
I will give credit to Carlos, who graciously apologized, gave us a refund and provided complimentary baked goods, but I was overall VERY disappointed in a business with such a positive reputation.

I made a special request to come to Porto’s when we were in the area recently. Totally lived up to all of its hype! The only thing is yes it gets really busy, even at totally non peak times. Be patient trying to get a table and I have to applaud the employees as they help my husband, sister, and I find a table they were very sweet about it.
Ok so now for the good stuff, the food!
We got the potato balls for an appetizer because we were starving, so good!!! I got the passion fruit mojito and I still dream about it. Perfectly tart and not sweet at all, loved it!
We got a sampling of sandwiches. I had the Pan con lechon and it was divine. The pork was seasoned well and the pickled onions went together with it so nicely. My sister had the steak torta and it was so flavorful! My husband had a pastrami sandwich and it was delicious too! All sandwiches came with plantain chips and I really liked them, a good palate cleanser.
After we were done eating we got a ton of pastries to take home. We definitely had to limit ourselves as I would have had all the things if I could have. Nothing was bad, everything was delicious. Pastry dough was spot on, flavors were amazing, and everything was delicious. Employees were all very helpful and very patient with our ordering, excellent! I will always try to find my way to Porto’s if I am in the area.

The best bakery in Los Angeles! Everything from the bakery is delicious, whether it’s cakes, croissants, bread, savory empanadas, all of it. And the prices here really can’t be beat. You’ll most likely spend as much on your latte (about $ 3.50-$ 4) as you will on food.
The cheese omelette croissant sandwich is my favorite item on the breakfast and it’s under $ 4. If you’re looking to try something out of the ordinary, get the potato balls, deep fried and filled with meat.
The list of desserts here would take up a whole page. There’s something for everyone. The lines can get long, especially on weekends but they move very fast. Some pastries are also available in the café so check both lines when arriving.
If you want breakfast, get there early as they stop serving it at 11am, which is much earlier than other local brunch spots.

Terribly disappointed in Porto’s Southwestern Salad. I used to get this all the time. This last time I ordered it:
1) It was half the size it used to be!
2) The steak was dry and chewy, and there was MUCH LESS meat in it… embarassing!
3) The veggies did not taste fresh.
4) There was hardly any avocado in it… supercheap!
What gives, Porto’s!!! You seem to be more successful than ever… why cheap out on your faithful customers now??!
Two big thumbs down!

Can’t believe I’ve never reviewed this place. But then again who doesn’t know of Porto’s!?!
I’ve been going to Porto’s for about 10 years now. I can say I’ve pretty much tried every single pastry and cakes they have to offer. On a recent visit, I got some staples to share with some of my friends down here in SD. If you know what to get, go to the café side and order from there. The line is significantly shorter and they can get anything that the bakery side has. Their sandwiches are always good, same can be said for the drinks. For big orders, make sure to place a phone order.
You really can’t go wrong. Just order what you feel like and I guarantee you it will be awesome! :)

Folks, the reviews are legit. This place is outstanding. I have only had a tenth of the food — but it’s honestly difficult to settle on what to order because it all looks amazing! I have had potato balls, coffee, empanadas, and several desserts and have yet to be disappointed in my purchase.
The lines are HUGE. But as stated in other reviews, it moves quicker than you think. Prices are very affordable.

Honeymoon phase over; it’s still super good, definitely not as good as some people rave about and buy 100 frozen potato balls of (also, maybe cut down on the meat ones and give the cheese and pepper ones a try).
Recently tried their horchata latte, on the sweet side, but a good mix of coffee and horchata, would recommend!
The one thing I’ve got to give to them is efficiency! The lines make me want to walk out the door, but they move quite quickly.

Amazing Cuban bakery. I wish I tried their Cuban sandwich and potato balls though.
I came in to get some pastries to-​go. I got some of their famous cheese sticks, guava cheese, and guava pastries for a road trip. Also a fruit tart for breakfast. All of which tasted so so good!
The fruit tart was not overly sweet, had a buttery crust, and had fresh fruit. I do feel like it was over-​priced though. The cheese-​guava pastries are addicting and inexpensive. Buy a dozen! Come here if you’re in LA, they have various locations.

My daughter insisted I come here for the pastries, and now I know why, they are addictive and very inexpensive. So far I have done the cheese rolls and the chocolate croisants and they are delicious.
It seems to always be busy, especially at lunch and after 5pm but a stroll around 2pm puts you at the front of the line.

Las potatoes bolls, red velvet cupcakes, tres leches, son lo maximo ahora que estoy embarasada solo quiero pasar comiendo Aki, una de las mejores bakery que e ido Los amo

Amazing, amazing, amazing! This is probably the best Cuban bakery you can find outside of Cuba and Miami! And to make my claims more valid, my Miami-​born, Cuban girlfriend now won’t stop talking about Porto’s after our first visit.
We tried the following and would absolutely recommend all of them!
–Papas rellenas (potato balls): amazing! crispy exterior and rich, creamy interior. Perfect!
–Guava cream pastelito: as good as it gets. Just the right mix of guava and cream cheese, and the pastry dough was so crispy!
–Medianoche (midnight sandwich): not my favorite but my girlfriend loves medianoche, it’s her staple, and she said it was really good
–Pan con bistec (steak sandwich): pretty delicious and loved the mayo + steak combo
The bakery has a sit-​down section but most people seem to do take-​outs. The pastries are put in pretty boxes and neatly organized. Definitely wish I had ordered more. Will definitely be back!

Smaller than the Burbank location but still great! Even on a Sunday morning at 7:15 am there were people with boxes in hands of delish pastries. The fruit tarts looked amazing but didn’t get to try but instead got a guava with cheese pastry and cheese bread. Affordable, tastey and friendly are words that I would use to describe Porto’s. Seriously, they need to branch out to the bay area. They would make a pretty penny.

Every time I come to SoCal I either bring in a new friend to convert with me, or I shuttle boxes on boxes of cheese rolls and potato balls back up to the bay or even BOTH.
And today, I did just that. I called in at 7am after 3 hours of sleep, ordered 7 dozen cheese rolls and potato balls for pick up at 3pm and went back to sleep. Thank god for the varying lines Portos has worked out to meet the differing needs of all the people demanding their delicious pastries! There is a express line, coffee/​pastries line, a pre order pick-​up line, and a regular order line. Despite the insane insane crowds, We were able to walk right up to the pre-​order line grab my gigantic order (and even order two extra chicken croquettes and two extra potato balls to eat there).
These freaking delicious potato balls and cheese rolls are so intensely amazing I don’t even know if the 7 dozen i ordered for coworkers/​/​friends/​/​family will even make the 6 hour drive up north with me.
TLDR; crowded as heck, will bring out the agoraphobia in you but the cheese rolls, potato balls, chicken croquettes, fruit tart is SO WORTH.
Pro-​tip: pre order a dozen potato balls and cheese rolls ahead of time. (and no, 1 dozen just isn’t enough).
Pro-​pro-​tip: heating up cold potato balls in a oven brings it back to its former crispy glory.

Yum!
Not only do they have amazing pies and cakes, they have great shakes too. Get the mango, it’s amazing!
Recently had their mango cheesecake. Sounds odd and it is, but also very delicious. Light and rich, creamy and a hint of mango = a decadent dessert!
Tip, when you buy a whole pie/​cake, you don’t have to wait in the HUGE lines. :)

Food and pastries are great but seriously, this store needs to improve their ordering system. It feels like a circus everytime I go. If you go here, make sure you have a lot of time in your hands or else you are in for a long wait. Their cheese rolls and ham croquettes are amazing and so are their cakes. Their tiramisu is the best I have ever had. :)
²⁄₁₀₀ of Unilocal 100 Challenge

I was debating on the rating for this place for a while. The food is 5 stars for sure but that line… But at this location even that isnt so bad. Burbank get a line that can sometimes wrap out the door. And while this place also has very busy times they have enough places to place your order that I’ve never felt the wait was to excessive. My favorite sandwhich is the Midnight. Ham turkey and cheese with some kinda yummy sauce (Mayo?) on sweet bread. Devine. And what can be said for all the pastries. Cheese rolls of course. I had the milk and berry cake for my wedding. Fantastic. Really can’t say enough. Theres a reason the line goes out the door. If you go to the express lane which is located right up the ramp by the place were the 2 main rooms connect you can order most things and not wait. But even if you do end up in line the wait is not to bad.
Bottom line– What else could I say that hasnt been said. Portos rocks. Im hooked for life.

Now this is not just hype! This is quality food and quality service!
Porto’s Bakery has a huge selection of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, etc. They also make delicious iced mochas.
I wrote a more extensive review for the Burbank location. I bought my wedding cake from the Burbank location only due to logistical reasons! The quality of the food is consistent between the two branches!
Parking is very difficult… Metered parking in front.
Lots of seating inside and some outdoor seating as well.
BEWARE, ALWAYS BUSY but the service is fast so nothing to worry about!
Potato balls!!! DO IT!
ENJOY!

Queues, queues, queues.
Ordering here will be chaos but the guava cheese rolls are OFF THE ROOF! Prices are crazy cheap for what you get.
The potato cheese balls are basically croquettes with a gravy filling on the inside. Good but not as good as the guava cheese rolls. They were sold out when I ordered it and I had to wait about 10 minutes for a fresh batch coming out. Cheese rolls were decent as well. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a horchata smoothie. It’s kind of like a frappuchino except it tastes like horchata.
I didn’t get this place at first, I thought people were here because everything was so cheap but it’s also because the guava cheese rolls are so good.

Love hate relationship with Portos! Love love love their pastries, however, I hate hate hate that everyone else loves them too because that means I need to wait longer!
I arrived at 6am thinking I can pick up my pre-​ordered cakes before heading to a work meeting and hopefully getting there on time, however, when I arrived at 6am, there were already about 6 people in line doing the same thing.
I def give them props for all the staff members who are so professional and make sure everything is perfect before guests walk out the door.
Parking at this location can be a hit or miss. There is meter parking in the front, but there is also a parking structure around the block.
My favorite items:
–Tres Leches cake
–Guava Cheese rolls
–Tuna Croissant
–Fruit Tarts

Porto’s !!! Believe all the hype. There’s always a long line (usually 40 min. — 1 hr. wait) but do not hesistate to come !
Their cheese rolls are the Stuff of Legends. All of their bread, pastries, and other baked goodies were very reasonably priced. And the quality and quantity you get out of it — this is a SUPER steal :)! Besides their cheese rolls, I also like their famous potato balls, Napoleon dulce de leche, dulce de leche cookies, and guava strudels .
I came on a Tuesday night, and it was still PACKED. The wait was well worth it though despite feeling rushed into picking out items due to other people waiting. I highly recommend knowing what you’re exactly going to order before coming in. It’s on my bucket list to sample everything one day ;)

Deliciosos pastelitos, creo que son los mejores, lo unico de malo es que siempre hay mucha gente, pero vale la pena esperar.

Hoy 10 de dic visite la localidad portos de Glendale ya que habia escuchado muchisimo de lo fantastico que es este lugar yo soy originario de guadalajara y vengo a los angeles a pasar mis vacasiones .pero quiero recalcar que es un sueño la panaderia esas bolitas de carne wow, el servicio es excelente el joven cajero Aurelio me brindo el servicio mas completo nosotros le explicamos que eramos visitantes y el nos recomendo las bolitas de papa y el sandwich cubano nos dijo q es la especialidad de la casa nos explico el menu excelente servicio nos explico el procedimiento la comida esquisita nos hiso sentir en familia lo felicite y le dije que si aspiraba a manager el dijo que no pero que le guataba su trabajo .que bonito encontrar gente entusiasmada haserka de su trabajo deverian contratar a ese tipo donde quiera le ofresi trabajo en mi restaurante y me dijo que lo pensaria ojala y tomara mi oferta… ojala que si …

I will always love Porto’s Bakery, whichever chain I may end up visiting for the day. Unfortunately, since I am not from the area, I did not know that Porto’s had two rooms (one café side and one bakery side) so I ended up going to the café section to order my bakery items.
Don’t get me wrong, the café section does not disappoint. It has the popular pastries that everybody craves for, which include your meat pies, chicken empanadas, guava cheese strudels, croissants, potato balls, etc. However, what I didn’t realize was that the bakery section contains so much MORE variety — everything in the café plus cakes and more sweet goodies. No wonder the bakery line was ten times longer than the café line, hah. At the café, I ended up ordering a Grilled Chicken Sandwich (which was AMAZING!) and potato balls, cheese and jalapeño balls, meat pies, cheese strudels, and a tiramisu to-​go for the family and I.
If it’s your first time at Porto’s, I would highly recommend the meat pies and the potato balls. The potato balls are a universally liked and popular choice on the menu and I end up usually purchasing 10 – 15 to take home with me — they’re that good. As for the meat pies, I absolutely love its fluffy, sweet, and flaky dough exterior. One bite into that meat pie and you’ll be eating the rest of the ones they packed in your box.
I already know I’ll be back at Porto’s when I make a trip to SoCal again — «pick up Porto’s» is always on my to-​do list.

Three generations of Porto’s lovers right here! I grew up in Glendale and my father would always come here back in the 80’s. He loved the guava rolls and empanadas. Over the years the store, menu and fan based grew but the taste is still the same. The tastes that made Porto’s the giant that it is.
Through the years, I started to bring my own daughter here, who is now 19. She can’t get enough of this place. We have introduced people from different states to Porto’s and they wished for one in their area. On a trip to Manila there was a man from Canada whose son lives in LA. The son always greets his airport arrival with a box of Porto’s. Who would of guessed that Porto’s would be our common ground!
Whenever I travel back to SoCal, I always drive back home with boxes of Porto’s inside a big cooler. I even come back with treats for my daughter’s friends.
If you have never been here, the trick is to know what you want. Look online or quickly view the case of goodies while in line. The order process is fast so don’t be intimidated by the looooong line. Remember who the person was that took your order, so you can find them when they all funnel at the register. Stay focused!
If you want something savory the potato balls are the most popular. The guava cheese rolls are also good. Now the FLAN! The flan is the best I have ever eaten. I’m Filipina so I’ve had my share of flan and their’s is PERFECT!
Actually, everything is good here. There are so many things to try at very good prices… Enjoy!

Awesome food but always crowded so just prepare. Parking can also be a bit crazy. You have to pay the meter and keep track of time. This place is great for cakes, desserts, sandwiches and coffee. I usually get my staples. The baked ham and cheese croissant and potato balls. It’s amazing. The ham croquette is good too. Desserts: the fruit tart, cheese rolls, flan, guava and cheese strudel, tres leches… you name it is good here.
There is sit down eating inside and some street side tables. They give you a number and the waiters deliver your meal to you. The prices are affordable and for the quality of food it’s just so worth it. This is one of the places I have to eat at when I come home to visit.

My favorite bakery of ALL TIME. Hands down. I’ve been coming to Porto’s for years now and I don’t ever envision that changing. Everything here is delicious.
Whenever I come here, I always get the turkey melt, which literally melts in your mouth. Make sure to ask for tapatio packets if you’re a fan of spicy. As far as the pastries go, I always pick up a dozen cheese rolls and the guava cheese strudels. They can literally last me a week and make for great snacks later. I am also a big fan of the potato balls… oh my god. My mouth is salivating as I write this review.
There is parking in the back lot where you have to feet the central meter so be sure to remember your parking stall. The lines are long, but they’re long for a reason people. It’s THAT good and it’s worth it. Trust me. Oh, and everything is extremely affordable.
What impresses me the most is that the employees don’t need a notepad to take your order. It’s all by memory which tells me that Porto’s is not only churning out great food, but also committed to providing great customer service as well!

best tres leches ever

Apenas comenzare

PORTOS ESTA MUY BUENO!!! me encanta el café y los empleados son muy buena onda la espera es algo pero siempre vale la pena mi favorito lugar!!!

Algunas veces he pensado que yo podría vivir de pan y café y este es el lugar perfecto para sentarme a disfrutar de mis adicciones. A pesar de que siempre está lleno, el servicio es rápido, de vez en cuando me atiende alguien que no está muy de buenas pero después de comerme un «guava cheese pastry» todo se me olvida. Las bolitas de papa rellenas de carne son buenas para entretener el hambre en lo que llega la comida. Si llegas antes de las 11 todavía alcanzas sándwiches con huevo. El favorito de mi esposo es el de huevo con chorizo al que le agrega guacamole y sabe todavía más rico. Y mi favorito es el sándwich de ropa vieja, que cuando he ido más tarde y con mucha hambre pido como dinner plate, acompañado de arroz, frijoles negros y plátanos fritos. Si después de todo lo salado te queda un huequito para algo dulce, el muffin con chocolate y el Napoleón son deliciosos y perfectos para compartir. Otras recomendaciones son el pan con bistec y pan con lechón. Definitivamente uno de mis lugares favoritos.

POTATO BALLS!!! Plus everything else!