Porto's Bakery & Café

As my last going away happening, Julie treated me to pastries at my new favorite decadent diner... Porto's!

First, I was thoroughly hooked just by seeing the building. Built by KCSWEST, this 2-story, 22,825 sf structure is a work of art. According to its project website, it's a "Type 1 and 3 restaurant and café with 5,280 sf 1-story, Type 5 retail shell building. Project includes food preparation kitchen, small bakery, café, restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Also includes offsite work at street frontage, and large on-site parking lot behind restaurant." Impressive!

The history of Porto's is as tasty as its culinary delights. The mastermind behind it all was Cuba born Rosa. Rosa grew up surrounded by the sweet smell of her mother’s baking with recipes handed down through the generations of her family, originally from the Galicia region of Spain.

When Rosa and her husband, Raul Sr., petitioned to leave Cuba, Rosa found herself out of a job and began selling cakes out of her home to neighbors and friends to support her family. Eventually, the Portos emigrated to the US, and Rosa started baking for her friends and family right where she left off. That's where the next chapter of their family story began.

When Rosa and her family arrived in California, they had only the clothes on their backs, Raul Sr.’s strong work ethic, Rosa’s exceptional baking skills, and a dream for a better life. Soon after, Rosa began baking and selling cakes to friends and family that had heard of her fabulous cakes back in Cuba. Within a couple of years, it was not uncommon to see a line of customers picking up cakes from Rosa’s small home. In 1976, Rosa opened her first official storefront, Porto’s Bakery, on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, California. Raul Sr. would help out when not working at another local bakery, and after several years, he was able to join Rosa to continue to grow the business. Rosa’s three children, Beatriz, Raul Jr., and Margarita, helped at the Bakery after school and on weekends. They witnessed their mother’s passion for baking and cooking firsthand, which inspired them to carry on their mother’s legacy. After graduating from college, the siblings took on more significant roles within the business.

Rosa’s recipes and high standards continue to be carried on by her family, reflecting their mission of baking memories for generations to come.

What blew me away, besides the fantastic architecture and incredible staff, was the unbelievable prices. Truthfully, I was expecting to pay way too much for this experience. Boy was I wrong.

Giant loaves of bread for $4.15.

Huge almond croissants (my go-to favorite) for $2.29. It truly was unbelievable. I brought home a selection of three scrumptious treats for Steve and the grand total was $7.14. I kept the receipt as proof.