TL;DR Travels

Your TL;DR Guide to Finding Baked Good Excellence in Southern California

TL;DR: Porto’s Bakery, beginning in the 1960s, is a Southern California gem. Started in Cuba by a woman trying to support her family, this once-small operation has grown to 6+ locations in Southern California. With baked good excellence and flavors that have delighted generations, Porto’s is a must-visit. Within a short-drive distance from Disneyland, Knott’s, OC Koreatown, and more, it is convenient to add Porto’s onto your itinerary. Prices are reasonable, but expect crowds. Free parking available.

1. Meet the Porto’s: The Family that Started It All
2. The Logistics
   1. Locations
   2. Parking for Porto’s
   3. The Best Time to Visit Porto’s
3. What do they serve?
   1. The Bakery
   2. The Cafe
   3. Deli
4. From the blog

Buena Park is a hidden gem for tourist fun. A short drive away from popular destinations like Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, the Source OC, and Medieval Times, Porto’s is the perfect stop-off for a little refueling and snack re-stocking.

If you’re a Porto’s newbie or looking for another bakery to visit the next time you’re in town, read on for a few tips from someone who adores a good baked treat!

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Meet the Porto’s: The Family that Started It All

Once a home-kitchen operation, Porto’s has now grown to culinary prominence with 6+ locations in Southern California. While the menu has expanded to include a variety of flavors and styles, the bakery’s cuban-roots continue to shine through and delight guests from all over the world.

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The Logistics

Locations

Porto’s, which once started as a small bakery in Echo Park, has now grown to several LARGE locations throughout Southern California. Today, I’ll be focusing on the Buena Park location, which is the only one in Orange County. It was reported briefly that Downtown Disney was adding the bakery to its culinary repertoire – but there are rumors swirling the plans have been cancelled (according to DIS Disney Discussion forums).

And yes! Bathrooms are available!

Parking for Porto’s

You may need to drive around bit or be patient – a spot will open up for you (it just might take a minute or two). Some lucky souls report finding things right away. Personally, I’m not one of the fortunate few and I definitely play the waiting game.

The Best Time to Visit Porto’s

Porto’s is busy…at almost every time of day. So, regardless of when you plan your trip, brace yourself for a bit of crowding. That being said, getting there closer to opening (and during the work week) will help you beat the rush. And if you do need to wait in line before getting into the building, just know everything moves quickly. Porto’s staff are well-trained and experienced at handling large crowds.

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What do they serve?

The Porto’s menu can roughly be broken down into three different sections (with three dedicated counters within the building):

• Bakery (with pastries galore)
• Cafe (for all your caffeine needs)
• Deli/prepare foods section (where you can grab lunch)

When you first enter the Buena Park location, there is a team member at the door that automatically directs you to the Bakery counter (since most people usually visit for baked goods). If you’re not planning on getting anything from the bakery, just let them know you want to order sandwiches or drinks and they can point you to the right place.

Now, a little note about accessibility and speed (I don’t know what else to call it :)). The team at Porto’s sees a ton of guests every day and they are all well-prepared at anticipating the most common questions and needs visitors have. They may speak quickly and have a general list of things to ask/say. If you aren’t comfortable in English or Spanish (or you just get overwhelmed – it happens to us all!), it might be difficult to follow-along sometimes. Feel free to let them know or ask a question if you feel like what you’re looking for is being missed (e.g. you are just here for a sandwich, not baked goods). The staff members are all incredibly friendly and efficient – you just might need to speak up if you can’t understand with how quickly they are speaking.

The Bakery

The Cafe

Deli

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Porto’s Bakery is a delight – perfect for culinary enthusiasts, foodies, locals, and tourists looking for a great spot to visit while traveling. With a convenient location in Buena Park, near other popular tourist destinations like:

• Disneyland
• Knott’s Berry Farm
• The Source OC
• Koreatown (OC)
• Medieval Times

With an amazing menu and prime location, Porto’s is perfect to add onto your next travel itinerary. Have you been to Porto’s? What’s your favorite thing on the menu?