539942 Thu Jul 17 23:44:13 -0700 2008 40 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3879593 I will be trying Portos for the first time (yes how can I call myself a CH?) next week and wish to know the items I must try as I am breaking my diet. I know about the potato balls but what else do I have to sample? I was thinking more about the baked goods but as long as I am there I would not pass up the sandwiches or anything else. Thu Jul 17 23:44:14 -0700 2008 10854 SIMIHOUND 1 3879659 I adore their pastries with cream cheese and guava. The sweetness of the guava is tempered by the slight tang of the cream cheese--so delicious! Congratulations on breaking your diet :) Fri Jul 18 01:12:56 -0700 2008 3879593 107666 riceflour 2 3904619 I second riceflour's mention... those guava pastries... yum, yum. Sat Jul 26 19:49:20 -0700 2008 3879659 89472 DrBruin 1 3879668 tres leches cake :) Fri Jul 18 01:19:32 -0700 2008 3879593 15572 Emme 1 3880348 Also, their regular cheese roll (pastry with cream cheese). And personally I really like their meat pies too! --burumun http://gourmetpigs.blogspot.com Fri Jul 18 08:36:43 -0700 2008 3879593 137622 burumun 2 3880422 Wow what a website..... Fri Jul 18 08:54:12 -0700 2008 3880348 10854 SIMIHOUND 2 3880603 I second the recommendation for the cheese rolls! The potato balls are definately a must. I also like their plaintain chips. I remember being overwhelmed ther first time I went to Porto's because there were so many people and good things to try! Fri Jul 18 09:38:18 -0700 2008 3880348 66937 crystaw 1 3880376 Ask them if they have any still-warm chocolate croissants. OMG so sinful, so good. Also, their coffee is revelatory. I once put a cafe con leche next to a latte from Fourbucks and had someone try both (blind) and the results were comical -- I'd never actually seen anyone do a spit-take in real life before. Fri Jul 18 08:44:38 -0700 2008 3879593 10811 Das Ubergeek 1 3880493 Porto's makes a mean Cuban sandwich. If your going off a diet that's the way to go Ditto on the guava & cream cheese pastries. I just had them last Tuesday. Fri Jul 18 09:11:33 -0700 2008 3879593 183791 SeaCook 1 3880579 The cheese rolls are really good, its a flaky crust with a sweet cheese baked in. The potatoe balls are delish. I love their media noche sandwich, the cubano sandwich and the lechon sandwich. Desserts are a must try, I suggest the mango cheesecake, the pinapple bomb and the tres leches. I also like their meat pie and chicken empanada. Fri Jul 18 09:31:47 -0700 2008 3879593 14124 CarlieInLA 1 3880588 Any of the mini cakes are really good, so pick one (or 2 or 30) in your favorite flavor. I like anything chocolate there. Mango cake is good too. Guava pastries must be tried. Fri Jul 18 09:35:18 -0700 2008 3879593 67246 CookieEater 2 3880622 the fruit tart without a doubt Fri Jul 18 09:42:47 -0700 2008 3880588 18267 samtron608 2 3880998 yeah the mini cakes are good if you want to sample a variety. I love the mini tres leches cake. I like the guava and pineapple turnover. I don't like the brownie. I like their whole wheat breads too which come in a bun size. Basically try one of everything and you can't really go wrong. I can't say that about most other bakeries. Fri Jul 18 11:26:53 -0700 2008 3880588 10246 choctastic 1 3881476 CHEESE ROLLS!!! They're often likened to crack... lol J/K No not really. They're quite addictive... Fri Jul 18 13:33:07 -0700 2008 3879593 207912 valleychowhound 1 3881559 Media noche preparada - the midnight sandwich (Cuban on sweet bread) with croquette on it. The pastrami sandwich is also pretty great, especially to take to the Dodger game. Fri Jul 18 13:53:20 -0700 2008 3879593 15291 ErikaK 1 3881642 meat pies. dear god so good. Fri Jul 18 14:18:42 -0700 2008 3879593 91179 ns1 1 3881811 all of their pastries are excellent! the meat pies are also excellent. my favorite sandwich there is the pulled pork sandwich. Fri Jul 18 15:21:38 -0700 2008 3879593 176432 Mr. Gohan 1 3882045 The potato balls are great as are the to-die-for cheese rolls. Skip the croquetas. You should take loaf of Cuban bread home. They make the best in L.A. Rumbabas are my faves. Also love the Elephant Ears. So good with Porto's 5-star coffee. Fri Jul 18 16:54:49 -0700 2008 3879593 210406 sindy500 2 3882369 I just love their macaroons. Perfect balance of sweetness, texture and moisture. I just love them. Fri Jul 18 20:05:05 -0700 2008 3882045 178692 gado_gado 3 3882472 I got my answers guys and gals..Thanks Fri Jul 18 21:00:09 -0700 2008 3882369 10854 SIMIHOUND 4 3883111 I'm going to be the dissenter here. I do not get the love for the potato balls. I've had them many, many times. To me, they are just dense and starchy. I am going to have to try those pastries with the cream cheese and guava. They sound awesome. Sat Jul 19 08:06:12 -0700 2008 3882472 98631 Fru 5 3902423 Agree agree AGREE! Those potato balls are overrated! Fri Jul 25 17:24:59 -0700 2008 3883111 130018 jillso 1 3893470 love the empanada w/chorizo and those potato balls! Wed Jul 23 03:46:33 -0700 2008 3879593 208240 foufou 2 3901280 I just got back.....First of all I did not expect it to be such a large place with such a large parking lot. In any case...I tried and also brought home potato balls-I dont see what the hype is about those, chocolate croissants-(yes Das Ubergeek you were right as usual,) black bean and bananna dessert-oh yes! cheese rolls (truly sinfully painfully unreal) pork tamale, cubano sandwich (wow that was special) , meat pies, apple empanada, olive bread and ciabata bread and yes the guava cheese pastry. All in all very worth the trip and a great experience for the day. Now where do I hide all this from the wife? Fri Jul 25 11:06:38 -0700 2008 3893470 10854 SIMIHOUND 1 3901436 Where is porto's located, I am in need NOW!!! Fri Jul 25 11:56:21 -0700 2008 3879593 166707 JEN10 2 3901645 There are two locations. One is in Burbank and one is in Glendale. Glendale Location 315 North Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203 tel. (818) 956-5996 fax (818) 956-0696 Burbank Location 3614 W Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505 (818) 846-9100 Fri Jul 25 12:56:52 -0700 2008 3901436 52342 alliebear 3 3902068 Dang it, I live in Palos Verdes that would be a trek. I love living here but the food selection is limited. Good thing I like to cook. Fri Jul 25 14:54:43 -0700 2008 3901645 166707 JEN10 4 3902133 Porto's is to baking as Brent's is to deli. I think an occasional trek in is well worth it but I would make the trek in the morning when you know they have everything your coming for. Porto's is about golden brown flakey tidbitds on your shirt your plate and around the corners of your mouth that you know mean something was baked well, baked correctly. I am so amazed how one place can be so wonderful and also well managed. BTW those cheese rolls are "food crack." Fri Jul 25 15:22:11 -0700 2008 3902068 10854 SIMIHOUND 5 3902144 and inexpensive to boot. Fri Jul 25 15:27:19 -0700 2008 3902133 10246 choctastic 6 3903400 That's the thing... you go to a normal bakery and a danish is $2 (or more if it's one of those fancy bakeshops) -- at Porto's it's 90 cents. It's cheap as dirt and they make it up on volume. Sat Jul 26 08:56:23 -0700 2008 3902144 10811 Das Ubergeek 7 3903620 Funny thing, I never looked at prices while I was there. I bought a boat load of stuff including a sandwich, drink and at least a dozen rolls of sorts and spent less than $40.00. I can't get the place out of my mind today. Sat Jul 26 10:44:17 -0700 2008 3903400 10854 SIMIHOUND 8 3905106 I think of the prices at Porto's mostly because my favourite coffeeshop in OC (Cafe Contigo) sells Porto's pastries that they buy frozen from the main factory in Irwindale. They're much more expensive and so I notice -- but still cheaper than the gas to get to the 818 and back (even in my little tiny hybrid). Sun Jul 27 06:30:39 -0700 2008 3903620 10811 Das Ubergeek 5 3902197 I don't know how often I would make that kind of drive for Porto's, but I do know they replenish items throughout the day--I've never seen them without cheese rolls, guava with cheese rolls, potato balls, etc. If you want to purchase the love and respect of your peers, order a deli tray of potato balls, and a deli tray of cheese rolls and take that to the office for breakfast. Soooo good! Fri Jul 25 15:47:14 -0700 2008 3902133 11765 cjla 4 4684231 JEN10, good news. Tropi Cuba Cafe in Torrance buys many of their frozen parbaked pastries from Porto's. While you won't get the whole range of Porto's offerings, many of the tarts (especially the guava y queso) are there. That said, the last time I bought the Tropi Cuba version, they weren't baked correctly. The puff pastry was pale and dense instead of puffy and crisp, which means the oven wasn't hot enough. Working w/ parbaked product still requires some technical skill in the kitchen. Provided the kitchen staff are on their A game, the Tropi Cuba will save you a trip to Glendale. Thu May 14 13:30:05 -0700 2009 3902068 10023 Professor Salt 5 4684415 It is on my hit list, thank you Professor! Thu May 14 14:18:54 -0700 2009 4684231 166707 JEN10 5 4685335 At least soon it'll just be a drive to Downey, which is more palatable than Glendale... Thu May 14 19:26:42 -0700 2009 4684231 10811 Das Ubergeek 5 4685535 Thanks for posting this tip again. Missed it the first time. Can't wait to go tomorrow. Thu May 14 20:49:01 -0700 2009 4684231 11358 mpken 1 3901567 Has anyone tried their Meringue fruit torte? Just wondering if it's overly sweet? Fri Jul 25 12:34:17 -0700 2008 3879593 69711 chowchow12345678 2 3902228 PS My wife just found the cheese rolls and went nuts! She told me keep everything else I brought home and just leave those rolls for her. BTW The next time I fly out of Burbank airport I know where I am getting my sandwich for the plane. Fri Jul 25 15:58:00 -0700 2008 3901567 10854 SIMIHOUND 2 4684057 My mom and I order the cake every year for our birthdays! It is delicious with CUSTARD in the middle!! We enjoy the meringue because it's low fat :) Thu May 14 12:40:59 -0700 2009 3901567 292468 checkerboard 1 3904730 Yes, it's all amazing and so inexpensive! Let me just add my love for the chorizo empanadas, the creme brulee, mango balls (not sure of the name--organge, perfect little spheres), pineapple bomb, and let us not forget the humble apple danish! Amen! Love the place, and even with a huge line, they have enough staff to whip you right through, Sat Jul 26 20:59:30 -0700 2008 3879593 161571 maatkare