Whether people come for the beverages, sandwiches, or pastries, Porto’s Bakery and Cafe provides tremendous variety to customers that keeps them coming back for more.

Located in Downey, California, Porto’s serves an assortment of Cuban cuisine that attracts locals and tourist.The well-known eatery has a casual environment with modern furnishings and soft Latin ballads playing in the background that make customers feel comfortable socializing with friends or working on assignments from their laptop.

Regardless of the never-ending meal options, the “Medianoche Sandwich” was an interesting meal to order. The sandwich has roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard on a sweet bread roll with a side combination of plantain chips.

The pickles, mayonnaise and mustard add sweet flavors to the sandwich, yet the roasted pork provides tenderness and correlates with the Cuban culture.

The plantain chips provide a salty flavor that adds to the Medianoche’s explosion of flavors. One concern that I had with this combo was the plantain chips being dry and soggy rather than crispy.If customers don’t want a pork sandwich, there are different sandwiches to choose from ranging from grilled chicken, shredded beef, tuna, and pastrami with different types of bread.

There are also several dinner plates available to customers for a larger meal that comes with white rice and black beans with the choice of grilled chicken, shredded pork, or steak. For appetizers, a famous choice among customers is the potato balls that consist of a golden brown fried shell stuffed with potato and ground beef. There are also gourmet chicken salads that contain grilled chicken, romaine and ieberg lettuce, and baked croutons.

Porto’s offers many sweet treats ranging from cheesecakes, mousse cakes, tarts, cookies, and strudels with apple, guava, and strawberry filling.

A popular dessert among Porto’s customers is the Guava and cheese pastry that is made with guava and cheese on flaky thin bread that provides the perfect combination of sweetness.

One of Porto’s signature pastries is the “Dulce de Leche Kisses”. This delicious dessert is simply a shortbread cookie with gooey caramel on the inside, yet it’s difficult for customers to just order one.

Porto’s is also a bakery that has French rolls, baguettes, and different styles of bread for people to purchase. They also offer a selection of mousse cakes for  special occasions.

To quench your thirst, Porto’s also provides a long list of beverages ranging from all-natural orange juice to fruit smoothies blended in fruit  blender. Whimsical smoothies are made with Oreos, mamey,

and eggnog. Caffeine lovers can

indulge with Porto’s lattes, cappuccinos, and Cuban coffee that is served hot or iced.

If you are interested in tasting different cultural cuisines or are simply a lover of trying new food, one Porto’s can be found in Downey at 8233 Firestone Blvd. while other locations include Burbank and Glendale.