BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

My sis and her friend, Mai, came in town super-late Thursday night (Friday morning) to spend the weekend with lil ol' me. This morning my roomie, Ning, had to run an errand in Pasadena, but we first stopped through Burbank for a quick appointment that she had. We decided to grab brunch at Porto's Bakery, which is a Cuban-American family-owned bakery (locations in Glendale and Burbank). Anyone in the greater L.A. area knows that this place is simply amazing. Even before 11AM on a Saturday morning, the line was out the door.

My sis, Mai and I stayed in line to order while Ning went to her appointment. This is what I personally ended up with:

Clockwise from top-right: chorizo pie, cheese roll, and potato ball

Media Noche Preparada (Midnight Sandwich w/Croquettes)

This meal was obviously one of the best brunches I've had in a long time. We each got different sandwiches. Aside from the Media Noche Preparada (which is made of slow-roasted pork, ham, mashed potato croquettes, Swiss cheese, butter, and mustard on a sweet roll), the other sandwiches presence were: Cubano (slow-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on Cuban bread), Pan con Lechon (slow-roasted pork, mojo garlic sauce, and grilled onions on grilled Cuban bread), and the classic Cubano (slow-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on Cuban bread). Each sandwich was served with a side of Mariquitas, homemade plaintain chips.

Also magically appearing on our table (right): Potato Balls (Papas rellenas) - mashed potato with seasoned ground beef breaded and fried into a bowl, a Chorizo Pie (Pastel de Chorizo) - Spanish-style empanada filled with pork, and the famous Cheese Rolls - pastry filled with a sweet queso fresca-ish cheese filling. To drink we had cups of delicious coffee and a mango smoothie to wash it all down.

Porto's Bakery is also known for their desserts... none of which we even came close to touching. But their selection of sweets can easily send you into an unbelievably happy place: cheesecake slices, mango mousse balls, tarts, flan, bread pudding, and even Capuchinos - a very traditional Cuban treat of cone-shaped light sponge cake soaked in rum syrup...to name a few.

Best place EVARRR!!!
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Porto's Bakery, 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504, 818.846.9100