Panaderia Latina Bakery — Restaurant in Vancouver

I went for the first time about a four days ago. It is a South American bakery and for that, they deserve all the likes. I am Central American and I ordered the stuff with Salvadoran names on them (Semita, Maria Luisa, pupusas). Also they have tamales, which is not a dish attributed to Salvadorans only.

The baked goods which are South American, RIGHT ON!

It went downhill from there, for me. I spent about a 100$, picking and choosing everything I could to try later.

Pupusas, when I went, they had on the board "queso con chicharron" at 7$+ for two pupusas and a pop. The chicharron does not seem to be actual meat that has been processed specifically for pupusas(it is a long process with lots of flavours put into it), it is actually pork rinds (nasty). Salsa for pupusas, oily and very runny, curtido had bay leaves, what??? Oregano would have been more genuine.

I also bought one chicken tamal, and this also left a lot to wish for. No much flavour, the chicken is two chicken wings with bones in the tamal, the sauce was not absorbed by the tamal dough, which is suppose to in order to give the whole dish extra flavour, obviously the chicken wings were not marinated and the dough had a much more flour taste than corn flour.

For dessert, bought different pastries, including the ones I mentioned at the beginning with South American ones. Yes, South A. baked goods, were awesome, Salvadoran no so much, it seems as if they do not have real recipes for those pastries and just make it look as them but no difference and taste and texture.

This is coming from a place of love, Latina Bakery? then recipies of other parts of Latin America need to be more authentic.

P.S. Sandwiches are...

I really like Panadería Latina they have great food! Their seasonal bread offerings are fantastic. A couple of years ago, I bought a "Rosca" for New Year's -Three Wise Men's day and it was delicious! I can't wait to go and get some Bread for Dia de los Muertos -Day of the Dead. If t is as good as the Rosca from a couple years ago then I'm gonna keep coming back for more. My Mum told me she used to get bread from this place when I was a teen so they've been around a long time - and for good reason! Their empanadas are delicious and while you are eating, you can look at all the imported foods. Stuff I used to eat in Mexico over 35 years ago. I wish I were rich so I could buy it all. Unfortunately, just like everywhere else in Vancouver, anything imported from Mexico or other Latin American countries is still very expensive. Not the Panadería's fault, just saying. I do have one little bone of contention though...after I bought my Rosca, I wanted to buy one of those canned Iced teas - the long cans with different flavours which said 99c, right on the can...they were selling it for $2.49 Ended up not buying it but c'mon... If you go there, go for the food. Get a Latin American drink. You'll enjoy your food...

I wanted to love this place, but stale baked goods would not allow. After reading so many good reviews online and being 10 minutes from where i live, I was very excited to try this place. As I walked in the display cases looked amazing, so I bought an assortment for myself and friends to try. When I got home i was sorely disappointed to try this stuff and find that it was almost all stale.(at least day old)

I don't remember the Spanish names for these dishes, but here are some things i tried

churros- the one saving grace, fresh and perfectly done.

Apple turnovers- stale and tasted like wet dog smells.(probably good if they were fresh)

custard apple tart- was pretty soggy and the custard to apple ratio was too big.

caramel cake square- looked delicious but was stale as hell(again, probably would have been great fresh)

I would love to try this place again with freshly baked goods but will probably...