Malta Joe's Baked Goods, LLC — Restaurant in Arizona

Absolutely delicious! Malta Joe makes the best pastizzi my husband has had outside of Malta! He's Maltese, so he knows his pastizzi. This man has had a lot of pastizzi over his lifetime.

We recently visited Malta where we had the pleasure of eating pastizzi from lots of different places. Our favorite was the pastizzi at Crystal Palace. We were in Malta for about two weeks and I kid you not, my husband had pastizzi every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. Once we were back in the states, he kept craving pastizzi. He told me that growing up in Detroit, his aunt would make delicious pastizzi before she passed away. But he said there were lots of places to get pastizzi in Detroit where you could buy them frozen and bake them at home and that he wished we had that out here in Arizona.

So I went online to see if I could find any local places that make pastizzi. In doing so, I came across some great reviews for Malta Joe's Baked Goods, so I thought I'd give him a try. I ordered two dozen pastizzi yesterday and picked them up today. As soon I returned home, my husband asked me to put several in the oven right away so that he could try them. He wasn't going to get his hopes high though because he said that the frozen ones he used to make in Detroit never tasted as good as the ones that were fresh from the bakery.

But once I pulled these out of the oven, he took one bite and was really impressed! All I could hear was "Mmmmm...., these are really good!" The crust was light and flaky, the flavors were rich and savory. He was genuinely delighted.

Yay! I'm so glad we found Malta Joe's. I have a feeling I will be ordering from him on a...

If you have not heard of pastizzi, you have most assuredly been missing out!

Malta Joe, a master craftsman of the pastizzi, appears to have mastered the perfect delicacy. Served hot, the exterior of these pastries are perfectly flaky. Sink your teeth into it, and the golden-brown dough quickly transitions from a subtle crunch to the warm, comforting texture of the ricotta filling.

Fast forward a few minutes later... and my experience was nothing short of magical. Before I knew it, I'd eaten three and was actively aspiring towards a fourth... thanks, in no small part, to the simple, wholesome ingredients that Malta Joe uses to bake these delicacies.

It should also be noted that Malta Joe is a cool guy. He's down-to-earth and eager to talk about the prominent role that pastizzi play in Maltese culture, as well as experimental recipe ideas. I'd have enjoyed these pastizzi regardless of who made them, but knowing that you're patronizing the business of a gentleman makes this gourmet experience all the more rewarding.

Anyway, I just ordered four dozen of these pastizzi. I'm making sure that this will not be the last time I'll enjoy them. I'm eager to spread the word all over Upstate New York, upon my return home, though I'm not excited about the proposition of actually sharing any of these...

WOW, WOW, WOW!! Malta Joe’s is an absolute treasure! I first learned about it from a Maltese Facebook group and made it a point to stop by while passing through Tucson — and I am SO glad I did! I called ahead and picked up a dozen pastizzi (six pizelli, six ricotta), and honestly… they are PERFECTION.

The pastry is flaky and golden, the fillings are pure heaven — the pea pastizzi have that beautiful hint of curry, and the ricotta ones are creamy, balanced, and just the right amount of savory. My grandfather used to make pastizzi, and I’ve enjoyed them all over Malta — from Mellieħa to Marsaxlokk — and I can truly say Malta Joe’s are THE BEST I’ve ever had, anywhere. Full stop.

If you’re anywhere near Tucson, go now! And if you’re not — don’t worry, they ship (and you absolutely should order!). Malta Joe’s captures the soul and flavor of Malta in every bite. Support this gem — they deserve all the success in the...