Porto's Bakery and Cafe — Restaurant in Burbank

I have seen the future and it involves me spending 90% of my time in Porto’s Bakery and Cafe. I’d heard about this place for years…I’d even driven by it once or twice…So fueled by a recent memory of a guava and cheese pastry in Florida at a Cuban Cafe, my tongue was already pre-salivating as we finally got the chance to check it out.

It was a completely satisfying and indulgent experience for me, my wife, and our 10 year old.

So the lines are long and confusing, especially as a first timer. Our goal was to order breakfast food (which they serve ’til 11am sharp) and we arrived at about 10:30 and we’re getting a little paranoid that we wouldn’t make it to the front of the line before 11. They had a staff member stationed at the door guiding people where to go but here’s the rundown to help you figure it out. Once you get in, if you want to eat in and order prepared foods (sandwiches, breakfast, soup etc) go to line on left to order from Cafe / Cashier where also some “favorites” pastries are available. If you want to order form the full bakery menu (all cakes, pastries savory and sweet, and breads) go to line on right but you won’t be able to order cafe food there. There’s also a separate ‘drinks only’ line available. We wanted to both eat and sea the extensive bakery menu so we went to the cafe and “favorites” line to order, we ate, and then we wandered through the larger bakery display area just to get the full visual experience of what they had to offer.

We did end up getting to the front of the line by 11 so we didn’t miss breakfast (it felt like they were a little flexible with that though I’ve seen other reviews which said that people had experienced a sharp cutting off of breakfast at 11 so I guess it’s a little bit of a dice roll and, if you want breakfast, get there early)

My wife had the omelet platter which she loved, especially the avocado and tomato on the eggs. It looked great with the accompanying potatoes (which she thought were a little greasy) mixed with onions and peppers, and greens. It normally comes with cheese, but she eat’s mostly vegan and they were happy to not include that per her request.

Luckily all the pastries we wanted were “favorites” so we weren’t lacking at all in the Cafe line. We shared a couple of “Rellenitas" These are on their “savory” menu but the plantains made this nicely sweet…This was very similar to what they called a “croquete” at a Cuban cafe we had just visited in Florida, and it was awesome.

We’re all vegetarians so were very happy to see a vegetarian version of their “potato balls” in the form of the “Cheese and Spicy Pepper Potato Ball”. This was also like a Croquete, coated and tasted great! Even our 10 year old liked it and he doesn’t usually go for anything with a complex flavor profile.

I opted for their Saturday soup of the day (forgoing breakfast altogether) which was the Corn Poblano Soup on a bread bowl. (They sometimes have Cream of Leek soup, and another vegetarian option.) This tasted amazing and the sourdough bread bowl, baked in house, it was served in was perfect.

We also had a Guava and Cheese Strudel - This was the authentic, exact taste I was looking for after eating it twice at Cuban places in Miami. I loved it in its flaky pastry housing. Why did it take so many decades for me to discover the glory that is mixing guava and cheese?!

Our kid loved the mango turnover he got. but not the side of potatoes.

I had a Cortadito (they say it’s like a macchiato) to drink. I’m used to Cuban coffee drinks served sweet so was surprised this wasn’t. This was good, but kind of just a regular espresso drink, tempered with a little bit with milk. I need to ask next time what a traditional sweet Cuban coffee is in their minds so I can order it.

Oh there will be a next time. This was and indulgent and awesome experience. Prepare to wait in lines. Prepare for that wait to be worth it....

4 16 2025... I had decided to order from woodland hills Porto's. The line there was ridiculous. People were lined inside in the line snaked around the roped off area and extended out towards the front door and around the corner. I decided to pre-order and go Porto's at Burbank. Had been there before. Their service was great. So I decided to do that instead. It took me 30 minutes driving down there, parking was seamless at the streets. I was actually about 15 minutes early for pickup for my order. The greeter helped me find where the line was for the pre-order. He was nice and friendly and welcoming. When I got my pre-order line, I wanted to add an order of three bowls of bean soups. Ms. Aleri was super nice, and helped me out. She even told me where to go. I love her friendly service with a smile. Another service member came to see if I needed help with my pre-order pickup. She found out when my number was ready and let me know. She advised me she will keep an eye out for my order because I had had stepped away from the pre-order waiting line. And not more than two seconds , she had brought over my order that I had placed. The wait time to pick up my bean soup was super quick as well. For the amount of time to pick up my bean soup and my pre-order items, the wait was only about 15 minutes. Or even less. They had my pre-order 15 minutes earlier, and the bean soup was hardly a wait. Overall, I would come back here to Burbank Porto's again. Excellent! Excellent service! Friendly place. And ample Street parking! Again, I had arrived a little before 2:00 p.m., so that may have made the difference

I was lucky I got there about 2:00 p.m. today. I was the first person in line for the pastry items. The other lines we're busy crazy. I had a hard time find parking but it was okay. First because I was used to the Glendale portos, and second I didn't know where the parking was. But then I found it. The service inside made all the difference.

Monae had a really nice smile and got all my orders quickly and was very very very polite. Updated me on everything that was going on. she was even very polite to me after I had to add another item I had previously given her. Excellent! Made my day! And this location was convenient with the 5 freeway exit! All my orders and check out and got to the freeway...

Porto’s Bakery in Burbank is a bustling beacon of delightful pastries, savory delights, and refreshing beverages that never fails to impress, even if navigating its squishy and perpetually full parking lot can be a bit of a challenge. Despite the constant buzz, the employees manage to maintain a friendly demeanor, efficiently moving the lines along. It’s wise to prepare a list of desired items while queueing; this organizational tip can help ensure that every delicious morsel you’ve anticipated makes it into your order, especially given the rare occasion when an item might be missed.

My visits, often timed as a delicious pitstop en route back to the Bay Area, have cemented Porto’s as a consistent favorite. The food quality never waivers, from the flaky, buttery layers of the Chocolate Croissants to the savory satisfaction of the Potato Pepper Balls and the perfectly crisped Chicken Croquettes. The Cheese Rolls, bought by the dozen, are irresistibly good, making it impossible to stop at just one.

The Carne Asada and Cubano Sandwiches are standout options for a more filling meal, packed with flavor and expertly prepared. Similarly, the Ham n Cheese and Chicken Milanese Sandwiches do not disappoint, offering a comforting taste of home-cooked goodness. For those with a sweet tooth, the bakery shines with its array of desserts – the Napoleon Slice Cake, Strawberry Mousse, and Apple Strudel are just a few examples of their exquisite offerings. Not to be overlooked, the Mango and Passion Smoothies provide a refreshing complement to the meal, bursting with fruity flavors.

Porto’s Bakery in Burbank is a gem worth navigating any parking hassle for. Its combination of warm service, efficient operations, and consistently delicious offerings make it a must-visit for anyone craving a taste of Cuban-inspired delights. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Porto’s is an experience that...