Bella Flan Bakery and Cafe — Restaurant in Richardson

I'm not the type of person to really go hunting for special, new places to get food from. I like to just take what I find naturally, and find quality in that way. Right near the beginning of my debilitating addiction to Dutch Bros, we visited the Arapaho location of the chain to get some coffee. while waiting in line, my girlfriend and I discussed what we would like to eat. She was looking for something sweet, I was looking for something savory.

We looked across the way and spotted Bella Flan, an unassuming spot that I assumed was just a flan-only shop. When my GF looked it up however, we saw they also had Cuban sandwiches and other eats. Curious of this new restaurant, we made our way over.

The food was RIDICULOUSLY good. I was shocked. I'm no expert in Cuban food, but I liked the sandwich I got more than the ones I had eaten at other places in town, like Latin Deli. I also had a side of these tasty... fries? are they fries? they're very small, super crunchy and satisfying to eat, but they remind me more of a blooming onion in structure than your standard serving of fries. Either way, DELICIOUS.

The star for me, however, is the selection of savory pastries in the heater on the counter. I had never had a potato ball before visiting this place, but they are really amazing. I've gone in a few times after to just buy one or two of those while working, because they're a very easy, fast and filling way to get some grub when time is short. One time I even came in specifically to get some potato balls, but when I noticed that they were out, the owner offered to make me some fresh! That leads me into my biggest point of praise for this place, the service.

On our second visit, which was well over a month after our first, as soon as we arrived the very first thing we heard was "you're back!" Personally, I tend to get embarrassed or slightly annoyed when the cashier at the gas station or whatnot starts to recognize me. I don't fully understand why this bothers me, but it seems like a very silly thing to get upset about. Especially considering how I felt hearing that same thing from the owner of Bella Flan. It didnt feel forced or salesman-like, It felt genuine.

I think I've only met maybe 5 or so people in my life who radiate so much happiness and positivity that it can cut through my general feeling of malaise and raise my spirits. I treasure those types of people in my life. Oddly enough though, I'd consider the owner of this shop to be one of those 5 or so people I'm referring to. I don't know much personally about the lady, but I do know every time I've gone into her shop and spoken to her, I've left happier inside. And that's not counting the happiness from the food, It's just really great and uplifting to be able to meet and be taken care of by someone who feels like they genuinely care.

Just to note, I don't actually like flan. I've tried it from many places including here, its just not my thing. It's not even an issue of taste, I just cant stomach the texture. But, since Flan is this places' namesake, I will note that my girl thinks the flan here is some of the best she's ever had. And this is saying something, since she's the type to order flan from anywhere if it's on the menu.

What's extra interesting is the cultural fusion present in the flavors. The owner's firsthand experience and knowledge of Cuban cuisine is pretty well evident in the food quality, but the distinctly Asian taste comes out in the selection of flan, like the Ube and Lychee flavors. It makes for a very interesting cultural intersection that you can't find in many other places, and also tells a story of the influences and personal history the owner has brought to the table from her life.

Anyways, I intend to keep coming by this place as long as I can. There's only so many shops in town that bring this level of comfort and happiness, and I cherish that. Big thank you to the owner, her daughter, and the rest of the staff I've met at the place. I've never had a bad experience, and I doubt I ever will. Hope to...

Been here a couple of times already and am happy to say I will be back many more times in the future. First, the cashier/server/front desk woman is extremely friendly. Ordering is easy straightforward, as you would expect.

The Cubano is fantastic. I've had many Cubanos across the country trying to find one that is right for me, and I can say that this is by far my favorite readily accessible one. The bread comes out warm and crispy. The meats inside are hot and juicy, with a perfect balance of flavor between the mustard and pickles. Love it.

Their baked goods are great too. I haven't been able to try all of them, just a couple, but so far, I've been impressed. They are perfectly crispy, and the fillings are tasty. I'd be happy to have them again. The Cuban flan was fantastic as well--very smooth and tasty! EDIT: Forgot to mention the plantain chips. Never had them before coming here and I have to say, they are SO GOOD and SO addicting. Can't stop eating them!

I look forward to trying more that this restaurant has to offer (though that might be difficult, as I love the Cubano so much). Thank you for the great service and tasty food!...

My GF loves desserts and saw a post on Facebook. It was close to home, so we decided to check it out. I never expected to walk out with over $30 worth of desserts in hand. The staff was incredibly friendly and the flan and arroz con leche were AMAZING! I was sad when I dropped some of it on my living room floor 😪 I even considered going back but it was too late at night. Back to the review... Atmosphere was good, the normal cafe vibe and the decor was minimal but very nice for the type of food and desserts they serve. What I like the most was the friendly service. We had a nice conversation with our checkout lady. No real complaints except for the fact that I had trouble ringing out on my card but only because I wasn't paying attention to the square machine due to our pleasant conversation. After one or two tries I was able to pay. I haven't tried there cuban food but I hear its tasty. Definitely going back for more and will try out some of their other items! Wish I had some pictures, I'll be sure to grab some next time 😁...