- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Gigi's Bakery & Café
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Latin American Bakeries, Latin American [Edit]
2200 W Temple StLos Angeles, CA 90026
Neighborhoods: Westlake, Silver Lake
(213) 483-6152
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 6:30 am - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 6:30 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for Gigi's Bakery & Café
Review Highlights
"A Double Cuban Espresso sets you back $2.25 at Gigi's."
(in 32 reviews)
"i love their guava & cheese."
(in 11 reviews)
"I tried Coco Flan and the Strawberry Tres Leches."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
74 reviews in English
-
Review from Vicky H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
If you are ever looking for a custom cake, this is the place. Ask for Lindsey, she will make your life so much easier.
I had to whip up a last minute idea for a birthday cake and as crazy as it sounds, asked her to make a 3 tier cake within 24 hours and she actually came through! Even more amazing is what happened when my sister went to go pick it up, unfortunately, the cake was a bit unstable and when this guy from the bakery was helping her carry it out, it fell on the floor.........................tear................ sniffle.................destroying the cake in the box. Lindsey came back to work and took 2 hours to fix the cake, but she did it! It ended up being a 2 tier, but it was so sweet of her and they didn't even charge me for the cake because they felt bad???!!! They even said the next cake will be on them???!!! Still cant' believe how nice they were. I will always be a fan of her and Gigi's bakery for their hard work, kick ass customer service and really good cakes for the price!
Oh one more thing, a certain health nut requested non-fat, non-sugar, non-butter cake as if there were such a thing, but it was his birthday so I asked Lindsey if she could make it less sweet and surprisingly, the health nut LOVED the cake... woo hoo~ -
Review from Alex S.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The definition of a hidden gem.
I love cuban food. Someone once asked me what my favorite cuisine was, and I said it was a tie between Cuban and Tuscan. That was... a long time ago, but Cuban food still holds a special place in my heart (usually clogging my arteries with all the oil! Hey-o!). So to find a cuban spot oh so close to my humble apartment was beyond glee.
I never really noticed this place until (I think) they changed their sign but my friend told me we should go when we were playing a show nearby at the Bootleg. It was literally a five minute walk so if you have to kill time before going to a show at the Bootleg (and it's before 8) this is the place to hit.
He and I split the Gorgonzola Bacon Burger (the burger made with both ground beef AND chorizo!) and Cuban Sandwich. I also got a beef empanada.
For one sandwich, an empanada and a bottle of water, I paid less than $8. The sandwiches are all $5. And they're not petit.
-We didn't realize that they asked us what kind of bread we wanted on the burger but we got the standard egg sesame bun. Was it a great burger? No. Was it a pretty good burger for $5? Yes. Granted the Yuca's on Hillhurst burger probably remains my favorite burger under $5 (yes, even above In-N-Out - trust me) but this one here was a little different. Very thin patty, the chorizo was still flavorful. The bacon was probably the best component of the burger, Nice, thick and juicy. A common complement I also receive from the female race. Kidding, girls don't talk to me! Hahahah... :-(
The cuban sandwich was, well, lacking. There was no pickle, nor mustard though both were clearly indicated on the menu. They must've made a mistake. At least that's what I told myself after I vigorously showered in boiling hot water for 75 minutes after the meal while crying. No... I'm kiddin- 85 minutes :-(
But both dishes came with great plantain chips and some magically green oil sauce called "mojo". The name made me think of Austin Powers's sperm, but all I could taste was awesomeness. Shagadelic, baby!
The beef empanada was great, well, the empanada was. The beef was, good enough. It's what's for dinner! Fuggadaboutit. Memorable quote!
What was super awesome about this whole meal was that at some point before our sandwiches came, one of the employees gave us a LARGE platter of different pastries - ALL. FOR. FREE! I mean, c'mon! Your food was cheap enough (and good enough), you had me at less than $8 but now you gotta give me FREE food too? I mean, can we just get married already, Gigi's? C'mon! -
Review from Jasmine C.
Alhambra, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was introduced to this place as "fake Portos," but honestly, I think we should honor it by knowing the name. Gigi's is awesome! Small but cozy little Cuban bakery/restaurant and extremely homey and delicious food!
POTATO BALLS. oh. em. gee. These are DELICIOUS. I don't actually like the potato balls at Portos (yes, gasp all you want and be appalled) because I think they're kind of mushy and not that flavorful. But WOW these potato balls at Gigi were crispy, crunchy on the outside like it looks like it would be (darn deceiving Portos balls) and the filling inside was savory and meaty and all kinds of goodness! AND these potato balls are bigger than the Portos ones. Wow...I want another one just thinking about it.
The Chicken Pies are just okay...I like the Portos empanadas better. As for the sandwiches, other people ordered the median noche and cubano which both looked sooo good and I kind of wish I had ordered those too. I ordered the pan con lechon, which was good, but slightly drier than I would have liked. However, they give this heavenly garlic oil sauce that's slightly sweet to go with your sandwich.... BEST. GARLIC. SAUCE. EVER. You'll smell great afterwards, but it's so worth it. And what's nice is that they give you the fried plantains even with your takeout order (unlike Portos.)
Our orders were taken by the who I assumed was the owner...and he walks out to take your order on a pad. He was super nice! There were 5 people in our group and he gave us each complementary guava cheese pastries! I would have picked one up anyway if he didn't ask. The sad part is that I didn't actually get to try the guava cheese because of a slight mix up with the other people in our group, but it's okay because I WILL be back! :)
The cakes look good too, and I'd be down to try some of them out when I come back in a couple weeks! :] I'm leaving this at 4 stars for now so I can bump it up when I try more things! The only thing that kind of sucks is the parking. The big question is...would I come here or go to Portos if I had the choice? It probably depends where I'm closer to, but I would come here for sure if it were closer. If you think Portos prices are great, Gigi's is even better! -
Review from Vincent R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am not a big fan of sweets, but I really love their guava & cheese and guava pie. The crust is amazingly flakey and light and delightfully encapsulated the sweetness of the guava. The texture of the cheese wonderfully complements the guava. Also, they are pretty cheap ($0.75 each).
But in any case, the staff is super friendly. I came in and the manager asked me what I wanted. I was debating between the guava and the guava cheese and without even asking he gave me both to try. -
Review from Janice L.
Fullerton, CA
1/27/2012
This place is a diamond in the rough, for sure. I was blown away by the variety of baked goods, the tasty cuban sandwiches, and the very affordable prices! Gigi's is the less bourgeois version of Porto's. It has friendly and relatively fast service and a small but sufficient amount of seating. I think it's best to find street parking on a small street off Temple St.
I spent $5 for my yummy chicken cuban sandwich that came with a DELICIOUS garlic oil dip and plantain chips. I also ordered a slice of guava pie that was ...wait for it... 75 cents! I am definitely coming back to try their other menu items and pastries.
The only thing I was kind of disappointed by is the fact they didn't serve iced coffee even though it was on the menu. -
Review from Mai L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/27/2011
I love coming here!!!! As a poor law student this place is perfect for getting my cuban fix at a cheap price! My bf likes their chicken pies (sadly last time we ordered four and got beef instead :( but it's okay, I forgive you Gigi's!) and I like their cubano sandwich.
Food: DINGDINGDING good! Try their tamales!
Price: For 2 easily can be less than $10
Location: Not too hard to find (street parking only but that's the norm in LA)
Service: Good, although wait can be a while but it is not unreasonable -
Review from Monica G.
Alhambra, CA
1/19/2012
What a cute place! I highly recommend that everyone supports small businesses and this cafe/bakery/cuban delight haven is no exception. Wonderful people, laid back and comfortable atmosphere, good place to grab lunch or a pan dulce and coffee ,etc. I will definitely be back to try other things off the menu.
-
Review from Lovefood F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Ive been coming here for the past 15 years.
They have good food. They have a great burger with chorizo mmm!!
Great lattes! I mostly come for the lattes and scrambled egg breakfast both under $10 :)
They also serve Salvadorean tamales.They're good.
But I must warn you the workers are SOOOOO SLOOOOOW!! They do not even move faster when there is a line out the door! unbelievable!
So do not stop by if you are on a time crunch! -
Review from Mimi C.
Updated - 10/28/2011
**One of the owners, Frank has been so kind to reply and address my concerns. We'll have to come back and try their pastries again!
--------------------
Wow.. Gigi's has gone down in quality. =((((
We ordered their guava cheese this time and the breading texture was very off. Didn't even have the nice croissant flakey-ness anymore. It was just... flat, bland and boring. Inside wasn't really good either.. not a lot of guava and tons of cheese. I didn't even finish it.
Service is also not as good. I get that you're busy and there are a lot of people to serve ... but it takes FOREVER (okay, maybe 5-10 minutes) to get through EACH order. It's also loud cuz there are so many people talking..hubby asked how much and couldn't hear the cashier ..so she annoyingly repeated the price.. in Spanish (she told us in English the first time --- I heard it). Not that we don't understand Spanish, but honestly, she could've just repeated it in English.
BOO Gigi's... I hope you do better soon or else Porto's will really put you out of business.Listed in: So. Cal Cuban Delights!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/20/2011
Gigi's is really really good. I'm almost about to give it 5 stars, but I'll wait until I go back for… Read more »
-
-
Review from Maggie C.
10/17/2011 14 photos
I read reviews on this place and decided to get my favorite guava cheese pie from here. Then I realized I actually went here 2 years ago and never wrote a review.
I waited a while for my turn to order since these ladies took their time ordering. The cashier was super polite and patient taking care of the customers.
Ordered guava cheese pie, guava pie, ham croquette and potato ball. The cashier said that it would take 5 minutes for potato ball. I ordered 1 potato ball so I was very impressed that she would make that for me. I paid and sat down for less than a minute before my potato ball was done. Too bad they didn't have sweet plantains and I didn't want to wait 10 minutes.
My total damage was less than $4 but I was treated like royalty. I still prefer guava pie and ham croquette from Porto's but this place is great. Gigi's also sells burger, fries, tamales, empanadas, cakes and cookies.
3.5 stars!!
Gigi's Bakery & Cafe is yummylicious!!!Listed in: Bakeries in LA & OC, My love for Latin foods, Empanadas, Guava
-
Review from Miguel R.
9/27/2011
Gigi's bakery is NOT the cheapest but it is the BEST!!!!
Why do I say this?
Gigi's delicious traditional Cuban Guava Pastry (Pastelito de Guayaba) costs $0.75 and Tropicana in Downey the next best Guava Pastry in Los Angeles sell for $0.75 and then Porto's sells if for $0.70.... WHOAH, wait just one minute. Isn't that practically the same? Well, NO! Gigi's sells a wedge and Tropicana and Porto's sell a square. Do the math! Gigi's gives you a little more than half of what Tropicana does. The quality in taste is just about the same between all three on the surface but there's more to it as you shall see.
Gigi's delicious traditional Cuban Croquettes (Croquetas) which are made of very finely minced ham (pureed in some places) and covered with breading in the shape of a small weiner cost $0.75 each. At Porto's they are $0.78 each. At Tropicana they cost $0.85 for two!!!! WOW!!!! Unless they messed up my order they are way cheaper at Tropicana. However kiddies, Gigi's Croquetas are far far superior in all categories. The breading is tastier and so is the minced ham. At Gigi's it has a really nice smoky flavor. Mind you the smoky flavor may not be traditional. I do not recall Croquetas being smoky when my Cuban best friend's mother would serve them back when I was in Junior High. Porto's croquetas are better than Tropicana's.
Cuban Espresso!!!! You can't have a nice Cuban meal without Cuban Espresso. Cuban Espresso is NOT like Starbucks Espresso. It is far superior!!!! Cuban Coffee uses 100% Colombian beans and other Espressos use blends of African and Colombian or are all African. I much prefer Cuban Espresso to European, Turkish or Armenian Espresso. Cuban Espresso helps bring out the flavor and sweetness in the Guava Pastries. The other Espressos have more of a blending effect that does not bring out flavor and sweetness as much. A Double Cuban Espresso sets you back $2.25 at Gigi's. At Porto's it's $1.79. At Tropicana it's a mere $1.95 and it included a small biscotti once.
At the end of the day an order of Croquetas, a Guava Pastry, and a Cuban Coffee sets you back $3.75 at Gigi's. Porto's would be $3.27 which is $0.48 less. At Tropicana it is a total of $3.55. That is $.20 less at Tropicana plus the extra croqueta and biscotti and better tasting coffee. Tropicana and Porto's are a steal right?
Maybe not! Gigi's pastries are slightly better and since they are wedge shaped they are less bread and more DELICIOUS guava filling!!!! Some bites of Tropicana's Guava Pastries are mostly if not all bread. Porto's has even less filling. Most bites of Gigi's are filled with delicious guava filling!!!! At Gigi's there is also the "pie factor". They bake their Guava Pastries in the form of a pie and cut out wedges. At Tropicana and Porto's they make individual Pastries. That is why there is more bread in a Tropicana and Porto's Guava Pastry. It doesn't stop there though. Since Gigi's bakes Guava Pastry pies you NEVER get over baked guava filling. Both Porto's and Tropicana do. Ever notice that sometimes there is dry chewy guava filling near the edges? That never happens at Gigi's.
Whew!!!!
Let me also mention that Gigi's has a really cool manager that sometimes gives out full sized free samples!!!! On two occasions my friend ArmaNaco and I came he gave us free Guava Pastries. On one occasion ArmaNaco got free fries and I got a free regular coffee!!!! How can you beat that? He is a hardworking and humble man who really has a passion in transmitting his grandfather's bread recipes. He takes the time to serve customers himself just as good as the best waiters-no kidding-I've seen it many times. He's the hardest working man in the Cuban Bakery business!!!! His name is Frank. Trust me he gives Yelpers our due importance!!!!
Frank strives to maintain good service aside from quality food with quality ingredients. We spoke about this at length. The only other owner I have met that cares about us Yelpers is at El Rinconcito Guatemalteco on Western and I recommend them too very highly.
Beware....hipsters know about this place :(
But this fact is offset by Gigi's ambiance and authenticity. If you look to the right hand corner of the store as you enter you may just see the bunch of mature Cuban and Puerto Rican men that hang out every day it seems. I've seen them many times and their spot is THEIR spot haha!!!! Ladies and gents Cuban bakeries are social events for people like them who appreciate food as good as if from Cuba itself. Look around at your favorite Cuban place....do you see mature Cuban men that know what Cuban is supposed to taste like?
Parking is no problem at Gigi's! They have parking in the rear. It's not easy to tell though. The entrance is on the left hand side of the bakery.
At the end of the day, in terms of Cuban food....
1. Gigi's - Taste and no skimping!!!!
2. Tropicana - Value but they skimp
3. Porto's - Value but they really skimp -
Review from Karla F.
Covina, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
mmmmmmmmmmmm omg yummmmmmmmmm
The food is amazing here! The sandwiches are packed with flavor and fill you up good. I haven't tried the breakfast menu but the lunch menu doesn't disappoint. I tried the Pan con bistec sandwich and basically all I said during lunch was "mmmmmyummmmm."
But whatever you do, don't leave here without trying the sweet plantains. Seriously! It's a Cuban cafe you MUST eat plantains AND the POTATO BALLS!!!! Omg try them...it would be a sin not to.
A few things about the establishment: They don't have a public restroom and the line can get a little long but its worth the wait. Also, I went on a weekend so there was plenty of street parking. The doors are usually left open so theres an ocassional fly trying to steal your food but not enough to deem this place unsanitary. And to perfectly honest these are just minor issues in my eyes, but I am writing it for the sticklers and high maintenance peeps. -
Review from Cristine D.
Fresno, CA
1/17/2012
One of the toughest things about moving from Miami to Fresno was dealing with the fact that if we wanted any kind of Cuban food we would have to make it ourselves, because there isn't a single Cuban restaurant or bakery in the whole city. Luckily we we found Gigi's while visiting a friend in L.A. this past weekend and immediately felt at home. The older cuban men talking and enjoying their cafe con leches, the delicious and authentic pastries/pastelitos, media noche sandwich, congri, maduros, pollo a la plancha, etc, and the very friendly and kind owner all made for an extremely enjoyable brunch. The desserts all looked amazing. The whole place is very clean and everything is beautifully presented. The only thing I hate about this place is that it is so far from us, but it beats flying to the east coast. Can't wait to go back to get our fix. Thank you Gigi's!!!!!!!!
-
Review from Adriana L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gigi's bakery is the type of place you want to go to if you are in the mood for Porto's style pastries but you don't want to wait in a long line. The prices are very competitive. I ordered a Cuban sandwich it was warm, buttery and toasty. It came with a side of french fries for only $4.99. The guava cheese pastries are very similar to Porto's except the ones at Porto's are made with a buttery flaky (croissant like) dough and Gigi's are more dense in texture.
-
Review from Greg P.
Los Angeles, CA
7/12/2011
This establishment is a great example of "Making Great Food Affordable & Enjoyable." Not only do you enjoy the flavors but also know you are getting more than your money's worth which makes the food even more enjoyable!! Nothing sucks more than paying for a $10 burger thats the size of a toddler's hand. During the economic downturn, it's rare to find an eatery that can offer affordable prices without giving up quality, freshness, value and flavor.
I have tried quite a few items here but I'll review their burgers since all these gourmet burger joints are popping up in LA. It's been a minute since I ate there so I have forgotten some of the details. I had the Burger which I believe it was on special, the price was about $3.95.
Not only was the bun 100% fresh, baked right there, their patty was also fresh! It wasn't frozen, I know cuz it wasn't in a shape of a square (umm Wendy's) or perfect circle (umm McDonalds/Burger King/etc), it was fresh, thick and Angus!
Every since the economy took a dive in every industry, every burger joint, either made their patties paper thin or charged an arm and leg for cow left overs. Here its about value, quality, freshness and love!
FYI: This place gets 5 stars b/c the owner is open to feedback to ensure the best quality! -
Review from LARRY T.
Fairfax, VA
9/23/2011
We drop in every chance we get when in LA more for the bakery than the cafe. We probably annoy the heck out of the employees because everything looks so good but we can never remember what's what. Thankfully the service is always courteous and patient, just like the owner if you catch him there. Our solid favorite is anything with pink guava filling. Prices are great too- a half-dozen for less than $4! Enjoy with a sip of espresso.
Only demerit was the Cuban sandwich. The bread was fine but it basically was a ham sandwich, heavy on the ham. Have not had the burgers but that looks like the better bet. The plantain chips are a nice touch. -
Review from Mary D.
One thing I wished Gigi's had would be labels in the pastry windows. Other than that I tried a potato ball which was delicious and a so-so guava cheese pastry (I can do without).
It was fairly priced and no crazy lines like Porto's. I will be back to try their sandwiches. -
Review from Smitcha B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2011
One of the best things to come out of Cuba since cigars, media noche sandwiches, and the ending to Bad Boys Part II.
I promised people I would let them know where I got the awesome cake this past weekend by saying that I will Yelp the spot where I got it from. So here it is folks...
I needed a more then average cake for a special occasion. After doing some online research, I was led to Gigi's. I walked in mid week and although I had some language issues with the lady at the counter about what kind of cake I wanted, Lindsey the baker/decorator aka the genius crafts-woman came out to talk to me about what I needed. We broke down exactly what I wanted, the kind of cake, stuffing, fruit, color, size, etc. Because it was a custom cake, I paid a little more but I somehow knew that this was going to be worth every penny.
We established that the cake would be picked up some time after 12 noon this past Saturday. I was about half an hour early so I sat and watched as people flooded in & out of the bakery. Lindsey was still working on the cake which meant that it was definietly fresh. I noticed that 80% of the patrons who came in were ordering the tamales which I later learned that it wasn't on the menu but was heavily favored. They carry all sorts of tamales from Cuban, to Mexican, to Salvadorian, etc. Now, I'm going to have to return for a follow up with the tamales since it seemed like such a big hit.
As I was waiting for the cake, Frank who I will assume was the owner came up to me and offered me a guava/cheese roll on the house for being so patient. Remember, I was there early for the meet up time so it wasn't their fault nor do I blame them. He later returned with some coffee which at this point I couldn't take it off his hands without at least giving him something for it. He still wouldn't take it until I told him to add it the tip jar for the ladies at the counter.
When the cake was presented to me I wasn't able to say much because I was impressed with it and I was only able to mumble out, "perfect." Frank carried the cake and help me safely secure it in my car. Precious cargo was now on board. This is one thing I value most about smaller shops like Gigi's, the personal customer service. There's nothing like it. Now if only places had people like Frank and Lindsey working for them.
The cake was a big hit. Everyone was impressed and seemed to enjoy every bite. Some even took it home because I was not going to let it go to waste. The cake itself was perfectly moist and not overwhelmingly sweet. The chocolate layers with the Bavarian filling mixed with fresh strawberries was a chemical balance waiting to infect our taste buds.
Thank you Gigi's for all your hard work. Solid five stars well deserved. -
Review from Sherie M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/29/2011
Tried five, count'em five, new places one weekend in February and all were great, but in terms of value+quality+taste and a great first time, I had to give this 1st review of that weekend to Gigi's Bakery and Cafe.
Dee-licious pan con lechon. And the owner, Frank, you made a memorable first impression on me. Frank took our order (mine - pan con lechon and the bf's was a Cuban sandwich both accompanied by thinly sliced fried plaintains with a oily/garlicy dipping sauce on the side He comped us a "Cuban Burger", a new addition to their specialties - burger with chorizo in it, smothered in onions and these thin thin thin slices of crispy shoestring potatoes on a soft burger bun. Unfortunately I profess, I'm not a big fan of the taste of chorizo, but I'm game to try things just once. If you like chorizo, you'll really like this burger. I especially appreciated that it was juicy yet not greasy.
At the end of the meal we ordered some pastries and coffee (which I love to drink after a full meal) and Mr. Frank sent over two complimentary chocolate truffles. We lingered at Gigi's for a little over 3 hours to just enjoy a relaxing meal.
They carry a large selection of pastries including potato balls, guava pastry & guava n cheese pastry. Yay! No having to wait in the deservedly long lines Porto's Glendale to get my fix!
I've taken friends here a few times and picked up pastries for work and special events (even got pastries for my ma for Mother's Day which she loves!). It's my go-to place for great snackage and I'm a total regular there. Most of the time Frank isn't there so service can get kinda slow with his other employees, but I'm usually not in a hurry when I go so I'll hang out. Parkings available in the back so go check out when you can. (But leave me a few potato balls please!) -
Review from Harrison G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/4/2011
Oh man, so good. And so cheap!
I biked here from my home on the west side because I had a feeling I'd go overboard and would need to burn some calories. I ordered several sweet and one savory empanada (guava and pollo, among others) as well as some pastry with a milk custard in the center.
Everything was delicious. I wish I had had more space in my bag to take some home with me as this place is too far to visit on a regular basis. The staff was very friendly and the owner was even out and about conversing with the customers.
My one complaint is that it's too easy to order too much! Most things are small portions and every item is incredibly affordable. If only every bakery could be like this. -
Review from Nick S.
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my second visit to Gigi's and I loved it both times. The first time I ordered the tuna sandwich on Cuban sweet bread with plantain chips. All for the super cheap price of 2.99! Excellent deal. The owner, Frank, is a really nice guy and came out both times to chat with me. The first time he gave me a free cafe con leche, just for chatting with him and telling him that I enjoyed the meal.
Today I had the Cuban Chicken Burger, which had chicken, guacamole, grilled onions, green and red peppers, cheese, tomato and lettuce and was served on Cuban sweet bread. Very tasty and served with a side of plantain chips. The chicken was juicy and good quality. The grilled peppers and onions were also delicious. Altogether, a killer deal. Also, it only cost $3.45! The food here was fantastic. Frank came out again and gave me a slice of their chocolate banana bread pudding pie (which was as fantastic as it sounds) and a cortado. He is a sweet guy and this bakery has excellent food. For delicious, affordable food, Gigi's is a great spot.Listed in: K-Town & Westlake stuff
-
Review from Nick M.
Pasadena, CA
THIS PLACE IS THE REAL DEAL. The owner Javier is a super nice guy. When he found out it was my first time at his location, he came out and talked to us and told us all about his offering. Really nice place...
-
Review from Armando N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2011
Well done Gigi's Manager/Ninja you have gone above and beyond the call of duty to please your customers.
Anyways my friend, the Naco, and I went to Gigi's to try their pastelitos de guayaba. I was actually a bit hungry so in addition to getting the guava pastries I ordered a Cuban sandwich....I must have been waiting more than 15 minutes for my sandwich and was visibly pretty upset at waiting so long.
So finally I get to the sandwich, which was delicious by the way, when out of the blue this guy just comes up to my friend and me and offers to refill my friends coffee for free...booom! The manager/ninja produces a coffee mug to top it off. That wasn't the end of it....he had also asked what we thought of the guava pastries and in addition gave us two guava and cheese pastries on the house!....woah.....I was completely amazed and overwhelmed.
I did not complain even once about the long wait for my food, and somehow this stealthy manager saw the disappointment in my face and sought out to correct that wrong. He was courteous, attentive and fast! A little too fas though, after said good deeds were done he disappeared before I could even thank the man. Probably off to master the sacred art of the Medianoche sandwich.
Well ninja manager of Gigi's, if you can read this review, I salute you and your amazing customer service! -
Review from Sonya R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2011
I was late today for work because I woke up late, didn't have time to cook and thought I would have time to grab something quick on the run. My normal routes were clogged with parents and school kids, so I took an alternate. And my nose caught the smell of this amazing bakery.
The Cuban dishes are amazing. Very much like my beloved grandma used to cook. I took a plate of the Platano/Frijoles/Crema (bananas and beans dish). A little bit spicier than I would have liked but muy delicisio.
Must go back. -
Review from heejin l.
Los Angeles, CA
9/19/2010
the shrimp/garlic taco is pretty good and so is the chicken taco. They both are very flavorful and the chicken isn't dry. also had big chunks of garlic.
the strawberry tres leches is good but kinda too sweet if you like that. the potato ball is not bad $.75.
the cubano is not bad. i think im just not a fan of cuban sandwiches. i've had one at portos and i didnt find it that great either.
got 6 tamales, 2 potato balls, 1 guava & cheese, 1 cubano, 1 tres leches slice, two tacos for $23.
not bad.
i love their guava & cheese!!!! YUM flakey with sweet jam-ish guava. -
Review from Kate S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/1/2011
*2.5...
Why?
I got
---Chicken Pie, Chorizo Pie, Ham Croquette (0.75 each)
---Potatoes with Ground beef- $1
---Empanadilla de Pollo - $1.25
All the above was too salty... i am a person who love salty stuff. I cant take stuff is not salted enough.. but these stuff were over salted.. It's not too salty that you cant eat, but the over powering saltiness was ruining the flavors of these little stuff :(((
Do not get the stuff above, especially if you have high blood pressure..
I have low blood pressure, but im not getting these stuff again:(
I also got
+++Cheese bread.. (bread stuffed with cream cheese)
It was ok, I ate after I had the salty stuff, so it tasted pretty decent.
+++Strawberry tres leche. was not an normal tres leche I know (which is a cake soaked in a sweet stuff, and very waterly). their strawberry tres leche was more like strawberry short cake. This one I liked it a lot, so maybe I'll come back for this..
And maybe I'll try their cuban sandwich next time -
Review from Kat B.
Los Angeles, CA
12/22/2010
It's official: I'm in love with Gigi's.
It's been raining like hell over the past couple of days and that means two things for me: sloth and comfort food. Major dilemma here. What to do when you're too lazy to even get out of bed--let alone feed yourself? :P--but you're constantly struck with a need for comfort food? Why, I stroll my ass over to Gigi's. Luckily I live within ten minutes of this place, but otherwise.. hoo boy, dare I make myself my own food?!
I ordered the Cubano sandwich and at $4.95 + a crapload of yummy plantain chips, I'm not complaining. It's SO delicious. God damn. I regret that I didn't get to take a picture of it but after the first bite I just couldn't stop and I straight up forgot. It's basically a ham and cheese sandwich amped up. Ham + roast beef + swiss cheese + pickles + mustard and butter all in cuban bread, pressed and toasted to perfection. Downed with cafe con leche. Mmm perfect.
What got me hooked here in the first place are their bolillos: 5 rolls for a dollar! A DOLLAR! The potato balls and empanadas are damned good too. I'm going to try their cakes next time! On average they're priced at 1.75 a slice. Mmm the tiramisu and eclairs and strawberry tres leches cake looked very good... Need to take pictures next time!
Please stop by this charming little cafe! :) Rain or shine it's always a pleasant experience! -
Review from Linh H.
Sherman Oaks, CA
1/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I tried Coco Flan and the Strawberry Tres Leches. I thought the Coco Flan was good, but the texture was harder than I'm use to for Flan. The Strawberry Tres Leches had too much frosting and not enough liquid on the cake.
I would come back to try the food menu. -
Review from Liane T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2011
I live in the neighborhood & driven by so many times & have always wanted to try Gigi's. Finally did, & loved it. They're like Porto's but cheaper & it's more conveniently located for me. Tried their potato balls (thumbs up) & guava pastry (double thumbs up!).
Frank, the owner, is such a ultra super nice guy who really cares about his cafe & customers. When my bff & I told him it was our first time there, he cut us a huge portion of the guava pastry & gave us a shot of esspresso on the house for being first time customers. So so so nice. Um, the other employees don't have as much sparkle & customer service like Frank, but I'll still definitely be going back to try their sandwiches, eat more guava pastries, & try their flan! -
Review from Drea K.
5/31/2011
i was just not impressed with this place and can't see myself ever returning when there are better options out there.
i decided to go here one afternoon after seeing how highly it's reviewed on yelp because i love porto's and really wanted to find a great cuban place closer to home. but alas, gigi's did not live up to it's reputation at all.
i ordered the torta de pollo, a couple potato balls, a pastelito de guyaba and a pastelito de guyaba y queso. the most disappointing of those items was the torta de pollo. sure, it was a very cheap, large sandwich and it came with some yummy mariquitas (plantain chips) but there wasn't anything else going for it. the bread was hard and chewy but not in a good way and in general, the sandwich tasted incredibly bland. it was stuffed with a bunch of tasteless iceberg lettuce and several slices of hard, watery tomatoes. i could barely discern any of the cotija cheese and beans that were supposed to be included.
the potato balls were lukewarm and seemed very oily, not hot and crisp the way any excellent fried food is generally served. disappointed by the savory foods, i wasn't really looking forward to trying the two pastries i had purchased and, not surprisingly, i wasn't thrilled with the pastelitos.
the guava and cheese pastry had a strange, sharp taste to it, almost as though the cheese had gone bad but i'm not sure what was wrong with it. i couldn't finish it after one bite but the plain guava pastry was slightly better. shaped like an empanada, the pastelito de guyaba was slightly sweet with a flaky crust (instead of puff pastry) coated in sugar. it was okay.
i'm not sure what went wrong here but due to this poor experience i won't be coming back. -
Review from Carol L.
7/9/2010
I've been coming here for years. I first heard of them from my favorite Cuban restaurant, El Cochinito, because they get their bread from here. Intrigued, I started going to Gigi's and discovered that, in addition to Cuban, they also offer lots of Salvadorian and Mexican baked goods, pastries and other treats. And everything is CHEAP. They have a loyal following. Whenever I go by, I see old folks hanging out and people coming by to chat with the staff and pick up breads, sandwiches and desserts. Anyhow I'm a big fan of their EMPANADITAS DE GUAYABA and their CAFE CON LECHE.
The other day I went by for breakfast and had the HUEVOS RANCHEROS, two eggs on corn tortillas with beans, salsa and a blend of cheeses, served with beans, cream, sweet plantains and of course, Cuban bread. It was $5.25 on the menu. But I saw a sign on the counter that simply said "Breakfast $3.95." And so that's what it cost. $3.95!!! I guess that's the price if you go early in the day??? I threw in a CAPPUCCINO for $2.50 and a POTATO BALL for $1. I call that a great breakfast.Listed in: Who Needs an Alarm Clock When…, Eating in Echo Park &…
-
Review from Julee H.
9/13/2010
Driving down to Gigi's bakery at 7 pm, it was hard to miss as it was the only lit shop on the dark and questionable street that it was located on.
After looking at the menu, it was tough to decide what the bf and I wanted to try since a lot of the items looked tempting. We knew we wanted the Strawberry Tres Leches and Flan De Leche but I couldn't decide between the 4 different types of Tamales they had. But when I asked the cashier what the differences between the four were she gave me an attitude that was a mix between not understanding what I was asking and too smut to even want to explain it to me. So as a response, I passed on the tamale.
The flan was made from a thicker texture than the ones you get out of the box and was average in flavor. The strawberry tres leches was divine - super moist and creamy. Unfortunately, even with the extraordinary tres leches cake, I would never come back because of the attitude I received from the staff. -
Review from Rob G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2010 1 photo
We tried Gigi's for a birthday cake for myself and my boyfriend after reading yelp reviews and exploring their website.
Although communication in ordering the cake was a bit difficult (most of the front-of-house workers had very little English), we eventually talked to the baker and she really went above and beyond.
We got a beautiful, 3-layer chocolate cake with Bavarian creme and fresh raspberry filling. We had expected icing on top, but instead she put a slab of chocolate, beautifully decorated with our "happy birthday" message. We had also asked for a little mask in icing (to go along with our masquerade theme), she created two beautiful, edible masks to sit on top of the cake that matched the one we used on our invitation.
We were blown away by the cake. The fact that despite the masks and elaborate decoration they cut us a deal and charged the regular $50 for a 1/2 sheet cake, made it even sweeter.
A week later, we were still eating leftovers because the cake was so big and so good!
Gigi's may not inspire confidence immediately but the finished product was incredible.
We also went back a week later for snacks for a second party. This time we got potato balls (papas rellenos) and meat pies. The meat pies were a bit heavy on the crust and light on the filling for my taste. But the potato balls were heaven. Light, fluffy potatoes and tasty beef filling.
Can't stop evangelizing Gigi's. -
Review from Gloria P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/6/2011
This place totally sucks!!!!! I went there when I was younger and I know why I stopped going there when I came back and had the same problem! The customer service is horrible! They are totally rude and make you wait forever until they even acknowledge you. We ordered a cake for my nieces birthday party because it was our last resort and what a mistake!! $43 dollars for a cake that was supposed to be tres leches. It's was super dry and totally not worth it. Bottom line...... I would never recommend this place so save some money if you want some good Cuban sandwiches go right across the street to La Caridad Cuban restaurant and for cakes might as well spend a little more or maybe even the same amount of money and go to Portos bakery.
-
Review from kathy C.
South Pasadena, CA
5/20/2011 2 photos
Been coming here for YEARS. I usually get the tamales, cuban sandwiches, and the refugiados (my fav).
-
Review from Sylvia W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/19/2011 1 photo
I love this place !! So glad I found this place.
Extremely kind owner makes me go there again again...
I ordered my sister's 30th bday cake. When I went there to order(couple days before) the owner let me talk to the decorator and she made an AMAZING cake! Thanks so much.
Their sandwiches are tasty and all other pastries. Very low price consider what you are getting. Sandwiches all below $5 and pastries around $1. Lol
My favorite place now. -
Review from Augjer C.
Los Angeles, CA
6/11/2010
I fully recommend. Great pastries. Great sandwiches (the bread is really good, and must be for a proper Cuban sandwich). Plus they are cheap! Nice people work here too.
Again, really worthy. -
Review from Nick H.
2/3/2010 2 photos
Gigi's Gettn Jiggy Wid it!
Cuban, Salvadorean, Mexican. They say they make it all. Cuban if you ask me. All kinds of Cookies and Tortas. They also sell love. I stopped by and got a cookie for my princess.
Yup, for 60 cents you can buy love. A cookie of love. I took a bite of my princess' heart and will hold on to it forever. In fact, I did not just take a bite, but took it all. Took the whole heart and devoured it..got jiggy wid it!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
So this bakery has a ton of stuff. I do believe I am a fan. -
Review from Karri R.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/14/2011
We had another cake made for my daughter's 1st birthday! It was equally as fantastic as my son's 3rd b'day cake! The baker is an artist and has a true talent for creation. We also loved the taste. I'm generally not a vanilla cake lover and simply loved the vanilla cake with strawberry moose frosting. We also had amazing macaroons made that everyone was raving about! We love Gigi's cakes and couldn't imagine going to another bakery. Everyone wanted to find out where we got our cake! Thanks Gigi's! :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/3/2011
We had Gigi's create a cake for my son's 3rd birthday. Not only was it the best looking cake I've… Read more »
-
-
Review from JIMMY J.
Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2009
Necessity is the mother of a Yelp review...I got a wild urge to make Cuban steak sandwiches that may have hid a dead end had I not had tne good fortune of finding this place which was less than a mile away from home! See, it's really hard to find Cuban bread around these parts and Porto's Bakery is ALWAYS so crowded. After much internet searching I found Gigi Bakery and here's what I found: Fresh Cuban bread, Pastelitos de Guayaba, Papa rellena (fried potato stuffed with ground beef), Croquetas de Jamon and the usual suspects- Cuban sandwhiches, Media Noches, plenty of latin beverages and great coffee too. A cute clean bakery with plenty of tables to sit down and enjoy with a friend, this place gets my five stars.
Fin.
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1)
