La Esperanza Bakery

 

11

56

Jacqueline W.

Sacramento, CA

I grew up thinking this was "the Mexican bakery" in town.  It needed no name, and it was unnecessary to be familiar with the myriad others, because my Mexican grandfather would only go to La Esperanza.

(Quick digression: They also have an "extension store" at the other end of the parking lot that sells "masa preparada" to make tamales, and a lot of pre-marinated or cooked Mexican style meats.)

While the pinata quality has gone down over the past decade (this is rampant everywhere - what the hell is going on?) the pan dulce has not. Everything you get there - conchas, empanadas, cookies, cakes - is delicious and fresh.  And everything is very inexpensive - a dozen assorted pan dulces is cheaper than a dozen donuts.

The "bisquetes" are especially wonderful - these are slightly sweet biscuits that can be heated in a toaster overn at home and served with butter or jam for brunch treat or midnight snack. I think they are better than the famous Los Bisquets Obregon in Mexico City. I'll say it.

La Esperanza also sells soy chorizo in the refrigerator case - it's much better and cheaper than the kind they sell at Sac Food Co-op. It's not "healthy" (still has around 14 grams of fat per serving) but it is vegetarian, and has less than half the fat of regular chorizo.

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2

20

Siya N.

Sacramento, CA

Alright, let me take a breather before writing this one.

(inhales. exhales.)

Being a Puerto Rican in Sacramento, a lot of Mexicano traditions and foods have been adopted by my family. Menudo, posole, rellenos and homemade corn tortillas. No, Puerto Ricans don't eat tortillas.

I have been coming to this bakery while I was in my madre's womb and she'd been woofin' down pan dulce from here since her family made the move from Vega Baja to Sacra. Yup, I grew up on this stuff and it shows.

(pats her belly)

Recently, I've been getting extremely butt hurt at all the closures of my favorite and second favorite small local bakeries. First, it was Cramer's (wtf) and then it was Phillip's (double wtf). Walking passed the paleta freezer and all of the vibrant coloured wedding cakes and religious candles, you can be tempted to get sidetracked if you don't know what you're sole mission is. Mine? Churros.  And I think my hiatus into SF's Mission district kind of made me forget about La Esperanza, until one Sunday morning when I got the craving for Churros. Mmmm. A  fresh, spongy hot mess of cinammon and sugar, hold the crema please. I don't remember this place as packed as it was, even on the weekdays it's insanely packed. The over population of Sacra is really starting to show. I had to wait super long!

However, I'll still feel a nostalgia and attachment to this place that will keep me returning like a fiend for pan dulce. Hopefully, well into the days of my "hypothetical" children. Hell, this is the only place in Sacra where I can find an AFFORDABLE sugar skull for my Dia de los Muertos altars.

Recognize.

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4

28

Diego M.

Sacramento, CA

Holy pan dulce, I love me some La Esperanza. That sweet smell hits you everytime as you walk in, a scent of sugar and warmth that follows you past the wedding cakes and small shelves of canned goods, until you get to the main counter. From there your sweet tooth can go crazy on all the pastries, churros, pan dulce, etc. I have yet to find better empanadas anywhere in Sac - the custard filled ones are my personal fave.

Other "panerias" just don't have the same touch with their goodies as La Esperanza. Pan dulce at other Mexican bakeries often comes off as crumbly, but the sweet breads at La Esperanza have a moist touch that makes them extra filling. I also like to get some rolls ("bollilos") on a day that I grill some carne asada (btw, my favorite spot for picking up carne asada to cook is down the street at Carniceria Lopez #2). Add some of that hot carne asada to a roll from La Esperanza and you've got that makings of a great torta. Shoot, writing about this is making me hungry ...  BTW, one of my favorite recent holiday memories was going in there on a quiet Christmas night (yes, they were open) and picking up some bomb pan dulce. It was a feliz Navidad, indeed.

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Elite '08

26

238

Janet S.

Fresno, CA

A great selection of pan dulce.  My favorites are empanadas, the pastries that are filled w/ fruit fillings, pumpkin, or vanilla creme.  Theirs are the best that I've had in a long time.  The texture is not overly doughy like the average pan dulce.  The sweet breads have a very light and airy texture.  Right now they have some calaveras, candied skulls decorated for Dia de los Muertos.  A must try bakery!

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8

86

Candace Y.

Elk Grove, CA

This is a great Mexican bakery.

They have all sorts of fruit turnovers, cookies ( i like the gingerbread pigs!), and other confectionary delights here.  They aren't overly sugared like so many other bakeries are.  They also have an assortment of special event cakes to pick from.  The people behind the counters are super nice and will help you choose if you ask them "eg. "What's ~your~ favorite cake here?")

On Sundays, they have freshly made churros for sale!

The parking lot is shared with Harvest Market.   I also recommend that you lock your car doors when parked here.

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3

5

Tom B.

Elk Grove, CA

Great Mexican Bakery. Wide variety of sweet breads and churros. Affordable.
Lock your doors in the parking lot.

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