Porto's Bakery
Categories: Bakeries, Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Burbank3614 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91504 (818) 846-9100
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sun 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch
- Alcohol: None
53 reviews
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
"I have it on good authority that they have a special blend of Coffee made just for TART. They exceed in the best ingredients for their food.…" read more »
316 Reviews for Porto's Bakery
This is a great place to eat. The treats are always fresh, very cheap and they make the best Pastrami sandwich ever. I eat alotta the sweets but I enjoy the Chocolate Parisian Cake the best. A must stop for everyone that visits the LA area. The staff is very helpful and attentive.
oh my god. this is the only time i'll have balls in my mouth and get off on it. the potato balls are simply incredible. greasy, but sometimes you gotta get a bit dirty to enjoy it.
cheese rolls are something else. i've burnt out on them, so i'm going to try the guava rolls next. a bit out of the way for me, but well worth the drive from time to time.
$0.60 per cheese roll
$0.85 per potato ball
after getting 3 dozen cheese rolls and half dozen of potato balls, it came out to about $26. definitely a cheap lunch for a fatty like me.
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Porto's. Mmmmmm..... Thinking about it makes me want to eat something from Porto's, like umm, their cheese rolls! Well, call me lucky, I have a box of cheese rolls and guava cheese strudels in a box next to me.
As much as I want Porto's right next to me or have then open one up within a 10 mile radius, I think they're doing my waistline a favor by not doing so. I first heard about Porto's about 6 months ago when one of my Nor Cal friends came in town and got me something from there (Dulce Leche cake and Potato Balls) as we were heading off to Vegas, and the whole drive to Vegas and the ensuing months later, I was dreaming about the dulce leche cake and the potato balls.
Fast forward 6 months and I made my return to Porto's and you better believe it I stocked up. First thing, expect long lines. I came on a Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm and both the sandwich line and the bakery lines were almost out the door. We were lucky to find some seating available in the restaurant. I got the medianoche preparada sandwich, a meat pie, and 2 potato balls. Yes, I think my eyes were hungrier my stomach, but I did finish it all. The sandwich was amazing. For $4.50, it had a lot of flavor from the roasted pork and the cheese. Along with the plaintain chips, it blew my mind. It might not be the healthiest combo, but I didn't care, it was great.
The potato balls were awesome as expected and the meat pie was damn good as well. Now, my mind was on the dulce leche cake, and I definitely wasn't going to leave Burbank without getting it. Sadly, while waiting in line, I got a bit crazy since everything looked so F-ing good. I ended up getting Cheese rolls (So awesome, I think it's my new fav, and it's only like $.65/each. WTF?? I'm getting a dozen next time), Guava Cheese (damn good), Mango Mousse (refreshing), Banana bread (it was OK, I'll get other stuff next time), more potato balls (I can't get enough of those @ $.85/each), and of course, a couple slices of Dulce Leche Cake.
Safe to say, I'm still enjoying some remaining goodies I got at Porto's last weekend, and I'm definitely making my return trip there sooner than the 6 months interval like last time. The food here is probably not the best for your waistline, but at this point, I'm going to play stupid and eat some of my Dulce Leche. I ain't gonna share either!
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MMM... PORTO'S. {sigh} Oh how I wish we had a bakery this good up in NorCal. (hint hint, Raul!).
I haven't tried everything here (goodness - could you imagine?!)
{pause}
Sorry, I was actually imagining ordering everything off the menu & in the display cases and, with my stretchy stomach and insatiable appetite, eating it all to my heart's content. {shakes head} Okay, I'm back to reality.
Here's my list of what to get:
FOOD
Pastrami Sandwich - pastrami is perfectly sliced and served on a french roll with a side of plantain chips.
Meat pies - meat in pie form! 'Nuff said!
Potato balls - one of the few times I'd encourage other people to stuff their mouths with balls. ;-)
BAKERY
Cheese rolls
Guava and Cheese Strudel
These two items are the best of the best. Hands down, they would make an appearance in my "last meal". The last time I went to Porto's I ordered a dozen cheese rolls to bring back home. My friend looked at me and I swear to you she thought I was gonna eat it all myself. (I was really tempted to...)
What else is there to say about this place? Solid overall 4.5 star rating, 300+ reviews. How much more convincing do you need?! Head on over to Porto's and watch your qualms (and maybe, waistline) fade away.
The first thing you'll notice when you walk in the door at lunchtime is that there are two lines. The one on your right will be for the bakery, the one on the left for sandwiches, salads, etc.
Each section has it's own counter and wrap-around line, kind of like a parallel universe with the advantage that you can get coffee on both sides.
Even though the lines looked ghastly long upon entry, they moved at lightning speed. This place knows how to move people and food quickly and efficiently.
Once up to the front I picked my sandwich from the menu on the wall, took a number on a stand, went and filled my drink and was glad to find ample seating outside on the sidewalk. Somehow Portos was able to line tables all along half a city block.
It was great to sit in the shade by the trees with a breeze except for the occasional dry leaves that would dive bomb the table at surprising speeds.
Within just a few minutes my sandwich arrived. "Papa Preparado" potato balls (basically seasoned mashed potatoes), sliced cheese, mustard, tomato, lettuce, on a crispy white baguette.
After seeing how amazingly reasonable the sandwich was ($4.25), I ordered a fruit salad. The fruit salad comes in a tall plastic starbucks style container with a rounded lid and is quite large. ($2.85). It consisted of the same fruit that you'll find on Portos famous fruit tarts - Blueberries, pineapple, strawberry, kiwi, mango, and grapes.
One interesting thing about sitting outside is that apparently people use the tables for clandestine meetings. There were two guys behind me discussing how to "blend in" and how to 'brown bag" it (his beer I assumed then, but it also could have been lunch) and so and so, so that it looks like you're a customer.
So just a note. Good place to meet and bring a sack lunch...
Oh, and they also have amazing cheese pastries.
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Whenever I go to Porto's, I want to try everything on the menu. I know that if I do though, I will become as fat as some of the people in line. A lot of people in Burbank are "Large" and "In Charge" as they say. They all go to Porto's and eat everything on the menu.
I like their Elephant ears, and their Ropa Viejo sandwich, and the fried platanos on the side. Yum.
The only thing that annoys me is the way you get your coffee. You have to go to another line after you order it. It's a little chaotic.
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This café is... the biggest café I've ever seen/been to. So many eye...pastries. Which to choose!?
We always get the guava jelly roll and the cream cheese roll. You can't pass these up. I'm not sure if these are their signature items since the place carry a wide variety. Sad to say, I haven't had them all. If you're ambivalent, good luck.
Anyhow, for a safe bet, try what I suggested.
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i am obese.
ever watch Shallow Hal? http://www.sofacinema....
yesh... by eating here during lunch time will get me to Gwyneth Paltrow's character's size by the end of the month.
nothing in here lacks. everything is so *eye roll* freakin' delicious and mouth-watering. i gets the chills when i think about it now. my co-workers make Porto's Bakery runs whenever they're on a lunch break. our office literally takes forever compiling an order for each person. on hour later--- we have a feast! the Cuban: yellow sponge cake, soaked in brandy syrup, custard or pineapple custard with meringue on top... OMG! the Ham & Croquettes are like .65 cents, son! .65 cents! they're trying to give me a heart attack. the Meat Pie aka "Pastel De Carne" is a crowd pleaser for sure! Potato Balls aka "Papa Rellena" are my favorite. i get these every time. absolutely sensational!
i would have to say... Porto's Bakery is simply one of the main reasons i heart about coming to Cali for work. it's only 5 mins away from my office! tis why i come back to NYC so bloated and 10 lbs more obese. LOL.
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My Cuban Lunch Time Haiku
One Pan con Lechon
Guava and cream cheese pastry.
Tropical Ice tea.
Come on... there are already 298 reviews of the awesome place. What did you want me to do to stand out? Sing 'Cuban Pete" in Mandarin?
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I'm the 300th review!!!! Wait, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Anyhoo, Porto's is simply amazing....
I found Porto's on the way to the airport one day. I've been craving the pan con lechon sandwich ever since.... something this good can't be legal! I also am in love with the fried banana chips. I betcha can't eat just one!
The wait can be quite long but well worth it! I just love this place.
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How in the EFFING EFF is my fat ass supposed to lose weight when I live only a few blocks from this bakery?
Things we've tried that I had previously never heard of but now can not live without: potato balls and guava cream cheese roll. We've also tried the cheesecake, brownies, cookies, and carrot cake, and it was all fresh and delicious.
And holy heck everything is so CHEAP!
Negatives? The separate lines for everything and the general chaos inside. I really wanted to try a sandwich but we only managed to find a 10 minute parking space. It took 20 minutes just to get through the bakery line. No way I was going to spend another half hour in line for the sandwich. I'm not sure how strict parking enforcement is here in Burbank, and I do NOT do tickets.
I can't believe that even being able to find negatives won't sway me into deducting any stars. You get what you pay for, but here it seems like you get twice as much!
Goodness! I love this place!!! The smell, the food, everything! (Except the long lines at peak hours...but totally worth it!)
Spent over $30...and brought it all home...now I am in carb heaven!!!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/25/2008
My very good and dear friend, Linda, suggested that we meet here for an early lunch...I had never… Read more »
It took me about 20 minutes to get a Ham & Cheese croissant and an iced white mocha. There were no seats left for eating in so I took it to go. This place gets so crowded (like, "Black Friday in a bad way" crowded) over the weekend. Indeed, I was skeptical until I bit into the Ham and Cheese croissant on my way out of the place... and it was the best I had ever tasted! Totally worth the wait. The staff was friendly considering how busy it was in there. Getting into the right line can be a little confusing at first too. All that aside, I'll definitely be back here soon to try out their breakfast offerings.
Some advice: If you're not a fan of crowds and actually like to sit down in the establishment to enjoy your food (like me), don't come here on the weekend. This place is probably great for weekday lunches if you're close by.
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Porto's has some of the BEST pastries on the planet. It's definitely a popular place for socaler's, and can get quite crowded, but the Burbank location seems to be less crowded and the lines more organized than the original Glendale locale. I recently discovered their breakfast offerings in the cafe, and highly recommend the ham (or chorizo) omelet on croissant. Very reasonably priced for a deliciously decadent croissant sandwich (just gotta get there before 11:00 a.m.). They've also got a ton of other sandwiches available all day.
They also have to-die-for cheese rolls. These should be a requirement to order these by the dozen so you won't regret making such a dinky initial order and craving that second...or third...or fourth. The dessert and bakery selection is enormous, but a family favorite has always been their fruit tart. Pretty much everything I've ever tried here is awesome, so I don't think you can really go wrong with anything you order. Just be prepared to want to go back the next day for a round 2 the next day.
Absolutely delicious.
My friend took me here as a bribe to help her with a project in Burbank, and it worked. The food is amazingly good.
The mash potato balls and the meat strudels are the best. I can't decide which one is better, but I think I'm leaning towards the meat strudels because they are a tad bit lighter, so I can eat more of them in one sitting! We also had the tuna melt, the steak sandwiches, and of course, the addicting banana chips.
Next time I'm in Burbank, definitely hitting up Porto's Bakery again.
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I feel my review is unnecessary at a place like this.
FANTASTIC!!
My husband and I venture here at least once a month, usually twice. It is our weekend ritual outing!
We get 5 potatoe balls, 1 meat pie, a pastrami sandwhich and depending on what i am hungry for either a turkey sandwhich or the southwestern chicken salad!
Lines aren't THAT long, Go to the Express line (on the left when you walk in). They are quick. I have never waited more that 10 mins.
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The BF introduced me to Porto's on our LA trip last year... and I'm still sorry I ever doubted its tasty goodness.
BF ordered a steak torta, potato balls, meat pies, plantain chips, delectable pastries galore and I ordered... the Cuban sandwich. Hey, it was my first time... I wanted to take it slow.
I tried to trade him my half-eaten sandwich for more potato balls and meat pie... he gave me a funny look and said, "Uh, yeah right."
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We never have parties without Porto's!!
My god..the fruit tarts are amazing. The sandwiches.....especially the Feta sandwich....OH! and the Media noche sandwich....god soo delicious....yes you can tell i was once a fat kid =)
haha
The only downer here is the huge crowd.Especially on the weekends. I like taking my time picking out my pastries,sandwiches etc. and people get crazy!!
Their espresso is good too. I swear i could live here and be happy forever!!! They need to open a location in LA. Glendale is taking a toll on my gas tank!
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I would give Portos more stars if it wasn't so CROWDED and LOUD all the time. I'm not so nuts about the food here, either. I had a steak salad that was just okay, and I've had sandwiches that weren't anything that terrif. But now who goes to a bakery to eat healthy? I was just eating the salad to justify all the sugary madness that I was planning....
Coconut MACAROONS the size of your fist. The best, oh yeah. And the little coconut cakes-Pina Colada cakes w/ the flowers. Dang. Too bad it's 2 blocks walking distannce from my house.
Food: Great with good eye-appeal
Service: Fast
Price: Great!
When was the last time you had a great dessert item for less than $5? Well, you can have two great dessert items for less than $5 at Porto's!
I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to bakeries. And Porto's is no exception.
Oreo cookie cheesecake: A+ ($2.50)
Napolean: B ($2.50)
Guava Strudel: A+ ($0.65) -- yes, that's 65 cents!
Raspberry Kiss: B ($0.50)
Iced latte with shot of syrup: A ($2.95)
Four desserts for less than $7? When does that ever happen? And they were extremely yummy for the most part.
Tip: this is a good dessert place to hit after you have lunch at Urban Eats down the street (although Urban has some delectable desserts as well). Also, parking at Urban Eats is ample.
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PORTOS ROCKS this is my nasty Little addiction and the white chocolate moca here is better then crack (not like i would know) the fresh squeezed OJ is really sweet and delich the sandwiches and all the baked goods are so mouth watering and always a hit if you need finger foods for special events !!! love to live so close to this place do beware Sundays the line is wrapped around the bakery and yes it is that good !!!! some of the goods to wait in line for are the potato balls the guava and cheese pastry i recently ordered the raspberry mousse and choc cake it was velvety and light all at the same time one of the best cakes i ever had i think my boss liked it too being it was her birthday lol i also really enjoy the meat pies and the sweet croissants yum mm .
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There are a few things in life worth waiting for.... that one true love, the dream home, and some heavenly goodness at Porto's.
If you can endure the drive and the long but efficient lines, that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is not too far away. For a measly $5, I can get a couple of pastries AND a dessert! Talk about a budget lunch! I have no idea how these people do it... but everything in there is CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP and GOOD GOOD GOOD. It seriously cost me more in gas to come here than the $$ I'll spend actually buying a few meal's worth of cuban sandwiches, potato balls, cheese rolls, and who can forget those cute desserts to accompany my meals.
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Every time I go to this Porto's, I feel bad for the Quiznos across the street. At Porto's there's always a long line with tons of people in all the tables and chairs, but when you look across the street, you would see the opposite. Although it's often crowded, Porto's is extremely fast and friendly. There are always plenty of workers and everything is clean especially the restrooms. It's a good place for family, groups and you don't have to really keep your voice down because the main eating area is like a great dining hall with high ceiling and a skylight...I think. The price for everything especially the cakes is very reasonable. I always bring visitors here and they'd love it every time.
Don't forget that there are two sides: Left is for Food (Sandwiches, Salads, drinks, etc) and Right for Desserts.
My favorites are: Tuna Melt, Medianoche Sandwich, and Fruit Tart. Enjoy!
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I have never had anything that I did not like here! Although this is the second location I would much rather come here than the one in Glendale. They have actually forced people to form a line cutting down a lot on the confusion factor, I know that everyone wants their pastries but there is no need for madness. I would suggest you do NOT leave this place with out trying a potato ball, one bite and you will know what your life has been missing all this time. Other great options are the chocolate croissant, feta and spinach croissant and fruit tart, and that's only the Bakery side!!
This is an awesome bakery! If you're looking for a unique birthday cake, come here. If you're looking for a nice lunch... come here as well!
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It's a Great bakery! Only Two and both in Southern California- Glendale and Burbank. I was in line to pick up my order of 50 potato balls for a potluck and the woman in front of me was telling how she lives in Santa Maria, Ca and that whenever she comes down to LA, she has to pre-order some food to take with her home! :)
My suggestion of things to try: Cheese Rolls, Potato Balls, "Old Clothes" Sandwich (ROPA VIEJA), Mango Mousse, Fruit Tart..... among others
One of my first favorite places in Los Angeles, I discovered Porto's on Huell Howser's "Visiting" on PBS. The newer Burbank location has better parking and shorter lines than the original location. I don't believe in docking stars for the wait because even if you have to stand in line, the staff is very efficient, and you don't have to wait long. Everything is fresh and reasonably priced, so it's well worth it. Besides, it's perfect for indecisive people (like me) to have a few minutes to decide what to order!
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I like it, but I'm not sure that it lives up to all the hype. Didn't find the potato balls worth getting enamored over. Phenomenal selection of pastries, but none of them are truly must-haves. Same goes for the sandwiches and salads... all good, but nothing to write home about, except maybe the cool plantain chips.
The efficiency impressed me... Mussolini would have been proud! No reason to be afraid of the long lines. Decent location and the prices are just right... a great spot for a quick bite or to chill with a few of your friends. Getting a table outside is definitely the way to go.
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My Cuban friend comes here regularly and buys me a bunch of pastries from Porto's and oh my gee wizz this place creates surprise orgasms.
I go crazy on the guava and cheese strudel mmmm so yummy. These pastries are worth the wait.
GO NOW!
Porto's, I love you.
You make such yummy pastries. I could never complain. Where do I start? Your cakes, your empanadas, your cheese and guava rolls... oh, oh, oh so good.
When I lived in Pasadena, your Glendale location turned me into a balloon. (Ok, maybe not the 20" mylar kind. Just the small water toss sort, but a balloon nonetheless.) And, I enjoyed every morsel getting there.
Gosh, how I miss you. Do you deliver? I'll pay extra to the South Bay.
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Okay so at this moment this place has 310 overwhelmingly favorable reviews. I'm just here to add more weight to the positive side :-)
I love the pastries and I love the sandwiches. I have been there over 10 times already (moved here 4 months ago) and have never been disappointed.
But lately it's been the cheese rolls, they are amazing!
It's a flaky croissant-type pastry with a cavernous center splattered with a sweet cream cheese filling. They top it with sugar on top that kinda permeates the whole outer layer as it caramelizes while it's baking.
It's gooey crunchiness at its finest, they're simply amazing! And to boot, everything there is like this. It's a freak show of tasty treats and good eats.
Like I've mentioned elsewhere, crowds make me angry. If you're like me, this is NOT the place to go. This place is damn crowded.
It also reminds me that nearly 20 million people live in Los Angeles and Vicinity. A good fraction of these people get cravings for Cuban sandwiches. This is apparently the only place to go that is closer than Havana. (I can't remember if they sold sandwiches at Versailles, but I think not.)
Why am I even writing a review when everyone knows that Porto's is THE BEST...... I always get my favorite sandwich, the Medianoche. It's so cheap too!
Then some potato balls or meat pies on the side. Always yummy.
My husband saw Lawrence Fishburne there. Morpheus!!!! Even Morpheus knows whats up, and that's awesome...
This place is friggin fantastic. All the sandwiches are extra tasty and they have a huge selection of delectable pastries to choose from. Some of the things I'm really fond of are the potato balls, the meat pies and the midnight sandwich. I've never seen this place without a line and everyone here is always super nice and friendly. Theres always a lot of good looking girls here so thats always a plus in my book.
Putting one of their cheese rolls in my mouth may just be the closest I've ever come to nirvana. Seriously, Porto's is NOT TO BE MISSED! The baked goods are the best I've ever had. Try the cheese rolls, the guava danishes, and oh god don't you dare skip the potato balls- trust me on this one. The Cuban sandwich is also really tasty.
If you need a cake, pie, etc. for any special occasion, everyone will LOVE YOU if you get it from here. With extremely reasonable prices on top of extremely amazing food, Porto's can't be beat.
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I work 2 minutes from Porto's. I would be jealous of me too ;D I knew there was one around, but my jaw dropped as I drove by Porto's during an errand run.
This location is much nicer and larger than the one in Glendale. They are open for breakfast and yes the lines are still long in the morning, but this location is very efficient. There is nothing like the cheese roll and coffee for breakfast or a pastrami sandwich and potato ball for lunch. The little cakes are delish too!
This would be five stars, if not for the long lines. But the long lines are just a testament to how good this place is. I can eat the potato balls 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. The wait is worth it just for the potato balls themselves.
Since Porto's is in Burbank, I think it might be lucrative to buy a bunch of potato balls, fly up to Oakland or SFO from Burbank, BART into San Francisco and start selling potato balls on the corner of Beale and Market. You'll still make a profit after factoring in transit costs. They are that good.
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You could play pin-the-tail-on-the-pastry here and everything you might hit would knock your socks off. I'm not an adventurous eater by any means, but even I've strayed from the chocolate croissants and plain pan to try the guava and cheese pastry (which may not be weird to you but it is to me!) and other interesting blends they've baked up. Every visit I expand my horizons with one new item; however, there is simply one Porto's staple that my ravenous eyes and belly must consume from the hot counter each and every trip: the infamous potato ball.
Whoever thought this one up goes right down in the record books with the chef who first fried a ball of mac n' cheese. Seriously? Who can resist a dollop of yummy ground beef (seasoned oh so well), thickly layered in mashed potatoes, then fried. Voila!! The most superb thing to come in ball form... at least that I can think of.
Porto's is a Glendale must. If you've driven this far into the smoogy gloom trapped by the foothills, you need to exit Brand and get yourself a potato ball... and something else tasty to go with it.
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Potato Balls!!! Strawberry shortcake!!! Yummy! This place is always very packed and very much worth the wait
two words: cheese rolls.
that is all.
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