Sammy’s Mexican Bakery

Love this Bakery!!!
Best bakery there is especially around this time I always come get my Rosca de Reyes here. True authentic Mexican Pan Dulce, I would never go anywhere else. :)

This panederia is right by my house. I have to say I never go only because I am watching my weight and I love this place so I don’t like to tempt myself ! It is one of my favorites! They have empanadas as well!

Every time I am in the area I am tempted to drop in and see what they have. I always seem to find 1 or 2 items which I have to buy. They are not your mainstream type of bakery & that’s what I like. They have so many different items that you can only find in a Mexican bakery like this. Sometimes what I get turns out to be ‘just ok’, and other times it is really good. Either way, it’s always a place I’ll drop in to when I’m close by.

I had plans to stop at neighboring restaurant for a snack in this strip mall across from the trolley station, but it was early and they weren’t open yet, so I checked out Sammy’s panaderia. I’m glad I did. Not too soon, since I just missed some SDPD action half a block away. Apparently a couple of patrol cars had detained someone along this lovely section of Imperial Avenue. Code 4. Suspect in custody. Move along.
Racks of freshly made cookies, cakes, and pastries were on display. After surveying the goods, I grabbed a sheet pan and a pair of tongs to make some picks. I could’ve Unilocaled for suggestions, but was in a rush for snap decisions.
I picked up some cookies, a couple of fruit empanadas, and a cheese danish. I nibbled a bite here and there. This is my creative license, so that I don’t sound like I inhaled everything by myself.
The cookie I bit into was more on the crunchy side and less soft and chewy, but the sweetness is there without being over sugary. Same for the cream cheese danish. Fresh, light pastry and good amount of dreamy, cream cheesy filling.
Sammy’s fruit empanadas are awesome. I got apple and lemon, and at 80¢ each, I coulda got more flavors, like guava, cream cheese, cherry, or blueberry and not break the budget. Variety on the cheap is good!
The fresher picks get scooped up by the early birds, but the bakers are constantly working in the kitchen next door to fill custom cake orders and replenish inventory.
Cards also accepted. Another plus. Enjoy.

I stopped in to pick up a few pieces of pan dulce that I like. Specifically, I came in to try the Elotes and cuernitos. They had both, so I picked one of each to eat later at home.
Both were okay. They tasted pretty good, but they were a little on the dry side, especially the inside ingredients. I was hoping for a moist center from both, but it was not to be. They both had a crusty sugar crust that tasted good, but I can’t help feel I got the end of the day batch. They were certainly better for dipping in coffee or milk with their harder and drier centers.
The bakery is very simple and direct or not much to look at, but they do carry a variety of pan dulce, croissants, and bolillo rolls. The girls who helped me at the counter was quite nice, and busily working in the back.

This place smells so good as soon as you walk in. You can tell that their bread is fresh. Great panaderia.

I work a few stores down so I’m there in the morning almost on a daily basis. I always get their empanadas (stuffed pastries). I recommend the Cherry and Apple. They are always fresh and flavorful. And on weekends they have tamales which are pretty good.

This is a great place. Loved the Cheese Danish. You have to try it. It’s a great place for a lot of fresh baked pastries.

Fresh donuts. If you have never been to a panderia then you really need to come here. They are fresh first thing in the morning time!

This place has the usual panaderia goodies. I’m mostly interested in the conchas though. The concha here is pretty good. I showed up at lunch time and they were pretty fresh. The bread part was light and soft. The sugar topping was not as sweet as I like. I’d rate this concha better than a supermarket concha but not as tasty as Panchita’s.

A very solid panaderia, perhaps a bit cleaner and English-​friendly than many of the others. Like most of these, I wish they made savory (instead of only sweet) empanadas. (Although, they may be able to help out in that regard, if you ask ahead of time.) But the cheese empanada I had was delicioso — a bit like a cheese cake in its own pocket.
The people in this up-​and-​coming neighborhood will be lucky to have this place nearby. Let’s hope it lasts the coming gentrification tsunami.