Los Portales
Oreja
Concha
Empanada de Guayaba
Polvorone Tricolor
Flor
Pastelillo de Guayaba con Crema
Triple Layer Cake – Chocolate, Cheesecake, Mocha with Vanilla Frosting
Slow to explore North Las Vegas, a situation not uncommon amongst those interested in Food locally, it was in continued pursuit of Sin City’s best Pan Dulce that a drive was made to Los Portales on Saturday morning, arrival delayed by the Presidential motorcade but shelves still well-stocked a little past 11:30am.
Located at 2630 East Lake Mead Boulevard amidst a series of low-slung buildings, neither cross-street directly leading to a space with its name printed in large letters along exterior walls, those entering Los Portales will do so from a dusty lot, the young bilingual clerk offering greetings from behind one of two counters as she went about her business.
Largely Panaderia and Café but also selling a limited number of Chips plus Soft Drinks, two diners already present eating what looked like Menudo or Pozole plus an enormous Burrito, it was after taking a look at perhaps two dozen items baked on-site that six were selected, the staff’s unwillingness to cut one of several whole Tres Leches Cakes leading to a late addition in the form of a Triple Layer Slice.
Asking to eat the Cake at Los Portales while saving additional items for later, the young lady nonetheless placing a wedge in plastic and bagging it with a fork and napkins, it was after taking a seat amongst tables still littered with plates from prior guests that bites were taken first of each section separate and then as a whole, the Cheesecake layer especially good but all three in one mouthful definitely best as each was divided by a rich ribbon of Chocolate.
Never unsurprised by the low-cost of Mexican Bakeries, no prices listed but a total cost of $6.50 all that was requested, it was approximately two hours later that the rest of the lot was investigated, the Concha light and fluffy with the Sugar on top adhering better than many while both an undersized “Elephant Ear” and Tricolor Cookie were fine, though far from the best in Sin City.
Always happy to see something unexpected, a small Cookie labeled “Flor” not familiar from visits to other Panaderia locally or elsewhere, it was amidst a moist Cornmeal base that this item offered a puddle of sweetened Cream Cheese not unlike Custard, the subsequent two selections both offering thick Guava Jelly with the Empanada nicely caramelized on the outside but still not as good as a Pastelillo featuring Puff Pastry wrapped around a center mellowed by Cream.
THREE STARS: More pleasant in terms of service than some local Mexican Bakeries but also a bit more limited Los Portales warrants a look if one is in the area, a “special trip” perhaps advisable for those who like Cream-based Pan Dulce.
RECOMMEDED: Flor, Pastelillo de Guayaba con Crema, Triple Layer Cake.
AVOID: Polvorone Tricolor and apparently any attempt to obtain a single slice of Tres Leches.
TIP: 6a-8p Monday through Saturday, closes at 5p on Sundays.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
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