Su Pan Bakery (and more!)Esencia de Sabor (Rolando area)

You are about to start reading another post of mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Today. it's written by Cathy; the guys are busy.

Many of our days start out with some sort of appointment in various parts of the County, then taking random roads home and stopping either if seeing interesting signage or many parked cars at a storefront.  That's how The Mister and I noticed Su Pan Panaderia, a Mexican bakery located next to a gas station, sharing a parking lot with both a Liquor and Auto Parts store, on El Cajon Boulevard, West of 54th. There are not many spaces in that parking lot and we've ended up parked across the street.    Walking inside, the cash registers are directly in front of you.  An ever changing menu board behind those shows breakfast and lunch choices, made to order in the kitchen.  There are some items on the counter and pre-made sandwiches in the refrigerator.  In addition to the refrigerated bakery items, the fresh shelves, to the left, are constantly being filled.

These were some recent purchases: Different combinations of cake, crusts and cookies combined with chocolate, cream cheese, jelly, fruit, nuts, cream and/or butter based fillings. Everything here has an extract, essence, aroma, flavor!

 

For example, this large double cookie is layered with a buttercream and chopped peanuts- a sort of home made peanut butter filling ($1.59).
That large, round 'pastry' on the second tray above is essentially two round vanilla flavored cupcake tops, slathered with a buttery buttercream (not sweet if you lick that in between portion)which is also frosted on the outside then rolled in sugar ($1.29).  It's delightfully soft cake, sweet only because of the sugar crystals and so wonderfully perfect in its butter-vanilla simplicity. 

Back to the menu board and cash register area.On the counter there's a tray of fresh and flaky empañadas ($2.49).  The cream cheese with jalapeño is always a good choice (although the tuna empañada is really good, especially when warmed).
The most expensive breakfast burrito choice is the 'Hash Brown burrito'  ($5.49) which has everything in it- eggs, cheese, hash browns and sausage, bacon, ham and chorizo.  Everything. Very good and very large.

    On more than one occasion, a ham and egg bolillo (($4.99) is a breakfast choice.  The fresh baked bolillo bread is cut in half and a thin layer of beans are spread.  Cooked egg, pan fried ham chunks, rectangles of Cotija cheese avocado slices and canned jalapeño slices complete this large enough for two breakfast.  

Su Pan Bakery 5006 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego 92115 (619)287-2078 open 5 am-10:30 pm daily Website

In December, when a cart of fresh baked good were being transferred to the cabinets, a deformed walnut cupcake one was spotted and the nice worker asked if we wanted it.  Excellent flavor, crunchy walnut pieces and now a regular choice.

Comments

[caninecologne]

There are a lot of good choices at the mom and pop panaderias. I've never seen that peanut butter sandwich cookie you had (which looks great). Their empanadas also look nice and flaky and fully packed. The hash brown burrito is everything for breakfast that I would want in a burrito...

Other panaderias I like and recommend for their empanadas incluede La Concha in CV (they have beef, chicken, mushroom, plus spinach but not tuna!) and La Nueva across from Asia Cafe on 47th and Market. They also have that fluted walnut cupcake as well.

[Cathy]

So true, cc; mom and pop businesses are the best. Reading up (after going to Su Pan a few times; I so don't research places beforehand), this shop is quite popular and consistent in variety and flavors..high end in a way.

I do like La Concha and stop when near. Haven't been to Asia Cafe in a while and now have to go! Thanks.

[jack]

When my son and I moved close by, we used to come here every week! It's still my go to when in the mood for panaderia first thing in the am with a cup of hot coffee.

[Cathy]

If we lived closer, definitely would be here at least once a week, too, Jack. How fortunate you were! The coffee is unexpectedly good here.

[Fnoriega]

If you happen to be in the area after 5pm they setup a taco cart out side in the parking lot and do carne asadaa, pollo and carnitas tacos. So good.

[Cathy]

Oh wow! Thanks for that tip, (and welcome to the comment side of the blog), Fnoriega. We will make an effort to go,that way around dinner time soon.