Los Pollos Cuban Bakery - The House of Cuban Flavor (Chula Vista)

Thanks for returning to read mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Kirk is very busy at work this week, Ed (from Yuma) is busy learning the ins and outs of his new computer and that means Cathy is writing today's post...she isn't as busy as she had been.

I've been in Chula Vista a lot this year, always noticing this small storefront in a far corner of a mall anchored by a CVS and Grocery Outlet.Finally having time to drive South without needing to rush, The Mister and I stopped here for a light lunch.
  Small, with only two tables inside and four tables out in front, the limited menu looked interesting.      There are two display counters.  The one on the left has heated items (typical Cuban bakery items) while the one on the right is refrigerated.  The refrigerated items were what I would call 'eclectic international desserts'- European fruit topped custard pie, coconut macaroons, French macaron, Italian cannoli,  custard, rice pudding and flan.. 
 Even though the first items of the menu listings indicate a relationship to the name of 'Los Pollos' as the specialty here, the rotisserie chicken wasn't ready and so we ordered a couple of items from the warm display,    a chicken empanada ($1.79) and a meat pastry ($1.65). The chicken empanada was baked (not fried). The wonderful simple flavors of rotisserie chicken mixed with garlic and tomato wrapped in the fresh pastry was delicious.  About the size of my palm, the whole empanada had quite enough filling; its ratio with the amount of pastry was just right.

The filling for the meat pastry was a very nice picadillo -ground beef mixed with vegetables. The delightful, crispy puff pastry was perfect. This serving was quite large and very good.   
We ordered a Cuban sandwich ($6.50) and were surprised to see it was served with plantain chips as a side.  Those fried snacks, unsalted, are just a perfect compliment to the pressed sandwich, filled with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese as well as a salty pickle and mustard. Of course, the bread was wonderful.  
Since we had ordered a small cup of Americano coffee to share, well, there was this cheese pastry ($1) in the warm counter that I really wanted to try.  It, too, was wonderful.  Just a bit of a sort of cream cheese/ricotta like cheese mix, surrounded by a sugared puff pastry.  

We will return for the chicken...soon. 

Here is a link to cc's visit, which I read and immediately forgot; should've stopped here sooner.

Los Pollos Cuban Bakery 1372 Third Avenue Chula Vista 91911 (619) 870-1225 Mon-Sat 10 A.M.- 8 P.M., Sun 9 A.M.-5 P.M.
 

Comments

[caninecologne]

Great post Cathy! I'm so glad that you and the Mister were able to stop by Los Pollos. That CVS used to be "Two Guys" a loooooong time ago. The Grocery Outlet was Foodland briefly but had been the old Seafood City and prior to that, Big Bear. Yes, that's going way back, ha ha.

Los Pollos now has seating inside and actual tables instead of narrow bar height ledges. I still haven't tried their rotisserie (although there is another rotisserie type place a few minutes away on Palomar St, El Pechugon).

[Soo @ hungryones]

Looks like a cool bakery! Looking forward to seeing how good the chicken is.

[Caninecologne]

They also have potato ballz here. Not quite Porto's but still just as delicious!

[Cathy]

Thanks, cc. I just don't research places any more...had a friend in that area many years ago, but she didn't venture out as much. Since Costco is so close and a rotisserie chicken is still only $4.99 there, I haven't tried many others, (but probably should, just to see if there is a difference).

Not as fancy of a Cuban bakery as Azucar, Soo. Since I prefer savory to the occasional sweet, Los Pollos works. We will eventually get the namesake, chicken.

We saw the potato ballz on the menu but weren't sure if they had to be ordered or would be in the counter if available, cc. Will request some at our next visit.