April M.

This business is CLOSED. Los Gorditos is a small sit-down Spanish restaurant, bakery and takeaway. It is fairly clean in the dining area but the bathroom leaves a bit to be desired (no paper products, grungy but not filthy). Open from 6AM to 11PM Sun thru Thurs and 6:30AM to midnight on Fri and Sat, the place is often packed before noon and for good reason: their fresh-baked bread and filo dough selections are great! There is an ever-changing assortment of huge yeast and glazed donuts, guava turnovers/squares, cakes (chocolate, red velvet, cheese, cornmeal), pies, cookies, macaroons, and custard horns, etc. Hot items include beef, chicken, yucca and pizza empañadas, alcapurrias, piononos, roasted chicken, steak, fried pork, tripe, etc. There are Cuban and other sandwiches as well. Chilled offerings include a wicked ceviche-like salad (expensive), etc. Platters offer a choice of sides (tostones, rice and beans, salad, or small mofongo). The mofongo is outrageous and a meal in itself though, like a few items here, not cheap. There are weekly lunch specials (Mon thru Sat) for $3.99 that might make it easier on one's wallet, however. Beverages range from fresh-brewed coffees to various tropical drinks. Whenever I enter this place - which is a few doors down from Quest Labs - I never fail to put down $20 to $30: first it's a chowdown of the hot flakey offerings followed by a box or two of takehome pastries and one piping hot bread. It's the yeast that does it - the aroma just wraps itself around you (and ensures you'll be back at Quest soon resembling a 'shroom). Los Gorditos offers free delivery to a limited area for orders exceeding $20. A family-owned and operated business, it might be some time before your doorbell rings. If you're a gringo, brush up on your Spanglish before you go - sometimes it takes a few moments and a bit of pointing to convey your Anglo appetite wishes. Parking is ample in this busy Southport Road stripmall about 1/8 mile south of Pleasant Hill Road.