Get a treat from one of the best panaderías in Austin!
Pan dulce is an important part of Latino culture for many, whether it’s at the breakfast table con café, sustenance for a celebration, or an afternoon pick-me-up treat. If you’re looking for a nostalgic childhood favorite or seeking a new sweet to try, the panaderías on this list represent a variety of backgrounds and delicious goodies.
Contributed by Kelly MCComas
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Photo via yelp
8716 Research Blvd. #290
801 E William Cannon Dr Suite 125
This panadería bakes up a wide selection of Mexican pastries and breads each morning, in addition to a full menu of savory foods like tamales and breakfast tacos. Mi Tradición’s conchas (a classic round pan dulce that resembles a seashell, topped with a crunchy pastel-colored sugar streusel) are some of our favorites in Austin: they’re dependably soft, fresh, and sweet.
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1204 Cedar Ave
2025 Food & Wine Best New Chef and 2023 James Beard Award Semifinalist Mariela Camacho started Comadre Panadería as a pop-up in Seattle; fortunately for us, she relocated to her home state and set up shop in Austin in 2019. The arrangements of pan dulce in Comadre’s Pan Pari boxes are almost too beautiful to disrupt but luckily, these pastries taste just as good as they look. You can visit their spot right next to Nixta Taqueria or place a pre-order via Comadre’s website. Ordering opens Wednesdays at 8am until they reach capacity. Follow Comadre on Instagram to stay up to date on the yummy treats Mariela is making!
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photo via instagram
310 W Palm Valley Blvd
Head to Round Rock for some authentic Mexican pastries. At La Concha Feliz you'll find freshly baked goods as well as more savory options like tamales, breakfast tacos, and kolaches. Their Conchas are definitely their specialty, with their recipe that comes directly from Mexico. Follow them on Instagram to see what goodies they're baking daily.
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photo via yelp
9616 N Lamar Blvd. #141
This family-run restaurant is most well-known for its decadent Ropa Vieja and Cuban-style sandwiches. But don’t you dare sleep on the fresh pastry case, which is full of desserts from cinnamon-dusted arroz con leche to flaky guava and cream cheese filled pastries (a classic tropical combo that’s a must if you haven’t tried it).
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Photo via instagram
11404 Ranch Road 2222, Suite 4
Johana Cunliffe is the talented baker behind Latin Bakery, which she founded in 2003. She uses family recipes to bake a variety of gorgeous treats, but the ones you absolutely must try are the alfajores: buttery shortbread cookie sandwiches in cute lil’ shapes stuffed with rich dulce de leche filling. It’s impossible to eat just one. (GF options available, too!)
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Photo via instagram
Ki’Bok (temporarily closed)
2328 Lookout Range Dr. Leander, TX
We know, Leander’s a trek, but we wanted to include Ki’Bok (which means "Pleasant Aroma" in Mayan) on this list anyway – their pan dulce is worth an expedition to the North. We love that Ki’Bok offers many of our favorite Mexican delights, like conchas and orejas, in mini sizes. The Garibaldi (a Mexico City fave: an upside-down cupcake with teeny nonpareil sprinkles and apricot jam) is also unmissable. Order your treats ahead of time for pickup on the Ki’Bok website.
NOTE: Ki'Bok is temporarily closed and will announce their reopening on their website.
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Photo via Yelp
5200 E William Cannon Dr.
Walk into La Reyna and you’ll feel like a proverbial kid in a candy (or bread) shop – so many options to choose from! Rest assured that you can’t go wrong, but if you’re feeling conflicted, we suggest ordering an empanada filled with cajeta (caramel) or manzana (apple).
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photo via Joe's Bakery & Coffee shop
2305 E 7th St.
Nothing good lasts forever, and that’s why you should plan to show up to Joe’s Bakery relatively early on a weekend morning if you want to beat the well-deserved rush for a full selection of this café and bakery’s unbeatable pan dulce. Try a cinnamon sugar cookie with a cup of coffee for a perfect treat, or go all-in on a box of sweets to last you the week. We won’t judge.
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Photo by Joel Chapa via Google
834 E Rundberg Ln
No, it’s not La Mexicana Bakery, and we’ll never forget the delights of that late-night sweet stop. However, La Mexicana Market is a grocery store with an in-store bakery offering freshly baked pan dulce – meaning you can do your weekly shopping and treat yourself all in one stop. We recommend trying a barbacoa taco if you have a savory craving, too.
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photo via yelp
4327 S 1st St. #102
A staple to those who know since the ‘90s, Casa Maria produces a vast array of pan dulce baked freshly every morning. Our personal favorites are the pumpkin empanadas and the turtle-shaped tortuga pastries, but there’s enough at this bakery for you to sample new offerings with each visit for a long, long time.
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Did we miss your favorite panaderia in Austin?
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