Panaderia Gonzalez, Beyer Blvd location

I remember trying to find this bakery a few years ago when I was hell bent on trying EVERY panaderian down south.

I'm glad to say that my list is now complete.

Apparently Panaderia Gonzalez is a franchise down south...

There used to be four but now only two survive, the one on Palm Ave (near Montgomery High School),and this one on Beyer Blvd which is just around the corner from Northgate Market and The Wing. Northgate used to be Safeway back in the 70's and 80's. It became El Tigre and is now a Northgate. The other Panaderia Gonalez morphed into Panaderia Cazares and the San Ysidro location was closed before I ever got to visit it (it's on Dairy Mart Road in the same strip mall with El Mango Manila and Neighbors Supermarket).

When you walk in, the racks are on your left. To your right are some tables and chairs which is nice, along with a coffee machine. There is also a long counter with more items on top of it.

Like at the other PG's, each piece was only .65.  Take that Panchita's in North Park where you can't even get your own tray, tongs and pick the pieces that you want. This is up close and personal. And much more affordable.

For TC, I got her favorite, the palmier, plus I couldn't resist getting the pepperoni, cheese and jalapeno filled bread plus another empanada (filled with calabaza/pumpkin).

I'm not a pumpkin fan but I got it anyways. The dough was too soft feeling and too bready. The filling was actually alright because Mexican pumpkin filling doesn't use the same spices as that horrible pumpkin shit that is soon to be inundating EVERYTHING EVERHWHERE because Fall is around the corner. There isn't any nutmeg or whatever they put in there that makes pumpkin smell like potpourri.

Look at that caramelized sugar. This was sticky to touch but still crisp around the edges. It had that nice burnt sugar taste.


Bert and I enjoyed this as well. I didn't reall eat the bread but more of the filling. The bread was nice and fresh with a crisp top.


They had different versions of these filled breads (jalapeno and cheese, cheese only, ham and cheese). My total here was a whopping $3. Not bad eh.

Panaderia Gonzalez
475 Beyer Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 575-2424

There is no website but here are sparse reviews from yelp (only 6).

I'll have to post the links later below but here is the complete list of panaderias in the South Bay, as in South of the 54 (excluding Mexican markets which usually have their own in-house bakery):

Panaderia Gonzalez, Otay Mesa
Panaderia Cazares (formerly Panaderia Gonzalez)
Gloria's Bakery
Chico's
La Concha
Moreliana Pan
Mexico Lindo (not really a panaderia but a bakery owned by Mexicans; their palmier is the BEST!)
and this place

Most Mexican markets have an in-house bakery. I normally don't buy my baked goods from the markets but La Ley loves the pan dulce at Mercado International and Northgate.
Markets with bakeries include:
Mercado International
Northgate (Naples and Coronado locations)
La Bodega (Chula Vista, plus two other locations in San Ysidro)
La Posta (I have yet to visit here)
Save a Lot

*markets south of the 54, therefore National City is not included.

Of all of the bakeries listed, my FAVORITE hands down is Moreliana (coyota de piloncillo and taquitos de queso),  followed by Gloria's (that meat filled birote!), La Concha (the veladora!), and Chico's (they have tamales!).

This list doesn't even touch upon the awesome Mexican/Middle Eastern combo markets that are prevalent in El Cajon (thanks Cathy for introducing me to those). As always, more food research needs to be done.