The Only Portuguese Bakery in Los Angeles

My roommate wanted something sweet to eat. I suggested Natas Pastries next to Casa Vega on Ventura Blvd. Later that day he told me that was the best éclair he had in his life. "Wow," he said, "where did this place come from?"

Nearly four years ago, Fatima Marques, a native of Lisbon, Portugal, searched Los Angeles for pasteis de nata, the most famous of Portuguese pastries. She discovered a void in the city’s culinary landscape and true inspiration for a specialty pastry shop.

“Pasteis de nata have been reproduced all over the world from Japan to New York. But in Los Angeles, there was not a single place to find them.” Fatima explained. (http://www.nataspastries.com/about.htm)

Nicole Kidman shops here like every two weeks and we are told that people visiting town from as far as San Diego and Phoenix never forget to stop by for their monthly supply of treats.

I try to stay away because it is good. Really good. Addicting. And that means more 5K races to sign up for. But the guy who works the counter is the nicest guy in the world and he'll tell you all about the food making you want to buy each item over and over again.

If there is anything you try here, try the eponymous natas, a flakey puff pastry shell with a custard type crème brûlée inside. The Bola de Berlin is like a donut hamburger. The Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are sandwiches themselves, half dipped in chocolate. Everything here is decently priced so you could actually buy one of each in-store item for about $25. Happy eating.