Sweet. Spongy. And oh, so creamy. Here are 7 exceptional tres leche cakes in SoCal

Editor's note: This story was first published in May 2021. The story has been updated to reflect menu changes.

There's no such thing as a perfect tres leche. When we say that, we don't mean the tres leche hasn't achieved perfection. We mean there's no single tres leche that represents the dessert's Platonic ideal. Recipes vary from country to country, state to state and person to person. Some are thick and drowned in liquid, others have an airy texture with only a splash of milk.

Among the most popular desserts in Central and South America, tres leches is a sponge cake soaked with evaporated, condensed and whole milks (hence the "tres"). For many of Southern California's best panaderias, restaurants and caterers, it's a test of their prowess and a hallmark of excellence.

The happy result is an abundance of choices available for pick-up across SoCal. Here are the seven of the most delicious. Did we miss your favorite version? Let us know in the comments below, and we may include it. (After we, ahem, test it out, of course.)

Lucero Bakery

Depending on who you ask, Lucero has been killing it for either 51 or 24 years. Established as a small churro distributor in 1970 by Jesus Perez Ruano, its current iteration began in 1997 when Jesus' sons, Carlos and Pedro Perez, took over as managers. Since then, Lucero's two locations — Maywood and Commerce — have expanded their offerings to include flan, bolillos, pan dulce and other traditional Mexican pastries. None touches their exceptional tres leches, which they offer in multiple flavors including walnut, strawberry and hazelnut. Whichever version you choose, it's lightly infused with rum and often sells out.

Coppelia’s

Ana Asnaran has owned and operated Coppelia's bakery and cafe since 1986 when it was located in Culver City and called "New Yorker Bakery." Born in Cuba and trained by her baker mother, Asnaran has a wealth of talents that stretch across borders. Both traditional Cuban-Caribbean and Peruvian pastries are on offer at this adorable outpost. Naturally, her mango tres leches, a Coppelia’s signature, is out of this world. If you’re ready to kick things up a notch, ask about Asnaran’s "quatro leches," because sometimes, three kinds of dairy just aren't enough.

Versailles

Orlando Garcia and his son William opened the first Versailles in West L.A. in 1981. Decades later, this beloved micro-chain still offers chef Garcia's signature Cuban-style tres leches. Each slice features layers of heavy cream and sponge cake crowned with chopped almonds, caramel zig-zags and a daub of cherry. Their pastels are unusually squat and square due to the heavy toppings but the Garcias saturate each bite with sweet, gooey milk. It's delightful and well worth the drive, wherever you're coming from.

Panaderia Herrera

Panaderia Herrera (sometimes called Herrera's Bakery) isn't hard to find, thanks to its yellow-and-blue facade and John Muir-inspired murals. It's even easier to love. There are more than a few entrancing possibilities onsite, including massive, snow-white slices of housemade tres leches pastelitos. If you don't like overly sweet or sopping tres leches, this is your spot. The larger, drier sponge cake is lightly drizzled with a thin three-milk blend.

Tierra Mia Coffee

Angelenos should recognize this boutique coffee-maker's name from one of its 20 brick-and-mortar locations across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Well known for its coffee, Tierra Mia has, in recent years, upped its pastry game, infusing its sweets with Latin American flavors and recipes. The finest examples are its signature tres leches muffins. These crusty, golden pound cakes, flush with vanilla and condensed milk, are baked fresh at its Lincoln Heights flagship and shipped out every morning. Regardless of which location you visit, they sell out fast so arrive early.

Angel Maid Bakery

It is the rare shop that can balance taste and beauty with as much finesse as Angel Maid Bakery. How often are wedding cakes visually stunning but disappointing to eat? After nearly 50 years in business (the bakery opened in 1972), Angel Maid has its fancy, custom-made cakes down to a succulent science, and you should expect to pay for it: a 7" personal tres leches goes for $35 while a full sheet version costs $255. Still, for a special occasion, there may be no finer option. The tres leches here is, indeed, angelic. It's so rich with custard and cream that the owners were forced to offer a disclaimer that reads, "This is a very wet cake!” on their menu.

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

For a completely fresh take on this beloved dessert, try Qamaria Coffee. The Fullerton outpost does rose and pistachio versions of a milk cake, and it is heavenly.

LAist Associate Editor for Food and Culture Gab Chabrán also contributed to this report.