Best for: Bread loaves, pan dulce, cookiesDown in Long Beach, Arturo Enciso’s artisanal panaderia integrates heirloom grains into the art of traditional Mexican pastry-making. Alongside rustic loaves studded with seeds, Gusto Bread serves an array of new-school pan dulce, including conchas, orejas and nixtamal queens—Gusto Bread’s masa-based twist on French kouign-amann. The pan de maiz, made with freshly milled heirloom corn and wildflower honey, will make you rethink your love of American-style cornbread, and we think the guava-marmalade-stuffed pastelitos is the ideal way to start a weekend morning.

We first stumbled upon Gusto Bread after noticing its long line one weekend, and our lives haven't been the same since. This counter-service bakery and cafe specializes in indigenous and Mexican-inspired baked goods made with heirloom masa and sourdough starter. Their standard menu includes everything from spelt loaves and sesame-crusted flatbread to buttery biscuits and chocolate conchas (plus many other kinds of excellent pan dulce).

Here’s how James Tir described Gusto’s Nixtamal Queen: “Whether Gusto Bread, the lauded Indigenous-meets-European panadería, is dough master Arturo Enciso’s magnum opus remains to be seen—however, it’s undoubtedly one of the best bakeries in the Southern California region. The bakery churns out conchas, choribuns, pastelitos, and more, often selling out by midday. “My go-to item is their nixtamal queen which smashes the concept of a kouign-amann together with house made nixtamal creating a wholly new pastry.

We first stumbled upon Gusto Bread after noticing its long line one weekend, and our lives have been different ever since. This counter-service bakery and cafe specializes in indigenous and Mexican-inspired baked goods made with heirloom blue corn masa and sourdough starter. Their standard menu often sells out by noon, and includes everything from spelt loaves and sesame-crusted flatbread to buttery biscuits and chocolate conchas (plus many other kinds of excellent pan dulce).

The pan de muerto at Gusto in Long Beach is a three-day process. The dough is first made, then fermented with a sourdough culture made from Valle de Guadalupe grape yeast, and finally baked before being dusted with a crunchy sugar mixture made from vanilla beans and burnt corn husks. To add to its true artisan allure, the egg yolk-enriched dough is made from local fresh eggs sourced from the La Bahn ranch egg stand at the Tuesday Torrance Farmers Market.

For the week leading up to Christmas, Gusto Bread is offering holiday items available for pre-order which includes a variety of loaves of bread and batches of cookies. Their holiday cookies available for pre-order, which are Mexican and Argentine-inspired, are alfajor shortbread with shredded coconut cookies, nopalito cookies that have a bit of a kick and crumbly polvoron cookies, among others. Orders have the option to come in a gold tin box.

A child waiting in line on a recent Sunday at Gusto wailed to his dad, “Why does this place have to be so popular?!. ” Such is the demand for breads and pastries from the Long Beach bakery that once operated inside Arturo Enciso and Ana Belén Salatino’s living room. On many days, there will be a long line (sorry, kid!) for Enciso’s rustic loaves and baked goods such as springy, cheesy jalapeño bolillos and cocoa-sprinkled chocolate conchas.

This shop is an organic panadería specializing in pan and pan dulce made with 100% masa madre sourdough starter. They are open Wednesdays through Sunday and are best known for their vegan Dorado Loaf, a 50% whole grain loaf with a beautiful yellow-hued, even, moist crumb with golden flax seeds. They also have sweet loaves such as Pan de Maíz, Nixtamal Queen, Mexican Concha and cookies such as spelt and polvorón (Mexican wedding) cookies.

Upon my arrival at Gusto Bread at 12:30 on a bustling Saturday, I was disheartened to find most items sold out. Engaging with the staff, I mentioned I was a mere visitor, prompting them to insist I sample their offerings before departure. Known for their delectable Mexican-influenced bread, Gusto Bread surpassed expectations with flavors like jalapeno and cheese bolillo, and traditional cornbread - a definite must-try experience.

For a perfect day of coffee and thrifting in Long Beach, start with a visit to Gusto, the most delicious and famous bakery in the region,” says Robert. “Their coffee and pastries are the ideal way to kickstart your morning. Afterward, head to Retro Row on 4th Street, where you can shop-hop through a variety of vintage and thrift stores.

(Photographed by Irvin Rivera; food styled by Phil Limprasertwong). Arturo Enciso and Ana Belén Salatino make sure Navidad stays Feliz with two bakes that capture the holiday spirit. Nopalitos Navideños are a cactus-shaped cross between gingerbread cookies and Mexican pig-shaped “puerquitos” spiced with ancho and guajillo chilies.

Despite being all the way out in Long Beach, Gusto Bread is worth the trek. Specializing in wild fermented breads and pan dulce, this artisanal panadería serves up handmade goods that have earned it an immaculate reputation. When it comes to the freshly baked loaves, the California loaf and seeded loaf are two top contenders.

In August 2020, in the still early stages of the pandemic, the artisanal panadería Gusto Bread opened its doors in Long Beach. It was owned and operated by partners Ana Salatino and Arturo Enciso, who had built a steady following after selling their loaves of naturally leavened sourdough bread and pan dulce out of their home.

I'd also add the scones at Saints & Sinners (they have a bunch of different flavors, they're all great), and everything at Rose Park, too!. (A much smaller "everything" than at Gusto or Colossus, but all their pastries are excellent. I especially love their savory curry chickpea handpie. )

Have you ever wondered what organic bread made from ancient techniques and heirloom recipes taste like?. Say no more — Gusto Bread is the epitome of this very feat. In the opinion of many Long Beach locals —and we wholeheartedly agree—this bakery is among the city’s greatest.

Arturo Enciso specializes in combining Mexican and European techniques. Nowhere is that better represented than in his Nixtamal Queen, a kouign amann made with heirloom blue corn masa and caramelized sugar. Gusto's croissants are just as noteworthy.

2710 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814Phone: 562-343-1881 Visit Website. A post shared by Gusto Bread (@gustobread). Since they use authentic organic and regional ingredients, Gusto Bread is the go-to joint for freshly baked pastries in Long Beach.

Partners Arturo Enciso and Ana Belen Salatino are behind the bakery that specializes in wild fermented bread, pastries and pan dulce made with masa madre, or sourdough.