Best (Hidden) Bakery in Los Angeles

In my last post, I raved about the pretzel bread buns used at the Hole in the Wall Burger Joint. I was chatting with the owner when I was there and he said they used Dolce Forno Bakery. All the lights in my head immediately went flashing like an ambulance. I know Dolce Forno also supplies the bread at the wonderful LA-based sandwich mini-chain, Mendocino Farms. Now, I'm seriously motivated to seek out Dolce Forno!

Dolce Forno Bakery is owned and run by the Drago Group (in the same family as the famed Downtown restaurant Drago Centro). It wasn't easy finding the bakery. It's tucked in a street that has to be accessed via an alley behind a Del Taco off of Venice Ave. and Robertson Blvd.! But once you find it, you'll be rewarded with heaps of pretzel bread, classic Italian breads, pastries and desserts. 

The bakery is not your typical retail shop. It's sparsly decorated because it's really just the front counter of an entire baking operation in the back that supplies some of the best restaurants and hotels in Los Angeles. Here you'll find several kinds of dinner rolls, baguettes, classic Italian breads like ciabatta, focaccia, panini, pagnotta, filone, casareccio and more. I read that Mom's Whole Wheat Loaf is a must-try too so I have to get that next time. If you go and it's late in the day, call ahead to make sure they still have what you want.

This is their must-buy Pretzel Twist. Dolce Forno has replaced Rockenwagner as my pretzel bread go-to. Use the Pretzel Twist as a hamburger bun or just eat it plain and enjoy it's slightly salty and chewy exterior and moist, doughy center. Or, enjoy it the way I do which is to slice it in half horizontally, heat it for ten seconds in the microwave and then spread some salted butter on it. PURE CARB INDULGENCE. Oh, and did I say it's only 85 cents each?!

Dolce Forno also carries a small variety of muffins, danishes, Italian cookies and my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie (after the ones I make of course, haha). It's crunchy around the edges and soft and chewy in the middle. I almost want to call it a Chocolate Layer Cookie because its got ribbons of chocolate layered throughout the cookie. I can probably eat ten of these in one sitting especially since it's only 95 cents each.

Besides breads and pastries, Dolce Forno sells their housemade dried pastas (i.e. linguini, fettuccine) and 2 to 3 varieties of frozen ravioli. I bought a 5lb bag of their mushroom ravioli and divided it myself when I got home. One pound will serve about 3 to 4 people depending on what else you're serving and it only takes 5 minutes to cook. I love having restaurant-quality food at home.

I can't believe Dolce Forno doesn't have a bigger retail shop. There are some good bakeries scattered around Los Angeles but with our infamous traffic, it is insanely hard to get to the handful or so good bakeries to buy good fresh breads and pastries. I refuse to believe the market doesn't demand more amazing bakeries like this. Are we really such an anti-carb obsessed city?


Dolce Forno Bakery
3828 Willat Ave.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 280-6004
Mon - Fri: 8am to 5pm
*Direction Tip: If you follow the directions on Google Maps, you will not find the bakery. I've filed a bug report with Google but while they're fixing it, it's best to use Mapquest which has it right. You access the alley right behind Del Taco on Venice/Robertson and you'll see street signs for Willat Ave. and Hoke Ave. Limited street parking and the Dolce Forno sign isn't very big so don't blink!

A few of my other favorite bakeries
Amandine
12225 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 979-3211

Angel Maid
4542 S. Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 915-2078
*They specialize in cakes though they do have some pastries, cookies and great cream puffs. They have the best cakes in the city! They use whip cream frosting instead of heavy, sugary buttercream and have done wonderful cake designs for me.

Farmshop
225 6th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90049
(310) 566-2400

Huckleberry
1014 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-2311

Rockenwagner
12835 Washington Blvd.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
(310) 577-0747

Susina Bakery
7122 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-7900

Best Burger Under $10 Alert! Hole in the Wall Reopened!

Philly Cheese Steak Burger of the Week @ Hole in the Wall Burger Joint. 

I've heard a lot about this joint and I finally got to try it last week in its newly reopened location in Santa Monica (across the DMV, by the Water Garden). One word: AMAZING. My burger was the perfect marriage of a medium-cooked beef patty, thinly-sliced steak and melted provolone cheese bound by a heavenly pretzel bun. I admit my Burger of the Week was a little messy to eat and my friends who ordered regular beef and turkey burgers didn't have to go through three napkins like I did but it was totally worth it every time I sunk my teeth into all that juicy goodness.

You go in and they have a list for you to put together your burger. Grab a pencil and start ticking off your delicious burger journey. The list of choices may seem short but don't let that fool you because the chef has given you his careful selections. They work! Don't forget those fries and if it's a Friday, treat yourself to a milkshake or cupcake for surviving the week. Then give the list to the cashier, pay and in less than 10 minutes, you'll be enjoying one of the best burgers in Los Angeles. 

One visit to Hole in the Wall and it was enough for me to come to the conclusion of what I've suspected all along. The more ubiquitous Counter Burger gives you a gazillion choices to put together your burger but no matter how much thought you've put into it, somehow your carefully put together ingredients will still result in the same mediocre taste. And that is regardless of how you've changed your cheeses, sauces and toppings. Sadly, the Counter Burger also tend to overcook their beef patties even when you order it medium or medium rare.

Between Hole in the Wall and The Counter Burger, I would choose Hole in the Wall any day. They use never-frozen grass-fed Angus beef, source their breads from a local bakery (more on that awesome bakery in my next blog post) and make their own spreads and ketchup. That soft pretzel bun alone is worth driving to Hole in the Wall for.

Hole in the Wall Burger Joint

2200 Colorado Ave

Santa Monica, CA 90404

(310) 449-0147

11am to 10pm daily

Parking tip: Metered street or 2-hr free at Arboretum Plaza, entrance on Colorado Ave., right off the Starbucks.