Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Bolillo Bakery

    4.5 (692 reviews)
    Open 5:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order El Bolillo Bakery Takeout or Delivery

    El Bolillo Bakery Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - El Bolillo Bakery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside
    Emily C.

    What a cool bakery! Come in, grab a tray and some tongs and get going! The smell as soon as you walk in says it all. There is everything from cookies, cakes, brownies and donuts to bread, empanadas and of course, tortillas! Everything is baked fresh and they're constantly restocking the shelves as things fly off. I was like a kid in a candy store wanting to try one of everything. I ended up just getting a few different kinds of cookies and they were all great. It is extremely crowded but the lines go pretty fast since there are so many registers. The prices are great too!

    Jay F.

    As a person native born to Houston, but having lived and explored much of the world, one of my favorite things to do is to invite friends to go on a walking tour with me, of the area around the Houston Farmer's Market on Airline. Many years run by the Canino family, as a co-op with local farmers. And when they retired a group of Houstonians, committed to preserving it and making it as nice as possible for shopping. And it's a wonderful place to go shopping for fruits and vegetables and to eat one of the restaurants here. So I usually begin my walking tour with a trip to El Bolillo Bakery to show them the breads and then over to Granel Spices and then to El Rey meat market to show them the chorizo that I like and the freshly made chicharrones and to pointing out the most excellent Mexican restaurant just on the side El Rey. And then heading over to the farmers market proper and showing them the excellent flour tortillas that one can get at Alamo Tamales. A visit to LA Crawfish or other eateries. And also walk and talk about the different uses of the spices and maybe some tropical fruits that people might not be familiar with. It's a great half day and I love taking people around. So definitely plan to visit this area of Airline Drive and have some fun.

    Abigail R.

    Looking for Mexican bread, a bakery, cakes, tortillas or bolillos? They got it all. The bread is always fresh and the place is always packed! Don't get overwhelmed as it's worth it. Its an easy concept. As you walk in grab a silver tray and tongs and grab what you want. When done the register will bag it up for you and give you your total. It's always packed because it's good. They have their own parking lot too. The theme makes me feel like I am in San Antonio but in Mexico as the farmers market is across the street. Worth a trip!

    Isaac R.

    El Bolillo Bakery is a must-stop in Houston. Huge variety of fresh pan dulce, breads, and pastries that taste authentic and freshly made. Their tamales were very disappointing so skinny.

    Shai B.

    So many delicious things to choose from! I couldn't decide on just one so I got several items. They were all very good!

    No inflation huh trump?
    Jaime F.

    After being a customer for 30 years el bolillo finally raised their prices. Never ever have I seen their prices jump in price like this month. 12/25 a date to remember. Thanks allot Djt. What I used spend $35 now cost me $72. Well I need to get on a diet anyways still the best pan dulce in Houston.

    Edwin R.

    I haven't seeing a bakery where people are coming in and out all times of the day bread is freshly made coming hot out of the oven, hot and fresh And fresh pastries, donuts, cakes, cookies, you name it this stuff is not sitting. These are the types of places I like to see thrive in the communities, you know it's a good product when it's packed and always busy The only downside is the heavy tray carrying around will wear you out haha but it's worth it! They got some really good sugar donuts I happen to go on some a couple occasions where the donuts were piping, hot and soft and as soon as you took a bite into it, they melted! The pan Bolillo are so good they are great for sandwiches or by itself or maybe dip it in coffee if you do that. They have empanadas with fruits and cheese. My favorite is the cheese and the piña. The concha's are great. The muffins and sugar cookies also great they have so much good stuff. What I like about this bakery everything is fresh so when you take it home, these pastries, these breads they don't go stale next day. And that's what I like about this place.. maybe it's just me but that's my opinion. this is probably one of my favorite bakeries in the Houston area. You can find this place right across the street from the farmers market.

    Across the street
    Jim W.

    I've been following El Bolillo for a while. Travel finally took us to Houston, so it was a required stop! It's right across the street from the Farmers Market with lots of parking. At 10:30 am it was packed, but oddly organized. The inside was warm and the smells were out of this world! We went in for a couple of treats and walked out with enough for a football team. The breads were warm from the oven and the selection endless. Everything we tried was perfect. The Conchas were next level and the tortillas tasted homemade. What a wonderful experience! You must try El Bolillo Bakery.

    Strawberry cheesecake
    Leena C.

    Everything you ever heard is true. This place is all it is cracked up to be. Took a chance and went in on a Friday morning at 7 am. And it wasn't too crowded yet. It's dangerous. You will leave with way more than you came for... Ended up with a bag of tortillas, kolaches, cookies and cookies and strawberry cheese cake. Kolaches - delicious and filled with sausage and jalapenos, just really balanced Marranitos - why didn't anyone tell me about these? So darn good and addicting. Halloween cookie - delicious - better than Kroger's (sorry) Strawberry cheesecake - I regretted that I didn't get 2 There is a large selection but I only did quick drive bys through the door windows. Next time I'm filling my tray to the brim. For those who have never been, pick up a tray and tongs and fill it up. They have fresh Bollilo bread too which my dad loves. The staff are super friendly and very organized. They can get really busy. As I was leaving, the parking lot was filling up. Def worth a trip and I plan on returning more times that I should

    Pastries
    Sandra P.

    Authentic Mexican bakery. I love this place!!! There are so many options and no carb shortage here. You can see them make fresh bread and tortillas. The store also offers custom cakes. It's self serve so you can grab as many pastries as you want for an affordable price. The checkout process seamless. And of course the conchas are the best in the city. Don't forget the kolaches when you're there!

    Ericka S.

    The old, beloved Cañino farmers market no longer exists, but El Bolillo remains an important historic neighborhood fixture along the Heights-adjacent stretch of Airline. I've always loved visiting and shopping in this area (since childhood with my Mom), which is also home to Houston Dairymaids, the new farmers market and the Granel spice and herb store. To me, though, El Bolillo really keeps the old authentic vibe going. On my latest visit, I purchased tamales (chicken hatch chile), flour tortillas and one churro croissant de cajeta. Everything tasted great, and service was really good too.

    There are several registers to handle the crowds. They are very efficient.
    Kelly W.

    I come here for caramel filled churros. They are off the charts good!!! They are just below the hot out of the grease made to order ones that I had in the Yucatán Mexico. I also like the pineapple empanadas. I don't really care for most pasteles & I definitely don't need them because I try to keep my weight in a certain area. However, El Bolillo is authentic. I'm generally the only semi gringo here. I'm adopted. My birth mother's parents & other ancestors are from Mexico. Today I came on February 13th forgetting that tomorrow is Valentine's Day. They were super busy, but I was in & out in a hurry. They had special treats for the holiday. I haven't gotten tamales here for so long that I will not include them in my review. I will return soon & get some. There was a sign for 2 for 1 aguas frescas. My phone died before I got a photo. Monday-Friday 3-5 or 2-4? Call to confirm if you are interested. Perhaps someone else has posted a photo.

    Fresh tortilla
    Theresa M.

    This bakery is a Houston staple and now I see why. The quality is top notch, the prices are reasonable, and everything is fresh even late at night. Be mentally prepared when you enter though; it is chaotic! People and trays in every direction!

    Vanilla and cream cheese concha

    See all

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for stopping by, Sayde!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you for stopping by, Jacob!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    ¡Gracias Elizabeth!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so mcuh, Emily!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much, Jay!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for coming by, Jaime!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much, Dylan!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Edwin R.
    4989
    275
    10350

    1 year ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 3
    Love this 12
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much, Jim!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for visiting us, Barbara!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for visiting us, Leena!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    ¡Gracias, Sandra!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much, Ericka!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much, Kai!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for your kind review, Jando!

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you for coming by, Jessica!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Muchas gracias por visitarnos, Karen!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for coming by to visit, Stephanie!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carol H.
    138
    50
    110

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carlos T.
    50
    91
    201

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Muchas gracias, Carlos!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you, Karina!

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chad M.
    1057
    550
    262

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mariel R.

    Mariel R.

    Thank you so much for your review, Chad!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 18

    El Bolillo Bakery Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Bolillo Bakery

    Do they sell tres leches by the slice?

    Yes they do and it's delicious

    When would be the best time to pick up a Rosca?

    First thing in the morning is always the best time no matter the day. They open at 6 am. It gets very busy by mid morning. When I go at 7 am after work it's already getting busy by the time I leave. They will have plenty throughout they day but it's… 

    Do you need to preorder the strawberry tres leches cake? It's for 2-3 people.

    Yes, it is best to preorder/call in your order as you can customize the strawberry tres leches, but at the same time guarantee stock.

    Any vegan, dairy free options?

    Do they sell tamles?

    They do not sell tamales at El Bolillo.

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Bakeries 13,712 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hui Lau Shan

    Hui Lau Shan

    4.3
    (263 reviews)
    12.7 mi
    $$

    I came here specifically from a review that said if you like mango, you should come here. So this…read moreis where I came. I feel like I was confused on what mango combination to get, but I landed on mango and coconut with the small balls sago. It was different than what we were used to with boba, but I really liked it. I can definitely see how refreshing this would be on a hot day in Texas. My drink was ready literally right when I paid. So their service is very quick! It's also very cute inside, and looks nice and clean. There's lots of different drink shops I want to try in chinatown, but this is one of the good ones!

    Have been here multiple times and it's a really great place to chill and hangout. I will say the…read moremenu does not have much description of what's included so it was a bit of challenge on what to choose. There is a physical display of certain popular items where you can see from their entrance though. We ordered the mango & pomelo with sago, mango chewy ball, and the mango pancake. It's hard to choose favorites here but I really enjoyed the mango & pomelo with sago. It has mango purée base with sago pearls, pomelo pulp, and fresh mango chunks. Can't go wrong with their signature mango chewy ball either which has mango slush base topped with glutinous rice chewy balls and mango chunks. The mango pancake was a thin crepe-like outer layer filled with whipped cream and a slice of mango.

    Photos
    Ig: @whatsviveating  |  mango & coconut juice with crystal jelly
    Ig: @whatsviveating | mango & coconut juice with crystal jelly
    Ig: @whatsviveating  |  mango & coconut juice with crystal jelly
    Ig: @whatsviveating | mango & coconut juice with crystal jelly
    C8, super delicious

    See all

    C8, super delicious
    Royal Roastery - Houston

    Royal Roastery - Houston

    4.4
    (269 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    Royal Roastery is a roastery offering freshly roasted nuts, baklava, Turkish delight, ice cream,…read moreknafeh, desserts, Arab drinks, juices, and shakes. When I stopped by on a weekday evening at 9pm it was packed. They had stations setup throughout the store to order different goods, which helped to alleviate the rush. Knafeh ($6) - They offered 2 types of knafeh, one with cheese and one with custard. I went with the one made with Nabulsi cheese and topped with shredded phyllo, and soaked in sugar syrup. It was warm, crispy and delicious! Karak tea ($5) - This milk tea drink was made with aromatic spices, primarily cardamom, cloves, ginger and cloves. I was happy to see they used whole milk instead of evaporated milk. The drink was incredibly rich and creamy and tasted great. Turkish delight ($18 / lb.) - This was extremely fresh, soft and chewy, made with cornstarch, sugar, nuts. Some of the varieties I tried had chocolate and/or fruits. The baklava here was fresh made with layers of phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and held together with some honey. The nut offerings here included, almonds, walnuts, peanuts and a few more. Overall I was impressed with everything they offered here with the exception of the nuts, which I thought were just ok. I'd definitely return if I was in the area.

    The desserts here are fun, unique, and very different from what you find at most places. My only…read morecomplaint is the lack of labeling for many of the products. For example, with the Turkish delights and ice cream selections, only a few items are labeled. For most of them, you have to guess the flavor or ingredients. When I asked questions, there was a language barrier, and the staff member behind the counter was unable to clearly explain what the items were in English. This can be especially frustrating for customers with food allergies or dietary restrictions. In the U.S., I would expect all flavors and ingredients to be clearly labeled so customers can make informed choices. Even if staff members are not fluent in English, having accurate labels for flavors and ingredients would greatly improve the customer experience. The desserts themselves are excellent, but better product labeling would make the experience much more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

    Photos
    So cute!
    So cute!
    Biscoff kunafa, yummy!
    Biscoff kunafa, yummy!
    Taoqi Mango Ice Cream

    See all

    Taoqi Mango Ice Cream
    Popfancy Dessert Bar

    Popfancy Dessert Bar

    4.1
    (323 reviews)
    12.4 mi
    $$

    Popfancy Dessert Bar: You're here for K-Pop, the desserts are the bonus…read more Let's be honest about what this is. You're paying for the K-Pop Demon Hunter pop-up aesthetic, the upbeat vibes, the fast service, the themed menu. The desserts? Solid. The Pinky Up Parfait hits. One scoop of cappuccino ice cream comes generous and tasty. Nothing disappoints. But nothing revolutionizes dessert either. This is good execution in service of a limited time experience, not destination-level pastry work. And that's fine. That's exactly what a pop-up should be. The real draw is that everything works together. Vibe, music, service, and desserts that don't let the side down. It feels fun, not gimmicky. That's harder to pull off than you'd think. Bottom line. Pop-ups don't stick around. If the K-Pop theme is your thing and you want solid desserts in a fun environment, go now. If you're just looking for great desserts, permanent spots do it better.

    I'm surprised I have not reviewed this place because we have been here multiple times and each time…read morewe've liked it. This is not a place you go to just have lunch or something.This place is an experience. Some adults might find joy in here (like I do), but my children definitely did, and that's worth it. They came here with the same excitement that they had for disneyland so I'm really happy about that. We all liked the harry potter experience and some different anime type experiences as well that my children liked. The foods and drinks are on theme and although it's not cheap, it's definitely not as much as Disneyland. We came on the weekends, but during lunchtime, and I can see how they might be really busy during the dinner rush. Sometimes you might need a timed entry to go in, but thankfully, we have not since we've been going. I will say that it's quite small and gets cramped really fast. I just think the experience of it all is a really cool and I'm happy we have fun places like this around us in Houston.

    Photos
    Video cassettes for retro arcade cafe theme
    Video cassettes for retro arcade cafe theme
    Strawberry Parafit ice cream
    Strawberry Parafit ice cream
    I'm Melting (ice cream sandwich)

    See all

    I'm Melting (ice cream sandwich)
    Bouchée Patisserie

    Bouchée Patisserie

    4.2
    (184 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    As part of the Post Oak Hotel, you can access this place from both inside and outside entrance…read more This place is super cute and seems to have a fair amount of people who come here to work or place an order from an good assortment of pastries and gelato's. What's nudged this place up to 5 stars for me is they have really improved their coffee game, specifically their quality of cappuccino's. Previously it seemed more of latte, but now to me its a legit Capp. Their choice of pastries hasn't changed, which gives you a good assortment of choices and they have added an additional barista or server which also is a nice touch for service. The only niggling items, parking can be tough, so you'll have to either walk a block or be quick to find a place close by. Regardless, definitely give this place a go to come for a pastry and coffee.

    This is an upscale coffee / French dessert shop on the side of the hotel with entrances from the…read morestreet and inside the hotel itself. It is open surprisingly late. Inside you will also find French pastries, coffees and teas, gelato, milkshakes, sandwiches and macaroons. I felt the most interesting items were the French pastries as they are cute and tasty as well. Also, they plate the pastries nicely when you dine in as an added bonus. I tried the Chocolate Royale and the Ruby. Chocolate Royale - a petit chocolate mouse slice with flat chocolate panels along the sides. It is delicate and tasty. If you're a chocolate lover, this is definitely up your alley. Ruby - visually this looks like a strawberry Hershey kiss, with red powder on the exterior and a top piece of foil to resemble foil on the wrapper of a hershey kiss. Inside, it's filled with a strawberry cream and has a chocolate base. I just wish there was more chocolate in this one. They have plenty of seating inside as well as along the sidewalk. Inside you have the more fancy tables, whereas outside, they're more weather resistant and not as upscale in appearance. The soft drinks to drink along with your sweets are in a cold case along the hotel side of the space and you just take them to the register as you order. One of the most surprising things when you come here are the relatively affordable prices as you might expect them to be more for being a coffee shop attached to a 5-star hotel with a helipad.

    Photos
    Macaron
    Macaron
    Sticky Bun
    Sticky Bun
    Bouchée Menu - Page 2

    See all

    Bouchée Menu - Page 2
    Eat Cake

    Eat Cake

    4.0
    (135 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    10/10 would recommend and I'll definitely be going back. My big back self LOVED this place. It's a…read moregrab and go shop but the cookies will still be warm and the cakes will still be delicious! You can buy all the cakes by the slice or preorder a full cake. Just from the smell walking in I could tell I was gonna love this place. They have upbeat music playing and the lady was so nice. She answered questions and made suggestions. The price was not bad either. I got 4 cookies and 1 cupcake and my total was $31. These aren't little cookies either. They are big and you get them warm! She didn't have to warm them up she just handed them to us warm! They were the perfect amount of crunchy on the edge and gooey on the inside. All of them were amazing! The cupcake was for my mom and she said it was amazing too. I live on the other side of town but will be making a trip back whenever I need a fix!

    Y'all be hyping places up. Where to begin? I walked in and nobody was around. I walked around for a…read moregood 30 sec to a min and then finally someone showed up to greet me. I decided to go for small just to try it out first vs get a slice and pay $15 which in the end it didn't matter cus it came out to $12 for 2 items I got. The cupcake I got was cookies and cream but it just taste like reg store bought cake. You know the type that it's "chocolate" but there's not much choc flavor to it. The cream cheese frosting was like eating melted grease and added nothing to the rest of the cupcake. I ended up taking a bite and dumping the rest. I got one of their brownies but gave that to my husband so he could eat it at work. So can't really talk on that.

    Photos
    Eat Cake
    Partial interior display case
    Partial interior display case
    Eat Cake

    See all

    The Baker's Son by Valerio's

    The Baker's Son by Valerio's

    4.6
    (194 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $

    So my coworker would always bring ube bread for me to work and I finally got her to give up where…read moreshe goes. She told me to go to the bakers son and make sure I go early because they do sale out and people buy in bulk. I entered with intentions of only getting the ube bread but $40 and 5 items later I went slightly overboard. They have so many items and they all look delicious. The customer service was great and prices were really good. Now to the items, the ube bread is phenomenal, soft, sweet, flavorful 10/10. I also got a biscoff bread sandwich (I'm forget the name) which had the softest and most perfect bread I've ever indulged in. Now to what the employees recommended and the absolute star. The ube Swiss roll. Omg, it was phenomenal. 20 out of 10! It was perfect in every way. I live 30 mins away but will make sure to keep The Bakers Son on a must go place weekly!

    I've heard a lot and seen many posts about The Baker's Son in Houston. The videos and pictures made…read moretheir bread and pastries look delicious and very promising. Since we were already in the area after breakfast at TJ's Filipino Cuisine, we finally got the chance to stop by and try their baked goods for ourselves. We arrived early, so the bakery wasn't too busy yet. The bakers were busy prepping more goodies in the back while my cousin and I browsed all the Filipino baked goods we really miss from back home in the Philippines. They even had suman, sapin-sapin, biko, and other kakanin, which was nice to see. I specifically looked for the chicken empanada, and my cousin wanted to try the ube white chocolate chip cookie. We also saw different kinds of siopao and planned to come back later to buy some before heading back to San Antonio. We tried the ube white chocolate chip cookie first, but honestly we weren't totally satisfied. It tasted more like a regular white chocolate chip cookie with purple coloring and didn't really have much ube flavor. I also tried the chicken empanada. My cousin didn't like it because it was sweeter than expected--we were both expecting it to be savory. There seemed to be caramelized sugar in the outside of the pastry, which probably added to the sweetness. I still like it, though it was definitely sweeter than what I'm used to. Red Ribbon's chicken empanada is still my favorite. Later that day before leaving Houston, we came back for the siopao we planned to take home. We finally decided to just buy a couple pieces for ourselves, heat them up in the bakery, and try them fresh. When we saw the price for a four-pack, we were honestly disappointed. It felt expensive for the size. The siopao wasn't huge, and while I like the dough, there wasn't much chicken filling inside. For the portion, taste, and quality, it felt overpriced. Overall, it's probably not worth making another trip back for us. We did enjoy the cassava ube suman, and I like the chicken empanada, but not enough to drive all the way to Houston just for those. If I live nearby, I might come back to try other baked goods, but based on this visit, I'm not sure the rest would impress my palate. I still give them credit for cleanliness and customer service, although we did notice fruit flies on one of the shelves and reported it. The staff was friendly, and the bakery itself was welcoming. At the end of the day, since they're a bakery, the expectation is great-tasting, quality, mouthwatering Filipino breads, pastries ", and kakanin. While some items were enjoyable, overall it just didn't quite live up to the hype for us.

    Photos
    Front counter with lots of yummy food
    Front counter with lots of yummy food
    Halo halo
    Halo halo
    Inside

    See all

    Inside

    El Bolillo Bakery - bakeries - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...