Stopped by Merengue Bakery & Cafe in old town Monrovia to pick up some pastries for tonight's wine pairing dinner at home. Super excited because the mini fruit tarts are going to look amazing on my newly purchased dessert tray! I was feeling a bit sleepy so I decided to fuel up & eat breakfast while I was there. I ordered a Vanilla Latte & a side order of 3 eggs + Sausage Links. If you're a big eater and want the additional potatoes and pancakes, I recommend paying a few dollars more and ordering the Breakfast platter. The Vanilla Latte came in a paper cup (a bit bummed out by not being able to take a more IG worthy picture of that), but it actually tasted really good! Same with the sausage links - it was probably one of the best tasting ones I've had for breakfast in a while. Aside from their wide selection of pastries and food options, their customer service was phenomenal. Every customer that walked through the door was greeted upon arrival and thanked on their way out. The restaurant was very clean and the cakes looked so beautiful behind the glass case. I had a pleasant experience today at Merengue Bakery & Cafe and can't wait to come back soon to try a slice of their chocolate cake! read more

See all

Located in the heart of Old Town Monrovia on Myrtle near Lemon Ave, this Cuban gem offers sandwiches, pastries, coffee, cakes, & more. Street parking can be tough during peak hours, but there are public lots nearby.  For the past 12 years, this has been our go-to spot, and their Guava Cake is the ultimate family favorite! This past Mother's Day, Mom wanted that exact cake. We stopped by in the morning to pick one up as usual. However, the lady at the counter informed us they would not have any ready until 2 PM and was quite dismissive and short with us. I was next in line, it was now the second person at the counter helping me, ( male ) once he knew I was looking for a guava cake, he immediately went to the back going out of his way to check and ensure we took a fresh guava cake home right then and there. He saved Mother's Day !!! I must also mention Danny and Lissette are amazing every time we order cakes for family events. It's always a great experience, and we'll definitely keep coming back for their goodies. read more

See all

I ordered the chocolate ganache cake for Mother's Day based on the chocolate ganache cake I ordered a few years ago from them for my Grandmother's Birthday. Something clearly changed between then and now because the version I ordered on Saturday was horrible. The cake was mostly dark chocolate, as described, but it had the thinnest layer of raspberry to the point where it was hardly noticeable - which is the main reason we ordered the cake (chocolatey but a fair amount of raspberry for a palatable contrast). The way the cake is made, it's hardly edible. The layer that is supposed to be chocolate cream is clearly just chocolate frosting! I've never had something so inedible. Plus the cake has non-edible decorations on it unbeknownst to us....on sight we assumed they were edible sugar crystals but they were not! Someone could've gotten hurt! We should've at least been forewarned! Lastly, we were scheduled to pick the cake up on Saturday afternoon at a specific time. And of course they were busy due to Mother's Day weekend but we stood in line for at least 15 minutes and received no help! The woman behind the register was counting out both registers without offering an explanation or speaking to any of the customers! Plus there were at least 5 employees standing around doing nothing! No one ever asked if anyone in line were here to just pick up a prepaid order. You don't need the register for that! We finally inquired what was going on and stated we had an appointment to pick up a prepaid order. A young woman employee caught an attitude but hustled our order which hadn't been boxed or bagged though it was past our pickup time. Very disappointed in Merengue. Not one employee offered an apology or an explanation. Just attitude and nonchalance. I work in retail and know how hard and frustrating it can be but this is a service industry and customer service is very important. I'm not asking for anyone to jump through hoops just respect as a customer. The terrible part is my mother was the one waiting patiently in line for 15 minutes and I had to jump in to ask the staff about their service because my mom and these other ladies were being ignored by Merengue's staff as though they weren't standing there. I DID NOT appreciate the treatment of my mother or myself once I spoke up about the crazy wait. No one treats my mom like she's just part of the furniture especially after we've spent money at this establishment. They certainly weren't giving anything away. My mom and the other ladies were being patient and nice. But I had to get to work and the cake was supposed to be picked up and out the door at 2pm....it was 230! It should've been waiting for us and the staff should've been inquiring with the line about prepaid orders. Instead there were 5 people standing behind the counter doing nothing while a line of people are wondering what's going on! I will not be ordering from Merengue again and will be taking my business down the street to the Paris Baguette Bakery where I should've gone in the first place. read more

Coming to Merengue Bakery in Monrovia for a long time, we usually stick to the Cuban pastries! This time we decided to try something different and picked up a fruit tart for a birthday to see how it compares to others in the area. The tart was a bit of a mixed experience but like in a good way. The crust was quite hard, where it was a bit tough to cut through cleanly. The fruit topping also felt a bit uneven like the peaches seemed like it came from a can, and the apples had a slightly off scent! The grapes were still on the branch, which looked nice visually but wasn't the easiest to pick. One thing that stood out was the structure of the tart. It seemed like there was an extra layer in the middle, almost like the top was baked separately and then added on..? Surprisingly, that gave it an interesting texture, with a soft, sponge-like layer that balanced out the harder crust. But I still appreciate this place for their consistent quality, and maybe another pie or cake may better hit the mark next time. read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - Fruit Tart Pie - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

This place is amazing! Given how many coffee and bakeries there are in Monrovia , this place stands out! Delicious fresh baked goods including Cuban treats. We had breakfast sandwiches and were treated with 4 pastries! A passion fruit and custard, a sweet cream filled twist, plus the potato ball and a meat filled pie. If I lived here I would be here all the time. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Cute little cuban bakery. They have a variety of pastries and even lunch bites such as sandwiches and wraps. They have a few tables and chairs inside and a couple right outside as well. The space and tables are very clean and organized. I stopped by for some pastries and could not choose which to get because they all looked so delicious. Staff is fast, efficient, and patient. I will be stopping by next time I am craving those white cuban crackers. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 read more

Super cute bakery and cafe, located in the historic and popular street Myrtle Ave... I came here to get a couple of slices of cake to celebrate my birthday... they have an ample amount of desserts to choose from my personal favorite was the chocolate ganache cake with raspberry preserve... DELECTABLE...I love that they offer various different slices of cake to choose from if you don't want to buy the whole cake... One of my many favorites here.... They have a coffee drip bar located adjacent to the ordering counter... I have yet to try their dine-in cafe, can't wait to be back.... Service is always friendly and inviting too.. read more

See all

We love this bakery! We came here because I wanted to show my friend this awesome place and hoping there were some blueberry muffins for him to try. They make one of the best blueberry muffins and it is usually the first to go, and that was true for this visit. We parked on the street and walked over to this location for dessert. We came here for dessert and I got a funfetti cake, and a mini fruit tart with hot coco. We were greeted right away and they were extremely nice. It was a quiet night, a lot of open seating and we were able to enjoy our desserts and play a few quick table top games. It is a must visit whenever I'm in downtown Monrovia. read more

See all

Very cute Cuban Bakery and Cafe in the heart of Monrovia. Similar to that other well-known chain in SoCal, but our version is smaller and quaint while serving similar items. We ordered so many items to go including the warm Milanesa Sandwich which comes with Fried Plantain Slices. These were not small chips but long length-wise cut fried chips. Yeah. Our to-go order was smartly divided into three containers: Warm Sandwich with Plantain, Savory Pastries, and Sweet Pastries. Additionally, the savory Beef Papa Rellenas and the Cheese Papa Rellenas (similar to potato balls) were further identified by toothpicks. Thanks for the identifiers. Our savory box also had a Beef Pie and a Chicken Empanada. All good. Our sweet box had a Guava Pastry, a Coconut Strudel, a Pina Colada Strudel, a Chocolate Croissant and three Cheese Rolls. More than enough savory and sweet items for the four of us. All the pastries were flaky and crispy good. Toast them further at home. Very happy to have found this place! Excellent service from the young woman behind the counter. She remembered all of the things we ordered! read more

See all

I was quite excited to try this place because I recently stumbled across a video trying this place. I tried one of the little sandwiches and the Blueberry Muffins. I say it had the vibes of similar to Portos. The service was pretty good. The person behind the counter greeted me kindly and got me and my friend's order down. By the way, my friend is a large eater. read more

I was excited to try this place as I was in the area and happy to see another establishment similar to Porto's but sadly, I was very underwhelmed. Service was great but the quality and taste of the food was the reason for my 3 star review. Overall clean interior and the display was nice. The cubano was lacking flavor and the bread was not really comparable to Porto's and other restaurants who serve this sandwich. The cookies and pastries also were not as robust in flavor that I was expecting. Definitely a must try if in the area but Porto's still reigns supreme for me. read more

See all

I would give this place a 5, but every time I go there theyre out of strawberry croissants. Its literally the only item they ever run out of. You'd think they'd start making more but no, they run out within an hour of being open every single day. Just make more of these! Its the only item youve ever run out of, you run out every day, think this through. read more

Wow! I tried the pork Philly and let me tell you, it was outstanding! There was so much pork, cheese, and veggies that I was stuffed! I want to add that I wish I could by a bag of those plantain chips! I could munch on those all day. I'm not gonna lie but although I was stuffed I made a little room for this yummmmy coconut creme brûlée. It was coconutty and so creamy! And finally, the staff was really nice and attentive-very polite and friendly. Come on a try it out! I'll see you there! read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - Here it is! The pork Philly! - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

See all

Loved the foods, amazing pastries . Fast service . It's a vibe really love this place read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - The goods - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

I finally came back today to try the beef papas and was lucky enough to get the last one in the display! I have to say it was absolutely delicious lol almost makes me even sadder I didn't get the right ones the first time. I also got a chai latte that was very tasty. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - Cheese papas - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

What a great spot with great prices and great drinks. Stopped in while browsing the local book stores. It was busy but not line out the door busy. The menu is large and posted on the wall. There's a lot to look at and choose from so if it's your first time you might wanna check it on line or step back and review prior to getting in line. The line loves moves quick so be ready to order. We went with a cafe con leche and a sangria. Oh yes they have beer, wine and sangrias. While waiting for the order I saw the service remained pleasant and friendly. The location is clean with a location to get all your coffee fixings by the west wall. The wall near the bathroom has an interesting collection of pictures all dedicated to the store. Btw, the restroom is clean. After we received our drinks we took a seat outside. The seats were clean and comfy. The sangria was amazing and the cafe con leche was made well. This place was good and I will definitely be back. Great job Merengue. read more

See all

Merengue is located in Old Town Monrovia, a block from Library Park. There is a bear statue right out front the is decorated with the store's theming. There's a menu you can order drinks and food from, such as coffee and Cuban sandwiches. The display features pastries and desserts. You'd wait in line and tell them what you want when ordering. The service is okay. Beware that the workers there do get the orders wrong. They charged me for the wrong item (a more expensive one). And, when they serve orders out, I saw the servers delivery the food/drinks to the wrong customers. These are minor mistakes they do humbly take as feedback and gracefully fix, but were noticeable. I tried several items: The beef papa ($1.85) was very delicious - better than Porto's potato balls. It's mash potato with seasoned ground pork, covered in bread crumb and fried. Although tasty, it was on the small side. The empanada el pollo ($2.75) featured a dense interior of shredded chicken and some peas. The inside was dry, but the outside was tasty - buttery and flakey. One of the best empanada exteriors I've had. The tres leches cup ($5.45) had a rich whipped cream layer on top with two chocolate sticks. The bottom has crumbled cake soaked in the tres leches - this part was way too soupy and sweet, it was difficult to finish. I recommend pairing it with something bitter, like tea or coffee. Overall, this is a unique local bakery. I think it's worth the other desserts, pastries, or food dishes at a later time. read more

See all

The food is great! The sandwiches and pastries are consistently delicious. The coffees are also really good. Place is really cute and staff are always friendly. read more

Still a great place for pastries and cakes with a Latin American twist! Delicious When in the area I must drop by! read more

See all

Merengue Bakery & Cafe is a nice and authentic Cuban bakery. It offers a wide selection of indulgent desserts and pastries, sandwiches, empanadas, ham croquettes, breakfast menu, coffee, and drinks. There are many indoor and outdoor seating. The cafe is clean and organized and has inviting ambience.The staff were super nice and courteous.The service was really fast. I went mainly to try their cakes and pastries, but I ended up ordering chicken sandwich and Caprese sandwich, and many of the Merengue finger foods bedside the desserts. Their sandwiches were excellent, fresh ingredients with savory filling. Meringue finger foods include beef Papa rellana, croquettes de hamon, cheese Papa rellana, pastel de carne, empanadas Argentina, empanadas De Pollo, and tamale cubano. I tried their beef and chicken empanadas. They were so good ,very flavorful and flaky. The croquette de hamon was delicious. For my sweet tooth, I couldn't resist trying many of their desserts. The fruit pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie and pecan pie were rich, perfectly sweet, with flaky and buttery crust, just excellent pies! I also ordered brownie with nuts ,mini Eclair, chocolate macaroon and Chocolate Parisian cake. Everything was indulgent, luxurious, silky and had rich flavor. I really enjoyed everything I got from Merengue. I will be back soon read more

See all

Best iced latte in town. I love their cherry tart and their white chocolate macadamia cookies too. This place has a yummy soup of the day posted that changes. From chicken chile verde to lemon chicken orzo to cream of spinach, cream of mushroom and even clam chowder! A great way to start off your day is to stop by here great service and great music as well read more

It's a nice bakery, actually very nice. We ordered three items including cake, brownie and chocolate croissant. All of them are very good. I took off one point as we ordered sandwiches. The chicken sandwich that I wife ordered is decent, but my tuna salad is very cold, I know tuna salad sandwich is cold but this one was icy cold. Also fries are unseasoned and very dry. But bakery is worth visiting! read more

Stopped by for a pastry, and this place was super busy with outdoor and indoor seating available. We opted for their classic potatoes and cheese croquet and let me tell you it was super super cheesy. No complaints from a cheese lover like me but my sister wasn't too much of a fan. We also got a Danish and a chocolate croissant, not as flaky as they seemed but a big portion. read more

See all

Right near the Monrovia Library you can walk down Myrtle and find plenty of options for lunch and dessert within just a few blocks. Today my family decided to try out Merengue, a quick lunch and dessert shop. Parking here is street parking but there are plenty of free lots nearby for easy access. The Cuban style pulled us in, and the flavor of their sandwiches were just delicious! I ordered a steak chimichurri, it came with grilled onion and tomato but the sauce was definitely the star. My husband got the Cubano sandwich which he loved with an excellent cheese pull. Our daughter got a couple of beef potato balls, in comparison to others we have tried these were just okay. Service was friendly and prompt, they give great suggestions and the decor is approachable and clean. Overall, the sandwiches were fire and it's local to our favorite library so we will definitely be back. A lot of people were ordering out picking up desserts and cakes, the reviews on their cakes are amazing so we will need to come back to check them out! read more

See all

Merengue Bakery is an absolute gem. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and authentic, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the food. The pastries and desserts are amazing, but the Cuban sandwich really stood out, perfectly pressed with crispy bread, flavorful roasted pork, ham, pickles and just the right balance of mustard & cheese! The bakery case is full of beautiful desserts and classic Cuban pastries, making it hard to choose just one thing. Everything Ive tried was delicious and clearly made with quality ingredients. Friendly service, great food, and a warm neighborhood feel. Definitely a place worth going out of your way for. read more

This place isn't as good as Portos, but that's not really fair. They're different volumes of restaurants. With that being said, merengue is great, but can be hit/miss What I like Sandwiches are great, but bread can go dry if you eat it as leftovers. Not sure why. Cuban sandwich, Cuban Philly, ropa vieja are great choices Cakes and pastries are amazing, eat them all Empanadas are tasty. Chicken empanada is only ok. Same with the potato balls The coffee cake loaves are delicious and a great deal. Coffee is surprisingly just ok. Lattes are decent. read more

Location- middle of Monrovia downtown Cuban bakery which started since 15 years ago and comparable to Porto's. read more

See all

My dear friend from high school had bought a cake from Merengue Bakery and Cafe (Cuban) in Monrovia for me and another dear friend's birthday. It was SO GOOD! Moist and not too sweet.. just perfect! We loved it! I had to come here myself and buy a cake to share with my colleagues at work. I ordered the same Chocolate Ganache cake over the phone. The lady I spoke with was very pleasant and nice. On the day of pickup, it was early morning. Parking on the streets was easy. Staff was ready to receive customers upon entry. Very cute bakery shop with good seating inside. Tons of beautiful looking pastry selections behind the glass. I was enamored! I couldn't stay too long as I had to get to work. Picked up my cake and I was on my way. Cake still had the same yummy and tasty flavor! Although, I did learn something about the cake. It needs to sit in room temperature for about 30 mins prior to serving. Otherwise, cake will be a little hard versus soft. Anyway, I returned here again on another day to pick up some savory pastries and a Tiramasu cake for work. I called in the catering order for 1 dozen beef balls, 1 dozen cheese balls, 1 dozen chicken empanadas (very flavorful and tasty, a must get!), 2 dozens cheese rolls (just as good as Porto's cheese rolls), a couple half dozen sandwiches plus one The Tony (huge and heavy Cuban sandwich!). The gentleman I spoke with was very courteous and helpful. If you order a minimum of a certain quantity, discounted prices may be given. On the day of pickup, it was a huge order so I needed some help to my car. The staff was very welcoming and willing to assist me. Thank you Merengue for your amazing cakes and baked goods along with exceptional service. Keep up with your super Cuban craft! I highly recommend this family-owned Cuban bakery and cafe. I barely hit the surface on my last two visits. I am coming back for more deliciousness. See you here! read more

See all

Merengue Bakery is an amazing pastry shop to come by! I always have to stop by merengue to grab some type of pastry any time I'm in the downtown area. They have a vast range of cakes, sweets, pastries, cookies, etc. literally anything you can think of, they have. I've personally never had any of their savory items or entrees that they have on their menu, but I've been meaning to try them! I'm always coming in to get their little banana cream pie pastry and some of their strudels. It's awesome that they're a local bakery and not a chain. It's always nice to support businesses like them. read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

I can only base my review on one piece of tiramisu. $6.35 for a fairly large slice (three servings), and it was delicious. My wife and I went in to get a piece to go after having a terrific mother's day brunch just up the street. Service was quick. Friendly and efficient. It was a great experience overall and I would absolutely stop in again next time we are in that area. Lots to choose from. read more

Love this bakery , when we came very busy , the cake so good not too sweet. Clean bakery and polite the server read more

See all

Looking for an alternative to get some Cuban goodies other than Porto's. Merengue bakery & cafe is the spot. Most of the same items you'll find over there you will find here. One item the Cuban cake you will only find here. Porto's for some reason doesn't carry it anymore. Merengue saved the day for my uncles birthday because Porto's didn't carry this cake. Great service and a variety of menu items to choose from to indulge in. read more

See all

We ordered the strawberry shortcake to be our wedding cake and everyone loved it! It's not too sweet and seems to be just right. We also provided our own flowers and cake toppers, so the photos are not from them. However I'm sure they can add flowers at your request! They were very easy going and made the process easy to order with them. When you book a wedding cake, you can also do a cake tasting with them to finalize the flavor you want. To save money, we ordered the 2-tier strawberry shortcake and a matching sheet cake to be served to our guests. Delivery worked out fine too at the wedding reception, overall just a great experience! read more

Merengue Bakery & Cafe - 2-tier wedding cake (strawberry shortcake not including the flowers and cake toppers). 8" bottom and 6" top. - Bakeries Near Me - Monrovia, California

See all

There is a public parking lot around the corner. Smaller papas (stuffed and breaded potato ball) than Porto's but flavor is good enough. We would reorder everything below: cheese papa beef papa croqueta de jamon medianoche sandwich ropa vieja sandwich Also want to try the specialty foodie items next: Tony Montana read more

We had a great breakfast at Merengue! My husband ordered the Merengue Scrambler and I had the Tortilla Espanola with ham and bacon (which was about twice the size that I could eat). We also started with breakfast appetizers of the cinnamon roll, which is literally one of, if not THE, best we've had. We've been on a quest to find the best cinnamon roll and Merengue currently wears the crown. They use their croissant dough and so it's flaky and light rather than breads and dense. The frosting is perfectly sweet but not too sweet. We also shared a cheese roll danish. I had a cappuccino and husband had a drip coffee. Everything was delicious. We are very fortunate to have this lovely bakery and restaurant on Myrtle Avenue. Service is fast and friendly. BTW - there are lots of comparisons to Porto's, which Merengue is similar to but decidedly different from, and it stands solidly on its own two feet. Trust me on the cinnamon roll. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Bakery was bright, clean, with some nice Latin music playing in the background. Ordered kahlua cheesecake, it wasn't the greatest in my opinion not enough kahlua flavor throughout the cheese cake. It also had some kind of nut or coconut textured item mixed in with the kahlua that threw me off. The iced coffee was strong and delicious. The ladies who helped us were friendly and nice. read more

See all

Came here last week after dinner to grab some dessert. We ordered a few tarts, a cake pop, and a cannoli. Honestly, the desserts weren't as good as we hoped. The lemon tart was very sour, one friend actually enjoyed it, but another couldn't finish it because it was too tart. I had the cake pop, and it just wasn't as tasty as I expected. On the bright side, the service was great, the guy helping us was super nice and friendly. The place itself is clean and has a good vibe overall. read more

I've only ever tried their bakery items so my review will be based on that. I have seen that they offer savory breakfast and lunch items so I'm definitely going to have to try that someday! Anyway, I've tried a number of baked goods from their bakery case: cheesecakes, slices of cake, cookies, etc. I haven't tried anything that I wasn't a fan of! They have excellent cheesecake slices, very thick and creamy. A recent favorite was their Kaluha Cheesecake. They also have a carrot cake ball that was good ('minus the raisins). Merengue is a pretty popular bakery so be warned that the line can get pretty long depending on the time of day. Despite the business, staff are always really nice and helpful. read more

A few months ago, darling Ms. Hannah brought me a carrot cake ball from Merengue. It was by far one of the best carrot cakes I have tasted. The cake was moist, and the cream cheese frosting was spot on. Recently, I was in the area and took the opportunity to stop in. This Cuban Bakery/café is cozy with indoor & outdoor seating. The display case is filled with an assortment of beautiful pastries & desserts. They also serve lattes, breakfast, lunch, & dinner dishes. Madeline assisted me and she was the sweetest. The lemon tarts looked pretty so I ordered one of those (also available as a mini). Much like the carrot cake ball it was absolutely delicious! A light, flaky crust with a creamy lemon filling that was the perfect balance of tart & sweet. The crust had a thin layer of white chocolate to keep it from getting soggy and there was also a white chocolate lattice on top and gummy lemon slices, which added to the visual appeal. In terms of desserts this place knocks it out of the park. I'll have to come back and try some of their Cuban specialties. *Free street parking and back lots. read more

See all

I had such a wonderful experience at this bakery and couldn't wait to share it on Yelp! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the warm, inviting smell of freshly baked goods. The space was clean, cozy, and beautifully displayed, making it hard to choose just one treat. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The pastries were perfectly baked, not too sweet, and had that homemade taste that really stands out. You can tell they use quality ingredients. The staff were also amazing--friendly, patient, and happy to make recommendations. They made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I love to say big thanks to Daniel for always being very helpful and supportive. And thanks for my delicious hot coffee If you're looking for a place with great baked goods and a welcoming atmosphere, I definitely recommend this bakery. I'll be coming back again for sure! read more