Gusto Bread

Where do I start ! I was invited by a dear friend Karen H. and what a treat !! We were first in line at 8am and the line was growing . The bread, pastry's and code de olla was amazing . We got the cinnamon concha, so soft n delicious . I was impressed! After hanging out in the front outside patio area, 2 hrs had passed and it was time to head out, the lines kept moving, but stayed busy. Guest new to the bakery had commented about how good they heard it was and I engaged and agreed ! I couldn't leave without buying some for home. I heard they use Ecuadorian chocolate to make there spelt chocolate chip sea salt cookies . I took home : fresh sesame flat bread , 2 spelt chocolate chip cookies , 2 cinnamon conchas , 2 guava pasties and camote buns. I was in HAPPY LAND. ALL these baked goods were beyond amazing . See you soon and hats off to you all for an amazing bakery that is a community pilar

Gusto Bakery is an absolute gem, and the long lines prove it! Yes, you might have to wait 30 minutes or so, but trust me--it's worth every second. Their pastries are next-level delicious, made with high-quality ingredients, and always fresh. From their perfectly flaky croissants to their rich, decadent pastries, everything is baked to perfection. It's no surprise that some of their best items sell out quickly, so getting there early is a must if you want the full selection!One thing to note is that indoor seating is pretty minimal, so if you're planning to sit and enjoy your treats, the parklet seating outside is a great option. It's a nice little spot to relax and savor your pastries with some of their delicious drinks in hand.Overall, Gusto Bakery lives up to the hype. The wait might be long, but once you take that first bite, you'll understand why people keep coming back. If you haven't been yet, you're seriously missing out!

So excited to finally make it to Gusto's! Line of course but the wait waa quick. They run a very efficient ient operation. Only two parties allowed in at a time. While you order another is gathering up the baked goods! Overall, on a Sunday morning at 9am, if was quick and easy. I also heard from another customer they now take online orders, very easy.Bought a sourdough Loaf (Califorina Loaf) sliced. It smells amazing. I know it is great as we get sandwiches at Coffee Parlor that uses their breads!For pastries, we ordered Dona and Pastelito Guava. Dona is filled with almond filling and strawberry jam. Amazing pastries!We took our coffee and pastries to go. There is a nice area in the front outside for dining in and several tables inside.Parking is always a bit challenging but we were able to find a spot in the neighborhood.

Iced Dulce de Leche Latte w/ oat milk: good but not great. California Loaf: what a happy loaf!!! It's so cute, smells phenomenal, like I want to bottle this scent and wear it... bread smells sooooo good!!! And it was so YUM!!!! Also, I love they have an option to buy it already sliced! Concha de Cacao: glad I tried it, but wouldn't order again. Pastelito de Guava: ok Mushroom Mole Empanada: eh Service: exceptional. When I ordered the mushroom mole empanada, the person who was helping me made sure I didn't have any nut allergies, which I thought was really thoughtful. She also asked if it was ok that the caramel had dairy in it, since I was subbing for oat milk. Parking: was easy to find but I can see it being difficult especially at high peak hours.

Ranked among EATER's 17 Essential Bakeries, Gusto Bread stands out as Long Beach's lone representative. Nestled in Retro Row, this artisanal bakery crafts incredible sourdough and cultured breads that live up to the hype. Upon arrival, there was a line outside due to the fact that they only allow up to two ordering guests inside. They have indoor seating as well as outdoor seating to enjoy the sun. What we ordered:CALIFORNIA LOAF (Thick crust and soft open crumb with a balanced flavor) - This sourdough loaf was FANTASTIC. It was so SOFT and MOIST inside and tasted great plain. Once home, we paired it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which elevated the experience even further. CAFE DE OLLA - This traditional Mexican coffee, brewed with cinnamon and raw sugar, had a warm, comforting flavor. While enjoyable, I found it best suited as a complement to a pastry or some carbs, rather than something I'd order on its own.

My friend told me about this place since she bought a sourdough starter here so that's what brought me in. I loooved the pastries and coffee drinks they had on their menu. Definitely not anything you could get anywhere else!! The pastries that I tried were incredible and I got a loaf of their sourdough to take home and that was yummy too. Their coffee drinks were all unique and my hubby and I loved what we got. My active starter is still going strong! If you haven't been here I highly recommend. The line was a little long when I got there but it went by quick. The service was great, the drinks and food are unique and great quality. Will definitely be back!

Outside is elegant. The inside is spectacular. With a whole bread area and coffee area, some seats inside and a fridge with items that you just wanna buy all of them. They have an area for Dale bread, but I will take full advantage of next time.

One word: wow.The pastelito de guayaba is single handedly the very best breakfast pastry I've ever had. I used to live in South America and had a guayaba tree and my favorite family breakfast was always pan with dulce de guayaba. This pastelito immediately took me back to those breakfasts in South America. The guava is perfect, the chunks of the fruit added great texture. The cheese was perfect to pair with the guava for the filling. And the crust/pastry part... oh my word.... Ridiculously flaky, out of this word delicious. It's like if a hand pie met a croissant. It's truly the best pastry I've ever had. 10/10The Nixtamal Queen was also absolutely delicious. It's got a great chew, excellent mouth feel. There is a reason it is so popular. It is very unique, but so comforting. 8.5/10The salted tamarind agua fresca was really good. Everything you would want from a tamarind agua fresca. 8/10 I came at noon on a Wednesday and there was a small line, just 4 parties ahead of me, but the line went very quickly. They have indoor and outdoor seating. And everyone was so nice!I highly recommend trying this bakery. There is a reason why they were a finalist for the James Beard Award for best CA bakery last year. And they're semi-finalists right now for the same James Beard award for this year. Fingers crossed they win it this year, they definitely deserve it!!!

Finally got a chance to check out Gusto today. Not surprisingly there was a line when I arrived about 11am but the 8 or 9 folks ahead of me were gone quickly. Seems that many folks order a few breads or pastries and a cup of coffee or two and tarry home. It's definitely a great neighborhood gig. I only had room for one loaf of bread in my backpack, so I chose the Dorado Loaf. I was told it was not the most 'sour doughy' as that would be the Field Loaf, but it was so pretty that I couldn't pass it up. Well, I had some for lunch and it was chewy and delicious as a loaf of bread should be. A bit of a nutty flavor. The crust was wonderful too. I'll try the Field Loaf next time!

The New York Times ranked Gusto Bread as one of the best bakeries in the US. After my visit, I can see why. While there are other bakeries that focus on naturally-leavened sourdough, Gusto goes above and beyond the typical sourdough loaf (which they do have - the California loaf $10, which is their most popular). They use sourdough in their Concha de Cacao ($). I don't normally like conchas because I find them dry but this one converted me.Even more unusual is their Nixtamal Queen ($7.50), their version of a kouign-amann, with a sourdough and corn masa dough. Wow. Loved that they even elevated their chocolate chip cookie ($4) by using spelt flour, giving it a whole new flavor dimension, and dark Ecuadorian chocolate. Their pastries are not too sweet either. Service was very warm and welcoming. The man helping me took so much care into wrapping each pastry and arranging it in the bag so they would not get damaged. I am torn between wishing I lived closer and being relieved that I don't because I'd be carb loading to my heart's content. Yes, you will probably find a line but it moves fast because they only let a couple of people in at a time. Sure items may sell out, but if you keep an open mind, you'll find something delicious for sure.