La Segunda Central Bakery

Let's talk about pastries -- these pastries. If heaven had a bakery, it would probably smell like this. Each bite is like a warm hug from the inside, wrapped in a flaky, golden crust. These pastries are the perfect balance of light and indulgent, crisp and soft, all rolled into one little piece of bliss.From the first bite, the buttery layers practically melt in your mouth, and you can't help but smile. Whether it's a delicate fruit-filled pastry, a decadent chocolate delight, or a simple, perfectly glazed treat, every pastry feels like it was made just for you. The fillings are never too overpowering but always full of flavor -- that sweet, creamy goodness that makes you want to go back for more. And let's not forget the textures: crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, making each bite feel like a little piece of pastry perfection.There's something about the way these pastries are crafted that elevates the whole experience. They're fresh, light, and satisfying without ever feeling heavy. And every time you think you've found your favorite, there's a new one to try that quickly becomes just as irresistible.In short, these pastries are not just a treat -- they're a moment of joy in a world that can always use a little more sweetness. If you haven't tried them yet, you're missing out. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!

Never again. I ordered 2 Cubans, a mufalata, beef and cheese empanada and a deviled crab. After ordering, it took 50 minutes to get my food. I checked back twice to see if I was forgotten as I saw people that ordered after me leaving. After the second time I could see that I had been forgotten and the person I was talking to left. A few minutes later someone else handed me my food. I got home to find that my Cuban sandwiches were made without any pork and the deviled crab was raw on the inside. The people working here have no concept of customer service, no organizational skills and no interest in providing quality food. There are a lot of options for a Cuban sandwich in Tampa, skip this one.

tl;dr despite the iconic status, the mediocre baked goods and sandwiches aren't worth sacrificing your time, money, or appetiteLa Segunda Central Bakery is an iconic, family-run Tampa bakery that is synonymous with Cuban bread. Spanish-born Juan More fought the Spanish-American War and gleaned a traditional bread recipe while in Cuba. After the war, he immigrated to Ybor City and joined a baker co-op to establish La Segunda in 1915. Although the business has moved locations and opened other greater Tampa locations, the original Ybor counter service operation remains busy. In fact, La Segunda bakes 18,000 loaves of bread daily, and their popular Cuban bread is shipped nationwide as far away as Boston and Alaska. You can't miss the Ybor outpost's bright blue-and-red neon sign just off the freeway. The single-storied, whitewashed plaster building is accented with peanut-brown arches, a narrow wooden awning, and a tiled crest. Compared to the large building, the tiny customer area feels claustrophobic. Harsh fluorescent lights shine from the black ceilings. The walls alternate between yellow paint and dark wood slats, and they are decked with black-and-white family photos, an architectural painting of the original bakery, and framed chalkboards. Refrigerated bakery displays loops between the kitchen and the queue. Spanish-language music mixes with contemporary American pop.My mom and I arrived at 7:30 on a weekend morning, and the line already ran nearly out the door. We opted for a large Cuban Sandwich, a Guava Turnover, and a Cinnamon Stick. Surprisingly, the least exciting part of the sandwich was the floppy, lifeless bread. Further, mustard was slathered heavy-handedly on one half of the roll but was completely absent from the other. The sandwich was greasy, but the only meat with any flavor was the roast pork (I barely noticed the characteristically Tampa inclusion on Genoa salami). Lastly, the sandwich was barely pressed and lukewarm at best. Meanwhile, the large turnover (a non-traditional pastelito) was good-not-great and felt mass-produced -- like a marginally upscale grocery store variety. The pastry itself was somewhat soggy, and it was pumped with tons of neon, sugar-forward guava jelly. Lastly, the cinnamon stick was equally soggy. It was brushed with sickeningly sweet syrup, and I could not for the life of me discern any cinnamon.Service was friendly but inefficient, and our visit set us back nearly $20. After hearing the La Segunda was a Tampa fixture, and then experiencing the busy line firsthand, I was shocked to find that each item was barely tolerable, much less great. Indeed, the Cuban sandwich and pastelito were among the least appetizing I've had, in Florida or otherwise. Save your money and appetite for nearly any other option in Tampa.

Great historic spot. My son had a grilled cheese (on that famous Cuban bread) with fruit cup and my husband and I got a Cuban sandwich. Coming from south Florida I am always a tad skeptical of anyone boasts a good Cuban but they were worthy of the praise. I wasn't expecting the salami but it was a nice touch. Overall, a solid sandwich. The spot itself has no seating and no public restrooms. It's an order and eat in your car or take to go kinda spot. Staff friendly.

3.5 starsCame to try their Cuban sandwich and my partner ordered an iced coffee. The person behind the register asked if we wanted a pastry to go with our order to make it a combo, so we opted to try the guava with cheese pastry. The shop itself is very quaint, no tables or chairs inside or outside. Their assortment of pastries were enticing and looked amazing but we were about to hop on a plane and already had snack for our flight. They had so much to choose from, from an assortment of sandwiches to cakes and cookies - they even had meat pies!+_The Iced coffee itself was good, strong and not watered down. +_The Cuban sandwich was tasty, though I'd say that the bread was what made it even better. We didn't finish the whole sandwich and even while traveling, it held up nicely when we ate it later.+_The guava and cheese pastry was strangely colored, kind of like fluorescent? Bright. It tasted just ok, I wouldn't buy it again or recommend it. I might be biased since I get spoiled with guava and cheese croissants back home from Porto's bakery tho. The guava flavor didn't really hit and the cheese was just meh.

This little Cuban café and bakery was a delightful find! With over a hundred years of history, it's a true gem in Tampa. We started with a guava cheese pastry--huge, flaky, and bursting with flavor. It was the perfect sweet treat after our traditional Cuban sandwich. The sandwich itself was everything you'd hope for: a perfectly thin, crispy layer of bread, generous portions of meat, and that ideal mix of mayo, mustard, and pickles. Every bite hit all the right notes for a classic Cuban.We also tried the beef and cheese empanada. At first, I hesitated at the $5 price tag for a small empanada, but after one bite, it was clear it was worth every penny. It was generously stuffed with flavorful picadillo, seasoned ground beef with onions and peppers, giving it a surprising and delicious spicy kick at the end. Overall, the flavors were outstanding. This is definitely a place worth revisiting--an authentic Cuban bakery you'll want to return to again and again!

Always a fresh choice of sweet treats and the cafe con letche is on point. We enjoyed two different sandwiches, very tasty

Yummy place to take out of town guests to give them a taste of Tampa. Plan to order for pick up and eat at a nice park or at home. The wait is worth it for their delicious sandwiches. The coffee is great along with their pastry selection.

Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa! The space is small, is takeout only, but worth it! They also have a bunch of different bakery items that looked delicious but I didn't indulge. To speed up your experience, order online.

Tasty and fresh mom and pop donut shop!! Definitely recommend! I'll be stopping by again!