Elsa’s Bakery

Very comfortable. Very good coffee. Excellent Oaxacan guava and cheese empenada. I will try the chocolate next time.

After a carb heavy lunch, coffee is a must for me in the afternoon.
Strolled over here and it was empty. I’ve only been here once before, but on this visit, I got to sit and relax. We ordered an Americano & Chai Latte. Server was friendly.
We grabbed a high table by the window, overlooking York. The inside has a collection of prior holiday decorations hanging up. We saw everything from Xmas, Valentine’s Day to Chinese New Year. While awaiting our drinks, a few more people stepped inside.
Server brought us our drinks and we paid from our table. My Chai Latte was Very Sweet. I loved the mugs our drinks were served in.
Cute peaceful spot to chit chat in the afternoon.

The last few weeks I’ve tried to stop in I’ve been greeted with a «Closed for private party» sign on the window. Which I highly doubt that’s why they’re closed. I really hope this place isn’t going out of business, its one of my favorite stops on York Blvd.

This place is fantastic – their selection of pan dulce sublime, and marvelous mole chilaquiles.
Service is attentive and friendly, and looking to do things right.

I’ve been coming here for years. Super cute little corner spot… when in Highland Park make sure to stop and try their sweetbread.

Great people, but took over 25 minutes to get a take out order with no apologies from them, and here’s the kicker, the restaurant was empty and we only ordered tacos.

Such a cute little place! My sisters and I loved it. There was only one guy working that I saw, he was so polite and very attentive. Great vibe. We had pan dulce and tea, both were good.

Friendly and sweet place. They have the best hot chocolate ever!!! Wooooow in live with it

I freaking love Elsa’s. I moved to the neighborhood a couple of months ago and felt intimidated by all the flashy, trendy shops on York. It’s always bustling and I like it a little more peaceful. That’s why I’m so glad I found this place. I can people watch while enjoying a delicious breakfast. Stepping in here is like a relief. The man at the counter is so nice and gentle.
All their food is yummy. I always get the salsa verde chilaquiles. I never get tired of it. And they also have a menu that caters to hipster fads, gluten-​free, quinoa, and all that jazz.
And their coffee? Forget about it! I love the café de olla or the Frida drink. I’m glad to give them my business. And always hope to see them a full house because they deserve it. ¹⁰⁄₁₀!

I needed to burn some time while my car was having some routine maintenance and Elsa’s was right next door, so I stopped in for a coffee and a snack.
The guy behind the counter was both helpful and accommodating while he tended to customer needs and kept the place neat. The décor was very nice with a Frida portrait and several framed black and white photos of local sights that I believe were also available for purchase. Colorful streamers ran along the ceiling which contrasted nicely with the black and white art on the walls.
I had a house blend and some bread pudding. Both were fresh and tasty and exactly what I needed to relax and spend some minutes in waiting. I would not hesitate to come back and try other things in the pastry case or on the menu. It all looked very delicious.

Best bakery in Highland Park. Come for café de Lola and polvorones, you won’t be disappointed.

First time here. Anything they serve on a plate, they can also make it into a sandwich, which I ordered. Staff are friendly and inside and outside seating as well. I will come back for sure.

Elsa’s Bakery… you’re my only friend!
I’m so glad I’m not too far away from this place. THE BEST CAFÉ DE OLLA hands down! The Frida Kahlo coffee is great as well. I’ve had a good mixture of their menu and it’s all yummy. I especially love their chilaquiles with the green sauce. They have great pan dulce too! I do miss their wedding cookies but from what I’ve heard their baker is on vacation right now. My tummy may be better off.
The owners & staff are very friendly and also hipster friendly.

I love supporting local businesses and this one is a great find in Highland Park. This small bakery also serves breakfast! The Frida’s Mocha Expresso is a favorite among all their costumers. I ordered a huevos con chorizo and the portion was perfect. It is smaller than most huevos con chorizo you will get at a traditional Mexican joint, but I enjoyed it and it was perfect without feeling overly full! I did come mid morning, so they were out of a lot of the pastries. No worries, I’ll be back!

Thank you for the friendly, courteous service!
Lots of attention is given to the details here. Like warming up the dash of soy milk I requested on the side, or serving me at my table and coming back to give me sugar, extra napkins, etc. Like a real European café.
Anyway, just glad there’s an alternative to the overpriced and overcrowded hipster cafés further down this block. I would have given 5 stars if only they had had left any of the pastries that I was craving this morning. Their shelves seemed emptied (?) The fruit empanadas I went with however were really nice highly recommend those…

Had breakfast at Elsa’s this morning and it was such a lovely experience.
The service was wonderful! The owner greeted us with a huge smile and was incredibly warm and friendly. The gentleman working behind the counter was equally nice. You immediately feel comfortable here.
The ceiling was joyfully decorated with huge colorful garlands and umbrellas. It was fun sipping on my Frida mocha while staring at the kaleidoscope of color bursting out from the ceiling!
Upon the owner’s recommendation, I ordered the chilaquiles. From the first bite, I was in love. Sooooo delish!
The only sad part was that their baker was on vacation and so their pastry case was empty except for a selection of muffins. No worries, I was assured that the baker will be back tomorrow. I guess I have no choice but to return to this delightful spot tomorrow. I’m feeling so sorry for myself right now…

I’ve been here twice now, and I’m sold.
The first time was for breakfast, which tasted good but the portions were a little small. The coffee and pastries were good, but not the best I’ve had. The service was good.
Then a few nights ago, my wife and I went and had a small dinner. We shared a pork torta and the chicken mole enchiladas. The pork was melt in your mouth and the torta bun was crunchy on the outside and airy in the middle. The mole enchiladas were great. Mole can be difficult, but their mole was both rich and intricately flavored. With some tasty pastries for desert, our total was only $ 20.
Glad this place offers some more reasonable priced food on York.

Breakfast tacos? Ahhh yeah! I’m always in search of yummy breakfast options, especially when eggs are involved. In addition to selling pan dulce, this Highland Park bakery offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items. Everything on the menu is less than $ 9. The kitchen is open from 7 am — 2:30 pm daily.
It’s pretty informal here. When you walk in you can’t immediately tell that there’s anything more than the bakery goods and coffee. There are a few tables. The first time I came here I asked for a menu and ordered at the counter. Other times I was told to take a seat and someone took my order from there. I’ve paid after eating but no one brought me a bill. I’ve just gone up to the counter to pay.
Anyhow those TEX-​MEX BREAKFAST TACOS! Three come to an order, and you can choose between huevos con chorizo, potato and egg, sausage and egg, or bean and cheese. The fillings are on a bed of beans and each taco is topped with a slice of avocado. A housemade salsa comes on the side. I’ve tried both the red and green. Neither are spicy.
For the same price you can get the HUEVOS CON CHORIZO. It’s all the same components as the tacos except with this you build your own. I think you get a similar amount. I’ve also tried the MACHACA. The chorizo’s better. What you’ll notice is that the food is decidedly non-​greasy. So if you kind of like that layer of orange/​reddish grease you may not like it here.
By the way the coffee is good! I’ve had both the CAFE DE OLLA (made here the traditional way with piloncillo) and the FRIDA MOCHA. Hopefully there’s no lead in those earthen mugs…

I was getting my car serviced down the street and needed breakfast; my usual is Donut Friend, but it was closed, so I decided to try Elsa’s, which I’d been eying for months.
This place is SO CUTE. Decorations of various kinds loop across the store’s ceiling and hang down, cheerful music plays, and the workers were so very friendly. Grab a tray from the counter and pick what you want from the cases; this was pretty dangerous, I think, because once you’ve got the tongs in your hands it’s hard to not keep pulling stuff out. I limited myself to a cheese Danish, but then ordered a Mexican Hot Xocolate (I know that last word is right, I think the rest is wrong) too, and was very pleased that Elsa’s has soy milk.
So the drink was the best Mexican hot chocolate I’ve ever had, seriously. Delight in a cup. Between that, the yummy pastry, and the ambiance, I ended up hanging out for an hour, enjoying the music and sitting at a wooden table, writing a letter; it was a great way to spend a morning.
Interesting: I asked about the Frida Kahlo coffee, and how the store knew for sure that that’s how she drank it. The fellow I talked to turns out to have been a former member of the National Endowment For The Arts, and had spent significant time in Mexico talking to Frida’s family, so, in fact, this actually is Frida’s fave way to drink coffee. What other place (in the US) has that?!

Great new find for my first time (4 stars)
We came in one afternoon and picked up two pastries: guava with cheese and apple turnover.
Took them home and made coffee.
The guava with cheese was by far the better one, but the apple turnover was just OK.
Next time we’ll stay and try their coffee.