It must be an American pastime (or by conditioning) that whenever college students hit the books, they require a food run at the midway point. The challenge is to find the right pick-me-up snack.
Too often, college students fall back on familiar stand-bys, which can lead to gastronomic indifference: Burger and fries? Stale and soggy. Tacos and burritos? Burp and gas. Nachos and cheese? Runaway dripping. Fried chicken and biscuits? No cluck. Beer and pizza? Wake up!
Desserts? Ah, getting warm… Pastries with an international flavor? YES! There is nothing like a sugar high with a cultural twist. Going international can be just what the taste buds need to send a hungry student orbiting the galaxy and back in time to wrap up a study session.
Here are the top five international bakeries down the road from El Camino College.
1. JBJ’s BAKERY
Students who haven’t indulged in Filipino pastries might need a lesson in dessert etiquette. A Warrior Life recommendation is to sample JBJ’s Bakery in Carson — it might be a wakeup call to the tastebuds. JBJ’s is a family-owned business that has been around for 19 years and is as small as a pie box. However, many Yelpers swear by this bakery’s pastries, including its rainbow macarons.
Not to be confused with coconut macaroons, French macarons are flavorful treats that people pop into their mouth like doughnut holes. These flavorful bites are flaky, a little chewy, light as air and come in flavors such as green tea, passion fruit, mango, guava, Nutella and salted caramel. Macarons are sold individually or by the dozen for $13.50.
While desserts are menu stoppers, JBJ’s also sells fluffy pandesal bread, pastries, chicken bao, empanadas and spaghetti — Filipino style.
860 E. Carson St., Ste. 117, Carson
310-518-6074
Website: None.
Facebook: JBJs-Bakery
Distance from ECC: 6.8 miles — 10 minutes travel time.
2. ADELITA BAKERY
Bakeries such as Panadería Nueva Adelita or Adelita for short, encompasses all of the wonderful aromas, tastes and visual colors of Mexico. This hole-in-the-wall business will fool many in its lack of ambiance. But the flavorful bolillo, pan dulce and even Mexican meals and drinks on its menu are worth the visit. Prices are reasonable and street parking is abundant.
14807 S. Western Ave., Gardena
310-532-5279
Hours: Call
Order online: https://www.restaurantji.com/order.php?id=3847460
Website: None
Distance: 1.8 miles from ECC — 4 minutes.
3. KING MEDITERRANO
Technically this is a small Mediterranian-Middle Eastern restaurant, rather than a bakery. Customers might come for lunch, but will likely leave with dessert. Located in a huge strip mall, King Mediterrano gets a Yelp thumbs-up for its variety of tantalizing dishes, as well as its Baklava. This dessert is a piece of heaven, so flaky, tasty and decadent. A container of three costs $5.99.
4354 Redondo Beach Blvd., Torrance
310-370-9438
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays
Website: http://www.kingmediterrano.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/King-Mediterrano-551859951565757/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/king_mediterrano_torrance/
Order: Doordash, Postmates
Distance: 1.8 miles from ECC — 4 minutes.
4. ALPINE VILLAGE MARKET
Alpine Village Market is still the hub of German food and products in the South Bay and its bakery is worth a visit. Consumers line up for the variety of sweet rolls, cream puffs, pretzels, cookies and cakes. The market bristles with activity and purchasing just one dessert item can be an agonizing but tantalizing experience. Eating any treat from Alpine Village Market can only be described as a heavenly indulgence.
833 W. Torrance Blvd., Torrance
310-327-4384
Hours: Mon. To Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: http://www.alpinevillagecenter.com/
Email: [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/thealpinevillage/
Distance: 5.3 miles from ECC — 9 minutes.
5. SAKURA-YA
There is a reason why Sakura-ya has lured dessert lovers away from the downtown Little Tokyo bakeries. This tiny, confectionery shop in Gardena has remained unchanged since 1960 and that goes for the way Mas and Yuki Fujita prepare their daily treats. Fresh, ultra soft, delicious and flavorful are just some of the adjectives adoring Sakura-ya fans chant. The cost is $2 per pastry. Arrive early in the day for the best variety or risk going home empty-handed. The best bet is to call ahead or pre-order.
16134 S. Western Ave., Gardena
310-323-7117
Hours: Wed. to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Mon.-Tues.
Sakuraygardena.wixsite.com/sakuraya
Distance: 1.6 miles — 3 minutes.
