El Nopal Bakery

Previous reviewer stated it was hot, dark and not fancy. But El Nopal is the best in making their heart cookies! :) I used to go to their Pilsen location but it closed. :(They are barely struggling to keep this last location open so lets give them a break and focus on the good stuff: the bread! So good and delicious. I don’t mind that its dark or hot or that the ladies sometimes need a little more energy than they show. Its a small mom n pop bakery, and I support this business. :)

El Nopal is a no frills panaderia in the middle of Little Village. I met some friends for dinner that evening, and when I arrived a little earlier than I expected, I took a stroll down 26^th Street. In the early evening, there were families out for a walk, people on their way to and from work, and plenty of Mexican guys in shiny, pimped out pick-​up trucks pumping mariachi and cumbias for everyone to hear. The music filled the air, the people bustled on the sidewalks… it reminded me of my childhood. Even though I’m white and grew up in the suburbs.
When I walked into El Nopal, I immediately noticed it was HOT. There was no air conditioning and no open doors or windows, and it was probably 80 degrees outside. To add to this strange lack of ambience, it was dark inside, only illuminated by the sunlight from outside. The pastry cases weren’t lit up either. I looked around and saw a lady sitting behind the counter almost hidden from view. I offered a cheery, «Hello!» but got nothing in return. I quickly surveyed the cases and looked at the lady again, who then stood to help me.
For less than $ 5 I bought two pineapple empanadas, two of those round things that I’m pretty sure are conchas or at least what I’ve told myself is a concha, and then I asked the lady, «what’s your favorite?» She pointed at one and I swear she said, «banana.» I bought two. I ate one later, and it didn’t taste a thing like banana, it was a typical Mexican pastry: bread-​like, topped with cinnamon and sugar. Maybe something was lost in translation?
The lady behind the counter did understand English, as I asked her a few questions like «what flavor?» and said things like, «two, please.» But surely if I had used what little Spanish I know, I would have been able to communicate better and ask more questions — by the way, nothing in the case is labeled either.
It’s not my favorite Mexican bakery, which surprised me since it’s in Little Village. However, everything I have had so far was quite delicious.

Tastefully Simple.
That’s the best way to describe this great institution located in the Little Village of Chicago for almost 60 years. It’s a very modest place filled with some of the best Mexican bakery treats you’ll find anywhere in the city. There are many types of baked goods like bolillos, conchas, cuernos, empanadas, galetas, puerquitos, and many more. Like any bakery, I love to go when they first open to get the freshest ones first to enhance the overall taste. I am indeed a lover of bread and if places like this didn’t exist, I’d be 15lbs lighter. Check It Out!!!
–Papa Bear

Best place for pan dulce! I always have to stop by here when I am in the area. I love the corazon cookies too.

This is where my family went for bread and cakes when I was a child. Empanadas de camote, cochinitos, pastel de tres leches, and I have commuted from Rogers Park to here just for some conchas and corazonsito cookies covered in sugar and cinammon. Yes, it is that serious. I’d highly recommend this place for fresh and quality bread and pastries.

Not the fanciest place but you sure can find the tastiest and cheapest «camote» empanadas here. They are stuffed with sweet potato and are perfect with coffee or hot chocolate. The bakery offers many other types of Mexican sweet breads and cookies. They’ve been at this location for decades. They’re a staple on 26^th St. Street parking is available. There is also a 2^nd location on Blue Island Ave in Pilsen.