La Nueva Bakery

The best bakery I’ve ever been to! The counter gets very hectic especially since a lot of the goodies don’t have names! So there’s a lot of yelling and pointing that goes on. Most likely something will be missing from your pastry order because it’s too hectic. EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS! The empanadas are like the ones your mom makes, anything with dulce de leche is worth getting and delicious. Next time I go I will definitely get some sandwiches.

I remember going here as a kid, I love this place highly recommend going and getting anything!

This seems to be more of a takeout based operation than La Gran Uruguaya down the street. There are tables, but most were empty on the day that I visited.
The baked goods look and taste familiar, down to the font used on the cards that identify and price the items. That is a good thing. The ham and cheese pie here is a bit more substantial than the one I tried at LGU, the only real difference that I perceived. I also noticed that La Nueva stocked fresh chorizo and morcilla for the home cook, something that was not on offer at the competition. Will try those next time.
Compare for yourself, you won’t go wrong at either establishment.

I’m so glad this place is a hidden gem and not well known m. This bakery has phenomenal empanadas. They’re not the Colombian ones they’re the Uruguayan ones which are baked or fried. I love both but know that this place had the Uruguayan ones. At this bakery you should stick to the basics. That’s what they’re good at. The alfajores, torta de tres leches, café con leche and other Hispanic desserts are good. Don’t go for a carrot cake because you’re not going to like it.

I’ve been going to this bakery for over a decade. I moved to Franklin Square, Long Island a little over a year ago. With new babies, it is hard to get back to the neighborhood as much as I would like. A few months ago, a fellow Unilocaler told me that La Nueva had closed. I was pretty heart broken. I thought I would never see Nancy and the rest of the fantastic staff again. Well, today, I was on Main Street over in Flushing. I was close by and decided to take a walk down 82^nd Street. Curiosity got the best of me, so I drove down 37^th Avenue and… the BEST bakery in the NYC, metropolitan area was still open! I could not tell you the relief and joy I felt those afternoon. I ordered 2 chicken empanadas — magnificent as always. I had a coffee. Best coffee in Queens. I got the VIP treatment from Nancy and the rest of the staff. I was introduced again to Hector. I met Hector right after he purchased the spot almost 3 years ago. Hector made very sure I was treated well. I brought home assorted breads, a slice of meat/​egg pie (wish I knew the name, reminds me a bit of the pizza ghena my grandmother used to make). Again, no hyperbole here — La Nueva is the best bakery within 100 miles of Jackson Heights. Again, all the best. Can’t wait to take the 15 month old here and the baby that’s coming in May.

I grew up in this area and have had them quite often. I think they try to re-​create pastries that have already been done the right way. Their recreations are edible but not wonderful. They have pretty good cheese and spinach empanadas as well as pan de queso. Their café con leche is always good but you should stick to the basics here.

I’ve been here several times, Im not a fan of the caramel pastries, it’s way too sweet for me. We like the empanadas, it’s totally different from the colombian bakeries. I prefer these, it just tastes a lil healthier… with better ingredients?
Once I bought a carrot cake for my mom and I don’t think she liked it, I think it was too rich and sweet for her. We like lighter desserts. I usually get a simple bread pudding or a small pastry that’s lightly filled with guava, while L gets flan, tres leches, etc. I literally need to stop him from ordering a ton of stuff.
The line is always really long. Cash only is really annoying as well.

Excellent spot.
1) I love the alfajores with dulce de leche.
2) The bakery is excellent.
3) Cash only.

Everything is yummy in this place… like beyond yummy!

I traveled from Boston and I got a lot of goodies that are hard to find here. Matambre, croissants, alfajores, very good quality, the service was ok, but I was surprised when I asked the man that was behind the counter if they deliver he didn’t even greet me just said no with a hand gesture… That I think was very rude after saying I was traveling and spending $ 160 in merchandise in a bakery…

This place makes me feel like HOME everything is freshly made so tasty!!! Awesome coffee your must try item here is the spinach empanadas and sandwiches de miga it will become your next Favorite place too

I was on my way to Martha’s t get a slice of tres leches and I decided to find somewhere that had a more authentic version. So I made the journey to elmhurst try La Nueva based on Unilocal recommendations. All I can say is… the beef empanada was magical. and I had it without the hot sauce so I can only imagine its potential with it. I ha a baked version that was soft and warm and with beautiful seasoned beef onions and potatoes. I also got the dulce de leche which is a HUGE slice and also delicious! The Alfajores (a crumbly shortbread cookie with dulce de leche filling) was also very good especially after warmed in the microwave for a few seconds.

As an Argentinean and native Queens Girl I can tell you this place is amazing! I have been coming here with my grandmother and mother since before I could speak! I come in at least every other Saturday and get a Chicken Empanada with my Mate Cocido, and some cuernitos, media lunas and sandwiches de miga to take home!
Things worth trying: All empanadas, tortilla de papa y espinaca, sandwiches de miga, sandwiches de pollo empanisado, all the sweets, cuernitos, roscas, alfajores and of course the Cakes !!
This place is truly a treasure and I will never ever grow tired of coming here. Jackson Heights is one of my favourite areas to be in in Queens. I want to keep this place all to myself since as I stated I am a Native Queens Girl and I have seen the gentrification spread like a disease in Brooklyn and dread the day or even the possibility that it might one day come to my beloved Queens and swallow up local treasures/​businesses such as this that remind me and my family of home!
Anyway, enough ranting my point is:
Ambiance, Food, and Service are all amazing and I hope to never see this place go away. Chill out and watch futbol or hear some live music while you eat some of the best and most authentic Argentine/​Uruguayan food ever!

Put this on your MUST list, of places to visit.
I saw it on one of those TV cooking channels a while back, and decided to try it, as I just happened to be passing by.
I got a few each of chicken, beef, and spinach empanadas, and a bunch of their hot sauce on the side.
Couldn’t leave without grabbing some of their dulce de leche filled pastries and sandwich cookies, too.
I strapped them to the back of my motorcycle and roared home, in anxious anticipation of devouring all this goodness with my awaiting girlfriend.
Let me tell you… It was delicious. Probably the best I ever had. The hot sauce was so uniquely amazing, but not too hot. Words just can’t describe.
Bottom line. Just go there.

I have been eating and taking food from la nueva since 1995 and i can assure you that I have never been disappointed. Tjis place offer an array of Uruguayan pastries and sandwiches to die for. cakes are average tough but everything else included fresh bread is just great.

I would buy everything here, but there is only so much money in my wallet
This is one of the top bakeries in Queens, no lie. Their beef empanadas are amazing, and so are the spinach empanadas, and their chicken empanadas, and their ham and cheese empanadas… Well enough about empanadas. This is also a great place to satisfy my dulce de leche cravings (which I get kinda often) as they sell a ton of alfajores and other dulce de leche goodies. Put them into the microwave for like fifteen seconds so that it can melt a bit, and you’ll be in seventh heaven! They also sell dulce de leche filled churros, which I tend to skip since I don’t plan on becoming an obesity statistic any time soon
If dulce de leche doesn’t do it for you, try their amazing arrollados. Sponge cake, olives, and tuna sounds like a weird combination, until you actually try it. If you still have space left over, get that gargantuan milanesa sandwich on their counter. That sandwich is relatively cheap and HUGE, probably meant for Luis Suárez. Typically milanesa sandwiches should only be eaten at Italian places, but this is the exception, it’s way better than at your local pizzeria. They also have these ham and cheese…‘things’ on the counter, not sure what to call them, all I know is they’re stuck somewhere between a cubano and a slice of pizza. Well you don’t need to know the name to enjoy the taste!
I would give them an extra star for the TVs playing La Liga games, but five stars is the max unfortunately

The best empanadas and hot sauce in queens 5 stars. They have baked and fried empanadas. My favorite would be the spinach and beef empanadas. The hot sauce i wish I could purchase by the gallon.
Service is mediocre. Majority of the staff don’t speak English.
As for the pastry and desserts 1.5 stars. Most of the cakes are stale and have been siting around for a while. Not worth the money.

I get confused for being Spanish ALL the time. OK I am lying, but I eat enough Spanish food to be considered Spanish and I could communicate enough to get fed, well. lol This place has been around forever and they really have great products. I usually come here for the whole cakes, I think their fruit tart and the tres leches cakes are fantastico!

This is a review strictly on their empanadas.
I used to love love love mama’s empanadas that’s maybe one street away, but after having one of La Nueva’s, I’m a changed woman. The empanadas here are so much better and bigger! They don’t have as many stuffing options/​combinations, but they definitely mastered the flavors of a traditional empanada. Some of them are baked and some are fried. Honestly, my favorite is the simple cheese empanada that’s been deep fried. Inside is a blend of ooey gooey cheese and a few vegetables that give it a hint of flavor. The super thin batter is crispy on the outside and a bit chewy on the inside. My mouth wanted to tuck away five of those babies, but I was only able to stomach maybe three. It really fills you up.
The spinach one is also really good. It’s my second favorite since it also has cheese, which helps.
The meat empanada is delicious too. It’s not dry on the inside even though it’s baked. The pastry keeps all the moisture and juices in, but it doesn’t drip when you bite into it. I personally liked the fried ones more because I like the crunchy exterior, but if you’re trying to be a little bit more healthy, you’re not missing out on any of the flavors with the baked empanadas.

This no-​frills South American bakery is making a variety of authentic pastries and cookies to savory empanadas and Columbian sandwiches. Since I’m obsessed with baked goods and love dulce de leche, I decided to go on a bit of a dulce de leche spree. And, since it’s a Latin American confection, it only seemed right.
The first item that I got was a cone shaped pastry filled with dulce de leche (which I’ll refer to as DDL from here on out) and topped with powdered sugar. The cone was crunchy and light with a savory, buttery quality. The DDL was rich, creamy and sweet, which balanced out the savoriness of the pastry. Then, when you add on the powdered sugar, you really appreciate the pastry.
Next, I got an alfajor, a sandwich cookie with DDL filling and rolled in coconut. Now, I recently had an alfajor for the first time at another bakery, but, the two were quite different. First off, this one was about 2 or 3 times the size of the other. This one also had a much more generous amount of DDL, and the cookie itself was chewy and coconutty (a new word). It was delicious, but, a bit intense with all sweetness since it was such a large cookie.
Lastly, I had… well, it didn’t have a proper name in the store, so, I’ll awkwardly attempt to give it a name. Let’s call it a DDL filled coconut pie. This thing was unreal, unlike anything I’ve ever had, and, a bit intimidating. First off, it’s a beast. It’s meant to be more of an individual portion, but the size of my hand (disclaimer: I have kind of small hands) and weighs… a pound? It’s heavy. The pie crust is delicious and flakey. Then, there’s a generous layer of DDL at the bottom of the pie. And then, there’s a dense, thick layer of the coconut that I would compare to the taste and texture of a macaroon (not to be confused with a French macaron).

Increíble sánguche de milanga!