Editor’s Note: This visit took place prior to the coronavirus outbreak. Due to the severity of the pandemic, Auntie’s Bakery and Cafe made the decision to temporarily close.
Auntie’s Bakery and Cafe is a restaurant that features baked goods, breakfast and lunch. It is located on a beautiful tree-lined street in Uptown Whittier. This charming historic area of Whittier features specialty shops, dining opportunities and the restored movie theater that originally opened in 1931.
On Sunday, March 15, I invited a couple of friends for breakfast and we visited Auntie’s Bakery and Cafe. Little did we know that the day after, restaurants would be forced to close or convert to take-out or delivery service only. We arrived shortly after opening and the dining room was already half-full.
The interior is painted white and was like a home in the south with a lot of indirect lighting. The country-style furniture makes the place feel comfortable and the window bench seating adds to the feeling that you are dining at someone’s home.
As you enter, a display case of delicious-looking baked goods faces you. In fact, some people simply pick baked items out and pair them with a cup of coffee. It was nice to see that they have food servers and haven’t moved to self-serve operations like many other new establishments.
The most popular item on the menu is their Chile Relleno Burrito. It was filled with cheese-filled pasilla chile, fried potatoes, onions, red and green peppers, and scrambled eggs. I thought it would be better if they included a chipotle aioli sauce to add some additional moisture and taste.
The Smoked Salmon Benedict is made using an English muffin and topped with smoked salmon, red onion, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and sprinkled with an everything topping, the type used for the everything bagel. While the food was delicious, my friend wasn’t happy that the hollandaise sauce wasn’t hot.
Enfrijoladas are corn tortillas drenched in a black bean sauce. Auntie’s Bakery substitutes a tastier mole sauce and adds carnitas. It comes with an optional two eggs, prepared any style. This dish was quite tasty and I definitely recommend it.
Other items include omelets, waffles, french toast, and healthy choices such as oatmeal. The kid’s menu has a number of items and includes juice or babyccino.
Our server was quite attentive and frequently checked in with us to see if we needed anything. She cheerfully refilled our coffee and even offered to do so after we received the check.
Afterward our meal, we strolled down Greenleaf Ave and admired some of the historic architecture and businesses. A tiled floor labeled “Kirby’s” probably housed the iconic Kirby’s vacuum cleaner. Newer small restaurants appeared to be occupying the leased areas.
I hope this virus passes soon and Auntie’s Bakery and Cafe is financially able to re-open.
Auntie’s Bakery and Cafe, 6506 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90601; 562.464.1959
auntiescafe.com