OBRA HandBakery - Orange County Opening Summer '25!

Introduction / Overview

Orange County food enthusiasts, get ready to welcome a true gem! OBRA HandBakery, a beloved Long Beach institution, is officially expanding its unique blend of Latin American culinary craft to Santa Ana, California, with an anticipated opening in Summer/Winter 2025. Far more than a traditional bakery, OBRA HandBakery—the name intentionally emphasizes the 'Hand'—specializes in scratch-made, Latin American-inspired savory and sweet goods, with their signature baked empanadas leading the charge. Born from the culinary passion of owners Luz Torres and Chef Cesar Villarreal, who have roots in Colombian food culture, the original establishment was founded in 2014 and evolved into the empanada and pastry powerhouse it is today.

For local users in the Orange County area, OBRA HandBakery promises a fresh and exciting dining option that elevates Pan-Latin cooking in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Their core mission is to bring an elevated Latin culinary experience through highly accessible, comforting, and uniquely flavorful items. Every empanada, sandwich, and pastry is made from scratch using the Chef’s own recipes, distinguishing them as a must-visit locale in the region. The expansion to Santa Ana places this celebrated bakery in a strategic, high-traffic location, ensuring that residents of Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Santa Ana can easily access these exceptional handmade goods.

Location and Accessibility

The new Orange County location for OBRA HandBakery is strategically positioned in Santa Ana, making it a highly accessible spot for a large segment of the local population. It is set to open at:

110 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92707, USA.

This address places the bakery near the critical intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Main Street, just minutes from the John Wayne Airport and a few blocks from the upscale South Coast Plaza shopping destination. This prime location promises to make OBRA HandBakery a convenient stop for grab-and-go orders, casual lunches, or a morning coffee and pastry run for those working or living in the South Coast Metro area.

Crucially, the new location is being designed with customer convenience in mind, focusing on accessibility features necessary for a high-traffic area in Southern California:

• The facility is planned to include a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring comfortable access for all members of the community.
• Wheelchair accessible parking will be provided, simplifying visits for customers with mobility needs.
• Being in a busy commercial area, the location will serve as an ideal spot for a quick visit, though the delicious offerings will likely encourage lingering.

Services Offered

OBRA HandBakery is more than just a place to buy bread; it’s a complete café and deli, offering a wide array of scratch-made items designed for both quick takeout and casual dining.

• Signature Baked Empanadas: Proudly serving an extensive variety of Latin American-inspired empanadas, made from scratch and baked (not fried). Popular flavors include Baked Beef Empanada (spicy ground beef), Baked Chicken Empanada (mild spicy creamy yellow chili sauce), Baked BBQ Pork Empanada with pineapple, and the must-try Baked Cuban Empanada (pork, black beans, rice, and sweet plantains).
• Handmade Bakery and Pastries: Offering a rotating selection of scratch-made sweet treats, including unique items like Almond-Guava Cookie Cake, Coconut & Dulce de leche Cookie Cake, various fruit and cheese pastries (Guava-Cheese Pastry, Peach and dulce de leche turnover), and various cheesecakes.
• Specialty Coffee and Espresso Drinks: Featuring an impressive coffee program with signature items such as the Iced Tres Leches Latte and Hot Tres Leches Latte, as well as classic Cappuccino, Americano, Café con Leche, Vanilla Latte, and Mocha. They also serve specialty teas like Iced/Hot Matcha and Chai Tea Lattes.
• Savory Deli and Hot Meals: Serving made-to-order sandwiches and signature items, including the Cuban Sandwich (a best-seller), the OBRA Signature Burger, various breakfast sandwiches served on croissants, and burritos.
• OBRA Balls: Famous for their massive, crispy mashed potato balls, typically stuffed with savory fillings like ground beef and mozzarella cheese, known to be superior to similar items in the market.
• Take-and-Bake Options: Customers have the convenient option to purchase frozen empanadas by the dozen or piece, allowing them to enjoy fresh, hot empanadas at home with provided baking instructions. This service is also available for large catering orders.
• Catering Services: Providing bulk orders of baked and frozen empanadas for events and gatherings, often requiring advanced notice to ensure fresh preparation.

Features / Highlights

OBRA HandBakery is celebrated in Southern California not just for its food, but for the unique quality and cultural richness it brings to the dining experience. Their distinctive features are what make their expansion to Santa Ana so highly anticipated by Orange County locals.

• The Empanada Specialist: Their primary and most famous feature is the sheer variety and quality of their baked empanadas, which account for a significant portion of their sales. They are baked every half hour to ensure maximum freshness and are made with scratch-made flour dough, not the commonly seen corn dough.
• Focus on HandBakery Quality: The name HandBakery emphasizes their commitment to making almost everything in-house, by hand, using Chef Cesar's proprietary recipes. This artisanal approach ensures a level of care and flavor depth that industrial bakeries cannot match.
• Unique Pan-Latin Fusion: While specializing in empanadas, OBRA’s menu reflects a broader Pan-Latin culinary influence. This results in intriguing and delicious flavor combinations, such as the Chicken CURRY Empanada cooked in coconut milk, and the rich Cuban Empanada with rice and plantains, distinguishing their offerings from other bakeries.
• The Must-Try OBRA Ball: These are not your average potato balls. OBRA’s version is often described as massive, crispy on the outside, and incredibly satisfying, stuffed with creamy cheese and savory meat—truly a filling and unique handheld meal.
• Signature Coffee Program: The inclusion of unique coffee drinks like the Tres Leches Latte ensures a complementary pairing for their sweet and savory items, adding a distinctive Latin American flair to the traditional coffee menu.
• Value-Driven Offer: Customers can consistently benefit from a special promotion: receiving two free empanadas with every dozen purchased, which is a significant value proposition for families and larger groups.

Contact Information

As the Santa Ana location is still in development and is expected to open in Summer/Winter 2025, a specific, direct phone number for the new location is not publicly confirmed for the bakery itself. For now, local users should rely on the primary contact information for the company's existing operations or monitor the company's official website for updates.

Anticipated Address:

110 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92707, USA

Note: Local users interested in updates on the opening timeline should check the OBRA HandBakery website or social media channels for the most accurate information on the Santa Ana location.

What is worth choosing

For anyone in the Orange County area, the arrival of OBRA HandBakery represents an exciting new option that moves beyond the conventional bakery model. What is truly worth choosing here is the opportunity to experience high-quality, authentic Latin American flavors delivered with a commitment to handmade excellence.

The undisputed star of the menu is the empanada. They are perfect for every occasion—from a quick morning bite to a centerpiece for a party. Specifically, the Baked Beef Empanada is a crowd-pleaser, and for those looking for something richer, the Baked Cuban Empanada provides a complete, savory-sweet profile in one perfect pocket. Ordering a Mix & Match dozen is the best way to sample the full range of creative fillings.

Do not overlook the legendary OBRA Balls. These substantial, crispy potato and cheese spheres offer a deeply satisfying texture and are a favorite among repeat customers. To finish, pairing a savory item with a unique dessert like the Almond-Guava Cookie Cake or a slice of Guava Cheesecake alongside the signature Iced Tres Leches Latte provides a complete and memorable Pan-Latin culinary experience.

In a bustling area of Southern California, OBRA HandBakery is choosing to bring a refreshing, culturally rich, and incredibly delicious product, making it a highly anticipated and essential stop for local food lovers seeking something truly authentic and handmade.

OBRA HandBakery - Orange County Opening Summer '25!

110 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92707, USA