Discover Pan American Bakery: Authentic Bolivian Cuisine and Fresh Pastries in Arlington, VA

Pan American Bakery Introduce

Introduction / Overview

Virginia's culinary landscape is wonderfully diverse, and for those in Northern Virginia searching for genuine South American flavors and freshly baked delights, the Pan American Bakery in Arlington is a must-visit destination. More than just a local bakery, this establishment has earned a strong reputation as a family-owned restaurant that masterfully blends the art of baking with the vibrant, hearty cuisine of South America, with a special emphasis on traditional Bolivian specialties. It’s an authentic 'bakery and grill' concept, offering the best of both worlds: from sweet pastries and homemade bread to savory, filling, and unforgettable main courses.

Located right off Columbia Pike, the Pan American Bakery offers a truly unique cultural experience right here in the heart of Virginia. Customers consistently praise the spot for its generous portions, affordable prices, and the warm, community-focused atmosphere that greets you upon entering. The air is always filled with the enticing aroma of fresh bread and savory stews, creating an instant feeling of welcoming warmth. Whether you are looking for a quick and flavorful breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a unique dinner experience, this Arlington gem is a solid choice. It's a place where tradition is savored and the food tells a delicious story.

The bakery’s commitment to authentic flavor is evident across its extensive menu. They don’t just offer a generalized 'Latin American' menu; they dive deep into the distinct tastes of Bolivia, offering regional favorites that are hard to find elsewhere in the area. This dedication to authentic, home-style cooking is what makes the Pan American Bakery a beloved staple for local residents and a discovery for newcomers to the neighborhood. The fusion of a traditional bakery counter alongside a full-service grill makes it a versatile spot perfect for a quick coffee and pastry, or a full, sit-down family meal.

Location and Accessibility

Finding this culinary haven is straightforward for anyone in the Arlington area. The Pan American Bakery is conveniently situated at a well-known, accessible location on Columbia Pike, a major thoroughfare in Northern Virginia.

Contact Information

P Address: 4113 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204, USA

P Phone: (703) 271-1113

P For those planning a visit, the restaurant has taken steps to ensure convenience for all patrons.

P Accessibility and Parking:

The facility is equipped with a Wheelchair accessible entrance.

Wheelchair accessible parking lot is available.

Customers can also take advantage of free street parking nearby.

A free parking lot is provided for easy access.

The location on Columbia Pike, known for its diverse culinary offerings, makes the Pan American Bakery a central and easy-to-reach spot for residents across Arlington and the wider Northern Virginia region. Its position is ideal for a quick visit during the day or a relaxed meal.

Services Offered

The Pan American Bakery and Grill provides a comprehensive range of dining and take-away services, ensuring they meet the needs of all their customers.

Dine-in Service: Enjoy the warm, community-focused atmosphere for breakfast or a full meal.

Takeout: Conveniently pick up your order to enjoy at home or on the go.

In-store pickup: Quick and easy retrieval of placed orders.

Breakfast Service: A great place to start your day with authentic, hearty South American breakfast options.

Bakery Counter: Purchase freshly baked bread, pastries, and sweet treats.

Beverages: Offering a selection of sodas, traditional drinks like Api and Mocochinche, and hot Coffee.

Payment Options: Accepts major Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments for a seamless transaction.

Quick Visit Planning: Ideal for those needing a flavorful meal or quick pastry during a busy day.

Features / Highlights

The menu at Pan American Bakery is its greatest strength, shining a spotlight on Bolivian and broader South American cuisine. The following dishes and features are highly recommended and represent the restaurant’s commitment to authentic, high-quality food:

The Salteña: Widely regarded as the house specialty and one of the best in the Northern Virginia/DC area (the DMV). This savory baked pastry is filled with a rich, juicy stew of beef or chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, perfect for a mid-day snack or appetizer.

Sillpancho: A popular Bolivian dish that’s a must-try. This hearty plate features a thin, seasoned, and breaded beef cutlet served over rice and French fries, topped with two fried eggs, tomatoes, and onions.

Pique A Lo Macho: A massive, shareable Bolivian feast featuring grilled meats, sausage, French fries, onions, tomatoes, and peppers, often considered a satisfying challenge for those with a large appetite.

Authentic Soups (Sopas): The menu boasts traditional soups like Sopa De Maní (Peanut Soup), a renowned Bolivian delicacy, and Sopa De Fricase and Sopa De Chairo, which are especially popular on the weekend menu.

Daily Rotating Specials: The restaurant offers a changing menu of daily specials, such as Aji De Cordero and Majadito on Mondays, or Puchero and Fideos Uchu on Thursdays, ensuring there is always something new and authentic to try.

Traditional Beverages: Beyond the usual soft drinks, patrons can experience authentic South American drinks like Api (a sweet, spicy purple corn beverage), Vaso De Mocochinche, and Tojori S/Leche.

The Bakery Selection: As a fully functioning bakery, they offer a variety of fresh pastries, including Pastel De Api, and fresh, homemade bread that serves as the base for their delicious sandwiches like the Tranca Pecho and Choripan.

What is Worth Choosing

For residents of Virginia looking to experience genuine Bolivian and South American cuisine, Pan American Bakery is an unparalleled local find. The value here is not just in the price, which is reasonable for the solid portions offered, but in the authentic taste that comes from family tradition and dedication. The combination of a world-class bakery offering fresh daily bread and treats, alongside a grill specializing in complex, flavorful, and filling dishes like Salteñas and Sillpancho, makes it a rare and worthwhile establishment.

Choosing Pan American Bakery is choosing authenticity. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in flavors that are distinct from other Latin cuisines, offering a taste of the Andes right on Columbia Pike. Customer reviews consistently highlight the welcoming service and the 'amazing vibes' of the family-owned setting, which adds a personal touch to the dining experience. Whether you’re stopping by for an afternoon coffee and an ice cream treat like Coco Y Leche or Canela, or gathering for a hearty weekend soup like Sopa De Maní, you will find that the Pan American Bakery successfully delivers a delicious story with every plate. For those in Northern Virginia, visiting this Arlington restaurant is highly recommended to savor the true tradition of Bolivian culinary heritage. The combination of savory favorites, sweet baked goods, and traditional beverages creates a complete and satisfying dining experience that keeps local customers coming back time and time again.

Pan American Bakery Menu

Fin de Semana / Weekends
Lapping $15.49
Sopa De Maní / Peanut Soup $13.90
Sopa de cacahuate y res. Cacahuates molidos con caldo de rabo de res cubierto con rodajas de papas fritas. No querrá perderse esta galardonada sopa boliviana. / Peanut and beef soup. Ground peanuts with beef oxtail broth topped with slivers of fried potatoes. You would not want to miss this award winning Bolivian soup.
Sopa De Fricase $14.45
Asado De Tira $23.00
Sopa De Chairo $13.90
Falso Conejo $16.99
Asado C/Chorrellana $17.60
Planchita $27.49
Lomo Montado $24.30
Pique A Lo Macho $21.25
Lomo Saltado $20.99
Picante De Pollo $14.35
Charque $15.49

Monday - Lunes
Aji De Cordero $15.90
Majadito $13.99
Arroz tostado con carne seca servido huevo frito y platano frito. Ensalada de cebolla y tomate
Asado En Olla $16.45
Sopa De Fideo $12.75

Sopas / Soups
Sopa De Fricasé / Fricasé Soup $14.45
Sopa de cerdo asado a fuego lento, con maíz, chunho (papa seca andina). / Slow roasted pork soup, with hominy, chunho (Andean dried potato).
Sopa De Chairo / Chairo Soup $13.90
Sopa de res tradicional boliviana. Hecha con maíz, papas pequeñas hervidas, verduras, chunho (papa seca andina). Cubierta con perejil fresco. / Traditional Bolivian beef soup. Made with hominy, small boiled potatoes, vegetables, chunho (Andean dried potato). Topped with fresh parsley.
Sopa De Mani $13.90

Bebidas / Beverages
Sodas - Can $2.50
Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Brisk Tea, Orange Soda
Vaso De Mocochinche / Glass Of Mocochinche $4.50
Bebida fría de melocotón seco con canela, azucarada. / Cold dried peach drink with cinnamon, sweetened.
Inca Cola Lata $3.00
Tojori S/Leche $4.79
Inca Cola - Botella $4.00
Vaso De Linaza / Glass Of Linseed $3.99
Una bebida refrescante y saludable a base de semillas de lino con jugo fresco de limón, endulzada. / A refreshing healthy drink made from linseed (flax seed) with fresh lime juice, sweetened.
Api $4.59
Vaso De Horchata / Glass Of Rice Drink $4.50
Refrescante bebida cremosa de almendras molidas, arroz, canela, azucarada. / Refreshing creamy beverage of ground almonds, rice, cinnamon, sweetened.
Soda Bottle $4.00
Canda Dry, Orange Soda, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite
Jarritos $4.25
Pina - Mandarina

Tuesday - Martes
Asado Criollo $15.45
Sopa De Res $13.49
Saice $13.65
Carne guisada servida con arroz y papa cocida
Lapping $16.49
Sopa De Zapallo C/Pollo $11.79
Guiso De Fideo $14.30
Guiso de Fideo con carne guisada
Chajchu $16.49

Wednesday - Miercoles
Guiso De Lentejas $13.20
Guiso de lenteja con arroz blanco y carne guisada
Lomo Saltado $18.45
Queperi $14.99
Sopa De Pollo $12.75
Pejtu De Haba $13.90
Picante De Pollo $13.45
Sopa De Quinua $12.75

Ice Cream
Coco Y Leche / Coconut And Milk $4.50
Canela / Cinnamon $4.50
De temporada. / Seasonally.

Thursday - Jueves
Puchero $13.79
Plato Paceño $14.49
Falso Conejo $15.49
Sopa De Pollo $12.49
Aji De Lengua $16.49
Fideos Uchu $13.90

Sándwich / Sandwich
Sándwich De Lechón / Suckling Pig Sandwich $12.00
Suculento lechón asado a fuego lento sobre un suave panecillo casero. Viene con un acompañante de ensalada (cebollas, tomates, jalapeños ligeros). / Succulent slow-roasted pork piled high on a soft homemade bun. Comes with a side of salad (onions, tomatoes, light jalapeños).
Sándwich De Pollo / Chicken Sandwich $12.00
Pechuga de pollo a la parrilla ligeramente sazonada dentro de un suave pan casero. Complementado con lechuga fresca, tomates, cebollas. / Grilled lightly seasoned chicken breast nestled in a soft homemade bread. Complemented by fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions.
Tranca Pecho $12.65
Delicia boliviana con bistec fino empanizado, sazonado y asado a la parrilla, encajado en un bollo casero grande y suave, cubierto con arroz, huevo frito, papas fritas, tomates y cebollas. / Bolivian delight featuring seasoned and grilled thin steak breaded nestled in a soft large homemade bun, topped with rice, fried egg, French fries, tomatoes, and onions.
Sandwich Enrrollado $10.99
Choripan $13.25
Chorizo argentino a la parrilla dentro de un panecillo casero con lechuga, cebolla y tomate. Viene con un acompañante de papas fritas. / Argentinian grilled chorizo sausage nestled in a homemade sub roll topped with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. Comes with a side of French fries.

MENU DE TODOS LOS DIAS
Chicharron De Cerdo $18.50
Fried pork belly, boiled potatoes, and corn.
Relleno De Papa $10.49
Tilapia A La Plancha $15.49
Pechuga De Pollo $16.99
Pechuga de pollo al grill servida arroz, papa hervida cocida y ensalada de lechuga y tomate
Sillpancho $18.95

Ice Cream
Canela / Cinnamon $3.50
De temporada. / Seasonally.
Coco Y Leche / Coconut And Milk $3.50

Friday - Viernes
Sopa De Pollo $12.49
Aji De Pata $12.99
Asado C/Chorrellana $15.45
Albondigas $14.65
Meatballs servido con arroz blanco y papa cocida
Sopa De Trigo $13.49
Sajta De Papaliza $15.49

Sándwich / Sandwich
Choripan/ Sandwich De Chorizo Parrilero $13.25
Chorizo argentino a la parrilla dentro de un panecillo casero con lechuga, cebolla y tomate. Viene con un acompañante de papas fritas. / Argentinian grilled chorizo sausage nestled in a homemade sub roll topped with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. Comes with a side of French fries.
Tranca Pecho $12.99
Delicia boliviana con bistec fino empanizado, sazonado y asado a la parrilla, encajado en un bollo casero grande y suave, cubierto con arroz, huevo frito, papas fritas, tomates y cebollas. / Bolivian delight featuring seasoned and grilled thin steak breaded nestled in a soft large homemade bun, topped with rice, fried egg, French fries, tomatoes, and onions.
Sándwich De Chola/ Suckling Pig Sandwich $12.00
Suculento lechón asado a fuego lento sobre un suave panecillo casero. Viene con un acompañante de ensalada (cebollas, tomates, jalapeños ligeros). / Succulent slow-roasted pork piled high on a soft homemade bun. Comes with a side of salad (onions, tomatoes, light jalapeños).
Sandwich Enrrolado $10.99
Sándwich De Pollo / Chicken Sandwich $12.00
Pechuga de pollo a la parrilla ligeramente sazonada dentro de un suave pan casero. Complementado con lechuga fresca, tomates, cebollas. / Grilled lightly seasoned chicken breast nestled in a soft homemade bread. Complemented by fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions.

Aperitivos / Appetizers
Salteñas $4.31
Masa fina rellena de guisado de res o pollo a elegir, papas y verduras. / Thin dough filled with your choice of beef or chicken stew, potatoes and vegetables.
Salchipapa $10.75
Salchichas fritas y en rodajas y papas fritas. / Sliced and fried sausages (hot dog) and French fries.

Aperitivos / Appetizers
Salchipapa $11.45
Salchichas fritas y en rodajas y papas fritas. / Sliced and fried sausages (hot dog) and French fries.
Salteñas $4.31
Masa fina rellena de guisado de res o pollo a elegir, papas y verduras. / Thin dough filled with your choice of beef or chicken stew, potatoes and vegetables.
Pastel De Api $3.99

Pan American Bakery Details

Service options
In-store pickup
Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Coffee

Dining options
Breakfast

Amenities
Restroom

Planning
Quick visit

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking

Pan American Bakery Photos

Pan American Bakery Location

Pan American Bakery

Virginia Arlington County Arlington Alcova Heights Columbia Pike

4113 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204, USA

Pan American Bakery Reviews

An average rating of ★4.1 from 780 user reviews.

salteñasbolivian cuisineempanadaschickencashierflavortres lechesmealspeanut soupspicy

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Family-owned Pan-American bakery/restaurant that’s a hidden gym here right off Colombia like! 10/10 food, service and insist you come and check this place out. Kayla will take care of youSolid portions for reasonable price and community vibes
November 21 · Nahu Dimitri
I love this bakery! As soon as you walk in there are amazing vibes, as you smell all the freshly baked goods and see the savory + sweet options. The workers were super nice answering all my questions and even helping me practice my Spanish! The food was extremely delicious and for an amazingly cheap price, definitely recommend this bakery.
January 15 · Nick C
A great place to enjoy authentic Bolivian food. The hosts are very nice and helpful. Don't worry if you don't speak Spanish, the staff speak English and will help you picking items. I personally love the Trancapecho and the Salteñas. Also the bakery items here are outstanding. I recommend the spicy cheese bread. Don't forget to toss some of the fresh green sauce on everything, adds some nice spice. 10/10 love this place.
April 16 · Colton Waldack
They never disappoint! Place is small and quaint. I always get the samething ALL the time but forget to take pictures. The trancapecho sandwich is so DELICIOUS!!
September 09 · Ann A
I’ve been coming here for over 10 years, their salteñas are good. They have a big variety of Bolivian dishes as well of baked goods such as bread and cakes for birthday parties. I would recommend for take out since the place is small.
April 24 · Tay M Ch