Back to Blog After 3 YEARS of Delays, This Beloved Bakery FINALLY Breaks Ground at Downtown Disney

After 3 YEARS of Delays, This Beloved Bakery FINALLY Breaks Ground at Downtown Disney

Magic Table Team
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If you’ve been waiting for Porto’s Bakery to arrive at Downtown Disney, we finally have news that’s worth celebrating: construction has officially begun. After three years of anticipation, false starts, and multiple delays, the beloved Southern California bakery is breaking ground at Disneyland Resort.

According to the Orange County Register, demolition and construction walls went up on December 9, 2025—just one day after permits were finally issued on December 8. For a project that was first announced at the D23 Expo back in 2022, this represents a major milestone that many Disney fans were beginning to wonder would ever happen.

What’s Being Demolished to Make Way for Porto’s

The construction site encompasses more than just the former La Brea Bakery location. Disney is also demolishing two Disneyland ticket booths—the ones closest to the Downtown Disney entrance on the Disneyland Esplanade—to make room for the new Porto’s Bakery & Cafe. Those ticket booths closed in November in preparation for this moment.

Construction walls and barricades now surround the closed restaurant site, the ticket booths, and part of the walkway, signaling that Disney is moving forward at full speed after years of inaction.

Why This Porto’s Location Is Different From All the Others

Here’s what makes this Porto’s Bakery truly special: it will be the first Porto’s location in the chain’s history to offer sit-down table service and a full bar. The current six Porto’s locations across Southern California operate as counter-service bakeries where guests order at the counter, pick up their food, and find their own seating. This Downtown Disney location changes that model entirely.

The newly released concept art showcases a two-story building with outdoor patios on both the ground and second floors, creating a more expansive dining experience than traditional Porto’s locations. This represents a significant evolution for the family-owned bakery that has built a cult following throughout Southern California.

What Makes Porto’s Worth the Wait

For those unfamiliar with Porto’s, this isn’t just another bakery. Porto’s has earned its reputation as one of Southern California’s most beloved culinary destinations, known for its unique California-Cuban cuisine. The menu features:

  • Pastries and cakes that regularly draw hour-long lines at existing locations
  • Empanadas filled with meat, cheese, or guava and cheese
  • Croquettes (potato balls and ham croquettes)
  • Cuban sandwiches including the classic Cubano and Medianoche
  • Sweet treats including their famous cheese rolls and strudels

The bakery’s popularity is no exaggeration—on any given day, you’ll find lines stretching out the door at their Buena Park, Glendale, Burbank, West Covina, Downey, and Northridge locations. Guests willingly wait because Porto’s has mastered the balance of authentic Cuban flavors, reasonable prices, and consistent quality.

The Long and Winding Road to This Moment

The timeline of this project tells a story of patience—and frustration:

  • September 2022: Porto’s Bakery announced at D23 Expo for Downtown Disney
  • 2024: Porto’s confirms the location was scheduled to open in 2025
  • April 2025: Permits filed for the project
  • July 2025: Construction delayed again, pushing back the timeline
  • December 8, 2025: Permits finally issued
  • December 9, 2025: Construction walls go up and demolition begins

That’s a three-year journey from announcement to breaking ground—an unusually long timeline even by Disney standards. The multiple delays led many Disney fans to wonder if the project would ever materialize, making this construction start all the more significant.

What This Means for Downtown Disney’s Dining Scene

Porto’s arrival represents more than just a new restaurant option. It signals Disney’s commitment to bringing established, beloved brands into Downtown Disney rather than relying solely on Disney-created concepts or national chains. Porto’s joins other successful local transplants that have enhanced the Downtown Disney experience.

The addition of table service and a full bar also suggests this won’t be a quick grab-and-go bakery stop. Disney and Porto’s are creating a destination dining experience where guests can linger, enjoy full meals, and potentially make this a regular part of their Disneyland Resort visit—whether they’re visiting the parks or just spending time at Downtown Disney.

When Can You Actually Eat There?

Here’s where expectations need to be managed: with construction just beginning, don’t expect Porto’s to open anytime soon. The original timeline suggested a 2025 opening, but with construction starting in December 2025, that ship has sailed. No updated opening date has been announced.

Based on typical construction timelines for restaurant projects of this scope, we’re likely looking at a late 2026 opening at the earliest, possibly extending into 2027. The two-story building with outdoor patios represents substantial construction work beyond a simple interior renovation.

Why We’re Optimistic About This Development

Despite the delays, there are several reasons to be excited about Porto’s finally moving forward:

  1. Proven Track Record: Porto’s isn’t an experimental concept—it’s a tested, beloved brand with decades of success
  2. Unique Offering: No other Downtown Disney restaurant specializes in Cuban cuisine or offers Porto’s signature items
  3. Enhanced Table Service: The sit-down format elevates the Porto’s experience beyond the traditional counter-service model
  4. Outdoor Dining: The two-story patio design takes advantage of Southern California weather and provides ambiance
  5. Local Connection: Porto’s is authentically Southern California, giving Disneyland guests a taste of regional cuisine

The Bottom Line

After three years of waiting, watching, and wondering, Porto’s Bakery construction at Downtown Disney is no longer just an announcement—it’s a reality. Construction walls are up, demolition is underway, and the project is finally moving forward.

For Porto’s fans, this Downtown Disney location will offer a new way to experience their favorite bakery. For Disneyland regulars, it adds a unique dining option that brings something genuinely different to the resort’s food scene. And for those who’ve never tried Porto’s, this will be an accessible introduction to one of Southern California’s most beloved culinary institutions.

The wait has been long, but if the final product delivers the same quality that Porto’s is known for across its other locations—with the added bonus of table service and a full bar—it will have been worth it.

Now we just need to be patient a little while longer while they actually build the thing.