Almadina Bakery

OMG this place is GREAT!
If you are in the mood for cheap delicious Mediterranean desserts and isn’t afraid to park in a questionable area, this is the place for you!
They have everything from different types of baklava, mamouls, lady fingers, plus more! They had some stuff there that I had no idea what it was, so of course I’ve gotta get it.
Their baklava is to die for and it’s made fresh everyday. My favourite’s always been the bird’s nest, but I was told that she doesn’t make that everyday. I’d have to call to see if she’s made it or request it to be made. How awesome is that?!
My favourite so far has been this crispy light sesame cookie. It’s covered with a very generous amount of sesame and it’s so light and not too sweet. If you love sesame, eat this!
It’s also very reasonable, as they do not charge by the piece. They weight it, and baklava being such a light (weighing) desserts, this is more bang for my buck!
Also, I got a spinach pie (as recommended by a Unilocaler) and it looks very fresh and not all wrinkled and flimsy like most other spinach pies.
The lady was also very nice and patient with me asking her way too many questions.
They have a lot of seats, but I’m not sure if the ambiance is nice enough for it to be a date dessert spot. By I’m not sure, I mean it’s not.

I’ve only tried their baklava, which hasn’t been very consistent. But when it’s good, the square/​pistachio ones are solution-to-the-world’s-problems good.

Lovely little bakery located in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot right off Western Boulevard, so keep your eyes open — you won’t want to pass this by!
I stopped in to Almadina expecting a limited selection of the typical Middle Eastern pastries one tends to find. Was I surprised! The case containing the tempting delicacies stretched almost the length of the room, with more available on racks behind them. They carry everything from breads and savory treats like spinach pies to a veritable feast of sweets including decorated cakes, pie by the slice, cream-​filled pastries, cookies and, of course, baklava and other filo-​based goods. The lady at the counter helped me decide, telling me all about the various options (some are sold by weight, others by the piece) and even gave me a small filo roll rich with nuts and honey to try while I made up my mind. I wanted to get it all, but ended up with a spinach pie, which she heated for me in an oven, and a creamy-​custard-​filled pastry topped with pistachios, the name of which sadly escapes me. The perfect blend of crisp layers, not-​too-​sweet creamy insides and nutty goodness, let’s just call it SO GOOD. I could smell the spinach pie all the way home, so consider my photo of it it a demonstration of my willpower! I also bought a pastry for my husband; he knows it was only my love that kept me from scarfing it down with my afternoon coffee.
In addition to more goodness than you can focus your eyes on at once, Almadina Bakery also has a small cooler with imported drinks, like a tasty tangerine soda, and a seating area with tables and chairs should you decide to eat in. There’s also a grocery store next door that offers a selection of various dry goods and halal meats, which I plan to check out thoroughly quite soon. If you’re looking to kit out a Middle Eastern-​style feast from savory to sweet, this little corner looks like the place to shop!

Delicious treats await you, as well as very kind and gracious service. This place is right around the corner from my office, and it is my «go to» treat when my work day takes a wrong turn. The folks who work here are so sweet and kind, and if you show up at the right time, you’ll have a chance to see them at work making pastries right behind the counter. The baklava is to die for — delectable, not too sweet, and available in pistachio, walnut, and sometimes almond. The prices are great, and if I recall correctly, the coffee is complimentary. We got a 3 lb tray of baklava for our wedding, and got rave reviews from our family and friends. This place is a hidden gem in the triangle, and I highly recommend it!

There was so much to choose from here, I felt like the kid drooling in the candy store with no inkling of where to begin. So I did what any self-​respecting kid would do – dove in and started. And finished. Multiple times. Many trips. Every trip trying something different. Because I have no idea how to spell most of the things I tried, I won’t embarrass myself here. The downside to being phonetically challenged is not knowing what I ended up with on most of my visits. The upside is not really caring since everything is tasty and not too sweet or too heavy. It’s just enough to get me through the afternoon, but not enough to cause the mid-​afternoon doldrums.
First were the slices of cake, layered with cream, fruit, and flavorings; next were the dough balls, like big donut holes; then the little baklava-​like pastries that were small rolls a little over an inch long with just enough for a bite or two warm from the oven; then the small tarts with the pistachio filling; then the big pastries with spinach and olive oil; and then the cookies.
Almadina Bakery is much larger than it appears from its unassuming exterior and has several tables available so you can sit and enjoy your treat with a cup of coffee. I can’t really speak for how it compares with the other nearby bakeries like it, but I’ll find out as soon as I finish working my way through the options here. Maybe somewhere along the way I’ll learn how to spell them.