Natas Pastries in Sherman Oaks, California: Review

The first time I went to Natas Pastries was over a year ago when I was trying to find a cake for my mother's birthday. I was tired of getting the same old generic cake from supermarkets, so I set out on a quest to find a pastry shop to provide me with something more innovative.

Who knew that right next to the baseball card shop I used to go to as a kid was a pastry shop? I did not know if the pastries possessed good quality, but I assumed if my mom did not like it I could say it is unique, for, it is Portuguese. So I purchased a few slices of a variety of cake, and a handful of natas, and rushed over to dinner.

This was the night I became a nata fan. The creamy, custard-like egg tart melted in my mouth on top of its crispy pastry crust. Not unlike everything else we had from Natas Pastries that night, it wasn't too sweet, but still satisfied that sweet tooth, making for a masterful blend of a tasty treats without the sore stomach and abrasive after-taste.

Throughout this year, I have gone many times to visit this gem; and just to compare the authenticity of the store, I went to Lisbon, Portugal and tried the original nata at Pastéis de Belém. Those were unbelievably delicious, and I thought that they were much better than Natas Pastries.

But that was only until a few days ago. I had their natas fresh out of the oven, and, because I was taking it to go, the lady instructed me to leave the box open for five to ten minutes to let the pastries breathe.

The result was a heavenly treat characterized by warm deliciousness and the most beautiful sound of crisp I've ever heard. It was then that I realized that these natas were just as good as the originals. Though I think Pastéis de Belém still has a slight edge on the egg taste, Natas Pastries wins with its stellar pastry crust.

Though I have yet to try their breakfast menu, I can assure you that any pastry you get here will be 100% delicious.