Sugar crackles when you bite a concha that left the oven only minutes ago, and that sound is worth setting an alarm for. Across Arizona, family panaderias fire up their ovens before sunrise so neighbors can grab sweet bread still warm enough to fog the bag.
Most treats cost just a dollar or two, which makes this one of the best cheap breakfasts in the state. Here are 8 bakeries where the morning trays are worth the drive.
1. Panaderia los jarochos
Veracruz flavor lands on 32nd Street in Phoenix, and it shows up in every tray. Panaderia los jarochos bakes in the style of Mexico’s Gulf Coast, which means you will find treats here that many Valley bakeries skip, including flaky volovanes.
Conchas are still the star, though. They come out soft and tender, with a sugary shell that tastes like the ones a grandmother might pull from her own oven…