For 28 years, El Quetzal Restaurant & Bakery has been serving authentic Guatemalan cuisine in the Southwest Management District, establishing a loyal customer base that feels more like family.
It’s not unusual to see a to-go order delivered with a warm hug.
Behind the scenes, the atmosphere is just as familial.
El Quetzal opened its doors in May 1997, founded by Maria Ordonez.
Her daughter, Alyssa Chavez, who practically grew up in the business, now serves as the manager and cake designer.
Uncle Edwin Chanas is the chef and expert sausage maker.
“My uncle has a gift for making Guatemalan sausage using recipes from Guatemala. We feature it in various dishes, and we package them up on Tuesdays, selling out by the weekend,” Chavez shared.
In addition to the sausage, El Quetzal’s most popular menu items include Garnachas, which are small fried tortillas topped with chicken or beef and cabbage. The bakery’s standout item is the Coronas bread.
“El Quetzal is unmatched when it comes to Latin breads! My family has been buying from them for so long. Growing up, there was always Quetzal bread on our table,” exclaimed one Yelp reviewer.
“Amazing food and hospitality. The bakery… goodness, fresh baked goods every day. Melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness all around. If you haven’t tried this gem of authenticity, you’re missing out on genuine Guatemalan food and baked goods,” raved another reviewer.
It’s no surprise that the bakery items are popular, as El Quetzal began solely as a bakery. “Soon after, my grandmother Rosa Chanas had the idea of making tamales and atoles, which became a big hit,” Chavez recalled. “That’s how we expanded into a restaurant and bakery.”
In September 2018, the family business moved just one shopping strip over, allowing them to expand and create the environment they had always wanted while remaining close to their regular customers.
“Since moving to our new location, we have been able to decorate it in a way that makes our customers feel like they’re in Guatemala,” Chavez said.
“We have always been proud of being Guatemalan and are happy to be part of the Guatemalan community. We strive to uplift our culture and introduce our cuisine to others.”
Recently, Chef Chanas competed in the prestigious Chef of Chefs competition at the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase in The Woodlands.
Hundreds of attendees sampled El Quetzal’s flavors at the one-night-only showcase, but Southwest District residents and visitors can get the experience any day of the week. El Quetzal is open every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Located at 5930 South Gessner Rd., the business is divided into a restaurant side and a bakery side, with plenty of parking available outside.
The restaurant boasts spacious seating. Place your order at the register and take a number. Staff deliver the food directly to you. A menu featuring plenty of photographs makes ordering simple.
The bakery side resembles a convenient store and features specialty Guatemalan food items, clothing and gifts.
Highly recommended, even if you’re stuffed from your meal at the restaurant, is the tres leches in a cup, available at the bakery.
And, don’t forget to order a custom cake for your next special occasion.
Chavez will personally ensure it is as delicious as the fare at her family’s restaurant and bakery and as beautiful as the decor because, of course, only the best will do when you’re like family.
— Dorothy Puch Lillig
El Quetzal Restaurant & Bakery
5930 South Gessner Rd.
Houston, TX 77036
713.272.6140
[email protected]
Open daily 6 am to 9 pm
https://www.elquetzalbakery.com/