Tucked away in a gritty industrial neighborhood off Hollister Avenue across from the Santa Barbara Airport is one of the area’s sweetest hidden gems — Cristino’s Bakery.
The takeaway-only spot may be small in square footage, but it’s overflowing with warmth, flavor, and the kind of soul you can only find in a place built with love.
I had the pleasure of meeting owner Lorena Casas, and it’s easy to see why this little bakery has such a loyal following.
Casas is one of the kindest, most passionate people I’ve met — humble, hardworking and completely dedicated to what she does.
She speaks about Cristino’s with such honesty and heart that you instantly feel like you’re a part of her journey.
Cristino’s has been serving the Goleta community since 2017, but in 2023, Casas became the sole owner.
She wears just about every hat imaginable — she bakes, cooks, decorates cakes, manages the team, even mops the floors.
But she does it all with pride, because to her, this business isn’t just about selling food — it’s about building something meaningful for her daughter, Allyson, and for the community that embraced her.
Among the local favorites at Cristino’s Bakery in Goleta are the breakfast burrito loaded with eggs, cheese, potatoes and your choice of meats; the Mexican cheesecake; and gluten-free tamales. Credit: Cristino’s Bakery photos 
Cristino’s Bakery owner Lorena Casas with her team at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park. Credit: Cristino’s Bakery photo 
Cristino’s Bakery features breakfast, lunch and pastries weekdays and is open until 2 p.m. on the weekends. The restaurant also does catering. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo 
Cristino’s Bakery owner Lorena Casas, right, with her crew at their Goleta storefront. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo 
Don’t turn down the doughnuts. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo 
Cristino’s Bakery owner Lorena Casas with the author and her husband, John Harmon. Credit: Ronnie Slavin photo 
To help get your bearings, Cristino’s Bakery is located in a small, unmarked industrial complex at 170 Aero Camino, just beyond Casey’s Garage & Discount Smog Center on the corner of Aero Camino and Hollister Avenue. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
As a new mother when the bakery first opened, Casas dreamed of creating something lasting, a space rooted in family values, care and connection.
That dream has since evolved into a Goleta staple, where people stop by not just for fresh conchas or tamales, but for a familiar face and a friendly hello.
The bakery — not the easiest to find in an unmarked complex at 170 Aero Camino behind Casey’s Garage & Discount Smog Center — is entirely takeaway only, which makes the warmth you feel when you walk in all the more impressive.
There’s no dining room, no fancy setup — but there is a steady rhythm of early morning baking, the smell of sweet pastries in the air, and a sense of calm, unpretentious joy that settles in as soon as you step through the door.
And then there’s the team. Cristino’s employs 19 people, and Casas makes a point of recognizing their individual contributions.
Juanita, the lead cashier, is one of those people who remembers your name, your order, and always manages to make you smile.
Claudia holds down the evening shift with grace, Marissa brings a bright, youthful energy to the bakery each day, and Erika’s gentle presence is a calming force.
In the kitchen, Mario leads with quiet strength while Angelito and Luis bring consistency and heart to every batch of bread and pastries they produce.
“Cristino’s has become a place where community is quietly built — one tamal, one concha, one kind word at a time.”
The food itself reflects the same level of care.
Customers rave about the Mexican cheesecake, which Casas created as an homage to the cheese tarts she loved as a child visiting Oaxaca.
The breakfast burrito is a local favorite — loaded with eggs, cheese, potatoes and your choice of meats.
The tamales (gluten-free!) are made fresh every morning and sell out fast, especially during Christmas or Fiesta season.
The savory side of the menu also delivers — tacos de birria with consomé, tri-tip sandwiches, and a flavorful chicken chipotle sandwich that has a growing fanbase of its own.
Everything is made from scratch, including the breads used for sandwiches. It’s this attention to detail and commitment to quality that keeps people coming back.
And there’s a deeper layer, too. Cristino’s has become a place where community is quietly built — one tamal, one concha, one kind word at a time.
Casas’ daughter, Ally, has grown up in the bakery. Her colorful drawings hang proudly on the walls, and many regulars still remember the first ones she ever put up.
There’s something touching about that — a family business literally shaped by a mother’s dream and a child’s imagination.
When you support Cristino’s, you’re not just picking up a pastry. You’re supporting a business that pours love into every step of the process.
You’re part of a story that’s still being written — one that celebrates tradition, resilience, culture and care.
So the next time you’re craving something homemade and heartfelt, skip the chains and stop by Cristino’s.
Grab a cheesecake and a breakfast burrito, maybe a concha for the road — and don’t be surprised if it becomes one of your regular stops.
Because once you’ve been, it’s hard not to feel like part of the family.
When You Go
Cristino’s Bakery is located at 170 Aero Camino, the first driveway beyond Casey’s Garage & Discount Smog Center, which occupies the northeast corner of Aero Camino and Hollister Avenue across from the Santa Barbara Airport.
It’s open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
