How to maximize your trip to Pan Pan, the viral bakery TikTok loves
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Yes, people line up hours early for Pan Pan. This was on a Tuesday before 9 a.m. Photo: Greg "Concha Finder" Castillo/Axios
A Mexican-Japanese bakery near Arlington has become a viral sensation, leading to hourslong waits for scratch-made milk bread conchas, matcha horchata lattes and more.
Stunning stat: A TikTok Molinar posted in early August has been viewed 18 million times, showing off Pan Pan's vibe and fusion menu — and noting that pan means bread in both Japanese and Spanish.
Catch up quick: Laura Molinar, 21, opened Pan Pan in Dalworthington Gardens just a year ago.
What to eat: While every baked item we tried was stellar, a few standouts rose to the top:
- A jalapeño sausage kolache that nailed savory-sweet.
- A perfectly fluffy, not-too-sweet dulce de leche concha.
- A buttery everything bagel croissant oozing with garlicky cream cheese.
- A giant matcha white chocolate cookie balancing sweet and earthy.
What to drink: You can't miss with the homemade matcha lineup. Our favorites included:
- A seasonal mango sticky rice matcha that was bright and fruity.
- An indulgent banana cream matcha that was bold and rich.
- A gorgeous "bandera" matcha with homemade strawberry purée that looks like the Mexican flag.
Pro tip: Go on a weekday and arrive at least 30 minutes before doors open at 9am. We showed up on a Tuesday at 8:40am and still ordered an hour later.
- The staff is slammed and working to hire more help — so bring patience.