Bakery Inka Havana

 

A photo of this sign on Nextdoor drew a lot of attention. When I saw it, commenters had recognized the word Havana and possibly the Cuban flag but there was little mention of the meaning of the word Inka or the second flag pictured - the Peruvian flag.  When it finally opened, many months later, the website identified a couple from Miami who had moved to Houston, the husband Cuban and the wife Peruvian.  

The menu offers many sandwiches, but there are also pastries, empanadas, sweets, even pizzas, plus daily specials.  The Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa - rotisserie chicken - is a special every Saturday, I think.  

I tried the Media Noche on my first visit.

Sandwiches are very large - this was close to a pound.  This is the interior of the second half of the sandwich showing the generous fillings

I noted a sign touting the Tamal Peruano and had to try one.  I've done quite a lot of investigating of  tamales available from many cuisines in Houston but wasn't even aware Peru had them, so I had to try this.  Per Wiki, while Peru is famous for it's potatoes and ceviche, there are 50 varieties of corn also grown there, including yellow, white and purple varieties and tamales can be made from several of them.  I tried the pork tamal and it was excellent.

From the cabinet at the far right of the counter I tried an empanada (ground beef) and yuca reina.  I had first encountered potato rellenos at a Colombian restaurant many years ago but this is the first time I had encountered the use of yuca.  Excellent also.

I liked the Pan con Bistec - steak sandwich - better than the Media Noche.  For years I have been eating beef sandwiches only involving thinly sliced roast beef from a deli and this was a pleasant change.  The steak involved is probably skirt and I was thrilled to have to do some serious masticating for a change!

I have not tried the Hamburguesa Inka Havana, which looks interesting, nor any of the breakfast or pastry offerings. 

The loaves are very large - this was almost 16 oz - made with lard and with a much lighter texture than any Cuban bread I've had or made before

The shop is located on West Bellfort just west of Chimney Rock (5361) right where the historic Westbury Square was located back in the 60s 70s and 80s.  There hasn't been a whole lot of commercial, much less restaurant, development in this neighborhood for years I think.

I have found the owners and all customers I have encountered to be very friendly.  I don't know if there is a Peruvian community in the area but Peru Gourmet is over on S. Post Oak, less than a mile away, and in the past there has been at least one Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa place further south  near Gassmer.