Masa's History

A brief history (as best we know it) of Masa's historic locale:

Built in 1922

1920's Automobile Shop / Dealership (selling the Roadster!)
1930's - 50's Carty Bros. Bon Ton Market & Van De Kamps Bakery
1960's - 70's Sarnos Family / Carmelli's Italian Bakery, Market and Coffee Shop
1970's - 90's El Carmelo / Carmelo's Cuban Restaurant & Bakery

2004 - Present Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Cafe

Masa of Echo Park is a "Mom & Pop" restaurant owned by Rob Rowe & Rhonda Reynolds and Tom Keeney & Julie Jackson. Welcome to our house - we're glad you stopped by! We are always at home so you know where to find us...

Masa means dough and is widely known as a "cornmeal" dough. The historic presence of the still operational revolving oven (used by Van de Kamps Bakery in the 1930's and then Carmelo's for years thereafter) is what makes the authentic Chicago Deep Dish Pizza with a cornmeal crust possible...and where our name comes from.

Our menu is as diverse as Echo Park itself offering a unique blend of "comfort style bistro food" using old family recipes and combining Italian, French, Spanish, Cuban and Chicago - Midwest - American cuisine. Vegetarian? No problem. All of our breads are baked fresh daily (yes, in that 80+ year old oven) for panini, burgers and to accompany soups, salads, pastas and of course the steamed mussels in a garlic rosemary butter cream sauce.

What would be comfort food without dessert? We love dessert! The Warm Croissant Bread Pudding made from butter, chocolate and almond croissants in a vanilla cream custard drizzled with caramel sauce is a hands down favorite.

The all-inclusive, down to earth vibe at Masa takes a nod from Echo Park itself - re-emerging historic, classic urban, a cultural melting pot, proudly political and outspoken. It's all familiar territory for the wide array of neighborhood natives who have made Masa their spot: the family crowd, the artists, transplanted Midwesterners, musicians, the Cuban gentlemen from Carmelo's hey day, church folks, old friends, pet lovers, the singles who come in for a cup of coffee and the couples who come every weekend for date night.

We look forward to serving the Echo Park community for many years to come...please stop by and say "hello"...we'd love to meet you!

Rob & Rhonda and Tom & Julie

Gallery

View a Gallery of Masa's Images, click on a thumbnail below: