San & Wolves Bakeshop

San & Wolves Bakeshop represents a groundbreaking concept as California's first 100% vegan Filipino bakery, founded by Kym Estrada and Arvin Torres. After years of wildly successful pop-ups that regularly drew lines around the block, the duo opened their brick-and-mortar location on Long Beach's 4th Street in Belmont Heights in early 2025. The bakery specializes in traditional Filipino sweet breads and pastries made entirely plant-based, nut-free, and soy-free, using house-made coconut oil-based butter, organic sweeteners, and fair-trade ingredients. Their signature house-made ube halaya (purple yam jam) features prominently throughout the menu in items like Ube Cheez Pandesal with grated vegan cheddar, Ube Pop-Tarts, and Ube Crumb Cups. Beyond ube specialties, the menu includes vegan versions of Filipino classics like pandesal, pan de coco, ensaymadas, and innovative creations like Buko Pop Tarts and Pandan Cinnamon Rolls. The bakery produces everything fresh throughout the day, with items baked hourly to ensure quality. They even serve Teofilo Coffee, sourced from the Philippines, completing the authentic Filipino experience. The sunny, naturally-lit space creates a welcoming atmosphere with retro doughnut-shop charm. Remarkably, San & Wolves appeals to diverse audiences - nostalgic Filipino vegans who haven't tasted these flavors since childhood, health-conscious customers, and curious food lovers discovering Filipino pastries for the first time. The bakery regularly sells out before closing, testament to the exceptional quality that has even non-vegans unable to tell the difference. Estrada's mission extends beyond just serving food - she aims to introduce Filipino flavors broadly while creating a portal to childhood memories for Filipino customers, all while maintaining the highest ethical and sustainability standards in ingredients.