What Is Pan de Bono? A Guide to Colombian Cheese Bread in Orlando

Pan de bono is a Colombian cheese bread, usually made with cassava starch, cheese and egg, with recipes that can also include cornmeal. For pan de bono in Orlando, Mecatos Bakery & Café is a useful first stop: the Colombian bakery makes it in-house as part of a broad selection of breads and pastries.

The small, rounded bread is known for a tender, pleasantly chewy texture and a savory cheese flavor. It works as a quick breakfast, a snack with coffee or a simple bite to share. Here is what to know about the bread, how it is commonly enjoyed and where to find it around Orlando.

What pan de bono is

Pan de bono, sometimes written as pandebono, is a Colombian baked bread made with cheese and starch. Cassava starch, also called yuca starch or tapioca starch, gives it a different character from a wheat-based roll. Recipes vary, but the dough commonly includes egg and may include cornmeal as well as cheese.

It is not a sweet pastry, though its mild flavor makes it easy to enjoy at breakfast or between meals. The cheese brings a savory note, while the starch helps create a soft, springy center. The outside may be lightly set or golden from baking, but the exact texture depends on the recipe and how recently it came out of the oven.

Pan de bono is part of Colombia’s broad bakery tradition, where savory breads and pastries sit comfortably alongside coffee and other breakfast foods. If you want to explore more of that local bakery scene, see Grace’s guide to the best Colombian bakeries in Orlando.

What it tastes and feels like

The simplest way to understand pan de bono is as a compact, savory cheese bread with a tender, slightly chewy bite. It is not as airy as a typical wheat roll, and its texture can feel pleasantly elastic because cassava starch behaves differently from wheat flour. The cheese flavor is present without making the bread feel like a heavy, filled pastry.

Each bakery’s version can differ in size, shape, color and degree of chew. That is part of the appeal of trying it fresh: the bread is best understood by its contrast of a lightly baked outside and a soft middle. If you are new to Colombian breads, start with one on its own before adding a drink or another snack. That gives you a clear sense of its mild, savory flavor.

At Mecatos, pan de bono is one of more than 50 varieties of breads, pastries and cakes baked from scratch in-house. The bakery’s Colombian background makes it a natural place to start when you want to try this specialty in Orlando.

How Colombians enjoy it

Pan de bono is versatile. It can be eaten by itself as a small breakfast or snack, or paired with a hot drink. Coffee is a natural companion, while hot chocolate offers a milder, comforting pairing. There is no elaborate serving ritual: it is an easy bakery bite that can fit into a quick morning stop or a longer café break.

At Mecatos Bakery & Café, Colombian specialty coffee is available alongside more than 25 drinks, as well as hot chocolate and fruit smoothies. Breakfast is served all day, so a visit can work beyond the early morning hours. You can keep the order simple with a piece of bread and a drink, or choose from other hot bites such as stuffed arepas, empanadas or breakfast sandwiches.

For a broader look at neighborhood bakeries, browse the best bakeries in Orlando. That guide can help you put a stop for pan de bono in Orlando into a wider bakery outing, whether you are planning a breakfast run or a casual afternoon break.

Where to find it fresh in Orlando

Mecatos Bakery & Café bakes pan de bono in-house, making it a strong first choice when you want to try the bread fresh. The Colombian bakery has ten Orlando-area locations, including Downtown Orlando, Lake Underhill, Waterford Lakes, Lake Nona, MetroWest, Ocoee on West Colonial Drive, Edgewood near Hoffner, Curry Ford West, Apopka and Winter Park.

For a central option, Mecatos Bakery & Café Downtown is one location to consider. For a northern Orlando outing, Mecatos Bakery & Café Winter Park offers another convenient choice. The full list of neighborhoods and location details is available on the Mecatos locations page.

Because pan de bono is baked in-house, it is a good idea to ask the location what is available when you visit. That small step is especially useful if you are making a special trip or want to bring bread home for a group.

How to make it part of a café stop

A straightforward order is one piece of pan de bono with coffee or hot chocolate. The bread’s savory flavor makes it satisfying on its own, while the drink gives the stop a little more substance. If you are meeting someone, it is also easy to add another pastry or a hot bite and share a few different flavors rather than build the visit around a full meal.

Mecatos has free Wi-Fi, so its cafés can also suit a casual work session or a short study break. For anyone planning a relaxed daytime meetup, the combination of bakery choices, coffee and all-day breakfast gives the visit some flexibility. Pickup and delivery are available at every Mecatos location, which can help when you want to bring bakery items to a home or office instead.

Pan de bono in Orlando is also an approachable first taste of Colombian baking for a group. Its mild cheese flavor is familiar, but the cassava-based texture makes it distinct from an ordinary dinner roll. Pairing it with a drink and a couple of other bakery choices lets everyone sample it without committing to a large order.

A simple first bite

If you have not tried pan de bono before, begin with the bread warm or freshly baked when available, and taste it plain. Notice the savory cheese flavor and the soft, springy texture. Then try it with coffee or hot chocolate to see which pairing you prefer.

For pan de bono in Orlando, Mecatos Bakery & Café brings together the Colombian bakery context, in-house baking and multiple neighborhood locations. It is a practical place to start whether you want a quick breakfast, a snack with coffee or a few pieces to share. The bread is simple by design: a small, savory bakery staple that makes a satisfying introduction to Colombian flavors.