Overview

When you take a stroll down the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk, you’ll smell hints of popcorn, burgers and other delectable treats for sale but perhaps what stands out most is the warming cinnamon from the churros. Stop by and see the Churro Man, who’s set up next to Oatman’s Rock Shop by the North beach stairs.

Churros are a fried-dough pastry often dipped in sugar. Some churros are made to be dipped in chocolate or dulche de leche. They originate from Spain and Portugal, where they are often eaten for breakfast. Churro Man on the Santa Monica Pier sells foot-long, baked churros with a mixture of cinnamon sugar on top that you can hold and walk while you eat. Although similar to doughnuts, churros are made from choux pastry which contains only butter, water, flour, and eggs. Instead of yeast as a raising agent, it employs high moisture content to create steam during cooking to puff the pastry. Churros are formed when the choux pastry batter is piped into hot oil. It’s the perfect sweet treat!

Churros are best enjoyed very hot, so visit the Churro Man for the freshest churros on the boardwalk – skip the cold, hard fried churros being peddled from plastic coolers on the Pier ramp or nearby park.

Photo courtesy of @gabriele_d_dapit.