A bakery and restaurant chain from Guatemala is expanding its presence in Dallas: San Martín Bakery, which made its U.S. debut in Dallas in 2018, will open a second DFW location, this one at Prestonwood near Addison at 5407 Belt Line Rd., taking over what was previously a location of Coal Vines Pizza, next door to EVO Cinemas.

According to spokesman Santiago Castillo, they're still working through permits, but anticipate they'll open in the fall.

"When we considered where to expand, Addison was always on our list, and that's also the feedback we've received from customers," he says.

Their location will also benefit from its proximity to Work/Shop, a new mixed-use development going up on the other side of the movie theater.

San Martin is a highly sophisticated concept offering European-styled baked goods including sourdough breads, croissants, and other puff pastries, along with a cozy cafe open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It was founded in 1974, and operates nearly 40 locations across Guatemala and El Salvador. Although they are a chain, they pride themselves on keeping each location unique.

Dallas landed on their radar after Castillo attended Southern Methodist University. Uptown opened in 2018 and was their first location outside of Central America.

Every location features a combination bakery to the left and cafe to the right, with the bakery following a self-serve format where you grab a basket and load it with your bread and pastry selections, such as amazing apple croissants, all made to European standards.

Their cafe menu includes burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas. There is soup served in a round boule loaf; salads; queso; sandwiches on ciabatta bread, and sub sandwiches on long baguettes. There are rustic pizzas, baked in a stone oven.

There is breakfast, with a menu that includes quesadillas, pupusas topped with sunny-side eggs, chilaquiles, eggs with fried plantains, benedicts, omelets, pancakes topped with Nutella, oatmeal, and French toast. There's also beer, wine, and sangria, and smoothies made with yogurt.

Their combination of good food, extended customer-friendly hours, and easygoing atmosphere have earned them many accolades including making the list for Best Desserts, Best Places To Take Holiday Visitors, and a nomination for CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards for Restaurant of the Year in 2020.

Given the dominant role that Guatemala plays as a major coffee grower, they are rightfully proud of their coffee, and Santiago says that the Prestonwood location will have an even bigger commitment.

"Guatemala has the best coffee in the world, and we work directly with farmers and roast our own beans," Castillo says. "People can now enjoy the best coffees of Guatemala in our stores, and that used to be unheard of."