Tucked next to K&S World Market on Nolensville Pike, La Conchita Panaderia y Pasteleria is a Mexican pastry wonderland. To your right, a long row of baked goodies sits behind glass; overhead, piñatas dangle from the ceiling; to your left, a large display case is filled with beautifully decorated cakes and pies. On all my visits, the shop has been bustling, filled mostly with Spanish-speaking patrons piling pastries high on trays. On any given day, there are more than 30 baked goods to choose from, including churros, conchas, cacahuates, empanadas, savory biscuits, custard-filled sweets, cookies. The list goes on. It’s a self-serve system: As you enter, pick up a tray — the kind you’d find at a cafeteria — and tongs, and get to work. It’s easy to overload your tray quickly as you make your way down the display case. The portions are gigantic, almost nothing is labeled, and I’ve yet to encounter anything that costs more than a dollar. Most recently, I purchased 11 items for $7.47 — enough for quite a feast, and cheaper and more savory than Dunkin Donuts.
