Claudia's Pastes: Authentic Mexican Comfort Food and Pastries in Santa Clara, CA

Claudia's Pastes Introduce

Claudia's Pastes introduces the vibrant, delicious, and unique culinary tradition of Hidalgo, Mexico, to the heart of Santa Clara, California. This is not your typical taqueria or Mexican restaurant; it is a specialist eatery dedicated to the art of the "Paste" (pronounced pah-steh). A Paste is a small, savory or sweet pastry, historically linked to the Cornish pasty brought by miners to the state of Hidalgo in the 19th century, which the Mexican people ingeniously adopted and infused with regional flavors.

The result is a distinct, handheld comfort food that combines a flaky, buttery crust with rich, flavorful, and often traditional Mexican fillings. Unlike an empanada, the filling in a Paste is traditionally placed raw inside the pastry dough before baking, resulting in a unique texture and flavor profile when cooked. This method and the specific fillings are what give Claudia’s Pastes its authentic Hidalguense character, a cherished regional delicacy that the local Santa Clara community is fortunate to experience.

The menu at Claudia's Pastes is a celebration of this specialized pastry. From the foundational Original Paste (Potato & Beef) that pays homage to the dish's mining origins, to fillings infused with deeply traditional Mexican sauces like the Green Mole Chicken Paste and Red Mole Chicken Paste, there is a Paste to satisfy every palate. They also provide delightful sweet options, ensuring a perfect finish to a meal or a unique dessert experience. The atmosphere is consistently described as Casual, focusing the experience on the quality of the unique food and providing a relaxed setting for a taste of authentic Mexican culinary history in the Bay Area.

For residents and visitors in California looking for an authentically unique and satisfying Comfort food experience, Claudia’s Pastes is a true standout. It represents a delightful fusion of cultures—a unique European pastry tradition reborn with the rich, bold flavors of central Mexico, delivered with a passion for quality food.

Location and Accessibility

Located conveniently on El Camino Real, Claudia's Pastes is easily reachable for those in Santa Clara and the surrounding Silicon Valley cities. Its accessible positioning makes it an ideal stop for a unique, quick, and satisfying meal.

Address: 2140 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA

The restaurant is committed to accessibility for all guests, offering necessary facilities to ensure a comfortable visit:

Features a Wheelchair accessible entrance.
Provides a Wheelchair accessible parking lot.
Parking is convenient, with both a Free parking lot and Free street parking options available to patrons.

Services Offered

Claudia's Pastes maintains a focused approach to service, centering on providing a comfortable and casual setting for enjoying their signature products.

Primary Service: The core offering is traditional Dine-in service in a Casual atmosphere.
Culinary Focus: Specialization in unique Mexican Comfort food, specifically the Hidalguense "Paste."
Atmosphere: Offers a laid-back and Casual dining environment, suitable for a relaxed meal or snack.
Parking: Provides both a dedicated Free parking lot and accessible Free street parking.

While the service model is streamlined to emphasize the unique product, the experience delivers a specialized culinary journey that is highly valued by local patrons seeking authentic, regional Mexican specialties beyond standard California-Mexican fare.

Features / Highlights

The main appeal of Claudia's Pastes lies in its unique product and the authenticity of its culinary offering, making it a distinctive highlight in the Santa Clara dining scene:

Hidalguense Specialization: The only restaurant focusing on the 'Paste'—a unique savory or sweet pastry from Hidalgo, Mexico, which provides a rich taste of a lesser-known regional Mexican specialty.
The Original Paste: Features the Original Paste - Potato & Beef ($6.80), the foundational version that reflects the dish’s traditional roots, a hearty and satisfying comfort food.
Authentic Mexican Sauces: Highlights pastes filled with traditional Mexican sauces, such as the Green Mole Chicken Paste ($6.80) and the Red Mole Chicken Paste ($6.80), showcasing deep, complex flavors.
Savory and Sweet Variety: Offers a wide spectrum of fillings, including savory options like the Chipotle Sausage & Cheese Peste ($6.80) and unique sweet treats like the Pineapple Paste ($6.50) and Rice Pudding Paste ($5.00), perfect for dessert or a morning snack.
Unique Culinary History: Patrons are enjoying a dish with a fascinating history, born from the fusion of English Cornish pasties and Mexican ingredients and cooking techniques.
Casual Comfort: The atmosphere is intentionally Casual, providing a relaxed, unpretentious environment to enjoy high-quality comfort food.

Contact Information

For inquiries about the menu, operating hours, or location details, please use the contact information provided below. The restaurant is ready to welcome you for a taste of authentic Pastes.

Address: 2140 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
Phone: (408) 549-4272

What is Worth Choosing

For first-time visitors to Claudia's Pastes, the best approach is to sample a mix of their traditional savory options and one of their distinctive sweet creations to fully appreciate the range of this unique Mexican comfort food. The specialized nature of the menu means every item, particularly the Pastes themselves, is a worthwhile choice.

To begin, we highly recommend the Original Paste - Potato & Beef ($6.80). This is the classic version that defines the dish, offering a perfectly balanced, hearty filling in the signature flaky crust. It is the best starting point to understand the simple, honest goodness of the Paste tradition. Following this, exploring a Paste with a signature Mexican flavor is essential. The Green Mole Chicken Paste ($6.80) is an excellent choice, as Mole sauces are cornerstones of Mexican cuisine, and the green mole offers a zesty, fresh counterpart to the rich pastry dough.

For those who prefer a little spice, the Chipotle Sausage & Cheese Peste ($6.80) brings a welcome smoky heat, combining savory sausage with cheese and a hint of chipotle, making it a robust and flavorful option. The Mr Bean Paste ($6.80) also offers a comforting, familiar, and filling option, perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.

Don't overlook the sweet Pastes, which are perfect for a unique dessert or a lighter treat. The Rice Pudding Paste ($5.00) stands out as an imaginative and delicious pairing—the creamy, spiced rice pudding wrapped in the buttery pastry shell is a delightful combination. Alternatively, the Pineapple Paste ($6.50) offers a bright, tangy counterpoint that is highly refreshing. Choosing a combination of one savory classic and one sweet pastry allows patrons to maximize their experience of this specialized, authentic Hidalguense cuisine right in Santa Clara.

Claudia's Pastes Services

Pastes
Spinach & Feta Paste $6.50
Buttery, golden-baked pastry filled with sautéed spinach and creamy feta cheese, creating a perfect balance of flavors. Masa dorada y hojaldrada con un relleno de espinacas salteadas y queso feta cremoso, logrando un equilibrio perfecto de sabores.
Pineapple Paste $6.50
A sweet and tangy pineapple filling wrapped in a flaky crust, baked until golden brown. Un relleno dulce y ligeramente ácido de piña, envuelto en una masa hojaldrada y horneado hasta obtener un dorado perfecto.
Rice Pudding Paste $5.00
A rich and creamy cinnamon-infused rice pudding, encased in a crisp, golden pastry. Un relleno cremoso de arroz con leche infusionado con canela, dentro de una crujiente masa dorada.
Original Paste - Potato & Beef $6.80
A true classic—tender beef and diced potatoes seasoned to perfection, wrapped in a traditional buttery pastry. Comes with Jalapeño sauce in vinegar. Un clásico: carne de res suave y papas en cubos, sazonadas a la perfección y envueltas en una masa tradicional y mantecosa.
Green Mole Chicken Paste $6.80
Juicy shredded chicken bathed in a rich, aromatic green mole sauce, wrapped in a flaky crust. Pollo desmenuzado y jugoso, bañado en un mole verde aromático y envuelto en una masa hojaldrada.
Red Mole Chicken Paste $6.80
A bold mix of shredded chicken and smoky red mole sauce, baked to perfection in a crispy pastry. Una mezcla intensa de pollo desmenuzado y mole rojo ahumado, horneado a la perfección en una masa crujiente.
Poblano Chicken Paste $6.80
Tender chicken with fire-roasted poblano peppers and creamy cheese, all wrapped in a golden, flaky crust. Pollo tierno con chiles poblanos asados al fuego y queso cremoso, envueltos en una masa hojaldrada dorada.
Mr Bean Paste $6.80
Slow-cooked beans mixed with savory chorizo and spices, wrapped in a buttery, golden-brown pastry. Served with sauce jalapeño in vinegar Frijoles cocidos a fuego lento con chorizo sazonado y especias, envueltos en una masa dorada y mantecosa.
Tinga Chicken Paste $6.80
Shredded chicken stewed with onions, tomatoes, and smoky chipotle, wrapped in a crisp, golden crust. Pollo desmenuzado guisado con cebolla, tomate y chipotle ahumado, envuelto en una crujiente masa dorada.
El Minero Peste $6.80
A tribute to the miners—seasoned potatoes, chicken, onion, chili, and parsley in a flaky, golden-brown pastry. Un homenaje a los mineros: papa sazonada, pollo, cebolla, chile y perejil en una masa hojaldrada y dorada.
Hawaiian Peste $6.80
A tropical twist—savory ham, sweet pineapple, and melted cheese inside a golden, crisp pastry. Un giro tropical: jamón salado, piña dulce y queso derretido dentro de una crujiente masa dorada.
Chipotle Sausage & Cheese Peste $6.80
Spicy chipotle sausage paired with melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese, wrapped in a flaky crust. Salchicha al chipotle con queso cheddar y mozzarella derretidos, todo envuelto en una masa hojaldrada.