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A new north Fort Worth coffee shop blends California and Mexico

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The giant coffees and conchas of viral video fame have come from California to Texas.

But Con Azucar Cafe is more than just a TikTok gimmick.

The colorful, fun coffee cafe and bakery, new at 1216 N. Main St., combines the appeal of a Spanish-language latte shop with a short but excellent menu of sandwiches.

Con Azucar is obviously a stop for cafe de olla, Mexico-style hot chocolate, a Gansito-style frappe or a Duvalin-style latte.

Con Azucar Cafe is a brightly decorated Cal-Mex coffee shop and bakery on the north side of Fort Worth, Texas, seen Jan. 17, 2026.
Con Azucar Cafe is a brightly decorated Cal-Mex coffee shop and bakery on the north side of Fort Worth, Texas, seen Jan. 17, 2026. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com

But behind the espressos, conchas and pastries, Con Azucar also serves a surprisingly good ham sandwich or club sandwich.

The ham torta is a go-to: ham, queso fresco, pepper jack cheese, tomato, red onion, pickled jalapeños, avocado and lettuce, all on a fresh telera sandwich roll.

It’s impressive, and so is the club sandwich — layers of ham, bacon, turkey, red onion, lettuce, tomato and mayo with American and Swiss cheese on toast.

The 14-inch conchas get their own display case at Con Azucar Cafe, a Cal-Mex coffee shop and bakery that opened in Fort Worth, Texas, as seen Jan. 17, 2026.
The 14-inch conchas get their own display case at Con Azucar Cafe, a Cal-Mex coffee shop and bakery that opened in Fort Worth, Texas, as seen Jan. 17, 2026. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com

The ham, bacon and turkey could have filled three sandwiches. The toasted bread is small but sturdy enough to hold this giant handful of a sandwich.

Both are less than $15. With a cookie and a coffee, you can eat for about $20.

The menu also includes avocado toast on brioche, a BLT and a reliable three-cheese grilled cheese with American, Swiss and pepper jack.

A 16-ounce Duvalin-inspired latte and a torta de jamo at Con Azucar Cafe in Modesto, California.
A 16-ounce Duvalin-inspired latte and a torta de jamo at Con Azucar Cafe in Modesto, California. Angela Rodriguez arodriguez@modbee.com

Leave room for the pan dulce. The conchas and doughnuts arrive fresh from the oven every few minutes.

Or go ahead and order the 14-inch giant concha sweetbread.

It’s meant for 8-10 people, maybe served with the equally giant bowl-sized “cafe gigante.”

On two visits, Cafe Azucar has been full of families young people taking photos of the colorful interior decorated with flowers and also of the Instagram-ready neons such as “sienta el pedorro.” (It loosely means, “sit your butt,” although there’s a more literal translation.)

The location between downtown and the Fort Worth Stockyards could not be better. On the other hand, the parking — well, there appears to be more in back.

It’s open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; 214-985-7116, conazucarcafe.com.

The menu at a Con Azucar Cafe features a mix of coffee, sandwiches, sweets and more.
The menu at a Con Azucar Cafe features a mix of coffee, sandwiches, sweets and more. Angela Rodriguez arodriguez@modbee.com

Bud Kennedy’s Eats Beat

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat.
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Bud Kennedy

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