Porto's Whole Cake Pre-Order: How Far Ahead Should You Order?

Last checked: October 16, 2026

The answer to “how far ahead?” depends on which kind of Porto's cake you want.

A regular Tres Leches is a same-day order. A custom tiered cake needs weeks. A cake shipped across the country sits somewhere in between.

Here's how each option works, how much notice it needs, and the details that trip people up.

Image created with AI

Quick answer

Which whole cakes can you order?

Porto's currently lists 14 whole cakes:

• Tres Leches (box)
• Tres Leches (round)
• Dulce de Leche Cake Roll
• Milk'N Berries
• Carrot Cake
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Chocolate Raspberry
• Parisian Chocolate
• Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake
• NY Cheesecake
• Mango Mousse
• Red Velvet
• Tiramisu
• Fresh Fruit Tart

Most rounds serve 10 to 12 people.

In the bakery, a Tres Leches cake costs $27.50 and a Parisian Chocolate cake costs $33.75. See our full cake menu with prices.

Regular cakes: same-day pickup

This is where most people get confused.

Porto's online pickup system is built for same-day orders. You can't book a Tres Leches for next Saturday through the regular website.

Here's how it works in practice:

• Ordering reopens every night at 10 PM. For a Saturday pickup, you place the order on Friday at 10 PM or later.
• Pickup times fill up. Each bakery has a daily limit. Once a location is full for the day, you can't order from it online.
• There's a daily cut-off. Porto's locations page lists a 6:00 PM cut-off for online orders, while its FAQ says 7:00 PM. Treat 6:00 PM as the safe deadline.
• Pickup runs from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM at the Preorder Counter.

Image created with AI

When you pick up, Porto's asks for the payment card used for the order and a photo ID.

Orders can't be moved to a different bakery. A refund for a canceled order has to go through the bakery you ordered from. Porto's also doesn't accept cards issued outside the US.

If you miss the online window, you can walk in. Whole cakes in the bakery case are first-come, first-served.

Holiday cakes

During Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, Porto's switches to a limited holiday menu on the busiest two days.

In 2025, cakes were sold in one size only on those days, and online orders stayed same-day pickup.

Pickup slots disappear fast during these weeks. Our Thanksgiving pre-order guide and holiday hours page have the dates.

Custom and wedding cakes: 6 to 8 weeks

Image created with AI

• Only one bakery makes them. All custom and wedding cakes come from Porto's Glendale location, at the Cake Gallery on the second floor.
• You start by email. Write to glendaleorders@portosbakery.com. Porto's asks you to allow three business days for a reply.
• The minimum notice is 6 to 8 weeks. Porto's is taking a limited number of orders right now, so earlier is better.
• Pricing is by the slice. More detail in the design means a higher price.
• Tastings are on Saturdays, by appointment. Porto's offers samples of its four most popular combinations, all with buttercream icing (listed below).
• Photos are a starting point, not a blueprint. Porto's notes its team may not be able to copy a picture exactly.

The four tasting combinations:

• White cake with Bavarian cream
• Cuban cake with pineapple and custard
• Chocolate with whipped chocolate filling
• Red velvet with cream cheese filling

Delivery is strongly recommended for one-tier custom cakes and required for two- and three-tier cakes.

It starts at $35 and covers up to about 35 miles from the Glendale bakery.

One budget tip comes straight from Porto's: for a large crowd, display a smaller decorated two-tier cake and add plain, undecorated cakes that get sliced in the kitchen.

Bake at Home cakes: shipped frozen

If you're outside Southern California, Porto's Bake at Home store ships cakes frozen in insulated coolers with dry ice.

• You choose the delivery date at checkout. Available dates depend on your ZIP code, and popular dates sell out.
• Thaw time is about 24 hours in the refrigerator. Once thawed, eat it within two days. The Milk'N Berries cake is an exception and can be kept frozen for up to three days for best quality.
• Order limits apply. Each cake counts as two dozen items. The maximum per order is six dozen items, which means two cakes at most.
• Large orders need a week. Porto's asks for at least one week's notice for large orders and two weeks for bigger gift or corporate orders during the holidays.

The safest plan: have the cake arrive two to three days before your event, keep it frozen, and move it to the fridge the day before.

Cakes with catering delivery

Porto's catering service delivers Monday through Saturday in select ZIP codes, and whole cakes are on its menu.

Its listing on ezCater shows Parisian Chocolate, Mango Mousse and Strawberry Cheesecake at $33.75 each, and Milk & Berries at $40.75, each serving 10.

Order changes need to be made at least 24 business hours before your event time.

Pick it up as close to party time as you can

Porto's recommends keeping a cake tightly sealed in the refrigerator and eating it within 24 hours.

A cake picked up the morning of the party tastes better than one that sat in the fridge for two days.

A sample timeline for a Saturday birthday

1. Six weeks out: if it's a custom cake, email Glendale now.
2. One week out: if it's shipping, place the Bake at Home order.
3. Friday, 10 PM: order a regular cake online for Saturday pickup.
4. Saturday morning: pick it up, card and ID in hand, and refrigerate until serving.