Arepa Pernil
Pabellón

Pabellón

2957 Banksville Rd, 15216, Pittsburgh, United States

Coffee • Mexican • Seafood • American


"A Venezuelan restaurant in Pittsburgh? Time to try a new cuisine! So, me and several friends tried them out for dinner. Being winter, the outside sign not being lit, and it being dark, made all of us almost miss the place. However we kinda knew where it was so we all eventually made it. When you enter, it looks like a fast food place as there is a counter with a lit up neon menu above it. I asked one of the employees if they have a dining room, and if it's open and he pointed to my right where there was one. It was completely empty, so it was not a problem finding a table for the four of us. Menus are already on the tables so we perused it. One side has Venezuelan dishes, the other Mexican. We focused only on the Venezuelan side as that was why we came here. When the owner ? came by to get our drink order, we asked for help with the menu selections and ended getting the Venezuelan Mix appetizer, a couple of Pabellon Criollos, and the Patacones. The owner assured us this would give us a good sampling of what the cuisine is all about. The appetizers arrived after a while and we dove in. Everything was tasy and we enjoyed them all ... but did note that everything was fried. Then, when the main dishes arrived, the same thing happened. Tasty food ad most of it was fried. We did also ask for a sample of their hot sauce since some of us like things on the hotter side. We all thought the food was very tasty and the owner kept checking back on how we were doing. His guidance was very much appreciated. While we were there, other parties drifted in. At least one party were regulars, and another may have been Venezuelan and were certainly Latino and knew the menu as they did not fumble as much with it as we did! Prices were reasonable at less than $25 per person when including the appetizer, main dish, and tip. Service was a bit on the slow side, but the food was served piping hot, so it was probably a factor of the kitchen being overwhelmed with takeout orders, more than anything else."

Sofrito Latin Cafe

Sofrito Latin Cafe

8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando I-32836-6416, United States

Cuban • Vegan • Barbecue • Sandwiches


"You know a place is good when the people inside are smiling and having a great time. Was in Orlando for a couple days and couldn't have made a better decision than going here for dinner. The place was fairly occupied when we were there but the hosts were amazing to guide us through the self ordering kiosks and the ordering counter. The ambience was warm and relaxing, a homey vibe. the windows are big and let in plenty of natural light. They have a courtyard seating adjacent to the main hall. The menu is fairly expansive and covers a range of appetizers and main courses. They have dishes from all over Latin America. We ordered their Pollo Al Horno, which is half bone is roasted chicken, seasoned with thyme, rosemary, garlic and other seasonings. It's a Peruvian dish. There was a choice of three sides. We chose white rice, beans and black beans. We also ordered Sopa De Pollo, chicken soup made with potatoes, carrots and celery, the Dominican way. We paid at the counter and were assigned a number. It wasn't long before our soup arrived. It was served hot in a cast iron pot and wow it was amazing. Having driven for more than five hours, it felt so good to have that warm soup. I really loved the chicken and the potatoes in it. Most chicken soups use chicken breasts and I don't really like them that much but this was different. It had leg quarters and pieces of thighs, with bones,too. The soup really felt wholesome. Next was our Pollo Al Horno. I could tell it was great just by looking at it. The presentation was amazing with the roasted chicken, white rice, boiled yukkas and the salad placed neatly on the plate. It tasted even better than the way it looked. The chicken was just well done with a crispy skin and a succulent meat inside. The thyme and rosemary seasoning were popping inside my mouth. I just felt the amount of rosemary could have been toned down a little and the skin could also have been buttered a bit more, in my opinion. But it was great. The boiled yukkas with the chilli and mint paste was simply amazing. I felt like I had never tasted yukkas that good. This is a great restaurant and if you love Latin American foods or want to add richness to your food experiences, this is the place to go in Orlando. The prices are great too and the servers and hosts are super helpful and amazing."

Cilantro Ajo

Cilantro Ajo

901 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, United States

Cheese • Spanish • Caribbean • Venezuelan


"I have never tried Venezuelan food, and the last time I tried Latin American food, I was disappointed. So I was skeptical when I ordered from Uber Eats. However, when I tried my food, I was blown away. I had 2 shredded beef empanadas, 2 bacon and Gouda cheese empanadas, cachapa, and quesillo. The empanadas were incredible. They were pretty large and fairly priced at $4-5 each. The cornmeal was not too gritty or too thick. They had a great balance of softness and crunch. Fillings were great as well. The shredded beef was well seasoned and flavorful with a perfect texture. The Gouda and bacon empanada, which is quite unique, also had a smokey flavor from the bacon and saltiness from cheese. They were packed with filling and make for a substantial meal. The sauce served with it is tasty, with a slight kick and creaminess to it. If ordering online, get extra sauce! The cachapa was an amazing addition to my meal. I could have had just this and been perfectly satisfied. The corn itself is mostly smooth, but I could taste small cooked kernels. There were three types of cheese layered on top and in the middle. The middle cheese tasted like mozzarella, while one on the top tasted a bit like a less strong cream cheese and parmigiana. An amazing balance of sweet from corn and salty from cheese! It's pretty big in size, too. Highly, highly recommend! Finally, I ended off with quesillo. I thought it was good but would probably not order it again. I expected it to be a bit similar to custard or creme brûlée, but it was more similar to a vanilla jelly in consistency. The flavor was quite good, though, and it's not cloyingly sweet. Next time, I'll order the tres leches. Overall, this is a great place to get introduced to Venezuelan cuisine. All of the items I tried were quite good, especially the empanadas and cachapa. Very authentic, fairly large portions, cheap prices. I'll be coming back or ordering again!"