Such a cute spot for coffee and lunch. They have good sandwiches, croissant, and coffee. Indoor and outdoor seatings available. I ordered: 1. Matcha latte with oatmilk 2. Chicken pesto sandwich 3. El doe sotelo - egg whites, roasted and fresh tomatoes, fresh cilantro, avocado and olive oil. Black beans on the side. This is arepas for breakfast with the choice of scramble egg Paid street parking is available for this Pasadena downtown area. read more

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Every time I pass by Amara there is a line out the door. As luck would have it, I was meeting my darling friend Brooke here in the afternoon and we were fortunate enough to find seating inside. (Outdoor seating also available.) Amara is named after the owner Amara B. Brooke had the pleasure of meeting her and said she was lovely and very passionate about her business and customers. During our visit Chef Maggie came out to talk to us. She was also darling. In fact, all the staff here were very friendly and take pride in their work. Amara features authentic Venezuelan cuisine. The menu is extensive - offering a little something for everyone (even vegans) and they proudly serve Jones Coffee. Their most popular items are the Venezuelan Hot Chocolate & Churros and they also have some delicious lattes. I ordered an Americano, and we shared the Venezuelan Hot Chocolate. It was velvety smooth, creamy, thick & rich. This beverage is meant to be sipped slowly and savored because it was quite decadent. The churros came with two dipping sauces - dark chocolate & guava (both vegan). The churros, which are also vegan, had a different texture than the ones you'd get at a Mexican restaurant. These were crispy outside, soft inside, and dusted with granulated sugar. It was delicious. You can purchase their famous Venezuelan Hot Chocolate to take home in addition to a variety of other specialty items including frozen empanadas & cachitos to bake at home. I'm looking forward to a return visit. read more

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We were just in time before the crazy rain to enjoy some home made Venezuelan cuisine. Like it's from your mamas kitchen this little cafe is full of surprises! From chocolate to plantains, burritos to churros the menu here is extensive and delightful! Luckily there is a parking lot right beside the restaurant because the rain came down hard! Such an incredible service and love from the entire staff. Amara is so kind and proud of her beautiful cafe and she emanates love to all her customers and the chef Maggie was amazing, so talented! Will definitely come back soon! The food is absolutely delicious!! read more

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I'm here just for the venezuelan iced chocolate, so this probably not a full review of everything they have. The place is a small cafe so seats are limited. They have outside seating as well. Service was pretty fast, and if you order takeout you don't have to crowd the room waiting for your order as they will come out and yell for your name. Iced chocolate though, is amazing. It felt like if you jab a straw on a quality chocolate bar: tastes fully chocolatey, like drinking a literal chocolate bar. Usually when you ordered an iced chocolate, you'd push your straw deep to the bottom to taste the chocolate BEFORE the ice diluted it. This one's the opposite. I actually had to pull the straw towards the top to acclimate myself through the slightly ice-diluted part then, while stirring a bit, work my way down. First world problem, indeed. But it was an absolute delight. An iced chocolate drink that you can literally chew (this is an exaggeration, there's nothing to chew here. It's all just thick, creamy, rich chocolate goodness). And all at the price of normal boba! Yeah I know i've seen bobas cost more than this. I need to come again for some croissant and hot chocolate. read more

Amara has always been one of our favorite breakfast spots in Pasadena, but the way I was treated today was unacceptable. Most people send one person to order while the other finds a table, that's always been the norm. It was crowded, but my husband was already next in line to order when I was told I couldn't sit down and forced to move. I explained we were about to order, but they didn't care at all. What makes this even more frustrating is that plenty of other tables around me were filled with people just sitting and hanging out long after eating, yet they weren't asked to move. Maybe if staff addressed that, seating would open up instead of forcing paying customers out right before ordering. After years of being loyal customers, I'm not sure I want to return after being treated this way. read more

A new fav!! The restaurant we were originally going to eat at was closed and as a result we found this gem. My husband and I both enjoy Venezuelan cuisine, but were excited to try some new dishes. I read an article in the Los Angeles Times that sold me on trying Cachapa (Venezuelan corn pancake with cheese inside). I paired it with a side of plantains, eggs and tall glass of Iced Venezuelan Chocolate, which was deliciously rich and like nothing I have ever had! The staff is friendly and the food comes out quickly. There are not a lot of tables, but we found the seating comfortable and the restaurant was decorated with plants. On the way out I spotted the huge tubs of Nutella in the window and I can't wait to go back and try their Nutella filled croissants. This is THE hot spot for breakfast in Pasadena. Try their Iced Venezuelan Chocolate, for sure. There is nothing like it. Perfect! read more

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This place is typically packed, especially on weekends. They are closed on Mondays. Weekdays are still busy, but lines are not typically out the door. I prefer to order online and just drop by for a quick pickup. They are very prompt on their orders - food will not be ready earlier than your scheduled pick-up time as their kitchen and staff are bust prepping in-house orders. Street parking around the blocks or in the Schoolhouse Parking garage attached to the same building the restaurant is located, which has reasonable prices. The atmosphere is cozy, yet city-like with the busy hustle of the adjacent street. Staff here is friendly. Now as for food and drinks... I do love their extensive menu. It makes selection process tedious, but it ensures you and your party will not get tired of eating the same thing. A sure way to keep fans coming back. 1. Dulce de Leche Latte (4/5) Surprisingly not too sweet despite the name. I personally did not taste any caramel flavor at all. It's a cup of rich, chocolatey, and milky drink. 2. Ginger Mocha Latte (3/5) It's a very thick and rich hot chocolate with a strong spice from the ginger and chili powder. The spice part was overwhelming for me, but it was my mistake for adding more spicy chile cocoa to and already gingery drink. It's good for those who like the spice. 3. Asado Negro (Signature) Arepas (3/5) Arepa with their 12 hours smoked & roasted prime beef with cheese and tomato. The corn wrap had a good crispy crunch to it and had a strong flavor of corn. It's very filling though, so I ended up eating only half of the wrap. The beef was very tender and had a good roasted flavor to it. It comes with a very thick slice of Mano cheese, which I initially thought was egg. The cheese was strong in creamy flavor and it seems to be of good quality. 4. Tekes (Tequenos) with Guava sauce (5/5) Venezuelan cheese sticks. On it's own, it's mild in cheese flavor with a doughy coating, which I like better than the bread-crumb coating on the American cheese sticks. Pair it with their house-special guava sauce and it's a dancing party on your tastebuds. 5. Empanada - Beef (5/5) The outside was nice and crispy! The beef was seasoned well with their aromatic herbs and spices. Can't say no -- I devoured this in less than 1 minute. read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Baked Beef Empanada - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

My friend and I stopped here on a weekday and were surprised to see how busy it was! It's an order first and then find your table kind of place (indoor and outdoor seating) - if the line is long, you can use the self serve kiosk in your right when you walk in! I ordered the galipan gachapa with scrambled eggs, beans, and avocado and a Dulce de leche latte which came with the cutest bear art (shout out to the server who made it!). For food, the portions look small but dang I was full after eating 50% of the corn pancake. I really loved the cheese inside - I thought it would be overwhelming but it was nice and light. The black beans were also a perfect complement to balance the meal. Overall, pretty good though slightly on the expensive side in terms of food. My plate was close to $20 but the latte was fairly priced as $6.60. Will definitely be back for drinks and maybe some churros because they looked bomb! Parking: lot nearby for $1 first two hours and then $3 every additional hour (tbt to when it used to be 90 min free rip) read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Galipan (Traditional or Vegetarian) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I recently went around the Christmas holiday and wow I was very impressed with the customer service. I had one bad experience but I really like their cachapas. I'm happy I gave them a second chance. The food was delicious. read more

So my wife saw some Tik Toks with their churros, Cups of hot chocolate more churros and more cups of chocolate so of course she wanted to try both especially since we are freshly back from Paris and she misses the Chaud de Chocolat. Our order 2 cups of Hot Chocolate rich with milk, 1 Iced Chocolate Edgar style with milk, 1 Churros with Chocolate and 1 Churros with Ice Cream. Quick note: 2 people can share 1 cup of Hot or Iced Chocolate it was good but so rich and sweet that we didn't finish 1 order between us all nor did the other 2 tables next to us. Definitely not cheap we paid about $68.00 for our initial order, I did add a guave bread and a cup for my niece since they share the same name (Amara) added another $35.00 for a total of $103.00 The Chocolate was good but we didn't finish one of our drinks if that tells you anything. I think that they should have someone there to assist you with choosing the right Hot or Iced Chocolate only because when I tried they seemed more open to the order not really explaining the types they offer. Customer service was a 2 as some people received numbers for there tables we didn't, the wait staff bringing food weren't sure where to go so keep your receipt so you can prove what you ordered. Chocolate drinking experience 2 could have been a 5 but kind of lost ordering with no one really to help with questions or recommendations again there were plenty of people behind the counter but know one that wanted to help on recommendations. The Chocolate itself was a 5 but that's because I couldn't give less than what it was... Overall they probably could have been a 5 but with no one really to step up and assist especially when your paying higher than most places.... We would like to try it again only if we could get someone that could assist with making the visit more of a pleasant experience. read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

If you love empanadas and traditional Venezuelan food you will love Amara Chocolate and Coffee try their Arepas and of course their empanadas. My favorite are their chicken empanadas. They have both outdoor and indoor seating but it is a pretty small location and it can get packed fairly quickly. They have a parking garage which makes it easily accessible. The churros are also a great sweet treat for those with a sweet tooth. It can be pretty loud, but everything is worth a try. There are also shops nearby where you can walk around once you're done eating. Their coffee is also amazing. read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Churros con Chocolate Madrid - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Delicious and never lets you down! I ordered their breakfast burrito on a hurry and didn't stay to eat, but if I could've I would have. I've been here many times and their churros are always number one on my list. The restaurant is both inside and outside, so dog friendly! And the staff are kind and sweet and always helpful! read more

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My wife heard about this place from a friend. I thought I check it out first before bringing her for breakfast or lunch here. I ordered a croissant and Americano. There was a hair in the croissant. Also, they have a large menu for a very small place. I was not impressed. read more

It's been years since I've visited AMARA'S CHOCOLATE & COFFEE and I'm glad I was able to share this experience with my girl. I'm super glad to report that they are as awesome as ever. Their DRINKING CHOCOLATE was as decadent and delicious as I remember.. The CROISSANT may not be the best ever croissant ever made, but it was perfect with the drinking chocolate. The CAFE CON LECHE was strong and creamy and delicious. The pasty on the SPINACH EMPANADA is flaky and the filling was cheesy with the perfect spinach proportions. The people are warm and welcoming. The space is cozy, clean and welcoming. Yes, I meant to repeat that word. read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Best cafe in town! Been going here for years to get my coffee and churro fix. They have the sweetest staff!

We tried a cachapa which is a sweet corn pancake which came with pulled pork and beans (recommend). I also ordered the spicy pork arepa which is stuffed with cheese inside a maize dough flatbread. And of course the churros with the guava dipping sauce (delicious! Churros are doughy and crispy on the outside). I also enjoyed the Amara Dulce de Leche latte. read more

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Good food, service is ok, Ambience fair. Had a great time talking with Amara, a very nice person. Thank you so much. Definitely I'll be coming back read more

Cozy little Arepa, churro and coffe spot in the heart of Old Town Pasadena! I arrived with friends during a break from our Anime Pasadena convention down the street. Our host behind the register was very helpful in making suggestions if what to order as one of my friends had never had an Arepa before. It's like an extra doughy tortilla grilled on a hot stove top that's stuffed inside with hredded cheese, chicken, Avocados, beef, beans and plantain bananas if desired. Served with creamy sauces on the side. I hot the spinach and cheese empanadas, this flaky buttery savory pastry. So delicious!!! They also had fresh Lemonade which was so refreshing. They had alfajores a sweet Carmel cookie ryats common in latin America. As well as jared dulce de leche Carmel! Definitely a cool place to check out. read more

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Best meal in LA hands down. If you ever come to LA/Pasadena, THIS PLACE is the ONE AND ONLY you should visit!! Try an Arepa (I got the Pabellpm with chicken) and a Cachapa (the breakfast one is amazing). The flavors literally sing in perfect harmony in my mouth. My mind (and taste buds) were BLOWN. This is also a great introduction to Venezuelan cuisine. Coffee and pastry here are also top tier! Must try the guava cheese and the cubanito cortado is perfection in a cup. Service here is amazing! They did a great job walking us through the menu. Such a cute vibe and lots of seating. This place is incredible and a true gem of Pasadena. read more

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Amara is a Pasadena gem. Personalized and family oriented, the service was wonderful. The owner came and asked us what we thought of the food which was a nice touch. The food was delicious , flavorful and fresh. I had the Spanish Chorizo, Eggs and Cheese Arepa and it was so good. The cappuccino was typical Venezuelan with great coffee but blended nicely with the milk, like in Europe. And a must are the churros ! Highly recommend this lovely restaurant. read more

Absolutely YUMMY place. Just became glutted intolerant and "GF" has been a bit of a challenge to find in eateries. Since having this intolerance this was the first YUMMY food that made me feel I was back to normal. And husband had the best hot chocolate he's ever had. HIGHLY recommend read more

One my favorite places in LA for breakfast. Everything is good here. The Arepas and the super thick Venezuelan hot chocolate and simply awesome. The service is simple and behind the counter. The ambiance is nice and cozy for breakfast. My go to place for breakfast in Pasadena read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We've come here A LOT. The hot chocolate is insanely rich and the churros and arepas are to die for. The people who work here are very friendly and overall its always a hit. :) read more

Amara Cafe & Restaurant in Pasadena, CA, is a culinary haven for lovers of Venezuelan delights or great pastries and drinks. The pork and plantain arepa at Amara was delicious. I savored every bite. The flavors meld together to create a delicious masterpiece. A must-try! The apple turnover alongside a cup of hot chocolate was a delightful experience. Amara excels not only in savory dishes but also in crafting sweet treats and drinks that satisfy every craving. Amara Cafe & Restaurant is a must-visit when visiting Pasadena. From savory delights to sweet indulgences, the culinary journey at Amara Chocolate & Coffee is truly a treat for all the senses. read more

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The food at Amara is delicious and the chocolate is very rich. This is a restaurant is a counter order style, where they give you a number for your table, then bring your food out to you. Amara is located very close to the schoolhouse garage in Pasadena for parking. I tried the galipan cachapa and it was very good! The meat was mildly spicy, and the cheese was rich. I wasn't the biggest fan of the beans, but they were fine. It was very filling! read more

Best coffee, chocolate churros! Lovely to sit outside and enjoy cafe mocha.. expresso also good and churros with decadent chocolate... yum! Highly recommend read more

Sometimes I want a piece of toast for breakfast and sometimes I want a full-on meal. For the days that I'm super hungry, you can find me here. I tried the Asado Negro which had 12-hour smoked and sweetened roasted prime beef, plantains, rice, and a side salad. The meat was incredible. It was tender yet had a good bite to it and the flavors marinated all the way in. It's tough making me choose because I also tried the pabellón criollo with pork and man was it hard to stop eating. The pork is on the salty side but if you eat it with rice or black beans, it's a good balance of flavors. I was also surprised by how much I like the plantains. They were sweet but not overly sweet and almost served as a palate cleanser because I took bites every so often to balance out the savory meal. Of course, it's not a breakfast if coffee isn't involved. I got the cortado cubanito with homemade panela which was strong but a good wake-up call for the morning. I also tried some of my friend's iced chocolate drink which was super creamy and rich, almost like a dessert. I'm also a huge burrito lover so I couldn't resist the Spanish burrito which came with chorizo, bacon, eggs, cheese, avocado, cabbage, and sauteed veggies. I was not the biggest fan of bell peppers in my burrito so I avoided it at first but I came to see how it was supposed to contrast the really salty meats. I would not venture to say it was my favorite but it was fun trying a new take on a breakfast burrito. We ended our meal with guava and cheese churros which came with housemade guava sauce on the side and a load of queso fresco on the top. I personally liked it with just the cheese because the guava sauce was insanely sweet and the churro itself already had enough sugar. The waitress who helped us was so kind and we even got to meet Amara herself who truly cares about her customers and giving them the best experience and food possible. I would highly recommend visiting if you're looking for Venezuelan brunch. read more

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the churros and the reina & gouda arepa were phenomenal! the portion size of the arepa was a bit small in my opinion but filling nonetheless. quick service and nice laid back atmosphere with outdoor seating. churros were nice and crispy. read more

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First time trying Venezuelan breakfast! It's so much lighter and healthier feeling than American breakfast. Their pancakes are made of corn and very light, not overly sweet at all. I got the dulce de luche (?) pancake plate with the plantains and added bacon. Everything paired so well together. My boyfriend got the blueberry pancakes plate. I'm glad I added the bacon because the portion sizes were small. I also got their guava cheese pastry to try and it was so delicious. Highly recommended if you love guava like me. The cold brew and coffee we got were very good. I liked sitting outside! The service was great, very informative, friendly and polite. The reason for 4/5 stars is because the portions are extremely small, even for me, someone who doesn't eat very large portions. I felt their pictures of their food on the menus make it seem like a bigger portion than it is. Price point is on the higher end, just fyi. Our two plates of breakfast, a small coffee, a small cold brew and one guava pastry came out to almost $60? Especially for how expensive it is.... The portions are too small. I'd come back though because it is very good food... just wish it was either less expensive or bigger portions lol read more

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This food was BOMB, the reina y gouda arepa was so soft and was packed with avocado. I also got the Venezuelan mocha which was so rich and worked so well without being sweet. Workers were also very nice! read more

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This cafe deserves its high ratings. We stopped in because we were in town for the night. The woman at the front treated us like long, lost family, and recommended amazing dishes. The food, service, ambience were exceptional. read more

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Got here around 8:30am on a Sunday and ordered the asado negra and added a side of plantains. You can choose between Venezuelan cheese (HIGHLY recommend) or Gouda cheese and for the side you can choose between beets or coleslaw. FOOD IS AMAZING!!! The beef is super tender and juicy and the Venezuelan cheese is sooooo delicious!!! The Venezuelan cheese is like mozzarella but a little bit more airy in terms of texture? Sooooo good overall! Don't get fooled by the picture! The portion is HUGE and very filling! There are both indoor and outdoor seating! The inside is super cozy and cute! There's a parking structure right nearby and I believe $1 for the first two hours. The menu selection is huge too so will definitely be back! read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Asado Negro Arepa with plantains - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Can't go wrong with a Venezuelan breakfast of Galipan Cachapa with Perico eggs, shredded beef and Mano cheese! With a Caracas latte AND a side of Spanish Churros with guava and chocolate dipping sauce! read more

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Specialty coffees and their empanadas were delicious! Their hot Aztec latte was so good with the right thickness and sweetness (not too sweet). read more

I've been here a few times now and every time I've visited, I've always enjoyed my time here. Their mocha latte is incredibly rich, delicious, and not too sweet. I enjoy sitting outside in their patio area and listening to the soft jazz music they always play. After recently receiving some personal bad news, the lady who took my order offered me a couple churros to enjoy with my coffee. I was incredibly touched. Even though it was almost like she knew something was wrong, she actually had no idea what I was going through, yet her small act of generosity and kindness touched me deeply. I am forever grateful for her for this moment. The churros were deliciously crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, rolled in the perfect amount of cinnamon sugar. I see myself becoming a regular here and trying out their other drinks in the future. There's nothing like sitting outside sipping on a hot latte in a ceramic cup on a cool spring day. read more

The best hot chocolate in LA county! The service is always friendly, and the food is outstanding. I highly recommend the Spicy Cuban sandwich and the shrimp and avocado burrito. Aside from their rich drinking chocolate and their delicious milk chocolate, they also have a great selection of both hot and cold drinks. It's a wonderful place to eat breakfast, brunch, or even lunch. 11/10 recommend! I would give them 6 stars if I could. read more

No wonder this place is packed!! Service is pretty good, although for a full house of people they still show patience. It is a small dining room, decor is simple but practical. The mocha latte is very good... Very smooth cocoa favour... Avocado toast was good too .. read more

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Great breakfast/brunch and snack hang out place - located in the heart of old town Pasadena on Raymond st. Got to find out about this place long time ago through Bachelor episode of Juan Pablo season when one of his dates took place at this cafe and was featured on air. Wish their churro were gluten free friendly (since I have gluten allergy). It looks so good and ... Me...just salivating every time I see the churro order is being delivered to the tables... But they have few items that are gluten free and able to be modified as dairy free by taking out the cheese. Their yellow corn Venezuelan pancake, Arepa, and Venezuelan empanadas are some of the gluten free items they have in their menu. Venezuelan empanadas are deep fried and the Argentinian empanadas are baked but not gluten free. The Pabellon arepa is juicy and the corn taste of the arepa is savory and tasty. Arepa is a must-try in this cafe. Sign up for their mailing list as they sometimes offer free drink with purchase or other announcements such as live music on Fridays or other promotions. Staff is friendly and helpful with anything such as cleaning tables, checking with orders or other questions. Parking is just around the corner in the lot - Schoolhouse Parking Facility on 33 E. Green Street (corner of Green and Raymond) It's $1 for the first 2 hour. read more

Amara Chocolate & Coffee - Venezuelan Chicken Criolla Gluten-free (Pollo Mechado)-Empanadas - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Heartiest chocolate drink you'll find around. Small, quaint and delicious. Great staff, super friendly and patient as there are too many good choices. read more

Our favorite place to enjoy a hot chocolate or sipping chocolate; wonderful menu with great breakfast and lunch food. read more

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