Born and raised in Miami, my standards are very high for Cuban food because of my Abuela's cooking. The reviews here were so good I had to try it! I'm so happy to have met Amauri at the door, the service was on point right off the bat. The food was amazing and brought back some great memories. I had the Tamal en Casuela and then Moros w Masitas and Tostones. Legit Cuban food which I've been dying for here in Colorado!! I wish I had one closer to Loveland, but I'll make sure to eat here any chance I get. Loved the ambiance, music and getting to know the staff. read more

Arelita - Moros, Masitas and Tostones - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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On our way to the airport, we decided to have a light lunch. My husband found this thru yelp. What a gem of a restaurant! We loved the Lechon asado . It was so delicious. The pork was juicy and has sort of citrus taste in the sauce. It was really good. We got it with fried plantains. They also gave us plantain chips as appetizer. I ordered cuban coffee and they served it is an edible coffee cup. How cute is that? And the coffee tasted so good. I regret that we had breakfast prior to coming here so we could not eat a lot. The service was great. The owner /chef , came out to check on the customers making sure we are liking the food. I like it when they do this, shows they care. Definitely a must try restaurant! read more

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We only got the empanadas, beef and guava. It was nothing special. Tasted like taco meat-just not what I expected.

Great food and amazing service! Both staff and dishes are on point! Really authentic spot

Great lunch today--we had fried plantains and beef empanadas. Both were so tasty! The service was great, the chef came out to say hi and see how our meal was. The food was so good and the atmosphere, including the music, was very Cuban. Loved it! We'll be back and plan to bring our families to try it out. read more

Did a quick search on Yelp for a late lunch near Memorial Hospital. Arelita showed up. Every part of my experience lived up to the reviews on Yelp! Beautifully plated, the food was delicious! The young server provided great service; she clearly cared about my welfare. The setting is in a strip mall along Platte Avenue. Interior fits perfectly with the Cuban food. I've enjoyed cuban food along the Front Range in every restaurant I've found. This is, by far, the best one of all. Home Run! Thanks again, Bill read more

The food was so good! We shared the appetizer so we could try as many different items as possible. It was very filling! We also had the black beans. Absolutely delicious! Could not get enough of the green sauce! read more

Love trying new places and even though Arelita won't be new to us anymore, we'll try it again. I went with the Saturday special: oxtail, black beans and rice, and yuca fries instead of the masa. So good and enough for 2 meals! The oxtail literally fell off the bone and it was easy to separate off the fat. The beans and rice good but next time a hot sauce would add to the flavor. A green sauce for the fries lifted up their flavor. My husband got the Arelita sandwich. He liked it but thought it lacked something. Certainly not size - it was about 12" long! The desserts looked good; next time we need to save room! No alcohol drinks but the fruit ones were so tasty! I had coconut/mango/guava. Yum! The sugar cane drink was so sweet! Service was friendly and fast on the food delivery. A tad slow to order. The sugar drink took extra time to prepare. Parking on the street. Very pretty inside. read more

Arelita - Ox tail, black beans and rice, yuca fries. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Get here now. Don't let the area concern you, it's a whole new world inside the doors. Decor is as adorable and the food was phenomenal. Scored the beef soup special and the Mrs did the ropa vieja, both were delicious and authentic. They even have guava and mango juices (yum!). Very friendly service and the chef came out to see what we thought. Even the food presentation was impressive, great place. read more

Arelita - Beef soup special and plantains. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Must try hidden gem in Colorado Springs! The food was flavorful & my husband was thrilled that they served fresh guarpo!

What a wonderful hidden gym! This cozy restaurant, located in a small strip center on Platte Avenue, deserves more attention! The decor and the food and the staff are all wonderful! I was greeted and seated by the friendly staff. Because I was there after normal lunchtime, I had the place to myself for a little while. After perusing the menu, I decided to try the Lechon Asado, along with two sides - arroz congris, which is rice cooked with black beans, and a vegetable salad. I also ordered one of the wonderful sounding fruit drinks. My drink came out first, looking fresh and colorful. It was sweet and rich and I saved 1/3 of it as dessert. Before my food came, the chef (owner? manager?) brought me a plate of Banana chips with 2 dipping sauces as an appetizer. It was delicious! My vegetable salad came out next and was not at all what I expected, but it was beautiful. It consisted of lettuce surrounded by tomatoes and very small sliced cucumbers, along with pickled green beans and other assorted beans as well as avocados and radishes. A wonderful combination, I enjoyed it very much. Then came my entrée and rice - again, plated beautifully! The smallish bowl of roasted pork surrounded by small pieces of cucumber (and embellished with a pearl and olive on a stick) did not look like a lot of food, but with the arroz congris in the shape of an onion dome, it was extremely filling. And both were very delicious. It was a wonderful meal and I look forward to bringing my husband here to try the food. We both love Cuban dishes! read more

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My wife and I really enjoyed the food here. We are not experts in Cuban food, so I can't state it is authentic, but it sure seems so. When you sit down, they serve you plantains with two dipping sauces, which was a great starter! I do love a good Cubano, and so I ordered one here. The bread was fantastic, unlike most Cubanos I have had in the past, so I suspect this is how the bread should be made. The sauce was a bit overdone, limiting the balance, but the sandwich was messy and yummy. My wife had the Monday special, which was ground beef, white rice with black beans, and cassava with mojo. The cassava with this mojo was to die for! It was like bacon but better. Never had cassava before; it is a root much like a potato, and I ate half of my wife's portion. We had a Guava-Mango and Coconut-Mango drink, both of which were delicious. Great service. This is a hidden jewel, but don't let the neighborhood or the exterior appearance stop you from trying the great food here. read more

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Delicious food and quick, friendly service. I had the beef empanadas and my husband had the pork steak with onions, both were amazing!

Great service, food, and pricing! I had the Ropa Vieja with rice and plantains and it was absolutely delicious! I also had the guava cheese pastry which was delicious! The ambiance in the restaurant was very authentic and the chef and waitresses were very nice and allowed us in right when they were closing! Would 100% recommend! read more

Arelita - Ropa Vieja with Rice and Plantains - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Delicious. The good thing as amazing. The atmosphere was great too. The chef even came out to check on us. Great place

As soon as I walk into Arelita, "estoy en casa"- I am home. Growing up in Cuba, living in Miami for so long Cuban food has become a part of who I am. In Colorado, I struggled to find a place like this. I can only say one thing, Arelita reminds me of home, Amaury, the owner reminds me of family. The food is as authentic as the very food I had in my hometown of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Today, one of the many times I have come to visit, I had the yellow rice with smoked chicken and maduros. I was transported back to my house on the 3rd floor of our Cuban apartment where my mom made the exact same meal. On Saturdays, I have (more than a handful of times) had the pleasure of having the original and authentic oxtail - "rabo encendido", with Cuban tamales and rice and beans. What a delight and punch of flavor. The owner, Amaury doesn't just elevate the foods all Cubans grew up eating, he makes it with love. He enjoys coming to check on you, make sure you are satisfied with the meal, and delighted to bring you the meals he so passionately crafts. Arelita is an experience I hope people of all cultures can enjoy. While flights to Cuba are difficult and expensive in this day and age. A short drive to Arelita will transport you to the island. Latin music fills the restaurant, frames of the beauty of Cuba decorate the walls, and the Cuban hospitality is by far the best part. Could not recommend Arelita any more than I already have, deserving of all its glory and attention, and by far, the best restaurant and hospitality in all of Denver and Colorado Springs. read more

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Since my original review, I have had a chance to dine in the establishment 3 times. Each time was just like the previous. FANTASTIC. The service was super attentive. The restaurant was super clean, and well decorated. It reminded me of the little mom and pop Cuban restaurants in South Florida. The owner even came out to greet us and ask how our meal was. Each time. He takes pride in his place, and it shows. Since there isn't much of a Cuban population in Colorado, many folks have never tried Cuban fare. You have to go. Try the sampler platter. Its a touch on the pricey side, but you are DEFINITELY getting your money's worth. Its huge. The wife and I get 2 of these platters, and we can easily get 3 meals out of it. read more

LEGIT Cuban food! Had the Ropa Vieja, tamales, pan con lechon, flan, and pastelitos de guava y queso. I hope this place stays around. I miss real Cuban food! Check out out!!! read more

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So good! Had the ropa vieja with the rice and black beans and fried plantains. It was all amazing.

Fantastic food, nice atmosphere, and top notch service. I have nothing but good things to say about this place!

Don't walk... RUN to Arelita's Cuban restaurant on Platte. Holy moley! Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought we would have such delicious fresh, and authentic Cuban in Colorado Springs, let alone outside of south Florida. The Cubano is divine! By far the best sandwich in COS it's massive and you cannot beat the price nor the freshness. Juicy and full of flavor. We love the sampler and always needs to be shared! The empanadas, papas rellanos, plantains, and beans are excellent. My two favorite weekly specials are the pork ribs and ox tail. They now make mojitos! The only thing missing is the ocean! So good, I could easily get in trouble with over endulgimg. Thank me later and enjoy! Don't skip on the deserts nor the Cuban coffee! The owner is the chef and makes it a point to say hello to every table. read more

This place is a must every time we come to visit my dad. Today my dad and I shared the Cubano sandwich and bistec sandwich and I can't choose a favorite because they both were equally delicious! Also tried some yummy empanadas and finished with a Cuban coffee (if you love coffee like me try it or the cortadito is amazing!) The owner/chef is so nice and greets everyone as soon as he is able to. Also met his wife who was very nice as well. They were very attentive and you can tell they truly care about the food and service they provide. Now that is something you can't find all the time. Thank you Arelitas for the great food and looking forward to our future visits. read more

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If you're from SoCal, the guava-cheese pastry at Arelita is 10x better than Porto's. The food here is way better than Versailles. Coca Cola comes in a tall cold glass bottle. The people who run the restaurant treat you like family. Go have a meal here when you have time to sit and savor the food. You'll feel loved. read more

We finally made it to Arelita and was absolutely floored by the food and service. We shared the sample plate and everything was off the charts! The chef was so kind and we talked for a bit. Right as we were about to leave he made us a Cuban espresso (?), what a wonderful surprise!!! read more

Arelita - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

What a lovely surprise, this place is non descript and easy to miss but it's a hidden gem. The staff is so attentive and kind. We ordered the coconut mango guayaba (sp?) drink and it was delicious and very pretty in the glass ! I ordered the ropa vieja with rice and beans, everything was so flavorful and fresh. I also got a garden salad and it was unlike most garden salads, it had avocado, beans, and was served with oil and vinegar which was perfect. Dessert was their tres leches cake which was divine, it had a strawberry jam filling along with the traditional milk soaked cake. It was big enough to share between two people. Can't wait to go back and try some of the Cuban coffee ! read more

The service is always excellent and the food is always delicious! The whole family loves coming here and the food never disappoints. read more

Arelita - Guava milkshake - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

From the outside it doesn't look like much. The inside is warm and comfortable. What a find ! The folks at Black Sheep said they heard many good things about this restaurant. They are so right in their recommendation. The food is excellent! The entrees we had tasted very authentic from my limited exposure to Cubano restaurants in Los Angeles. Family establishments like this one are the gems of any community. They take great pride in their food and the service is like your a guest at someone's home. read more

Best Cuban food I've ever had. Great family owned business with very good service. I had the Vaca Frita with white rice and black beans. Everything had great flavor and was delicious. Anthony took our order and took good care of us while we were there. We met the owners too and they are very sweet. We will be back! Don't forget the Cuban coffee! :) read more

Great Date night spot very traditional Cuban food. Oxtail was amazing and perfect. Met the family owners! read more

Arelita - Trimufongo and Oxtail - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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My second time having dinner here. Great customer service and friendly owners. I had the special which had baked chicken, rice, bean and amarillo. My sone had the lechon with rice bean. Both excellent choices. Good portions with great prices. Nice traditional Latin music to go with the meal. read more

Delicious Cuban food with attentive staff. Try the Cuban sandwich and the masas fritas with arroz congris. My husband said it's the best Cuban food he's had since he's been stationed in Cuba. read more

Service was Anthony came through and was very respectful the food was amazing 10/10 recommend

Now this is Cuban food! The portions were enormous, the food was delicious. All around 10/10 experience. It's a really cute place and the service was great read more

Found this place across the street walking to a show at whatsleft records and im so impressed i ordered the oxtail special and it was so amazing, ive tried jamaican oxtain but never cuban! The sauce was slightly cold but the flavor was so good i forgive you the oxtail meat was so tender and falling off the bone. I will forsure be coming here more and telling people about it read more

We found this sweet Cuban restaurant. The owners opened a month ago and are the real deal. Plantain chips and dip were brought out while we perused the menu. My husband ordered the Oxtail Saturday special. I ordered Lechón Asado with white rice and black beans. I added maduros which are sweet plantains. While we were waiting, the husband brought out jamón croquetas. Everything was delicious. My husband and I are from Miami and this was exactly the taste of home we were hoping for. Don't be fooled by the outside. Inside is clean, roomy and very comfortable. The owners were truly a delight. We will return. . Sorry for not taking pictures of our meals, but when they arrived I was so excited to dig in. read more

What an amazing little restaurant! The food was great and the family service & hospitality was exceptional! Anthony was an excellent waiter! We will be back!! read more

Arrived early for a concert nearby so had dinner here. So glad we did! Really good food, very friendly staff and good service. Would come here often if I lived here. read more

This place lives up to its name! Everything comes out so quick and tastes very authentic. Their staff is so friendly and really makes you feel like family. I will definitely be returning. read more

Authentic and so flavorful! Excellent Cuban food! Wonderful owner and his son who took great care of us! I can't wait to go back!

Absolutely delicious food and good service. Try this place out, you won't be disappointed!