My wife and I had an excuse to come back because my sister got my wife a gift card for her…read morebirthday. We didn't get a chance to come for her birthday but instead, came for our wedding anniversary. We've brought family here on special occasions, celebrate my wife's birthday three years ago, have come for happy hour and we've always enjoyed the food here. It was no different this time. I absolutely loved the patacón salvaje which we've never tried before. They use cornmeal to coat the calamari so it is naturally gluten-free, which my wife was able to eat. Also, their Caesar salad was delicious. The bar was set high from our first two courses. I wanted a second order of the fried calamari but we had a steak coming. We were warned about the restaurant being short staffed on Sunday, since we told the hostess that we tried making a reservation through Resy, but nothing was available until Wednesday, which the hostess found odd. Because they were short staffed, things took longer than usual, and our food came out really slowly, but that was a communication issue with the waiter. We saw tables around us who ordered after us get their food first, but we appreciated the waiter who chdecked in on us realizing it was unusual that we've been sitting for a while without any food. The food was worth the wait though. Although the steak was good, and the yucca that came with it plus the sauces, I feel like it wasn't as special or outstanding as the first two dishes. We asked for the steak to be cooked medium, but there were parts of the NY strip that looked a bit rare. We also ordered dessert, the Cacao+ and they also brought out two glasses of non-alcoholic Prosecco which were all on the house. We will definitely be back, especially finding out that Happy Hour runs all day on Sundays.

What can I say... I had a lot of expectations as this place has been open for a while, but I was a…read morebit disappointed. We had to get an early reservation as they were fully booked at dinner time. The food was just okay: the appetizer with the plantain and fried calamari was okay, it lacked a little bit of dimension and was too acid forward (needed more salt to balance it). The main was the "olleta" which is a vegetarian meal; it wasn't exactly memorable. It has an incredible amount of olives and capers and not enough tofu/plaintain/mushrooms. It was also very acid forward and lacked layers/balance to the flavor. Lastly, we tried two desserts: the flan (I believe it was called quesillo) and the chocolate one. I LOVED the flan with the foam on top, and the chocolate one was towards the bitter side (which was pretty good) but I wouldn't get it again. The desserts were very overpriced for the size of it. The place is well maintained and I love the plants all around. I would like to give it another try as I like to support my fellow Latinos

Cool small Venezuelan counter service place attached to record store. Food was hot and freshly…read moreprepared, kind staff

This was our first time trying Venezuelan street food. I fear that they have spoiled all other…read morerestaurants of this type for us, everything was beyond good. The best thing we ate was the Pop Queen Cachapa. (Creamy chicken avocado salad & Venezuelan cheese). It was so flavorful, I will probably order this every time. The seating is limited, we went at an off-peak time so it wasn't a big deal.

This was very delicious the chicharron was very crispy. I highly recommend this place. They has so…read moremany options. I wanted to try the guac and chicharron it looked so good but I got full with 2 Arepas. The service was good and staff was attentive.

I been wanting to check this place out for a while. I finally found time to visit. I ordered arepas…read moreand bandeja paisa. The bandeja paisa was delicious, The arepas were a little dry. It could be that I ordered the wrong kind of arepa. Overall is not a bad place to eat.

Must try. Authentic taste. Friendly. Lots of space in the back to sit and eat…read more I have been looking for cachapas con queso de mano (handmade cheese) and this did not disappoint. Tasted so good. They import the cheese from Venezuela! The tequeños were good. Tasted like the ones from panaderías in Caracas. My son and husband approved of the empanadas. The crust was crunchy and crispy. And filling was seasoned well. If you're in the area, this is a must try. You will not be disappointed. I wish they would move to northern Virginia.

Came here in a Saturday afternoon and employees were friendly and helpful. I ordered La Paisa…read moreArepas and a Chicken & Cheese Empanada and both were absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Great experience i enjoyed the food The service was upmost…read moreand wonderful The hosts were so kind i liked the hospitality and the view was amazing

This is a no brainer!!! You gotta stop in if you're anywhere remotely close or in the area!…read more This is tucked away between a major highway and a Costco shopping area. Very simple to get to and quite a decent amount of parking. I went on a Saturday Afternoon and it wasn't too busy at all, but it should be with how amazing the food is! Vibes were pretty dope. Lots of outdoor seating and some music playing. Ordered the Pernil Arepa, Chicken Rice Bowl, and Pulled Pork Rice Bowl. If you're afraid of flavor, this is not for you, because the flavors were amazing! And you can customize your bowls with add one to your liking such as roasted corn, avocado, cheese, plantains and more! Loved it and will definitely make it part of my itinerary whenever I'm in the area.

Do you want a meal that is so filling and satisfying that you feel like you could hibernate right…read moreafter? Just curl up like an exhausted grizzly and forget the world until your belly is no longer full? Then go to Brazza and get ready to bring on blissful exhaustion. I've been here three or four times now and have tried several menu items. Everything comes to the table quickly and perfectly delicious. The meats are tender and flavorful, and the crispy skin on the pork belly chicharrón sings when you scrape it with a fork. The sides are hearty and massive, with the fried plantains being especially delicious bars of golden delight (I recommend the tomato and onion salad as the perfect side for the chicharrón). There are lots of drink options, too: the papelón is the best limeade for a hot day, and the chicha-criolla vaso is like a milkshake delivered directly from heaven. The absolute star of my heart, though, is the blood sausage. The skin has a delicate snap, the filling is silky in consistency, and the flavor is robust and rich. Add the smallest drop of the hot sauce (ask for it specifically) to change and amplify the flavor into something even more interesting. If you have never tried blood sausage before, Brazza offers an exceptionally palatable way to try it through the homogenous filling, rich spices, and minimal tangy flavor. If you already enjoy blood sausage (I grew up eating boudin), then you should try what I consider the smoothest and most complexly flavored version I've ever eaten. Long review short, go to Brazza if you want amazing meats, refreshing drinks, and delicious food in general, all at an excellent price. And you get Carlos' warm welcome and big smile for free!

Brazza on Steaks is such a solid place for good Latin American cuisine. The owner seems to be very…read moredevoted to the quality of the food and the steaks really could not be any tastier. I do think that a mix of the steak and other dishes is a good balance but it would've been great to have more greens as an option. But then again, this isn't something that is unique to this restaurant alone or the type of cuisine. I would love to watch a great soccer game or other sports event here to root on a local team. It is the perfect combination of solid food, genuine vibes, and great service.

Tried Arepateca for lunch and I'm already planning my next visit! I had the Porky Pine arepa and it…read morewas incredible, smoky pork with a little sweetness from the pineapple habanero sauce, and the pickled onions tied everything together perfectly. My only tiny note is I wish the cheese was melted just a bit more, but overall it was the perfect portion and absolutely delicious. Do NOT leave without trying the tres leches, it's amazing. I also took home frozen tequeños and made them for the Super Bowl... so good and now officially my go-to party snack. Service was excellent, super fast, and the girl at the counter was so sweet and really knew the menu. The ambiance is great too, they have coffee, wine, board games, and books, which makes it perfect for hanging out with friends. Definitely recommend checking this place out!

I've admittedly only had their arroz con leche but it was AMAZING and the best I've ever had.read more

Delicious crispy pastelitos. I ordered three mix-n-match pastelitos with shredded chicken, ground…read morebeef & potatoes, and sweet plantains & cheese. Shredded chicken was all right (a bit dry, in my opinion), but ground beef and sweet plaintains were great. The beef one is my favorite by far -- very juicy and flavorful! The sweet plaintains one was pretty unique, both sweet and savory. The texture of the pastry was crispy, and the accompanying cilantro lime sauce complemented the pastelitos well. Only con is that they take a pretty long time to make (maybe 20 minutes?), but the vendor makes everything, including the pastry dough, from scratch, so I can't complain about the fresh quality. Next time, I'll try their empanadas, which look delicious. Great friendly service.

Great addition to the relocated Southwest DC Farmers Market (now at the southern end of the wharf)…read more Arepas were made to order and even after walking home they were hot, fresh, and DELICIOUS!! These are probably the best Arepas I've had in the DMV!

Truly wonderful! Warmly greeted on entering both in Spanish…read moreand then English, probably because I looked at the Spanish. I do get mistaken for a Spanish speaker an awful lot. Freshly prepared food that the lady serving apologized for taking up to twenty minutes to make. Better fresh than buying off the shelf! Delicious! I got the cheese Arepo, and the tropical. For the same price as a subway, you got a whole lot more flavor and texture. The wife got the chicken and cheese, she declared then worthy of being on our rotation of places we go to.

What a fab addition to the Frederick food scene! I had no idea how much I would adore arepas before…read moreI tried them. Now, the plan is to work my way through all of their arepas. Today I had the Domino (seasoned black beans and feta cheese) and I ate every last morsel. Previously, on the advice of the super friendly man at the counter ( the owner?) I got the King and demolished it too. The King has plaintains, which I've never been a fan of, but wow, the way they prepare plantains makes them beyond delicious. Did I mention that all of the arepas are GF? So thrilling to go into a place and be able to enjoy much of the menu! (If you're celiac or have an intolerance to gluten, you'll know what I'm talking about. Pro tip: Get at least one extra sauce for your arepa. The Domino comes with one container of their avocado sauce, and remembering how I scraped out every morsel the last time, I ordered two. Two sauces got me through the arepa, but honestly, I could've enjoyed a third.

I wish this place was open when I went to UMD!…read more This was my first time having arepas (and Venezuelan food in general), and I loved it. Even though they're known for arepas, the pabellón bowl ended up being my favorite it tasted like a comforting, home-cooked meal in the best way. The staff were also super helpful and took the time to explain their options. The space itself is so modern and clean and there's a cute little market area on the side with things for sale. Would absolutely go back!

Idc what anyone says...I LOVEEE Arepa Zone! I will TREK on a lunch break to eat here hunny, in 4…read moreinch heels and all! My go-to-order here is the Pabellón Arepa. While it may 'look' small in size, it packs enough of a punch to fill you up completely. It's stuffed with flavorful, moist shredded beef, chunky queso fresco, savory plantains and black beans. It comes with a side of garlic cilantro sauce to seal all the flavors together, though you lowkey end up wishing you paid for another one by the time you finish ;) What's more, they offer a free arepa of any choice when you tell them your birthday, which is an awesome customer loyalty perk. When I'm feeling extra spicy, I order an empanada or two (usually carne molida), and I'm beyond satisfied. I will make the journey here every time!