I recently visited Colada Shop in Clarendon and had an outstanding meal--one that easily earns it a 5-star review. Here's a detailed breakdown of my experience: Atmosphere & Service From the moment I walked in, the vibe struck me as lively yet comfortable: Cuban-influenced décor, plenty of seating, and a relaxed energy that draws you in. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the pace was just right--not rushed, but focused. The restaurant is described as a "fine-casual spot serving coffee, food, cocktails & conversation." Service matched the promise, with quick attention and helpful suggestions. All of this set the stage perfectly for a great meal. The Food I sampled three main items: the Cuban sandwich, the yucca fries, and the key lime pie. Each offered its own highlight, and together they made for a very satisfying visit. Cuban Sandwich This sandwich was the centerpiece of the meal--and it delivered. Layered ham, slow-roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, house-made pickles, and a cilantro aioli on Cuban bread. * The bread was crisp on the outside yet soft inside; a great vehicle for the fillings. * The pork had a rich, slow-roasted flavor that stood out from the usual deli fare. * The combination of mustard + house pickles + aioli gave a tangy, slightly creamy punch that balanced the richness of the meats. A reviewer on Yelp described the sandwich as "gigantic... both were very delicious." I agree--this was a sandwich I would order again without hesitation. Yucca Fries As a side, the yucca fries were a standout. These aren't your standard potato fries--they bring a different texture and flavor profile. The exterior was crisp, the interior pleasantly dense and slightly chewy in the best way. The cilantro aioli that accompanied them added a fresh herbal lift, making the fries feel elevated rather than generic. According to the menu, they are listed as "fraired yucca with cilantro aioli." My take: a smart and tasty side that complements heavier plates. Key Lime Pie To close out the meal, I enjoyed the key lime pie. The dessert arrived with a tart-sweet filling on a Maria cookie crust. On the menu it's described as "tart & sweet filling with Maria cookie crust." * The tartness was pronounced--just enough to wake up the palate after the richness of the main dish, but balanced so it wasn't puckering. * The crust offered a subtle crunch and a sweet, buttery base that contrasted nicely with the tang of the lime. * It felt like a well-thought-out dessert: satisfying without being over the top. In short: a lovely finish to the meal. Highlights & Unique Touches * The Cuban sandwich here feels crafted rather than mass-produced--attention to ingredient quality and flavor balance. * Yucca fries aren't so common on casual menus; the fact they offered them (and did them well) is a big plus. * The dessert selection, including the key lime pie, signals that the kitchen cares about the full meal experience, not just the main course. * The Clarendon location is noted specifically on their site among the Arlington-area addresses. * Reviewers consistently mention the flavor and structure of sandwiches here as "another level." Minor Considerations * The sandwich is generous--if you're light-eating, consider sharing or taking half home. * It's busy during peak meal hours, so if you prefer a quieter experience, aim for off-peak times. * While the key lime pie was excellent, if you're after something ultra-decadent (rich fudgy cake, etc.), their dessert menu has other options (e.g., dulce de leche cheesecake) you might also enjoy. Final Verdict Colada Shop in Clarendon gets a full 5 stars from me. It hits the mark in atmosphere, service, food quality, and thoughtful menu choices. Whether you're going for a standout sandwich, an interesting side like yucca fries, or a satisfying dessert like key lime pie, this place delivers. I would absolutely return and recommend it highly to anyone seeking flavorful Cuban-influenced fare in the Arlington area. read more

This location is very inviting and has a ton of natural light. There are outlets for those needing to plug in and work with some coffee and a snack. They also have some outdoor seating for when it's nice out. The staff is always friendly and attentive. I've grabbed a quick meal here multiple times and every single thing I've ordered has been good. The empanadas, guava pastries, sandwiches, coffee, smoothies, everything. read more

Holy smokes! It's cold and rainy and awful out, but inside the Colada Shop everything is *good*. The staff was warm and welcoming. You can order at the counter, via a kiosk, or via QR code at the table. We ordered the cold brew, which came with an adorable tiny stamp to seal the mouth, and the mariposa matcha with oat milk, whose pale blue color and sweet creaminess was the perfect thing to warm me up! Loved! The Havana Ooh La La was our way of sampling some of what Colada had to offer and it was a hit! We tried the veggie options of everything. The dough of the empanadas was so light and flaky, buttery and delicious. The filling could have been an afterthought and they still would have been worth the price, but the filling was also delicious! The croquettes were smaller than expected but tasty, and the so so thin plantain chips were perfectly crunchy and lightly salted. The assorted dips each had distinct flavors. Our favorite was the black bean dip. An easy 5 stars all day! read more

Colada Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My experience was terrible at the DCA location. It appears to be counter service so I ordered in line and then looked for a place to sit and eat my warm plate. When I go to sit at the bar the server was SO RUDE and explained its dine in only and would not let me sit to eat. Mind you, my food hasn't come out so they can easily plate it and acknowledge the signage was confusing so it wasn't clear there were two options. It's clear the intent it to secure tips which is fine because it tipped at the order counter. So the server would have been taken care of. But instead I had to find a corner in the terminal to eat my cold food instead of just letting me sit down. Food itself was a 3/5. Fine, greasy but ok. read more

The restaurant seemed clean, but a little tight around the window. The workers were quick and attentive. I thought that the cordadito was a little sweet even with 1/4 sweetness. The pastelitos were nice and flaky. The Guava and cheese was a good mix of sweet and savory while the beef was not too salty read more

Colada Shop - Left is PICADILLO (beef) PASTELITO Right is GUAVA & CHEESE PASTELITO Drink is CORTADITO 1/4 sugar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Brand new Colado location near work. Tried it out for lunch. The food and drinks were good. Very good vibe with Cuban music, indoor/outdoor seating. Nice addition to the neighborhood. Staff was very attentive and quick efficient service. read more

Colada Shop - SOFRITO CHICKEN Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Great food and service. It was my first time visiting this morning and I will definitely be back to try other dishes. read more

Colada Shop - SPINACH BREAKFAST SANDWICH - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Ordered the cafe con leche sweetened (miami sweet). We tried half sweet and it wasn'tsweet enough for us with the double shot of espresso. Came a couple of times here during our short visit to D.C. we are pleased with each person that took our order and prepared the coffee. read more

I came here for a weekday lunch. You can either order at a kiosk or with a person at the register. I opted to order with the person, because I had a few questions. I ended up getting a Cuban sandwich, Cafe cubano with pistachio milk, and some pastries to share with my friends later. The Cuban sandwich was definitely the start of the meal! The first bite was divine! It was so flavorful and the bread had this amazing flaky/crispy quality to it. I had the sensation of biting into a croissant without all of the flaky pieces getting all over the place. The ham and pork were so flavorful together and the pickle added a wonderful tangy crunch to it. Absolutely delicious! I'm a bit apathetic towards the cafe cubano. It was pretty bitter, and I probably wouldn't get it with the pistachio milk in the future because I felt like the pistachio flavor was a bit overpowering. The pastries were pretty good - I got the guava, guava and cream cheese, and picadillo pastelitos. The puff pastry was flaky but a bit heavy on the crust at the ends (or maybe not enough of the guava filling to fill up the interior of the pastelitos. I think my favorite of the three was the picadillo. I was told that it was sweet, but it tasted savory to me. read more

This little shop is fire. A wonderful spot for a little date. 10/10 cafecito. 10/10 pastry. 10/10 customer service. I wish this little business all the success. read more

Colada Shop - Pastry was long gone before the photo was taken. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I had an amazing experience, food is incredible tasty and delicious. From the moment I walked in, the staff were friendly and helpful. The customer service was top-notch, I'll be returning! read more

Loved it! The churro coffee was delicious! My grandson loved the Santiago salad - he's 3 so that tells you how yummy it was. The staff was so friendly and kind! Highly recommend. read more

Colada Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Service was amazing. Guava BBQ pollo was good. The BBQ tasted good. The croquetas had a nice flavor and texture. I will definitely come back. read more

Colada Shop - Guava BBQ Pollo with side of ham croquetas - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Food is good. The people are helpful, a service charge is added when you dine in, they bring your things and the place is kept clean. The prices are rather pricy but you get what you pay for. I come too often and I'm excited that they are opening a shop at Regan national. read more

Good food and service. Convenient online ordering. Sandwiches and empanadas are tasty and good portions. Love the plantains and the coffee.

Great service and great food. The ropa vieja sliders were amazing. Try their pouches because OMG so good!!!! Their pastelitos are so yummy and fresh. What I love the most is the vide, the friendly atmosphere and the music. Also, I learned that a Latina woman owns this place so I'm a forever customer! read more

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The beef empanadas were amazing. Came back two days in a row to get the empanadas for breakfast. Coffee was delicious. Service was great.

My go to coffee spot while in DC. Cafe con leche done Miami style. Cuban food was tasty. Highly recommend!

I love the chia seed pudding here, it's SOO good! It's a bit pricey, but I always get one when I come here. The ambiance is cute and colorful, and the service is great. read more

Nice place to get a chance to Cuban sandwich and a caffe con Leche. Clean. Outdoor seating.

We came in from California and were blown away by this little coffee shop. I ordered the cafe con latte with espresso sugar and it's delicious! Not overly sweet as I usually order a cold brew or occasionally a chai latte. I asked the woman who rang us up if she had a recommendation on a breakfast sandwich and she recommended the pulled pork egg and Swiss with avocado added. You guys the bread was soooo good and fresh soft on the inside with a crispy yet thin crust. My friend ordered the cafe bon bon with added shots (4 shots with sweetened condensed milk) I had a little sip and it was sooo good, rich and creamy. The quality of the espresso was excellent. She also ordered the avocado toast; avocado and pickled onions and a fried egg drizzled with a flavorful vinegrette on two pieces of very soft baguette. All around the quality was fantastic. The place itself is very clean with twinkle lights and modern light fixtures and cozy booths to sit in. The lighting is low which is really nice with lots of natural light from the windows. It has a feminine feel to it. The woman at the front counter was very patient, kind and pretty and she delivered everything to our table. If I come back to dc this place will be a must. read more

Colada Shop - Avocado toast with fried egg drizzled either - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Definitely delicious food, the team is very friendly and the restaurant always clean. Big shout out to this cuban experience!

As a native Floridian I don't take my Cuban reviews lightly. Coloda shop has it all figured out. Sandwiches coffee everything is fresh and tasty. Bonus happy hour and specials throughout the weekend. Cannot wait to see the holiday deceptions they are always so beautiful! read more

Wow wow wow! Gorgeous little shop and outstanding service. The banana and coffee smoothie I had was also out of this world. 5/5 stars.

Great service and friendly staff. Waited a long time for our order and the food was maybe lukewarm when it finally arrived. Not sure if it was all precooked or it sat on the bench waiting to be brought from the kitchen. The ham croquettes were delicious. Skip the tostada and the breakfast sandwich with mojo pork. It's very bland. read more

Coming from someone who grew up eating Cuban food, this place was alright. The food was decent but very over priced. While the ambiance is nice, dining here is not truthfully worth the price. I will say I was impressed to find boniato items as part of their menu, the boniato croqueta was yummy. read more

I LOVE visiting here for brunch, a midday snack, or a sweet drink on the go. Workers have all been extremely kind and attentive. The ONE rare occurrence my order was incorrectly prepared, they were apologetic and quick to resolve it. Restaurant itself is on the smaller side of Colada's I've been, but it's sooo cute inside. On top of that, the attentive workers make for an even more pleasant dining atmosphere. Keep up the great work, Colada crew! read more

Food choice is limited. Drinks are good. Coffee is really good. Service is fine. Ambiance is fun. That being said - they have high prices, charge service fees and on top of that don't provide the full service. You order via bar code on the table and someone random brings out the food. No ability to customize orders etc, even if asking a random server that walks by. We live nearby and there are rarely customers. With SO many other places around, this place is really at the bottom of the list. read more

Had three different servers working my table to bring food and drinks in seconds it seemed! Fantastic happy hour. Flaky delicious empanada with bacon, egg and cheese and croquetas were so flavorful! Passion fruit daiquiri's perfect:) Rasha the store manager stopped by to chat. Wonderful experience with great Latin, Cuban music and legit staff! It's a 10!!!! read more

I stopped in here for the first time to grab some tea, and the staff was incredibly kind and helpful. I haven't tried food here yet, but I tried another locations and it is great. read more

Negative first: bring your wallet because you're going to need it. That said, the food was absolutely delicious. I've had a lot of Cuban sandwiches in different parts of the country (including Miami), and this was probably the best I've ever had. Perfect combination of ingredients, and the bread! My goodness. Delicately crispy on the outside, soft and delicious inside. Another protein bowl was also great, but ask for a second side of dressing. read more

Very friendly staff, great vibe, and the food is very authentic and delicious. We split the Cuban sandwich, croquets (jamon), and empanada picadillos. Great prices. Highly recommend. read more