It took me over a year to realize Gusto Gourmet was more than just a cute cafe but a legit option…read morefor Venezuelan cuisine. Their unique position as one of the only Venezuelan spots in the loop becomes even more niche when one realizes that part of the menu is also Mediterranean / Middle Eastern (#1). If that's not Houston in a nutshell, I don't know what is. The place sports a casual vibe with a clean and bright interior. It's been practically empty with every visit, but I suspect the takeout game is strong here. There is limited parking in the back of the restaurant and the narrow alleyway entrance is somewhat easy to miss. Food wise, I am not disappointed. Their cheese cachapa is the stuff of dreams and includes a number of stuffings from ham to shredded chicken / beef. My vote is for their pabellón, which is a nice combination of shredded beef, black beans, and sweet plantains. For cheese lovers, the double cheese is perfectly indulgent with the sweetness of the cornmeal. The main draw for me was the arepas, which is something I missed having had so much of it back in NYC. La Pelua (shredded beef, mixed shredded cheese) is one of my go-tos, but my all-time favorite is the reina pepiada, a shredded chicken mixed with avocado topped with sprinkled salty white cheese. It's a staple in the Venezuelan arepa game and while their version is very solid, I'm just extremely thankful that it's available. Their breakfast platters are a big draw, which mainly consist of scrambled egg combos paired with arepas and various proteins. I think their yuca buñelos, tequeños, patacones, and especially their mandocas are incredibly underrated. The latter is practically dessert since it's mashed plantains with the cachapa stuffed with sugar and cheese. While they're not known for their empanadas, I do think their cazon (#2) is unique and their potato and cheese is always hearty. The shredded beef is a nice alternative to their arepas or arepitas (side) and make for an excellent snack on the go. Fans of Venezuelan cuisine who find themselves in the inner loop owe them a visit and I highly recommend calling ahead of time to ensure they have items available and to get a jump on the wait time for takeout. They are a slept on gem in the neighborhood and one that I hope sticks around for a very long time. _____________ (#1) The owners are Venezuelan and Syrian. The sweetest couple. (#2) Dogfish? It's really a mini shark.

Great Venezuelan food! I have celiac (gluten-free) and I'm vegetarian and they have multiple…read moreoptions available. They even have a gluten free fryer separate from a regular fryer, which is great! The restaurant itself is very casual, few tables and friendly staff at the counter for helping decide. I tried the caxapa with cheese, 3 empanadas with various fillings, and the plain mini areas. All the items were good especially the caxapa and the empandas, though I think the combination of items I picked was definitely fryer-heavy. The sauces they were served with with are also a nice accompaniment. We got to go and excited to try out more of their menu!

Absolutely DELICIOUS! I got the Martinez rice and a Paella Norah. Both were extremely flavorful and…read morefilling. Very kind staff and I liked how welcoming and cozy the restaurant is.

Trying to treat myself to lunch and stumble upon this restaurant with decent google review. I was…read moreanticipating a sandwich lunch menu but I was only offered the dinner menu, which is fine. The wait staff was very nice and friendly , it was pretty empty during lunch on the Tuesday before thanksgiving. Also understandable. I was deciding between a sea bass dish, tenderloin risotto and something else and decided on the risotto- well it came out with 4 1-inch cube meat. There was certainly a lot of rice but I didn't feel that I was served $27 worth of food. There was no indication that this was a lunch portion as the menu specifically labeled this under dinner. I attached a google review screen shot for you readers to compare. Overall, service was ok but I am not sure if I want to return.

While it's possible I'm among the minority, I'm incredibly happy with the offerings here. In the…read morelast couple of years since moving from NYI, I haven't found many legit Venezuelan options until recently here at Sabor Venezolano. I'm pleased to report that the food lives up to the name and most everything was quite sabroso and very Venezuelan. The place is bigger than it looks from the outside, but seating is really limited to solo diners and small groups. There are counter seats toward the back and small cafe tables in the front. There are some refrigerated items for grab and go while ordering is done at the counter. I'd recommend calling ahead of time for faster pickup. If you're able to order in Spanish, do it. The food gets a thumbs up. Much of the menu is Venezuelan specific which includes cachapas, arepas, tumbarachos, patacondes, and tequeños. While they have a "menú Mexicano" that features quesadillas, tacos, burritos, and tortas, I'd avoid it if at all possible. The arepas might appear to be smaller, but they're packed. I personally loved their jamón y queso guayanés, in which the latter is a thick slab of gooey cheese. A similar arepa is their mechada y queso guayanés, which is equally tasty and I appreciate that they have cazón (#1) as an option. The pelua (beef + cheese) and reina (shredded chicken with avocado) will be my perpetual favorites and the cachapas with tequeños are also particularly hearty. The food is a bit pricier than most Venezuelan fare I've had previously, foodflation never surprises me anymore. Given how often I'm in the neighborhood, I already know that I'll be here more often than not. __________ (#1) Nothing like a little shark to get your day started.

Solid Venezuelan food…read more If you are craving tequeños, an arepa, empanada, or such victuals, this is a solid spot. Counter service, order and they bring your food to your table. Ambiance is an ethnic strip mall restaurant, with Latin flavor. Salsa music playing, people coming and going is it what is. I'm a fan.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in town, specially because I'm from South America and the…read moretaste is splendid and delicious, super tasty. The people that worked there are always super nice, I recommend you to go with no doubt. The whole place is always clean, shining with I love.

The service was slow, but it was well worth the wait. The steak sandwich had steak, ham cheese,…read moreegg, lettuce and some other ingredients as well. Loaded and so good.

This place was such a pleasant surprise that I invited a group of friends to meet me there a few…read moreweeks later. The edamame falafel was so moist & delicious. We had yuca fries, empanafas, the cheese (both fried & cold). All were good. The best thing for me was the sandwich they make with flattened, fried plantains that serve as the bread. I loved it & ordered it both visits. It's called a patacon. The restaurant is small but clean & has plenty of tables. There's usualky a game on the tv. Our server was very sweet.

I just walked in the door about 5 minutes ago. First time ever coming into this establishment. The…read moreyoung lady working the front counter was too sleepy to help or give me answers to my simple questions. I asked about their Monday BOGO special for cachapas, she lays her head down and starts waving her finger up and down. I asked her if she could speak up (because the TV was blaring) she continued to mumble. I asked her if she was ok, she said yes but she's sleepy. Apparently too sleepy to provide a modicum of customer service. I was really looking for to trying their food since I've passed them so many times before. Needless to say I'm not paying for bad service at the onset... The place was empty. I can't help but to think it's because they are sleeping on their customers. I see your response, which is exactly why I didn't bother to ask for a manager. This can't be the first time someone has received bad service like this because the young lady was too comfortable with her behavior. You'd do better to speak with your staff to not give zero star service. Thanks but no thanks.

Used to live in the neighborhood so decided to come back and celebrate my upcoming birthday with…read morefamily. I missed the guava and cheese pastelitos which were still as good as I remembered. The shredded beef with plantain and arepa were a great breakfast. So much food. Well worth it. The feel hasn't changed over the last so many years. It is a simple decor. Nothing over the top but foods just right. Honestly I wish it was closer to where I live now to go back more often. The Venezuelan coffee had the perfect level of sweetness. Only downfall was a bit of a hiccup with the food but it worked out in the end.

Love this place. We ordered a gaggle of food. Almost all of the pastelitos, a couple empanadas, and…read morea couple arepas. My fave was the pepperoni and cheese -- the cheese is the special part. In addition, we ordered a couple guava juices, pineapple juices, and even a funky grape soda. Our food was ready in a reasonable amount of time, including the time it takes to ake the drinks. The restaurant has a good family vibe to it also. I really like businesses like these. 5/5

Food is mid and expensive we got some appetizers it's mostly fried food, flavor is barely there,…read moredidn't really enjoy it. The crust on the empanadas could of been a little less harder They are very nice people though and have fast service for a food truck.

Wow the food here was a tad greasy butt flavorful! Really wanted to try an arepa I've had em before…read morebut plain made by my friend these were stuffed w meat n cheese and mayo or some sauce! Service was friendly! Nice tables to eat outside. Next to a bar or something which had loud music.. so vibes lol

Look for the food trailer off Mason Rd !!!!! Legit…read moreVenezuelan Arepas these bad boys are stuffed to your liking. Filling and good size portions. Try the Llanera if you like beef my wife prefers the Reina Pepiada (chicken avocado arepa) The pastelitos are also a nice appetizer.

GREAT TEQUENOS in KATY area compared to other local Venezulen restaurants…read more It was cooked to perfection. The right amount of crisp, and the queso was really good. We also ordered a empanada, super good. Thick and homemade.

Been a fan of this place since they opened! The place is pretty small but it has is the coziest…read morebakery vibe AND it is so clean all the time! The ladies there are always very nice and I think at this point, I've tried everything there. I've brought all my family and clients here and everybody only has good things to say. Their almond croissant is the best almond croissant I've ever had and every sandwich comes out so flaky and baked to the exact right crispiness. Coffee is great and if I'm not on a diet a lot, I'd be here a lot more.

El mejor cachito de Jamón y Queso en USA y no lo pienso discutir... 1000% recomendado!!!!read more

Marini's Empanadas is a Houston institution for a reason. They've been around forever, and the…read moreconsistency and quality still hit every single time. The selection is expansive. There's truly something for everyone...and honestly, I've never had anything here that wasn't good. That said, I always come back to my staples: Las Adelitas, The Oinker, and Italian Marcelo. Each one is packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and made with love. Whether you're a first-timer or a longtime Houstonian, Marini's never disappoints. A must-visit...and revisit.

This place has been on my radar for a long time and finally stopped today. That was best decision I…read moremade all day. The place was tucked off in plaza I had to get up in there and was so pleasantly surprised. So cozy and cute. They have a great selection of empanadas and all the ones I had were sooooooo good. The spinach was a little juicier than I anticipated but everything was made so fresh. The Tia Maria and eggplant were my favorites and the sauces were a great addition in flavor. The dessert empanada sweet potatoes was top tier. The filling was just sweet enough, definitely want to taste the others, especially since they make their own fruit fillings. I can see how they've been around for so long. New customer alert !