Cilantro & Ajo is a Venezuelan street food restaurant. They have multiple locations, but my friends…read moreand I visited the Lawrenceville location. Parking is a little tricky because it is street parking only, but we got lucky with a spot right out front. Ordering is super easy and efficient. They have menus up front where you order, and then you sit down and they bring your food to you. I've never tried Venezuelan food so this really was a great experience. I wanted to try it all. Here's what I ordered: [Brown Lemonade]: Tasty and different than your average lemonade [Plaintains]: Sweet with queso fresco [Arepas]: Mine had chicken & gouda and was absolutely delicious. Soft and flavorful. [Empanadas]: These were really tasty. I really loved the beef with the peppers & onions. My friends really loved their papallon bowls, and overall, the experience was really great! This was such a unique experience with unique food. I will be back!

I really wanted to like this place. As a Latin American person, I make a point to support small…read moreLatin American businesses, but after my experience at Cilantro y Ajo, I have to think twice. First, they don't offer coffee, which is surprising for a restaurant representing a culture where coffee is such a staple. That was already disappointing, but the service made things worse. When I politely asked the owner -- a woman with a noticeably unpleasant attitude -- to add two scrambled eggs to my order, she flat-out refused. No explanation, no alternative, just a rude "no." The entire interaction felt dismissive and unwelcoming. Between the lack of basic menu items and the unprofessional service, this visit was a huge letdown. I genuinely hope they improve, but based on this experience, I won't be returning.

Kaya was absolutely fantastic! We visited on a busy holiday weekend Saturday night without…read morereservations and expected a long wait, but they were incredibly accommodating and immediately seated us at the bar. They also offer both indoor and outdoor seating, which was a nice touch. We started with the Pineapple Mango Tomatillo Salsa and both ordered the Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos. Everything was perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. The salsa and tacos had the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors without either overpowering the other. One of the best meals we've had in a long time. Highly recommend Kaya!

We were in town visiting our friend in Pittsburg and she was ecstatic to take us to this…read morerestaurant! She has been here 4-5 times! Our friend is vegan and we were happy to know that they had several vegan options for her! She had the paella, mango salsa and tropical guacamole! I had the jerk chicken tacos and I LOVED THEM (especially all the cilantro on them )!! Great drinks too! Service was amazing and quick! The restaurant is also in a very cool part of Pittsburg! A lot of shops and other restaurants to check out! The only downside is the music was very loud which made chatting kind of difficult...

4.5 stars overall. Pabellon is a casual restaurant that serves Venezuelan and Mexican foods for…read morelunch, dinner, and catering for dining in, takeout, and delivery. The menu lists appetizers (e.g., tequenos, tostones, yucca, and tortilla chips with dips), Venezuelan arepas (gluten-free cornmeal cakes filled with meats, cheese, or vegetables), Venezuelan empanadas (gluten-free cornmeal filled with meats, cheese, black beans, or plantains), Venezuelan mains (gluten-free criollo, cachapa, and patacones), Mexican tacos, Mexican burritos, Mexican enchiladas, non-alcoholic beverages, desserts (e.g., flan and churros), and more. Venezuelan cuisine is a blend of indigenous, Spanish, and African influences, and most of it is naturally gluten-free. In addition, several vegetarian options are available, and some menu items can be customized to be vegan. Since 2021, my husband and I have eaten here off and on, and all of our meals have been excellent. The employees promptly and courteously serve us. Here are my ratings for the menu items that we ate: Tortilla chips with queso and guacamole - 4.5 stars - The tortilla chips had a good flavor. The queso tasted extremely cheesy. The guacamole was very freshly made. Beef empanada - 4.5 stars - The fried-dough exterior was perfectly crispy, and the beef filling was savory. I particularly enjoyed the green sauce on the side. Seafood empanada - 3.5 stars - This fried cornmeal pastry was filled with tilapia, shrimp, and vegetables. It was a large size, and the flavors were alright. Pabellon empanada - 4.5 stars - This fried cornmeal pastry contained black beans, white cheese, shredded beef, and sweet plantains. My husband ate it and said that he really liked it. Llanera chicken arepa - 5 stars - This arepa is my husband's favorite go-to. It was a very large size, and it was stuffed with much chicken, lettuce, tomato (although my husband does not like tomato), cheese, and guacamole. My husband commented that the combination of flavors was delicious. On the side was guasacaca, a tangy Venezuelan sauce that is made from avocados, green peppers, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and mayonnaise. Chicken quesadilla - 4 stars - A flour tortilla was filled with shredded chicken, cheese, onions, and peppers. The ingredients were very fresh, but the quesadilla tasted slightly plain even with the sides of guacamole and sour cream, so I dipped it in queso. Veggie quesadilla - 5 stars - A flour tortilla was stuffed with yellow cheese, green peppers, and onions. On the side were pico de gallo, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. I really liked the gooey cheese and the flavors of the vegetables. Soft tacos - 4.5 stars - My husband ate these tacos. One was filled with chicken, and the other was filled with pork. He seemed to enjoy them. Plantains - 5 stars - These fried plantains tasted very sweet, and they were topped with some cheese. The serving size was generous. Tres leches cake - 5 stars - A large slice of cake was soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. I really enjoyed the taste of the sweet cake and the spicy cinnamon.

We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and were happily greeted by an employee at the counter. We…read moredecided to order food to go - two arepas and some churros. The gentleman at the counter offered some suggestions as we looked at the menu. He even let us sample some of the fresh juices! The restaurant is bright and welcoming with plenty of windows and seating. The special churro station off to the right instantly got my mouth watering. I had to try them! The arepas looked and smelled so good we couldn't wait to dig in, so we ate in the car. The arepa was crispy but fluffy. It was packed with fillings and flavor. Even after eating we could still taste the flavors which only made us want more!! The churros were also delicious. We can't wait to return and try more!

This spot has been consistent every time we have shown up. If you love bread, the coconut bake is a…read moremust try. You can order it with avocado or sun dried tomato, and it is topped with fried mushrooms that add texture and flavor. You also get a choice between spicy vegetables or plantains. I always choose the vegetables. We have tried the roti as well, which can be filled with your choice of ingredients. The curry chickpeas with potato were excellent and full of flavor. The banana bread is made without eggs (right?) and still has a sweet glaze that makes it hard to pass up. They also offer vegan chocolate chip cookies for anyone with a sweet tooth. A great option when you want a flavorful meal without cooking after a long day.

One of the most unexpected meals I had in Pittsburgh was at this unique eatery. I was spending the…read moreafternoon strolling the North Side from the Andy Warhol Museum to the Mattress Factory. I noticed this spot on Google Maps because the idea of Trinidadian vegan fare appealed to me after gorging at Primanti Bros. the day before. It was a cute, bright space and fortunately not crowded. The menu looked tempting with unique dishes like Buss Up Shut (pull-apart bread with fillings) and Coconut Bake (traditional Trini bread). I decided to order the $15 Bowl of Coconut Rice with the choice of three toppings and a sauce. I went with okra, pumpkin, and stir-fried mushrooms.with a side of mango chutney (Photo 9). It was a delightfully housemade melange of Caribbean-style flavors. I've had similar West Indian food before, and this was definitely one of the fresher executions. Although intrigued by the Tamarind Ginger Drink, I decided to order the $4 Iced Coffee to wet my whistle (Photo 6). This led to my quick indulgence of the $3 Key Lime Cookie (Photo 8). If I lived in Pittsburgh, I'd be coming here often. Making Caribbean food vegan and delicious is no small feat. FOOD - 5 stars...really fresh tasting Caribbean food that happens to be vegan AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a small spot but comfy with Trinidadian art SERVICE - 4.5 stars...attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...uniquely unexpected find in Pittsburgh RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL