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.
