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    El Paisa Bbq

    3.9 (35 reviews)
    InexpensiveBarbeque, Colombian
    Closed 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Paisa Bbq Photos

    Business Info

    EL PAISA BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Veronica J.

    Very. Delicious. Food. Most definitely order in advance and it doesn't matter if you aren't sure if you'll like it because I'm sure you will. There's a daiquiri place down the plaza and this went perfectly with our entrees. It took almost thirty minutes to receive our orders but the wait was well worth it. They also take cash only and don't charge tax!

    Choriburger
    Abe G.

    The Richmond Strip (is it still called that?!?) between Gessner and Fondren contains an eclectic mix of clubs, bars, diners, drives in and dives concentrated in, forever Houston, shopping centers. In an atypical zoning-free neighborhood interspersed with suburban housing, small-town living, country living, third world apartments, sits an out-of-place building like a one-hour photo processing booth, back in the eighties, did. Located in the middle of a parking lot next to a dollar store, across the street from a Whataburger, competing with Ethiopian and Jamaican cuisines, El Paisa BBQ - el orgullo Colombiano - the pride of Colombia, delves. On such a beautiful day, I decide to try it out on my lunch hour because of the walk-up window and outdoor patio. Parking is not at all an issue for the lot is massive but interestingly most of the patrons park their vehicles around the restaurant forming a fort, of some sort. The menu is straightforward burgers, fried fish, carne asada, chicharron, chorizo, and the trio of rice, beans, and arepas. Emboldened I order the Choriburger. WTH. I take a seat in the outdoor patio, a tented set of wooden park benches reminiscent of a U.N. refugee camp and wait for them to call out my order. My goodness the day was beautiful, breezy sunny 82 degrees, in Houston this occurs perhaps 5 times a year, so el Paisa my choice of eating. Beauty surpassing the day, in a nod to Colombianas, the people watching is quite enjoyable as patron after patron parks her car, places their order, and wait as I do. After fifteen minutes, my order is yelled out, I walk up to the window, pay and return to the tent. Like opening a Christmas gift, I quickly remove the softball sized burger from its aluminum foil wrapping and marvel in its tact. Removing the top bun, I discover the Choriburger is a minced green onion sausage patty drenched in mozzarella topped off with crumpled potato chips. A gluttonous delight for many but too much for me as my first bite is small and careful. The burger is sweet akin to the all- you-can-eat Chinese BBQ ribs found at buffets more so than Texas style. The green onion is biting with the crumpled salted Lays counteracting the sweet. I finish half the burger, eat some fries and call it an afternoon. In all respects, this place is a dive, yet my quest to find that hole in the wall to satisfy both my taste buds and to partake in water cooler talk is a failure. My own fault. Food is nourishment, not a discussion piece, without explanation it just didn't work for me. Either way unless stapled to your bedroom wall is a poster of Valderrama or are combating after-the-club hunger, El Pais is not the best place to grab a bite to eat, especially on your lunch hour.

    Lucy T.

    Note to everyone: CALL AT LEAST 45MINS AHEAD! BRING YOUR OWN NAPKINS! Anyways, biggest perk of being friends with Colombians is being able to eat their food without everyone staring at you too hard. I love their burgers and fries. I almost never get anything else because I'm scared I'll end up regretting not getting the burger. It's so messy and yummy and ughhhh sooooo gooodddd!

    Cameron K.

    The appearance is lacking but the taste makes you forget all about that. Carne Asada was delicious

    Hours
    TJ M.

    This is a great place when you want to bargain and no frills. I went twice and got the same el Paisa combo both times. This time the beef was more tender but the chicharones were cooked a little too crunchy for my taste. It was a nice night so I ate outside in their small eating area oddly located in the middle of a strip center parking lot. I was joined by a local stray cat but I was snubbed when I tried to offer him a piece of sausage. He only ate after I offered him a little bit of egg to go along.

    Bandeja paisa

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great place to get quick Colombian empanadas and fast food - prices are reasonable and service was quick

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing, just remember to bring cash. 10/10 empanadas i ordered like 150 of them & they had them ready to go

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Always love the $1 empanadas!!! We order 30 at a time! Chicken and beef!! The best! I look forward to it when we visit Houston

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Best empanadas in Southwest HOUSTON!!! Fast service and the food is always hot! Never cold.

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    13 years ago

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    8 years ago

    the food isn't authentic colombian food it has changed drastically in flavor more towards the central american food .

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    Little Colombia

    Little Colombia

    3.9(51 reviews)
    20.1 mi
    $$

    Little Colombia Bakery & Restaurant has quickly become one of my favorite breakfast spots, after a…read moregood run with my favorite running club in the area (CRA) . First off, the service is top notch. The staff are friendly, attentive, and make you feel right at home -- exactly what you want when you're starting your day. Special thanks to Katy ! The food? Everything I've tried for breakfast has been straight-up delicious. No misses here. My favorites? The Capuccino and the Pan de Bono!! And for desert , the passion fruit mousse ! And the vibe is just so inviting -- super family-friendly, It's relaxed, comfortable, and has that warm neighborhood feel that's hard to find these days.

    From the moment you walk in, the restaurant feels bright, warm, and welcoming. The colorful mural…read moreinstantly catches your eye and beautifully reflects the heart and vibrancy of Colombian culture. And the bakery aroma? Absolutely divine. It fills the space in the best way possible and immediately pulls you in for the full experience. One thing that really stood out to me was the customer service. The staff was genuinely friendly and welcoming, which, unfortunately, hasn't always been my experience at other Colombian restaurants. Many places I've visited primarily speak Spanish, which can sometimes make ordering a challenge. Here, I felt completely at ease and well taken care of. We started with the beef empanadas, and I highly recommend them. The crust was perfectly crispy, while the filling was soft, flavorful, and comforting. Paired with their salsa, which had just the right kick of spice, it was an excellent combination that made for a strong start to the meal. I ordered my go-to favorite, the Bandejita. The presentation was beautiful and appetizing, but sadly, the bold flavors I'm used to just weren't quite there for me. The flat steak tasted under-seasoned, and I actually found myself adding salt, which I've never had to do before at other restaurants. The pork sausage also seemed a bit dry inside, but my husband said that's how it should be, so perhaps that was just my preference. The beans had a different flavor than what I'm accustomed to as well, not bad by any means, just noticeably different. On a positive note, the pork belly was perfectly crispy, exactly how it should be, and the plantains were sweet and cooked to perfection. Overall, the menu looks incredibly tempting, and there are still plenty of dishes I'd love to come back and try. While I may skip the Bandejita next time, I definitely plan on returning to explore more of what they have to offer.

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    Little Colombia
    Little Colombia
    Little Colombia

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    El Paisa Bbq - bbq - Updated June 2026

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