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    Exotic Latin Grill

    4.3 (132 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

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    EXOTIC LATIN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Exotic Latin Grill

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    Menu
    Jonathan K.

    Oh man... Authentic but very accessible latin fare To the lay Mexican food fan. Food was super fresh & such a fun & diverse menu. If I lived in Columbus I would have to be a weekly visitor.

    Colombian Hot Dogs
    Adri C.

    *Cash only From the name and location, I was super skeptical of this place. But it has actually turned into one of my favorite food places in Columbus! They have delicious, authentic food and fast service. I've tried so many new things there and loved all of them. My recommendations are the Colombian hotdog, arepa with cheese, and stuffed plantain.

    Torta !
    Kalah Rae F.

    I have been eating from this truck for a decade! And it's always in this location, right outside of 14-0, which has one of the best carry-out beer selections in the campus area. It should be noted that the place got a major facelift and paint job and it looks much different than it did 10 years ago, but they still only accept CASH so come prepared so you don't have to pay UDF or 14-0's wack atm fees. I've never known the exact hours of operation, but I think I've only stopped in on a few random days over the years and been disappointed to see it closed. Otherwise they are typically open, and usually until pretty late to cater to the boozie midnight snackers who are leaving local bars at that time. My go-to order is a chicken baleada. I usually ask for it to be cooked 'extra crispy', and it comes out perfect. It's like a quesadilla but with a thicker dough instead (I know, sinful) I hadn't been there in awhile, so last time I ordered the house baleada because I saw it had avocado in the photo, low and behold I got a behemoth of 2 eggs, meat, beans, avocado, etc. lol. It was still good even though I am super picky about eggs and I rarely order them when I'm out... let alone from a food truck at 9pm. I also love their tamales, and I order those whenever they are available. They used to not have them most days, but last time they did, so maybe they have them more often now! The best empanada IMO is the Hawaiian empanada which contains cheese and pineapple! Yum. Another favorite item is the arepas. Always amazingly delicious-- like a cheesy cornbread pancake. Last time I ordered both of their beverage options (never had tried them before) and I liked them both. Horchata is always amazing, I would compare it to drinking an iced chai, but less spicy and complex made mostly with cinnamon. The Tamarindo is basically a tamarind-flavored juice. If you've never had Tamarind I'm not quite sure how to describe that, sorta fruity? It's common in Mexico. It's like a super sweet/tart snapple tea flavor that you can't quite place. I would definitely recommend El Manantial Latino :) I'll always go back after those late-night campus shows at Rumba Cafe!

    Carne asada tacos
    Deniece W.

    This food truck has existed in the parking lot of 14-0 for yeeeeears. They offer a decent variety of Latin American food for a food truck. Unfortunately, it took way too long for our food order to be prepared. The burger & carne asada tacos we ordered were good, but over 30 mins is just too long of a wait for food truck food, especially in the campus area.

    #3, must try
    Pat E.

    This food truck is pretty popular. The quality & quantity of food is the reason. Always a wait to get your order, so call ahead. The Cubano is huge, full of meat & cheese. Very filling. Personally, I would like more pickles, but delicious anyway. #3 Bandeja palsa is for the HUNGARY person. Beans, potatoes, rice, sausage, beef, half avocado & plantains. Speaking of plantains, the last few times, fried bananas replaced the plantains. Not sure why as they aren't as good. The woman working at the window is hard to understand, and I am good with accents. If you like very good value price food, this spot is for you. CASH ONLY. MASK REQUIRED to order. Oh and BTW, they have plenty of vegetarian options too if that is your thing :,-)

    Sobrebarriga
    Richard P.

    Exotic Latin Grill has been around for a while; 7 years plus at the current location outside the 14-0 on Hudson, and down by campus before that. At some point, I can't honestly recall when, it came under new ownership. Besides the snazzy new wrap on the trailer, the new ownership also brought with it a few new dishes. Amongst the usual tacos and burritos on the menu are a couple of standout Colombian dishes, including bandeja paisa and sobrebarriga. The sobrebarriga is a particular favorite of mine. Big chunks of unctuous beef stewed with onions, tomatoes, and spices, accompanied by yucca, rice, sweet plantains, half an avocado, and a bit of salad. It's a generous helping of beef; I can get several meals out of the amount of meat. My only gripe is that it doesn't come with enough of Exotic Latin Grill's tasty fried sweet plantains, but this is easily solved by ordering a side of sweet plantains to accompany it, which I unfailingly do. The bandeja paisa is pretty indulgent, if meat is your thing. Chorizo, chicharrones, and flank steak, plus a fried egg, an arepa, half an avocado, rice & black beans, and fried plantains. I would order it more often, but the sobrebarriga (which isn't always available) usually wins out. There are also arepas, empanadas, and tamales to be had, in addition to the usual taco truck offerings. Don't forget to order that side of the fried sweet plantains. They get pretty busy in the evenings, particularly when OSU is in session, but you can always call ahead and then go pick up your order.

    Cuban sandwich, papusa
    Jessica E.

    This place is SO GOOD! The only thing that could make it better is if they excepted credit cards and if the Baleadas were authentic. Don't order the baleada here because it's nothing like an actual Honduran baleada. HOWEVER they have a million other amazing things. You really can't go wrong with the Papusas, empanadas, and tamales. My mom is OBSESSED with the Colombian hot dog and my husband got the Cuban sandwich last time and it was SO good. We still have so many things on the menu that we're looking forward to coming back and trying.

    Empanada, my hand is for scale
    Mindy H.

    I was recommended to go to this food truck so many times by my friends I thought I just had to try it when I didn't have time to make lunch one day. We waited about 7 minutes for our food and we just waited in our car to social distance. It was not a bad wait at all. The person serving us gave us two salsa verdes and 1 hot red sauce. It was the perfect amount to spread on the torta and two empanadas. The empanadas were were freshly fried, crispy and the fillings(shrimp; beans) were soft and nicely spiced. I had a bite of my partner's torta and it was just so good. The steak and cheese complimented each other perfectly. This is a great find and I would not pass up a chance to try Exotic Latino Grill!

    meat (below) and pineapple and cheese empanadas (above)
    Yessica A.

    Soooo good! I love to order their tacos, tortas, empanadas, plantains, and cubans. It's cash only so make sure you have that and a few bills to leave a tip! These guys are extremely hardworking, stay open late, and serve some of the best food on campus. Love this place!

    Burrito
    Patrick S.

    This is the place. Don't let the exterior keep you from eating one of the best food trucks in Columbus. YEARS, I had been driving by and never thought twice about it until a friend recommended it to me. Reasonably priced, fantastic food. My go to is the steak burrito and the pineapple cheese empanadas. Try the salsas. The red is extra spicy so beware. Also cash only. You won't be disappointed.

    Please be great!!!
    Ruben R.

    Coming from Los Angeles I've been on a mission to find some great tacos. I'd like to FINALLY announce, "I have found them!" My 1 complaint is they're double tortilla tacos and I'm not a big fan so take that with a grain of salt. The Pastor was great and no salsa needed, just add lime. The Lengua, oh man, it took me back to my childhood. It's def a top 3 Lengua taco I've ever had. I absolutely loved it. We live in New Albany and that taco is bringing us back. The Asada was really good as well. Unfortunately, the Cuban Sandwich was on the opposite side of the spectrum. The bread was not pressed, it was soggy. 2 pickles for the entire sandwich and very minimal mustard. I hate to say it but it was probably the worst Cuban I've had. I don't entire rule out going back because this is NOT a Cuban truck. I will be back for those tacos and to try other items. My wife got a Torta and she liked it but it wasn't anywhere close to a LA Torta. Flavor was good but to much cheese (shouldn't have any). Lengua Taco 9.5 Pastor Taco 8.2 Asada Taco 8.5 Cuban Sandwich 3.3 Torta 8

    Truck
    Steve A.

    Exotic Latino Grill is another of those food trucks in Columbus. I have usually found it at the carryout on Hudson Street. They have a fairly big menu for a truck. It has lots of Colombian inspired items as well as Mexican. They also have some vegetarian options. I ordered the vegetable burrito. It was $5 and it was massive. This is the best value of any food truck around. It came with a couple of hot sauces. They are so fucking hot beyond belief. If getting the red hot sauce, you need to get something to drink with it. They unfortunately are not able to sell drinks from the truck, so you have to go to the store. The food itself is okay. It's kind of bland without the hot sauce. The burrito needed to be made with a bigger and stronger tortilla. It ripped into pieces almost immediately. They put way too much into it so it made a big mess in the container. I would choose Exotic Latino Grill over some of the other food trucks. It's more authentic tasting if kind of bland. The sauce is very hot so be sure to get a Mexican pop to cool off with.

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

    So good the Cuban sandwich are some of the best I've had. They're so big that I have leftovers for lunch the next day!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was decent, service not so good. Wouldn't go out of my way to go here lots of other options where they seem to appreciate my business.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food was mediocre at best, kinda cold when I got it and everything was overcooked. Not the best for Caribbean food, you can do better.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Mucho mucho tasty. Nicest workers and people in columbus Ohio - arepa w cheese and green sauce and the veggie burrito are champions

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food is all very bland, dry, and flavorless. Disappointing after reading all the raving reviews. Wouldn't go again or recommend.

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    4 years ago

    Pricey for a food truck that serves mediocre food. Never had a good or worthy experience here. This is a cash only establishment too.

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    4 years ago

    Best Latin food ever!! Me and my husband love getting take out From here! Wish the owners would put up a restaurant

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    Exotic Latin Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Exotic Latin Grill

    Are there any gluten-free options?

    Yes. The tacos use corn tortillas, the tamales use masa (cornmeal), and the arepas are made with cornmeal as well. Also, the dishes like sobrebarriga come with rice, no wheat.

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    El Sabor de mi Tierra - Restaurante Salvadoreño - Carne Deshilada @ColumbusFoodDude

    El Sabor de mi Tierra - Restaurante Salvadoreño

    4.5(2 reviews)
    5.5 miNorthland

    Tucked away in a big, run-down strip mall. I've driven past dozens of times and never noticed it…read more There's really no sign you can see from very far away. It is next to a plasma place and what might be a market. If you're coming off Cleveland or 161, look for the car repair place and it is straight back from there. They said it's been here two years, but in the three months I've been a fairly regular visitor to the area I've never noticed it. Step inside, and it's nothing fancy, but with lots of comfy booths and tables. A drink cooler off to the side with Mexican Coke, etc. Small menu with the basics (I should have taken a picture of that.) Beef, shrimp, fried plantains, etc. Some breakfast items and pastries. I went with carne azada. Strips of beef, marinated and grilled, and probably the best I've had. Sided with a mix of rice and beans that was pretty good, pico de gallo, excellent guacamole, a roasted pepper, and perfect, hot and fresh corn tortillas. Wrap it all up or eat it individually, it's great either way. Great food, at a decent price, in a non-descript place. Service was stand-offish at first for someone clearly not a regular, but as I wolfed down the food and smiled, they warmed up. I'll be back.

    The menus do not have English descriptions, so have your phone out so you can use google translate…read more The food was really good, the service friendly, and the place was clean though well worn.

    Photos
    El Sabor de mi Tierra - Restaurante Salvadoreño - El Salvadoran artwork

    El Salvadoran artwork

    El Sabor de mi Tierra - Restaurante Salvadoreño - Front entrance, very easy to overlook

    Front entrance, very easy to overlook

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    Cilantro Latin Fusion

    Cilantro Latin Fusion

    4.6(153 reviews)
    6.0 miNorthwest
    $$

    the moment I walked in I could tell this places was going to be good! the restaurant was busy and…read morewe were greeted warmly by the hostess. I had already viewed the menu before hand and found a couple must have items. we ordered the empanadas ( cheese and chicken) Taco Arepas, Sweet and Sour Pork Belly and Hallaquitas Chicharron's. These dishes were seasoned so well, the sauces provided were perfection. At one point we both said we could just drink the cilantro sauce. We also got the mini sweet arepas and while parts of the dish were good it was an interesting mixture to have as one bite. None the less this place is a 10/10 for flavor, service was amazing we felt very taken care of and the pricing was very reasonable For a scratch kitchen. This place is a must try!

    Knowing the power that online reviews can have and taking some experiences with a grain of salt…read morehere and there because sometimes you hit that one off day where maybe a place that's normally epic just doesn't quite have their stuff together, I find that I end up giving 5 stars in a range that goes from "really good" to "Michelin needs to stop in here (or already has)." This is definitely on the latter end of the spectrum. I popped in here tonight for a late dinner (830ish on a Saturday) to find the place relatively busy but with plenty of open seats. The decor was a nice mix of dark and light with the bright green accents plus a big screen TV cycling tropical getaways (I assume from places in Latin America). I was seated and tended to quickly by a hostess and server, respectively. I got my order in for a coconut mojito and a chicharron arepa right away. My mojito came shortly thereafter with my arepa not long after that. The mojito, as you can see, was garnished with a generous amount of shredded coconut on top and was heavier and creamier than a normal mojito, lighter on the mint flavor and pushing closer to a piña colada than a mojito. All in all though, still quite a refreshing drink after a hot and humid day. The arepa though was really the star of the show. The flavors and textures and everything about it were just mind-blowing. The handmade cheese, the incredibly seasoned and cooked pork, and the crispy arepa were all just *BOOM*. The avocado had a little bit of surface darkness on the one end that could have been polished up a little bit but not the end of the world. One I finished with these, I waited patiently for a while for my server to come back but alas I had to pop up to the bar to get my caipirinha. This version was slightly sweeter than some versions I've had and I don't mind sweet, but just be aware for those who may be considering it. Eventually, my server came back and apologized for being gone so long as she was conversing with her boss. Like I said... grain of salt. Aside from a minor inconvenience of having to walk 10 feet to the bar myself, this place absolutely blew me away and I will absolutely come back if I ever find myself in town again. Bonus points for having gluten and allergen callouts on their normal menu as well!

    Photos
    Cilantro Latin Fusion
    Cilantro Latin Fusion
    Cilantro Latin Fusion

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    Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille - Venezuelan Tequenos (@joeynht)

    Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille

    4.0(343 reviews)
    4.4 miBrewery District
    $$

    I've been eating at El Arepazo since its early days on Pearl Alley when there was no where to sit…read more As a Colombian-American, I am proud of our heritage and cuisine, but there aren't always great places to eat besides at home. So it was some surprise to try bandeja paisa (traditional huge platter of various Colombian foods) and find it the best anywhere, including in Colombia. 25 years later and that still holds true. I have yet to find arepitas as exquisite of those of Carolina and Carlos, and they remain my standard (I think they are Venezolano, but does it matter? They are delicious and they are the best I've had). The cilantro salsa is unique and really adds to a lot of the foods they offer. My spouse is all about the maracuyá juice, and their options are worth sampling since its not usual for most Americans. For me it is comfort food not only as a Colombian-American, but as a (former) long-time resident of Columbus who at times craves reminders of the past. I've been to Pearl through its incarnations, then Gahanna, and now this Brewery District location. This one is my favorite of the three, with nice space and a great Latin atmosphere. We were there recently on a Saturday and had top-notch service, and even a visit from Carlos to reminisce about old times. El Arepazo is a Columbus institution. If you are curious about Latino food, and Colombian/Venezuelan cuisine in particular, it is THE place to start. Columbus is lucky to have a restaurant like this that beats out anything in Queens, Elizabeth NJ, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and would give places from Bogotá to Caracas a run for its money. It's legit, its delicious, it is attractively priced, the location is great, the staff is warm and friendly. 10/10. Stop reading and go eat there!

    I am writing this review because I am extremely frustrated by the lack of communication I have…read moreexperienced with Carlos, the owner. On Saturday, August 8th, I took a friend to breakfast at First Watch, across the street from Arepazo. I parked in a legal parking space in front of Arepazo at approximately 10:30 AM and left around 12:30 PM. Later that day, I discovered that the front passenger door of my Jeep Grand Cherokee had been badly dented. At first, it looked as though someone had purposely kicked it. I retraced everywhere I had been that day in an attempt to determine exactly what happened. After reviewing my home security camera footage, I was able to narrow down when the damage occurred. The footage clearly showed that when I backed out of my garage to go to breakfast that morning, my passenger door was undamaged. When I returned home after breakfast, the damage was clearly visible. A few days later, after Arepazo reopened following Sunday, I called the restaurant and spoke directly with Carlos. I explained what had happened and told him that I had noticed security cameras on the restaurant that appeared to be pointed toward the area where my Jeep had been parked. Carlos confirmed that the cameras were working, although he told me the resolution probably would not be good enough to identify someone's face. I explained that I wasn't concerned about identifying a face--I simply wanted to know what happened to my vehicle. Carlos assured me that he would help me figure out what happened and promised to get back to me. It has now been two weeks. My insurance estimator has since inspected the Jeep and determined that the damage is consistent with someone's body having been slammed into the passenger door. The estimated repair cost is approximately $3,300. Despite Carlos telling me he would help, I have not heard from him. I have called several times and left messages with multiple staff members, including his manager, Brent. On Tuesday, August 18th, at approximately 6:30 PM, I finally went to Arepazo in person. I spoke with several employees, including Brent. Brent went into the back to call Carlos. After approximately 15 minutes, he returned and told me that he had just spoken with Carlos and assured me that Carlos would contact me. He still has not. Is this a review of the food at Arepazo Tapas Bar and Grille? No. Is it a review of the restaurant's service? Not exactly. But I do believe it says something about how the owner treats people. I wasn't asking Carlos to pay for the damage. I wasn't accusing Arepazo or any of its employees of causing it. I was simply asking him to follow through on his promise to check security footage that might show what happened to my vehicle while it was parked directly in front of his restaurant. I even told Carlos and Brent that I would gladly come back and eat at Arepazo if they would simply help me with the security footage. Apparently, after two weeks, several phone calls, multiple messages, an in-person visit, and two separate assurances that Carlos would contact me, getting back to me isn't a priority. That's disappointing. Sometimes how a business owner treats someone when there is absolutely nothing in it for him says more about the business than the food ever could. I guess Arepazo has enough business that Carlos doesn't need mine--or that of the friends and family I might otherwise have recommended to his restaurant.

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    Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille
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    The Cactus Restaurant - Seafood pasta

    The Cactus Restaurant

    4.1(28 reviews)
    10.9 mi

    The food was amazing and very authentic. Plenty to choose from on the menu. Service was decent and…read moreplenty of customers to support a local hole in the wall small business. I was very pleased with the overall experience, except they were out of desert, which I was too full to eat anyway. Quality local Latin food!

    The Cactus Restaurant started as a food truck in Marysville in 2020 and opened a restaurant in 2024…read morein a Powell strip mall off the beaten path. The restaurant is bright, welcoming and very clean We were seated in a side room with the bar, a large projection TV screen with the volume on MAXIMUM and two smaller TVs advertising menu items. Those TVs featured some seriously delicious looking items! Service was ok. Drink refills were not offered and I needed one. We both ordered lunch specials advertised for $10.99 but billed at $11.99. Hubs ordered the lunch chicken bowl with rice, black beans, grilled chicken and corn. The corn was served refrigerator cold. The rest of the meal was hot. Overall the food lacked seasoning. I started with a cheese empanada. Expertly made and fried with goody cheese inside. The empanada was served with a dmall side of green sauce that I thought was cilantro based. I ordered the lunch Pabellon Bowl with pork, white rice, black beans and a sweet plaintain Everything on my plate was served hot but also without seasoning making it bland. I used the empanada sauce to add some flavor to the pork and rice. In summary, I wanted to love this restaurant the advrtised images on 2 TVs are gorgeous but the food was bland. The projection TV volume made conversation difficult and service could have been more attentive. This was our first expusure to Venezuelan food and probably our last. I still stand by the fantastic empanada. I would return for that alone.

    Photos
    The Cactus Restaurant - Main room

    Main room

    The Cactus Restaurant - Beef in mushrooms sauce with to sauces

    Beef in mushrooms sauce with to sauces

    The Cactus Restaurant - Cachapa with pork rinds

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    Cachapa with pork rinds

    Ranchero Kitchen - One sandwich with the good fries

    Ranchero Kitchen

    4.5(118 reviews)
    3.3 miNorthland
    $$

    Let me tell y'all something…read more.. I've driven past this spot so many times knowing it was a Hispanic/Latin restaurant, but never actually stopped in because I didn't really understand the menu. Today, I finally gave it a shot--and I'm so glad I did. Everything we ordered was AMAZING. The food? Incredible. The atmosphere? Warm and welcoming. Our server was fast, funny, attentive, and made sure we were taken care of the whole time. Even the manager came out to check on us, which says a lot. This place is seriously a hidden gem. The prices are right in that perfect middle--not too high, not too low--and the portions? HUGE. Even the desserts don't play around. I would absolutely recommend this place again and again and again. If you've been thinking about trying something new but weren't sure... this is your sign.

    Ample parking in a busy strip center. Two doors from a BMV. Ambivalent front opening to a spacious,…read moreopen, comfortable interior. Our server was pleasant, helpful, and efficient. Any age would be welcome here. The food for me was mixed. Nothing bad or not fresh. The tortilla chips were thin and excellent. Not overly salty and strong enough to scoop goodly amounts of the tasty cheese dip. Sadly the cheese dip was barely above room temperature which was disappointing. The "bang bang shrimp" had no bang. They were alright as fried shrimp but no spice. The shrimp sauce was essentially mayonnaise. And again lukewarm at best. The two different sandwiches we had were both well stuffed. Among other things we tried both types of chorizo sausage they offered. Neither was what I expected. The French fries were very good. Another place that I'd have no problem going again, but, probably wouldn't choose again.

    Photos
    Ranchero Kitchen - Inside from our table.

    Inside from our table.

    Ranchero Kitchen - Pupusas, with chicken, cheese and jalapeños. Side of fries and a 2oz side of very spicy salsa.

    Pupusas, with chicken, cheese and jalapeños. Side of fries and a 2oz side of very spicy salsa.

    Ranchero Kitchen

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    Choripan - Carne empanadas.

    Choripan

    4.5(130 reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $

    Excellent service and amazing recommendations. Love the artwork throughout. Steak is delicious…read moreand cooked to perfection. The potato salad is great as well. Proudly displaying his mother's and sister's beautiful artwork. It's almost as though you are eating in an art gallery! Will.ALWAYS be a stop for me when visiting clients in Dublin, OH!!

    We stopped for a light lunch and were the only customers. By the time we left. The dining room was…read morefilling up. The owner answered my questions and stepped us through the menu. We took a seat in the small dining room and within minutes complex aromas from our meal prep surrounded us. My belly started to rumble but within a short time our empanadas arrived. We decided on carne asada and pollo empanadas sharing both. Pollo was stuffed with peppers and onions. Very flavorful. The Carne be asada was only cubed beef. The flavor was fantastic but there were no vegetables. I purchased the Pico ( not the menu name) diced tomato onion oralegano red wine vinegar and oil. I ate the salsa with each empanada and thought it was fantastic and totally elevated the flavor of the empanada. I had read other reviews recommending the zuchinni. It did not disappoint! We love churos and had to order them here. These were unexpected. Maybe I'm used to mecican churos; fried dough, to covered in cinamon and sugar. As you can see in the photo- no cinamon or sugar sprinles (maybe the tiniest amount) House made dulche de leche is served on the side. Perfect for dipping the churo! I really enjoyed this churro. I think my husband was anticipating a more "mexican churro" experience. But he ate the entire stick! LOL. I'm excited to return - there are other empanadas flavors to try and that zuchinni will definately be ordred again!

    Photos
    Choripan - Inside

    Inside

    Choripan - Plantain chips.

    Plantain chips.

    Choripan

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    Exotic Latin Grill - mexican - Updated September 2026

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