During Hispanic Heritage Month, I wanted to eat in and review a few Hispanic restaurants. One of…read morethe ones I picked was Aji Fusion, a Peruvian food restaurant which reasantly opened its doors in one of the store fronts of the historic Patrick Henry Building in Roanoke, Virginia. Conveniently located in a very central location in front of the Roanoke Social Security office and next to the Rookie's Ice Cream Shop, it has on street parking spaces where you can park to get there When I arrived, I was greeted by a friendly hostetest who also served as my waitress. She spoke good English but was extremely happy when she found out I spoke perfect Spanish, the language we both used to communicate from then on. She took me to my table and handed me the menu. I was already familiar with some of the items on the menu through their nice website with beautiful pictures of their food dishes. To drink, I asked her to give me a special fruit juice from Peru. She brought me a Chicha Morada drink, and it tasted deliciously refreshing. I ordered a house salad to start with and a Bistec a lo Pobre as my main course. She took the order and quickly walked to the kitchen without asking me how I wanted my steak cooked. This is a detail that should never happen in a restaurant when ordering a steak dish. As I waited for my food, I looked around and observed a very clean restaurant with open space and beautiful hardwood floors. The walls were nicely painted in a lightly pink-creamy color with a few framed pictures all around the walls. This gave the restaurant a relaxed yet distinguished decor that gave one a comfortable feeling alone as well as with family and friends. The first item that arrived at my table was the house salad. The waitress also had forgotten to ask me what dressing I wanted, so I asked her if she could change the one she brought me to a balsamic vinegarette. Besides being one I liked, I find that salads photograph very well with this one. The salad had carrots, tomatoes, avocado, onions, and lettuce, of course. I found everything in it very good except the lettuce was the cheapest kind and that is something I would rather not eat. Then as I was still eating my salad, my waitress brings me the main course. This odd timing broke the tempo of being able to enjoy a relaxing dining experience. The Bisteck a lo Pobre, the main course tasted well, even though the steak was well done and I like my steaks more medium rare. But it was juicy and well seasoned, and the entire dish was very flavorful. Overall, I feel that if management acts on my positive feedback given here and trains the waitresses better, this restaurant would be very successful, and therefore recommend it as a relaxed place to eat for family and friends.

Flavorful, juicy, and cooked to perfection! The Tacu Tacu ended up being just what I was looking…read morefor right down to the big bites of tomato and onion. The presentation was beautiful and creative. It felt like eating a delicious bowl of artwork. Finished things off with the tres leches cake, which was pure melt-in-your-mouth milky goodness!

The Pupusa is the national dish of El Salvador, Cental American. They are a cross between tamales…read moreand quesadillas. They are a masa dough cakes (cornmeal flour) that is mixed with water to make a corn masa mixture; thick griddle cake or flatbread They are usually stuffed with delicious things like refried beans, shredded pork, or cheese. Pupusas are traditionally served with curtido, a pickled cabbage slaw, and salsa roja, a tomato-based sauce. Pupuseria is the restaurant that specializes in making and selling pupusas. Just as Taqueria specializes in making and selling tacos. But also can have other items in the menu. Today a friend of mine and myself decided to go try them out for the first time at the Pupuseria Las Delicias in Roanoke, Virginia. This restaurant is housed in a white one storage building with the top painted light blue and white, the colors of the El Salvador flag. In front of the building they have a cozy cemetery outdoor dining area to use in good weather. As we entered the restaurant we were warmly greeted by a young Salvadorian lady who took us to our table and handed us copies of their menu. It was short but with enough items for an opportunity to taste and enjoy Salvadorian food and some non-alcoholic drinks as well. We both ordered an Horchata cold drink and as our main course the Chicharron con Queso (Pork with Cheese) Pupusas. They were served 3 on a plate, accompanied by a jar of curtido mentioned earlier here. I liked the thick texture and the corn, cheese, and pork flavors. The curtido was the perfect side item. And what impressed me most was how filling they were. Since there were no dessert listed on the menu, I already had planned to go elsewhere for dessert. It was a nice first experience having this national dish from El Salvador and I recommend all those reading my review to visit this restaurant and try them out, as well as some of the other items on the menu. You will certainly come out satisfied.

Saw this spot while getting gas and had to check it out, we love Pupuserias, they are amazing and…read more'Las Delicias' did not disappoint. Actually the flavor and amount of meat stuffed into the pupusa is amazing, it's filling, even though it may not look so, they will fool you. They fill the pupusa up with goodness. It's a really cool chill vibe, the restaurant is very clean and decorate me nicely, wish a nice outdoor patio. You should for sure give 'Las Delicias' a try it's beyond good, it's beyond great, it's extraordinary. Come check out the yumminess and see what you've been missing. A Salvadoran delicacy now in your own backyard, don't miss it

This place is in a pretty dead shopping center far away from anything. There are a couple of tables…read moreif you want to eat indoors, but I got takeout. I came seeking an arepa, the South American grilled corn sandwich of note that is hard to find in this area. By getting takeout and taking it home with me, I probably waited a bit too long on it, but the arepa was still quite satisfying. The best thing in it was the beans, warmly spiced with a note of bay leaf, but cheese and plantains made for a rounded flavor experience, of course accentuated by grilled corn. Their more conventional pizza and garlic bread delivered basic satisfaction. I also enjoyed a cake slice with finely chopped nuts the next day. The arepas are far more notable that the pizza, but if offering pizza and locating themselves in a mall next to a karate studio and an orthodox church is what it takes to get some diversity in the local culinary scene, I'm for it.

The food was amazing and the service great and very friendly. There was about 4-5 tables and a…read morepickup for to go orders. There were also great lunch specials that were very reasonable

Gorditas Al pastor and steak Mulitas were both very good. I really enjoyed the corn flavor of the…read moreMulitas. The green sauce was also tasty and the hot sauce was very hot. Rice and beans were fine but nothing special. Service was very friendly. I enjoyed the small seating area and simple design.

In a little house on a short street in Salem, Virginia, one that if it were not painted a bright…read moreorange color, would simply go unnoticed, is housed one of the smallest restaurants that I have ever seen. Yet we must not let its size deceive us, just as we should not judge a gift by its size nor a book by its cover. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Tacos Coronados in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. After driving by this Mexican little restaurant the other day on my way to Gusto Pizza for dinner, I thought to myself, "It is in small hole in the wall places like this one that one finds amazing food. I definitely need to return soon to try it out." And today is that day. I set my Lexus GPS to their address and started driving their way, encountering a torrential rain along the way, only being able to see a bright orange spot when I arrived. I decided to wait in my car for a while listening to music. As the rain resided and I was able too see the Mexican restaurant, the first thing I did was take a photograph of it from inside my car, since small drops of rain were still falling from the sky. Once inside, I noticed the place was also painted the same bright orange color, had a counter were To Go orders were taken and picked up, and a modern computer cashier where orders were paid. But what impressed me the most was the cleanliness of the place, and how very organized it was, with well use of space for five booths that each could seat four persons comfortably. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. A friendly gentleman came out from the back to greet me and gave me a warm welcome. He appreciated very much that I spoke Spanish and talked to me about the restaurant and its menu. Most of their business is for Take Out orders, but on some days and times it can get full with dine-in customers. One thing that caught my attention was that Chips and Salsa were listed in the menu under Appetizers for $4.50. Afterwards I did my research and found out that Chips and Salsa is not a traditional complimentary offering in Mexico. It is considered an American Tradition. And that some restaurants make it a point to serve high-quality chips and salsa, justifying a charge for them. I ordered a bottle of Orange Fanta to drink and a Gorditas al Pastor (with Pork) Special to eat. Their appetizers in the menu were limited to Chips and Salsa, and Chips and Guacamole. And they had no dessert items. However, they did have Taco Tuesdays, when Pork or Chicken Tacos are $2 each. This was the first time ever that I have had gorditas but my server explained that they were a traditional Mexican street food consisting of a thick masa (corn dough) cake that is fried, then slit open to create a pocket and stuffed with various fillings like cheese, shredded meats like carnitas (pork), beans, and vegetables. Their picture sure looked good on the menu. The name "gordita" means "little fat one" in Spanish, referring to its plump, thick shape. They were crunchy and tasty, full of flavor. I definitely enjoyed my meal of genuine Mexican street food, highly recommend the restaurant for a very unique dining experience with genuine Mexican cuisine and an extraordinary customer service.

This is our go to Mexican restaurant in Roanoke. The food is fantastic. The service is great. The…read moreatmosphere is welcoming and everyone has fun. Mexican food at its finest!

Highly recommend and very yummmmyyy!!!!! I really enjoyed my Arroz Con tejo (ACP). I added veggies…read morelike onions, mushrooms, peppers to it. It came with chicken, shrimp, and beef on a bed of rice and melt goooeey cheese. SUPER GOOD!!! My boyfriend got a burrito and a Al pastor taco and I loved his food as well. Overall, GREAT food!!! The service was quick the food came out super fast. Portions are huge and prices are great. It was $30 for 2 entrees, one beverage, one taco. Ambiance is super casual. They have a lot of good looking cost effective drinks. Parking lot of small.

My wife and I visited Taco Rojas for an early dinner. It was our first time there, and we were…read morethoroughly impressed. We ordered the Big Quesadillas, which were incredibly generous in size and bursting with flavor. The service was exceptional, and we left feeling grateful for the delicious meal and the friendly staff.

The food is really good here. Unfortunately they've prioritized carry-out over dining in. Took…read moreover 10 minutes for someone to take my order. 15 minutes later, no water and no chips & salsa. Both of which I'd asked for.

The Hunduran cuisine is becoming more popular in the United States and here in Roanoke, especially…read morewith the increasing growth of the Hunduran population in our community. Yet very few of us are aware of its taste as we are of other Latin American cuisines such as the Colombian and the Venezuelan. Today I decided to go visit one of the few local Honduran Restaurants in the area to experience first hand the flavor of this cuisine. El Paraiso Homduran Restaurant is a small restaurant specializing in Honduran and Latin American cuisine, located on Williamson Road among other Latin American restaurants. When I arrived the front of the restaurant was a simple architectural structure painted green with two glass doors in the middle, two medium windows on their sides, and a large simple sign of the name of the restaurant high above the entrance doors. When I entered the restaurant it had beautiful hardwood floors with brown booths on each side and a row of tables and chairs in the middle. Each booth had a ceiling lamp in the form of a barrel hanging down and the place was decorated very simple with large framed artworks hanging from the walls on both sides. A small bar was located at the end with a creative artistic representation of a Hunduran map hanging from the wall in front of the bar. A warm Honduran lady came out to greet and welcome me. She asked me to take a seat and handed me a copy of the menu which was a colorful laminated one sheet of paper listing a few items on both sides. She was surprised that I spoke Spanish and this made her feel more comfortable as I found out that she would also be my waitress. To drink I ordered a glass of Orchata. To eat, instead of the typical Pupusas or Baleadas, I went a bit further and order dishes that would allow me to have a better taste of their cuisine. As an appetizer I ordered the Chicharron con Yuca. The Spanish word chicharrones translates to "pork cracklings" or "pork scratchings" in English. It is a dish made from fried pork skin or pork belly. Ideally it is crunchy and tasty on the outside of the piece of fried skin, and meaty on the inside with a piece of flavorful pork. For my main course I ordered the Fajitas Mixta with Steak, Shrimp, and Chicken. I waited for a while and was surprised when the appetizer arrived with perfect chunks of Chicharrones. Like I explained before, crunchy on the outside and meaty in the inside. Since I moved to Roanoke I hadn't been able to find this quality of Chicharron, and cooked to perfection. Just as I was starting to enjoy my appetizer, my waitress comes out with my main dish as well. The Fajitas were sizzling on top of the skillet and looked absolutely amazing. But cooking and bringing them out so soon interrupted the enjoyment of eating my appetizer and prevented from me savoring my main course while it was the hottest. However, both the quality of the ingredients of the Fajitas and the way they were seasoned and cooked were just perfect. The salad accompanying my main meal was fresh and refreshing. The refried beans were very tasty, and even the white rice tasted great. Although the waitress confessed to me that this was not the type of rice they usually served. They usually served one called Jasmin rice, but had ran out. With so much food I asked for a container to take some home. Especially because I wanted to have space for dessert. To me a meal isn't complete without a sweet and tasty dessert. When I ask the waitress what they had for dessert or if she can give me the dessert menu, she told me they had none. That they were not used to having dessert. What a bummer! I would definitely recommend the owner of this restaurant to include some dessert items. I cannot believe a cuisine that didn't include some typical traditional desserts. After all the Latin American cuisines come from the influence of our mother homeland of Spain. Most of our cuisines have at least Flan, Natilla, or Arroz con Leche. After I ask for the bill, my waitress asks me to come to the bar to pay. That is where they had a very modern cash register and she imputed the items I had for dinner. I gave her my credit card and she processed it. She handed me the receipt and without looking at it too much, I wrote the tip, signed it, and gave it back to her, keeping the customer's copy. Later at home I take a closer look and find out that I was charged an 18% Service Charge. Yet at the bottom of the receipt it States that "For parties of 3 or larger, a 18% gratuity is applied automatically. Clearly I was overcharged on this my first visit to this restaurant. I hope that when the manager reads this review he or she would take action to remedy the concerns that I have had in the positive feedback that I have provided because otherwise I have found their food to be exquisite and would happily return and recommend this restaurant.

It's amazing how new International restaurants are popping up everywhere in the Star City of…read moreRoanoke. Just today, as I was driving down Williamson Road, I noticed a sign that read: "Que Chilero Guatemalan Restaurant." As soon as I saw that sign and noticed that it was around lunch time, I made a turn into their parking lot, and decided to have lunch there. Rarely does one run into a Guatemalan restaurant. Guatemalan cuisine is renowned for its rich, hearty stews (caldos), vibrant corn-based dishes, and a unique blend of Mayan and Spanish influences. Characterized by staples like corn, beans, chilies, and tomatoes, signature dishes include "Pepián"  (spicy meat stew), "Kak'ik" (turkey soup), "Jocón" (green chicken stew), and "tamales" wrapped in banana leaves.  Pepián is considered the national dish, a thick, spicy stew with toasted pumpkin seeds and roasted spices, often featuring chicken or beef. Kak'ik is a traditional, bright red Mayan turkey soup with coriander and chilies. As I entered this low-key, informal, yet clean, Guatemalan restaurant, a friendly, short in height, native Guatemalan lady, greeted me, and asked me to take a seat in one of their only four booths. As soon as I was seated, she handed me a copy of their latest menu. After asking her, she informed me that this restaurant opened its doors in November of 2025. The menu was somewhat different that what we're used to seeing. It included titles such as Breakfast, Only on Weekend, Family Meal, American Specials, and Specialties of the House. What was somewhat shocking was their high prices, for a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a not so popular cuisine. A breakfast for $17.85, a soup for $18.95, a simple steak dinner for $28.50, and American Hot Dogs for $16.50. It seemed ridiculous to me, but I decided to try it anyway. First, to drink, my server told me that at the moment they only had watermelon drink and that it wasn't made with the fresh fruit. To dine, I'm not much of a soup person, but I like a good steak. An Argentinian Churrasco is one of the best. But in this menu, they described it as "grilled marinated fajita meat." I asked the server if the meat was tender and not tough and she assured me it was. So I ordered the Churrasco, which included rice, pico de gallo, chorizo, chimichurri, homemade potato, guacamole, refried beans, salad, and an order of tortillas. As I waited for my food, a group of four who seem to be Guatemalan natives, were served their soup bowls, and one who ordered a dish, returned it to be heated some more, because it was luckwarm. When my food arrived, the first thing I noticed was the thinness of my steak and how it was full of gristle. What was not gristle was tender, but not worth it for the high price. You could tell that every single item of the entrée was pre-cooked and just reheated. Even the two tortillas weren't cooked fresh. The refried beans were dry, the rice had parts hard, and the salad was missing. When I was done, which you can imagine I did not eat it all. I asked what they had for dessert and my server tells me: "a cupcake." I told her that I'll skip the dessert, but took a photograph of a cake they had which looked good, but I couldn't imagine how it must taste. Afterwards I looked up their Health score and it was 77 out of 100 with 10 violations reported. I definitely wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone trying to get a feel of Guatemalan cuisine, because this restaurant is not doing justice to it, and you will only be disappointed.