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    JJ's Scratch Cocina

    4.7 (25 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    JJ's Scratch Cocina Photos

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    JJ'S SCRATCH COCINA ATMOSPHERE

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    Robert G.

    Really happy I stumbled upon JJ's as I was looking for a lunch spot! I started off with the shrimp tostones, which were flavorful and would totally recommend. Next I had the Caracas and the "Erepa" entrees. The Caracas platter was pretty good. I really liked the beans and the plantains! Everything tasted super fresh and was perfectly cooked. The Arepa's were also fantastic. They came with all three types of meat (chicken, pork, beef) but you can select any arrangement of the 3 options. The corn arepa itself was extremely good. Honestly even if it came with just cheese it would still be great lol To top everything all, the service was ELITE. Our server was so nice and helped us with every question we had. To make things even better, the chef gave us a free appetizer and dessert. Neither item were on the menu (they said it was items they are looking to release soon) and even those tasted great. I added the photos of them but couldn't add the names. The restaurant itself was so clean and just a great vibe. The large windows really let in a good amount of natural light. Final note, THEY HAVE SOME NICE BATHROOMS!

    Erepas (I was so excited and ate one before I was able to take a picture)
    Stephanie V.

    JJ's Scratch Cantina is a standout example of elevated fast casual, where high-quality ingredients and thoughtful execution meet a relaxed dining experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Alex was incredibly knowledgeable and brought genuine passion to the menu, which enhanced the entire experience. The Erepas were a highlight, I was able to pick between all three flavors, and since it comes with three, I chose one of each to try. Each one was unique and delicious. My fiancé's Byblos was equally impressive: perfectly balanced, fresh, and full of flavor. We were also treated to a surprise appetizer and dessert, which was such a thoughtful and appreciated touch and made the experience feel even more special. We'll absolutely be back! (I will make sure to update my review with more pictures next time we go! I just got so excited when the food came out and wasn't able to get good snaps before I started eating )

    Tostadas and Roxy
    Todd S.

    Incredible flavor and big portions. A great friendly local restaurant! I've been coming to Jj's for 12 years since the original JJ's grill - and I have always enjoyed it - but this new Cocina experience is next level! We had a variety of dishes included the tostadas (made with delicious pork), picanha steak (perfectly cooked with an amazing chimichurri), ceviche (super fresh flavor and made with halibut), and the Byblos chicken (tender and and full of traditional Mediterranean flavors). Our server was super friendly and brought us cucumber waters. We also had an iced macchiato that was perfect. The interior is super clean, upscale, and comfortable. I brought my service animal with me and we had no issues. All 3 of us left very pleased and will be sure to be back again. JJ knocking it out of the park again! Do yourself a favor and check out JJ's Cocina!

    Isabel M.

    This was my first time finally trying JJ's after two previous attempts; once we were turned away for not having a reservation and another time for a private event. When we finally made it in, I was a bit confused by the layout. There's a section for to-go orders with a more casual menu, while the dine-in area offers a more elevated experience. The dining space is small but stylish, clean, and aesthetically pleasing. The food was delicious and very satisfying, with generous portions. I also appreciated the cucumber and lemon-infused water! It was such a refreshing touch. The servers were very kind and knowledgeable, offering helpful menu suggestions, though they were a bit more attentive than I personally prefer. For pickups, drivers are directed to a separate entrance around the back, which was interesting to learn. I'd probably opt for the to-go option next time, but overall, it was a great experience. There's plenty of parking in the plaza, too. Thanks to the owner, I learned that they have two locations for their business within the same plaza which can cause some confusion between the pick up orders and the dine-in experience.

    Todd W.

    We dined here for our 3rd year Anniversary. Prior to this evening, I had tried JJ's in its quick serve location before this new take- delicious and fresh ingredients. So when I learned JJ's elevated to reservation only finer dining? I thought it would be perfect for the occasion! A small comfortable dining area with just a handful of tables. This evening just us and one large party. We decided to share an entree and try some appetizers. Like their formal spot? All the flavors were there and ingredients fresh! We ordered the Ropa Vieja (likely by a different name) it was delicious- think comfort food! Our arepa appetizer was also a treat! Topped with avocado and shrimp...do yourself a favor! Order 2! Our one dislike on the plate? Their beans. Typically my litmus test for any great latin influenced restaurant..we didn't care for them. They had a sweet sugary taste that doesn't belong in black beans! One nice treat was our server brought us two chocolates with a heart in lieu of our Anniversary. Nice touch! Overall a great place with a beautiful esthetic and good food! We really liked but didn't love it. Ill definitely try again! 4.4 stars! Thanks JJ's!

    Baja tacos and picanha steak
    Amber S.

    I was so surprised when I walked in to the restaurant to pick up a catering order bit is so different from my last visit. The decor and ambiance is totally revamped. I learned of their new dine in menu and returned that night to try it out. WOW! Souch a good decision, everything was perfect, the food, the service, even their infused water. So fortunate to live so close. Can't wait to dine here again.

    Iced matcha latte
    Olivia A.

    This place is AMAZING. Classy cozy clean atmosphere. The staff was so kind and attentive. I was greeted with warmth and smiles from everyone. The food came out fast and everything was delicious. You can tell everything is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. My favorite was the falafel and guacamole. The tostones were yummy and the matcha latte was perfect to wash it all down. I'll be back soon !!! High recommend this place.

    Earth and Herb appetizer

    From the first bite to the sweet treat to close out the meal, we had a great experience. The service was top-notch, and the food was delightful, beautifully presented with love, and reasonably priced. We can't wait to go back! Outstanding reimagining JJ and team!

    Ceviche with passion fruit sauce
    Jessica W.

    Haven't been here in a while and it's even better than before! The inside is beautiful and allows for a casual to go or an upscale sit down experience all in one place! Service is great, food is extremely fresh with thoughtful and unique ingredients. Definitely a must try!

    I went here during the afternoon and it was very nice. The food tasted really good (had arepas) and they were very friendly with quick service. The place is decorated nicely and the bathroom was clean. No complaints :)

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    The restaurant is small but warm and inviting. The service was attentive. The food was tasty and creative.

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    4 months ago

    Shit service was at door for 15 minutes before getting any help. highly don't recommend if you want bad service

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    JJ's Scratch Cocina Reviews in Other Languages

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    Sofrito Latin Cafe - Arepa Pabelln

    Sofrito Latin Cafe

    4.3(2.8k reviews)
    13.5 miInternational Drive / I-Drive, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    Absolutely delicious Latin cuisine! I had the Cuban braised pork plate with yellow rice, black…read morebeans and boiled yuca with cilantro. Fantastic combo. My husband had the Peruvian shrimp with yellow rice, salad, and black beans. We were both raving about the taste while eating. They have a range of dishes from across Latin America, and lots of gluten free options. They aren't safe for celiacs though. They use a shared fryer. If you are super sensitive or have celiac, just beware of that. The staff are lovely, friendly and helpful. Conveniently located in the theme parks area near Orlando. You should not miss this restaurant. Try something new if you've never tasted Latin American cuisine, or try it if you've grown up with it. You won't go wrong and you'll likely be back.

    Sofrito was amazing…read more We wanted something fast, but not fast food with a large seated area outside. This checked off all of our boxes. You order at a kiosk fast food style, but all of the food is then prepared freshly and authentically. They have a huge menu with all kinds of delicious Latin eats like sandwiches and platters. We absolutely loved our Cuban sammies which came on thick and sweet bread. My kids kept it simple with tenders and fries and also enjoyed! They have a big drink selection and you can find everything from juices to fresh cocktails. The biggest hit was their large indoor screened patio - perfect for my kids to run around. If you want to avoid fast food but also don't feel like taking your kids to a proper sit down restaurant than this is a really great option.

    Photos
    Sofrito Latin Cafe - Indoor Decor

    Indoor Decor

    Sofrito Latin Cafe - Colombian Burger

    Colombian Burger

    Sofrito Latin Cafe - Frescolita soda (~$3)

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    Frescolita soda (~$3)

    Pal Campo Restaurant - Pechuga rellena

    Pal Campo Restaurant

    3.9(1k reviews)
    14.4 miInternational Drive / I-Drive
    $$

    Beautiful restaurant - I wish I had taken more photos inside but the place was packed (a good sign)…read moreand I try not to take pictures of random families and post them online. With that said, the food was excellent and there's a ton to choose from - it's easy to get overwhelmed, but the thing I enjoyed the most was the service and how sweet our server was (I forgot her name, but she was always so sweet and patient with our family). There were tons of folks eating mofongo so I'm sure that's a fan favorite here. We tried a few appetizers, juices, rice and beans, and shared a large platter that had multiple options for the family since it was our first visit and we didn't know what to try first. The tostones rellenos de churrasco (skirt steak stuffed fried green plantains) were delicious and come with five little cups and a dipping sauce that I'm pretty sure was mayo/ketchup. They also put a little PR flag on top which my kids enjoyed playing with. This ended up being my main meal because I wasn't that hungry, and it was the perfect bite of crispy, salty, and creamy with the dipping sauce. We also tried another appetizer that I didn't try, alcapurria de carne, which comes with two rolls cut in half (husband enjoyed it) and the Assorted Pal Campo which comes with chicharon, fried yuca, chicharron de pollo, tostones, fried cheese topped with a sweet guava sauce (that my daughter was not a huge fan of - I would ask for it on the side next time), and sausage. Definitely a heavy meal - and I felt like I needed to eat salad for the next two days straight after this meal - but it was tasty. Next time I'll ask for a side of cucumbers or something to break up all of the fried elements, or order something that comes with slaw/veggies.

    Decided to take a little day trip to Orlando to hit up a Filipino bakery, and afterward I wanted to…read moretake my peoples somewhere good to eat. My homegirl, Rosie recommended this spot, so we decided to give it a try--and honestly, the food was amazing. The vibe was great too. They even had entertainment while we were there, which made the whole experience even better. The downside was my friend's pork chunks was over cooked and that our waitress wasn't very friendly, and we had to wait a while to get refills on our drinks. It didn't ruin the experience, but it's something that could definitely be improved. Overall though, the food and atmosphere were great. This is the reason for my 3 star review.

    Photos
    Pal Campo Restaurant
    Pal Campo Restaurant - Pechuga de Pollo (Sin Hormonas)

    Pechuga de Pollo (Sin Hormonas)

    Pal Campo Restaurant - Piña Colada

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    Piña Colada

    Corazon by Baires - Delicious

    Corazon by Baires

    3.9(185 reviews)
    9.3 miInternational Drive / I-Drive

    This place is an absolute vibe! I came here to celebrate a birthday and making reservations were…read moreeasy. As we walked in, Bobbi greeted us with a smile and was helpful to show us our table which was this cozy booth in the back corner surrounded by velvet drapery and Moroccan inspired glass lamps (confused me too). She allowed us to head to the bar for a round cocktails while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. Drinks are a little pricey and 20% gratuity is already included so be vigilant of that! When we sat down, Daniel our server was absolutely wonderful. He gave us a tour of the menu which was exceptional. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer and empanadas - both, fantastic. They serve dinner rolls which is accompanied by a delicious butter spread. We ordered the ribeye, ordered medium rare, but it felt a little on the rare side. Wasn't easy to eat, so may not have been the best quality meat, but it was fine. The birthday boy had the short rib which he described as Devine! The table side Alfredo presentation was quite exciting as well! My only negative comment was that they didn't really have a birthday experience. They delivered a glass of champagne and had a happy birthday card, but nothing compared to what you can experience at other I-Drive establishments. I would dine here again because the experience was lovely and I would like to try the fish next time!

    Corazon markets as an upscale, elevated experience but fails to deliver in the details. The menu…read morereads like a unique fusion restaurant, but tastes like mass quantity production. Portions are ginormous. Grilled Caesar salad (1/5) - tasted like salad in a bag from grocery store. Beans did not belong. Dressing was over powering. Octopus (3.5/5) - mole sauce was smoky and delicious! Octopus itself was rubbery and dry. Tasted previously frozen. Hamachi crudo (3/5) - fish was fresh! Leche de tigre was not freshly made. Instead of fresh squeezed lime, it tasted like lime juice from one of those plastic green lime shaped bottles at grocery store. Short rib (4/5) - solid short rib but nothing unique Smoked pork belly (2/5) - Pork belly tasted like box from Trader Joe's. Skin was tough. Why they market as yakiniku?? It was just a teriyaki sauce. Cornbread was from a box and soaked in sugar. Cocktails overly sweet. Also tasted premixed. Glasses looked dull and needed a second wash. Ambiance: our reservation was at 6:45pm on MDW. It was completely empty. It felt like being the first ones at a club because you didn't want to pay cover. Table decor was noticeably cheap (plastic dollar tree flowers, plastic decorations, etc) Bathroom was disgusting. Felt like a gas station. No paper towels??? I had to use a Dyson air dryer to dry my hands. After paying for a $400 meal, can I at least get a paper towel to dry my hands? Overall, feels like a club and tastes like a club. Not upscale restaurant. Everything looked a little better after a couple drinks. Without drinks, this place fails to deliver in food and ambiance.

    Photos
    Corazon by Baires
    Corazon by Baires - Tuna tartare
yuzu ponzu \ cucumber \ wasabi aioli \ fried wontons

    Tuna tartare yuzu ponzu \ cucumber \ wasabi aioli \ fried wontons

    Corazon by Baires - Ribeye

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    Ribeye

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Cuban sandwich

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar

    3.9(1.2k reviews)
    9.9 miInternational Drive / I-Drive
    $$$

    FABULOUS Went here…read morelast night with work colleagues for dinner. Can't say enough about the experience. The food was fantastic (our table shared both the Crab Guacomole and the Cha Cha Cha - both yummy; I had the Vaca Frita which was succulent which with the rice and beans were just divine). The drinks were great too, as our table shared passionfruit mojitos. Ambiance was perfect - our corner table was the perfect place for us to catch up and have our own space in this vivrant restaurant. Our server Jason was super cool and accomidating, making sure we were good without imposing, and was able to roll with our rowdy group. For those looking for good Cuban food in a nice space, look no further than Cuba Libre.

    Lively atmosphere, tasty food and drinks, and attentive service!…read more My fiancé's family and I went to Cuba Libre while checking out the downtown area of Orlando. I was immediately drawn in by the music and the LED lights. We started off with a round of sangria, which is always a great way to kick off. We also got a basket of bread and mango butter, which was both unique and really good. The table shared a Plato Cha Cha Cha. I couldn't tell what was what, but I remember the croquetas being super delicious! Definitely worth it on a hungry stomach. I ordered the Ropa Vieja for my entree. It was very good (especially the plantains/maduros), but I was already very full and probably should have ordered something lighter in hindsight. The highlight of the night was definitely dessert. It was my aunt's birthday, and they greeted her with a huge bowl of ice cream and a show. I won't spoil it, but if you have a birthday, Cuba Libre will definitely make you feel celebrated. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in Orlando who would like to try out Cuban food.

    Photos
    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Downstairs dining room

    Downstairs dining room

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Pineapple Guacamole Cubano

    Pineapple Guacamole Cubano

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Restaurant

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    Restaurant

    Super Rico Colombian Restaurant & Bar

    Super Rico Colombian Restaurant & Bar

    4.5(654 reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown / Central Business District / CBD
    $$

    Delicious Colombian spot in the downtown Orlando area. Once you have a Colombian hotdog you'll…read morenever go back to just ketchup an mustard. It's filled with a sweet pineapple sauce, cilantro sauce, and think chips but little potato fries for a good crunch. Paired with a pint Malta - it's refreshing and they give these to children in. Colombia so non-colic too!

    This place has been on my go-to list for a while, finally made it yesterday night with a friend…read more The place itself is really easy to miss if you're not paying attending, it is attached to the parking structure on Central. Being part of the parking structure doesn't mean that they validate your parking. If you can find street parking, definitely do that instead. I had the churassco med-well. It came with two sides, I had the tostones and salad. It was alright, but I definitely had better. I ordered it to eat it there and they put all the sauces in to-go containers, which was weird. The sauces were in such tiny containers, you definitely would need more. My friend got the mushroom arepa and a side of the sweet plantains that she really enjoyed. Service was good. The girl taking our order was super nice and polite. It was more like one step up from fast/food and self-served. You order at the counter and they give you a number for your table and they bring out the food to the table and you clean up after yourself.

    Photos
    Super Rico Colombian Restaurant & Bar - My fave place

    My fave place

    Super Rico Colombian Restaurant & Bar - Arepa Burger

    Arepa Burger

    Super Rico Colombian Restaurant & Bar - Arepa Burger

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    Arepa Burger

    Crocante Restaurant - ALCAPURRIAS

    Crocante Restaurant

    4.4(258 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I stopped for dinner during the week. I had no reservations. There was no wait. I was seated right…read moreaway. I started with a Mijito. It was delicious. I then tried the Churrasco Mofongo. The whole dish was delicious. That chimichurri sauce was out of this world. It just completed the dish to perfection. My waitress, Samarie, was polite and very attentive. She took my order promptly. My food was out in no time. The restaurant is located in a small plaza. Parking might be limited around dinner time. I was there a little earlier so I had no problem parking.

    Came here on a Friday evening as I drive past this restaurant every weekday on the way to pick up…read moremy son from daycare. Located in a strip mall in the heart of East Colonial, parking was easily found. We opted for the loiza tray to share as a starter platter. They were all tasty and who doesn't love an assortment of fried appetizers? We also shared the main dish, the roti kan kan at the recommendation of our server since it includes both of the cuts of their main specialty dish, the porchetta. This was the standout of the night, especially the crispy pork skin on the outer covering of the pork belly. Would describe the inside as elevated casual, with a bar in the middle of the restaurant. Service was friendly. We just thought it was slightly priced on the higher end for what you got . Would return but order different dishes to try out the rest of th menu.

    Photos
    Crocante Restaurant - Restaurant View from the window seat

    Restaurant View from the window seat

    Crocante Restaurant - La Pancetta Crocante

    La Pancetta Crocante

    Crocante Restaurant - Coquito and Pineapple coconut sangria

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    Coquito and Pineapple coconut sangria

    JJ's Scratch Cocina - latin - Updated May 2026

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