Best empanadas in town! We go here at least 3 times a month and the food is always phenomenal.

Very good! I just wrapped up a meal here in June '26. It's a quiet Wednesday evening and I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by a friendly bartender. In less than 2 minutes I had a delicious margarita and ice water placed in front of me. Margarita is top notch - they don't skimp on the booze here. I asked the kind lady to surprise me with dinner and it did not disappoint! Overall, very please with both the service and quality here. If I'm in the area again I will definitely return! read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food was very good on the higher side for sure. The service is a hit or miss. I have been here several of times and I get different people with different services. The place is small and cute I would recommend just because I my self continue to go back. Try the appetizer player and an arepa they are very delicious. My favorite is the green sauce. read more

Great authentic Venezuelan food. The patio is particularly nice. Service is prompt and friendly. We took advantage of the lunch menu and had an arepa stuffed very full of many different fillings - I heartily recommend the very tasty shredded chicken. An empanada had a crispy slightly sweet corn flour crispy shell filled with the same delicious chicken. This comes with a large salad dressed in a bright citrus sauce. Highly recommend! read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Arepa and Empanada lunch special. - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went for Madison Restaurant Week $20 lunch. Carlos was an excellent server, super friendly and made sure we were taken care of. The food was overall great! Loved the Colombian empanadas, beef arepa, and Nutella bites. Churros were not super fresh, but everything else was a highlight. Everyone was super friendly, everything was clean, and the service was great. Will be back. read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Churros - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Delish! Pizza and salad were both tasty. The sausage is a must! I ordered delivery via Doordash and it came very quickly. Pleasantly impressed! read more

So excited to try out this Venezuelan spot! Such good flavors and a big menu to ensure everyone can find something they'll enjoy. Service was friendly and seemed like a casual spot to get together with friends. Portions were a good size and make sure you don't leave without trying the yucca fries!!! AMAZING! Have to go back again! read more

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This was my first time at this restaurant and was impressed with the large selection of entrees. They had a variety ranging from Venezuelan cuisine, Colombian, Puerto Rican and more. I didn't realize it had other similar Latin American cuisine versus exclusive Venezuelan dish, so it's nice to have that variety when you're eating with a group with different preferences. Along with food preferences they also offered gluten free dish upon request. Their menu cites it, so make sure to request it if you need it. They also have a variety of drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Can't pass up dessert, the churro ice cream sandwich was unique and they had the yummy flan and other desserts. This place is good for any size groups from small to big, they have plenty of seating. Big fan of the plantains, so get it as an appetizer or have it with your meal! read more

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Food was fantastic! Everything we've had from here has been wonderful. Service has always been very friendly and engaging. They're helpful with recommendations. Ambiance is clean, comfortable and fun. We've been here a few times and have thoroughly enjoyed each trip. Look forward to going again. read more

Amazing food, fast service, super impressed. I had zero expectations coming here as it was a quick decision and we were in a little bit of a time crunch. Surprisingly, we were in and out in less than 45 minutes! It was the perfect place as the food was delicious and the staff were very kind. The arepa was the best arepa I've ever had. I am so glad we ordered it because I was so impressed. The flavor was perfect! I think it was the Llanera Arepa. Wasn't a huge fan of the mofongo con carne frita, but I've never had it before. The yuca con chicharron was delicious!! Would definitely order again. Wish I didn't live so far, I'd come here all the time. Highly highly recommend. read more

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Every time we are in the Madison area we try and stop at one of the La Taguara locations. This most recent visit adds another amazing meal. Great food. Great service. Good for vegetarians and gluten free. read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Desserts (flan and guava cheese sticks) - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Was there last night with 35-40 people in a reserved space. Amazed at the excellent service; it had to have been challenging to get everyone's orders, serve them quickly, and handle all those checks. The food was excellent and plentiful, and the staff and manager were so accommodating. I will definitely return. read more

Bad service, good food. Nice atmosphere. The restaurant was not especially busy when we arrived at 6:03. It was nearly 20 minutes before anyone approached us to check on us or take our orders. At that point they just asked if we'd like anything to drink, but having waited 20 minutes we were ready to order food which seemed to surprise them. And they still didn't even bring us water. It was past 6:30 when they brought us our food, at which point we also got waters. We were there with tired and hungry children. When they finally came to take our orders, we were initially told there were no non-meat substitutions allowed on one of the appetizer samplers but that they'd give us the appetizer sampler without the meat item and charge us the same which annoyed me and worsened my already bad mood at being parched and having no water. Having said that, they did eventually relent and agree to substitute a cheese empanada for a meat one so that worked out. Water only came when the food was brought out, over 30 minutes after our arrival. The food was good. The red snapper was crispy and fresh. The chimichurri sauce was tangy, fresh, and delicious. Lots of yummy variations on fried masa which it's hard to go wrong with but are not for anyone watching their wasteline. I highly recommend getting the mild hot sauce and mixing a little of the "super spicy" sauce with it. The black beans were off the hook delicious in the arepa domino. Lots of tangy and herby sauces to dip things in, which I love. I really hate to give 3 stars but the service actually might stop us from coming back, since if we're in the Madison area at dinner time we're usually on a tight schedule. We put our kids to bed late because of the slow service. Having said that , the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and nice large booths with comfy seats, so at least it's a pleasant place to wait while you sit and ponder whether you're ever going to get a glass of water read more

It's a cool spot, kinda small. $20 for parking then another charge for entry. Bartenders are nice though. It's Atlanta, if you been to one bar club you've been to them all. Dj has a playlist. You'll hear the same song every 20 minutes. No mixing or real Dj'ing. read more

Save you money. Far better places in Madison for Venezuelan and Colombian food. Food was simply not good. I typically eat at La Pollera Colombiana but it's pricey and they include the tip even for a party of one but at the end of the day La Taguara Bar & Grill was a waste of money cheap quality food that did not taste good. We ate half of our food and didn't even bother asking for a box to take the rest home. Mark my words. I give this place two more years max before they close their doors. read more

Beef & potato empanadas are amazing, crispy & authentic. Bandejita Paisa sounded amazing but it was dry and not appetizing at all. The shrimp & coconut salad was also disappointing with the shrimps were very small & over cooked. Service was on the slow side, venue was nice with outdoor seating and plenty of parking. I would go back for the empanadas! read more

I had been reading good things about the new location of this restaurant near Sun Prairie so we gave it a try on a recent Friday evening. It was nice to see that they were busy (not jammed but a good crowd). We were seated in a booth in the back. We guessed that the base decor has not changed much from when it was a Pizzeria Uno though they have added a few Venezuelan touches. Our waitress was friendly and helped us with our questions on a number of items. There are a lot of choices on the menu. I asked for a Venezuelan beer but they were out so I opted for a Mexican brew. My wife ordered the national dish Pabellon - she liked it a lot but found the shredded beef dry and commented that she would try it again without the beef. The sweet plantains are always a plus. I opted for a ground beef empanada which was very good and an arepas with Caribbean cheese and pork roast. It was good but the pork a tad dry. The arepita bread was different. Fortunately both came with the guasacaca sauce which was very tasty. You think it will be spicy but it isn't. Prices were reasonable. We will return because we spotted many other dishes we would like to try. read more

Delicious! I got the arepa with chicken and a side of fried plantains. It was all amazing and the green sauce was a delicious surprise!

Love the Arepa's!! Service was very good. Stick with the Latin/Venezuelan dishes. Can't go wrong with

The food was really unique and flavorful. I hope more people try this out because the dining room was not very busy. Service was very responsive. Would recommend. read more

Huge place that is in the old pizzeria uno building that is on the hill by the old American TV. This is NOT a Mexican restaurant it is Venezuelan which is much different. There are no tacos or burritos or other things that you might be expecting. The tastes are different but very good. Our side salads were fresh and full of good stuff, even slices of Avocado! The main taco like thing is a little pocket called a Arepa that comes stuffed with what ever trips your trigger. Empanadas same way in a different form. All flavorful and interesting. Good service and really cold tap beer! Large full bar with the usual big TVs . Private parking lot with plenty of spaces. Big menu with burgers and other stuff too. For something different give it a try. read more

We arrived at this pretty large but beautiful nicely designed restaurant, which has its own parking lot. Our waitperson was friendly and knowledgeable helping us to determine what we wanted. Her recommendation of the plantain sandwich, was absolutely perfect. The large sandwich was perfection. Unfortunately, after a hectic day I forgot to take food pictures because we all tucked in quick! The mojitos were refreshingly delicious too. Our party of 5, included a toddler, and every single one of us enjoyed our food. read more

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Delicious! I'm so glad we stopped to try this restaurant on our road trip. We have never had Venezuelan food, and this restaurant makes really good food. We shared the lomo saltado, a beef stir fry dish. A good amount of salt. Super tasty. I wish I didn't share it. Haha. My son ate his entire giant plate of kids spaghetti with meat sauce. I tried a small bite and it was yummy too. Kids food comes with free churros. Yum. I think on any road trip we make to Milwaukee or Madison, this might become a regular stop. I can't wait to try more. read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Lomo Saltado - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food is amazing dude the food is great I would sacrifice first born for this this food is so good especially the pizza

Delicious food. Big and exciting menu. If you live Latin American food this is the place to be. Recommend 10/10

I arrived in Madison on a very cold night and did not want to go far for dinner. This place was right across from my hotel and I thought I would give it a try. I walked in and was seated immediately. The server brought water and asked if I wanted anything else to drink. When she returned she asked if I had any questions, I explained that I love to try new things but never had the opportunity to try Venezuelan food and could use some guidance. She explained to me that she was from Venezuela and some of the food was more authentic than others. She was very happy to help, answered all my questions. I took her suggestion and got the Pabellon. It was very good. Shredded beef, beans with cheese, plantain bananas cooked better than I have ever tasted. She was very attentive to my needs, which were few, and I was very pleased with the total experience. Sometimes trying something new is intimidating for me due to only speaking English. Everyone I spoke to here spoke very clear English, was happy to share the culture of their food and was very personable. Please do not miss this gem because you do not know what to order, they are happy to help. read more

Love this place and you will too! The food is excellent and so it's the service. La Taguara has a home atmosphere and sabor at home. La Taguara is the place to come and have a great meal with family or friends. We had the mofongo, las empanadas colombianas, la yuca con pernil frito. Delicious! Finally another place where the Latino community and non Latinos can come together and have a great time. read more

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For Sunday Brunch I tried the LLanera Arepa-stuffed with steak, tomato slices, avocado and fried cheese and to drink I had a passionfruit mojito. The mojito was really good but I was not a fan of the LLanera Arepa. I asked for the steak to be medium but it was well done. I tried arepa for the first time and I was not a fan so I unstuffed it. Being that that the steak was overcooked it was very chewy and under seasoned. I will try this place again since I heard so many good things but I will order another entree. read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Passionfruit Mojito - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We were so excited after seeing a post on Reddit about this place. There were a few people that loved it and I'm not sure if we ordered poorly or if there were issues in the kitchen, but almost everything we ordered has little flavor. We got the sampler platter and the empanadas were really good. The sauces that came with it were really good as well, everything else on the platter was ok. My girlfriend ordered pabellón and it didn't have much flavor. I ordered the steak with onions and it didn't have much flavor either. The service was good and there were many people helping out. Overall I'm not sure if we can try it again, I'm just not sure what happened between the Reddit reviews and our experience. read more

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Birthday party with 12 guests went perfectly thanks to the great food and service at La Taguara. Their Venezuelan food is unique and delicious. Many gluten free options! We love their corn arepas (Venezuelan tortillas), the fried yucca and plantains. We reserved their party room and it was the perfect place for our gathering! read more

Great arepas, chill atmosphere! Walking distance to some hotels in the area. Happy hour and other fun deals throughout the week. Worth checking out! read more

First time eating here, but I will be back! The staff is extremely helpful but not condescending. I appreciated this very much seeing I had no idea what I was doing. Then the food came and it was delicious. Everyone at our table loved everything we ordered. If you are in the Madison area stop by, you won't be disappointed. The restaurant is as very well decorated, interesting objects. read more

Excellent, traditional, family-oriented and outstanding service. This is the real deal. All items from the menu are made from scratch. The owner takes pride in his work and enjoys a great deal sharing the Venezuelan culinary heritage with the guests. No other place in the state comes closer to the level of quality of this place. Highly recommended! read more

Delicious dinner! Quick service. Great atmosphere! We (the adults) selected the Christmas plate, since it was only available for a limited time. The little picked the arepas off the kid's menu. The flavors of everything were phenomenal. We will be back to try some regular menu items. read more

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Authentic traditional Venezuelan food made by a terrific own and host. Great options for catering special events. read more

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Arrived on fairly quiet weekday night and was seated fast in the bar area. It was a bit dark, but not bad. Service was overall very good and prompt. For food, I ordered steak and onions for my entree and a salad. The salad came out first and it wasn't that impressive. Basically just iceberg lettuce with some scattered veggies drenched in dressing. But whatever. If my doctor asks, I ate a salad. The kitchen got the rest of the food out quickly. And while steak and onions with a side of rice and beans isn't the most colorful of dishes, it looked appetizing enough. And the taste overall was pretty good. My biggest complaint was that the steak and beans tasted too salty. Although they probably used less salt than in the average frozen dinner, the fact that it was very forward and intense on the palate was disappointing. So, not a horrible experience by any means, nor was it the greatest. But it at least was intriguing enough to get me curious about going back and trying other things from their menu. read more

Incredible experience of food, service and atmosphere. Don't let a small laguage barrier (at times) keep ya from this gem.

After reading the great reviews I decided to come dine. The food did not disappoint. I ordered the Pabellon which is a signature dish and my husband ordered the Steak and Onions. Me daughter enjoyed the empanadas for the kids meet you as well. The churros were a big fit for her! The atmosphere was very nice, and the service was great! I'm looking forward to coming back on Saturday night for their karaoke. There are so many good dishes on the menu that I will definitely be back to try something new very soon. read more

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The Cubano Sandwich was very good but I did notice it did not have the mustard bite on an traditional Cuban sandwich. It does include a side of juasacaca sauce which gives it a nice tangy bite! Pickles were on the side which is also different. Service was great and liked the beer options. read more

La Taguara Bar & Grill - Cubano Sandwich with Rice and Beans... - Venezuelan Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food was excellent, and the service was great. We had traditional Venezuelan food. The Mofongo was to die for and the crispy plantain appetizer was killer. Great food! Cannot wait to go back and try something else. read more