We wanted a quick, casual bite at the awkward late Saturday afternoon time. We'd always wanted to…read moretry this spot. We stopped by -- and it was spectacular. It packed the flavor punch of homestlye cooking and would rival more expensive sit-down restaurants. What a gem! We ordered the Venezuelan arepa, birria empanada, mushroom empanada, side Macondo salad, and passion fruit juice. Every dish was fantastic, and I'd easily recommend any of the above. Venezuelan arepa -- the was ridiculously yummy. The perfect balance of creamy, rich avocado sauce with chicken. It was hearty, balanced, and perfectly seasoned. Birria empanada -- this was delicious, rich, and perfect for the particularly chilly late afternoon. Birria on point. If you're craving birria in a delectable, crispy empanada format, you'll be quite happy. Mushroom empanada -- yummy. We love mushroom empanadas and they executed this one well. Macondo side salad -- surprisingly fantastic! Did not expect it to be so tasty. It was only a side dish for the combo, but it held its own among the baked goods. That's how yummy it was. Passion fruit juice -- sweet and relatively thick. They definitely didn't water it down! If you're a fan of passion fruit juice, you'll must try this one. Environment was fast casual. Only drawback was althe comfort level of a few of the dining chairs, which sloped backwards in an awkward way. The bench actually felt more comfortable, so we opted for that. Take out seems easy and common here, so we'll like try that as well in the future. Located on a busy street, but you can almost always find free parking down one of the perpendicular side streets. Looking forward to coming back for a delicious, casual bite!

The empanadas are the star of the show for me. This place is like your aunties cooking inside and…read moreserving the home made food you grew up eating. Not that expensive, hot, and full of flavor. And yo can buy them ala carte if you don't want to spend too much. It's small, no seating but a small bench outside, so it's basically to go only. The ladies are nice inside, and are fast. It's a small little Alameda gem.

Returning to La Bendición felt like reconnecting with the soul. A warm, heartfelt moment that fills…read moreyou from the very beginning. The service provided by María José was truly exceptional from start to finish; gracious, attentive, and genuinely human in a way that lingers long after you leave. The atmosphere wrapped around you effortlessly; a cozy, inviting space where every detail feels intentional, guiding you back to your roots. The café con leche... simply perfect; like it was made by your grandmother, rich with comfort and memory. The agua de panela, beautifully balanced, set the tone with its subtle sweetness. Then came the highlight: a sizzling churrasco, aromatic and full of flavor, served with perfectly cooked rice and golden sweet plantains that taste like home. To finish, a selection of traditional cookies from the shop; the classic puntico Rojo; adding the perfect touch of sweetness and nostalgia. What a blessing it was to return to La Bendición. Because truly, we are blessed; those of us who get to experience the richness of Colombian cuisine in every bite.

I went with my wife to try a Columbian restaurant-La Bendicion Restaurant and Bar at 1712 S…read moreWinchester Blvd, Campbell, CA 95008 It was a nice place but with a very simple interior with bakery and BBQ smells. It does have full table service, which I really liked. Our server was very nice and helped us select our meal. We had beef ribs and pork ribs which were very good. The plantaines, white rice (exceptionally good), salad with avocado, and sauces. We finished our meal with in house fresh bakery items, which were really outstanding (See Pictures). Overall, the meal we ordered was pretty good, except for the plantains, which were hard, dry, and inedible (possibly not fresh made-was kept under a heat lamp). This restaurant may not be suitable for families, as it is also a sports bar with big screen TV's, loud music and geared for adults. The price point was fairly high as compared to other restaurants I have visited. Our bill for 2 dinners, 2 soft drinks, 2 desserts was $95 before tip. The restaurant was well maintained and clean. If you're in the area, why not try it?

Had a great dinner at Parche! The Tumaco Ceviche was fresh, with a nice touch of sweet drop…read morepeppers. Our favorite was the Empanada de Ajiaco--filling, perfectly crusted, and served with delicious jalapeño cilantro aioli. The Patacones were good, though the beef, onion marmalade, and tropical salsa were a bit sweet for my taste. The Cacao Nariño dessert was amazing, especially with our Carajillos and Espresso Martinis. Friendly service, quick food, and a fun meal overall!

Vibrant flavors, high price tag…read more Parche is a beautiul space in downtown Oakland serving family-style share plates of contemporary Colombia dishes. My group of four shared a variety of plates but we all felt were small for the price. We started with two cold plates, the Santa Marta Ceviche and the Salmón Salpicón. I couldn't decide which of the two were ma favorite and I definitely think both were my favorites of the whole meal. Following up with two small share plates, the Arepa de Las Monas and the Empanada de Ajiaco. Finished with the Mojarra Frita, fried whole branzino, which was perfectly fried and not oily at all. The cocktail menu had lots of creative options, but I opted for the Ojos Asi, which I would recommend only if you like bitter cocktails, that said I very much enjoyed it!

My first arepa and cachapas experience! We came here on a Sunday around 5pm and it's empty. The…read moreplace didn't seem to have lights on when we were there and we decided it's more pleasant to get it to-go and eat at Dolores park. I liked the cachapas with pulled pork so much more than the arepa with shredded beef. The pulled pork portion was huge and very juicey and delicious! The combination of sweet corn and savory pork was incredible. It's a bit weird though there are was half an uncut avocado just sitting inside the sweet corn crepe. The salad that came was also fresh, and I enjoyed the all the sauces that came with it. The white arepa we had was dry and uninteresting. I liked the plantains and the beef fillings too but the cachapas just couldn't beat. When we asked for to-go they put it in a brown bag. They didn't include any utensils so I suggest getting them if you want to eat somewhere else.

Don't ever DoorDash from this place: - Completely missed my…read moreorder: the arepa trio did not come with avocado or tomatoes. - Coconut Drink: it came leaking and the label was completely removed. The drink was also not the right one. - Everything came cold - The arepa shell was soggy as hell - Requested additional sauce did not arrive What a shame for an arepera. Do better please.

Amazing experience at Fonda Colombiana! The food was absolutely delicious!!! full of flavor and…read morecooked perfectly. You can really tell everything is made with care. We order the bandeja paisa, la toxic, and side of empanadas Carlos was our server and he was outstanding. Super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed the entire time. His service definitely made the experience even better. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be coming back!

This place is a hidden gem. It's a small shop tucked away in the middle of a tiny strip mall, but…read moreonce you walk inside, it's beautifully painted and decorated. It has a super homey, welcoming vibe. Here is the breakdown of what we ordered: Bistec with Chorizo: The serving size was huge! Definitely big enough for two light eaters. It was really tasty overall, though I do wish the beef had been a bit more tender. Beef Empanadas: Hands down, some of the better ones I've ever had. The skin was thin and perfectly crispy, and the filling was packed with flavor. Pair them with their chili oil sauce... yumm! To top it off, our waitress was incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. I'll definitely be returning to try some new dishes next time!

Food - YUM! We…read morestarted off with ceviche and crackers. The ceviche was covered in a flavorful sauce. I ordered the Sobrebarriga En Salsa Criolla - steak with yucca in a sauce that came with a side of rice and avocado slices. It was delicious, had a nice presentation, and I definitely had leftovers at the end of the meal. For my drink, I ordered Maracuya with a milk base. It's basically a passionfruit smoothie. I liked how it wasn't overly sweet. Service - our server was friendly, did well with clearing our table. Ambiance - colorful, giving off a nice Latin flare. There were references to Columbia on the walls, and Latin music playing. We have come here previously for the empanadas, and those were delightful as well. We'll definitely be back. :-)

Friendly service. Good food. Would like to return and try more items on the menu. Bar is available…read morewith indoor seating. This restaurant is located in a small plaza with minimal parking.

Delicious food, great service and love the authentic menu items. I love that the menu isn't…read moreoverwhelming and look forward to trying new items in the future

Excelente atención, y demasiado rica la comida.. y si van…read morecon niños pidan los buñuelos que combinannnn muy bien con la lechona!!

Been coming to Espetus for years and usually for a special occasion…read more This time, no reason other than we were in the Bay Area and decided to come here since it's been awhile. We made reservations for 7 pm for a Saturday night, checked in at 6:45 pm and were immediately seated. Service is exceptional and the meats came in soon as I put the green bar on the table. Compared to other Brazilian steak places I've been to including the ones in Rio De Janeiro, Espetus is up there. Meats were good.. some more flavorful than others. The one i especially liked was the pork belly so recommend you try it. All the other beef's can sometimes be hard to recall when you get so many on the plate. Soda was about $5.50 for a small bottle so not worth getting. Overall, great experience. My wife enjoyed sharing photos to her insta from here.

I had a nice lunch here with my sister and brother-in-law. Lucky we went during lunch time because…read morec it is expensive. My sister and brother in law trick me to treat them out there because they were driving me to the airport. Anyway food is great here so I understand the pricing. Very tender meat. The salad is good too. Service is superb. It's a nice place!

This place makes me want to visit San Mateo just to eat here!…read more I am currently on a very difficult journey to try everything on the menu, but the problem is I keep wanting to reorder the same staples, especially their famous Cubanos. Everything I've tried has been delicious, and the sauces are seriously amazing. They make their own chimichurri sauce, a super spicy habanero sauce, and a creamy white sauce that somehow makes every bite even better. The fresh juices are also worth trying. You can tell they're actually fresh. This spot is flavorful, memorable, and absolutely worth going out of your way for.

Went on a hike nearby and found this place for food afterwards…read more It's a small restaurant with some outdoor seating as well, right on El Camino. The place wasn't very busy . They have a variety of options , including salads, bowls, wraps and sandwiches. They also had multiple customizable options for vegetarians or vegans that included impossible patty, broccoli or veggies . I got the Quesawrap with Maduros ( plantains ) and veggies options. It came with a side salad as well. Unfortunately , they made the wrap with some seafood or meat , the 1st time. Luckily ,I checked before eating and notified the staff. They made a new one for me and comped off some amount from the bill. The staff was very friendly. They also have a bunch of interesting sauces . Would try this place again

Good vibes and good tacos…read more We got some tacos at the pop up at almanac brewery in Alameda, and they were a great bar bite. The owners are super friendly as well. Next time, I want to try their columbian twist on a banh mi!

Ran into Mezcla while visiting a local brewery in Alameda. Their pop up was about to shut down for…read morethe day, but Juan offered to get something going for my friends and I! I had the chance to try their delicious hard tacos. Paired with their salsa, these become really competitive. Their menu was more interesting - columbian food with a Vietnamese twist. Their customer service and enthusiasm for fusion cuisine makes the food feel more meaningful. Hope they'll be doing more pop ups in the Bay Area!