While in Boston, our daughter introduced us to this neat little restaurant. The entrance felt a…read morelittle "secret" tucked down an alleyway. It was lively and cozy inside. I believe our waitress was Sylvanna. We ordered Sangria, a Negro Modela, & a hot tea to drink. For appetizers we chose the Trio De Empanadas (Queso Blanco, Domino, & Mechada) we added a single Verde. They were served perfectly cooked, and once we divided each one into thirds they cooled to a comfortable eating temperature. They were served with a garlic sauce, (aioli based?) that was delicious. I think our favorite was the Verde (I believe it had mushrooms & peppers in it). For our entrees, we ordered the Cordera, Costillita, & Parailla Caraquena. My husband loves lamb and was very happy with the Cordera. The Costillita was baby back ribs that were tender and flavorful. The Parailla Caraquena was grilled chicken, a portion of steak, and chorizo. My husband and I normally don't like chorizo but theirs was spicy but not greasy. Two of our plates came with fried yuca. I had never had this before and it reminded me of a large French fry. We did not have room for dessert, maybe next time.

We went to Orinoco a little under an hour before closing. We were seated immediately and the waiter…read morewas very attentive. We had hoped to eat some arepas but they were out of them. I recommend getting here earlier if that's what you're craving. We ended up getting the empanada trio, the Pabellon Criollo (which I did not realize also had plantains), the maracuchitos and the tostones. Yes, all the plantains in the menu. It kind of happened by accident but it worked out great. We got our food incredibly fast! Everything was delicious. However, the tostones and the empanadas were my favorite. I also had a maracuya juice, which was sweet and refreshing. We really liked our waiter, we was very nice and attentive. I wish I remembered his name to give him a shout out. I really enjoy the food from Orinoco. Historically, I had only gone to the restaurant in the South End but I'm glad to see the one at Harvard Square maintains the same flavors. I can't wait to be back for arepas.

Carolina is a lovely person and deserves the world. The service was phenomenal. She was able to…read moremake adjustments to my arepa order because of dietary restrictions. The arepas were DELICIOUS!!! We will be back. Nothing but good things to say.

First time to try Venezuelan food…read more Bowl Pabellon Beef: Pabellon is said to be Venezuela's national dish. Product from this stall was healthy, but not that authentic, or delicious for my Chinese appetite. As the core part, beef was absolutely fabulous, shredded and deep stewed to soft and tender, more on the savory and fragrant side, but also with a zing of tomato's sourness and paprika's spice, somehow similar to Mexican style. However, the black beans and banana were a bit overcooked, together with the salad dressing, mixed with the rice, making it overwhelmingly mushy, which was a disaster for me who love dry rice. I have checked through Google and ChatGPT that all ingredients should be placed separately, and obviously, pico de gallo should not be in there. By the way the food stall is located in a pub or something, where all people were crazily yelling. It is insanely chaotic so you'd better escape asap to protect your heart.

I really enjoyed my arepa from here! Saw this place as I was walking by and knew I had to check it…read moreout. I got the pelua arepa to go with spicy beef and cheese, they also included some sauces on the side which was nice so it didn't get soggy on the way back. The arepa was very tasty, I got mine fried and it felt like it was made fresh. The meat was a little tough to chew through at times but still tasty, and I did like the cheeses. It tasted yummy. Their menu is large and they have many arepas, I would like to try other kinds. Plus they have other venezuelan dishes too. This place is very inviting and everyone inside was friendly.

This might be my new favorite place to grab food in JP!…read more Every time I go, I can't resist ordering a cachapa with pork and cheese. It might take a little while to come out, but it's worth the wait. I love to get a side of sweet plantains, too. I always sit down to eat, since the cachapa takeout comes in a single-use styrofoam container, which I'm not a fan of for environmental reasons. Service is efficient. It's not anything fancy inside, but a nice place to sit and eat a meal.

My partner and I got huevos fritos and choripan -…read more TASTE: 4/5 - the hot sauce we requested was spicy and sooo good! Loved it w my huevos fritos. The choripan's Argentinian chorizo, pickled red onions, and chimichurri were chef's kiss TEXTURE: 5/5 - crispy arepas and yuca fries, melty Edam cheese, and dense sausage. It all hit the spot PRICE: 5/5 - each dish was only $10.50, amazing SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - satisfied us for brunch SERVICE: 4/5 - walked in at 12pm on a Sunday and were the first ones seated, though many families gradually came in. Our waitress was friendly and helpful ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - had always walked by Orinoco, and glad we finally stopped in to try. Colorful interior and Venezuelan decor PARKING: 4/5 - we're usually able to find a metered street spot right on Harvard St

Very cute place, vibrant, great food, salmon was cooked perfectly. Presentation of food also done…read morewell.

Great place for great food and price. Enjoyed the service…read moreand friendly staff. Appreciate yall.

I almost want to gatekeep this place because it's such a tiny spot with incredible food and the…read morefriendliest service. Some of our favorite dishes are the Cazuela de Frijoles (Beans Casserole), served with rice, sweet plantains, and eggs. It's simple comfort food, but the flavors are absolutely amazing. We also really appreciate how accommodating they are , for example, they're happy to remove the pork rinds or chorizo from the cazuela if you ask. The pabellón is another standout . It contains perfectly seasoned shredded beef served with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. It's hearty, flavorful, and feels like home cooking. Another must-order for us is the limonada tradicional, a fresh lemon-limeade that's perfectly refreshing and tart without being overly sweet. They bring out piping hot arepas with a delicious sauce for every table as a complimentary appetizer, which we love. The arepas on the actual menu weren't our personal favorite, but honestly, everything else we've tried has been outstanding. The menu/service is primarily in Spanish, so you may need to use Google Translate if you're not fluent, but it's absolutely worth it for such delicious food.

SO GOOD. Incredible vibes and energy. This is an amazinggg spot in Brighton…read more As a table we ordered: - Tequeños - Yuca Frita - Arepa - Beef empanada & chicken empanada - I got a red sangria - My friend got a shrimp cocktail + a passion fruit Margarita No notes. All of it was 10/10. So so good. And it's an amazing environment if you're trying to catch any soccer game. Will be back!!

Started off super strong, but unfortunately went downhill quickly. The atmosphere was great!! Nice…read moremusic, good vibes, and a very friendly waiter at first. We ordered drinks and food, and the drinks came out quickly. However, we ended up waiting over an hour for our food, even though the restaurant wasn't busy at all (we were one of two other groups). To make things more frustrating, the tables who arrived after us were already being served. About 30 minutes after ordering food, our waiter came by and asked if we wanted anything else, and we said no, we were just waiting on our food. He said okay, but then didn't check on us again for another 30 minutes. When we finally asked about the delay, he responded, "that's why I asked you before," which felt dismissive and confusing, considering he was the one who forgot to put the order in. By the time the food arrived, it was actually really good, but the experience had already been overshadowed by the long wait and lack of communication. Really wanted to love this place. I would give them a second chance.

DELICIOUS Central & South American food with breakfast items on the menu that are served all day!…read moreLove eggs n stuff? You're in luck! Nestled in a cute lil corner spot - La Qchara is perfect for a quick bite, coffee, or a full meal. Their YUCA FRIES??!???!!!?!??! Don't even get me started. Divine cuisine. Crunch, crunch, crunch - divine. On this visit, I scarfed down a Cuban Omelette & lemme say: compliments to the chef! It was loaded with shredded pork, chihuahua cheese & white onion. Eggs were perfection. Inhaled the yuca fries -- because...again, divine. Slurp, burp -- enjoy yourself a tasty treat at La Qchara, friends!

Counter serve restaurant with a variety of Latin American food. I thought my food was fine but…read morenothing special. The prices are on the higher side for what you get, and I feel like I would've had a better experience with some of their big plates instead of a rice bowl which is pretty simple and hard to mess up. The service here is quick and you get your food fast. There's parking that's pretty easy to find but I'm sure it's much busier on a summer afternoon than a Friday evening.

My second time here as the lady is well versed in this gem ! I'm glad that although the area is…read morechanging and unfortunately the building has new owners and VMA has to leave or close.... THEYRE moving down to JP! Thank goodness! 3 items we usually get. Empanadas, cachapas and arepas! Now for me i would go Beef or beef with cheese for all styles! I would say the empanadas are my absolute favorite 2-3 per person and you'll be on your tush, happy and sleepy haha. The green cilantro sauce whatever it is is perfect for everything. Without it would NOT be the same! The corn wrap is nice and sweet and i think they use real corn to make it not just cornmeal! The ladies working were really nice today and they do take quite awhile for your order to be ready unless you walk in and grab from the hot foods section (rice and stews etc Goat Chicken Beef pork) The arepa has nice crispy texture and is like a hot pocket of sorts! Enjoyed it but i still like empanadas the best! The cachapa is the lady's fave. Like a big Venezuelan omelette VERY filling so sharing is caring! Will be back and look forward to the new location!

Delicious bean and cheese arepa and cheese empanada with the most amazing green sauce. Also love…read morethe maduros. I don't eat meat but I'm sure their meat options are delicious. The workers are very kind.