Terrible service. My first time the owner's daughter was quite rude when we tried ordering. My second time being today, it clearly states the restaurant is open and the door is closed. I knocked on the door and the older women (owner) put her hand up to say no. Didn't even bother to open the door and say whether they would open later or not, just basically told me to f** off.
Jessica P.
The food is ALWAYS delicious here. Truly a hidden gem in Santa Ana. The service is great and everyone treats you like you're a guest in there own home, always very accommodating. As soon as you step in to the establishment it you can feel the authenticity. Everything looks amazing and makes you feel at home. Ambience is great, and definitely a place I would recommend to my friends and family !
Myke K.
My advice is keep your receipt when you pay. My wife went there for lunch and spent $25, signed for the check and the final bill came out to $55 on our credit card statement. My wife reached out to the restaurant and spoke to Norah, she even provided us with the receipt that CLEARLY was for $25.76 with a $3.00 tip. The total should have been $28.76, instead was charged $54.52. Do the math lady, $25.76 + $25.76 + $3.00 is $54.52. We tried explaining that to her and she still refuses to refund us the difference of, OMG what a coincidence, $25.76!!!! We will also be reporting this to the BBB. The stupidity is unreal.
Jana S.
This spot is a hidden gem. The arepas and empanadas are delicious, as are the accompanying sauces. Came here during the week for lunch and although the wait for our food took a little longer than I anticipated, it was worth it. I believe it's a family owned business with several amazing women in the kitchen, all of whom were very sweet and kind in their interactions with us. Ambiance is pretty casual. Definitely would come back especially for the beef empanada.
Felix Arrieche
Totally overpriced!! arepas were undercooked, plantains were actually overcooked, they have no idea what a Perico style eggs and not to mention the quality of the cheese, this people running this place have no idea what real venezuelan foof is all about, not even the cachapas were well made, i had never have crumbling cachapas, before and believe me i had been visiting many so call venezuelan places as i travel throughout the US been from Venezuelan origins i know what i am talking about. sorry, but very dissatisfied with this place, and on top of a all their Credit card payment form was not working, we needed to pay by writing a check, oh well bring cash if you still decide to eat there just in case.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Brittney K.
The restaurant charged my card $30 more than what I signed the credit card receipt for. When I called the restaurant, a lady named Norah agreed to refund me but then never responded to me! Now, I'm having to dispute the charge with my credit card. What a nightmare this place has caused me!!
Inge Schink
This restaurant is my absolute favorite. The food is as authentic as can be (coming from a Venezuelan). They offer a variety of items on their menu and the restaurant is a homey space that gives you a peek into the culture. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karina G.
As a local OC resident many years back this place was a gem. The food was decently priced once upon a time. Now $10.25 for an Arepa, that's just insane. I get that it's street food in Venezuela, and here in the US you pay for the experience, but definitely NOT WORTH IT. I also get inflation, but not to this extent. Maybe I'm just hopeful that things will return to more decent times/prices. An arepa was $3 bucks before, granted they were smaller but they packed a punch. Now, years later they are thicker but packed less. You're paying for overpriced maza, corn dough. SMH. Even the pancake with cheese, the cachapa is 12 bucks! Times are hard for everyone and with these prices you're better off dining at a fancy restaurant.
Mary Han
These shrimp empanadas live in my head rent-free. I don't know how they make they're dough but it is filled with buttery goodness (while not being heavy) and crisped to perfection. Highly recommend adding a fresh fruit smoothie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
EJ C.
This is nice restaurant. The atmosphere is pleasant and cozy. And the employees are polite. And the food is good, tasty, and they use good ingredients. But I think the food is overpriced. I know inflation is bad right now, but even with that, I still don't think $11+tax for a single arepa is worth it. Also make sure to use Zelle or Cash. Or else you'd be paying more with your credit card.
Food is decent! The service is horrible! They are so rude. I ordered a veggie empanada and it had a hair on top of the masa like it was fried with it. The cook was the one that was the nicest about it she said she would re do my empanada but then about 4 of the ladies that were there on the counter started saying "what hair" like they couldn't see it, then our waitress said well "it's windy it's your own hair" like straight out screamed at me being in denial. Then I said no it's in the masa it's fried with it and I tried to pull it but it was stuck and again the cook said I see it. They finally accepted that it wasn't my hair and they would re make it, I was iffy and the same waitress said "they will make you a new one we wouldn't just take the hair out and give it back to you" so when she said that I said to them I didn't want anything anymore because of their attitude and afraid that they would do something to my empanada based on their attitude. As I was going back outside an 83 year old guy probably one of the owner came right behind me screaming and bragging how they have all kind of important people and he was 83 years and it was a mistake. This guy was screaming his apology to me like I was the one that did everything wrong. I've been here like 3 times and their costumer service is horrible, I will not be coming back. How dare you blame me for a hair in your food, I'm a business woman and to accuse your costumer and scream at them is just so unprofessional, rude, unethical and disrespectful. I do NOT recommend this place whatsoever!
Steve S.
The juices and food are excellent. The sauces are flavorful and spicy if you like that. The place is warm and inviting with Latin music playing. I would definitely come here again. It is not that expensive considering what you get.
K J.
Came for a late lunch on Saturday. Street parking with meters can be found along 5th street and some on Broadway. Walked in and liked the vibe-eclectic with pictures of various street scenes, artful wall pieces and an open air indoor dining feel. Table service so we were seated quickly. We ordered the reina chicken arepas and the watermelon juice. The watermelon juice was delicious-a sort of slush with fresh watermelon that was so refreshing in a very tall glass for 8.95. The arepas came soon afterward, freshly made to order and packed with a mixture of chicken and avocados. Two sauces are on the table to add to your dish-we tried both. One was a avocado garlic mayo and the other had chilies. Both were great additions, although without it the arepas were great. $10.95 each. We enjoyed our lunch very much and found the staff very friendly-it clearly is a family owned business that takes great pride in their food.
Tafgy G.
Food is so good and so many fresh juices to choose from. I always get the chicken arepas and plantains
Alfredo Lopez-Bruce
Not a bad place to dine, lentil soup was good and nicely priced but the guava juice, arepas and empanadas were a bit too high, tasty and fresh but high on price.
Terrible service. My first time the owner's daughter was quite rude when we tried ordering. My second time being today, it clearly states the restaurant is open and the door is closed. I knocked on the door and the older women (owner) put her hand up to say no. Didn't even bother to open the door and say whether they would open later or not, just basically told me to f** off.
The food is ALWAYS delicious here. Truly a hidden gem in Santa Ana. The service is great and everyone treats you like you're a guest in there own home, always very accommodating. As soon as you step in to the establishment it you can feel the authenticity. Everything looks amazing and makes you feel at home. Ambience is great, and definitely a place I would recommend to my friends and family !
My advice is keep your receipt when you pay. My wife went there for lunch and spent $25, signed for the check and the final bill came out to $55 on our credit card statement. My wife reached out to the restaurant and spoke to Norah, she even provided us with the receipt that CLEARLY was for $25.76 with a $3.00 tip. The total should have been $28.76, instead was charged $54.52. Do the math lady, $25.76 + $25.76 + $3.00 is $54.52. We tried explaining that to her and she still refuses to refund us the difference of, OMG what a coincidence, $25.76!!!! We will also be reporting this to the BBB. The stupidity is unreal.
This spot is a hidden gem. The arepas and empanadas are delicious, as are the accompanying sauces. Came here during the week for lunch and although the wait for our food took a little longer than I anticipated, it was worth it. I believe it's a family owned business with several amazing women in the kitchen, all of whom were very sweet and kind in their interactions with us. Ambiance is pretty casual. Definitely would come back especially for the beef empanada.
Totally overpriced!! arepas were undercooked, plantains were actually overcooked, they have no idea what a Perico style eggs and not to mention the quality of the cheese, this people running this place have no idea what real venezuelan foof is all about, not even the cachapas were well made, i had never have crumbling cachapas, before and believe me i had been visiting many so call venezuelan places as i travel throughout the US been from Venezuelan origins i know what i am talking about. sorry, but very dissatisfied with this place, and on top of a all their Credit card payment form was not working, we needed to pay by writing a check, oh well bring cash if you still decide to eat there just in case.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
The restaurant charged my card $30 more than what I signed the credit card receipt for. When I called the restaurant, a lady named Norah agreed to refund me but then never responded to me! Now, I'm having to dispute the charge with my credit card. What a nightmare this place has caused me!!
This restaurant is my absolute favorite. The food is as authentic as can be (coming from a Venezuelan). They offer a variety of items on their menu and the restaurant is a homey space that gives you a peek into the culture. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As a local OC resident many years back this place was a gem. The food was decently priced once upon a time. Now $10.25 for an Arepa, that's just insane. I get that it's street food in Venezuela, and here in the US you pay for the experience, but definitely NOT WORTH IT. I also get inflation, but not to this extent. Maybe I'm just hopeful that things will return to more decent times/prices. An arepa was $3 bucks before, granted they were smaller but they packed a punch. Now, years later they are thicker but packed less. You're paying for overpriced maza, corn dough. SMH. Even the pancake with cheese, the cachapa is 12 bucks! Times are hard for everyone and with these prices you're better off dining at a fancy restaurant.
These shrimp empanadas live in my head rent-free. I don't know how they make they're dough but it is filled with buttery goodness (while not being heavy) and crisped to perfection. Highly recommend adding a fresh fruit smoothie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is nice restaurant. The atmosphere is pleasant and cozy. And the employees are polite. And the food is good, tasty, and they use good ingredients. But I think the food is overpriced. I know inflation is bad right now, but even with that, I still don't think $11+tax for a single arepa is worth it. Also make sure to use Zelle or Cash. Or else you'd be paying more with your credit card.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food is decent! The service is horrible! They are so rude. I ordered a veggie empanada and it had a hair on top of the masa like it was fried with it. The cook was the one that was the nicest about it she said she would re do my empanada but then about 4 of the ladies that were there on the counter started saying "what hair" like they couldn't see it, then our waitress said well "it's windy it's your own hair" like straight out screamed at me being in denial. Then I said no it's in the masa it's fried with it and I tried to pull it but it was stuck and again the cook said I see it. They finally accepted that it wasn't my hair and they would re make it, I was iffy and the same waitress said "they will make you a new one we wouldn't just take the hair out and give it back to you" so when she said that I said to them I didn't want anything anymore because of their attitude and afraid that they would do something to my empanada based on their attitude. As I was going back outside an 83 year old guy probably one of the owner came right behind me screaming and bragging how they have all kind of important people and he was 83 years and it was a mistake. This guy was screaming his apology to me like I was the one that did everything wrong. I've been here like 3 times and their costumer service is horrible, I will not be coming back. How dare you blame me for a hair in your food, I'm a business woman and to accuse your costumer and scream at them is just so unprofessional, rude, unethical and disrespectful. I do NOT recommend this place whatsoever!
The juices and food are excellent. The sauces are flavorful and spicy if you like that. The place is warm and inviting with Latin music playing. I would definitely come here again. It is not that expensive considering what you get.
Came for a late lunch on Saturday. Street parking with meters can be found along 5th street and some on Broadway. Walked in and liked the vibe-eclectic with pictures of various street scenes, artful wall pieces and an open air indoor dining feel. Table service so we were seated quickly. We ordered the reina chicken arepas and the watermelon juice. The watermelon juice was delicious-a sort of slush with fresh watermelon that was so refreshing in a very tall glass for 8.95. The arepas came soon afterward, freshly made to order and packed with a mixture of chicken and avocados. Two sauces are on the table to add to your dish-we tried both. One was a avocado garlic mayo and the other had chilies. Both were great additions, although without it the arepas were great. $10.95 each. We enjoyed our lunch very much and found the staff very friendly-it clearly is a family owned business that takes great pride in their food.
Food is so good and so many fresh juices to choose from. I always get the chicken arepas and plantains
Not a bad place to dine, lentil soup was good and nicely priced but the guava juice, arepas and empanadas were a bit too high, tasty and fresh but high on price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lentil Chicken Soup, Venezuelan Arepas