Café Sazón

In a vacation from FL I asked a good friend for a latin restaurant recommendation for my very picky eater family. She recommended Cafe Sazon and she was sooooo on point the food was tasty and delicious but the patience of the waitress with my family's questions and requests was second to none. If I was a local this will be my go to restaurant.

This place is delightful, it always reminds me of my grandmothers house. Good music, good food, and wonderful staff. We visited goodwill and when stepped out we smelled the delicious aroma coming out of this place. We got coffee, pastries and salteñas. We will continue to come back.

amazing ambiance incredible food. the best smoothie and arepas!!!

If you want delicious and filling comfort food for a great price then you have to come to this place! I never knew it existed until my friend searched for a dinner place close to where our dance class was that night. It is located in a small strip mall and would be so easy to miss if you drove by. But I gotta tell you, this place is a total hidden gem! First of all, the food! My gosh the food! I rarely get a chance to eat South American food and this was a huge treat. I ordered a couple of pupusas, an enchilada, and a Peruvian steak with eggs on top. My friend got a shrimp dish with grilled veggies. The pupusas were absolutely on point with the size, cheesiness, and flavor. The enchilada was definitely not the enchiladas I was accustomed to growing up in a Mexican family, but this South American version was packed with flavor. It seemed more like a tostada but it was tasty as heck. As for the steak, it was perfectly cooked and very juicy. The overeasy eggs on top added to the flavor explosion. All the sides like the french fries and rice were also done very well. The fries had a very good flavor to them probably from the steak juices. My friend really enjoyed her shrimp dish and I enjoyed the little bite I had. So if I could give more stars for the food I absolutely would. For service, it was divine! The woman serving us was so sweet and kind. I got to speak some spanish with her and so that is always fun to do when I get the chance. Another woman, who I believe was the owner, was there as well and would come check on us and even brought a couple of our dishes out. I felt like I was at home being taken care of by my own mom. I wish I got her name because she was so warm and welcoming. We told her we loved her colorful decorations and lights in the restaurant. They have plenty of tables and I do hope they get busy throughout the day. It was not very busy when we went but likely because we went just before they closed for the day. I will definitely come back for their breakfasts which looked pretty amazing on the menu. They also have an inhouse baker who makes lots of baked good treats. I was so full that I couldn't bring myself to buy more food but I will come back and try every one of them. So please, go support this small business that does food and service perfectly.

Fantastic food! The Guatemalan steak dish was soooo good. The tortillas are thick and delicious. Colombian empanadas are the best! Everyone at the table absolutely loved the meal. Prices are reasonable and the staff there are super nice and helpful. I wish it was a bit warmer to sit outside. Inside is casual. Highly recommend Cafe Sazon!

Looking for something a little different for breakfast? Check out Cafe Sazon on Columbia Pike. This South American cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wifey and I visited for a delicious Sunday breakfast. Both of our coffees (Cappuccino and latte) were great. She said her latte was velvety and my cappuccino had the perfect amount of foam. For entrees, she had the Huevos con Chorizo which came with puffy but dense tortillas. I had the El Mananero skillet which was delicious and plentiful. Both dishes had plantains which were also excellent. We’ll definitely be back.

Friendly environment and staff. The food is great. Drink selection is not hugh buy it is good. This is not an upscale and super fancy restaurant but a good place to get food. Or a quick bite to eat and a great alternative to fast food. The breakfast meals are the greatest choices. The cuisine is Mexican/Salvadoran/Colombian. The price is okay. This is a great place to get a meal if your passing by or visiting town.

High quality comfort food that just hits every time. Filling, rich, and has that special homemade feeling of care. Cool, calm, and pleasant environment, at least for lunch. Menu selection is expansive and service is very helpful. Only criticism is that they were a bit too expensive than your common Mexican restaurant (yes I realize this isn’t Mexican, just a simple comparison). Would still love to come back!

I love this place. It feels like home. I especially enjoy the huevos con chorizo and the fruit smoothies.

I really liked the the ambiance and the concept of all kinds of Central and South American food. Being Bolivian and Salvadorian, it is so cool I can have both in one sitting. They were out of Saltenas but pupusas were so good. Tried the Colombian empanadas, loved them as well. Had a Mocochinchi though and my daughter accidentally spilled it. They quickly cleaned it up and moved us but sadly they made us pay for it. Silpancho was great could've had a bigger plate though. I absolutely get it and understand it was our fault but not going the extra mile and taking it off the check was such a horrible way to show that you care about a guests experience. The manager said most places won't take it off the check and that's wrong most places do. It makes it awkward and ruins a dinning experience to not take off something such low cost to the restaurant to make sure your guest has had a great experience. You try to do whatever you can to make sure a guests comes back. I'm absolutely pulling for this place and it hurts that it seems like they don't care. I as a Restaurant Manager myself have comped even alcohol drinks that have spilled various times, to ruin an experience you could've gave for 4$. It's sad to see a place not care about ultimate service. I will be back at least one more time to show my Bolivian mother but I would've wrote a great review and told everyone about this place if it weren't for the service and the lack of care for a guest experience by being stingy, at the end you lose more money and sadly I don't think this establishment knows that. 4 star food with one star service won't work when the competition is fierce. Maybe that's why they were slow on a Friday night with the carnival in town.

Food is decent and the concept is great with a diverse menu with food from across Latin America. But poor customer service keeps me from wanting to return.

Amazing food, amazing people, and all at an affordable price!! Plenty of space for sitting or super easy to take to go!

The food was great! The service was friendly! The decor is fun and the ambiance is comfortable. The live music was also a really great time. Would recommend

First and most importantly: their shitty service, they were closer on a random Saturday at 5pm when it showed open, so I called and this girl hung up on me 3 times and then said stop calling! Like girl, I'm not calling you because you're my ex, I'm calling to get some pupusas. And second of all: speaking of their pupusas, go elsewhere, $4 for one oily mediocre cheese and Goya beans is NOT worth it.

I think a 3/5 is a bit generous based on the quality of the food. However, the service was quick and we had a large group of 10-12 on a Sunday afternoon so will bump up the rating a bit. BEEF & VEGGIES SOUP (32 OZ.) - 12.99 They only have the 32 oz. size for this soup (seems like they have one or two "daily" soups that change everyday), unfortunately. It came in a big bowl with lots of potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and a couple chunks of beef. Overall, the broth was OK. I would describe it to be savory with a hint of sour or acidic flavor. I wish it had more beef in it as it had an overwhelming amount of other toppings. It was too big for me to finish, but not tasty enough for me to want to bring it home. The soup was pricy, and my total was about $17 after tax and tip. I tried some of my friends' entrees (LOMO SALTADO and another steak based entree) and the quality and flavor of the meat wasn't very memorable and at best average. I wouldn't come back given there are so many options in the area with better tasting food.

Uno de mis lugares favoritos, tienen mi café favorito y las pupusas son las mas deliciosas, la atención excelente siempre me an hecho sentir especial y muy bien bienvenida y servida muy atentos y el ambiente maravilloso.

Not Colombian! Not sure what they are. Food was not good. Ambience was a dark and gloomy atmosphere- we thought it was closed.

Really delicious pupusas & desserts too - the Tiramisu is literally the best I've ever had!

This restaurant is amazing. The food is so fresh and well presented all the time I good. The decorations is just so beautiful makes it feel very welcoming and colorful I love it.

Good place! Breakfast options were basic but good. Desayuno Tipico: I liked the scrambled egg mixture, and the plantains were good too. El Mañanero Skillet: Steak slices were savory and had a texture just like I like it. Next time I'll have to try their lunch/dinner options.

we came here once for dinner months ago (dont go out much :)) and it was good so we thought we'd see if they were open for brunch on a week day off. I had a delicious egg cheese sandwich w veggies w their homemade bread. and my husband had the sazon skillet w sausage, egg, potatoes and veggies w avocado, So flavorful and satisfying on this cold snowy morning! warm and cozy in here w great music and christmas village in big front window. Kids must love it. very magical. Service was excellent. cant give high enough rating!

Food was delicious! Had leftovers and great flavor at home too. The waitresses were Attentive.

I had a great time at Cafe Sazón in Arlington. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was cozy. The service was friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back!

Really good service. Staff super kind, place really cozy and clean. Best pupusas ever tried, I definitely grab a couple whenever I have a chance. The food overall is really tasty and natural. I recommend trying their smoothies, they are completely organic and delicious.

Went to Cafe Sazon for the first time today to celebrate Fathers' Day and a birthday. Food was delicious and the service was excellent. I was surprised there wasn't a line of people waiting for a table.

You may not expect it at first sight because the strip center it's in is pretty dumpy, but the food at Cafe Sazon is delicious. It took a long time for it to be served but it was worth the wait. Our server was great - she gave honest advice not to order or to order a couple of different items. Would for sure come back here.

Ambiance: 4-star Service: 5-star Food: 5-star Average: 4.6 stars (rounding to 5) I frequent this cafe pretty relatively and always order the same thing... if it ain't broke... The restaurant is family friendly. No frills but still nice with welcoming staff. During the winter holidays, be sure to stop by to see their Christmas decorations. Not pictured: the pupusas are great! I prefer pork and cheese but you can't go wrong with any combination. Also, their cappuccinos are yummy! If you're looking for an unconventional place to have coffee and a dessert or a snack, consider Cafe Sazon. Pictured: my usual - The Sazon Skillet. If you're a fan of breakfast skillets, give this one a try. The skillet comes with potatoes, cheese, sausage, peppers, two eggs and avocado. The combination is delicious. I wouldn't steer you wrong!

Waiting on my wife to finish her tattoo session around the corner, this was an excellent spot to get away at for an hour or two. Full bar and was able to dine in (safely and comfortably). Just what I was looking for in these times of covidity while I was stuck waiting. Ordered the carne asada...which is usually pretty hard to eff up. My picture says it all about the meal; they really didn't eff it up a bit. Will probably return here when my wife needs to come back for her second session of tatting

I'm headed to Colombia soon and wanted to get inspired on planning my DIY trip and get started on research. So I came here to try their food and it was perfect. The tipico breakfast I had was very tasteful, I added the meat. Everything tasted amazing, very flavorful. I loved that each item on my plate had a different unique taste & well seasoned. I haven't had that tasteful refried beans since some of my travels to south America. I learnt the cream (not mayo) is a good mix with the plantains. It was tasty. Seemed like alot of locals & natives stopped here while I was having brunch. The cappuccino warmed me up on this cold morning and it was tasty. There's bakery items including monkey bread, I'll have to try next time. Service was good, staff was kind, reminded me of back home. Parking was a plenty in front of the restaurant. About 11-12 tables, spacious, clean and I highly recommend you stop here.

My friend and I decided to try breakfast at this place. The pros: nice outdoor seating area, the place is clean and dog friendly. However, the food is at best mediocre. We left most of the food because it was so tasteless. Overall I would not recommend coming for breakfast here.

Family run restaurant (and bakery) with something for everyone. Latin American inspired breakfast (real breakfasts, not "brunch", with skillets, eggs, chorizo, plantains, etc), lunch and dinner. Great coffee (illy) made by the cup, desserts, pastries, cupcakes; cocktails, wine and beer, smoothies and homemade soft drinks. Excellent service and food. So far we have only had breakfasts and tres leche cake (can't wait to try their tres leche flan). Close to where the WO&D trail crosses Columbia Pike. Don't judge a book by its cover, plain store front that is nicely decorated inside. Give it a try.

Came here for dinner with the ol ball and chain. She loved their pupusas revuelta. But 2 out of 5 because the Sopa de Mani was not as flavorful as it should be. It lacked the true mani flavor. I ordered the Silpancho which was a bit bland to be honest. The carne lacked flavor but the rest of the dish "arroz, papa, ensalada, and huevo" sort of saved it. I had my doubts ordering a Bolivian dish that also serves guatemalteco and el Salvadoran dishes on the menu and I was right. Always go with you gut, 9 out of 10 times you'll be right.

The quality of the food and service was excellent. I had coffee which was well balanced and the Guatemalan Churrasco- probably enough food for 2 people. Definitely recommend this gem.

I ordered delivery through a third party app so I can't speak to the ambiance or service. Really good Milanesa de Pollo! It came with some basmati rice that had an awesome flavor, yucca fries and a salad. It also had a spicy green salsa on the side which had a great flavor. I'll definitely be eating there again! My only complaint was that the lime was really dry. It didn't have any juice and just frayed when I tried to squeeze it. Not a big deal overall, though.

Café Sazón is an institution, a staple, a second home! The owner is just as incredible as the baked goods, coffee, and empanadas. Located off of Columbia Pike, this cafe offers a wide selection of bakery sweets and breads, sandwiches, delicious main course items like carne asada, pupusas, Bolivian cuisine favorites, and delicious smoothies and shakes. Ample seating inside, ample parking out front, and friendly service make this cafe the regular meeting spot for our Arlington Dem Latino Caucus meetings. It is the one place we can always agree on!

Was a beautiful day out so I decided to go for a walk. Randomly popped into this little establishment. This place exemplifies service with a smile. As soon as I walked in, was greeted by 2 very friendly women, one of whom continued to serve me for the rest of my stay. I was told to sit wherever I wanted. The ambience was very chill and casual. There's a good amount of space in the establishment (also even though the bathrooms aren't labeled as gender neutral, they are single occupancy). Quite a few families came in while I was there, a very family friendly place. There was a television in the corner with football (ahem, soccer in America) on. But more interestingly there was a DJ in the corner (at 4pm on a Sunday? With a little tip jar in front) with a curious music selection. While I was there he played Eye of the Tiger, lots of Rod Stewart, the Beegees (fun fact: How Deep is Your Love is my favorite song), etc. I had brought some work notes with me to look over since I sort of expected a Panera but Latin American vibe...well, that plan went out the window since the DJ's music was so loud, like dancing music loud. (I didn't mind, after all it was a Sunday...I'll leave the work for Monday). I ordered a glass of Horchata to cool off after my walk and it was quite refreshing and perfectly spiced. (I will regret the sugar and dairy later but for now...YOLO). I also got the Fajitas de pollo ($12.50). The food took a little longer than I expected to come out considering the place wasn't full but I eventually got it and I must say it was very filling. Unfortunately the fajitas were underwhelming, the chicken, onions and peppers just didn't have that rich seasoning I'm used to...was a little bland. I did enjoy the white rice though. Even though I was absolutely bursting from the meal, I still ended with a slice of of red velvet cake which I definitely enjoyed more than the food. The icing was perfection. I may come back to try some other menu items that her reviewers rave about, and also because the service was so pleasant and food reasonably priced.

Order the Lemon Chicken Salad. Delicious! Friendly, attentive service. Good food, good ambiance.

To start, I sent my 14 year old daughter for a pick up and she said that the cashier was rude. I brushed it off thinking because of her age. But still not acceptable. Fast forward to today, I attempted to call in a take out order. When they answered the phone, I was promptly told they don't speak English and then hung up. I called again with the same reply and a hang up. I proceeded to go in the Cafe to notify the manager. She apologized but did not even offer the take my order or ask how to make it right.

Great food with an authentic flavor. We had pork, beans, and chicken pupusas along with the sampler. Great food at a good price. Don't miss it!

I've visited a total of five times here, the first four times were for a latte (café con leche) and a pastry, and each of those times I've been impressed with their attentive service and deliciousness. The atmosphere is kind of interesting because it looks gloomy yet with very fun Spanish music. I'm a Latina and I feel like they always have the right music! The hot café con leche is served in ginormous mugs, with foamy steamed milk, and just the right amount of coffee flavor. They have about five rows of pastry options, I'd say a total of 15 options perhaps and we've tried everything from the pineapple patties to the long rice cookies, and they're all a win! On our last time there (our fifth visit), we decided to have dinner. It was a Tuesday night and almost every table there was taken, however the service was a little slower because there was only one waitress, yet she was a superwoman because she worked pretty fast considering the high clientele! My hubby and I both ordered the same plate: two pieces of grilled chicken over two thin tortillas accompanied by basmati rice, salad and Pico de Gallo. However, I was able to replace the salad with black beans (black beans are whole, red beans are refried). Believe me when I tell you that we pretty much licked our plates clean because it was just THAT good! The seasoning was all 100% delicious. As a dessert, we ordered one mug of hot chocolate (the mugs are good for two) and a pastry. The chocolate drink was very rich and thick - it was tasty but I would've preferred it had milk or marshmallows to decrease the richness. This is definitely a five-star restaurant in my book; especially after paying about $25 for all of the above. Can't beat that! Man, I'm so glad this Latina has finally found some inexpensive, nearby, delicious Hispanic food!

If you want a classic central american breakfast, don't second guess coming here. Not only is their food fresh and evidently made to order, but it's also flavorful and the wait time isn't bad. Their horchata is also so good seriously a must have. Great service from the waitress. 10/10, I'll be back again.

Ask first then, order and pay. Lesson learned. Went as a result of the 4 star reviews while my son was thrifting at goodwill. The food was good. I ordered take out. I do not like the practice of taking my money and then telling me it's going to be 15 minutes for the food to be ready. Inform customers first how long it's going to be and then take the order would improve service. Thanks.

I have eaten here a handful of times and the food is always very good, great service too. It is a full Latin American restaurant as well as a bakery and cafe. The food is always packed with flavor no matter what you get. The soups, baked goods, and almost everything is made from scratch daily. They also serve tasty drinks, smoothies, and coffees as well. Definitely recommend for some great food no matter the mood you are in.

I miss living 10 minutes from this little gem on Columbia Pike. It's a perfect place for decompressing after a long day (or a lazy one) with its cheery lime green walls and friendly staff. It also helps that the food is on point. With a name like "Cafe Sazon", you can't expect anything less than something flavorful. And for the most part, they deliver. I've mostly come for the empanadas. The chicken empanadas are a little sweet, chock-full (no exaggeration) of shredded chicken, and satisfying. Personally I prefer it when empanadas have both meat and veggies - a pea or two, some carrots maybe. The chicken empanadas at Cafe Sazon are just that - chicken empanadas - but they hit the spot and are a great lunch or mid-afternoon snack. They now also serve pretty decent chicken and beef saltenas. My all-time favorite though isn't an empanada - it's the beef and pumpkin soup they serve on Fridays. A semi-thick pumpkin soup with chunks of pumpkin and beef, and corn. Amazing! The ideal dish for cold weather. For desserts, I've only tried their bread pudding. Simple but very good!

One of my local favorites thanks to their Colombian empanadas (deeeep friiiiied meeaaat pocketssss), delicious platters, and excellent espresso drinks. Their fried chicken plate is delectable, and apparently their soups are crazy delicious (I always see people eating it, even at the height of summer). They also have a selection of baked goods which i think are ok, not my favorite. Not the sexiest location - strip mall with an awkward entrance (lawd, avoid during weekend lunchtime - the lot is packed with people going to Goodwill).

Amazing restaurant, for delivery or dine-in (though I'm not dining in anywhere right now.) Great pupusas, great fajitas, I had the diputado sandwich once and it was really great, and the smoothies are a fresh refreshing treat. I get it with milk and can't imagine getting a smoothie with water, but people can do what they want. You can't go wrong here, everything is great, would highly recommend to everyone in the area. No complaints whatsoever.

Pleasant place. They have an array of desserts, empanadas, sandwiches, limited coffee options, beer and alcohol, lunch and dinner specials. Free wi-fi. I stopped by for a coffee. I've been curious of this place. Honestly, the huge winter wonderland scene in the display window is what got me in there!! I wanted to look at it up close and decided to order coffee, an empanada, my mom got the bread pudding which was awesome!!! Pleasant, will return if I have some down time and in the area.

The food is delicious, everything is very tasty, the churrasco is excellent Recommended this restaurant

This is my Sunday breakfast spot. Always good food and service with a smile. They host a dj playing 80 and 90 mix every sunday Nice and welcoming atmosphere. I always get my favorite... chorizo and eggs with a side of plantines, avacado and cheeses! Also have thier daily soup which is always a good choice. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Un lugar muy agradable, excelente comida y atención tristemente esta joya está lejos de NYC si no sería uno de mis restaurantes preferidos.

Cute cafe that has great batidos. Their chicken empanadas are amazing and their pupusas good. The place feels home like and the people are very friendly and nice. I'll definitely becoming back

A great place to chat, watch Spanish TV, or waste away on a phone using their free Wi-Fi. 5 stars: ordered decaf coffee and a pupusa, was a treat after a long week. Hanging out with daughter here and just relaxing. 80s music on. So chill...

This is simply the best Latin American cafe / bakery I've been to in the DMV area. The place is really nice and upscale for a typical bakery and they have a full menu of dinner options. I've eaten here 4 times and I've never a bad meal. Every option is made fresh and the coffee is low key amazing. I appreciate authentic places and this place is authentic and inexpensive. Support your local business and try this place out!

Cool laid-back place for a variety of snacks, beverage, meal, or dessert. Bean and cheese pupusa with cabbage side was so tasty for $2 and the perfect snack size. Just ask for the cabbage in a bowl so it doesn't make your pupusa soggy. The wait for one pupusa was 20 minutes with just one guy who ordered an enchilada ahead of me. This is not a fast food joint but the slow paced vibe seems like part of the charm. People were working on their laptops inside using the free wifi and taking advantage of the spacious, quiet atmosphere. Friendly, clean neighborhood spot to chill and slow down your day.

I like but don't love this spot. I love that they have a neighborhood following and it was obvious that their regulars enjoy the food. I am not a regular but I do eat Bolivian food regularly, and I found the food just okay. I would definitely eat here again but the food wasn't flavorful enough. I feel like they may be catering the food to the locals who may not be ready for the full flavoring, which is disappointing to me. The service was good and the atmosphere is pretty cool. You can tell they have a fun night time vibe for Karaoke (huge speakers and a stage).

This place is very inviting due to the large clean space with plenty of tables and an owner who is so friendly! Almost every one of these reviews mentions the silpancho so I had to try it. It has all of the components that I seek in a great "brunch" dish: thin breaded steak, 2 eggs, lightly fried rice, chopped tomatoes and onions, and crispy potatoes...but it wasn't as awesome as I thought it would be. The steak was a little too thin to maintain any flavor and I could tell that my 2 eggs were cooked in the microwave...to an over over-hard consistency. I got one of those pastries filled with chicken that was sitting in that heating tray on the counter. It had pretty good flavor and the pastry was oh so flaky good. The green sauce she gave me went really well with this. Oh the pupusas! We got revueltas (pork, beans, and cheese) and just plain cheese. Both were delicious. Eat these hot (too!) when they are toasty on the outside and melty on the inside! They came with all of the fixings--the cabbage slaw and tomatoey salsa! It was kind of a bummer that it took about 25 minutes for my order to come out even though there was only one other family that came in before me. I definitely want to come back and try some of the other things on the menu that sounded yummy.

I hesitate to review this place because I want it to remain a neighborhood secret! We go here at least once a month and sometimes several weekends in a row when the weather is nice. The atmosphere is causal, the staff friendly, and the food amazing. Seriously, everything is delicious - the chicken empanadas, the soups (chicken and beef), the tilapia, the lemon chicken salad. I have not gone wrong here yet. We always get the freshly made fruit and vegetable juice blend, which they make in their juicer on the spot. It actually inspired us to get our own juicer to try to recreate this concoction at home. They often have community events and local musical acts. We haven't checked those out yet because we just go for a chill weekend lunch atmosphere, but that's next on the list. Oh, except we have gotten to enjoy the Sunday DJ with his real vinyl collection of 70's and 80's pop - that's always a lot of fun.