Cariaco To Go (Para Llevar)

I always get the cheese empanadas when I come. Thin and sweet dough, it’s always right. It has the perfect amount of cheese and it’s always made on the spot. They have a little market where you can purchase the same cheese they fill the empanada with. This place never disappoints. A little pricy but worth it in my opinion. Tequeños are great too!

Little place right next to the Hyatt I stayed at. The menu has a variety of dishes but I started with the Pastelito Andino, a savory pastry filled with rice and beef. I then had the Pabellón Crillo, Venezuela's national dish, and a Maltín, a fermented malt drink made with sugar cane. Also included is three different sauces. Very tasty.

I am changing my review from 5 stars to 1 star, the guy in the front desk is very rude and also very disrespectful, he treats you like you are asking for free food, the food there is also very expensive I spend last time I was there just to myself in a brunch almost $70 in my order with only 3 small items. ( dos empanadas y un Papelon con limon). The guy in the front desk should take an anger management curse and also a costumer service classes along with some manners. I will never return to this place again, even at the beginning I help them with a nice reviews when no one was knowing this place at all in the Venezuelan community. If u want some good Venezuelan food don't waste your time and money in this place and go instead to Chamo Venezuelan Cuisine in Pasadena they have a good food and not to expensive and they staff are very nice and very pleasant people.

First time trying arepas! Delicious, flavorful and great customer service. Will definitely be back! Love that it included a little side salad. If you have a big appetite, consider getting 2 arepas!

VENEZEULA 🇻🇪 Excerpt from Eat the World Los Angeles: The busy downtown core of Glendale between Brand and Central can seem like an area to stay away from, with malls, chains galore, and probably the longest line at any Porto's throughout the entire city. Good news has come to those that work here though, in the form of a buzzing little Venezuelan cafe that is fairly new. When your order is called, a tray with your arepa will be presented with an assortment of sauces. Whether it be fast food dishes like arepas and patacones or plated meals, Venezuelans always seem to want to be surrounded with a variety of sauce options, and Cariaco does not disappoint in that regard. Pabellón, the shredded stewed beef that can be found anywhere in Venezuela in many forms, is celebrated as the national dish. You can get a plate here that includes rice, beans, and fried plantains, but having an arepa de pabellón ($10.50) really cuts to the heart of the matter if you arrive with only one stomach. Besides the rice, the rest of the plate is all there, with healthy portions of each component stacked to give an eye-popping first impression.

I didn't like that they don't pay attention to the expiration date of the food they sell there. Attention consumers: the third-party products that they sell here are almost always expired. Keep in mind that these products may have been on your shelves for a long time. Before buying something, check the expiration date before you are disappointed. I bought this product this week on 5/15/2024 and I noticed that this corn dip is going to be expired today and that was made from 2023. Totally disappointed

Guys Cariaco has the best Venezuelan food in Los Angeles area. It’s super tasty and authentic. I’ve been here many times and it’s always top. The empanadas are so delicious. If you are craving for those classics Venezuelan empanadas, this is the place.

Yummiest tequeños I’ve ever had in the US. Really nice crew taking care of customers. I super recommend Cariaco 💛

This is one of my favorite places to go and enjoy Venezuelan food! Everything I have tried on the menu is delicious, from the tequeños, to the empanadas, arepas and pabellón. My favorite dish is their sancocho... so delicious! Every time I order it it reminds me of home. I fully recommend it to everyone! And, they also sell Venezuelan products, which is a plus.

Cariaco To Go is a tiny grocery store that also sells food. There are two small 2-person patio tables out front facing the street. I normally order takeout online, which offers exclusive items such as an extra side with your arepa. You'll even find a secret menu on the website under the "More" tab. FOOD ORDERED The arepa plates were massive, with generous amounts of filling spilling out of the maize dough. I am moderately active and can't finish the plate in one sitting. I kind of wish there was an option to split the one gigantic arepa into two smaller ones! I liked that the arepa shell was not oily. The outer part of the grilled dough was crisp and dry, but the inside soft and creamy-ish. The shop's creamy orange and green sauces brought out the corn flavor and added moisture. I'm not sure what the sauces were, but they were good. The orange was slightly spicier than the green. - Reina con Tajada Arepa ($14.35 + $1.90 for Yucca fries side upgrade). Cold, creamy mayo-avocado chicken salad was topped with cilantro, more avocado, and two fried plantains. The taste was savory and satisfying. My only complaint was the price of nearly $2 for 3 sticks of fried yucca. But the yucca fries were thick like potato wedges and tasty: crispy, not too oily, starchy and fluffy yet chewy, lightly pressed with chili salt. - Vegetarian Pabellón Arepa ($14.35). Black beans with spices, diced tomato, two fried plantains, avocado, and white cheese. Hefty and tasty! The fried plantains were not too oily and offered some sweetness. Huge chunks of buttery ripe avocado tied the flavors together. I opted for two sides of salad, which tasted similar to a savory and lightly dressed cole slaw. The salad mix included shredded carrots, green and red cabbage, and diced tomato. - Pabellón Arepa ($14.95). Shredded beef, black beans, fried plantains, and white cheese. Omg, so good. The bite was juicy, umami, creamy, and a little sweet all at once. The stewed shredded beef had the same warm spice profile as the vegetarian version. - Caripe Empanada ($7.80). Ground beef with spices, fried plantain, and cheddar cheese filling. Nearly $8 for one empanada seemed pricy, but the size was more like two small empanadas put together. The filling was yummy, wrapped in a soft corn dough that was slightly crispy and lightly oily. - Yuca Frita Side ($6 - 5pcs). Five pieces! I thought the upgrade to yucca fries on the arepa plates were expensive until we ordered these! I guess I can't fault the restaurant though. The yucca plant is apparently so expensive that there is now a black market for it.

If you haven't stopped by Cariaco in Glendale yet, you're missing out on something special! This small, cozy spot is calling my name, and even though I haven't tasted the food yet, I'm already excited to dive into their Venezuelan goodness. I've got my sights set on trying an arepa for my first visit, and just from what I've seen, the food looks incredible--vibrant, fresh, and packed with authentic flavor. The warm, inviting atmosphere and the promise of Venezuelan classics have me eager to step through the door. If you're like me and new to Cariaco, come on in and see what the buzz is about--I have a hunch it's going to be a delicious experience worth sharing!

Little Venezuelan place next to the Hyatt Place. This is my second time coming to Glendale for work, and Cariaco is my favorite part. Yummy, fresh, and filling. And fast! A great local Venezuelan spot.

Ok, hear me out: Empanada de Queso. Tequeños. Those two things alone will set you back a few dollars but the flavor and the richness is absolutely unmatched. This place is small, and upon going in, the dude from the cash register was already trying to take my order, as I was trying to take pictures (can't blame him though, the place is TINY and he wanted me in and out as quickly as possible). The food, though, it's just on another level. I was born and raised in Venezuela. Lived there for the first 18 years of my life until I moved to America for college. It's the first time I've had empanadas that are as good as the ones back home. Also, if they have it, make sure to get some chicha El Chichero. You'll thank me later.

There isn't a lot of seating here. I was able to find free street parking. At first it seemed like a little bit of food for 15 bucks but the food was surprisingly filling. It tasted really fresh and super good. I definitely want to eat there again!

I ordered thru DoorDash, and it was quick & easy. I got the Pabellón Criollo (Venezuelan National Dish) and finished the whole thing during my lunch break. It was super filling! The shredded beef was tender and the spices were so tasty. However, I wish there was more rice because at some point, I had a lot of beef leftover and they paired so well together. Also, the plantains were still a little crisp by the time I received my food delivery, and they added a nice sweetness to the meal. Overall, this dish was so hearty and flavorful! I'd definitely order from Cariaco again. And will try their arepas next time!

Love this place, everything is delicious and made to order. It's a small family owned spot and the Staff is very friendly.

I may not an empanada connoisseur, but I am definitely an empanada enthusiast, especially fried empanadas. With that said, Cariaco has delicious Venezuelan empanadas. At first I was a little surprised by the price (almost $8 per empanada) but they are size of a small calzone and are basically a small meal. The green sauce they provide is also perfect. I have to take off one star because the empanadas were soaked in oil. They provided ample napkins but I just wish the cook drained some of the oil before putting it in the Styrofoam box. I will definitely be back for these empanadas and to try some arepas.

My first time trying arepas and these were fantastic! I'm so glad the restaurant was only a minute walk from our hotel. We went for lunch and breakfast the next day! I'm been craving them ever since my first bite and can't wait to go back. Service was excellent too, very friendly and answered all my questions.

Did they change their ingredients? I've tried once before but today it wasn't it Honestly disappointed how much money I spent . Best thing was the beef and cheese empanada

Cariaco is a tiny little joint two doors down from the Hyatt Place on Wilson. It's sandwiches between two Thai restaurants so it's pretty easy to miss, but what a diamond in the rough! They have the biggest empanadas that are full of quality meat and cheese, fried to perfection with a crispy outside but the dough still has a great chew. At 2/3rds the length of a baby bottle of Rosé, these bad boys are massive (see picture) compared to a Porto's or other Cuban empanada. Their customer service was also top notch as I was greeted/treated like family upon entry. Give Cariaco a shot and you won't be disappointed!

I am a huge fan of arepas and if you live in the area you know they're not that easy to come by. I drove 40 minutes to have this meal. Obviously I was worried that the drive would would be worth the fuss. I used to work by mil Jugos in Santa Ana and had at least 1-2 arepas a week because I loved them so much. I knew when I had one here I would compare them. WELL... I loved these arepas more than those. First of all the gentlemen who helped us which may have been the owner or family of the Owner was extremely friendly and I informative considering I had never been there before he also helped me make good empanada decisions to accompany the arepas as I came in a group and wanted to try different things. The food was fresh made to order and the ingredients seemed like the best. One of my new favorite places and I can't wait to go back.

Definition of Hole in a wall with the entrance split between them and another shop. Came to try some arepas and if you like tostones or the fried plantains they have a sandwich called patacón pisao. The shredded beef patacón was good you get a nice salty crunchy texture on the outside and the tender shredded beef on the inside is a good combo. Personally I like the arepas since they had the fried sweet plantains. All it was missing was a little sour cream. I had the malt soda to try and it tasted like a less sweet foamier root beer. Service was great they had salsa playing in the background. The employees were welcoming and had a good energy about them. Definitely would come back if I'm in the area for a quick bite.

La atención no fue la más amable, parecen no estar muy enfocados a la atención al cliente. La comida es aceptable, la sirven rápido, pero no se siente tan venezolano el sabor. Los tequeños son buenos pero todo es para llevar. Solo hay 2 mesas pequeñitas afuera pero en la acera porque todo es para llevar.

Cariaco is a little slice of the Caribbean serving up Venezuelan arepas, empanadas, and patacones. The flavors and textures of the arepas will have you dreaming of your next visit. Inside the restaurant are some shelves and a fridge selling some snacks and the amazing orange sauce. Food: Arepa Reina con Tajada: They take the most tender and juicy chicken and pull it apart. The chicken is blended with mayo and cilantro so that it looks like a rich and gooey dip. Slices of avocado and sweet pudding-like plantain chunks are mixed in. The fried arepa is firm, crispy, and chewy. It is a flat, round thick pocket formed from corn flour, which is an ideal vehicle for containing the rich and juicy ingredients. Drizzle the delicious orange hot sauce for a boost of sweet, tropical heat. Ordering: You order at the counter and the food is chief fresh and served about 15 minutes later. Service: The cashier walked my food out to the sidewalk while i was waiting outside. Dining Area: There are a couple little tables by the sidewalk. Parking: There's metered street parking and some free 90 minute lots a little further away.

Been here a few times now, and the food has never disappointed. I usually get a pabellón arepa and/or some empanadas, and they're always great. Service is friendly too.

Awful customer service. When we first contacted him, he quickly disregarded us saying there were only a limited number of food items available and he was busy. He was unwilling to take orders/payments over the phone despite this. I was under the impression it was due to him saving the orders for this buddies instead. His negative demeanor makes me believe this translates directly into the quality of his food. Have never tried the food and now have zero intention of doing so.

You won't be disappointed. It's quaint so easy to walk past . Outdoor seating. The Parchita was so fresh and not overall sweet. I got the vegetarian patacon. Everything was not over seasoned or over salted . The plantains are to Die for. I wish I could buy in bulk. Pro tip that orange salsa is really spicy. Everything was extremely flavorful. The male worker was very friendly and helpful. The cook was very quick and professional. Definitely worth a try .

Delicious food! Had never tried Venezuelan food and gentleman at the counter was super patient. He explained dishes, made recommendations! Seriously a must try, will not be disappointed food is 10/10! Food is great plus customer service what more can you ask for!

Delicous food, I recommend everything here. The chicken and cheese empanada is the best empanada I ever had. Please support this business.

Truly exquisite and really kind to this newbie (me) when I embarrassingly mispronounced half my order -- thank you for being so nice and so delicious! Can't wait to come back often :)

Service is always great and prompt-- I'm always greeted and assisted right away and there's rarely a line. It's always the same guy.. I think he may be the owner. Their empanadas are so delicious, albeit pretty pricey. But they are on the larger size. I especially like that it seems they put some Maduros in the shell of the empanada so it gives it a slight sweetness that is neither overbearing or excessive. So yummy. I've had the shredded chicken, shredded beef, and ground beef, sometimes with cheese and sometimes without. The arepas are also really tasty. I've had both the shredded chicken and beef. The bowl available for lunch is also good. Pretty pricey but I come back for the great food and friendly service! Also it's super close to my house.

Delicious arepas! I'm always on the hunt for a good arepa on the west coast (NYC has them all beat) so when I saw this place, I knew I had to stop in. They also specialize in empanadas but I was there for one thing only. I got the number #1, which is pretty standard. Loved the fried yuca inside it and I'd probably get more on the side next time. Food is prepared to order so call ahead if you don't want to wait the 10-15 minutes it will take. Small shop but don't miss it!

The food was delicious, I ate a pabellon arepa and it was authentic and reminded me of my childhood. My family had some empanadas and they loved them. I enjoyed buying some goods in their mini market. Customer service was less than ideal, I was asked to take my garbage out when they had a garbage can inside the restaurant, it was an awkward interaction but otherwise the experience was good. I hope the owners take this as constructive feedback to keep improving their business.

Best Local Venezuela foodies in Glendale! Went there twice and still love their foods and services! Their meals are great portion and its a must try their passion fruit juice! Super fresh juice! First time was take out order which I couldn't remember because it was for me and big friend group. All I can remember their empanadas are champ! Very soft inside with crispy outside, perfect flavor taste! Then 2nd time, I ordered Pabellon plate from lunch menu, oh my god! It was the best dish I ever tasted and its a great portion! The beef itself is so soft and great flavor in it!! No parking lot, mostly on streets. I think its a small family business and they are very friendly with us. Really looking forward to order again whenever visit there!!

Muy rica la comida. En especial los patacones, la arepa reina pepiada y los Tequeños .... Y la chicha el chichero ni se diga ...recordando viejos tiempos . Sigan adelante !!!!

So delicious. Amazing arepas stuffed with plantains and avocados. Have already been back twice!

Never had arepas before, so figured this place would be best to have my first experience. Totally delicious. I got the chicken salad one and it was sooooo good. The sauces were outstanding also and the passionfruit juice was delightful. Really quality overall and absolutely recommend stopping by.

I enjoyed the chicken arepa I ordered today. Tasty and filling. The cashier Whitney was very helpful and kind. Wish they had vegan options. Their green sauce is the bomb !

First time visiting this place and it was so worth it! It's a tiny little spot with no place to sit inside, they have four chairs and two tables on the side outside! Only for the lack of seating, I'm giving this place four stars instead of the 5. Arepas are fantastic and so are the empanadas! The you guy behind the counter was so pleasant and explained what everything was on the menu. I highly recommend this place if you want tasty authentic Venezuelan food!

Not sure where these reviews are coming from. My arepa was made with dark meat and it's looks like avocado that oxidized possible. Nothing the less not edible for me. I would suggest Venezuelan Chamo Cuisine in Pasadena.

Parking: Lots of local 90 min free parking spots. This is the first time I've had Venezuelan food, I saw that this placed opened up recently so I wanted to give it a try. Everything was amazing, the service, food and ambiance. There's not a lot to the menu which makes it easier for you to choose. I got 1 arepa and 3 empanadas. Arepas: The arepas is a masa based doughy bread and they really load it up. We used their garlic and pink sauce which were amazing. The arepas was very flavorful and delicious. Empandas: I'm really impressed with the empanadas, this was not a flour based dough but also a masa based! I got the pollo, shredded beef and beef. These were massive empanadas, size of your hand! Well fried and crispy on the outside. extremely flavorful on the inside. Highly recommend this place, will come back to try their soup!

First time here. It's right next to the Hyatt Place where we are staying so very convenient. Now I know why everyone rated it 5 stars. Initially looks like a small hold on the wall. But it is very clean. There was about 9-10 seat total in the whole restaurant. Each arapa comes with a spring mix with plenty of tomatoes and cucumber in a vinaigrette giving your mouth a variety of texture and taste change from the arapa. Pabellon Arapa: 5 stars. Look at the description in the menu. Definitely delicious. Reina con tajada arapa : 5 stars. The avocado and Plaintain definitely was required to breakup the monotonous taste of the chicken and mayo. So good. Their sauce is "BOMB" for lack of a better word and definitely elevate the arapa from good to delicious. I would definitely try to come back to this place. Staff were helpful, patient and friendly. TIP: make sure you get plenty of napkins to go because it can be a little messy especially if you smother the arapa in the three different sauces that they give you.

WOW, first time eating Venezuelan food, and I LOVED IT. very deserving of 5 stars! Feel free to watch our video eating/reviewing the foods here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRz7dKplbE Parking: metered street Dining: a few tables outside, but only 1 table is covered with umbrella :( FOOD (in order of favorites): Cachapa - MUST GET. this was sooo good, i'd def get this again! Empanada - tajada y queso, pollo y queso, caripe. In that order. Even if you can't finish all of it, bring it home to go because it's still good heated up in toaster oven later! Tequenos - delicious goodness. the guava one is so freaking good!! Arepa Reina Con Tajada - this was super filling! delicious, would recomment. Pastelito Andino - this wasn't bad. just not my type of food, could do without the extra carbs lol. Pabellon Criollo - it was okay, not my most favorite out of the things we tried. Would definitely come here again and again!

So good! The beef arepa was delicious. It was filled with black beans, beef, plátanos, and cheese. It also came with a simple spinach salad. It would be nice if they had indoor seating.

Amazing things come in small packages! This place may be small, but food is big on flavor. I didn't catch his name, but the guy working the front was very helpful and friendly. He gave me a few recommendations, and I'm glad I took them. The empanada was fresh and delicious, as was the café con leche. This place is definitely worth going out of the way for!

I love trying out new empanada places, and I would have to say that this place easily falls in my top 3 favorite empanada spots! I happened to pass by this place because the hotel I was staying at was next door, and this place did not disappoint! It's so flavorful, made fresh on the spot and the serving size is generous. I literally was smiling the entire time I ate this. I love that they have so many different options to choose from. Some have meat, some have no meat...so it caters to different diets. I wish they can open a location closer to where I live so I can eat more of this!! Even now, I'm still craving their empanada!

I just found this gem Everything I tried was delicious, I will definitely be back. Hands down the best arepas

Really amazing taste I thought I been tried the best empanadas in Miami but here has best one so far

I got three mini empanadas for like...around 9.dollsrs? These things were slightly larger than silver dollars. They were over 50 percent potato. I mean wth. Honestly the flavor was good but come on with that price. There's a place down the street selling empanadas bigger than three of these combined for 3.50

Had a craving for arepas, and wow this place did not disappoint. Helpful staff. Fast service. But mostly, just so incredibly delicious Flavors and texture were spot on - so yummy. Generous portions too. They even threw in a Venezuelan chocolate for a sweet note afterwards.

I don't think there are a lot of Venezuelan restaurants(at least that I am aware of) in LA so was glad to have the opportunity to try Cariaco. My partner and I ended up ordering, the chicken bowl, an empanada, and an arepa as well as drinks. The food was delicious! I definitely recommend it. The arepas got soggy sadly since we decided to eat at Griffith Park but they do have two outdoor tables during these COVID times.

Holy cow. I've never had Venezuelan food before and this place was absolutely delicious. They are open for pick-up and delivery currently. No indoor dining yet due to Covid. ORDERING: They have an order form on their website but for some reason, it wasn't showing their entire menu. I ended up calling. FOOD: Everything was so tasty. The tequenos were fantastic. Highly recommended. They are cheese sticks inside a slightly sweetened dough. The pollo guisado empanada was really good. The reina arepa was amazing. It came with optional plantains and I decided to try them even though I'm not usually a huge fan. Even their plantains were tastier than most. Overall, the reina arepa and the tequenos were my favorite. Additionally, the parchita (passion fruit juice) was yummy and refreshing. They also included delicious lollipops as a surprise treat. PARKING: Ample street spots (would likely be a different story if people were dining in). SERVICE: Friendly and efficient.

Loved the Reina Arepa and the plantains with fried Cheese were amazing. Yummy taste from home!

I happened to stumble across this place because I was going to order at a restaurant close by but they looked like they were going to take a long time. I walked by Cariaco and they had pictures of their food on the window and I was curious. Walked in - had no idea what I was ordering but the description sounded good. OMG - I couldn't be more happy that I was lead to this restaurant. The woman in the front was very sweet they were quick but all food was made fresh! I ordered the Arepas Pabellon and was soo impressed. It was delicious. I have never had Venezuelan food before, but this will not be the last time. I am already craving it again. I will be back! I highly suggest to anyone who is reading this right now, go and enjoy.

I order from here all the time! They always greet you with a big smile and the food is excellent. Best empanadas I've had outside of Venezuela but I also recommend everything in the menu. I love coming here and listen to salsa music and shop for all the Venezuelan products they have there, great selection!!

When I found out there was an arepa spot within walking distance of me, I bolted immediately and beelined there before close. Although I was a little let down, I'm happy I checked it out. I'll divulge... Pros: - Arepa is excellent- I got the Pabellón, and all the ingredients were very fresh and tasty. Plantains were top notch, the cake was crispy and flavorful, and everything else inside was very good. - I was initially told the food would take 15-20 minutes, ended up coming out in about 7-8. - Fast and friendly service. Cons: - $15 gets you *one* reasonably sized arepa and a side salad. Yes, one arepa is filling. But for $15 plus tax for a plate, I was still not impressed with the portion sizing and was particularly underwhelmed with the rather lacking side salad. Why not make each arepa a little smaller and include two with a more interesting side? This I feel like would make the experience a bit more satisfying overall, rather than receiving your plate and thinking "...that's all??". Their pricing overall puts them at a major disadvantage to Portos, which is just two blocks away and considerably better value. - While this is a to-go spot, I was still hoping for some more available seating. There's only two small tables outside and nothing inside, so plan on bringing your food elsewhere to enjoy. And while you wait, you'll likely have to go outside with your pager on the sidewalk since there isn't much room inside, particularly during busy hours. Although the space inside is small to begin with, it still feels like they could make better use of what they have. Overall, I really want this place to succeed, and with a few small fixes I hope they do!

I love this place! It's small, but there always seems to be a place to sit whenever we get there, very clean and it's family owned which is amazing, they are ridiculously sweet. We've dined-in and have ordered takeout and not once have been disappointed. The tostones are great, the empanadas are amazing, the arepas are BOMB, the papelon is a thing of beauty. We mostly went in for lunch/ dinner, but recently found out that they're open for breakfast. So of course we had to try out their breakfast arepas, again, not disappointed. The eggs reminded me of eggs my grandma would make when I was a kid. Can't wait for them to start adding dinner! If I could eat there everyday, I would and I don't think that my boyfriend would argue against it.