Cilantro & Ajo South Side

I don't know much about venezuelan food nor even what was on my plate, but it was friggin amazing. Ordered the steak and eggs myself and it came alongside the yummiest sides in the pic, and my wife's chorizo cheesy pan fiesta was also top dollar. Cute lil place and very nice people working there. Wish we had known about this sooner, will be back ASAP to try more new things!

Friend of mine recommended this place and stopped for a quick lunch. Amazing experience. Very friendly staff, and most importantly delicious food. I got Patacon Deluxe and it was out of this world. They are generous with their portions. When I say that, I don’t mean the sauce, lettuce, etc… my Patacon was filled with steaks. Very generous amount!! Although I enjoy this dish a lot, next time I will be trying the bowl - it looks so good!

My son took me to Cilantro & Ajo while I was visiting him at school last month. It's such a homey place. The food was very good, & they gave great portions. There's always a steady flow of people at Cilantro & Ajo. It's definitely a neighborhood favorite. The restaurant is located on the southside, just a few minutes away from Downtown Pittsburgh. So, it's easy to get to. Cilantro & Ajo is now one of my favorites when I come to Pittsburgh.

This place is a favorite of mine for lunch, dinner or a snack! They have such good options of different empanadas and arepittas. The service and people serving you are always top notch. They are so friendly and service is so quick. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting and I love that they have authentic snacks that they sell. I would recommend this place to anyone who ever visits Pittsburgh.

I had heard a lot about this place and wanted to try it, but since it was a little far for me, I couldn’t really go. So when I was shopping near Carson Street, I made up my mind to go and try this place. The interiors are unpretentious, and you see a lot of local standing there, which basically means that the food is legit. I however, did not have a great experience. I need to preface this by saying that I’m not an expert on Venezuelan food and I only have had it a couple times. I ordered my usual order of pabellon arepa and yuca frites. I also got a sweet jaggery lime drink to go with it, and it was honestly the best part of the meal. The arepa was just okay but I would have preferred more sauces with it. The fries were cut very thick and were not cooked properly and weren’t very crispy either. Also I did not come with any sauce. I guess I was comparing it to Arrepitas which is one of my favourite Venezuelan restaurants in the city and compared to that I found the food here to be very mid for similar price.

Everything I’ve ever eaten from here is made with love and authenticity! The chicken empanadas are to die for, it’s served with a green sauce that is heavily. It’s equally creamy and acidic which pairs great with the entire menu. The arepas are crispy, cheesy and tender. I also love their tres leche cake with the caramel dollop! Here every bite is the perfect bit. The prices are also affordable for high quality ingredients. I truly believe this place is a gem! They have a nice almost family style dining area. There’s merchandise and food items you can cook with at home. Including cereal, masa, candy and spices. They also have delicious homemade drinks that are refreshing. Staff members are always happy and kind, you can tell they enjoy working here. I would highly recommend coming here for Venezuelan food.

As a Venezuelan visiting the city, I always strive to support Venezuelan restaurants and our people wherever I go. I drove 40 minutes to visit this establishment, excited to try it, but my experience with the lady taking orders at the front was disappointing. As it was my first time here, I asked a few questions to get familiar with the menu and the restaurant, but her responses were far from friendly. Unfortunately, this experience reflects a broader need for improvement in our Venezuelan service culture. For a place representing our culture, it's essential to provide warm and welcoming service. This is not just about food—it's a business, and customers should be treated with respect and care. In the end, I decided to leave without trying the food I drove so far for. I'm tired of some Venezuelan establishments treating customers as though they're doing us a favor. Customer service needs to be a priority.

DELICIOUS! we ate at the food truck and it was absolutely one of the best meals we've had in a while! We tried 3 empanadas, the beef, chicken, and black bean with cheese and all 3 were piping hot, the filling was super tasty and although you could tell they were deep fried they weren't greasy at all. They served the empanadas with a creamy cilantro and garlic sauce that was fresh and bright with flavor but not overpowering at all. We also ordered the Cachapas which are a sweet corn pancake with a mild Venezuelan cheese folded in the middle and it was so good I'm already planning my return to eat at the brick and mortar and try even more delicious dishes! Thanks for a great lunch and we'll be seeing you folks soon.

This place is a hidden gem. Really unassuming from the outside, located near the Salvation Army in the South Side. The woman taking our order was kind and patient. Very clean inside. We ordered a mixed grill platter, 2 empanadas, and plantains for $50 total. We ended up taking the empanadas home; it was so much food. Everything was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. The platter was the highlight, especially the sausage and cachapa. Cilantro & Ajo might be one of my new favorite spots in Pittsburgh. If you're lucky, you might even see their food truck out somewhere!

This place never disappoints. We got empanadas and a bowl. Delicious. Service was good and the staff was exceptionally courteous.

I brought my husband here and the food was wonderful! Authentic and delicious! This is a great place to come. There is only street parking so plan to walk but it's very worth it!

Hice una compra de más de 130 dólares porque a mis hijos les gusta lo que cocinan, pero la atención de pésima calidad, me atendió una mujer de apariencia guajira que aparte de su mala cara durante el tiempo de hacer el pedido hasta que me mandó a sentar, otros clientes pidieron papelon, se le cayó el vaso de plástico rodando por el piso y así mismo agarró el mismo vaso y le sirvió hielo y después la limonada. Sinceramente no sé cómo harán el resto

We tried the Lawrenceville location, and it was amazing! Family-owned, traditional Venezuelan food - what more could you ask for? This is their second location, and I'm so glad this place is thriving! Inside is small and cozy with plenty of tables. They bring an entire bottle of their green sauce to your table and we went through about half of it - it was so good! I'm a big fan of unique condiments, and this complemented the food so well. A spicy option would be next level! The empanadas were so crispy and delicious - not greasy at all. The bowls were cooked perfectly. Everything from the plantains, beans, protein, and rice was seasoned well. The yucca fries were hot, crispy, and the best texture out of any yucca fries we've had before. Service was fast and friendly. They were very helpful in answering any questions we had. Loved this place!

So glad Cilantro and Ajo has joined Lawrenceville. Food options just keep getting better and better. C & A is no exception! The shredded chicken bowl is where it's at! The meat is juicy and exploding with flavor, as are the beans and plantains. All for a very affordable price. Weekdays they run a $10 special and it's at least a meal and a half. We didn't dine in, so I'll be back for a dine in review soon.

Super yummy yuca and green sauce. I like that their yucca is straight yucca and not a lot of breading. The green sauce is NOT spicy, like some green sauce I've had from Peruvian places. It takes about 7 minutes for the yucca to come out, and I've kept on going back for more!

I stumbled on this hidden gem while staying in the south side before a licensure exam and it did not disappoint! Food is very flavorful, and staff is wonderful! I definitely enjoyed the colorful artwork featuring menu items along with authentic Venezuelan music and culture! Come back this place when you're in the area!

Tried this restaurant's food truck. Great friendly service here! I ordered the arepa pabellón with avocado. Very good and flavorful! The green sauce is great. Will be back.

My favorite Latin place in Pittsburgh! The ropa vieja is always so good inside the arepa. Tastes like my abuela made it! The plantains are cooked to perfection, and the vibe at the restaurant is perfect. Love Cilantro & Ajo!

This was one of the first places that people recommended when I moved to Pittsburgh. And it did not disappoint. I got the pabellón arepa and it was delicious!! I think it has been my favorite arepa in Pittsburgh. I did take out so I don't know how service is but seeing from other reviews, seems like there is friendly staff as well

The food was outstanding.I had the steak aprea and it was full of steak and I thoroughly enjoyed.My husband got one with chicken and my daughter got one of their bowls.Both loved their meals.we got street corn and plantains as a side.Very good and given so much we took some home.Servers were also very friendly.

My friends introduced me to this place as they live on E Carson st. and we know that this area has many hidden gems in regards to restaurants and small businesses. I've been introduced to different ethnic foods since my move to Pittsburgh and this definitely made it on my top list! I love the sweet plantain that comes with the orders because it adds a little bit of sweet & savory snack to the meal. Their shredded beef was seasoned well and I would love to come back and try their other protein options. My friends had the arepas while I had the bowl since I'm not really into bread/sandwiches for lunch, and I feel like I made the perfect choice for my first time! We also tried the yucca fries, which were worth a try and I found out that yuca is a separate root vegetable from sweet potatoes! It definitely had similar texture and taste but I can see the difference in size that they had from sweet potato fries. I recommend dipping them in the green sauce that they pair with it for a flavorful bite. The service was great as it gave mom and pop shop, and the lady at the register served us our food once they were ready instead of having our orders called in and grabbing it at the counter. They were super nice when it came to asking for extra sauce, water, utensils, etc. and satisfied our visit.

I had the deluxe patacón- grilled steak, it was really good! I enjoyed it. Definitely coming back. You order at front desk and pay then choose your table. Small place but overall great service.

My boyfriend has been coming here for empanadas and claim these are " the best empanadas he's ever had". I finally got to try these and glad they did not disappoint! The turnovers are on the fluffier side, different from the baked ones I often eat before. But the cachapas was SO GOOD!!! Delicious sweet corn pancake with cheese in the middle, a little sweet but also the savory flavor balanced it out just the right amount. For street food, the price is not the cheapest in the area ($4/empanada; $9 for cachapas) but everything we got tasted amazing. The restaurant itself was clean and spacious.

Great authentic restaurant! This hidden gem in the Southside is sooo delicious. It's a small place but have enough tables and clean. The staff are friendly. You get a menu to pick what you want, get to the counter to order and then they'll just bring your food to the table. They have great brown lemonade. I ordered chicken empanadas, plantains sandwich (not sure what they were called on the menu), and arepas. THEY WERE ALL DELICIOUS! I highly recommend.

Stopped in on a Tuesday night and man was this little place busy! We ordered a variety of arepas, some tostones, one street corn, and the brown lemonade. The arepas were stuffed! Huge portions. I was full from one The pork in the pork & gouda arepa was seasoned perfectly and there was a ton of it. They do not skimp on filling. My brother had the pabellon and he said the beef was delicious. My mom had the maracucha and the slice of cheese in there was thick. Everyone loved everything. The wait was a little long just because of how busy they were, but it was completely worth it. There are some tables inside that were clean and the decor was minimal, but bright. The staff was super friendly. The bathroom was small, but clean and stocked with soap and paper towels. I will definitely be back!

We loved this food truck! Aspinwall Riverfront Park had them recently, so we went to check them out. They serve super delicious arepas and other Venezuelan treats, so bring your appetite! The arepas can feed a small army, and are easily shared with friends or family. The food is fresh and well seasoned, and the folks working the line are friendly and helpful for making your choices! The tres leches cake for dessert is a MUST! Will definitely be on the lookout for this truck again! Delicious!

Cilantro & Ajo is a Venezuelan restaurant that serves empanadas, arepas, BBQ parillas, desserts, etcetera. The restaurant also has a food truck that focuses mostly on empanadas and arepas. Prices are reasonable, with most items costing about several dollars each. At the Pittsburgh Taco Festival, I ordered a Pabellon arepa, which contained shredded beef, black beans, plantains, and queso. The ingredients were very fresh, and I enjoyed the flavors very much. Now I want to try more of their menu items...

ripped me off $57 dollars. told me to cancel my order in uber eats bc they didnt have my full order. told me my money would be refunded. and they still haven't refunded. it's be 4 days with multiple phone. I'm a recurring customer who won't be ordering or goving them word of mouth reviews anymore

Food was absolutely delicious and perfecto! The service was great and welcoming. The ambiance went with the theme... I Loved the Music!

Delicious and authentic. The green sauce is very good. I haven't had anything there I didn't like.

This place is nasty ash. First thoughts condom on the door handle. Big rat running around the outside by there door. Bathrooms smell like mold and shit stains in the toilets. Food is under cooked as well. Don't not come here.

Somewhere different to go if you haven't tried this tasty lil place. Don't miss out on the plantains.

Cilantro & ajo is an amazing little Latin American restaurant in SouthSide. My friends have been constantly raving about it, so I thought that it was time to try it out for my self. I went here a few weeks ago and it was a ton of fun! You go up to the counter to order and then take a seat of your choosing, and they will bring you out the food. I decided to go for two different arepas, the Arepa Pabellon and Arepa Reina, and both were absolutely to die for. They were filled with an insane amount of meat and cheese to the point where it was falling out! They were also very reasonably priced at between $7 to $8 per arepa, which is a steal because they definitely filled me up. My girlfriend ordered the Pabellon Bowl, which was loaded with rice and beans, meat, and maduros! At $13, she easily got two meals out of this which is a bargain! The staff was super friendly and gave some awesome food recommendations when we were they're that lead to an awesome experience! I will definitely be back soon as it is walking distance from my house! Easily deserving of a 5 star review taking in the staff, food quality, and price all into consideration!

Amazing food, with great flavors and generous portion sizes. Definitely recommended if you're in the area!

Looking for absolutely DELICIOUS and fair priced food? Look no further. We've been in Pittsburgh for less than a month and have eaten here 4x already- it's that good!! I go for the la Catira arepa every time and every time it is the most delicious thing I've eaten all day. The Gouda is beyond good. Try the taquenos and the yucca fries too, you will NOT be disappointed. My husband has tried almost everything else on the menu, it's all delish. Vegan? They got you covered. My vegan pal LOVE their food as well. And if you were wondering, their green sauce is a staple and delicious on everything.

My vegetarian husband loves this place as well as i do! They have the best arepas in town. My favorite one is the black beans with plantain and I add cheese to it. The spicy sauce they have is also good. I didn't post a picture because I usually order to go.

I have only tried the food truck and the black bean empanada. At the time that was the only vegetarian option. It was pretty good and not as expensive as other food trucks.

Empanadas were really good. Cute and clean interior. Menus are at cashier counter and you place your order there. They bring you your order to your table. They seem to do a lot of take out. Lots of selections. I wish my beef bowl had been a little hotter in temperature. My husband had difficulty eating his plantain sandwich. Both servings were big enough to bring home leftovers. I think next time I would get just empanadas and try something else fried.

Whatttt I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. This is one of my favorite local restaurants. Everyone here is always so nice and helpful! I've recommended C&A to a few people and haven't heard any complaints they actually rave about it and can't wait to try more things from their menu. The brown lemonade sets the meal off.... Get it!!

The food is 10/10 and always manages to hit the spot. If you come in to eat, your food will be served piping hot, but you won't be able to contain yourself and wait--it's worth a couple of burnt fingers. I recommend trying a couple things or sharing with friends so you can try out their different meat offerings and get a feel for what you like. The arepa pabellón is always a classic, and of course you should get an order of the crunchy yuca fries! My food came fast and with plenty of napkins--exactly what you need for a delicious arepa bursting with flavor (and ingredients!)

Such an experience!! Just Amazing! Situated in E.Carson, a small restaurant you could easily pass by w/o noticing. Moving from Queens, it was so hard to get decent spanish/south American food. This place surpassed expectations. Street food so expect mostly fried foods. We ordered a bunch of dishes to try: 1. Patacon ((deep fried plantain w/ the shredded chicken filling))--sounds odd but is actually large & oh so good & ofc filling!! The fried plantain balances out the shredded meat& other fillings.; 2. Shredded beef Arepa-- oh what an experience ! Couldnt get any better than this. Hands down the best of all!! 3. Empanadas ((Shredded chicken& plantain/cheese))-- the chicken was excellent but the plantain & cheese was way too cheesy! Couldnt handle all that cheese tbh. 4. Yucca fries--covered in a mild garlic sauce& their cheese on top, w/ a side of the Ajo sauce..too good! A lil too garlicky so dont go for this if youre on a date lol! 5. The Brown lemonade-- delish! Not too sour nor too sweet. Had leftovers as everything was fried& heavy. All the dishes came w/ the green Ajo sauce-- just perfect! Inside, the restaurant was clean. You place your order at the counter & they bring it to your table. Self seating. I. Love. This. Place!!!!!!! Authentic street food! Just an amazing experience. I cannot rave enough about this restaurant.

I ordered three times from this restaurant this week, and none of it let me down, my personal favorite are pabellon empanada and pabellon arepa. Also, the food are still warm when delivered.

I have had some so so Venezuelan food Pittsburgh, but Cilantro & Ajo is top notch. I ordered an empanada, yuka fries, and An arepa reina pepiada. The empanada was good, but they always are. The yuka fries were delicious. A very thick cut with green sauce and cheese. The arepa was very tasty. The shell and avocado were very good. I would definitely return.

We have been wanting to try this restaurant since we had their soup in one of the South Side soup contests. Their food truck came to Biddle's Escape in Regent Square last week. Wow, great turnout of people. First indication their food must be good. I ordered the black bean and avocado arepa, shrimp empanada and yuka fries. I had never had an arepa before. I thought it was really good and the plantains on it were amazing. The yuka fries were probably one of the best things I've ever eaten. The cheese and sauce, yum! The empanada was just okay but I think I'm just not a big empanada person. I would definitely visit them again and I would love to get to the restaurant to try out their full menu. If you do get a chance to check out the truck, carve in some time to wait. It was about a 25-30min wait for the food.

Tried the pabellon bowl with the chicken from their food truck. The bowl was filled with plenty of chicken, rice & beans and about 4 plantains. They also give you a tiny cup of sauce. They definitely need to use larger cups for the amount of food given. But honestly I felt the shredded chicken was extremely dry and just ok for the flavor. Plantains were tasty.

In the last few years, Pittsburgh has gained a handful of Venezuelan restaurants, including Cilantro & Ajo. And not only is this little eatery one of our most unique spots, but it's also one of the most delicious spots in the city. Cilantro & Ajo aims to make authentic and traditional Venezuelan dishes, with handmade arepas being my favorite specialty of theirs. Arepas, in case you haven't had one yet, are corn meal pockets. They're pretty fantastic and can be filled with any number of ingredients - think meat, vegetables, sauces, cheeses, etc. They're also gluten free, according to Cilantro & Ajo's website! When ordering arepas here, you have the option of 1) making your own custom ones, 2) ordering a variety of traditional arepas, and 3) enjoying some modern concoctions as well. Since there are so many different ways to combine ingredients in an arepa, it's very easy to put something together that your particular taste buds will go wild for. If you can't tell, I'm guilty of mostly getting arepas here. Once I picked up a roasted pork tostadita, but since their tostaditas are deep-fried arepas, well...that wasn't exactly rocking the boat! That said, the tostadita was one of the best things I've ever eaten; not only was the pork cooked perfectly, but it included a BBQ-like sauce that balanced out the sweetness of the rest of the dish. One word: YUM. Needless to say, I love this place. I'm not in the South Side very often, especially in 2020; but when I am, I try to find a reason to stop by and pick up some chow here. I will definitely be back - and I'll definitely have to branch out and enjoy some other dishes ASAP. (Note to self: next time, order cachapas!)

Placed an order through Yelp this evening and pickup was a breeze. Not a ton of parking on Carson Street but ample parking on the side streets. Under normal non-Covid circumstances I think a few small parties could be seated in the restaurant but it feels more like a grab 'n go kind of place. Today was my first time and I was intrigued by the maracucha so that's what I ordered. Food was freshly prepared and piping hot when I arrived. The tomato and avocado wedges were fresh, the meat was flavorful and tender and the grilled cheese had a nice texture to round it all out. One of these was plenty to keep my hunger at bay and is large enough to share if a couple people wanted to sample several items. Love everything about this. Will be back for more!

I've been dying to try this place ever since they opened! I really wanted their soup (cannot remember the name of it but it looks delicious), but I was sad to see it's only available on Sundays. My boyfriend and I ordered 2 chicken empanadas, street corn, and the pepito sub. I also got a brown lemonade for us to try. Everything was so delicious. The flavors were unique, garlicky, and fresh. I think my favorite thing was the street corn, and my boyfriend loved the empanadas. The prices are really reasonable, and the portions are great to share with another person. We can't wait to come back and try some other things on the menu, specifically the arepas.

I took a school group on a trip to Pittsburgh, and we were staying in the area. One evening, my Spanish student (whose mother is Venezuelan) noticed Cilantro & Ajo and begged me to order from there the next evening. The student ordered arepas and I added on a Chicken Pabellon bowl because I have never had Venezuelan food and figured it was worth trying too. The food was prepared and ready on time for pick up. We enjoyed back at our place and it was very very good. Maybe a little salty, but I really enjoyed the bowl. I never got to taste an arepa. They disappeared before I even plated my meal! 5 stars from my student's perspective!! Speaking to my meal - The mix of rice, beans, cheese, sweet plantain and the warmly flavored chicken was a nice treat! So simple, and yet flavorful, enjoyable and satisfying. I would definitely recommend to anyone staying in the area. Well worth the price too!

I've never had this kind of food, but I'm very sad that I haven't. Everything I had was amazing and I joked (only kind of) with my friend that I wanted to get a gallon of their sauce to take home because it was one of the best things I'd ever had. I had a bacon and Gouda empanada and a beef empanada -- both were incredible. The yucca fries were also amazing. I'd order the same thing all over again next time.

Has a couple of vegan options. They are pretty good. They should definitely add vegan cheese to their menu to make it even better

I have never tried Venezuelan food, and the last time I tried Latin American food, I was disappointed. So I was skeptical when I ordered from Uber Eats. However, when I tried my food, I was blown away. I had 2 shredded beef empanadas, 2 bacon and Gouda cheese empanadas, cachapa, and quesillo. The empanadas were incredible. They were pretty large and fairly priced at $4-5 each. The cornmeal was not too gritty or too thick. They had a great balance of softness and crunch. Fillings were great as well. The shredded beef was well seasoned and flavorful with a perfect texture. The Gouda and bacon empanada, which is quite unique, also had a smokey flavor from the bacon and saltiness from cheese. They were packed with filling and make for a substantial meal. The sauce served with it is tasty, with a slight kick and creaminess to it. If ordering online, get extra sauce! The cachapa was an amazing addition to my meal. I could have had just this and been perfectly satisfied. The corn itself is mostly smooth, but I could taste small cooked kernels. There were three types of cheese layered on top and in the middle. The middle cheese tasted like mozzarella, while one on the top tasted a bit like a less strong cream cheese and parmigiana. An amazing balance of sweet from corn and salty from cheese! It's pretty big in size, too. Highly, highly recommend! Finally, I ended off with quesillo. I thought it was good but would probably not order it again. I expected it to be a bit similar to custard or creme brûlée, but it was more similar to a vanilla jelly in consistency. The flavor was quite good, though, and it's not cloyingly sweet. Next time, I'll order the tres leches. Overall, this is a great place to get introduced to Venezuelan cuisine. All of the items I tried were quite good, especially the empanadas and cachapa. Very authentic, fairly large portions, cheap prices. I'll be coming back or ordering again!

Fantastic lunch spot! Venezuelan Street Food Extraordinary Experience. I loved the Pabillon Arepa others had Guayanesa and Patacon Deluxe! Enjoy!!

Omg am I going to be dreaming about those empanadas for the rest of my life! The plantains were excellent too. Outstanding customer service - everyone was extremely nice. Great experience and I can't WAIT to go back.

Updating my review based on a much better lunch experience. We stopped in for a quick bite and my friend and I were very happy with our meals, and I will mention that after reading my review from a few years back, everything has improved tremendously. Today our food was fresh, and flavorful. We had utensils to eat with and all of the condiments were served in individual cups (I'm assuming because of Covid) which was fantastic! My favorite part was tres leches for dessert!

Best arepas and empanadas in town!!! Food: 5, Value: 4, Service: 4, Atmosphere: 4 Okay, so I'm super excited to finally write a review on this place so strap in because I have quite a bit to say and have tried almost everything on their menu. The location is isolated further down east carson near the salvation army and 10th street bridge. The restaurant itself is a small place with a few tables and high top bar seating along the side. You order at the counter and they deliver the food to you. The food takes a little bit to get, but that is because they make most things to order (but trust me the wait is worth it). The food comes out in a tray with a bottle of their cilantro and ajo sauce (it is almost like a cilantro/ranch/mayo mix). The prices are super reasonable as well compared to other places (like colombian spot). But you might need to order 2 arepas and 2 empanada orders to feel stuffed. 1 arepa or 1 empanada order for me is a little bigger than a snack (although it might just be because the food tastes so good!) Now onto the best part: the food! The best things on the menu here are the empanadas, arepas, and yucca fries. My favorite empanada is the bacon gouda and my favorite arepa is a custom arepa with gouda and pork and the maracucha. If you want to know more about the food, my detailed reviews of all items I have tried on the menu so far are listed below: Empanadas ($7 for 2): Fairly large in size compared to traditional empanadas! They have a really nicely fried and crunchy cornmeal crust. Their fillings are very good as well! It is great that you can mix and match empanadas (for an order of two you can pick two different kinds). Our favorite is the gouda and bacon (not traditional I know, but the melted gouda is divine). The pabellon does not have as much plantain flavor as I expected. The chorizo and ground meat are very one note, but very good as well. Arepas ($5-8): The maracucha is fantastic, but takes longer to make because they fry it to order. We have started to order our arepas custom because the price is about the same as the menu options. Our favorite meat filling by far is the roast pork! The roast pork is super juicy, fatty, and overall the best dang tasting pork ever! We usually pair it with cheese or plantains, but honestly you can't go wrong! They charge about a dollar per topping. Patacon: Overall, not the star of this menu. There was too much coleslaw and I didn't really like the ketchup on this. The plantain was tasty though. Would choose arepa or empanada over this especially since this is more expensive ($10) Yuca Frita: So tasty, but expensive for the portion sizes! I am a fries lover so was a little scared to cheat on potatoes with yuca, but so glad I did! Yuca is like a mix between a sweet potato and a potato. Slightly sweet, but more starchy like a potato in consistency. However, you get a very small portion (probably only 10-15 fries) for $3.50. Would get them all the time if they weren't so expensive. Cachapas: Similar to a latin american grilled cheese! The corn pancake is similar to what they use on the arepas, but a little sweeter and soft rather than crunchy. the venezuelan cheese is similar to a mozarella in flavor (so very mild). Overall, it was tasty, but very one note. I would love extra toppings in it such as plantains or meat. If you order meat with this, it comes on the side and was slightly overdone and hard. Overall, this is really great, authentic arepas and empanadas. Personally I have tried this place and Colombian spot and this place wins by a landslide for price and taste. I personally like the fried cornmeal wrapping rather than breadier wrappings like they have at Gauchos. If you are looking for great Latin American food in Pittsburgh, look no further! THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO!!

Venezuelan food is a sleeper for the best cuisine. Everything is so flavorful and so comforting, and Cilantro & Ajo did everything so well. "Cilantro & Ajo" means cilantro and garlic, which I'm almost certain refers to the guasacaca green sauce. This sauce is like crack, do NOT skip it. It goes good with everything, even if you think you don't like cilantro. I ordered the Reina Pepiada arepa, which is like an avocado chicken salad inside a gluten free savory corn sandwich. It was really nicely executed, where the arepa was crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. I added the guasacaca sauce in the arepa, and while it was messy, it's so incredibly delicious. My mom ordered a Pelua arepa, which has shredded beef and cheese. Good reviews from her. My dad ordered one of the bowls with shredded beef. He also was talking about how good it was. He added a little bit of the house hot sauce, which was sneakily really spicy but still flavorful and enjoyable. We ordered a side of tequeños, which are everything you want mozzarella sticks to be, and more. All the food was great. As far as COVID protocols, we definitely felt safe. There is social distancing and mask wearing enforced, and all employees and patrons were complying. They have hand sanitizer throughout and we're diligent with cleaning tables after people left. Would definitely recommend!