Cocina Casera South American Restaurant

Stopped in at this cozy restaurant after watching roller derby at the nearby skating rink. This was a fantastic find + bonus find, if you or someone in your party needs gluten-free options. The head chef/owner is a registered dietitian, which is awesome and she takes care in food preparation, including having a separate fryer for those of us who are celiac and/or need the safety of gluten-free prep. The only food item that has gluten is the empanada, everything else is gluten-free. Do let them know if you have celiac and/or need the separate fryer. There were 3 in our dining party and we all ordered 3 drinks, 2 appetizers, and 3 entrees. Total with tip was $150 - the food was excellent and filling, I can’t wait to go back.

If you want authentic South American delicious cuisine, this is the place! I had the Criolla soup with beef. It was savory, hearty and delicious! It warmed my soul. Everything is made fresh to order. In the past I had their yucca fries which are deliciously crunchy! The owner of the restaurant was enthusiastic and kindly welcoming!

Super tasty Venezuelan cuisine. Have seen the restaurant for some time and finally tried it. It doesn’t have seating area for big groups, just go with your partner or your friend… or maybe order for takeout. We tried the chicken mechada and the rice bowl, both were delicious. The chef heard us saying that we were thinking about yuca fries but we didn’t order them and he brought us 2 so we could try them. Next time I will order the yuca fries! 10/10 will come again.

The food here is out of control. We had the Criollo soup with chicken, braised beef arepa with yuca fries with the picante sauce(very hot but tastes so good!), a rum based Guava cocktail and mango mousse for dessert. The soup was probably one of the best we've ever had- super flavorful with plantains, veggies and chicken- absolutely incredible. Perfect for the cold night we were there. The braised beef arepa was packed to the brim! The beef was super tender and moist with deep, rich flavor, with melted gooey cheese and some green onion garnish. The yucca fries were crisped to perfection with a light, savory seasoning. I paired them with the picante sauce, which was pretty hot but not enough to deter me from eating it with the fries and the arepa. Definitely go for the picante if you can. It won't ruin your meal with fire level heat that burns out your taste buds. Such a delicious flavor. The guava rum cocktail was beautifully presented with a large square cube of ice and garnished with mint. Such a tasty and balanced drink. Will absolutely get it again. And finally the mango mousse- light, not too sweet with a delicate cakey, shortbread base. The perfect dessert for the dishes we had. Staff was super friendly and explained the origins of the soup we loved so much. Nice, clean well lit bathrooms too. We will be 100% going back soon. 10/10 highly recommend. Dont question it. Just go. You won't regret it.

Went there with my family for dinner. We were treated very warmly. It was so small that it only had two tables for 4 customers each. But, it was neat and clean, quiet, and comfortable. The food was just okay as it was missing a touch of a little more seasoning and flavor.

Amazing food, cozy atmosphere, great service, and very kid friendly! My arepa was so good: crispy, cheesy, tender chicken, with spicy sauce. We had to try all three cakes and savored every bite!

I never had Venezuelan food before and was excited to give it a try. The owners are hospitable and friendly. They clearly put a lot of love into the food and service. The food is tasty and service is quick. It definitely feels like you’re having a family meal. Seating and parking are limited. Bonus: They offer a completely halal menu making this a fairly unique option for halal eaters.

Delicious, clean, wholesome food. The owners are absolutely wonderful and you can taste the love and care they put into their recipes. I especially love that they’re open late. In a part of town where there aren’t a lot of good options at that time of night, it’s nice to see another wonderful small business adding some extra vibrancy and quality food to the neighborhood. The yuca fries are crispy and dense, and the sauces to pair with them give added flavor and complexity. But the fusion rice bowl might be the MVP of the menu, which is such a wonderfully balanced and filling meal with so many great textures flavors. I’ll definitely be coming back.

I never had Venezuelan food before and was excited to give it a try. The owners are hospitable and friendly. They clearly put a lot of love into the food and service. The food is tasty and service is quick. It definitely feels like you're having a family meal. Seating and parking are limited. Bonus: They offer a completely halal menu making this a fairly unique option for halal eaters.

This food is truly delicious. Wow! Fresh, complex flavors. Warm, timely service. We are lucky to have this in White Center. Community! Please support!

Very quaint small place. 3 tables inside, 2 outside on the sidewalk, but don't let that deter you. The food was fantastic and the service great too. As we waited for our food which came fairly quick we saw no less than 6 other customers come in and either pick up to go orders or delivery patrons picking up for their customers. If you're in "rat city" give it a try you won't be disappointed.

Service was great, food was delicious, the only comment I have is that the chicken in the pabellón criollo was a little bland but other than everything was delicious.

Delicious food -- their braised beef is so flavorful, plantains are perfectly cooked, and sauces are delicious. I've only gotten takeout but it's been great every time.

Delicious food, unique flavors, aware and knowledgeable about celiac and dietary restrictions

We just tried Cucina Casera, and had a lovely experience. Everything on the menu looked and sounded delicious, so we asked the owner if he had any recommendations. He took the time to explain the dishes, and is clearly passionate about the food. We ordered and were not disappointed. The smashed avocado with plantain chips, the pabellon, and the spiced bowel were all delicious. For the food and the service, we will definitely be going back and are excited to have this great addition to our local restaurants.

South America 5 stars cuisineThe Seattle community & the needs to know about this restaurant now! Support them

I haven't been impressed by a restaurant in Seattle in ages. This little gem is a winner in all ways. The vegan chorizo empanadas!

Amazing food and great service. Delicious food and I love the Halal menu. I will stop by any time I am in the area for more dishes.

I stopped by Cocina Casera to pickup takeout and ordered their a la plancha bento, latin bowl and empanadas. Placing my order was super easy, you can order on various delivery apps or on cap hill kitchen's website. Pickup was very smooth, I got my order through the lockers. The one downside is that parking is hard - I was looking for parking for a while and the lot across the street was $20 after 5pm. :( The loading zones were taken as there are alot of delivery drivers also picking up food. The a la plancha bento was amazing! I got it with their chicken, which is braised for 24 hours. It was packed with flavors and tasted super fresh, as if it was made to order. I liked the yucca fries and salad it came with, as well as the plantains. The latin bowl was my favorite and I ordered it with the braised beef. Again, the beef was so tender and very well flavored. I liked how the bowl was stuffed with rice, beans and meat. I wish that it came with a bit more veggies (it came with arugula) and an option for sour cream, but other than that, this will definitely be a go to! I topped mine off with the red sauce and the avocado green sauce and it was delicious. Lastly, we got the empanadas which was another star of the show. The empanadas are made fresh in house and the breading was very flaky and crispy. They did not skimp out on the meat inside and I loved pairing these with their dipping sauce. All in all, I would highly recommend ordering from here! My boyfriend took the a la plancha bento box to work the next day and he got so many compliments on the presentation!

Delicious, clean, wholesome food. The owners are absolutely wonderful and you can taste the love and care they put into their recipes. I especially love that they're open late. In a part of town where there aren't a lot of good options at that time of night, it's nice to see another wonderful small business adding some extra vibrancy and quality food to the neighborhood. The yuca fries are crispy and dense, and the sauces to pair with them give added flavor and complexity. But the fusion rice bowl might be the MVP of the menu, which is such a wonderfully balanced and filling meal with so many great textures flavors. I'll definitely be coming back.

Delicioso!! I was lucky enough to try Cocina Casera's arepas at an event. The plantain, bean, and cheese arepa is crave-worthy and so satisfying. It's a perfect combination of savory and sweet. I have chili & pepper sensitivities that make it difficult to enjoy many dishes from South & Central America. This was perfect to get the delicious flavors safely. Please open a location on the eastside when you can expand!

Have eaten here twice and both times have been excellent! 5 stars for the food. I would eat here more often if the prices weren't so expensive, but overall I highly recommend this place.

My Colombian husband and I stumbled on this White Center gem via a DoorDash review and decided to check this place out in person. As soon as we walked in we were warmly greeted by owner Eda. We only wanted a snack and we each got an empañada, chicken and beef. ¡Madre Maria! Tender, flavorful, freshly made. Two sauces to choose from for toppings. And big! Afterwards we chit-chatted with Eda and her husband/co-owner, Ángel, and they walked us through their vision for the future and passion for delicious South American food. We can guarantee we will be back. Cocina Casera is a great addition to the vibrant White Center neighborhood.

Cocina Casera at Cap Hill Kitchens has captured my children's hearts and appetites, securing its spot as our family's favorite dining takeout. The tostones are perfectly crispy and salty, while the empanadas are filled with savory, mouthwatering flavors that even my pickiest eaters can't resist - and I have some picky eaters! If you're looking for family-friendly food, Cocina Casera is a must! Trust me, your taste buds and your little ones will thank you!

Absolutely the best food we ever had. Everything we ordered was on the level of the upper class. Recommended appetizers: Empanadas, Canoas de Platanos, Tostones. Soups are delicious. Entrees we recommend are Pabellón Criollo Bento Box, Mechada Bowl. But I would not stop on that and would consider any other dish since everything from this restaurant is delicious. My wife and I did order twice and both times there was no miss.

I've placed an order 2x now through Uber Eats for this place (two separate occasions). Boy is this place PHENOMENAL! The flavors are out of this world and it seems like the restaurant has prepared really well for delivery--all the items came separately in a container (bento box) and all were hot. We'll absolutely be coming back!

insanely good. lots of vegetarian Venezuelan options, can sub any meat with veg chorizo, too.