The empanadas are great and the salads wonderful, too. I…read morehave served the empanadas at my Christmas Day get-together and they are very, very popular!

Only discovered this place recently as I was searching for some Empanadas. I tried the steak,…read moreJamaican beef and chicken and all were excellent. The Jamaican beef was my favorite of the 3 although I did enjoy all 3. They have some scotch bonnet in the Jamaican beef which gives it a nice bit of kick although I would say it's not too hot, just a little bit of kick. They have several other flavors so I will definitely come back to try some of the others. Chimichurri was very good as well. Location is on Claremont right by Telegraph so it's very close to the whole foods near 51st and Telegraph.

I was in the neighborhood to do some Holiday errands and needed a late afternoon caffeine boost. I…read morehad been to the Berkeley area frequently and wanted to try out this little Cafe iI had always passed. Yesterday presented itself to try it out. It was a small , quaint little cafe and had a neighborhood ambiance feel. It had a display case with Savory and sweet selections of empanadas. I had ordered a Mocha with almond milk and a Chorizo empanada. I also bought a Peach empanada, as well. I had ordered them to go and the staff were very friendly. Mocha was really delicious and the Chorizo empanada was ok. I really liked the Peach empanada, though. Definitely will go and try more of their empanada next time.

Despite what the Zeitgeist has led you to believe, notwithstanding the footsteps of tango dancers,…read morethe caterwauling of Eva Peron, the hepness of Javier Milei, the two dozen ex Nazis in exile - despite all this, there is nothing exotic about Argentine cuisine. Though not all things quotidian are to be jeered at. Just because Argentine food shares more commonalities with the American Midwest than your fantastic images of 'the Spanish New Word' might suggest does not mean it is disposable. Grabbing an empanada or two at Cafe Buenos Aires will be an event not out of the ordinary. Beef empanadas with mince, onions, bell peppers and eggs; picada with bits of steak, onions, bells and potatos (best); fuggazzeta, stuffed with salt purged onions, mozzarella and herbs; humita, corn bell peps, and mozz; classic ham n cheese. Each and every one of these flavor combinations are firmly implanted into your vernacular. I mean ham and cheddar are to your dining repertoire what the chord progression A- E -B7 are to the rock n roll. Again, just because it's basic doesn't mean it's not good. The empis are done right. From the filling to the wrapper. That pretty much covers it. Other than, of course, the chimichurri, which does its job. I didn't see any other Argentine staples on the menu: no pizzas, no choripan, even among the deserts no alfajores were spotted. They do feature a yerba mate latte.

1st time back in a few years and Javi still make the BEST empanadas I've ever had…read more The Carne & the Champiñones are still my favorite. This time I had it with Javi's home made Chimichurri Sauce, let me just say, WOW!!! I have been back twice already with in a week. The service was excellent!!!

Little gem in the corner! When you least expected it too…read more Ok - my husband and I happen to drive by this place and oh my, were we pleasantly surprised. Not only did we strike up a conversation with Carolina (the owner) but man she was just wonderful. It is so refreshing to see someone so cheerful and passionate about their job. She was wonderful when it came to asking us what we were looking for. We decided to get several options - apple empanada, chicken, ham and cheese, and veggies. Ham and cheese 10/10 - the amounts of ham added to the empanada was surprising. Usually, I find it hard to get enough filling but it was just enough. Veggie 9/10 - spinach, corn, squash, mushroom. The seasoning on this was amazing, and before I knew it I was more than halfway through it. Apple empanada - was a nice little treat. Omg! They have Peruvian beer and I love that for me because it's delicious, and also very uncommon! My only regret is not getting more empanadas (you can get a pack to go that is frozen), because they had some many options.

Still a solid place to get a quick but tasty lunch. Staff…read morewas friendly and quick to help. This time I ordered a ham and cheese and a peach empanada along with a Reishi Mocha. It was nice outside so I sat at the two tables in front to enjoy the food.

This establishment now goes by Does Corazones Cafe. I'm a huge empanada fan and came here this…read moremorning for some coffee and empanadas early this morning so it was empty except for one person having coffee, so the service was quick. I had a cafe con leche and 2 chorizo empanadas. The cafe was great, but the empanadas were lacking in flavor and just plain. I would likely stop by for cafe again but not the empanadas.

Cute and funky back area is great for drinks or dinner on a warm day/evening. It's covered so not…read moresure if it might even work when it's cold. The inside consists of a long bar with a handful of tables. Inside or out, you order and pay at the bar with food/drinks brought to your table. We came with friends, expecting just a happy hour drink and apps but ended up staying much longer. We shared chips and guacamole, nachos and a vegan oyster mushroom ceviche. The ceviche was a surprising standout to myself and my friend who is a meat-eater. Chips were perfect with the yummy guac and nachos. Staff informed us in advance of a private party so we had time to sit outside then move inside.

This was my first time eating an arepa and El Patio blew my mind! Nestled on San Pablo, parking can…read morebe a little bit challenging. But don't let that turn you away from enjoying good vibes and even better food. Order at the bar and choose either the super cute back patio or inside seating. There's colorful decor everywhere, plus a full bar and a photo booth! We got two drinks, two arepas and the guac and salsa. The masarepa flatbread was so fluffy, dense, and moist with a crispy exterior. The arepas were both loaded up with super flavorful filling that was so addicting. The guac is a bit on the citrusy side with the lime, but I loved it! Will def come back especially as the weather gets warmer!

I love Casa Latina, the food is fresh I especially love their tres leche cake-amazing! And their…read moretaco dorado, also chips are warm, guacamole and salsa are fresh. It is the best Mexican food I have had in the Oakland/Berkeley area.

The food it's ok, it needs more flavor. There were flies…read more buzzing while we were eating.

22 Feb 2025. 3.7 stars. 12:56 pm…read more Hello! Make sure you check their hours. Some days they are only open from 11am to 3pm. On our first 20 mile drive to visit, they blocked us at the inside of the unlocked front door at 3:12pm. Street parking can be difficult but a short drive\walk distance about a block away is a $3 an hour parking garage. The place looks clean and not too busy. We sit and our waitress Yanira M was perfect. Very nice, patient and attentive. We three shared two carne asada dinners with rice and refried red beans, two coffees, a coke and three pupusas. $101.36 before tip. The menu was confusing to us. First, the use of the menu words "red refried beans" confused us as refried beans have never been red in our lifetimes and these were pretty standard brown pinto bean looking and tasting. Maybe less confusion if they were called refried red beans. Then, we thought dinners came with pupusas. No. They came with two each thick tortillas (same as half pupusas with no filling as I could tell.) I enjoyed these thick homemade tortillas. The steak was not bad but I wish it had been served with its sizzle in tact. Salsa and coleslaw came as condiments though they might have been introduced with different names by Yanira. The coleslaw was a nice touch-served in a small jar with serving tongs. The salsa was tasting a bit like the V8 vegetable juice that you had as a kid or teen if you are a boomer. This meal could have really used some homemade spice sauce to add some kick to it. The main negatives today were the high music level at the back where we sat. That, and a busser man dragging some screeching and protesting chairs across the floor - to set up for a large party I believe. Real ear busters. The best part of the meal was the piping hot pupusas and our coffee. I would go back for those.

I have eaten Platanos food several times and each time it has been a delivery order…read more Today's delivery was delicious. There were vegan options, cheese and loroco, bean-cheese and pork, chicken and cheese...I tried 3 different ones and they were all great. The order came with curtido and salsa. I will order from them again, the food was such a hit, per usual!

I really wanted to love this place. Very small and quirky, limited menu. I'm not really a "salad is…read morea meal" person, although my two best friends are. They were very happy with their arugula salads. I ordered the mac n cheese which was okay. Even though I grew up in El Cerrito, I sometimes feel like my NorCal green card has expired. I've lost touch with my small batch, organic self. (Although I have never liked arugula) This store is adorable and just the kind of independent neighborhood place that should be frequented and appreciated. Unfortunately I also had to use the bathroom and they don't have one for customers. So they recommended walking a block away to the BevMo. So I guess that added some negative feelings.

A true hidden gem right at the bottom of Solano Ave in Albany!…read more I'm embarrassed to admit that Picnic has been around for about 5 years in the east bay and I've just tried it for the first time this week. But I'm so glad I was finally introduced to it. The staff greet you promptly when you enter and you can even watch them work effortlessly together in the open prep-station behind the counter. They have a gorgeous display of deli items, wines, cheeses, cold sides, and even some cute candles & house made croutons. They've got everything you would need for an elevated picnic or even a barbecue with the family. They have an intriguing selection of house made sausages-- the Chicken Tikka Masala sausage caught my eye and I can't wait to try it. They also sell whole smoked quail that are seasoned heavily yet each bite has just the right amount of smokiness, spices, and salt. Their hot food items and sandwiches are perfect for a quick lunch during your break from work or on your way home. There are also a few counter seats if you want to enjoy your meal there. So far I've tried the smoked quail, the Muffaletta sandwich, and their green lentil soup with chicken + veg. The sandwich was filled to the brim and each bite was a flavor bomb. The lentil soup was very comforting & paired well with the smoked quail. I'm looking forward to trying everything they have to offer.