Such a cute quaint cafe! Parking is a little difficult as only street parking was available but wasn't too hard to find on a Monday afternoon. The place was a lot smaller than I thought more suitable for to go orders especially on weekends when I assume is busier. Tried their iced matcha latte (they use Rocky's Matcha! ) and empanada and both were delicious but a little small for the price. Service is really friendly and I definitely want to come back to try their lime pie and arupa! read more

Chainsaw - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a fun place to get coffee and sit down outside! Staff were super friendly accommodating. I got a drink and asked for it to be sweetened further after receiving it, to which the barista upfront had no issue doing for me. I got the flan latte and strawberry matcha. The flan latte was so divine and amazing, I will absolutely come back to get it. The strawberry matcha however was so mid unfortunately. Very sour strawberry puree, which i needed sweetened more, to which was still not enough to mask the sourness. Which is totally alright, the barista warned us the drink wasn't sweet, it wasn't my personal cup of tea but I can see it being someone else's. read more

Chainsaw - Flan Latte - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Love finding gems like this in my own neighborhood. Chainsaw cafe is a Venezuelan spot right here in Melrose hill and it's already becoming one of my go to spots. The space is cozy and super inviting. Everything we ordered was incredibly delicious. The arepas, coffee, matcha, and the ice box pie are an absolute must. Service was very friendly and welcoming which makes the experience here better. Parking can be a bit tricky, but I'd recommend finding a spot in the nearby residential streets and walking over. Already love this spot and see myself returning very soon. read more

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Didn't have the chance to try the food but all seems very delicious! I had their iced flan latte which was a 10/10. Parking is difficult and note that the coffee shop is very small ideal for to go orders as opposed to eating there. There are only two small tables inside and the rest of the seating is in the sidewalk which isn't the greatest area to dine in. read more

Chainsaw - Flan latte iced - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I stopped by Chainsaw over the weekend while hella craving an iced latte and lucked out with street parking almost immediately (arrived a little after 9:30a!) As soon as I crossed the street, I was surprised to see how lively it already was! Plenty of people enjoying their drinks and arepas. The interior instantly won me over :) warm, stylish, and thoughtfully designed. This Venezuelan café definitely passes the vibe check when it comes to decor and ambiance. I ended up ordering the strawberry matcha after noticing they use real strawberries instead of syrup, and honestly... that alone made me forget all about my coffee craving. Matcha will do that to me every time. The arepa was filling and hit the spot during my morning errand run. While I've had standout arepas elsewhere, this one satisfied the craving and paired well with the drink. I'm already eyeing their desserts and will absolutely be back to try more next time. read more

Chainsaw is my favorite secret neighborhood spot in this area! I accidentally stumbled upon it on its opening day and I've been raving about it to my friends ever since. I love their lattes and the passion fruit icebox pie is probably the best pie I've ever had. I've chatted with the owner and some of her staff and they are all so friendly. They give amazing recommendations on what to order and honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. This place feels like such a great community spot with lots of people from the area stoping by and tons of friends of the staff and owner. The interior is small but there is also seating outside where you can chat with other people trying it out. I need to add pictures the next time I go because I always end up devouring everything as soon as I get it. Cant wait to come back! read more

10/10! Had heard great things about this place. The moment we walked in we were greeted and treated so well by the staff. We're given great recommendations to try and everything was delicious. The location is small and seats outside the restaurant but that is what makes it special! So proud of this Latina owned business and excited to see it thrive some more! Will definitely be back to try more food! Loved it! Highly recommend:) read more

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The Chainsaw videos on TikTok do a really good job of hyping up the place. Unfortunately, this is one of the places that does not live up to the hype. I would give some points to the uniqueness of a Venezuelan cafe but the portions are extremely small considering the price. An arepa is $14 (before tip) and a small slice of pie was $11 - this was the only item that was enjoyable. Usually there are some sides or bigger portion sides but I felt disappointed after waiting for 40 minutes in line. I would have been even more disappointed if I had to find parking but luckily I was nearby and able to walk over. The food looked good but didn't have a strong flavor profile. The arepas were ok but you can find better arepas in LA for a more affordable price. The hotdog they had was beautiful but didn't taste much different from a hot dog with cilantro on it. Might as well go to Costco for a hotdog. I arrived at noon and they had already run out of strawberry matcha and the strawberry tres leches. The matcha tasted just like milk and was mostly ice. There is are a few small seats inside but most people order to go, stand outside or sit on the street. Really wanted to like this place but sadly felt like a waste of time and money. I understand the costs of running a business but the price they charge didn't seem to justify the value and experience. read more

Chainsaw - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place was pretty good! It's perfect for a quick lunch even by yourself. The inside was cute but it'd very small there's basically only one table inside with a few bar seats and outside aren't normal tables and it's a weird area but I would still go back. Their fries are really good too! We also got their coconut pie which is like a frozen pie and I loved it. read more

Chainsaw - Jamon y queso and carne mechada arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Both of the arepas were really tasty ~ the ham and cheese one had a delicious hint of spice in the filling and the carne mechada (shredded meat) had black beans, a little bit of cheese and cooked veggies under a delicious green sauce. The arepas were nice and crispy on the exterior and flavorful. They were small though! If you are hungry you probably should get two per person. The service was okay, not very friendly or welcoming (and we said it was our first time visiting!). The counter seating was a bit crammed but at least we got a little spot! It was super warm inside (in April!) so I can't imagine how it will be in the summer - they should think of something before then because it was pretty uncomfortable as is and since they keep the door open it was easy for flys to come in. We had one circling our area the whole time we were inside and it doesn't make for the greatest dining experience if you are constantly swatting to protect your food - perhaps keeping a fan on could help this? I thought the passionfruit lime icebox pie was good but again, they give a really small slice for the price. I would like to try their coffee next time and hopefully they will make some improvements inside and have happier staff by then! read more

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cute small cafe. Had the arepas and the cafe quesillo. Both were delicious. The arepas texture was so perfectly good. Love that its a small quaint menu and executed so well. Cant wait to come back to try other items. Also had two ice box pies which my fav had to be the milk toffee one. So good. Service was fine and quick. Will definitely visit again soon. read more

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Have been following them for a while and never got a chance to go to one of the popup events, so I visited their new brick and mortar cafe last weekend! It's a very small and cozy space. The decor is rustic and cute, and the seating is limited. Ordering was weird because the mirror menu was on the opposite side of the counter (behind you if you're facing the register) and it was really hard to read at an angle. I would recommend them moving that mirror to the side of the counter at least or having printed menus. We got a dominó arepa ($11) and a jamón y queso arepa ($13) as well slices of the passion fruit lime icebox pie ($11) and marquesa de chocolate pie ($12). All the food was really delicious. Arepa fillings were very tasty - I loved the tomatoes in the jamón y queso and the cilantro cream in the dominó was fresh and punchy. The arepas themselves were soft and moist on the inside and lightly crispy on the outside. Definitely some of the best I've had. The slices of pie were also incredible. The passion fruit lime was delightfully tangy and refreshing. The marquesa de chocolate was rich and velvety, sweet and a little salty. However, I think the prices were a bit high for the amount/portion size of food. The arepas were size of my palm and the slices of pie were also pretty small to be $11 slices. I know the cost of running a business these days is not cheap, but still. Maybe throw in some plantain chips or just give more generous sizes. Overall, I did enjoy it - I'm not sure I would go out of my way to visit, but I might be back if I'm in the area again! read more

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Finally made it to Chainsaw to try the infamous Passionfruit Lime IceBox Pie. It was very similar to Keylime Pie and was Deelish. I'll need to come back to try all the other dishes. Street Parking so it can be challenging but worth it. They do accept Cards, staff was so nice! read more

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Really good arepas and pie but really strange place to be eating such delicious food. There were tons of people when my friend and I went so we ate outside sitting at these tiny tables with milk cartons as our chairs. To be spending so much $$ on a few delicious items I wish the location had better seating. It did feel really authentic and sweet inside but we didn't feel as comfy eating there! read more

Chainsaw - arepas and pie! - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing, local spot! The owner, Karla, has done such a beautiful job with this place. From the decor/design to the intentional ingredients in all the dishes and drinks, this spot is a must stop when in Melrose Hill. And all of the staff members are so welcoming and genuinely happy to be there. It really feels like you're just stepping into an old friend's house to pick up a snack. Faves right now are the cafe quesillo, carne arepa, and passionfruit lime icebox pie!! 100/10 read more

Chainsaw - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Fantastic jamon y queso arepa. If I could've I would've married it but I don't think that's possible. Super cute spot and very nice people. Will return. read more

Chainsaw - Yum - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Probably the best key lime pie I have ever tried (if you don't mind the addition of passionfruit). Everything from the cream layers to the graham cracker crust is so well executed + perfectly flavored. I also enjoyed the Milanesa (salad was a nice touch) and Tres Leches (today had the chocolate cake). The cheese empanada looked nice with the blue corn but lacked flavor and would have preferred a gooier filling. The sauce also was just average -- would have expected the green sauce to be spicier or punchier (maybe garlic or acid?). Very limited small tables (1-3 people per table) so takeaway might be best. It was crowded on a Sunday morning but the wait for the food itself was very reasonable. Overall spent $50 for 4 items. read more

I saw a post raving about one of Chainsaw's pies, so I was excited to try it. The cafe's decor provides a colorful and warm environment, and while it took me a moment to figure out you can find the menu located on mirrors near the door. Outside of pie they also offer savory items including arepas and empanadas, and you can also get espresso-based drinks. During both of my visits, I've enjoyed the cortados that I ordered and thought they were well-crafted. The carne mechada arepa came with a hefty filling of chopped beef, and it was an oily yet tasty bite. I liked the passionfruit lime icebox pie though I realized on the second try that it benefits from additional thaw time to get the whipped cream tender. The overall experience felt pricey given the sizes of the pie slices and the arepa though I appreciated the flavors and would revisit. read more

I got the Arepa Carne Mechada and Cafe Quesillo (hot). Great flavor profiles. Wish I was hungrier so that I could try more and get some of the tarts because they're probably just as good. My arepa had a delicious green sauce on it which I could pour on anything that I eat at home. I came for the food not for the seating. Seating is less than ideal. Two tiny tables inside and a small bar area with the rest of the seating being really tiny tables on the sidewalk so if sidewalk seating is not your thing come prepared to take takeout. The food was really good and my latte was really tasty. so let's keep coming here so that they can keep selling food and eventually be able to afford to rent a larger space. I actually didn't know what the seating situation was going to be but when I was looking at the photos initially, I thought that this would be more of like a wider spaced Café. And all the photos that I saw it felt like a really beautiful ambience to be around, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I can totally see this café eventually expanding to a larger space where they have more seating either inside or something like a backyard space where they can really expand on the ambience that they're selling. read more

Chainsaw - Arepa Carne Mechada - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Extremely cute, hip place. Food and drinks were yummy but incredibly overpriced. $75 for breakfast for two and we left hungry, made me feel a bit sad because there's tons of struggling authentic places that serve arepas but everyone comes here for the ~vibes~ This place makes more sense as a cafe and bakery, not really comfortable to sit down and eat. Again, food was yummy, but being here made me sad about what's happening to LA and how social media has drastically changed the landscape and made prices unattainable for the average person. read more

Great little coffee cafe on Melrose. Never had an Arepas before but so good! Got the Carne and Jamon with avocado on the side to share. read more

Chainsaw - Arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a charming space! While small, Chainsaw leaves a big impression. Beautifully decorated but most of all a delectable menu. The carne mechada arepa was delicious- a toasty arepa, tender meat, black beans, and a lovely green sauce. The passionfruit lime icebox taste was refreshing on a warm day, reminds me of a tamer and lighter keylime pie. I washed my bites all down with a papelon con limon (venezuelan raw sugar limeade). I expected a clear lime juice however, I was presented with a dark brown and tart beverage. It tasted a bit like tamarind... perhaps the raw sugar is a bit thicker? Loved it. Service was friendly. I came around opening and it got busy fast as the space is small with limited seating inside and out. Street parking only. While a table and parking may be tough, I do think it's worth the visit if in the area! read more

Chainsaw serves seriously delicious Venezuelan food! Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and tasted fresh. You can tell there's care in every dish. Definitely coming back for more. read more

Chainsaw - Parchita Tonic & cafe quesillo - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Amazing coffee and ambiance! The flan latte iced is a MUST! I also tried the passionfruit icebox cake which was spectacular. read more

Chainsaw - Passionfruit icebox cake - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

delicious with a wonderful vibe! the women that work there are so friendly. loved the matcha, will try dessert next time! casual and cute.

Girl... if you're complaining about restaurant prices in 2026 then you should try running a restaurant yourself... But okay but the jamón y queso is the best arepa I've ever had - crispy, light, perfect salt-fat-spice balance, and filling. I used to pull up to their echo park house for pies so I'm happy for them to have opened this storefront!! Definitely more a grab 'n' go situation though they have a few tables outside. read more

I'm so happy this little café opened near my place. I tried the queso empanada, the arepas: jamón y queso and arepas de carne, and the passion fruit lime pie. Everything was delicious!! I actually went back twice in the same week because I was craving every single thing I ate. Yes, the portions lean smaller, but the quality and the uniqueness make it worth it. This is a family owned spot with real care in their flavors and ingredients. To the people complaining about portion size, this is simple. If you want huge plates for cheap and the same taste you can find anywhere else, this is not your place. This café is for true food lovers who appreciate thoughtful cooking, quality ingredients, and food that actually feels special. A new neighborhood gem. I'll be back again and again! read more

The staff is always amazing, the icebox pie phenomenal! A great community place to go for a bite.. love this place

the quality of the matcha was so good (they use rocky's matcha) and the strawberry puree was good too, just wish it was a little sweeter. the carne mechada arepa was delicious and it came out very quickly. there's limited metered parking nearby read more

I stoped by this cute Venezuelan eatery and had a very pleasant culinary and dining experience. The seating area was small and the menus handwritten. The pork Milenesa and ham and cheese arepa we got were very good. The place has good vibes all in all. The food and decorations feel transportive. read more

Chainsaw - Interiors - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Honestly a 10/10. The food was super good and everything on the menu looked bomb. Service was really friendly and quick too. I'm definitely coming back. There's a bunch of stuff I still want to try. read more

Chainsaw - Carne Mechada & drink is Cafe Quesillo - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

You guys should really update your schedule. I just drove 40 minutes took another 20 minutes to look for parking just to walk in and be told that it's closed when your yelp shows that you're open. read more

This place is so good! I ordered the passion fruit lime icebox pie, the carne mechada arepa, the jamón y queso arepa and a vanilla latte. Everything was 10/10. A little pricey but that's LA for you. I'd still come back again and again--that's how much I enjoyed it. read more

If I could give this spot 100 stars I would. Just wish there was more seating! Staff is super helpful, the food is incredible - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

They need to update their hours on their website because why does it say they close at 4 but I got there at 2:45 like I have many times before and they tell me they're closed. read more

Places like this make me hate myself for following the food scene. This is exactly what makes normal people hate trendy new media hyped restaurants. Unapologetically tiny food at exorbitant prices. $13 for the smallest arepa you've ever seen. Tastes alright, nothing spectacular. $9 for an empanada!!! Gtfo! You can go down the street to Rincon Chileno and get an empanada for $5 that's twice the size and arguably better tasting. They have a tres leches for $9 which is small in proportion but slightly too dense and slightly too dry as compared to the decent one you've paid $4 for at the local panaderia. This place leaves me with nothing but ennui and self loathing for having paid $34 for the experience. read more

Cozy Venezuelan inspired spot for breakfast lunch and pies. Great ambience including sidewalk seating. Outstanding staff, charming and helpful. Loved the original freshly prepared offerings. Great coffee and pies of course, also love the empanadas and sweet savory pastry. Outstanding jambon beurre sandwich. High Recommend read more

Really a great place. Casual and delicious and fantastic staff. Menu is innovative. I will certainly be back soon.

HOLY COW THIS PLACE IS AWESOME SAUCE!!!!!!!! Vibes immaculate, service outstanding, food INSANE!!!!! Haven't tried any drinks, will do next time, but the ambiance and food alone was so good I had to write a review! Only got one pic as we dug right in read more

Chainsaw - Venezuelan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food consists of some savory bites and the desserts of your dreams. From arepas and pork milanesa, to passionfruit lime icebox pie and guava cream cheese danish sherbet. The coffee is incredible on top of it all. What's not to love! read more

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