We got takeout from Papelon yesterday evening. The inside is pretty small with a couple of small…read moretables so it's more of a takeout place than a dine in place. The food itself was pretty good and flavorful and I really enjoyed the tequenos! My arepa was great reheated the next day. I would come back!

I have walked by here so many times, and finally decided to venture in. It was so good. The service…read morewas super speedy. I had Armando's arepa which has brisket, plantains, and cheese. It doesn't sound like it would all go together, but it is kind of like the best of all worlds and I ate each component separately. It came with two really great sauces -- one which was super garlicky and delicious (although not something I would put on the sweet plantains!). This is a really small place, so you have to be lucky to get one of the handful of stools which are the window seats. I think that was the one thing that kept me from coming to eat in here in the past. I'll definitely be back, as there a a lot of options to try here. Buen provecho!

4.5 stars overall. Pabellon is a casual restaurant that serves Venezuelan and Mexican foods for…read morelunch, dinner, and catering for dining in, takeout, and delivery. The menu lists appetizers (e.g., tequenos, tostones, yucca, and tortilla chips with dips), Venezuelan arepas (gluten-free cornmeal cakes filled with meats, cheese, or vegetables), Venezuelan empanadas (gluten-free cornmeal filled with meats, cheese, black beans, or plantains), Venezuelan mains (gluten-free criollo, cachapa, and patacones), Mexican tacos, Mexican burritos, Mexican enchiladas, non-alcoholic beverages, desserts (e.g., flan and churros), and more. Venezuelan cuisine is a blend of indigenous, Spanish, and African influences, and most of it is naturally gluten-free. In addition, several vegetarian options are available, and some menu items can be customized to be vegan. Since 2021, my husband and I have eaten here off and on, and all of our meals have been excellent. The employees promptly and courteously serve us. Here are my ratings for the menu items that we ate: Tortilla chips with queso and guacamole - 4.5 stars - The tortilla chips had a good flavor. The queso tasted extremely cheesy. The guacamole was very freshly made. Beef empanada - 4.5 stars - The fried-dough exterior was perfectly crispy, and the beef filling was savory. I particularly enjoyed the green sauce on the side. Seafood empanada - 3.5 stars - This fried cornmeal pastry was filled with tilapia, shrimp, and vegetables. It was a large size, and the flavors were alright. Pabellon empanada - 4.5 stars - This fried cornmeal pastry contained black beans, white cheese, shredded beef, and sweet plantains. My husband ate it and said that he really liked it. Llanera chicken arepa - 5 stars - This arepa is my husband's favorite go-to. It was a very large size, and it was stuffed with much chicken, lettuce, tomato (although my husband does not like tomato), cheese, and guacamole. My husband commented that the combination of flavors was delicious. On the side was guasacaca, a tangy Venezuelan sauce that is made from avocados, green peppers, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and mayonnaise. Chicken quesadilla - 4 stars - A flour tortilla was filled with shredded chicken, cheese, onions, and peppers. The ingredients were very fresh, but the quesadilla tasted slightly plain even with the sides of guacamole and sour cream, so I dipped it in queso. Veggie quesadilla - 5 stars - A flour tortilla was stuffed with yellow cheese, green peppers, and onions. On the side were pico de gallo, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. I really liked the gooey cheese and the flavors of the vegetables. Soft tacos - 4.5 stars - My husband ate these tacos. One was filled with chicken, and the other was filled with pork. He seemed to enjoy them. Plantains - 5 stars - These fried plantains tasted very sweet, and they were topped with some cheese. The serving size was generous. Tres leches cake - 5 stars - A large slice of cake was soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. I really enjoyed the taste of the sweet cake and the spicy cinnamon.

We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and were happily greeted by an employee at the counter. We…read moredecided to order food to go - two arepas and some churros. The gentleman at the counter offered some suggestions as we looked at the menu. He even let us sample some of the fresh juices! The restaurant is bright and welcoming with plenty of windows and seating. The special churro station off to the right instantly got my mouth watering. I had to try them! The arepas looked and smelled so good we couldn't wait to dig in, so we ate in the car. The arepa was crispy but fluffy. It was packed with fillings and flavor. Even after eating we could still taste the flavors which only made us want more!! The churros were also delicious. We can't wait to return and try more!

A quick, delicious gluten free lunch!! Stopped on our way to…read morehotel & grabbed some empanadas for lunch Ordering was quick, we found a table & they quickly brought us our food The empanadas were HOT, crispy and the flavor was so intense - I wanted to try all the flavors because they were so good but I held off until next time!

Tired the shrimp empanada and thoroughly impressed by the filling. Very crispy fried breading…read more Empanada is served with some green sauce. At least five tables inside as a mom n pop like shop.

Cilantro & Ajo is a Venezuelan street food restaurant. They have multiple locations, but my friends…read moreand I visited the Lawrenceville location. Parking is a little tricky because it is street parking only, but we got lucky with a spot right out front. Ordering is super easy and efficient. They have menus up front where you order, and then you sit down and they bring your food to you. I've never tried Venezuelan food so this really was a great experience. I wanted to try it all. Here's what I ordered: [Brown Lemonade]: Tasty and different than your average lemonade [Plaintains]: Sweet with queso fresco [Arepas]: Mine had chicken & gouda and was absolutely delicious. Soft and flavorful. [Empanadas]: These were really tasty. I really loved the beef with the peppers & onions. My friends really loved their papallon bowls, and overall, the experience was really great! This was such a unique experience with unique food. I will be back!

One of my go-to spots in Pittsburgh. I've never gotten anything bad here…read more The yucca fries remind me of childhood and their maracucha arepa always hits! I love that the southside location also has some grocery items and South American candies available to purchase.