5 stars alone for the empanadas! They were so good, so crunchy, so full -- wish I ordered more…read more I've been here before and never had any issues. I love sweet corn , so if I'm not surprised that I enjoyed the arepas. The owner, Will is very nice and makes everything fresh Will be back on my cheat day

10/10 recommend!! La arepa con queso y chorizo estuvo muy delicioso! Very friendly and great…read morecustomer service! Great parking and a nice spot to just come and grab a bite and hang with some friends or kids!

We watched Encanto and really wanted to try Arepas con Queso like in the movie. The arepas are so…read moregood! They are $9 for 5z We ordered during the week and picked up on Saturday. It is homemade food and she packed it frozen to fry at home! The arepas are so cheesy (no regrets even i'm lactose intolerant) and easy to cook at home. Make sure to use non-stick pan for it!

Amazing can't wait to go back. Service was on point! The plane is wonderful and food even betterread more

Food trucks have been around for quite some time, but finding a cluster of them in a single…read morelocation in Riverside is rather new to me. On a sparsely traveled side street that separates the Target parking lot from the 91 freeway, is an attraction that will have you slamming on your brakes and craning your neck to see what the fuss is all about. The day we came, a Sunday afternoon, there were about 10 different, brightly colored trucks lined up along the curb, lights flashing, music blaring, and lines starting to form. You can park your car in the adjacent parking lot, there's plenty of room! Yes, this a very successful food truck according to Yelp. And by far the most patronized truck I saw that day. Inside the tiny galley kitchen are 4 hustling adults, including sweet Isabelle, the food ambassador of a husband and wife duo. I loved her enthusiasm and bright smile. At this point, I want to mention that Columbian taste buds are more finicky than many of their Central and South American brothers. So do not expect hot chile anything. Their palates prefer milder, not spicy foods, even though one of the sauces served with the empanadas was a garlicky, bright, herbal, oily sauce, not unlike the Argentinian chimichurri sauce. They call it aji (ah hē). I find it very addictive. Bandera Paisa - this is a combo plate that features a fat, Columbian chorizo (a non spicy sausage), a pile of moist shredded beef, a large strip of pork belly, white rice, Columbian red beans, a fried egg, avocado, and several pieces of fried sweet plantain. There is also one Cheese Arepa included. This dish can easily be shared by two and is a phenomenal deal and interesting taste adventure. Beef Arepa. This is basically a fried masa pocket substantially filled with their signature shredded beef, then topped with guacamole and white cheese. This is very similar to their beef empanadas, so I would encourage ordering one or the other, not both. It's big. Beef Empanadas (3). This is not your usual empanada. The generous beef filling is made from their sensational slow-cooked, flavorful shredded beef with a hint of corn and vegetables. The pastry is actually made of a coarse grained masa, formed into the traditional moon-shape, then deep-fried. It is heavier and far more filling than what I am accustomed to, but it has a chewy, coarse textured mouth appeal and rich flavor. One order is 3 empanadas. They offer an interesting variety of drinks, the most notable being their iced Columbian coffee (intensely rich, creamy, and sweetened) and a Passion Fruit Slushy that is an exotic fruity perfection. Both are pre-made and served out of a dispenser. Columbiana soda, plus other sodas and juices, are available in bottles and cans. The only downside is the seating. A few wooden tv trays and canvas folding chairs are set up on the uneven dirt adjacent to the sidewalk. It appears that using the sidewalk is off limits for seating. I loved their cute, vibrant Cuban music, but oftentimes it became overwhelming as it competed with another truck's equally loud Mexican music right next to them. That, and the seating, effectively convinced me that eating my food elsewhere was probably a better idea, even though sweet Isabelle was frequently checking in on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Our bill was really reasonable, considering the amount of food we had. It was approx. $42, and there was plenty to bring home for another day.

Amazing food truck with great food and service. I love the level of detail. Their branded tables,…read morethe blowup mascot, the branded shirts and the friendliness of the staff. We came late on a Friday night and it's great to find a bustling place that's open around 10pm. We got the Aborrajados, a dessert made of fried plantains, stuffed with cheese, dulce de leche, and guava. We were too full to try more but everything looks delicious and we will definitely be back for more. Highly recommend.

So this is a review of their happy hour, specifically, which is pretty solid, especially as far as…read moredrinks. I'd actually been here once before, quite some time, also at happy hour, but never got around to writing a review before it stopped feeling relevant. About a month ago, I had a reason to be in the area during happy hour again, so I decided to stop and try their burger. The burger is solid, though by itself, I'm not sure it's 13 bucks without fries level good. It's a good burger, and the fried mustard is great, but I didn't really taste any (advertised) plantain, nor whatever "chlorophyll aioli" is. As plated, it's like a 4/5 burger, compared to, for instance, my favorite burger place, Sideburns. It's also the first burger that seemed specifically *designed* to be eaten with a knife and fork, which on one hand really feels, in some way, to defeat the purpose of a burger... on the other hand, if you like spicy hot sauces, the extra star is for their house hot sauces, which I absolutely immediately used all three of to make a fantastic basically smash-burger ahogada. I'm pretty sure this is also the first sit-down restaurant where they just gave me sides of all their house hot sauces by default when the burger arrived, without having to ask for it, which is pretty cool of them. Their hot sauces are extremely good, all three of them. As a hot sauce lover - I would've loved more of all of them. I was there during a less busy time, obviously, and sat at the bar, so that says less, but anyway, the service was great (was great the previous time like a year ago, too.) I sat down at 5:45 (happy hour is until 6), had a food and drink order in at 5:50, burger showed at 6. (Got a second drink order in right at 6 on the dot too, of course.) There's a second add-on special for a boilermaker if you get the burger, so obviously I did that - I love that it features South American products, an aguardiente and a South American beer (I also like that that it means it's not a boring American macro beer, of course.) I also had the lulo margarita, $10 on happy hour, and great. I love learning about new (to me) fruits you don't see often around here, too. Delicious, though fun fact, it was even more delicious after I added a bunch of the lightest, creamiest hot sauce to it, lol. A non-canon modification that, conveniently, didn't require the bartender's assistance, and which I definitely intend to repeat if I'm ever back there (this is also a note to myself). It is always a tough sell when I'm in the area, just because it's across town, Bamboo Club is around the corner, and I love Bamboo Club, but anyway, Selva is also solid too, especially during happy hour.

I've eaten extensively throughout Long Beach, from the longtime institutions to the newer openings,…read moreand Selva remains the restaurant I measure the rest against. There is real intention behind the food here. I've worked my way through the entire menu, and what continues to impress me is not just the creativity, but the consistency. The flavors are bold and distinctive without feeling forced, and the dishes have the kind of personality that makes a restaurant memorable rather than simply good. Chef Carlos is an exceptional talent. His cooking feels confident, thoughtful, and completely its own. Selva has a clear point of view, something that is surprisingly difficult to find even in cities with strong food scenes. The hospitality deserves equal credit. Jack and Chris are a dynamic duo and have an instinct for making the room feel warm, personal, and effortless. Great restaurants are about more than what arrives on the plate, and they understand that completely. After eating at an enormous number of restaurants across Long Beach, Selva is still the place I find myself recommending first. For me, it is the best restaurant in the city.

Amazing. Nice mom n pop shop. Quickly ordered empanadas, almojabanas, and yuca fritas. Tasted super…read morefresh at an affordable price. Highly recommend. And we got the raspberry and mango juice. So freaking good. They also were playing the Mexico v South Korea game when we arrived.

Comida hecha con amor. La bandeja paisa venia bien cargadita y el calentao estaba sabroso 10/10read more

FIVE STARS for the corn arepas con queso , I think it's like $8 ! It's the best little snack !…read moreAnyways if you're comming here get the bandeja paisa ! This place is good , I wish they had more options and more affordable options but they have the must haves !

Me and the misses were cruising the streets at night and we just wanted something good to eat, and…read morewe stumbled upon this place. It was a little bit early, so the restaurant was completely empty which means service was very quick. I ordered steak with rice beans on the side. The food did not take very long to come out, and there was an assortment of sauces to add to the steak. The meal was not the best. The presentation was very nice and the waitress that took care of us was very friendly however, I do not think I would come back to this restaurant due to many of the items we first wanted were not available.

Delicious pesca mojarra!…read more Good food! Our kids loved their meals. Quaint interior and television. Service was fast and nice.

This place leaves much to be desired, first off the rice seamed old and hard, the soup ordered had…read morebarely any taste. Order a juice of maracuya with no sugar, asked for Splenda none available. My friend also had rice that was hard, she order juice of guanábana and it tasted like water. Paid with CC, no receipt to sign. Will not return.

If you're looking for the BEST Colombian food in Los Angeles, stop scrolling and go to Encanto!…read moreThis place is a true hidden gem inspired by the magic of the Disney movie, and yes, it's just as colorful and full of heart. We started with some small bites that were honestly not that small (portions are generous and full of flavor!), then moved on to their most popular dishes. The Bandeja Paisa? A 10/10. The Cazuela? Perfect for a hangover. And the Picada? A family recipe straight from Doña Claudia, the owner's mom. You can taste the love. What made the visit even more special? Latin superstar Daniel Mondragón stopped by and gifted a signed guitar to the owner. It was a moment of pure magic! The ambiance, the service (shout out to Claudia!), the music, the food, everything makes this spot unforgettable. Add Encanto to your bucket list and thank me later.

Enjoyed desert with my mom and aunt as we walked passed here on Mother's Day. What caught our…read moreattention was the outside of the restaurant, looks very welcoming and neat. The gentleman immediately greeted us and was very attentive and suggested one of the desserts, they were nice and light, very good too.

Decent spot. My order was ready in about 20 minutes, and the customer service was fine. The food…read moreitself was okay, but for the slightly elevated prices, I expected a bit more. Portion sizes were on the smaller side, and the ingredients didn't feel particularly special. The seasoning was underwhelming, and I found the lack of spice options disappointing--it just didn't hit the mark for me. The burger I had was a bit of a letdown, with conflicting flavors. It was crunchy in some spots, soggy in others, and oddly sweet, which didn't quite come together. Still, I'm curious to try the empanadas next time and see if they redeem the experience

Ordered the burger, and the sauces on the side so that I could sample them all separately. Wow,…read moredelicious. Everything was cooked perfectly, what a sandwich. The French fries were amazing as well. The burger was fresh, I loved every single sauce. We will be back soon for sure. The place is clean and well maintained. Gorgeous place. I don't think you could walk out of this establishment without smiling; even after having the worst day. These lovely folks are the nicest, warmest people. They greeted me with the warmest smiles and they were happy to chat and answer questions about the menu. The restaurant is gorgeous, and I'm grateful to have been a part of this experience. Now we have a new favorite burger place! A very special thank you to the owners, it was a great afternoon.

Love this restaurant. Best vibes and ambiance. Dim, patio is super cute! I recommend sitting in the…read morepatio vs inside. The chorizo mussel clams steamer is so flavorful and good! Order an extra side of bread and dip it!! Perfect appy! Espresso martini was made to perfection. The filet was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Comes normally with fries but I got the garlic mashed potatoes instead. Service was great! Highly recommend this spot! Great for dates, girls date night and it's the perfect vibe!

I want to begin with an important distinction: my two-star rating is not meant to suggest that the…read morefood was terrible, the service was bad, or the restaurant unpleasant. It reflects something a little harder to quantify: value. The amount a restaurant asks me to pay inevitably creates a certain expectation. Food, service, atmosphere and price don't exist independently of one another; they form a package. And for me, the package simply didn't come together here. There were things I genuinely liked. We sat outside, beneath a corrugated metal covering, and I actually enjoyed the design of the space. The tables and chairs are a refreshing departure from the polished, corporate, "haven't I seen this in twelve other restaurants?" look. And the candle wall at the far end of the patio is simply wonderful--warm, cozy and genuinely beautiful. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting or the prices. We each had a beer: an 11.16-ounce can for $10. It was cold, fresh and perfectly drinkable. It also wasn't particularly good. Obviously, the restaurant didn't brew it, but ultimately they chose it, priced it and served it. We also shared the Chicken Empanadas ($18) and Mariscos Fritos ($22). The empanadas were... meh. Nothing particularly wrong with them, but nothing that made me want another one, either. The Mariscos Fritos were the bigger disappointment. The menu promises calamari and shrimp, although I honestly had trouble identifying much of either. There was plenty of fennel, which was far too raw for my taste, and the dish was a considerable distance from what I would describe as "cooked to perfection." And I want to be fair here: nothing tasted spoiled. Nothing appeared to have been fried in old oil. Nothing was inedible. We finished the plate. It simply wasn't enjoyable. The service was perfectly fine and, frankly, perfectly forgettable--and I don't necessarily mean that as criticism. Good service can be a little like music in a movie: sometimes you barely notice it, but you'd certainly notice if it weren't there. Nothing about the service bothered me, and nothing particularly stood out. What finally crystallized my feelings was looking to my right from our table and seeing a parking lot. At one point I was being blinded by the headlights of a car whose driver needed about four attempts to park. Had I been looking at the Caribbean Sea, I might have sipped my $10 canned beer, eaten my rather ordinary appetizers and thought, Well... I'm paying for the whole experience. But I wasn't looking at the Caribbean Sea. I was looking at a parking lot. And perhaps that's the best way I can explain the two stars. Two $10 beers and two appetizers brought us to $60 before tax and tip. That amount, by itself, doesn't offend me. I've happily spent similar amounts elsewhere and walked away thinking, Worth it. Here, I didn't. The food wasn't terrible. The service wasn't bad. The setting had some genuinely lovely touches. And the prices, considered in isolation, aren't outrageous. They simply didn't belong together. For what we ate, where we ate it, and the overall experience we received, I left feeling that what I had paid and what I had received were too far apart. And ultimately, that's what I'm rating.