Cute and funky back area is great for drinks or dinner on a warm day/evening. It's covered so not sure 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. read more

El Patio - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This was my first time eating an arepa and El Patio blew my mind! Nestled on San Pablo, parking can be 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! read more

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Place is. Lean and nice. The patio out back is a nice respite from the street. Ordered a beer and three tacos. The shells were filled with generous portions. Taste was good; found the asada and El Pastor a bit less tender than o was expecting. Almost a crunchy-ness to them. Service was friendly (order at the counter). read more

El Patio - El Pastor, Asada, and Pollo tacos. - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

My daughters and I went to try out the food as the ratings were very complimentary. We are sure glad we did! The food was amazing . Top quality ingredients are used. Everything is cooked up fresh and is flavorful and yummy. . We got the steak burrito the hand cut fries, homemade tortilla chips with a homemade guacamole, all some of the best food that we have had for a long while. It's beautiful inside and has great vibes I highly recommend this place . Bon appétit read more

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My wife and I stopped by for an early dinner on a Tuesday evening and there weren't many people in the restaurant -- only two other parties ahead of us waiting to place their order. However, after placing our order at the counter, it took around 30 minutes before food arrived at our table. The wait times must be upwards of an hour if the place gets busy, so definitely don't come here hungry or else you're going to easily get hangry. The food itself here is quite good. We shared a super burrito with carne asada, a fried chicken arepa, and a side of the corn ribs. The corn ribs were sweet, not overcooked, smothered with elote, tajin, and served with a large wedge of lime. The chicken arepa was a lot -- so much guac mixed in with the chicken! At first glance, the arepa doesn't look like much next to a super burrito. However, once you make it through a few bites, you know this thing is going to put you into a food coma. Last but not least, the super burrito is well-balanced with its ratio of meat to non-meat ingredients. I wish the burrito was on the grill for a few minutes longer and wrapped more tightly, as the whole thing fell apart as we were eating it. For the food we ordered above, our meal came out to about $50. Certainly not as cheap as a food truck, but the food was tasty. read more

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We came into El Patio as we were hungry and the first few places we checked had long waits due to post graduation and mother's day celebrations. You order at the counter inside and then find your own seat. We opted for an order of nachos with carne asada and an al pastor arepa. The nachos were objectively good, but the arepa needed salt and perhaps some more onions or something for acidity. The patio out back is nice, although it's completely covered and I wish it had more sun for heat and ambiance. The service was quick and friendly, the food was just fine, but the patio and restaurant were completely overtaken by dogs which kept barking and getting in the way when I was walking around which is a big no for me. I almost tripped over one on my way back from the bar after I grabbed another drink during my visit. I'll be sticking to less dog friendly bars/restaurants, although that's becoming harder and harder to find these days. read more

I've been here a few times and every time has been awesome. It's a no frills spot but that's the beauty of it. I've had the 2 taco special (carne asada and chicken - bomb) and the elote riblets which are amazing. The margs have been great as well. Sucks to find out this place is closing. If you can, definitely visit before July 3rd! read more

I had this place saved on my list for quite some time and finally had the time to stop by. I wanted to get an arepa since I never really get them and the reina pepiada looked really unique. Even though I ordered one to go, it held up well until I got home. There is a lot of filling relative to the size of the arepa, so it is definitely a good value. The arepa was toasted well and there's definitely plenty of avocado. I would say I was a little disappointed by it overall though. The chicken was dry and for me, it was a bit bland. I ended up adding hot sauce after a couple bites, but it was still off. I'm not sure if it had too much mayo/mustard or maybe just needed more bread/less sauce? The menu had other items that looked appealing so I think I would come back for those if I had the chance (duck fat fries and pabellon plate). But I probably wouldn't get the reina pepiada arepa again. read more

El Patio - Arepa Reina Pepiada - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

El Patio's their namesake and yes you can find a plant filled patio but so much more! This is a trendy spot dishing up Latin American cuisine with a pleasurable flare. My companion took me here since it's close to home. I wouldn't have discovered if he hadn't suggested it. It seems like a popular spot for people around our age--Gen Z and Millenial Cal students and Berkeley dwellers. The atmosphere is loud and happening! Colorful Latin American decor dances around the room adding a pop of color to the dimly lit interior. Seating is ample and spacious inside and outside making it perfect for small groups. We chose to snag a cozy corner spot inside which is much louder than the airy patio. Food will be brought to your table after ordering but drinks need to be fetched on their own. Found service to be okay but not as efficient. Ordering is done at the register up front so can take a bit, food is on the slower end to come out, but the workers are friendly. Now for the food, plenty of it ranging from appetizers, entrees, and arepas! We'd never heard of an arepa before and chose to share the Reina Pepiada. They're made fresh so take more time. The arepa was mild in flavor with the cornmeal slightly crisp but also dense and soft. Inside was jam packed with a creamy avocado forward filling with shredded chicken. It was rich yet light but we wish it was more seasoned. I'd come back to try another arepa or something else. For those living in Berkeley, El Patio is a casual but hip spot to check out for food and drinks. The restaurant is easy to pass by off San Pablo Ave. but plenty of street parking around and a lot in the back. Customers were having a great time, food and drinks were good, and service was decent--what more can you expect. Honestly surprised I hadn't known of it before, but I'm happy we came. read more

El Patio - Reina Pepiada Arepa - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for the Tepa, and always come back for more. Besides the Tepa there are other tasty cocktails here as well as agave flights. Dont miss out on the elote riblets, arepas, and the duck fat fries. The place can be quite and can also be energetic. It depends on the time of day. The outdoor patio is nice for large groups. It's a vibe. read more

Such a Gem in an area full of crap. Food is fantastic! The vibe is fun. Employees are friendly. Back yard area is cute. They allow yo pup to accompany you as long as you sit in the back yard. I totally recommend this establishment. read more

Cute spot located in Berkeley that serves up some bomb ass duck fries, great chicken arepas and elote riblets that are straight fire. El Patio also has a cute, you guessed it, patio in the back to hang out. They also have a full bar and a huge tequila selection. Definitely worth checking out. read more

El Patio - Elote riblets - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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El Patio is one of my favorite places to go with my girlfriend. After a long hike their super burrito hits. It usually doesn't come with their hot sauce so definitely as for it. Their burrito is literally the size of two small asian people's head. Its massive, so we usually opt out in splitting it. Besides the burrito we usually order tacos if we want to break things up because those are bomb too. Al Pastor here definitely is marinated well, highly recommend. As for our appetizers the cerviche was the most pleasant surprise. We had it for the first time and it tasted so good. Our only feedback is reducing the salt, it was a bit salty but the flavors are all there. Of course as their name states there is a patio in the back where you can enjoy the summer weather. We usually sit indoors but the option is there if you want it. The staff is always pleasant and you order food and drinks at the bar before seating yourself. Overall highly recommend read more

Came here to try the arepas as my friend raves about them. They were indeed so yummy and delicious. The portion is very big and price is reasonable. They also have a patio in the back and vibes are cute. I tried their chips and guac which was also yummy. They offer cocktails in addition to the bites and food. Parking can be a little hard to find, leave time to look for street parking. It's a pretty casual spot. You order at the front and they drop it off at your table with a number. read more

Cool restaurants with a full bar in Berkeley Not sure why I kept passing it .... But I finally found it!! Street parking only/no garage This place has a photo booth inside !! Cute idea Love the decor ..... especially the statue of Jesus in the corner of the bar over the liquor Super vibe LOL Prices are very reasonable Staff is friendly Venue is clean Bar is well stocked Store sells their own merchandise I order a margarita..... margaritas was good I also had a beef empanada Empanada was made fresh Food was ok .... Menu has the trendy birria ramen I definitely want to come back and try it !! read more

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Cool place, great vibe, good food made with love. fresh & good drinks. We sat out on the patio that's nice & shady. Very casual bougie & fun. Our server was really nice & friendly. Parking can be challenging but that's to be expected in Berkeley.. they have a photo booth but it was out of order. read more

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Super tasty food and kind, relaxed staff. Was recommended to us by a local business owner down the road and we're glad she shared this spot. Laid-back vibe and cute decor, too. There's a Photo Booth in the back that's super fun. I think the corn riblets were our favorite! Super flavorful. Good vegetarian options too, for both appetizers and entrees. read more

El Patio - Cocktails! - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We really enjoyed El Patio! I loved my arepa, it was delicious and had great flavor. The chips and guacamole were also really good, but as you can see the portion of guac was not super generous. The salsa was pretty mid, but the chips were good and crisp. The vibes were fun at El Patio, would recommend checking it out! read more

El Patio - Chips Guacamole and Salsa - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Ever since returning from Mexico 11 months ago I've been lamenting the fact that guacamole orders in the US are priced in the double digits and served in minuscule portions. El Patio upended the trend in a way that made me gleeful; an order of homemade chips/salsa/guacamole is $10 and the bowl of guacamole is downright bountiful. Bountiful, in fact, is a good descriptor of the offerings here in general and little could please me more. The "3 tacos" menu item ($11) offered a choice from amongst 5 listed (including nopales) and these things were perfectly overstuffed with (in my case) carne asada. I couldn't have been happier. The tacos were basically left to me as the "Elote Riblets" ($9) were being scarfed down across from me. Seemingly beyond comprehension, the elote ribs are constructed from corn cobs and seasoned beyond compare. It was a presentation I've never before encountered and it too was thoroughly enjoyed. Drinks? Oh yeah. The Tepa ($12) is said to have won the people's choice award in both Mexico City and San Francisco. An icy cold mix of Mezcal, pineapple, agave, and apple cider vinegar proved a winning combo. I'd come here to attend another event across the street, later, at which drinks were supposed to be available. When they weren't, one in my group ran back to El Patio and got Margaritas to-go so yeah, they can do that here too. El Patio is delicious, ample, well-priced, and I really want to go back again. read more

Some of the best times are unplanned date nights! Hubby texted me, "Berkeley?" and I said "Say no more, we're going to El Patio!" We ordered 3 arepas! I'm not sure if I had arepas before but they are like pocket tacos to me and are absolutely delicious. 1. Reina Pepiada Arepa = shredded chicken, avocado, mayo, and mustard This one is jam packed! It was good but I felt like it was missing something... maybe needed some hot sauce to kick it up a notch. 2. Al Pastor Arepa= pork, cheese, cilantro, onion This one was both of our favs because it was so flavorful. Everything complemented each other so well. 3. Pabellon Arepa = shredded beef, black beans, plantains, and cotija cheese This one was tasty! I'm a sucker for sweet + savory mixed food. The plantains were so good. I also got a Michelada with a tamarind straw. One of the best I've ever had!! Love the vibes of the outdoor patio. I'm happy I got to eat good food and spend intentional time with my hubby. Shoutout to Megan H. (@sayimafoodie) for introducing me to this place!! read more

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Can't say enough about this spot as it was our first time after getting settled in the Bay. Lots of places we had in mind closed early (pandemic & staffing) but thanx to all my Yelpers out there, we found this Latin Fusion place. The front counter /bar area was lively with people and the bartender was engaging. Great welcome and we initially sat inside. With menus on deck, we ordered at the bar and grabbed some cocktails. It was loud when we first walked in but then learned they had a patio area towards the back. The hallway has lots of cool decor & the patio was a big surprise. Luckily we were able to secure a table with ease. For food, the Super Burrito was on deck, and man that joker is SUPER... Duck Fat Fries, Chips & Guac, a mix of Empanada's & Patacones. All of the food was good. We did wait a bit but I like how everything came out when ready. Ideal spot if you're looking to change up your vibe whether it's for happy hour with old (and new) friends or dinner. read more

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I had the Arepa al Pastor this time and it was fantastic. I will say though that if this Venezuelan food is authentic it is significantly blander than Mexican cuisine. Nevertheless, I greatly enjoy eating arepas so it tasted just as crunchy and tasty as the last arepa I had at El Patio: the reina pepiada. The servers were great, and there were many people in the patio. read more

El Patio - Arepa al Pastor - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had the 3 Tacos, a Pabellon Arepa and an Al Pastor Super Burrito. The meat for all was on the dry side. The flavors were different from the Mexican style, which was a interesting change of pace, seemingly absent of picante sauce. But this Venezuelan alternative take was not superior by any means. What made the experience distasteful was the attitude of the waitress/bartender. She seemed friendly enough at first, but seemed to get irritated simply because we wanted to relocate away from the open door and chilly air. And then she got flustered when I gently pointed out a mis-charge for an item and asked that it be changed. After she corrected it, she actually slammed down the receipt in front of my face! True, it wasn't a big upcharge, but it's the principle. And, obviously, I'm not cheap because we had paid her a 25% tip. (You gotta pay first before you see the receipt). Really, I wanted to demand the tip back, but just let it go. read more

El Patio - Nothing noteworthy - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been meaning to check this place out for a while now. I was craving an arepa and decided to finally visit El Patio. I really loved their back patio dining area. Service was great. Arepa was delicious and very filling. read more

El Patio - Arepa Pabellon - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Follow their IG and it always looks smackin'. This place is small but cute. They have outdoor dining as well. You order first then the plates come out to you. Some cocktails are pre-made so you may not be able to substitute the alcohol which was too bad. But I understand the convenience of having pre-made drinks ready to roll esp when they get busy. We ordered the duck fat fries, tacos (carne asada and carne mechada) and flaco bowl. Everything was authentic and fresh. Their house hot sauce is fire too. But it wasn't the best meal I've had. IDK maybe my palette is too used to the Westernized Mexican cuisine with hella sour cream and overly salted refried beans. I really appreciated the ingredients and authenticity of the food, but it was missing something I can't put my finger on. I'm glad I got this place crossed off my bucket list. I'd probably come back and try an arepa. Maybe that's the go-to order... read more

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Friends invited me to check this place out for dinner on Sunday & I was blown away by how amazing the food here is! First off; the back patio has plenty of seating and has heaters if it's too cold out. It's a great patio if you're hoping to stay outdoors. The food: Tried their elote ribs & it was bomb! Would recommend as an appetizer to share if you're not already ordering the chips, salsa & guac plate to share. Totally worth it to share if you're with a group. The chips, guac, & salsa were served on a large platter. Pollo Arepa - I've come here twice and ordered the same thing! Love that the entire dish just tastes home made. Highly recommend adding some hot sauce or salsa to give the dish extra spice & kick! The ordering experience is very casual, you order at the front & get a number to bring to your table. They offer great drinks to order as well. Parking has never been an issue for me, you'll likely find street parking. Overall, great experience and would definitely be coming back! read more

El Patio - The pollo arepa (so good!) & filling - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute space and tasty food! We especially loved both the arepas we got. Indoor and outdoor seating that are both nice. I felt it was a bit pricey for what it is, but not enough it'd deter me from returning! read more

El Patio - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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GREAT food and very nice place. You order at the front first and choose your seat. We got the oyster mushroom nachos and yucca fries as starters. Their yucca fries are more like yucca cubes. I fell in love with the sauce that came with their yucca fries. They also serve Nápoles (cactus) as a vegetarian/vegan option, and I tried it. The Nápoles was cooked enough that it was soft like very cooked green beans. It has a tiny bit of slimy texture and I think they cooked it with something sour. It was pretty good. My friend got their burrito and it was massive! read more

The vibes are everything. I love the patio area as well. Service is great, food comes out quick. Staff is welcoming and nice. The Arepas are magic. Order them all and try them all!! The corn riblets are also delicious with so much flavor. Definitely a go to spot for me when I'm wanting some arepas. Must try in Berkeley read more

El Patio - Reina Pepiada Arepa - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Ever since Pica Pica closed last year, I've been on the search for a comparable arepas. So when I saw our fearless EB leader Emma post pics of hers, I decided to give El Patio a shot. The first time we wanted to come for takeout last November, we arrived only to find that the staff had not shown up yet so only a Spanish speaking lady was there trying to explain that they weren't quite open yet. We ended up at La Marchas for HH that time around. Fast forward months later and Emma's pics of more arepas but this time in Vegas. Can't get to Vegas but can get to Berkeley and finally got to try their arepas. Since I wasn't sure how spicy some of their meats are, I ended up going for the Reina Pepiada which is shredded chicken and avocado while my husband got the Al Pastor. Although it was not too spicy, it was too oily for me. Either way, one is definitely enough. It does not compare to Pica Pica which has since reopened this year. But if I have a hankering for arepas and don't feel like crossing the bridge or making it myself, El Patio is a solid choice. read more

El Patio - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Ate here with wife and kids. All anyone talked about was how incredible their food was. I had the nachos, added steak. They were the best I've ever had, tons of flavor from smoked poblano crema, pickled jalapenos, and garlic aioli. I have no doubt I'll be craving them and have to drive back out there sooner than later. read more

I had heard really goo things about this place but was just a bit disappointed all around. The ambiance and service were good, and there was quite a bit of seating on the outside covered patio. The cocktails were pretty good. The chips and guacamole were a large order and tasty enough but nothing special. The corn riblets were a nice take on elote. The pozole was only OK with some fatty chunks of chicken. The super burrito al pastor was definitely quantity over quality. It was huge and there was a decent amount of meat inside, but the meat was incredibly bland and there were no signs of pineapple (as one would expect with al pastor). Other places in the area do pastor much better. read more

Delicious food and generous portions. I ordered the arepa al pastor (al pastor pork, cheese, cilantro and onion), arepa reina pepiada (chicken, avocado, Mayo, mustard) and duck fat fries. My favorite of the three was the arepa al pastor. Pros: -delicious, flavorful food -filling portions -they have delivery services (I ordered via door dash) -arepas are hand made Cons: -n/a read more

El Patio - Arepas - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

We were coming out to Berkeley to get out of the city for a bit and naturally finding great food options was a priority. We came across El Patio after hearing so much about their arepas. There's local free street parking, but you may need to park a few blocks away. We came around 1pm on a Saturday. The restaurant front was empty aside from signs with QR codes that takes you to their websites to order online. They encourage you to use this to order even if you plan on eating inside (it may tell you to pick it up at a later time, but you can just tell the staff and they'll bring the food as soon as it's ready). Once you order, you can head to the back, where there's a nice shaded patio, perfect for COVID social distancing. Duck Fat Fries (5/5): Super solid fries that were nice and crispy. Tajadas (4/5): Plantains were quite sweet and the cheese dip was great. If they were a bit more caramelized, they would have been perfect Reina Papadas Arepas (3-4/5): Perhaps it was all the hype that I heard about the arepas and my expectations, but I was not completely blown away, especially for the price. The arepas themselves had nice flavors and I do appreciate that they make these are made-to-order. The shredded chicken and avocado tasted good, but didn't blow my mind. I've actually got a similar flavor profile by mixing avocados and canned chicken breast from Costco (try it before you judge me ;-P). Overall, I can see why people have recommended El Patio, especially since arepas can be hard to come by, but for the price, it left me wanting more. read more

El Patio - Reina Pepiada Arepa - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for the arepas and they were amazing! During covid times, the procedure was to come in and order online if there was no one at the register. The cook, Tony, then came out and greeted us to make sure we were okay. We let him know what our order was inputted online so the kitchen was aware that we were already here. He told us to "make ourselves at home" in the outdoor patio, which was spacious and allowed us to feel comfortable being distanced enough from everyone else. Tony was great and brought the arepas out to us and it took about 15 minutes for them to prepare (arepas are made fresh), which was great since the online ordering said it may take up to 40 minutes. The arepas themselves don't look too big, but they are definitely filling! I think having just one would be enough for 1 person. The reina pepiadas arepa was amazing. The avocado tasted so fresh and with the chicken, it reminded me almost of a chicken salad. The al pastor was also great and my boyfriend was raving about how it made him realized how much he loved al pastor. I also really enjoyed the ground maize dough they use in the arepas. These were some of the first arepas I've ever had and I'm so glad there's a place like this in Berkeley that makes them fresh! read more

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El Patio is such a gem of Berkeley! This restaurant blends Mexican and Venezuelan culture together and creates magic! I love the ambiance...when you step into the space it feels like you're traveling out of the country! The patio is absolutely beautiful! Definitely recommend eating out there if you have a small group. I loved the bartenders and the lucha libre wrestling playing on the T.V's. I brought the ladies in with me to celebrate a special occasion...we had no reservations, and just took a chance to see if we could be accommodated. The staff welcomed us with open arms and even re-arranged the tables so we could all sit comfortably together. I ordered mezcal margaritas for the table and they were super strong! We loved them! I also ordered chips & salsa, arepas, burritos, tacos, and everything was a hit! The Arepas definitely stole the show for me. Each time I dine at el patio it's been consistently great with service, food quality and ambiance. Definitely going to come back again soon! read more

This place is great and deserves a five-star review. The food was delicious, prepared fresh, and was affordable. The cocktails here were great, and the service was really excellent - fast and friendly. Love the simple minimalist decor here - everything is clean and seating is easy to find. Service was good, and the service was fantastic. Service was helpful, friendly, and very prompt and professional. Everything here is top notch. read more

Food is always solid. Arepas are delicious. Burrito is the size of a baby arm. Drinks are strong. Good tequila selection. The food is pricey but worth it. Portions are also huge. I love their back patio. read more

I never write reviews but felt like I needed to after our experience. This restaurant has 4.3 stars and I felt deceived. The food left our stomachs upset. The one star is for the staff, who were very nice. Ordering: You order at the counter, get a number and they bring your food. You grab your own water/utensils and bus your own table. Be mindful of this when tipping. Ambiance: Does not match the price of the food. Nothing nice or cute about it. Kinda makeshift and not in an aesthetic way. Cleanliness: I got a dirty spoon with food on it. Food: Started with the chips & guacamole $10. This is always a good way to judge a restaurant. If a restaurant can't master the basics, what more do you expect? Guac, salsa verde and chip were all bland. Poor presentation and gave us lots of broken chips. Pozole was disgusting $15. I had to spend 5 minutes skimming the 1/8" layer of fat off the top. The dish had a bad pork stench. They most likely didn't clean the meat well before cooking. They clearly did not take their time with this dish. Lots of fatty chunks in the meat that weren't trimmed. Super bland and poor quality meat. Also, the amount of topping this came with was sad; a small to-go sauce container of sliced cabbage. Arepa Reina Pepiada was also disappointing because this is what they're known for! Chicken was dry af. Arepa wasn't good. Bland and dry all around. What a rip off for $16. This was just a small overpriced Whole Foods avo chicken sandwich that probably isn't organic. Don't say I didn't warn you. If you don't want to walk away -$50 and disappointed, look elsewhere. read more

El Patio - 1/8" of fat in the Pozole. - Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

5/5: The elote ribs stole the show. Highly recommend them as an appetizer or get two and make it a meal. Every bite was a burst of sweet corn, sour lime, and spicy chili. So so good. 3/5: The empanada was piping hot and stuffed with melted cheese. I just wish they had more creative fillings as the only options were cheese or beef. 4/5: The reina pepiada arepa was overflowing with creamy avocado, mustard, mayo and shredded chicken. Like other reviewers, I found it to be a little bland. Their indoor decorations for Halloween were so fun. I imagine that it's a great vibe during other times of the year too. Great music and super friendly staff. There's a big covered patio out back, but it was being used for an event. I would definitely come back to sit outside and try other items on their menu. read more

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