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    El Patio

    4.3 (338 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Mexican, Venezuelan
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Patio Photos

    EL PATIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Patio

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    Reviews With Photos

    El Pastor, Asada, and Pollo tacos.
    Mike K.

    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).

    A delicious corn dish.
    Gandalf W.

    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

    Fried arepa
    Austin W.

    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.

    Arepa Reina Pepiada
    Emily G.

    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.

    Elote riblets
    Nancy L.

    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.

    Reina Pepiada Arepa
    Kyra K.

    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.

    Chips & Guacamole
    Dawna M.

    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.

    Merchandise
    Ultima M.

    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 !!

    Cocktails!
    Rebecca W.

    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.

    Chips Guacamole and Salsa
    Erin B.

    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!

    Arepa Pabellon
    Gaby S.

    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.

    Reina Pepiada Arepa
    Lincy H.

    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!!

    Arepa al Pastor
    Ayush N.

    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.

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    Venezuelan dishes are killer and you didn't know how much you like mezcal until you visit El Patio.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - El Patio

    Are there screens for NFL games?

    Yes, above the bar.

    How do I figure out who owns this place?

    You can email on their website to get in contact with someone.

    What time does outdoor seating open and can you call and reserve a table?

    3 pm

    Do you provide catering service?

    Yes we do! You can call us or email us from our website Www.elpatio510.com

    Is the patio seating in the back available during sheltering in place conditions?

    Yes it is. Temperature check upon entering and sanitation mat at entrance. Mask on when walking a

    Where to park?

    On the street in front or in the rear parking lot on 10th street.

    Is this the same place as Cafe V?

    Yes! You'll still see the V atop our restaurant front :) Just rebranded to showcase that we do… Read more

    View All 12 Questions

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    Came here with a couple friends last Saturday. We had a reservation for 5:30pm. The restaurant…read morewasn't too busy when we arrived but it definitely became more filled towards the end of our dinner. We ordered a few tapas, one paella, and a dessert. * Patatas Aioli 3.8/5: Potatoes were crispy and slightly seasoned. The aioli was good. Something about this just didn't hit as much as I would have liked. Could be that the potato didn't "potato" enough for me. * Croquetas de Champiñones 4/5: Don't think I've ever had mushroom croquettes before but these were pretty good. I liked the flavor. * Carrilleras 4.8/5: My favorite tapa that we ordered. The beef was super tender and flavorful. It was good with the toast. I just wished they gave more toast. * Paella Tres Cerditos 4/5: In general, pork isn't my favorite. The pork in this was okay for me. Everything else was good. It had a pleasant flavor and a lot of nice and bright colors (except for the pork haha). * Crema Catalana 5/5: Crème brûlée infused with citrus. There was literally a piece of orange in the center. The citrus was subtle and added a refreshing taste to the custard. We were celebrating my birthday so they added a candle, which was nice of them.

    Pana Food Truck - Sifrina

    Pana Food Truck

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    Had a great time trying arepas at Pana while at the sharks game on a Thursday night!…read more It's a popular spot that capture a long line because of its live cooking and delicious food. It took about 7-10 minutes for my food to be done. I ordered the Sifrina which is an arepa with shredded chicken, cheese, mayo, and avocado. It was so delicious, great amount of filling, and the avo spread was so tasty. Would love to come here again!

    I can't believe I hadn't written a review for Pana before!…read more I hadn't been around the Santa Cruz area in a while, but I was so happy to be back and finally check out their new spot inside Abbott Square Market, right on Cooper Street. I've been to Pana before and usually go for the Pabellón arepa, which is also delicious, but this time I tried the Reina Pepiada, and wow. It's made with shredded chicken, mayo, and avocado. The arepa was extra crispy, which I loved. Honestly, even as a Colombian, and someone who grew up eating arepas all my life, I have to say, this Venezuelan version is amazing. Super flavorful and well-balanced. Germán, the owner, was super welcoming as always. He told me they're opening a new location in San José, which is way closer to me, and I'm honestly so excited to visit them there too! The vibe that day was perfect. There was live music playing, people dancing, and I was just sitting there enjoying my arepa in the sun with all that great energy around me. If you haven't tried Pana, you're missing out. The food, the people, the vibe, todo was on point.

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    Thank you Victor for hosting the Yelp event the weekend of Oct 17. We picked up our meal on Sunday…read moreand was quite pleased. I had been following you since you opened at the beginning of COVID and have been mightily impressed with your fortitude to start and grow a business. Articles here: Eater SF https://sf.eater.com/2020/4/22/21230298/arepas-en-bici-venezuelan-bicycle-delivery-san-francisco Good Morning America: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/story/make-chef-victor-aguileras-delicious-home-chicken-avocado-71755150 Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2020/07/unemployed-sf-restaurant-workers-pivot-to-home-based-pop-ups I thought for are I would like the beef sandwich better, but it was the chicken and cheese that stole my heart. ALSO loved the cheese sticks, and the guava pastry.

    HEADS UP- this is NOT a restaurant‼there is one chef who sets up a "pop-up" in various locations…read more We were not aware of this at first so we walked to two different locations before finding the right one, which was at Mayes Oyster House on Polk St. Finally came across the correct location on his Instagram story at @arepasenbici. Now we know to also check his website at arepasenbici.com *WAIT TIME- our party of 3 arrived right around 7 pm. We were a bit confused upon arrival since there were no other customers, only a bartender on FaceTime and a DJ jamming out by himself in the corner. We were worried that we went to the wrong place again, but it turns out that majority of the chef's customers just orders ahead online then picks up to-go. After asking the bartender if this was the right place to find arepas, she told us to walk towards the back and meet the chef in the kitchen. Then the chef handed us barcodes to scan and we did not have to wait extremely long for our orders but it also wasn't super fast since he had other orders to take care of. *AMBIANCE- fun, loud, "going-out" type of vibes at this specific location since it is also karaoke night on Wednesdays starting at 7 pm. *QUALITY- great! This was our first time trying our Venezuelan food and definitely won't be our last. Although we have no other arepas to compare it to, we can confidently say that it was prepped with great care and skill. Love how there's also a vegan option, which is the Dom arepa! *CUSTOMER SERVICE- great! The chef is friendly and highly personable, which definitely plays a role in us wanting to support him even more! He even surprised our friend with 2 pastellitos after finding out she didn't order some when both my fiancé and I did, which was very nice and inclusive of him. *RESTROOM- bathroom available inside at this specific location. *OUTDOOR SEATING- available, but no outdoor heaters. *PARKING- no private lot available, best bet would be metered street parking on streets surrounding Polk like Bush St which is free after 6 pm!

    El Patio - bars - Updated May 2026

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