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" Authentically good traditional Colombian food ". I have been coming here for years . Mostly for take out but I have eaten inside. The food here is authentic Colombian food . It's good it has gotten pricey but overall consistency is good . Parking is difficult but manageable. Inside the wait staff is very friendly. The overall vibe is welcoming and warm . When I do eat inside, my family and I , always have a great time . Thank you to this beautiful staff plus the management team . It's also well managed. Inside it's super cleaning , including the bathrooms.
Craving authentic Colombian cuisine, my party of three decided to visit El Peñol in East Boston around 2 PM. Despite the mid-afternoon timing, the restaurant was bustling. A group of four was ahead of us, and shortly after, a group of six and another group of three arrived. The waitress seemed to know members of both the group of six and the other group of three, greeting them personally. After seating the group of four, she proceeded to seat the second group of three. When we inquired about this, she explained that she had noted that group arriving first, followed by the group of six, and then our party. I respectfully clarified that we had arrived after the group of four and before the group of six. She acknowledged this and assured us we'd be seated next, which is all we wanted. Eventually, we noticed her conversing with her acquaintances, with some pointing in our direction. It appeared she asked them to move to accommodate us, which we neither expected nor desired, but we were seated promptly. This led to a bit of an awkward meal with the man on the other group of three mean-mugging us the entire meal. Once seated, the experience was seamless. Another waitress took our order, providing friendly and attentive service. The coffee was rich and delicious, a testament to Colombia's renowned coffee culture. I highly recommend trying it. We ordered the Bandeja El Peñol, an enhanced version of the traditional Bandeja Paisa. The bandeja includes rice, beans, steak, chicharron, fried egg, plantain. The bandeja Peñol also includes chorizo. Based on the menu, it seems like the bandeja was supposed to include an arepa too, which we didn't get, but it was too much food anyway. The portions were generous, and the flavors transported me back to my time visiting Colombia. The chicharron is probably the best I've had in Boston. The chorizo was so tasty and the steak was so tender. As I mentioned earlier, our waitress was so attentive and she offered us salsas which we appreciated. The red salsa was perfect with the steak adding a bit of acidity from the lime and some heat. We enjoyed a fantastic meal and I can't think of a better restaurant for Colombian food. Given the excellent service and delectable food, I highly recommend El Peñol. However, I encourage them to improve their seating system to avoid confusion. Perhaps taking names for each party would help. While it felt like we might have been de-prioritized in favor of regulars, I'll consider it an honest mistake and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Best Hispanic food I've had in Boston! I've been a few times while in East Boston with work friend and we're always blown away with the food and service. The traditional breakfast plate with beef, chicharon, plantanos, rice and beans is epic and unmissable. The food is always seasoned beautifully and generously portioned. My buddy always gets the limo saltaedo which comes in a rich sort of creamy spiced sauce with onions and peppers. He loves it. The cocktails are always on point too. The servers are all so kind too! Aleja always takes good care of me
The food has been great every time. I prefer this location. I've ordered from Everett, and this is number one by far--very consistent, tasty, and flavorful. The other location is a hit or miss.
El Peñol gives you a real taste of Colombia. The minute you walk in, you're surrounded by Colombian warmth, familiar accents, and friendly faces. The menu itself makes you hungry, especially the Traditional Colombian dishes (don't skip the empanadas!). Service is fantastic, and the food hits all the right spots. The whole vibe is just right. Buen provecho, mi gente! El Peñol te da un toque auténtico de Colombia. Apenas entras, sientes la calidez, los acentos y la buena onda. El menú te abre el apetito, especialmente los platos Tradicionales Colombianos (no te pierdas las empanadas). El servicio es excelente, y la comida está buenísima. La vibra es perfecta. ¡Buen provecho, mi gente!
I thought this place was excellent. Though it was a little bit of a wait to get in on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon. My partner told me this was the original el Peñol. I came in with high expectations, and was not disappointed. There were fresh fruit juices or milkshakes, and there was nice coffee. We all got versions of the bandeja dish. My partner's and his friends had additional meat and was larger. Mine was a mini bandeja paisa- with one fried sweet plantain, and a slightly smaller portion of yummy rice and beans, a huge chicharron (I think fried pork belly), steak, and a fried egg on top. Certainly the breakfast of champions. Reasonably priced, and this real home cooked taste and vibe. Definitely a great local spot. Was already planning who to bring next. They give you chewy Colombian coffee candy with the check.
My favorite Colombian restaurant around. This review is based on delivery. The food came on time (45 mins). It was well packaged and secured. The food was still hot. Both my empanadas were still warm and crispy. My fried pork was still crispy. Highly recommend trying one of their many restaurants around the Boston area.
Umm ESPRESSO MARTINI is all I have to say! On a serious note, the food is delicious here and the staff is kind. Mostly Spanish speakers, but they will assign someone who speaks English to you if they see you might be struggling like I was. Very relaxing atmosphere. Even at the bar. Decor for Easter cute as well!
A must go Absolutely delicious! Excellent service and atmosphere. Delicious food. Best Chicharron in town.
27 days ago
The service was amazing so warm and friendly. Immediately acknowledged us and took drink orders. We had licuados (fruit smoothies) they were so rich and delicious. Then our food order of 2 mini bandeja paisa was quick and delicious. Will definitely return and highly recommend. read more
Delicious Colombian cuisine and friendly staff made for a wonderful dining experience! The food was flavorful, and the service was attentive and welcoming. It's clear the staff knows many of the regulars, adding to the cozy atmosphere. We went during lunchtime on a weekday and the place was relatively packed with customers. Street parking can be a bit tricky during peak hours, but worth the effort. Overall, a great spot which I would love to visit again. read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
" Authentically good traditional Colombian food ". I have been coming here for years . Mostly for take out but I have eaten inside. The food here is authentic Colombian food . It's good it has gotten pricey but overall consistency is good . Parking is difficult but manageable. Inside the wait staff is very friendly. The overall vibe is welcoming and warm . When I do eat inside, my family and I , always have a great time . Thank you to this beautiful staff plus the management team . It's also well managed. Inside it's super cleaning , including the bathrooms. read more
2 years ago
Craving authentic Colombian cuisine, my party of three decided to visit El Peñol in East Boston around 2 PM. Despite the mid-afternoon timing, the restaurant was bustling. A group of four was ahead of us, and shortly after, a group of six and another group of three arrived. The waitress seemed to know members of both the group of six and the other group of three, greeting them personally. After seating the group of four, she proceeded to seat the second group of three. When we inquired about this, she explained that she had noted that group arriving first, followed by the group of six, and then our party. I respectfully clarified that we had arrived after the group of four and before the group of six. She acknowledged this and assured us we'd be seated next, which is all we wanted. Eventually, we noticed her conversing with her acquaintances, with some pointing in our direction. It appeared she asked them to move to accommodate us, which we neither expected nor desired, but we were seated promptly. This led to a bit of an awkward meal with the man on the other group of three mean-mugging us the entire meal. Once seated, the experience was seamless. Another waitress took our order, providing friendly and attentive service. The coffee was rich and delicious, a testament to Colombia's renowned coffee culture. I highly recommend trying it. We ordered the Bandeja El Peñol, an enhanced version of the traditional Bandeja Paisa. The bandeja includes rice, beans, steak, chicharron, fried egg, plantain. The bandeja Peñol also includes chorizo. Based on the menu, it seems like the bandeja was supposed to include an arepa too, which we didn't get, but it was too much food anyway. The portions were generous, and the flavors transported me back to my time visiting Colombia. The chicharron is probably the best I've had in Boston. The chorizo was so tasty and the steak was so tender. As I mentioned earlier, our waitress was so attentive and she offered us salsas which we appreciated. The red salsa was perfect with the steak adding a bit of acidity from the lime and some heat. We enjoyed a fantastic meal and I can't think of a better restaurant for Colombian food. Given the excellent service and delectable food, I highly recommend El Peñol. However, I encourage them to improve their seating system to avoid confusion. Perhaps taking names for each party would help. While it felt like we might have been de-prioritized in favor of regulars, I'll consider it an honest mistake and give them the benefit of the doubt. read more
Best Hispanic food I've had in Boston! I've been a few times while in East Boston with work friend and we're always blown away with the food and service. The traditional breakfast plate with beef, chicharon, plantanos, rice and beans is epic and unmissable. The food is always seasoned beautifully and generously portioned. My buddy always gets the limo saltaedo which comes in a rich sort of creamy spiced sauce with onions and peppers. He loves it. The cocktails are always on point too. The servers are all so kind too! Aleja always takes good care of me read more
9 months ago
The food has been great every time. I prefer this location. I've ordered from Everett, and this is number one by far--very consistent, tasty, and flavorful. The other location is a hit or miss. read more
El Peñol gives you a real taste of Colombia. The minute you walk in, you're surrounded by Colombian warmth, familiar accents, and friendly faces. The menu itself makes you hungry, especially the Traditional Colombian dishes (don't skip the empanadas!). Service is fantastic, and the food hits all the right spots. The whole vibe is just right. Buen provecho, mi gente! El Peñol te da un toque auténtico de Colombia. Apenas entras, sientes la calidez, los acentos y la buena onda. El menú te abre el apetito, especialmente los platos Tradicionales Colombianos (no te pierdas las empanadas). El servicio es excelente, y la comida está buenísima. La vibra es perfecta. ¡Buen provecho, mi gente! read more
6 months ago
11 months ago
I thought this place was excellent. Though it was a little bit of a wait to get in on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon. My partner told me this was the original el Peñol. I came in with high expectations, and was not disappointed. There were fresh fruit juices or milkshakes, and there was nice coffee. We all got versions of the bandeja dish. My partner's and his friends had additional meat and was larger. Mine was a mini bandeja paisa- with one fried sweet plantain, and a slightly smaller portion of yummy rice and beans, a huge chicharron (I think fried pork belly), steak, and a fried egg on top. Certainly the breakfast of champions. Reasonably priced, and this real home cooked taste and vibe. Definitely a great local spot. Was already planning who to bring next. They give you chewy Colombian coffee candy with the check. read more
6 months ago
7 months ago
My favorite Colombian restaurant around. This review is based on delivery. The food came on time (45 mins). It was well packaged and secured. The food was still hot. Both my empanadas were still warm and crispy. My fried pork was still crispy. Highly recommend trying one of their many restaurants around the Boston area. read more
11 months ago
6 months ago
6 months ago
Umm ESPRESSO MARTINI is all I have to say! On a serious note, the food is delicious here and the staff is kind. Mostly Spanish speakers, but they will assign someone who speaks English to you if they see you might be struggling like I was. Very relaxing atmosphere. Even at the bar. Decor for Easter cute as well! read more
3 years ago
A must go Absolutely delicious! Excellent service and atmosphere. Delicious food. Best Chicharron in town. read more
2 years ago
Great food very authentic super nice staff and very reasonable El Peñol es un restaurante conocido por su cocina tradicional y su ambiente acogedor. Se encuentra en un lugar pintoresco, a menudo con vistas impresionantes, lo que lo convierte en un destino popular para turistas y locales. En el menú, puedes encontrar una variedad de platos típicos, incluyendo carnes asadas, pescados frescos y opciones vegetarianas. Muchos visitantes elogian la calidad de la comida y el servicio amable del personal. También es común que ofrezcan productos locales y frescos. Si tienes alguna pregunta específica o quieres saber más sobre un aspecto particular del restaurante, ¡háznoslo saber! read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
Cute place in Boston. Authentic Colombian flavor. Tried the breaded chicken and French fries. Comes with a side of rice and beans. Come hungry to make sure you enjoy a full meal. They also offer fresh juices. The empanadas also have a fresh taste. It's a small place, but the service is generally quick to get a table. read more
Got to come back and try dine in this time! We came on a Saturday night in which they were more than half full by 7 pm. Parking can be a little tricky since most streets are for residents but I was able to get a spot up front. For appetizers we shared the Chicharron and yuca frita. The Chicharron was slightly over fried in my opinion but still delicious nonetheless. We waited too long to eat the arepa as it had cooled down significantly and lost the freshness. The yuca frita were great and even better with the spicy Mayo on the side. I appreciated the size and that they were thoroughly fried. For entrees my friend got the paella Valencia and I got the grilled skirt steak with cream and mushroom sauce. Let me start with saying the portions are huge! By the end of the meal we were both too stuffed to touch the other half's of our meals. The paella came with chicken, steak and sausage and had a beautiful saffron color/flavor. The cream mushroom sauce had an Alfredo like taste served over a large thinly sliced steak which cut like butter. The plain white rice was anything but bland served with tostones which I personally wasn't crazy about (maybe I should have dipped them in the cream sauce). Overall great food experience even though service was slow, would definitely come again. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
This is your Typical Colombian restaurant. Good Eats, LARGE portions & CHEAP prices. I always order the same thing when I eat Colombian food because i live for variety in my plate. And the bandeja paisa is the definition of variety. read more
2 years ago
Such an underrated spot, and so worth going to. Very authentic, and delicious - definitely save room for the tres leches! read more
4 years ago
I came here with my husband when we were visiting Boston. The staff was very friendly and sat us right away. Our waitress recommended a great fish dish that I loved! The food was very authentic and reminded me of eating in Colombia! The inside is very cute and comfortable. I'm glad we got to try this restaurant while visiting! read more
2 years ago
My goodness, this gem of a place just replaced Vello in Brookline (they are still in the process of undergoing name change, but simply go to Vello near Coolidge Corner and you will be pleasantly surprised), and damn am I one happy clam. We started with the Chicharrones ceviche, I didn't know fried pork and lime was a match made in heaven. Also tried the beef empanadas, yum. Moved on to our entrees, which we were (guilty) too full to devour, but we made sure to go to town on the delicious leftovers. read more
2 years ago
Came to Boston to watch a Red Sox game and made the drive to El Peñol and it was sooooo worth it. I am Colombian and loooved everything we ordered. The food was delicious, the music was great, and our waitress (Astrid) was awesome! She even offered to make a few updates to the plate I ordered so I could try two plates I wanted (bandeja paisa & sancocho). Muchas gracias Astrid! Highly recommend and if I come back to Boston this is a for sure stop! read more
2 years ago
Food are the best number 1 Colombia great people and great work there are wonderful so alway be back again read more
4 years ago
I was in Boston for a week near long wharf and if you aren't familiar with the area, most of the food there is only bar food. Desperately looking for a home cooked meal that wasn't fried I stumbled upon this place. The food here was amazing ! Very simple, reasonably priced , hospitality and service amazing. I ended up here back to back nights because of how much I enjoyed this place . Wish I would've found this place during my visit sooner, I probably would've eaten here every night. read more
2 years ago
First time trying Colombian food and I have to say, love at first bite! foodgasm, indeed! Every single bite gets me going Ummm, oooh--it is a way of expressing intense pleasure. In food form. Not only was the food amazing. The hospitality of this place is muy bien! Such a welcoming place. You can tell the staff genuinely wants you to be here. Get the bandeja peńol and empanadas! Don't forget the empanadas! read more
4 years ago
We had a delicious Colombian lunch here. The hot chocolate is served in a huge bowl $3. It served as a drink and dessert. The breakfast special for $15 included scrambled eggs, a strip of fried pork, and an arepa. But the star of the meal was the Beef steak with 2 eggs and onions, fried plantain, beans and white rice for $17. The portion sizes are huge. Pretty good bang for the bug. The service was very good too. The entire dining room was almost filled by 11:30 AM. read more
**El Penol will check your vaccine status prior to allowing entrance per Boston state regulations. This was my first time trying Colombian food in boston, and all I have to say is that I can't believe it took me THIS long to come by! My friends who are regulars to this location swore to me that the hot chocolate (with milk or water, not pictured) was super good, and I expected them to bring out a small cup of chocolatey goones.... instead they brought this gigantic bowl full of it! It's a MUST TRY! I can't remember the names of the dishes I ordered, but I couldn't even finish my dish because the portion sizes were huge and the food filling. I wish I had enough room in my stomach to try some of their desserts, but I guess I'll have to save that for next time. Service was efficient and friendly. Don't be intimidated by the all Spanish speaking staff and locals that frequent the restaurant, just try it! read more
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More info about El Peñol
54 Bennington St
Boston, MA 02128
East Boston
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(617) 569-0100
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https://www.elpenolrestaurant.com
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