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    El Peñol 3

    4.2 (46 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    White rice, beans, shrimp and beef, with fried plantain
    Brian C.

    El Peñol 3 in Brookline. Very nice ambiance. Really beautiful. Clean, comfortable, nicely decorated. Doesn't have that rough Spanish restaurant vibe you sometimes get in Chelsea or East Boston. Much more upscale. People like that. The servers were very nice. Helpful, attentive, really great. Now, the runner who brought the food didn't seem to be in the best mood. That's alright. It happens. Prices were decent. The menu offers a lot, from full Colombian appetizers to full meals. Even has a kids section. My son ordered chicken wings and French fries. The chicken wings were delicious, juicy, perfectly done. For appetizers we had fried cheese with pineapple sauce and fried plantain with shrimp in a criollo sauce. Delicious, really fantastic. My wife ordered the sancocho de res, and she totally enjoyed it. I ordered a mixed plate with white rice, beans, tostones, onions, peppers, beef, and shrimp. Absolutely incredible. The tres leches was also terrific. Very well done. But then a group of six rowdy individuals came in. Completely destroyed the nice, chill mood. Total disaster. They were animals, folks. Total animals. Loud, obnoxious, so bad that a table of people actually decided to move completely outside just to get away from them. That's how disruptive they were. At that point, an employee should have stepped in and said, "We're glad you're enjoying yourselves, but there are others here trying to enjoy their meals too." It was out of control. Overall, a strong 4.6 stars.

    Menu page 1
    Brian W.

    I've been eyeing this place for quite some time and was able to finally get out to it this weekend. We arrived just around noon on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy (which is surprising!) The interior of the restaurant is also really nice and clean - it looks like a quiet, nice sit down restaurant even though there is no dress code our party (and other patrons) were wearing normal home clothes or hoodies. It was very comfortable and clean without being uptight at all which I really enjoyed. But as nice as the restaurant is, the real star of the show is the food. After just one meal, I can absolutely say that I will be back (again and again and again), as the food we ordered was really fresh and delicious, and the helpings were extremely generous for the price. On top of that, their entire menu looks incredible and there are so many dishes I'd like to try (most of the breakfast items, the cazuelas, fried trout with mushroom cream, salmon a la plancha, and chicken churrasco, to name a few). What I did try today was: Ceviche de Chicharron ($7.50) - I wasn't sure what this was at first since I thought it would be fish ceviche with crispy pork bits on top, but it actually ended up being loads of crispy pork belly in a ceviche style with tangy onions. cilantro, and fresh lime juice. It was served with a lot of acid and two large fried plantains, which mixed incredibly well - fat and acid always do. If I had known what this was before ordering, I may have not ordered it, but it really surprised me - the fattiness mixed with the lime and onion really balanced out quite nicely and as strange as it is to say, this fried pork belly dish was refreshing. For $7.50, this was a really great find! Bandeja Penol (Penol Plate) - Grilled steak, pork belly rind, fried egg, rice, beans, sweet plantains, and corn cake with Colombian sausage ($18.50) - this was my main dish, and it was a LOT. The amount of food and variety included for this price was definitely worth it and a great deal. It actually didn't come with the corn cake today, but it was still enough for me to take home and have almost a full second meal with the leftovers. Let's break it down. Grilled steak - This was seasoned well and actually surprisingly tender for how thin and cooked it was. It was still juicy and tasty despite being a very thin piece of meat, and it definitely left me satisfied for my steak craving. Pork Belly Rind - This was BEAUTIFUL. It was cut into small chunks all held together by crispy skin, and it was hot, fresh, crispy, juicy, and fatty - everything you'd want in pork belly. Each piece of this was a true treasure and I'd go back just for this in the future. Fried egg - Standard, but nice and over easy. Runny yolk which added a lot to the rice and steak that it was paired with. Rice - Standard rice, no issues here. Beans - The beans have pork in them! They were nice and smoky with a lot of great flavor and pieces of meat and fat mixed throughout. Just this with the rice would have been very tasty, but with everything else involved in this dish it really was something special. Sweet plantains - I'm not sure how to eat these or mix with the meat, but I had them on their own and they were deliciously smoky with a nice sweet aftertaste. It wasn't too sweet by any means, and it also wasn't as dry as some of the starchier plantains. A nice addition! Corn cake - this was on the menu as included but was not on my plate. Still, the meal was very filling Colombian sausage - This was very hearty and dense. The flavor was wonderfully meaty and salty, and it mixed nicely with the egg yolk and rice and beans. All I can say is - WOW. This place is amazing. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, the menu is packed with attractive dishes, the food is tasty and fresh, the portions are humongous, and the price is extremely affordable (especially for what you get). This will definitely not be the last time I come here, and I'm so happy that this is in the neighborhood. 5/5 - will absolutely return!

    FLAN
    Diana L.

    All my Colombian friends love coming here. I've only checked out the Brookline location. I'm Salvadoran so I trust their judgement over mine, but I've also enjoyed everything I've tried here. The Bandeja Paisa - a classic nice sampler of so many flavors. Huge plate! So get if you are hungry or share with someone. Get Arepas, yuca frita, and Tostoncitos con guacamole to share. Carne Asada was decent - I prefer Mexican style Carne Asada but it was good. My friend loved her sopa de pescado.

    Sancocho de Res y bandeja paisa

    My boyfriend and I love El Peñol! They truly never disappoint - the staff are very welcoming, the food is delicious, hearty and comforting. I haven't eaten a bad thing here. It's one of our go tos, especially on a chilly Boston day!

    Tres Leches
    Donna L.

    My first time trying Colombian food and it was bomb. The portions here are huge. We tried their sampler for an appetizer which had a bit of everything. My favorites were the fried yuca and pork belly. We ordered the trout with cream sauce and seafood paella. Flavors were really good except the plantains tasted bland. For dessert, we got the tres leches, but it wasn't great. I hear the churros are good so I'll have to try that next time. Also I'd skip on their drinks because it's around $15 for one but I felt like I was just drinking juice I want to come back to try the other dishes on their menu though. There's a lot of tables so it's good for solo or groups.

    Menu
    Judie K.

    Since it's fairly new, I don't know if a lot of people know this place yet but it was fairly empty when we visited. Quiet and quick attentive service. I would say the prices range from fair to a bit on the pricier end -- would say this is like an upscale Colombian restaurant. For drinks, we got the lulu and papaya milk drinks -- both were SO creamy, well blended and delicious. The lulu milk was sour and sweet in a good way and the papaya was very sweet -- and I was glad you could taste the papaya. They have these milk drinks in other flavors like mango, passion fruit, soursop and more -- definitely will be coming back to try more! I was debating between three entrees so the waitress recommended us the lengua criolla. She mentioned it's softer and moist (you could choose between the criolla aka saucy/stew-like or the plancha aka grilled but she said plancha is a bit drier since it's grilled). Y'all, this did not disappoint!! Hands down one of my new favorite entrees that I would definitely order again. The lengua was moist indeed and I was surprised how tender they made this to be. The sauce was flavorful as well. My husband got their shrimp and beef picadillo -- the shrimp was really tasty and they gave a reasonable amount in it. The beef was good but a bit stiff. My husband came once before and he really enjoyed their grilled chicken the most and said he would definitely want to order that again (over the shrimp and beef picadillo dish). Lastly, for dessert, we tried their tres leches. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't say it's my favorite. Compared to other tres leches, it is drier and more similar to a normal vanilla cake. So far, my favorite tres leches in the Boston area is at Dona habana. Otherwise, this Colombian restaurant has a lot of wonderful gems that are worth trying!

    Classic Colombian Plate
    Suha L.

    This spot is very unassuming amongst a wide range of restaurants in the Brookline area. I was excited to try this Colombian food because you can't find a ton of that outside of the Jamaica Plains area! Food: We got the Classic Colombian plate which came with chicharrón, chorizo, steak, plantains, egg, rice, and beans. A very hearty plate! The chicharrón and chorizo were good but the steak was too dry. The beans were very flavorful and went well with all the meats. If you like meat, this is a great dish for you and I like that it was a sampler of what they offered. We also ordered grilled fish and shrimp in a cream sauce. The sauce was creamy and delectable but a little too heavy for lunch. The shrimp was nice and plump and absorbed the flavors well. Lastly, we ordered the beef empanadas. These were simple and delicious. The filling was warm and seasoned perfectly. The outer layer was crispy and chewy at the same time. Price: Each plate was about $18-$20. My friend and I were definitely full after two dishes and the empanadas. The empanadas were $1.50 each and I wish I got 10 of them! Overall, I would definitely go again. This is a great spot for a casual meal and for expanding your taste buds!

    Denisse A.

    The service here is really poor. The place is not even busy and there's plenty of waitresses yet it took forever to get a drink and the check. The food wasn't good. I got the bandeja Peñol the beans were nasty, the rice was decent, the sausage was nasty. This was just not it. I was starving and the taste of this food was bad.

    almost $500.00
    Eddy P.

    On October 13, 2024, we had lunch at Penol 3 in Brookline with about 14 people, and our total bill came to $485.81. Despite this amount, we were asked to leave because we stopped ordering more food and drinks, and some of the waitstaff seemed unhappy serving us. We had agreed to have only one check, which caused some frustration as it took us a while to divide the bill. Even the manager, who was otherwise nice, eventually asked us to leave. This was the first time we've ever been asked to leave a place after spending nearly $500.

    Sopa de Mondongo
    Jose B.

    A welcome addition to the local variety in restaurants. Serving all the typical food from Columbia and very well represented give it a try.

    Kiri C.

    Mostly pleased with my experience here. The bread made of corn (not corn bread) was pretty dry and fragile, but the meat itself was excellent, id order tbis again

    That food are so delicious will be back again El Penol 3 nice people and great work want say thank you for best food number 1 Colombia food

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    1 month ago

    The flan, churrasco, and bandeja peñol were amazing !! Best flan I'ver had. Will definitely be back

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    1 year ago

    So good. Best Colombian Food I have ever had outside of Colombia. I always get the Bandeja Paisa.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Excellent service, my waitress Monica loved the fish soup and flan everything was well presented. Great Columbian food

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    2 years ago

    Food was great and service was amazing! Prices are extremely reasonable having portion size in mind!

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    3 years ago

    The food was delish. Price was reasonable and service was great. Def worth it! Authentic Colombian food :)

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    I've ordered take out from here a bunch of times and the food is tasty and flavorful. I highly recommend!

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    Page 1 of 2

    El Peñol 3 Reviews in Other Languages

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    Con Sabor a Colombia - Cazuela paisa

    Con Sabor a Colombia

    4.6(8 reviews)
    5.0 miEast Boston

    Ordered take out: -…read moreMini bandeja: Loved the rice and beans (I know it's the most basic part of the plate but if a place can't master these, they lose me). Carne was dry. Chicharron was great. - Arepa: looks like a tortilla, so not the typical thick arepas I'm used to. So felt like I paid $8 just for a tortilla and small block of cheese - Tostones con guacamole: I prefer my tostones to be crispier, but they had great taste. - Cazuela de Mariscos: Great flavor. I put it on top of rice and enjoyed it with the other food, otherwise too heavy/dense on it's own. I didn't enjoy the mussels (I love mussels). They were too gritty.

    " From Colombia with Love " For a moment I was…read moretransported in time to my aunt Mimi's house in Colombia. Where I spent many wonderful summer vacations as a child . We tried a little of everything on the menu . The smoothies our a must . Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The service was kind. Overall warm and welcoming. (For a moment I could feel myself eating at my aunts house in Colombia , it was that warm and welcoming of an environment ). The name of the restaurant " Con Sabor a Colombia " is the most favorable name for this establishment. Which translates to ; Food with flavor of Colombia. Parking is difficult but manageable. The prices are a bargain for the quality, portion size , experience and freshness.

    Photos
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    Con Sabor a Colombia - Sancocho de res and sweet plantains

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    JPizle Kitchen - Colombian Omelette

    JPizle Kitchen

    3.8(131 reviews)
    2.1 miJamaica Plain
    $

    Great vibes, disappointing food:…read more This was my first time at Jpizle. My group was greeted and seated quickly upon entering despite it being a busy Saturday morning. The atmosphere was warm, cozy, and fun with beautiful artwork and wall decor. All the servers I interacted with were very patient and kind. I was so excited for a community/culturally-centered brunch spot. But then came our breakfast... The coffee was undrinkably sour (every mug at our table went untouched) and the food was okay at best. While the variety of American and Colombian dishes was impressive - none of them were yummy. I unfortunately won't be returning, I can't justify spending money on food and drinks that barely border on edible.

    I juat had breakfast here this morning with some friends. I had the Nutella pancakes with fruit and…read moreit is as delicious. One my find the pancakes in the smaller side, but when complemented by side of corned beef hash, they were "just right." Our server was friendly and highly personable, seeming to.know all of the regular patrons and with qn excellent memory of the menu. Seating was comfortable as they seemed to balance well with making sure there was enough variety of seating to suit multiple parties without everyone sitting on top of each other. I hope to come back another time to try their lunch and dinner entrees.

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    JPizle Kitchen - Chuzitos de pollo and side of Sweet plantains

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    Taqueria El Carrizal - Lengua tacos

    Taqueria El Carrizal

    4.0(122 reviews)
    0.8 miAllston/Brighton
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    Food was great! I love big plates and filling dishes!…read more Service was ideal. Ambiance: there isn't that many people so it doesn't get full

    We were in search of good pupusas not too far away from where we live. This was a win! It's a…read morepleasant sit-down experience. They have lots of good beverage options- my bf Francisco P. & I had horchatas and our dinner companion had a papaya shake. On request, they can prepare the shake with water instead of milk. You can see the female chef in the kitchen preparing the food lovingly by hand. I tried the bean and cheese pupusas, which were very good. Our companion also tried the chicken pupusas, which she said were also very good. We thought they tasted freshly made, to order. I love that the pupusas had the bits of crunchy cheese that form when some cheese leaks out the side. I was also glad to have the red sauce and pickled cabbage for putting on top. Maybe next time I'd order more of that because I love the pickled cabbage, or curtido. My bf had a Salvadoran combo plate- that had a pupusa, a Salvadoran tamale, and a Salvadoran enchilada (which closely resembles a Mexican tostada). I had a taste of the tamale, which had chicken, & which I thought was really flavorful, and different in consistency than a Mexican tamale- softer.

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    Taqueria El Carrizal - Pupusa, Beef Tongue Taco, Chips and Salsa

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    Taqueria El Carrizal - Mexican combination Mexicana Combinacion, Salvadoran combination, quesadillas and other with Jamaica drink

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    Orinoco - Desayuno Resuelto!

    Orinoco

    4.0(395 reviews)
    1.9 miHarvard Square
    $$

    While in Boston, our daughter introduced us to this neat little restaurant. The entrance felt a…read morelittle "secret" tucked down an alleyway. It was lively and cozy inside. I believe our waitress was Sylvanna. We ordered Sangria, a Negro Modela, & a hot tea to drink. For appetizers we chose the Trio De Empanadas (Queso Blanco, Domino, & Mechada) we added a single Verde. They were served perfectly cooked, and once we divided each one into thirds they cooled to a comfortable eating temperature. They were served with a garlic sauce, (aioli based?) that was delicious. I think our favorite was the Verde (I believe it had mushrooms & peppers in it). For our entrees, we ordered the Cordera, Costillita, & Parailla Caraquena. My husband loves lamb and was very happy with the Cordera. The Costillita was baby back ribs that were tender and flavorful. The Parailla Caraquena was grilled chicken, a portion of steak, and chorizo. My husband and I normally don't like chorizo but theirs was spicy but not greasy. Two of our plates came with fried yuca. I had never had this before and it reminded me of a large French fry. We did not have room for dessert, maybe next time.

    We went to Orinoco a little under an hour before closing. We were seated immediately and the waiter…read morewas very attentive. We had hoped to eat some arepas but they were out of them. I recommend getting here earlier if that's what you're craving. We ended up getting the empanada trio, the Pabellon Criollo (which I did not realize also had plantains), the maracuchitos and the tostones. Yes, all the plantains in the menu. It kind of happened by accident but it worked out great. We got our food incredibly fast! Everything was delicious. However, the tostones and the empanadas were my favorite. I also had a maracuya juice, which was sweet and refreshing. We really liked our waiter, we was very nice and attentive. I wish I remembered his name to give him a shout out. I really enjoy the food from Orinoco. Historically, I had only gone to the restaurant in the South End but I'm glad to see the one at Harvard Square maintains the same flavors. I can't wait to be back for arepas.

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    Orinoco - Dates, Oysters Rodriguez. Fried Yucca, Chicken Arepa

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    Dates, Oysters Rodriguez. Fried Yucca, Chicken Arepa

    El Peñol 3 - colombian - Updated May 2026

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