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Love this little place. Please give this family owned restaurant your business. Generous portions, delicious, and authentic. Quiet unassuming interior. A gem in the Gainesville area.
There are two doors to this fine restaurant, but both have that home-cooked smell that smacks you in the nose, when you open them! The smell is enough to make you want to eat and take a nap. I followed the easy-to-understand board. First pick which rice you want, which type of bean, and then which type of protein, sides, etc. If you can't get it, just go to the line, and a friendly server will explain it and help. I got the big container to-go, and I am glad I did; it's two good meals!! The curry chicken was cooked to PER FEC TION!!!!!!!!! So tender and juicy, and the curry flavor was on point, and the rice was from a dream! I mean this food is amazing!! You know so much love was put into it!! I am def coming back to get a different combo!! Also, the sweet tea is delicious and won't give you cavities before you hit the door!
The food and service is great! Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of everyone's food but everyone said they really enjoyed it! I had the curry chicken with yellow rice and black beans with a side of fried plantains and some yucca fries! my sister had the ox tail and said it was so tender she was licking her fingers to get all the sauce. My other sister had the Mojo pork and said it was delicious but could have benefited from some sauce as it was just a bit dry but still very tasty. All that said don't let the curbside or lack of curbside appeal discourage you from trying this great food! The place definitely could use a facelift and it would go to the next level.
This place is exactly what yelp is all about. Abuela's is a true hidden gem and this place serves the best Columbia food in all of Gainesville. When you come you're greeted by an employee behind the counter and create your own bowl with whatever you'd like. The dining area is full of seating and a play area for the kiddos too. When it comes time to order I personally recommend coming in on Tuesday's or Friday's and trying their delicious oxtail. Today I came in and had their Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) and I get it every time I come in and they don't have the oxtail. Outstanding! Be sure to ask for half and half on the yuca fry's and plantains too so you can try both and discover which ones are your favorite. Their coconut rice is also killer! If you end up feeling like you might have room for dessert, hard to believe you would cause the portions are huge, be sure to order one of their tres leche cakes from the cold case. I usually order one and take it home to eat after my food coma.
My absolute favorite restaurant in Gainesville that I recommend to everyone who asks! The portion is amazing + the food is really delicious that gives you such a warm feeling when eating. The lunch special is great when I can catch the timing, but I'd pay any price for how good the food is! It's really a hidden gem in Gainesville! The staff is always nice and accommodating. The environment of the restaurant really does feel very homey and comfortable.
Finally got a chance to visit Abuela's and it was everything I had heard and more. The food was absolutely wonderful and I'm sad I don't live closer to it. I had the lunch bowl with moro rice, picadillo, red beans, and fried yuca. They were out of some stuff like sweet plantains, so if you want the full set of options, come early. The lunch prices are pretty good too for the amount of food you get, I was full by the end of my meal.
No frills amazing Columbian food. Seriously food like your abuela would make. The coconut rice is so good that you will be sad that you can't fit more in your belly. Together with the black beans it makes a beautiful meal. Top it off with platanos/maduros for a sweet finish.
Terrible, terrible service. The lady at the front had such a bad attitude that it completely ruined the experience. She was unwelcoming and acted like we were inconveniencing her just by being there. The food was mediocre at best. The rice was bland and the pork was dry and hard. Nothing else we ate stood out but I would have considered giving this place another chance to try other items on the menu but after the way we were treated i have no interest in returning. ESPAÑOL Terrible, terrible servicio. La muchacha del frente tenía una actitud muy mala que arruinó por completo la experiencia. Ella no fue placentera y actuó como si la estuviéramos molestando solo por estar allí. La comida es mediocre en el mejor de los casos. El arroz sin sabor y el cerdo estaba seco y duro. Nada más que comimos destacó o nos hizo querer volver. Haría considerado darle a este lugar otra oportunidad para probar otros artículos del menú, pero después de la forma en que nos trataron, no tengo ningún interés en volver. read more
9 months ago
I recently visited La Cocina de Abuela for lunch. The restaurant is set up cafeteria style and you order a small, medium or large portion. You choose your rice, beans, meat, and side. I ordered a large with Ropa Vieja, Yucca, Black Beans, and Coconut Rice. I love Cuban food and the portion was massive, however, I was disappointed. The Ropa Vieja was tender but watery, the yucca was soft but bland and a little chewy, and the beans lacked any seasoning. I liked the rice: savory with a hint of sweetness. The best word to describe the food was edible. read more
Very tasty food that tastes homemade! The chicken was cooked to perfection as was the rice, and everything was very flavorful. My one complaint is the plantains could be a bit softer, but otherwise this was a delicious meal. The staff was very helpful and quick with service. The ambiance isn't anything fancy but there is plenty of seating inside, though it is also easy to take this food to go. I'll definitely be back to try more items! read more
There are two doors to this fine restaurant, but both have that home-cooked smell that smacks you in the nose, when you open them! The smell is enough to make you want to eat and take a nap. I followed the easy-to-understand board. First pick which rice you want, which type of bean, and then which type of protein, sides, etc. If you can't get it, just go to the line, and a friendly server will explain it and help. I got the big container to-go, and I am glad I did; it's two good meals!! The curry chicken was cooked to PER FEC TION!!!!!!!!! So tender and juicy, and the curry flavor was on point, and the rice was from a dream! I mean this food is amazing!! You know so much love was put into it!! I am def coming back to get a different combo!! Also, the sweet tea is delicious and won't give you cavities before you hit the door! read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
The food and service is great! Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of everyone's food but everyone said they really enjoyed it! I had the curry chicken with yellow rice and black beans with a side of fried plantains and some yucca fries! my sister had the ox tail and said it was so tender she was licking her fingers to get all the sauce. My other sister had the Mojo pork and said it was delicious but could have benefited from some sauce as it was just a bit dry but still very tasty. All that said don't let the curbside or lack of curbside appeal discourage you from trying this great food! The place definitely could use a facelift and it would go to the next level. read more
1 year ago
7 months ago
1 year ago
Very very good food. Good size portions. Too bad we are on vacation and don't live close by. read more
This place is exactly what yelp is all about. Abuela's is a true hidden gem and this place serves the best Columbia food in all of Gainesville. When you come you're greeted by an employee behind the counter and create your own bowl with whatever you'd like. The dining area is full of seating and a play area for the kiddos too. When it comes time to order I personally recommend coming in on Tuesday's or Friday's and trying their delicious oxtail. Today I came in and had their Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) and I get it every time I come in and they don't have the oxtail. Outstanding! Be sure to ask for half and half on the yuca fry's and plantains too so you can try both and discover which ones are your favorite. Their coconut rice is also killer! If you end up feeling like you might have room for dessert, hard to believe you would cause the portions are huge, be sure to order one of their tres leche cakes from the cold case. I usually order one and take it home to eat after my food coma. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
My absolute favorite restaurant in Gainesville that I recommend to everyone who asks! The portion is amazing + the food is really delicious that gives you such a warm feeling when eating. The lunch special is great when I can catch the timing, but I'd pay any price for how good the food is! It's really a hidden gem in Gainesville! The staff is always nice and accommodating. The environment of the restaurant really does feel very homey and comfortable. read more
2 years ago
Finally got a chance to visit Abuela's and it was everything I had heard and more. The food was absolutely wonderful and I'm sad I don't live closer to it. I had the lunch bowl with moro rice, picadillo, red beans, and fried yuca. They were out of some stuff like sweet plantains, so if you want the full set of options, come early. The lunch prices are pretty good too for the amount of food you get, I was full by the end of my meal. read more
3 years ago
No frills amazing Columbian food. Seriously food like your abuela would make. The coconut rice is so good that you will be sad that you can't fit more in your belly. Together with the black beans it makes a beautiful meal. Top it off with platanos/maduros for a sweet finish. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Had a really bad day and decided to treat myself with some food that reminded me of flavors back home. Boy was this a real treat! I ordered the ropa vieja and it is not usually favorite dish but Abuela's definitely changed my mind! Portion is huge, enough for two. Lentils were so perfectly done and the rice was so tasty. I am excited to order more things from here because the hype is so real! read more
2 years ago
This place is definitely a hidden gem in Gainesville. I haven't really heard that many people talk about it, but the few times I have I've only heard wonderful things. The food is very authentic and you can definitely tell that the restaurant is family run. They put so much passion into the food and that's definitely something that pays off in the taste. I definitely plan to come back here more often in the future. read more
It only took me a year to finally make it here but it absolutely lived up to the hype. For a lunch special you get rice and beans, a meat, side, and a drink for 8.99. It's a LOT of food! I chose the porkchop with the yellow rice and veggies. Thankfully the porkchop had a deliciously flavorful sauce that I could put over the otherwise bland rice. I tried the beef (I can't remember the name) but it was too dry and a little tough. Standouts are the yuca (although you only get four pieces) and this wonderful delicious homemade drink that only after my second glass and a headache did I realize it was literally just boiled down cane sugar and lime juice! Totally worth the headache though! It's spacious and everyone is so kind as that is always a plus for me! read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
Kind of out of the way from where many students live, but TOTALLY worth it. You can tell the food is made by someone who knows the cuisine and loves cooking. The staff is SUPER nice. I didn't know rice was considered a side so I got two others and asked if I could also have rice, to find out it wasn't a side. BUT, the worker there said I could have it for free this time. So i got three sides for the price of two because of my lack of reading. overall great place! read more
While it is a little out of the way, if you're studying or getting some coffee at Curia on the Drag, be sure to stop by for some food here! Atmosphere: true to its name, it really feels like you're eating at your grandma's house. There's a little play area with toys for the kids, and plenty of seating for everyone. A fairly large place, it's located in a small plaza that looks like it houses a lot of "hole in the wall" stores. Service: 5/5 While there are no waiters to actually serve you since it's chipotle style, they are super nice. We had a lot of questions and they even offered to let us sample some of the meats to help us decide. Friendly, attentive, and very patient, the customer service was great. Price: 4/5 Lunch specials are $8.99 and comes with a smaller portion of the entree, 2 sides, and a drink. If you don't drink soda like me, I would just get the $9.99 entrees because you get more food and it's only $1 difference. Food: 4/5 So as I said before, they service chipotle style. So all the food is cooked and arranged on heaters to just scoop up onto a dish if you dine in or aluminum plates (exactly like Halal Guys if anyone has had that). I had the ropa vieja, yellow rice and beans, and chicharon for my entree. The meat was juicy, tender, not salty (which I found that ropa vieja usually is), and full of flavor. I sampled the mojo pork as well which was surprisingly juicy as well but I opted to go for the ropa since I had pork last night. The yellow rice and beans were standard but the chicharon was delicious. Crispy pork belly is hard not to love. I recommend this place if you're in the area! read more
Abuela's has me absolutely drooooling. Every element of this plate is full of flavor and everything compliments each other better than I can describe. My friend and I both got white rice & black beans with mojo pork. We also got maduros & fried yuca, both of which were SOOOO good. Most importantly, make sure you get the white garlic sauce (especially if you get the fried yuca!!), it makes the meal just that much better. I can't believe this was my first time having it but it absolutely won't be the last. read more
I am so in love with this place. I wish I'd discovered it sooner, as I'm moving to Seattle in a few weeks. The ambience is adorably chic, the restaurant is big and can seat a loooot of people. As for the food... omg. Exceptional choices available. While limited options (on a steam table) the dishes are incredible. I had the oxtail which was soooo deliciously tender and savory. The side dishes are generous, with white rice, Mexican rice and a third one I don't recognize. Other side options include: fried plantain, yuca fries, red beans, veggies, lentils, black beans, tostada on Cuban bread, empanadas (queso, beef, chicken), chicharron and chorizo. Definitely recommend this place sooo much. It's a hidden gem in a quiet strip mall. Get the oxtail!!!!!!! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
This columbian restaurant has a festive and warm ambience inside. The dishes are made to order so you choose a base, protein, & 2 sides. The coconut rice is an up charge but it was definitely worth it. Super flavorful and kind of sticky. The chicken curry was very moist and tender. The fried yuca was a little on the drier side. Overall, it was delicious and I wished I got the large portion. My order was about $13. read more
This is (no exaggeration) my favorite restaurant in all of Gainesville. Portions are great, service is amazing, and the food is unbeatable. The restaurant has a very relaxed, at-home vibe. You order your food at a build-your-plate counter, choosing between different kinds of rice, proteins, and sides. Staff have always been helpful when I'm not sure what to pick, and serving sizes are generous. In addition, you can also order sandwiches, empanadas, and desserts. The selection is pretty varied, but I've always loved what I've tried, especially their Veggie Empanada and the Tres Leches! For drinks, there are sodas as well as fruit juices and coffee. The iced Cafe Con Leche is a favorite of mine. read more
La Cocina de Abuela is sooo good. Cafeteria style restaurants are sort of a dying breed in the United States, and that's unfortunate because sometimes I want a PLATE of food, meaning a meat, with two sides and maybe a piece of bread, a "dinner plate." I'm glad I finally made it to LCDA because I see it fills this void, it's a great place to eat while not breaking the budget and not leaving feeling unhealthy. I use to live in Colombia so I was happy to see a lot of Colombian foods and just general Latin American dishes. Washing my food down with a glass of Agua de Panela w/ extra limon was the icing on the cake for me. I'm excited to visit again and I really want to make it out for the Sancocho days! read more
I'm trying to figure out why I haven't been here before? Wow, did I miss out. There are some incredible daily meals that bring authentic cuisine home. Everything is freshly prepared and of great quality. Everyone in the restaurant was happy, cheerful, and helpful. This will be one of my go to lunch spots from now on. I fell in love with the coconut rice and the rojas beef. My lunch partner had a cuban sandwich and I was jealous of it. We were here for lunch and we received more food than we could eat. There's a nice hot sauce bar with many of the usual favorites available to take to your table. There is an awesome kids play area. Parking can be a smidge tight. Who ever painted the parking spaces must have used Chevy Chevettes as their measurement stick because it's pretty tight with any larger vehicle. Go, eat, enjoy. This is a little hidden gem on the North side. Excellent value. Don't miss it. read more
La Cocina may be the best lunch restaurant in Gainesville. It is extremely fast, as service style is simply a lunch-line. The food is great and the portions are large. Finally, the staff is extremely helpful and eager to offer suggestions. Come for the lunch special and you won't be out much more than ~$10 for a great meal. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 read more
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More info about La Cocina De Abuela
125 NW 23rd Ave
Ste 9
Gainesville, FL 32609
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(352) 204-5561
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