They just opened yesterday and I've already eaten three meals at La QChara, the Nuevo Latino Cafe, opened by Coffee, Tea and Me owners/operators Lorenzo and Emily Tenreiro. Early indications are that something truly special is going on here in Melrose. The space, converted from the now defunct Peacuddy's Coffee House,on Franklin Street, just at the Melrose Highlands Commuter rail station is truly transformed with bright red walls, wooden spoons, chalkboard menus and mid-mod drop lights which set the whole tone for the cafe. Lorenzo knows coffee and you will no doubt recognize a barista or two if you frequent Coffee, Tea or Me. He has brought the same stellar coffee options here to La QChare...but....if the coffe draws you in... the food will bring you back. Latin American with a serious nod to Venezuelan cuisine, the menu is expansive. They are offering an array of Arepas with a wide selection of insanely good fillings like: Roast pork, or Oaxaca Cheese and Chorizo, or Carne Mechada (Venezuelan beef, )or the breakfast Arepa with scrambled eggs, house made salsa, cheese and chipotle sauce. Also on the menu.. Cachapas. A homemade Venezuelan sweet corn pancake with a variety of fillings. The breakfast menu is a bountiful blend of South, Central and North American favorites. I had the breakfast quesadilla yesterday and couldn't have been happier. They were served with crispy yucca fries topped with a cilantro sauce. Other breakfast plates include Empanadas, Pancakes with Arequipe (dulce de leche syrup) Tostadas Francesas( challa French toast with almonds, and panela caramel roasted bananas) and a personal favorite, Chilaquiles. The Chilaquiles are tossed with your choice of green or red sauce, shredded chicken and two sunny side up eggs. The green sauce is tart and spicy, while the tortillas remain crisp and delicious And there are Tortas, Tacos, Burritos, Tostones, Carne Asada and more... Not to be missed are the freshly baked pastries produced by Emily Tenreiro! If coconut peach muffins are out... you want one. Please note: While the atmosphere is traditional carry out cafe, the food may take a little while to produce. It's only their second day being open so I always expect some glitches at the beginning, but with that said, the wait was no longer than what I would expect from a decent sit-down restaurant. As there is a large commuter traffic moving through the location, my suspicion is that Lorenzo and team may need to add some "grab and go" options for those catching the train. Still, I can't say enough good things about La QChara. Melrose is awash in Italian sub and pizza shops, Roast Beef and Seafood spots, or Chinese carryouts. An addition like this, with this quality of food is long overdue and a VERY welcome change around here read more

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Went here for breakfast with my wife. Looking at the menu, it wasn't clear where the breakfast options were and I had to ask; simple adjustment (list header names in English as well). You're going for latin flare, but I think they would benefit by having a few basic American options, for those a bit more finicky (at least for breakfast). Greater appeal, for those accompanying someone looking for Latin influenced food, but that doesn't necessarily want that themselves. I ordered the French toast, my wife ordered an omelette, about $8-$9 each. Portion size was a bit small (I.e. we were both still hungry after eating). They didn't have any condiments (like ketchup), and didn't offer any soda options. There were two front of house staff, one guy (who was quite friendly), and a woman who seemed put out by my ridiculous questions, like, do you have a breakfast menu. Unless I hear of changes, I'll probably choose other breakfast places in the area. I may give them a shot for lunch... read more

I'm posting from La Qchara - it has been 2 years since my last review and I've been here many more times and still love it here. Some highlights: Chia Pudding - get this. GET THIS. They have different flavors. Today I had pumpkin/banana and it was amazing. Quinoa bowls- I've had the Peru and Chile - both fantastic Yuca Fries - the dipping sauce is heaven Pancakes - fluffy and delish. I need to keep trying more things but it's hard to stop ordering my favorites. They also have wifi and are totally cool with me working here for an afternoon. They keep the latin music pumping! read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a friend on a recommendation. There is no waiter service so we put our things in a table and headed to the order counter. The guy taking our order was super friendly which was nice. I ordered and asked if I could order tacos with fish and steak but I guess when they make fish tacos the piece of fish is pre-sliced for 3 tacos so the rest of the fish would essentially go to waste. I went ahead and order the tacos asada and skipped the fish this time around. I totally understand how that works and wasn't upset about it. The good came out rather quickly. They filled the 3 tacos with a ton of steak which was good and came with a really good green sauce, just the right amount of spice. Some of the steak was a bit tough and hard to chew but overall good. My friend order chilaliques and she loved they. The presentation of the dish looked really pretty and yummy! I didn't try because I was too busy eating my food. She also ordered a dish that I can't remember what it's called but it was shredded beef and beans on a corn cake. The beef was so good and just the right amount of seasoning. For anyone that is gluten free they have many options since all the tortillas are made with corn but be careful because there may be cross contamination with gluten. The place was clean along with the bathroom. They offered free water which is always nice. They have coffees, teas and juices. Definitely need to go back to try other dishes. This place is worth the trip if you don't live close by. Enjoy! read more

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So I visited again. Service was lovely, the counter guy was friendly and easygoing, and helped guide me to a gluten-free choice on the menu. I ordered the "choriqueso" arepa (a little sandwich on a corn-flour bun, listed as "gluten-free"), which comes with "oaxaca cheese, chorizo (spicy sausage), onions, sliced tomato". Service was prompt, atmosphere was nice, the food itself was delicious. Sadly, within a few hours I had horrible intestinal symptoms, and I won't even describe the smell. I love Latin American food, I love spicy food, that wasn't the issue. I don't know if there was a gluten issue, or a cleanliness/food safety issue, but it was really unpleasant. Disappointing. I will try again eventually, but it'll be a while. read more

Hot chocy is busin eee e. E e e. E e e e e e e e e Ee e e. E e e. E e e e. E e. E e e e

Great coffee and really nice staff, love going here! The food is also really good and easy to do takeout. read more

Yesterday afternoon we stopped in at QChara after visiting some venues in the area. When we walked into this restaurant we were instantly reminded of many of the restaurants we used to frequent in Western MA. This New Aged Latin restaurant had a great selection of food as well as freshly made drinks. The staff here was incredibly polite and overall the service was great. The restaurant was packed which made it a bit difficult to navigate, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. We tried their Cafe au Lait, Paulina smoothie and Horchata. The Cafe and Paulina were great, but the Horchata didn't seemed authentic which was a bit of a letdown. Their arepas were also delicious. Overall, we enjoyed stopping in at this restaurant, but our style is the traditional grungy latin restaurant with huge portions and cheap prices. That being said, this quenched our thirst for a higher end latin restaurant. read more

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Having tried this place a few times, I am fan now. The menu has quite a few options, including fresh juices, hot and cold drinks and seasonal specials. They ingredients they use are locally sourced and always fresh. My all time favorite are their Pollo Torta and Choriqueso Torta. The yucca fries that comes with the Torta along with Chipotle Aioli is to die for. The service is just amazing; the people who work there are always pleasant and helpful. The place is always clean. They have outdoor seating as well. There is a parking lot next door or you can always park on the street. read more

La QChara - Pollo Torta - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Had been meaning to go here for a while especially after seeing it on phantom gourmet. I got a quinoa bowl special that had squash and cranberries. They added sliced avocado per my request. It was good. My husband got the arroz con pollo and was happy with it. Cool place to have in melrose. Ideally it would be better if they were on Main Street like their sister spot. I'm sure we'll be back especially given the numerous gluten free options. Would love to try a smoothie on a warm summer day. read more

La QChara - Squash quinoa bowl with avocado added by request - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Everything I have had from La Qchara has been delicious! Love their breakfast quesadilla. And the yucca fries. And the coffee. Great pastries and baked goods. I could go on and on read more

Came in with a small group for a Sunday brunch and I really enjoyed everything we had. This place is pretty authentic and was surprised that I was heading to Melrose instead of East Boston for this kind of place. This place is pretty casual, you order at the counter and they bring the food to you. They also have a coffee and tea menu whose selection rivals Starbucks. The iced mocha I had was good. Venezuelan Benedict - Any fan of Eggs Benedict will enjoy this. Just a slight variation on the original Cachapas - These are super hard to find anywhere around greater Boston. Not because they are bad but because they are challenging for most kitchens to make. Essentially a corn bread pancake stuffed with cheese, it is rich with corn flavor and savory. It took a little longer than our other items but they warned us, it was worth it. A must get item! Breakfast Empanadas - Filled with sweet plantains and cheese, simple and crisp. Really enjoyed this item too. read more

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La QChara had great service. You walk up, order, and then they deliver your meal to the table. I got the Breakfast Torta and was pleased with the taste. Everything else looks good! There is plenty of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. It's located next to the train station and is a perfect stop for before or after your ride into town. They have an extensive menu with awesome café beverages. I got the Jon Snow and loved the flavor. I would definitely buy it again. I can't wait to try all of the other drinks on the menu! I am looking forward to going back soon. read more

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Visited from outside of Wakefield and wanted to try something new, so I went on Yelp like I usually do for reviews.. Seeing this having almost 5 stars I was super excited to try it out. I ordered the tacos and a smoothie and my boyfriend ordered the chicken quesadilla and smoothie. The total came out to around $40! This was just our lunch too.. The beef in my tacos were bland and the tortillas were stale, the toppings and cheese sauce were the only thing helping me eat it all. My smoothie was a mix of pineapple, mango, chia, vanilla and soy milk .. I got a large and took three sips and that was all. The chicken in the quesadilla was not seasoned and just smushed with cheese and didn't have a good taste to it. He got the pineapple, banana and coconut milk, it was just at bad as mine. We left that restaurant still starving and down $40 .. I do not recommended this place if you are looking for a good Mexican place / smoothie joint! read more

La QChara - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Big servings, great service and good to eat in or take out. Very fun spot and worth going out of your way for!

Impressed. Small place. Order at counter and they will bring to you. Get a raw juice and a specialty coffee. We had Venezuelan Benedict. Service is on the more relaxed side- if you need to get in and out go elsewhere as you are here to relax and enjoy. Awesome sauce! Will def come back. Cant wait to try something else. read more

Fool me once? Shame on you... fool me twice-- shame on me. We loved La QCHARA when we first began frequenting the establishment. It didn't take long for the management to reveal their true colors. Utter disappointment is an understatement. The orders? Always wrong. Service? Horrendous (most workers are nice, but we pray for them... I'll get to the management in a minute). We are a vegetarian and vegan family, and more than half of the time cheese comes when we ordered no cheese, and meat is smattered on the dish when we specifically asked for none. What do we get in response of breaking 7 years meat free for a sub par dish?... a $5 off coupon of our next order (the non existent next time we go.) The manager is very cheap and has anger issues, and frankly has no business... RUNNING A BUSINESS! Employee sweeties.... walk away while you have the chance. I'm scared of this place read more

Enjoyed a steak and eggs breakfast. Delicious Ethiopian coffee. The yucca fries had a great texture. Will be back to try some other things on the menu. read more

Pretty good, everything is harder with covid. Luckily my hotel has a microwave, but this is the inevitable struggle with delivery. Food was pretty cold, beef a bit tough, but honestly I had no problem enjoying it on an empty stomach. I'm sure this place can excel in a non delivery scenario. I'd order again. read more

La Q is one of my all time favorite restaurants. I go here all the time and dine in service is always great! However every time me or any of my friends order delivery or pick up it always tale ages and is cold. read more

Chia seed pudding & horchata are pretty good but the tacos were eh at best. Probably wouldn't go back.

This is my favorite place to stop and get a coffee or tea with something small to eat. I love the menu options: coffee, tea, lattes, smoothies, juices, and other specialties. They have pastries, cakes, and muffins. Chia pudding, breakfast, lunch, quinoa bowls, salads, and South American dishes. Everything is at a fair price and with friendly staff. I take all my friends here every chance I get and they all love it too! I haven't had a single thing here that I don't like. Although my favorite thing is the Calebina chia pudding (Cocoa chia pudding topped with strawberries, banana, shredded coconut, roasted cashews, & sliced almonds finished with Nutella). It's great at all times of the day. The neighborhood is cute and there's outdoor seating. The inside is very pretty and all red. There's lots of tables in a small space and quite a few outlets too if you come to do some work. I will say it can get loud with the blenders running and if children are there. But pop in some headphones and you're good to go. I come here as often as I can. I love supporting this place. Trade one of your Dunkin' donut visits to try this place, you won't be disappointed! You may never want to go back! read more

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Nice little cafe - good fish tacos. Very good maduros. Too bad that the raw juices were watered down. read more

La QChara - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Underwhelming and pricey. I've been here twice- the chia seed pudding is yummy, good balance of creaminess and sweetness. But everything else is underwhelming at best. Got the chicken salad arepa and breakfast torta, they were okay. Nothing special, can use more seasoning. The dulce de leche cake was dry and tasted like plain vanilla. The yucca fries were good. The joke's on me for trying the Vietnamese coffee - not sure what I was thinking. It was not a true Vietnamese coffee. It tasted like any hot brewed coffee with some condensed milk. read more

Ordered the magdalega smoothie and a cheese arepa. By the description of the smoothies, I was really excited to try it but when I got it, it was runny and all I could taste was banana. No trace of any other flavor, not even the coconut from the milk. And for the price of an arepa, it was just bland with some cheese in the middle and a couple of pieces of cilantro sprinkled on top. I really wanted to like this place and try other smoothies, but it honestly felt like an overpriced meal for items I could have easily put together at home :( read more

I have always been a fan of La QChara! I went there a couple of months ago and never got around to writing this but I'm circling back to say that I highly recommend La QChara especially as a breakfast spot! I love their smoothies and chia bowls and everything is always fresh and so tasty. read more

Three stars because the food is great. Only Three stars because it's crazy expensive, they don't take phone orders and their website is awful. Also, the wait is forever for it to be ready. Such a pain that I don't go there or order from here anymore and I live right down the street. read more

How have I not written a review for this place yet after I've been here so many times? Well, I'll be blunt, I love LaQchara. I don't think I've any food or drink item there that I haven't liked, and there is so much to explore on the menu that will keep me coming back. For example, the other day I tried one of the Chia Puddings. Can't say that I've ever had one anywhere before, but now I have and it was amazing. Disclaimer: I had like 2.5 seconds of screen time when LaQchara was on Phantom Gourmet, so I might be little bit biased for liking this place in particular. read more

La QChara - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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So much potential, but ultimately never delivers a solid experience. inconsistent quality of food, slow service, with no recognition of any of it, all at above-average cost. read more

This is a very bad service restaurant first we ordered a limonade they gave us sparking water with lime then huevos rancheros soo small serving size and my husband order a carne asada the smallest meat i ever seen and then price too expensive we were still hungry end up going to another place to eat. We waited 30 mnts for our meal. Dont waist your time and money NOT Worth it read more

We love La Qchara, my go to is the tostadas de pollo with plantains instead of the beans. So yummy!

This place is family friendly, makes great iced coffee and serves awesome food ! I definitely have to come back soon. We ordered the chorizo sandwich (Choriqueso) and Venezuelan benedict with two iced coffee. The cashier at the register was really nice. After ordering you can seat yourself and a waiter will call your name when your order is ready. It was loud inside so you have to listen carefully. I like you can sit outside too ! read more

La QChara - Chorizo sandwich (Choriqueso) - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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We ordered take out last night and it was our first time trying out La QChara! We are big fans of their tahpas restaurant across the street and are definitely missing it right now! The take out was so good! Perfectly packaged and great portions! We will definitely be getting it again during quarantine! Thank you ! read more

La QChara - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

The food is great, but check your to-go orders. We regularly order lunch, and now you have to check to make sure they give you everything in your order. They have not been including the fries that are supposed to accompany many of the lunchtime orders. I has happened several times now. We also had an issue with orders not containing chicken and just came plain. Sad. read more

A favorite local place for coffee, pastries, and great breakfasts! From decorations to food quality, it's a fantastic experience.

Really cute place!! The food is so good and the staff are wicked friendly! Definitely go and get their smoothies and their burritos!! Everything is amazing though - you won't be disappointed read more

I love la qchara. Their meals are large and they have amazing smoothies ! They are a bit pricey but have a great family atmosphere which makes me feel like I'm paying for the service as well as the food. I always enjoy my meals! read more

Stopped in for lunch today and was very pleased. I got the chicken burrito with a side of yucca fries. The green guasacaca sauce is delicious and the burrito was just what I was craving. The staff is very friendly and attentive. They even gave me some free pico de gallo when I requested it without any trouble. My favorites here include the horchatas, the Isabella smoothie, and the dolce de leche cake. Will be back soon! read more

La QChara - Chicken burrito with yucca fries - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

We came here for breakfast early last week. Their drink and food menus are expansive but very descriptive and easy to understand for those, like myself, who aren't as familiar with South American fare. My fiancé ordered a caramel macchiato and my mother-in-law has a regular iced coffee. I decided to try one of their many raw juices and settled on the Merida. It was wonderfully refreshing and all the flavors worked well together. I ordered the Venezuelan Benedict and I can't recommend it enough. My only complaint was that my poached eggs were cooked well done because someone else in my party ordered hers well done. What makes it even more disappointing is that I knew they would make that mistake after ordering. My fiancé ordered the chilaquiles and said it was very good but he was still jealous of my Benedict. We ordered a Mexican chia pudding for the table to share. It had to be one of the best "healthy" things I've ever eaten. We ordered my mother-in-law the Guatamala chia pudding and for someone on the more picky side, she loved every bite. We knew it had to be good after spending so much time at their sister cafe Coffee, Tea and Me. read more

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Stopped in here today for lunch with my mom, and to say that we were both very impressed is a vast understatement! Not only is there great variety, but everything is made from scratch, fresh, filling, and so delicious. The staff is very friendly and knowledgable - another big plus! I went for the tostadas de pollo (pictured in the front) and my mom went for the Venezuelan eggs Benedict (back left). We shared an order of stuffed avocados (quinoa, chopped veggies, crema, along side a fresh slaw of some kind). Everything was awesome! As with any place that makes everything fresh to order, there was an understandable wait for a little past lunchtime, but it was so worth it to have food that was made with such care. We look forward to enjoying our leftovers and to returning to La Qchara soon! read more

La QChara - Latin American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts