Well, now. Finding truly authentic Venezuelan cuisine wasn't on my 2026 bingo card (as the cool kids say), but I'm definitely stamping this square. Dios mio, what a meal! There was not a bad bite to be had. We might've cut the roofs of our mouths with the crisped-to-perfection Patacón, but I don't care--I think all sandwiches should be encased in fried plantain instead of bread. And the succulent pernil filling? Dios mio otra vez! Though, tbf, when is pernil ever a bad choice? Then there was the stuffed-to-the-brim Cachapa filled with carne mechada and Venezuelan cheese. It was enormous. Like, Jesus pulling from the neverending fish basket enormous. It never ended. We had to take it home. But before we did, I practically ate all of the arepa, which was the sweetest, bursting-with-corn-flavor arepa I've ever had outside of South America. It was so good, I practically cried with every bite. Tears of corny joy, mind you. We got an entree of grilled fish (Filete de Pescado a la Plancha), which came with a complimentary side--in our case, arroz amarillo cuz I gotta have my grains. The fish was perfectly crispy on the outside, meltingly tender on the inside. As with everything else, it was also way bigger than it had any right to be. Finally, we ended with what we THOUGHT would be a small item--the Arepa Arcoiris Llanero--but we were mistaken. It was stuffed so full of fresh avocado, shredded chicken, and various veggies that it had to be further encased in a paper wrapper for fear of the arepa wrap giving up on its job. We didn't make it more than a few bites before having to regretfully pack it home, but those few bites were chef's kiss. Venezuela has long been on my bucket list (who doesn't want to see Mount Roraima or Angel Falls?), but until I can get there, I'll be more than happy to "settle" for coming to this beautifully modern paradise of culinary delights. Throw in the huge portions and unbelievably low prices, and it's kind of a no-brainer to make the trip. read more

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At Maracaibo you can expect a lovely environment of hearty music, playful conversations, pretty food and drink presentations. The service wasn't too bad, my cup ran empty every now and then but wasn't egregious. Let's talk presentation, the way drinks and food come out is clearly something the head of Maracaibo wanted to place extra detail on. Though the extra presentation is a bit gimmicky, it still got the job done for the most part. The sampler came in a giant Ferris wheel contraption. Not pictured, but my cocktail came with floating cotton candy. Nevertheless, the food was still incredible. The sampler is a must, not only for the presentation, but for the delicious eats that can push you out of your comfort zone. For first time Venezuelan eaters the amount of ways plantain could be prepped and served may be jarring, but I would encourage bravery and just try everything and anything you can on the sampler. Each bite was worth it! Let's talk main entrees, you won't be disappointed by the portions. If you enjoy plantain, definitely go for the patacon - if not, I'd suggest holding off as you may get your fill of it elsewhere. The skirt steak (churrasco) was cooked to my liking, went well in my patacon sandwich. It is massive, I couldn't eat it all - had to take some back. Onto the arepa bowl. Though the contents of the bowl instead could be something you may get elsewhere (like Chipotle for example), it's the addition of the arepa bowl blended with the flavors of everything else and the sauces they drizzle on top that completes this dish. It's unique and it screams for you to taste and pay attention. Overall - great foods, great ambiance, great people. Bit gimmicky but it is what it is. read more

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What a vibe! Came for dinner on a Friday night and it was pretty busy - we didn't have reservations as I tried to make one online but didn't see any availability so I assumed maybe they don't utilize them. We were seated right away near the bar area which was very loud and hard to have a conversation without yelling (the only true downside). The service was great and attentive. The food? Delicious and not overpriced! I wish I remembered what our first appetizer was called but I can't remember! It was similar to a papa rellena but not made with potatoes, nonetheless it was tasty! The Tequenos cheese sticks were also delicious. My husband and I enjoyed our entrees (shredded beef arepa bowl) & el classico pabellón, very similar but the arepa bowl was just that - an arepa BOWL stuffed with rice, beans, cheese, avocado, and meat of choice. It was delicious and super filling! We ended the night with an order of churros which we really enjoyed and are looking forward to coming back on maybe another night to see if the noise levels differ. Parking is valet which is convenient if you're not familiar with the area (street parking mainly). read more

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My new favorite restaurant! After spending a month in Venezuela last summer, I've been searching for authentic Venezuelan food, and this place nailed it. My boyfriend and I started with tequeños, and they were so good we had to order a second round. I got the arepa "La Venezolana," and it tasted exactly how I remembered, even down to the cheese so it was super authentic. Beyond the food, the entire experience stood out. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the staff were so friendly and attentive (and bilingual which was great). Definitely coming back !! :) read more

Maracaibo - La Venezolana Arepa - so delicious (sorry bad lighting!!) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

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Upon walking in the atmosphere and waiters were very friendly and offered options if you weren't familiar with the menu. We had coffee too but I forgot to get photos of it. If you want coffee definitely try their version of the americano. read more

I'm a little embarrassed that this place isn't named after Caracas - only because the zulianos (Maracaibo is in the Venezuelan state of Zulia) really made this place so good! It's currently my favorite everyday Venezuelan restaurant in the New York Tri-State area, with a wide plethora of menu options of various home-cooked meals that isn't limited to Venezuelan street food - while it doesn't have everything, it has much more than most local Venezuelan restaurants. I tried their empanada margariteña (seafood) which is true to the ubiquitously humongous size of the empanadas typical of Margarita Island on the other side of the country from Maracaibo, but since these are zulianos, they cut up these in half instead of keeping it whole (this is like breaking pasta in half in my opinion, Italians- you get me). Nevertheless, the food presentation is lovely - we also got a mini sampler, all of which were yummy and also included arepitas dulces which I haven't seen in years (and loved), arepitas fritas with nata, cachapitas, tequeños cheese sticks, and bite-size beef empanadas. I would definitely order this again! The punta trasera (picanha) cut was also great, as well as some other dishes. And passion fruit drink to go with it as well. Everyone was happy with the meal. Service was friendly, courteous, and understanding even if was in broken English. Small parking lot on site. Ambience was on the upscale casual side, with reasonable prices. See you soon, Marabinos! read more

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We came on a Saturday night and were able to get a table for 7 within 15 minutes! It's valet parking only so plan to have cash if you drive. The sampler ($17) was very cute and a great way to try a bunch of appetizer items. I had the churrasco ($30) and most of our group had seafood dishes. All were fairly priced, fresh, and large. The churrasco came with one side only (no rice and beans), so I ordered the sweet plantains. It was a perfect medium and came with chimichurri. The fried snapper also only came with one side and no sauce. We asked for a sauce and ended up with salsa, which did not pair well. If the snapper came with a sauce that would definitely make the dish a lot better. It was packed and there were a ton of birthday celebrations so it was busy. Service was not great, but I would eat here again. read more

Maracaibo - Churrasco - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

It will be hard to find parking so use valet. Walked in and was seated right away, the aesthetics of the this restaurant is beautiful. The drinks are outstanding and served in a creative fashion. The food was very good and even more creative. They have a sample appetizer that is served on a Ferris wheel Will definitely be back! read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by this Venezuelan restaurant on the main street in Union City. There is valet parking available, or you can park on several side streets up the hill. They have a specialty called cachapas which were delightful, in addition to arepas and batidos which are better known features of traditional Venezuelan cuisine. Some vegetarian choices are available and they will adapt other food items to be vegetarian. The staff is consistently helpful. There were quite a few young people in their 20s and 30s eating here on a weekday evening. I am planning to return soon. read more

Maracaibo - Festive drinks and creatively prepared dishes. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

Came to the restaurant for a private event so we were upstairs. They have valet parking which is great because it's in a busy area. They work off tips. We were greeted upon entering. The event space is really nice with a bar area. Loved how they set it up. Servers were very attentive. The appetizers were delicious. My faves were the calamari and chicharron. The food was buffet style which included sweet plantains, white rice, chicken and beef. They also had salmon. They served churros and tres leches as the dessert. The churros were so good and fresh! read more

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No time like the present to support our Venezuelan businesses! Maracaibo is an elevated dining experience for Union City, with as many theatrics as quality and dining options. We started with the sampler Mcbo sampler / Sampler Venezolano, which is server in a giant ferris wheel ($16.95). It comes with cheese tequeños (like motz. sticks but better), mini cachapas (corn cakes with cheese), mini beef and chicken empanadas, mandocas, mini savory and sweet arepas served with a Nata (cream sauce) and a garlic cream sauce. This was the first time I've tried mandocas - donut ring made of sweet plantain with cornmeal. The mandocas and Tequeños were the best bites! This was a lot of food for two people, so I ordered a soup as my main and my friend ordered the tropical ceviche ($14.95) . The soup of the day was split pea and came in a large bowl with a massive soup spoon (as you'd see in most Central American countries). I absolutely loved the split pea soup and wish it was an every day option. I was surprised when the bill came that this was only $3.95! It's clear the business is profitable from their specialty cocktail menu. The cocktails were a star of the show. The suena mi gente ($15.95) is served in a suspended glass with faux flowers for decoration. The Cara Caracas ($15.95) features a sugar flag in a coupe glass. As adorable as this was, be warned it will turn your lips blue! It's worth it though! For dessert I went with the Cepillado ($21.95) - boozy shaved ice drink topped with your choice of juice. This is served with a bedazzled boombox playing a song and the ice is crushed and dressed table-side. I went with the coconut and sweetened condensed milk, which reminded me of the islands. - A small escape from the winter we've been having. Our waiter was professional and friendly. He took time to explain each dish or drink. A stand was placed next to us to hang our bags and place scarves. It's the little details that really can enrich the experience. I find this location super convenient as well. They have free valet parking out front and you can call ahead to get a day of reservation. We stayed until closing at 10pm, but never felt rushed. When we arrived around 8, there were about 6 tables filled. Although there was music playing, it wasn't overly loud. We could have a nice conversation, while still enjoying the ambiance. I noticed that they also offer a kids meal menu and there were kids around when we came in. It's a welcoming environment for all the family. When our bill came, I noticed the transaction fee for credit card use charged twice, as we split it in two cards. Although small, I'd recommend brining cash to avoid the fees. As someone who really enjoys Venezuelan food, it's fantastic to know there's a place like Maracaibo not too far from home! read more

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Ordered: Sueño Mi Gente Cocktail (~$17): Diplomatico rum, coconut, passion fruit, fresh lime, jasmine tea cordial MCBO Sampler (~$17): tequeños, mandocas, mini empanadas, mini cachapas, and mini arepas La Monarca Arepa (~$12): roast chicken, guasacaca, avocado, cilantro, and mayo Churrasco (~$30): grilled skirt steak and chimichurri with a side (white rice & black beans) Tajadas (~$4): aka Sweet Plantains Aya's take: Marcaibo is a hidden gem in Union City! If you're like me and have driven past here many times, do yourself a favor and actually go in for a great meal. We had a dinner reservation but they weren't too busy since it was a weekday. Let me start by saying if you're into a pretty aesthetic, they have you covered! The Sueño Mi Gente Cocktail is probably one of the most beautiful cocktail presentations I've ever received. It was bright, fragrant, and refined. A fabulous drink to sip on during the meal! We then got the MCBO Sampler which again, blew me away with the presentation! It was brought in on a freaking ferris wheel! I was obsessed. I like that it made the experience more interactive as we kept turning the ferris wheel to try the next appetizer. Everything was fresh, tasted great, and was a great teaser for the meal. The only let down of this meal was the La Monarca Arepa. The chicken was cold and shredded (not what I expected when it said roasted chicken) and it was drenched in a guasacaca and mayo blend. There was no avocado or cilantro as far as we can tell. We abandoned it as soon as the Churrasco came out. The grilled skirt steak was cooked to a perfect medium, slightly chewy but tasted so much better with the chimichurri sauce. The side of white rice & black beans was so simple yet satisfying and this meal would not feel complete without the addition of Tajadas aka Sweet Plantains. They were sweet, tender, and complimented the savoriness of the Churrasco. All in all, it was such an enjoyable meal and I would absolutely come back! read more

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Had brunch here with a friend a few weeks ago, and it was delicious Venezuelan food! Fun cocktails - My Arepa Bowl was SO good, and my friend raved about her Patacón sandwich. Pricing is very reasonable. Staff were friendly and didn't rush us through brunch. And they have parking (valet - I also found street parking pretty easily). read more

Maracaibo - Cocktail in a purse (can't remember the name!) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

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The vibe here is so cool laid-back I mean I was very impressed of the difference in a restaurant as it was so much fun. The service was great on point and the food was so fresh and made to perfection that you just want and crave more their appetizer is so cool the way they presented everything, that's if you get the app sampler This is a must do hands-down and a place that does not feel like a restaurant read more

I had the arepa bowl and it was absolutely delicious! Mine came with skirt steak, rice, beans, and avocado--so flavorful and unique. The restaurant itself has a super modern look that gave me a Miami vibe as soon as I walked in. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, and the whole experience was such a vibe. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my family the same day--they went and raved about it too! We all can't wait to go back. Highly recommend! read more

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Great for casual meal with the family. Pricing is super reasonable, restaurant space is modern and classy. Service is fast and super efficient. We ordered the sampler appetizer and the extravaganza. I would probably try other dishes as the parrillada extravaganza eats rather dry. Valet parking is a great touch for the busy neighborhood. read more

Great service amazing food Daniel Castillo our waiter amazing. The place is beautiful read more

Maracaibo - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

Food was great, but the wait times for drinks and service were EXTREMELY long. The bartender seemed overwhelmed with orders (maybe they should consider having two if one isn't enough for the space). I didn't receive my drink until after all the food had arrived, which is unacceptable in the hospitality industry. After asking several times, it finally came right before dessert. I thought the restaurant might acknowledge the inconvenience with a small gesture, like a discount (though I didn't ask), but nothing was offered. The manager never came over to apologize, even with our bill being over $150. I suppose that's what you get in Jersey. This would never happen in a NYC restaurant. I was in the area visiting a friend and decided to give it a try. Great ambiance and friendly staff, but I'll most likely not return. read more

Absolutely loved this place. Servers are friendly and gave great recommendations. The food from start to finish was delicious. The appetizer sampler had arepas of different kinds, empanadas and teqüeños. The drinks were strong and the presentation beautiful. The parrillada was also really good and we had leftovers for the next day. The tres leches dessert was good too but I'd add more milk to it so it'd be more moist. Overall, a great experience and I'd come back again. read more

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One of those few places I would go again. So unique. Nice ambiance. Yummy food . Affordable in comparison to other restaurants of this caliber. Service was so warm. Our food speaks for itself. If you are wanting to indulge in South American food made with love please try. I had their Cachapa with beef was tasty. And ordered a side of beans, my fave! Their expresso with side of Nutella and whipped cream made for a sweet ending. Some people's drinks came out with phones , lots of attention to detail , place was a vibe. Union City so we parked on the street. Great start to February. Place is so well ran. Thanks Maracaibo. I felt the culture and the specialness you bring to your restaurant. Can't wait to go back with more people. read more

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I came here for an early dinner with a friend. When you arrive, they only allow valet parking, but it's based on tips.You don't actually have to pay. We had a reservation but due to traffic we came late but the wait wasn't long at all.The restaurant looks very modern. The server was really nice. As my beverage, I had a lemonade and it tasted like it was freshly made. My friend got the passion fruit drink and that was delicious as well. As an appetizer, I got the empanada criolla. I was surprised that the dough tasted a little sweet, but nonetheless, it was really tasty. As my entree i got the churrasco patacón. The skirt steak was well seasoned and the plantains weren't too hard. The Tres leches was great and my friend got the rice pudding. I don't normally like rice pudding but theirs was really good. My favorite thing about this restaurant is the pricing. The menu items are very affordable so that was appreciated. They also have a cute car owned by the restaurant that you can take pictures in front of. read more

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Everything amazing, the food was fenomenal I got the sampler appetizer (10/10), the arroz frito venezolano (1000/10) and the arepa bowl (10/10). I don't remember the name of my drink, but the glass was like a book (7/10 good, but I felt too much alcohol). The service was amazing, they have a big parking lot, the host and the server very attentive. The restaurant is beautiful very big and the lights were good to read more

Maracaibo - Sampler appetizer - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

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I've already been to this restaurant three times in just one week that's how good it is. The Venezuelan food is absolutely exquisite, everything tastes homemade and authentic. It's super convenient and the staff are incredibly friendly, always making you feel at home. If it were up to me, I'd live here. Every visit just makes me want to come back again read more

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How exciting to have a local Venezuelan restaurant! My husband is Venezuelan and has introduced me to his favorite foods over the last decade. I was so happy to see so many delicious options on the menu and will be back to try them all eventually. We are planning on bringing my parents the next time they are in town. We started with the Sampler Venezolano which had empanaditas, arepitas, cachapitas, a few other options, and the most perfectly bite-sized tequeños. I got a delicious rum cocktail that came in beautiful hanging glassware. I was jealous of the table next to me that got cotton candy over her cocktail so I will have to order that next time. For entrees, my husband got a parilla which had so much food and will make for incredible leftovers. I had the cachapa de carne mechada and was left full and happy. Our server gave us a wonderful recommendation for dessert that combined quesillo (flan) and tres leches cake. He also gave us the tip that they are anticipating selling hallacas next month for the holidays! The restaurant is absolutely stunning and the live music adds to the environment. I can see us celebrating birthdays here in the future. Congrats on the opening to the owners and the entire Maracaibo team. We are so grateful to have you in the neighborhood! read more

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Fun fun fun. Great atmosphere. Awesome drinks. Great food. Incredibly affordable prices. The meal was leisurely. Friendly staff always checking in but never hovering. And never felt pressured to turn over table. Only slight criticism was it was a bit loud. Maybe turn down volume in main dining area. I am bummed I do not live here, I'd be a regular. Stunned that the place had only been open 7 days. read more

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The food is really good, the portions are a bit small but still acceptable. The only downside is that during lunchtime, the music is always very loud and plays everywhere--even inside the bathrooms. That's something I personally don't like. Other than that, it's a very good place to enjoy Venezuelan food. I recommend it. read more

Food was good Ambiance was good good music but very limited dancing area ..............................................zzz.

Having lived in Venezuela many years ago, we were very pleased to see a new Venezuelan restaurant on the area. Beautiful decor and excellent food. Also very reasonably priced compared to the competition. Always enjoy the churrasco and arepas, tequeños and other appetizers. Our friend enjoyed the whole fried red snapper. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays is a plus. read more

Amazing everything 10/10! Todo estuvo espectacular, desde el servicio hasta la comida. Volvere

Great ambience and food, great for Venezuelans yearning home, and great for everyone that wants to try Venezuelan food the right way. Great service as well. read more

La comida estaba buena pero tengan cuidado con el valet parking. Cuando recogimos nuestro auto, el chico del valet parking nos dijo que lo buscáramos, está en la esquina. En otras palabras, no lo trajo porque se había dañado y no arrancaba. Cuando nos quejamos, nos dijeron que era un auto viejo. Dijeron oh el auto no arrancaba, pero lo intentamos una vez más y arrancó. Mi pregunta fue ¿por qué no nos dijeron nada al respecto? Hablamos con los asistentes, el gerente pero nadie se hizo responsable. Tuvimos que pagar $150 a la grúa y ahora mismo está en el mecánico $$$. No contestan el teléfono. Fue un momento largo y desagradable el que mi familia y yo vivimos. read more

Maracaibo - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

Buena comida,buena atencion,lindo ambiente,linda musica. Solo una crítica construtiva...por favor la musica música un poco más baja. read more

Went there last night around 5:30pm. Food was absolutely DELICIOUS. The entree serving sizes were perfect. Nice decor and comfortable seating. The place gives good vibes and being a little dressed up is recommended, which we like. I would've appreciated a small basket of bread or something while waiting for our appetizers. Lots of choices on the food menu, however the appetizer section had very small print and it was difficult for me to read and I don't even use glasses (but maybe I should visit my eye doctor! Haha). I already imagine how it is going to be when I bring my parents there. I gave it 4 stars because of things that I know will change with time as this establishment just opened. Sounds crazy but we got too much attention, I was not exactly sure who our primary waiter was since we had so many people coming to our table. Many staff members asking if we were okay and how was the food. I mean it is better than not getting attention. The water bottle used to refill our glass has a poor design because we kept getting small spills every time our water was refilled as it didn't exactly have a spout and the glasses are very small requiring frequent refills. Also, our order was missing 2 items but that got fixed quickly. I waited longer than expected for another glass of wine. I probably could've drank 3 if I got it faster. Overall, we enjoyed our night, the food was great, staff was sweet, and we will be going back without a doubt. read more

Maracaibo - Grilled pork chops. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

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The food was delicious. Had camaron arepa bowl...so filling, shrimp, rice, beans, plantain and avocado in bread bowl. The cheese sticks were also tasty with garlic sauce. Service was very friendly. Nice atmosphere with special extra touches that make it a great place. Will go again read more

La peor experiencia de comida que eh tenido primero duró más de una hora en llegar la comida, segundo no llegó lo que realmente pedí, para todo lo que pagué más de 50 dólares las porciones son ridículamente muy pequeñas, la comida fría en la foto que le dejo allí llegaron unas papas que pedí tampoco llegó el quesillo y enviaron una empanada de otro sabor que no pedí , también en varias ocasiones fui Al lugar y traté de reservar con una llamada o online pero no me dejaron me dijeron que tenía que esperar 1 hora y media afuera del restaurante para poder entrar esa son las políticas que ellos manejan me siento decepcionada ya que realmente le hablé a mi esposo sobre este restaurante que lo vi muy bien en Instagram y quería que probaran comida rica y tradicional de mi país pero fue un fracaso total . read more

Maracaibo - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

The flavors here speak directly to my taste preferences. The employee communicated clearly but stayed in the background. The dishes pleased me alongside great service. This place has a distinctive environment. This restaurant has earned my repeat visit. read more

The food was good, but be careful with the valet parking. When we picked up our car, the valet parking guy told us to look for it; it's on the corner. In other words, he didn't bring it because it was damaged and wouldn't start. When we complained, they told us it was an old car. They said, "Oh, the car." The car wouldn't start, but we tried one more time and it started. My question was, why didn't they tell us anything about it? We spoke to the attendants and the manager, but no one took responsibility. We had to pay $150 to the tow truck, and right now it's at the mechanic's. They don't answer their phones. It was a long and unpleasant time for my family and me. read more

This was my third time dining here, and I keep coming back for more! The food is absolutely delicious, and the service is outstanding. The servers are fast, attentive, and friendly. The prices are very reasonable, especially if you visit between 12-3 PM for their lunch specials. I was initially hesitant to try Venezuelan food since it was new to me, but now I'm hooked! Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal. The place is clean, and well decorated. read more

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This spot is truly a gem that I think is easily the coolest thing to happen in this neighborhood. The food is very good, I've had the ceviche, arepas, tequenos, empanadas, arepitas de anise, mandocas and the passion fruit shake was amazing!! More than the food though this place has a vibe that's never really been in this part of town and it's right on! I'm looking fwd to coming back and bringing some beautiful people to experience it together. Enjoy! read more

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Wowwwww!!! What an incredible experience into quality culinary cuisine. I'm curious what a person from Venezuela thinks but wow this place hits the spot in so many ways. The location has been taken on several times and while I enjoyed Manchego THIS spot I hope is here to stay. Try the arepa bowls they are amazing, vegetarian options available, and I think 1-2 vegan options. The people here are welcoming and very kind. You walk in and the place is gorgeous. Great for a date night!!! Cheers Maracaibo!! read more