Ever since my boyfriend and I moved from NYC to Seattle, one of the things we've been yearning to…read moreencounter is hearty Colombian(him)/Ecuadorian(me) food. New York was crawling in delicious Southern American food. So we decided to go on an adventure to Tacoma and visit this establishment, and I'm so glad we did. Upon walking in, the space is decorated in Colombian flags, license plates, banners, and other miscellaneous decor. The tropicana radio station playing in the back made us feel like we were back in Manizales for a brief moment. We were greeted with kindness and curiosity as we exchanged cultural backgrounds. Foods that we ate: - Pandebono (Plain, with no guyaba): One of the many famous breads Colombia has to offer, the flavor was spot on. Savory and cheesy with a nice chew. It was more airy than I was anticipating, so a lot of empty pockets while eating it (it's usually denser), but still delicious nonetheless. If you like a sweet surprise, would recommend getting the pandebono with guyaba inside. - Buñuelo: Another great cheese bread in the shape of a sphere and fried. The inside was super soft and airy as well which is more on brand for this! Although not typically crunchy or hard, the shell did lack a bit of toughness that's normally expected. Again, did not take away from the enjoyable experience otherwise. - Bandeja Paísa: Nearly perfect, we were both so stunned. The chorizo and chicharron were AMAZING. The chicharron had the perfect amount of meat, more crunchy than chewy which is what we preferred. I don't know what blend the chorizo is made out of, but it was packed with flavor. The steak was a little tough but still delicious. Avocado, fried egg, the arepa, all complemented the dish well. I personally don't like maduros, but the one in this dish was not too sweet at all, delicious. The frijoles were also packed with flavor, giving the rice a wonderful flavor to soak up. We definitely need to come back and have their churrasco for sure. If you're Colombian in the Seattle area or are looking to try Colombian food for the first time, this is a must visit!!!

Some coworkers and I stopped in for lunch in a group of 8 on a weekday and the wonderful man behind…read morethe counter took great care in putting some tables together for us. The ambiance was vibrant with tasteful cultural music which I truly could not get enough of. The restaurant was clean, including the bathrooms and what you can see of the kitchen. Now for the food; I was not overly impressed. They seem to be popular for their empanadas but from my experience they were bland, cooked from frozen, and lacked that the booming flavor I was expecting for an authentic Colombian restaurant. Some of the entrees they make looked good but there were a few of those I wouldn't recommend either. I likely won't return but I'm excited I had the opportunity to see what they were about.

Great food! The Maracuya (Soursop) fruit juice was delicious! Great service, very friendly, she…read moremakes you feel at home and very welcome. Great Colombian Valentin music added to the hospitable atmosphere. Highly recommend it if you've ever been to Colombia, it's the closest thing to being there!

I've been here a few times now. Good people, good food. For first timers, you order at the counter…read moreand then grab a table. Last time we stopped in and had some fried plaintains, along with our usual yucca arepas. Mmmm. We also ordered a Venezuelan empanada, which was pretty delicious. All their salsas are good, but I totally dig their aji verde - it's so tasty, just the right blend of flavor and heat. The service has always been friendly, and I think the prices are fair for what you get. Also it's a cute little place, perfect to duck in off the busy street and grab a bite or three.

Loved going here! The food was amazing and prices were decent. Got a bandeja paisa which was tons…read moreof food. There was nothing not tasty there. Service was good and the place felt like a community. Parking was easy in the strip mall parking lot. This is my favorite South American food that I've found in the Seattle area. Family friendly

I am from Colombia, and this is the nearest restaurant from my home and it's actually the only…read moreColombian restaurant in north Seattle. I always order the bandeja paisa or churrasco because it's one of the best plates. I've had the Ajiaco and tbh it taste nothing similar as real ajiaco. So if you want to come I highly recommend the ajiaco and the churrasco!! The service it's ok, not the best, but it's ok! Ambiance is really Colombian tho!

Been loving this place, since before the beginning! I've been good friends with the owner, for…read moreseveral decades now and I continue to go there several times a month, because their food and drinks an vibe are always that good!!! When you go, definitely start with a signature MOJITO or 2, chat up with neighboring tables or the staff, then order up an appetizer, like the Empanadas, Ceviche or Tostones, then one of their large entrees! Ohhh...how I love their Shredded Beef or Lechon! Once you're done with your meal and order another mojito, definitely check out their postres/desserts menu! While I'm partial to their FLAN, my next favorite is definitely their Tres Leches! This will round out your savory/sweet palate and will go home super full and happy! I promise! Hope you check them out! ¡Salud Amigos!

Neighborhood gem... warm environment through the wait staff... everyone works together to ensure…read moreeveryone is getting service. Main focus is on the regular clients. Met at the door with I'm assuming the owner. Ordered Millionaires Mojito- great drinks! Cerviche- nice dish Marinated steak dish- excellent flavor Roasted pork dish- tender dish ... ... no complaints

Excellent food and service This is a place to ce all the…read moretime Food was fresh and delicious

Nice ambience, excellent service and excellent food…read more Mix of Colombian and Venezuelan food

My favorite Pupuseria in Auburn. The ladies know what I…read morelike ... bean and cheese pupusa with a side of rice... delicious

Food is homemade, nothing extremely amazing that would have me return, especially with the other…read morepupuserias in Lakewood and Covington. The place is very small so it fills up quickly but the food quality was good and fresh, and my family found their food enjoyable.

The food and the service were exceptional! The chef was very helpful in explaining the different…read moresauces and dishes with just enough detail. The Canoas de Platanos stands out - very unique and delicious. I want to go back tomorrow!

Small and intimate. I love their guava sparkling beverage, which paired nicely w/ my fusion bowl…read more though, I was not too happy w/ the price for what we got. It seems a bit overpriced. It took awhile to order and for the food to arrive, but appreciate the chef for checking in to see how we're doing during our meal.

OSJ International is the most authentic Puerto Rican food I've had on the West Coast (not just in…read moreSeattleso far. Most Caribbean spots around Washington lean Jamaican, so finding a place doing proper Puerto Rican dishes felt special. The menu and quality reminded me of what you'd find back on the island, at least pre-pandemic. They had classics like chillo frito, mofongo, and pasteles, and it tasted like homemade small business cooking. Honestly, I thought it was even better than La Isla before the fire that shut that place down. A few pain points. It's far. The restaurant is south of Tacoma near I-5, so it's a bit of a drive whether you're coming from Seattle or even from the airport. It was also cash only when I went, though you could sit inside and eat. Last time I called it sounded like they were still mostly doing the to-go model and hadn't fully gone back to the way it used to operate. I haven't made the trip again yet, but it's still on my list. Also worth saying, after the pandemic when I moved to San Diego, I couldn't find an authentic Puerto Rican spot there either. That made me appreciate this place even more. After the Benito Super Bowl performance I'm definitely craving some Puerto Rican food again. Might have to make the drive soon.

Ordered to go as a first time visiting. We have been wanting to try this place for a very long…read moretime. It appeared as though the dining room was closed off. Not sure if it was always like this or just near closing hours when we arrived to pick up our order., The lady at the cash register was most pleasant and our orders were complete, cooked to order hot and fresh. We ordered 2 orders of the chicken dinners, pollo playero and had bits of pork added to it. We also ordered a side of beans. The food was freshly cooked, so it was nice and hot. It was well seasoned. The meats were tender (with the exception of the pork bits inside the rice). The food had a beautiful presentation with onion, green and red pepper slices on top of the meats.