Stopped by for lunch on a Sunday and ordered off the menus. Some of the items had blue markers through the items and I assumed that they were items they no longer sold. At the end of our meal we were given a bill that was about 30% higher than listed on their menu and was told that the updated, correct pricing was located by the checkout register. Ridiculous! They need to get new menus or inform patrons when they are presented with the menus that ALL the prices are different. I assume the blue marker was rubbed off many of the items. As for the food, I liked the menudo, but the chicken was unfortunately dry. Won't be back and wouldn't recommend. read more

Authentic, Delicious Food Honestly, I've been going to this location for the past six or seven years and the restaurant has only continued to improve. First off, they used to be in the back of the Latino store that is now conveniently connected to the restaurant. After the owners acquired what used to be the horrific Chinese restaurant, they completely remodeled the place into a colorful, vibrant location. Equally as vibrant as the decor is the food that is served at this restaurant. Everything tastes wonderful, and the flavors are well blended. Most of the clientele is still composed of Hispanic people, which to me, is a sign that this place serves authentic cuisine. I believe this location is technically Salvadorian. If you are looking for a sit down, authentic Hispanic restaurant, then this might be your place. It's certainly the most colorful and most inviting in my opinion. My only gripe with this location is some of the inconsistencies. For one, they need to update their menu. Items on the menu are no longer the prices that they used to be due to inflation. I believe the actual prices are up by the counter, so if you plan on eating here, I recommend taking a picture of THAT menu before sitting. Another inconsistency is that they sometimes have chips and salsa and other times do not. When they have their chips and salsa, it's excellent, and they make an incredible salsa through and through. Please keep this in mind before dining here! read more

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Delicious lengua and carne asada tacos! The hot sauce was just the right amount of spice! One of the best places I've tried so far! read more

super amanecer - Lengua Tacos - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Translates as The Dawn, Daybreak or Sunrise...generally. I added this business because it deserves to be seen. I love the Chinese place right next door because you can get "actual" Chinese food there rather than the junk most Americans (I am 100% born American of several generations) think is Chinese food. Amanecer is the Latin version of this. I noticed all the new parking space markings recently in this little parking lot and a new wave of Latinos pouring in and out of this place as I entered the Chinese place next door. THAT is a good sign. Just like it's Chinese neighbor where Chinese people ACTUALLY eat, Amanecer is very popular with ACTUAL Latinos. That's when you know you can get the real thing inside. To the average Caucasian American, this can seem intimidating. There are a lot of people that "don't look like you" at this place...in fact, very few Caucasians can be found here. I hope this review changes that for them. I was welcomed here with a smile and a patient attempt to bridge the language barrier to help me both shop for goods in the grocery as well as dine in the restaurant. It can be a little intimidating if you don't speak or read Spanish like me, but they will really try and help. The menu boards in the restaurant are in Spanish, but the menu has great, well translated English descriptions of the food. One of the people in charge at the restaurant counter was very happy to see me and accommodated me wonderfully, explaining that with a few exceptions everything on the menu was available all day. He sat down to talk to me at my booth and gave me business cards to tell my friends. They do in fact want more than just Latinos as customers here. The menu is great. Many choices, including breakfast all day. If you cant find something to like, it's probably that way for you in any "actual" ethnic restaurant. (Many Mexican and Chinese places in the U.S. are by no means actual ethnic food, they create the menus for "American" likes/palates) I had the carnitas. A solid "go to" choice I use to evaluate Mexican/Latino restaurants. Let me tell you it was fantastic. The presentation was beautiful, the food was awesome and the portion was huge! For $7.99 I had to almost roll myself out of there...I should have never eaten it all but it was so good! The carnitas were dressed with a topping salad of radishes, jalepenos and avocado as well as other stuff...all things I love. Served with two thick wonderful corn tortillas, re-fried beans and rice, both of which were better than average and a salsa verde which was top notch and a very hot sauce, almost orange and not sweet or salty that was very good. I cleaned/ate every thing up, every bite on my plate, all the salsas plus added valentine hot sauce that was on the table. (I like it hot and flavorful) The prices are very good. For $11 you can get a fajita platter you would pay at least $14-$16 for at other places. If this is what Latino immigration brings us, I'm all for it, and that's saying something for me. Now my two favorite places to have lunch in Charlottesville are side by side! And as a bonus, not only is this also a Latin market, but on the other side of them opposite the great Chinese food is an Asian market! The best of two worlds in a tiny little spot! Only 4 of 5 stars because it can be intimidating for non-Latinos, the menu boards are all Spanish (as of this review) and you have to go through narrow market isles to get to the restaurant in back. As with many Latino markets, the meat case is lacking in English AND clearly marked prices. This bothers me because I always suspect a place with no prices to charge "people like me" differently than the 'regular patrons", if you know what I mean. I would buy MUCH more from Latino markets if they clearly marked things with English AND prices...so, you Latino merchants out there, pay attention...you are losing business from non-Latinos because of this. Still, I will be back here over and over again if they stay in business. read more

I love this place!! While It's both a restaurant and a store, I've only had the pleasure of eating here on my last couple of trips! I love their fajitas, they are done so well and are delicious!! I recommend going here to anyone who wants AMAZING Latin food at a great price. Eating here is such a treat! read more