Absolutely love this gem of a Colombian restaurant! We've been multiple times and their empanadas and arepas cannot be beat (beef and potato, shredded chicken and cheese are our two favorites). The arroz con pollo is delicious and we love their maracuya (passion fruit) juice and flan. Service is always great. The owner and staff are wonderful. Very family friendly restaurant. 10/10! read more

I thought everything went well here. I came here w/ a group of 4 for dinner (2nd time here) and got the fried fish w/ a side of chicharron and egg to go with my meal. I thought everything was great but this time the chicharron was a little too hard to eat. My coworker that was with me said the same and he didn't even finish it because it was too hard. Overall, I'd come back AGAIN. The food still is great and the ambiance of the place feels like good. read more

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Cute restaurant in Springdale with kind staff. We took our food to go and it kept well. The rice was flavorful and great when paired with the chicken. My favorite part of the meal was the empanadas, though. They're fantastic! read more

Zona Vip - Pollo a La Plancha - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

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Holy smokes don't judge a book by its cover. Pull in, park, and go in this little hidden gem. Great customer service, tasty menu, plenty of seating, and space to move around. The inside was bright and fun colors booths and tables. 2 restrooms. Limited parking, but very roomy on the inside. The food most important part yummm We did a little sample of almost everything and shared totally recommend this to get a taste of everything Yuca frita and let me tell you this puts French fries to shame the crunchy outside and soft goodness on the inside don't skip this and order it as a side. 1 side was a small bowl but plenty for the 2 of us who went. My favorite dish bisteck a Cavallo wow just wow 10/10 then steak took me back to my childhood when my dad would take skirt steaks and Grill then on an old charcoal grill. The sauce on top is a blend of tomatoes, onions, and spices. Bonus tip dip your yuca fritas in this sauce. Sooo good. Empanada was huge and stuffed with meat. The chicken was my favorite but both were really good. The meat is very tender and the outside is really soft great textures together. Arepa is not my thing so I did not try this. But I can tell you my husband loved it and ate both. Full of flavor great size, and also stuffed with meats. Mora was a nice refreshing blackberry juice and it was so good. read more

Zona Vip - the front entrance of a restaurant - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

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Very good food. Service was excellent . The ambiance was great. Definitely recommend coming here to get food, atmosphere was great .

You have to try the fried pork belly. The blood sausage is interesting, and you can get it on a sampler platter, which is highly recommended because it comes with a big log of fried pork belly. This is my favorite Hispanic-Latino restaurant in Cincinnati. And growing up here I took a junior high Spanish class, where we took a field trip to get Hispanic food-- the one place in town was Chi-Chi's, whose specialty is they stock their salsa in the grocery store. I would point to NY-KY for places just as good though, there's a Central American fusion place in Bellevue where I had poutine with yucca fries and lamb chorizo gravy. Then there's a place named after Freda Kahlo in the main square area of Covington. But especially if you like to eat meat, then the prospect of five different varieties in their sampler platter should be very tempting (and only twenty bucks). read more

Great, fresh food. Friendly, fast service. A good place to bring your family. Good atmosphere. Buena gente, buena comida, un buen lugar. read more

Zona Vip - El plato se llama La Picada. Muy sabroso. - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

I can't believe this place has been in business for the past 5 years and I just found it today. It's safe to say I'll be finding excuses to come to this side of town. Hands down the best Columbian food in Cincinnati! The Exterior: Nothing special but the inside is bursting with culture and good vibes - typical of amazing ethnic restaurants in my experience. The Juice: Wow! Extremely fresh and refreshing without being too sweet. They were out of passion fruit so we got mango (highly recommend) and lulo which we learned is a Columbian fruit that's somewhat similar to pineapple. We found it also had a slight apple flavor to it. The Corn: BURSTING with flavor. Hard to put into words since I've never had anything like this but I highly recommend it. Fried Plantains: I've been looking for good plantains in Cincy for years and I finally found them!! I would seriously drive out of my way just to get an order of these. They had the perfect flavor and were soft in the middle and a slightly crispy on the outside. AMAZING. Arepa: Best Arepa I've had in a while. Very flavorful and the chorizo was an interesting ingredient. Good mix of cheese and sauce. Would definitely get again. I also got an empanada but it was eaten too fast to properly review . It was a nice little snack. Conclusion: You NEED to come here. I loved everything about this place and can't wait to come back; ideally for dine in to get the full experience. read more

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This is a tough review because the food was 4.5-5* in both our opinions. She wanted me to give a 4* review but after our waiter said "you will give me a tip?" After he had been watching the soccer game along with a cook the entire time I was irritated but I still left him 15%. As I told him it's in credit not cash The food was delicious but the same as a higher end places $ wise. She got their signature dish (and ate it all but the beans) and it was $16.50 (see picture). I got the chicken soup that had a little corn and potatoes and ate it all and it was $14.50. They were out of beef empanada ($2) so we tried the chicken and cheese. The chicken was great and the cheese one was lacking.... cheese. I had been here 5ish years ago and the portions were bigger, prices better, and the service was better (even though kids served me drinks). I'm sad that a place so humble is now so lazy to watch soccer instead of guests and serve prices so high that their restaurant is empty. read more

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¡Este restaurante tiene la mejor comida Colombiana! And for those of us who don't speak Spanish - no translation necessary when you sit down to enjoy Zona VIP's Colombian Street food- A cautionary word - don't expect white tablecloth service and servers in tuxedos where "Street Food" is the main fare - that being said - I loved this place. What could be described as quaint, family oriented and a decor typical of most Hispanic cultures - the food is definitely amazing! I had the beef tongue - not something you normally see on the menu - it was hearty, very tasty and reminiscent of mom's Sunday afternoon pot roast. Served alongside with fried plantains, salsa and a healthy scoop of rice - you might ask for their hot salsa - very slight heat Scoville scale-wise but definitely elevated the dish. A final word - while the menu offerings seem a little pricey - it is well worth the expense for this incredibly tasty food. You will not be disappointed! Just price out a hotel and plane tickets to Bogota and their prices will seem reasonable - definitely worth a return visit - read more

Zona Vip - Lengua y arroz con salsa - Muy bueno! - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

This place is a gem, excellent every single time! Typical Colombian food at its best and the best empanadas you can find in Cincinnati. The Ajiaco and Bandeja Paisa are their flagship and I couldn't be happier. Everything on the menu is fresh and made from scratch. They do catering as well and is fantastic. You can buy frozen empanadas and put on the grill or air fryer, is delicious!! Owner and staff are alway friendly and place is spotless. 100% recommended. read more

Zona Vip - Bandeja Paisa - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

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I tried this restaurant one evening after work, wanting to sample some of the unique and authentic offerings on their menu. It wasn't that crowded, so there were spaces right in front of the restaurant. Inside it was an explosion of color, and fun to walk into, and the restaurant seemed true to its nature -- very street cred fast-food-like. However, even though I had called in my order in advance it took a while for them to acknowledge me and give me my food -- my impression as they rushed by me was that they had more important things to tend to. Once I got home with my food, I did enjoy many of the dishes. The plantains were cooked well, the Mozora Desgranda Hawaiana was intriguing -- it was corn concoction with multiple ingredients in a flavorful white sauce, and I loved the Mora (Columbian blackberry juice) -- it had just the right amount of sweetening to it. I was disappointed in the Bistec a Caballo, as it seemed dry and tough. Overall, an interesting experience to try, and a good introduction to Columbian street food, with some real hits here and a few misses. read more

Must try!!! So perfect. This should be all over Cincinnati!! Great food, fun atmosphere, awesome people! I had Chorizo Arepa, Jamón and Queso Arepa, Fried Yuca the flan and the tres leches cake (lol fat kid moment), and an awesome passion fruit juice to wash it down. So good, I would get the chorizo arepa again, and will def try more stuff here!!! read more

Zona Vip - Drinks and desserts - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

Food is delicious! Service lovely, Definitely try la bandeja paisa. And recommend trying natural juices. The ambiance is welcoming. read more

We love this place! Awesome empanadas! My wife loves the arroz con pollo and I love the Bandeja paisa!

This place has good empanadas, but to be honest the guy at the front was real stingy. I ordered to go and once I left with the bags I had no napkins nor any utensils. I returned and asked for napkins and he literally gave me like 3 napkins. If you order soup to go you have to literally ask for a spoon, otherwise he might think you're going to cup your hand into the hot liquid to consume it. read more

Website says they close at 6 pm. Arrived at 5:30 and it was closed. Guy said they close at 5:30 pm today. They should be more consistent with website. Make sure you call and ask what time they feel like closing that day before wasting time driving there. read more

Their food is done on point, fresh and amazing flavor. I felt transported to Colombia with each bite. They just need to put more care on their place as a restaurant and may be put something outside, so people can see that they are there and that their food is authentic and fresh. read more

Zona Vip - Fried fish with tostones - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

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Food is really good. Everything was delicious and the portions were great. The service though wasn't too great. They looked bothered every time I called them over for service. The lady would come by and never once smiled period. Just took our order and walked off. She wasn't very pleasant. But food was very good. The ambiance is nice too. read more

The people there were very nice even when there were a few with language barriers. The food and drinks tasted very good, but the menu in person had way less options then what was shown on yelp so be prepared for that. There were already quite a few people there, but more continued coming in and the atmosphere was pleasant. read more

My husband and I ate here after reading the reviews. We love trying new places and eating international foods. I give it 4stars because the bathrooms were dirty but the food was so delicious and the service was great. We met the owners and they were super friendly. Everything was served with a smile as well as served fresh and hot. They have natural fruit juices, I had the mango juice, it was the best tasting juice I've ever had! It tasted like i was drinking a fresh picked mango...oh my it was over the top! My husband had the blackberry juice and it was good too. We shared several dishes that were absolutely amazing: Arepa é Huevos (grilled cornmeal filled with fried egg), Reliena con carne a la corolla Arepa (Beef, corn, cheese, avocado in between a grilled cornmeal sliced arepa), Carne Empanada (Colombian fried pie filled with beef), Pollo Empanada ( Colombian fried pie filled with chicken), and Steak Mazorca Desgranada (Fresh corn off the cob, cheese, crunchy potato sticks, and tarter sauce). read more

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the service is horrible. we waited for an hour and 30 min for our food and it never came!

These Emanadas are wonderful! The cheese has to be my favorite one but they are all super yummy. We also enjoy the plantain that is smothered in yumminess. The only thing I would change is to cook the pork belly to the crispy goodness I know and love but otherwise it is perfect. read more

I've eaten here several times this year both when it was take out only and now that they are allowing the option to dine in. If you have not had the chance to try Colombian food, then you definitely have to try Zona Vip to learn all about it. As with many genuine ethnic places, they may not be much to look at from the outside or inside but give it a shot and you will not be disappointed. I've had several dishes here over the year and these are my thoughts: Empanadas - The empanadas at Zona Vip may be the best I've had anywhere. The crust they use is amazing. My favorites are the Tipica and just the normal Queso one. Arepas - Similar to what you get at a Venezuelan restaurant and you can't go wrong with any of these. Ajiaco - This is a Colombian chicken soup served with rice and sliced avocado. If you love soup/stews, then this is for you. Bandeja Paisa - This is the national dish of Colombia, and it is basically a huge platter of Rice, Beans, Steak, Sausage and Chicharron served with Fried Egg and some corn fritters. I love this dish for its simplicity, variety and taste. Highly recommended! read more

We are so fortunate to have been brought here by our friend Carlos. The arepas and empanadas were Devine, I highly recommend starting with these. The juices were some of the best I've ever had and I'm not a juice person! Our main dishes are pictured - generous portions which will make a breakfast tomorrow when topped with a few fried eggs. Come hungry and plan to stay a while, no one is in a hurry here and that's a nice change of pace. Perfect lunch spot. You won't regret it. read more

Zona Vip - Frijolada - pieces of pork belly and chorizo on top of delicious pinto beans and plantains; fresh avo on top. - Colombian Near Me - Springdale, Ohio

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I really enjoyed this restaurant! I had the Bandeja Paisa and it was great. My husband tried one of the soups, it was very hearty and good as well. Prices are reasonable (Less than $30 for us both) and the atmosphere is pleasant. I would definitely recommend trying it if you are looking for something authentic and different! read more

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Typically I don't like reviewing places, this has to be said. I came in here with the expectation of getting a good comfort food. The rice was good, the salad was exceptional, the plátano frito was on point, the drink was great. Had a little discrepancy with the grilled chicken, chicken wasn't cooked enough. This is where the service came in and killed it. I told the waiter about it and without hesitation he took my plate and walked away in disappointment. I on the other-hand was not even fazed. He returned with a new plate and to my amazement, I cut into the chicken, took a bite, RAW. Again. I set aside the chicken and ate everything else. Definitely disappointed, but we all have an off day. I went in about 45 minutes before they close so I'll just leave the fault to that. Although my plate wasn't what I was expecting, the ambient of the place was comfy and since I went in a bit later at night it was very calm and empty. I, myself won't be visiting this place again but try your luck and see for yourself. Your experience may be different from mine. read more

Columbian food needs to have its "thing" time in America. Mexican is deservedly king in Latin American cuisine, but other countries should be recognized as well. DLW and I happened to be in the neighborhood on a Sunday, and zipped in for early dinner. Cazuela camarones y pescado (shrimp and fish soup) was quite yummy, and served with fish on the bone, which made eating it a bit inconvenient but gave everything more flavor. It came with tostones and rice on the side. We also had some snacky selections: chicken arepa, cheese empanada and a hot dog with bacon, crema and hot salsa. I am a fiend for empanadas, and I did like this one, but the arepa was even better. Lots of traditional choices, including a couple of soups that looked amazing. The décor is nothing to look at, but the service was very good. If you like Mexican and want to know what else is out there that is similar, you really can't go wrong here. read more

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The only thing I regret is not going sooner. This place is a real gem. The food is amazing and fresh and fun. The staff are wonderful and nice. The thing that makes me come back is Limonada and I love the VIP burger....the empanadas are perfect. It is a must go to for Cincinnati. read more

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I finally got to try this place! It's not the most convenient to where we live, but I definitely will come back. I took out empanadas, an arepa, and a plate lunch. The gentleman at the counter was very nice and took my order. I asked for recommendations and he suggested the beef and chicken empanadas. So I ordered one of each. Also ordered the arepa with chicken, bacon, and cheese. For the main I ordered the Bandeja Paisa, the most popular dish in Columbia (according to the menu and the gentleman). I shared all of this with my daughter, and we had leftovers! The empanadas were delicious, with a cornmeal crust instead of the usual pastry crust we'd had before at other restaurants. The arepa was also yummy, with bits of bacon and a garlic sauce (though it was a bit messy to get it to go). The plate lunch had a variety of foods. Loved mixing the rice with the flavorful ground beef. The pork belly was a bit chewy in places, but it was very tasty! And we also enjoyed the Colombian sausage! Love trying new foods, and this did not disappoint! read more

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Zona VIP is an amazing restaurant that you owe it to yourself to try. Everything is amazing. If they have the COLA DE RES SUDADA (OXTAIL) or the LENGUA EN SALSA (TONGUE) specials, they are a must try. Both meats are melt in your mouth tender and outstanding. We order at least one of these meals every time we go here. Both come with crispy fried yucca, which we love. Even the white rice is outstanding. Both dishes are amazing, but the oxtail is our favorite. The AREPAS are like small sandwiches and are filled with flavorful ingredients. The AREPA RELLENA CON CHORIZO AND HOGADO was a fantastic blend of chorizo sausage and creole sauce, and the AREPA RELLENA CON CARNE A LA CRIOLLA has a wonderful mix of beef, corn, cheese and avocado. The AREPA E' HUEVO is a bit different, with a cooked egg nestled within a crunchy cornmeal exterior. It's a mild flavor that really shows off the crunchy corn, and it's one of our favorites. Not to be missed are the EMPANADAS, and whether you go for the gooey QUESO or the TIPICA you won't be disappointed. The MAZORCA DESGRANADA CON CHORIZO is a wonderful dish of corn with gooey cheese and chorizo. Long strings of cheese will wrap towards the ceiling as you eat it. If you're on the mood for soup, the SANCOCHO is a perfect mix of brothy soup with a huge, tender hunk of beef, yucca and potatoes. Do not miss this soup! The AJIACO COLOMBIANO is another good soup, with chicken and a thicker, more herby broth, but we prefer the sancocho. Their fruit juices are amazing. The MANGO JUICE is thick and delicious, while the PINEAPPLE JUICE is lighter and separates prettily into three different sections. It's also wonderful for a treat on a hot day. The ARROZ CON LECHE is a great rice pudding treat if you somehow still have room. One of the best restaurants I have eaten in, in any city. Literally everything we tried off the menu is good. It has to be one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. read more

I was in Ohio for some training and was taken here by the company the food was amazing it is a must try if you're in the mood for something different read more

Great Colombian food! My friend from Cali thoroughly enjoyed it!! Arroz Con Pollo was delicious

I had never tried Colombian food before, so I am unable to review how Colombian food should be. However, I like Caribbean food such like Puerto Rican, so things that they serve are familiar to me. We ordered beef empanadas and Frijolada, and both are delicious. Since there's no Puerto Rican restaurant in the area, this place will cover my Caribbean cravings. I will go back and I would try arroz con pollo, Colombian style. read more

Great food ! However don't visit during the weekend unless you're willing to wait an hour or more for the food. There are a variety of options on the menu which is good; and natural fruit juices in which you can have made for 50¢ more. Friendly staff however, the 3 servers I have managed to see on three separate occasions appear to be family. They explain every dish thoroughly as well! I love this place but it's just the wAit seems insane. read more

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I've been driving past this place for years and always curious to try it. Holy heck, this place is amazing! We sampled a smorgasbord of their different options and thoroughly enjoyed everything. The soup was rich and hearty with plenty of flavor from the cilantro and other spices. The mazorca was almost like a Colombian poutine: layers of grilled corn, meat, veggies, potato sticks and sauce. The empanadas were fresh and simple and hit the spot, and the arepas were likewise. My favorite things were probably the empanadas quesos and the mazorca. The prices are extremely reasonable too. You can easily fill yourself on under $10. They have dinner entrees too. We'll have to come back again to try this sometimes. Oh and how could I forget the fresh squeezed passionfruit juice. That alone is worth the price of admission! read more

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Stopped in here when we were in the area. Actually had this place recommended to us by a Colombian Uber driver. Two words: it's amazing! Or I could also say: come hungry! Lots of delicious food. My wife and I got a rather large assortment. We got a beef empanada and a chicken bacon tomato arepa. They have many different empanadas and arepas but these were two we decided on. And they were awesome! Next time, we'll just call ahead for some of these guys. For her main meal, she got the Pollo a la plancha which was grilled chicken, rice and French fries. Kinda small cut of chicken but it was deliciously flavored. I got the monster platter, Bandeja Paisa that came with steak, sausage, pork rind, plantains, fried egg, rice and beans. And every thing was awesome. We. Ate. It. All. Needless to say, we did not leave hungry. TLDR stop by for arepas and empanadas. Stay for huge platters. read more

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I had the Sancocho a hearty soup made with meats vegetables (plantain, yucca, potatoes, pumpkin and cabbage) in a broth usually flavored with herbs (cilantro or parsley), combined with achiote, garlic, onion, scallion and bell peppers. Served in with rice and avocado. It might have been missing a couple of items, but overall it was good. Perfect for a rainy day like today. The carne empanadas were not what I expected but good nonetheless. Zona VIP is a tasty experience worth the try. read more

Great place for authentic Colombian food! My wife is from Colombia and she loves this place. Highly recommend!

Ok this is one of my favorite spots. Columbian food is new to me only had it a few times in jersey, philly & Florida But for a local place 29min drive for me, this is a good one empanadas chicken or beef they do a great job. I enjoyed the ox tail also always ready to try new dishes. I always recommend Asking the server what made this place famous as that is what I try! read more

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