I decided to add Venezuelan Restaurant Reviews to the blog for a couple of reasons. First, now that I live in South Florida I can actually find Venezuelan Restaurants to go to, and I will try to visit all of them, so I can figure out which ones are the best. Second, I find that there is very little information, reviews and listings on Venezuelan restaurants, and I wish to create a detailed guide for South Florida residents and visitors on Venezuelan Dining in the area. Of course, whenever I travel to other states I will try to find other Venezuelan Restaurants there and include reviews of those as well.
The Venezuelan population in South Florida (Miami and Fort Lauderdale Greater Areas) is quite extensive, therefore I figure more people would benefit from the reviews and it would be easier to find “authentic” Venezuelan flavor in the area to review.
I do have to say that I am by no means professionally qualified to be a food critic in any way. Think of me as the third guest on “IRON CHEF”, who is usually some random celebrity who loves food and wants some free food. Of course I believe that I have some qualification to rate Venezuelan food, simply because I am Venezuelan, born and raised, and have eaten PLENTY of Venezuelan food in my lifetime, whether it is homemade, fast food, fancy restaurant food, frozen food, made in Venezuela or made here in the US, I have sampled it all. But most importantly, I LOVE VENEZUELAN FOOD, and did I mention I also cook Venezuelan food? So understand that my reviews are MY OPINION, and my opinion only.
I also want to explain how I will conduct the reviews. In order to get the full experience of the Venezuelan restaurants I visit, I will attempt to go to the restaurant at least three times before I review them. I will visit the restaurant most likely with my husband and at least one more person in order to sample a variety of dishes on the menu. I will try to take photos of the dishes we order. I will also listen to the other people who are dining with me on their opinion about the restaurant and food. Finally, I will take in all the information and try to remember as many details as possible to give you a thorough review of each restaurant and give you my entire dining experience.
I will give you all the information possible on each restaurant, so you can research it in other restaurant rating sites like Zagat, Yelp and Urbanspoon. And also so you can visit the restaurant yourself and form your own opinion.
If you wish to recommend a Venezuelan Restaurant please comment on this post.
Venezuelan Cooking 
I love the Arepazo restaurants in south Florida! I’ve been many times. There’s one in Doral/Miami area. I’m not from Florida, I only go to visit my boyfriends family, who is Venezuelan, 🙂 therefore I am not familiar with the area, but I know there are two locations in South Florida. Also, if you ever come to Houston, Tx, I found a Venezuelan restaurant there with a Mediterranean flare. It’s called Gusto Gourmet. It’s really good. Venezuelan boyfriend approved lol! 😀 I can’t wait to hear all of your reviews and the restaurants you find. If you ever find any in Houston or visit here, please post them! I’d love to go eat there!!
Morgan,
Thank you very much for visiting the blog, and thank you for your comment. I appreciate your suggestion and I will definitely visit the place if I ever go to Houston.
I have tried the Arepazo 2 which is located in Weston, but I have only been there twice. I want to visit a place at least three different times before I give my opinion.
Thanks again, and keep an eye out for the first restaurant review coming up next Wednesday.
MW
I wish to be the “guest” that attends your dining experience so that you can “try” what I order too 🙂
Jenn,
Sounds like a plan…
Melissa
The Don Pan International Bakery are Venezuelan.
Ira,
Thank you for the recommendation. I have been to the Don Pan International Bakery near the Sawgrass Mall. Is that the one you are referring to? Unfortunately, I haven’t been there enough times to form an opinion, yet 😉
Melissa, I would like to recommend to you to visit by City the following Restaurants:
Weston: Arepas Magnet, Café Canela and Arepazo2. Check out Panna Express, but this last one might have a Colombian combination.
Miramar: La Coriana
Doral: La Uchireña,, El Sabor Venezolano, and La Margarita , this last one only take out.
Fontainebleau: Date aqui, but was better few yeasr ago.
Also, would be great that you could give some opinion about price vs. quality, since all Venezuelan restaurants are very expensive in regards of quality/service/food they provide.
Thanks!
Jose Enrique,
Thank you so much for visiting the blog, and thank you for the comment and recommendations.
I have been to Arepas Magnet, to Café Canela (when we left on the bus to go vote in New Orleans, and when we came back), and I have also been to Arepazo 2 and Panna Express… But like I mentioned before, I want to give a real good try and document the experience at least three times before I give my opinion. The times I have been to these places in Weston wa just passing by and rushed, so I wouldn’t want to give an opinion on a dining experience I don’t really remember. But I will try to visit these places again soon.
Thank you for the other recommendations. I will definitely add those to my list of places to visit.
That is a great idea, too… I will definitely comment on the price vs. quality. You are right, most Venezuelan places have menu’s based on Arepas alone, and in my personal opinion, if I can make the same arepa (or better) at home -think ham and cheese arepa-, then it’s not worth the trip/money.
Thanks again Jose Enrique,
Saludos,
Melissa
Hola!!!!
Congratulations for this blog, if you come to Portland, Oregon someday, do not miss the Venezuelan food cart called “La Arepa”, there you will definitely try the best authentic Venezuelan food in the North West 🙂
Vero,
Hola! Thank you for visiting the blog and for your comment. I will be sure to visit La Arepa whenever I am in Portland, Oregon. Thank you for sharing.
MW
Hello – great blog! I love it! I’ve lived in Miami for 9 years and only recently moved out – but I’ve tried so many Venezuelan restaurants that it’s not funny. And unfortunately I haven’t been pleased with the vast majority of them.
So here’s some of my favorites, in no particular order:
1. Don Pan (any location) – they’re still my favorite place for the golfeados
2. Hermon Cakes (Tamiami/ West Miami) – homemade Venezuelan, tastes like you’re in someone else’s kitchen. I read somewhere that this is also the first Venezuelan restaurant in South Florida. Not sure if it’s true. Kind of hidden, especially with “Cakes” in the name even though they are not a bakery, but a cute small counter restaurant with few tables. I sometimes even come for breakfast and feel right at home here with their desayuno criollo and batido de parchita.
3. Eats Good 33 (Fort Lauderdale) – loved their arepas the best in South Florida. Saw that you reviewed them already
4. The Bread Shop (Fort Lauderdale) – I visit all the time when I’m in Fort Lauderdale because they do have good food overall and it’s one of the few places in East Broward. My friend swears by their pan de jamon and even orders half of the loaf to eat in one setting. But I’ve never had anything bad here.
5. European Corner (South Miami) – a Venezuelan institution in Miami-Dade, cute homey feel. Sometimes I don’t feel things are fresh because they’re under the heat lamp too long at times, but it’s popular and loved. What I do LOVE about this place is their tequeños de hojaldre – which I buy frozen and fry fresh at home (tastes better than theirs under the lamp). Best tequeños de hojaldre in South Florida.
6. Brasero’s (Doral) – I love the parrilla items here and always order the punta trasera. Older Hereford’s Grill (Miam) also is good and has a slightly better value, but if I crave one thing, it’s Brasero’s dessert, the pineapple rum cake that is the best I’ve had anywhere. But, avoid the American and non-Venezuelan items in the menu – they will lower your expectations – just not good. Stick to the arepitas con nata and all the other traditional stuff.
7. Manhattan Bakery (Sunny Isles) – this is the ONLY Venezuelan bakery that I’ve seen that has the Venezuelan style pastelitos – looks like cigar sticks instead of Cuban triangles. Stuffed with carne mechada or queso or spinach, if I remember right. Their other bakery items are also good.
8. Charlotte’s Bakery (South Beach) – I get the tequeños here since they have tequeñones and the cheese is not only right, but also juicy! Nice Chilean family that moved to Miami, via Venezuela.
9. Moises Bakery (North Beach) – always popular, voted the best Venezuelan empanadas, but the dough is a bit too sweet for me – I much prefer the empanada places in Doral. But I still stop by here whenever I go to the beach around here – good coffee, cachitos, and even golfeados. Not my favorite, but a good standby, and always packed. Owned by a Venezuelan who is of Portuguese descent – which is why you can even find pasteis de nata sometimes. And as you know, in Venezuela, many of the famous bakeries are owned also by the Portuguese.
10. Churromania (many locations) – still the best place for churros, and now that they’re expanding nationwide, it’s easy to find them in other locales outside of South Florida. Sure, not many people might think of this place, but the nice thing about this place is that they also have tequeños (and in Miami International Mall, the tequeños here are better than even TequeñoMania (it is owned by the popular Tequechongos company in Venezuela). And in the Miami International Mall location, I saw that Churromania sell even more savory items than just tequeños and churros. Still not sure what to think about their churro dog though – still haven’t tried it.
11. Plaza (Doral) – I had amazing pepitos here and this is what they’re known for. But I noticed people lately have been also talking about Pepitolandia – and I haven’t tried that place yet.
12. Crema de las Empanadas (Doral) – the empanadas are good if they’re made fresh. I know they also have competition with Reina de las Empanadas (Doral). I haven’t been to both enough to determine which I like more.
13. Zona Grill (Wynwood) – my favorite Venezuelan food truck so far. But I’ve also enjoyed Mr. Good Stuff for creative arepas. And I’m happy to have found El Arabito serving middle eastern and Venezuelan food – but never got an opportunity to try it out – but it is because I still think the best Middle Eastern food I’ve had anywhere was in Venezuela.
Saludos
Sorry…
10. Tequesitos, not Tequenomania, inside the Miami International Mall is the same company as Tequechongos.
Dear Jordan,
Thank you so much for visiting the blog and for your thorough comment. I love your list. I have heard of some of these places, and I am actually working on a review for a couple of them as well, but I haven’t heard of some other ones you mention. I have a map list of Venezuelan Restaurants in South Florida to visit and review that I keep on a foursquare list (here: https://foursquare.com/mwolowicz/list/venezuelan-restaurants), I will be sure to add those to my list and check them out to write reviews later. I used to eat at Brasero’s a lot when they had a location in Weston. Are you Venezuelan yourself?
MW