Cilantro & Ajo

We tried the Lawrenceville location, and it was amazing! Family-owned, traditional Venezuelan food - what more could you ask for? This is their second location, and I'm so glad this place is thriving! Inside is small and cozy with plenty of tables. They bring an entire bottle of their green sauce to your table and we went through about half of it - it was so good! I'm a big fan of unique condiments, and this complemented the food so well. A spicy option would be next level! The empanadas were so crispy and delicious - not greasy at all. The bowls were cooked perfectly. Everything from the plantains, beans, protein, and rice was seasoned well. The yucca fries were hot, crispy, and the best texture out of any yucca fries we've had before. Service was fast and friendly. They were very helpful in answering any questions we had. Loved this place!

So glad Cilantro and Ajo has joined Lawrenceville. Food options just keep getting better and better. C & A is no exception! The shredded chicken bowl is where it's at! The meat is juicy and exploding with flavor, as are the beans and plantains. All for a very affordable price. Weekdays they run a $10 special and it's at least a meal and a half. We didn't dine in, so I'll be back for a dine in review soon.

Super yummy yuca and green sauce. I like that their yucca is straight yucca and not a lot of breading. The green sauce is NOT spicy, like some green sauce I've had from Peruvian places. It takes about 7 minutes for the yucca to come out, and I've kept on going back for more!

I stumbled on this hidden gem while staying in the south side before a licensure exam and it did not disappoint! Food is very flavorful, and staff is wonderful! I definitely enjoyed the colorful artwork featuring menu items along with authentic Venezuelan music and culture! Come back this place when you're in the area!

This was one of the first places that people recommended when I moved to Pittsburgh. And it did not disappoint. I got the pabellón arepa and it was delicious!! I think it has been my favorite arepa in Pittsburgh. I did take out so I don't know how service is but seeing from other reviews, seems like there is friendly staff as well

Tried this restaurant's food truck. Great friendly service here! I ordered the arepa pabellón with avocado. Very good and flavorful! The green sauce is great. Will be back.

My favorite Latin place in Pittsburgh! The ropa vieja is always so good inside the arepa. Tastes like my abuela made it! The plantains are cooked to perfection, and the vibe at the restaurant is perfect. Love Cilantro & Ajo!

My friends introduced me to this place as they live on E Carson st. and we know that this area has many hidden gems in regards to restaurants and small businesses. I've been introduced to different ethnic foods since my move to Pittsburgh and this definitely made it on my top list! I love the sweet plantain that comes with the orders because it adds a little bit of sweet & savory snack to the meal. Their shredded beef was seasoned well and I would love to come back and try their other protein options. My friends had the arepas while I had the bowl since I'm not really into bread/sandwiches for lunch, and I feel like I made the perfect choice for my first time! We also tried the yucca fries, which were worth a try and I found out that yuca is a separate root vegetable from sweet potatoes! It definitely had similar texture and taste but I can see the difference in size that they had from sweet potato fries. I recommend dipping them in the green sauce that they pair with it for a flavorful bite. The service was great as it gave mom and pop shop, and the lady at the register served us our food once they were ready instead of having our orders called in and grabbing it at the counter. They were super nice when it came to asking for extra sauce, water, utensils, etc. and satisfied our visit.

Stopped in on a Tuesday night and man was this little place busy! We ordered a variety of arepas, some tostones, one street corn, and the brown lemonade. The arepas were stuffed! Huge portions. I was full from one The pork in the pork & gouda arepa was seasoned perfectly and there was a ton of it. They do not skimp on filling. My brother had the pabellon and he said the beef was delicious. My mom had the maracucha and the slice of cheese in there was thick. Everyone loved everything. The wait was a little long just because of how busy they were, but it was completely worth it. There are some tables inside that were clean and the decor was minimal, but bright. The staff was super friendly. The bathroom was small, but clean and stocked with soap and paper towels. I will definitely be back!

Amazing food, with great flavors and generous portion sizes. Definitely recommended if you're in the area!