Encuentro Cafe

Love this place! Favorite Venezuelan Restaurant in California. Food = 10/10Service = 10/10Ambiance = 10/10

Nice place! We came here during lunch and it was pretty busy. We were fine with that, although no one seated us until one of the waiters noticed that there were 3 tables available and gave us one of them. And then we couldn't get our order because no one gave us a menu until our waitress came by. Despite those two mishaps, everything was smooth sailing from there.I'm a little picky when it comes to South American food (re: I'm just ok with it and prefer Mexican or Asian food) and I'm not sure how this place compares with other Venezuelan restaurants but I really enjoyed what we got! My husband ordered the Criollo and I got the Alma Llanera (I love plantains!). Both were delicious and not too salty. The salsa on the side was tasty and two of them were super spicy which I loved! I regret not trying their Chicha (which sounds like a Venezuelan version of horchata) and passion fruit juice, although both of us were really full when we were done with our meals.I've read a couple people complain that it's expensive here for Venezuelan food. In the restaurant's defense I have to say that this place is in the middle of a tourist trap; of course it's going to be expensive! And it tastes better than a lot of the tourist trap restaurants within Old Town. If you don't like the prices, then don't eat in Old Town...Our waitress was really nice and friendly with us and I have to applaud her for exercising patience and kindness when it came to one of the other tables she was waiting on (who took FOREVER to leave, although I am pretty sure they gave her a good tip). I would totally come here again!

We came here on a Monday and it was busy but we were seated after 15 mins. The outdoor seating was full but there were a few tables inside that were open.We ordered the the Latin lover with a side of beans and plaintains of and huevos rancheros.We also got the mexican spiced mocha and chicha.Everything was delicious! Get the Latin lover if you want to try a little of everything. I've had cachapas before and this included mini ones. I enjoyed them but I wish the cheese was melted. They tasted like mini pancakes. I need to try the normal sized one next time to compare because the texture seemed different than what I am used to but still delicious!The mocha drink was super yummy!It was my first time having chicha and it's a super thick rice drink. I liked it but I think I prefer the texture of horchata more. My partner got the huevos rancheros and it was solid. The server was friendly and it was a good experience. I totally recommend it!

This place is so delicious!!! Was a hidden gem in the outskirts of old town! This place is not on the main strip, it is more near the train station, so it's kind of out of the way but super worth a visit!! All the ingredients in everything I have had from here was so fresh and deliciously cooked! I am a huge sucker for plantains. They also have an amazing alcoholic drink that you have to try called Paperron. This is a bit of a smaller shop but it has indoor and outdoor seating. The place is decorated very cutely. The staff was very friendly, attentive and helpful! Plus it is right across from a parking lot so it is very easy to access.

Casual and authentic Venezuelan dining experience. Laid-back atmosphere is very relaxing.Server was very kind about answering the multiple questions I had about the dishes. The food was well prepared, but don't expect to have any substitutions to the menu. Seasoning and flavors were great, not overpowering.Parking can be a challenge, but that is to be expected for the area and which it is located. Street parking is available.

DELICIOUS!! I could eat this every day, honestly. This little cafe in Old Town is not flashy or anything, but the ambience is actually perfect brunch vibes. I came for yummy Venezuelan breakfast and that's exactly what we got. We were seated in the covered patio area - I have not actually seen the actual inside of the restaurant. Parking can be tough depending on the day and time, but there are generally a lot of free parking areas in Old Town, you might just have to walk a little.The ham and cheese cachapa was literal perfection. It tasted more pancake-y than some others I've had, but I am here for it. Love the occasional bite of whole corn kernel. I will be coming back for this again and again. That mano cheese was truly *chef's kiss*The yucca fries were great as well. Crispy, fluffy, not too dense. Fantastic with the complimentary salsas they provide (cilantro garlic, tomato, and spicy).I ordered the alma llamera which came with two fried eggs, avocado, carnitas, shredded cheese, fried plantains, and an arepa. A hefty portion for one person! Every part of the plate was so good. Carnitas was flavorful, tender, not dry at all, and not too salty or heavy.In addition, I also ordered the passion fruit juice, which was very fresh, a good balance of sweet and tart. My partner had the chicha which was a rice "milkshake" and that was perfect too. It was creamy without being heavy, and a great amount of cinnamon flavor without being overpowering.I also have to give a shout out to the staff. Everyone is so attentive and checks in on you. We felt so well cared for. I am honestly blown away, I already want to go back.

This is a great option for breakfast in Old Town San Diego.Food: I order the La Vegana and it was good. I feel like the sandwich needed a sauce in it but it was still good. We also got the yuka fries and they were really good. Perfectly crispy and seasoned well. I also really liked that they gave you an assortment of sauces at the table. It was a nice mix of spicy, flavorful, and smokey.Service: Everyone there was very friendly. They seemed pretty busy so sometimes it was hard to get the attention of someone. They also would forget to bring things but overall they were nice.Price: The food is reasonably priced especialyl for the portion size.@TheShahLALand

This was a great place to visit in San Diego. I come here often and I would visit this place again. Located in old town SD, there's a lot to walk around this area while waiting for your table.I loved the interior of this restaurant -- it looked freshly redone and thought out.In terms of food, it was definitely different from my usual palate. I thought that the plate portions were the perfect size and there was lots of flavor and spice. I ordered the Pabellon and it was amazing! I think would have preferred to have less beans as there was already rice on the plate and it was a lot of carbs. The fried plantains were delicious and the beef was cooked beautifully. Only feedback I have is maybe elevate the presentation, perhaps changing the plating because the rest of the restaurant is filled with so many fun patterns. It made the food plates look underwhelming.I also ordered the Mexican mocha and it was so amazing!!! I don't usually drink coffee but someone recommended it to me and I was not disappointed. I loved the cinnamon touch and it wasn't too sweet.Overall,9/10 service -- they may be short staffed and we were waiting for a while. Our menus were also sticky from previous tables served.9.5/10 food -- very different and great flavoring but could have elevated presentation.10/10 ambiance -- I love the decor and design of this place. It was so fun!

I love visiting Old Town.  You never know what cool stuff you will see.  Maggie visited Encuentro Cafe which serves Venezuelan food.  I tried an Arepa with shredded beef and added bacon.  The shredded beef was tender and seasoned a bit like El Indio seasons their beef.  The dough part had a bit of crispyness on the outside while the inside was soft.  I liked the mild corn flavor.  Overall this was a great tasting dish.I also had a passion fruit juice.  A bit of sweetness and very tangy this drink was bursting with passion fruit flavor.2nd visit I tried the carnitas plate.  Eggs had a nice solid texture except for the yolk.  Flavor was good.  Plantains were soft and had a nice sweet flavor.  Carnitas were tender and had a mild salty flavor.  My fav carnitas is still Carnitas Snack Shack back when Hanis Calvin was the chef.  I also ordered sausage.  The sausage was dense and I loved the smoky and savory flavor.I had a mango juice which was ok.  It was whipped and I didn't like the airy texture.  I prefer my juice dense like the passion fruit juice was.Staff was nice and the food came out quickly.

Food, drinks, and service was all amazing! I've had this place on my list for a while. Definitely coming back again soon! Very much gluten free friendly here!