Cilantro & Ajo South Side
Experience the vibrant flavors of authentic Venezuelan street food, from savory arepas to crispy empanadas, all served with a smile.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Cilantro & Ajo South Side
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Experience the vibrant flavors of authentic Venezuelan street food, from savory arepas to crispy empanadas, all served with a smile.
"This place is a gem! Every bite is the perfect bit, made with love and authenticity."
Get Extra Sauce
Always order extra cilantro & ajo sauce with your empanadas for an enhanced flavor experience.
Try Signature Arepas
Indulge in popular choices like the Pernil Arepa or La Rumbera for an exotic taste.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Venezuelan
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Venezuelan Street Food
Savor incredible arepas, empanadas, and patacones bursting with authentic Venezuelan flavors and high-quality ingredients.
Signature Sauces and Flavor
Don't miss their famous cilantro and garlic sauce, a creamy, acidic delight that elevates every bite.
Pork and Gouda Arepa
A unique offering featuring tender pulled pork and rich Gouda cheese, a must-try for adventurous palates.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Get Extra Sauce
Always order extra cilantro & ajo sauce with your empanadas for an enhanced flavor experience.
Try Signature Arepas
Indulge in popular choices like the Pernil Arepa or La Rumbera for an exotic taste.
Off-Peak Hours Recommended
Visit during less busy times to avoid long waits, as the restaurant can get crowded.
Don't Miss Yuca Fries
Highly recommended are the signature yuca fries, a perfect side to your meal.
Tips
from all over the internet
Get Extra Sauce
Always order extra cilantro & ajo sauce with your empanadas for an enhanced flavor experience.
Try Signature Arepas
Indulge in popular choices like the Pernil Arepa or La Rumbera for an exotic taste.
Off-Peak Hours Recommended
Visit during less busy times to avoid long waits, as the restaurant can get crowded.
Don't Miss Yuca Fries
Highly recommended are the signature yuca fries, a perfect side to your meal.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Cilantro & Ajo is celebrated for its authentic and flavorful Venezuelan street food, with many highlighting the delicious arepas, empanadas, and signature sauces. Diners appreciate the generous portions and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. While most reviews are glowing, a few mention that the food can be heavy or rich, and one reviewer found the yuca fries undercooked and lacking crispness.
"Friend of mine recommended this place and stopped for a quick lunch. Amazing experience. Very friendly staff, and most importantly delicious food. I got Patacon Deluxe and it was out of this world. They are generous with their portions. When I say that, I don’t mean the sauce, lettuce, etc… my Patacon was filled with steaks. Very generous amount!! Although I enjoy this dish a lot, next time I will be trying the bowl - it looks so good!"
Cagan Sevinc
"I don't know much about venezuelan food nor even what was on my plate, but it was friggin amazing. Ordered the steak and eggs myself and it came alongside the yummiest sides in the pic, and my wife's chorizo cheesy pan fiesta was also top dollar. Cute lil place and very nice people working there. Wish we had known about this sooner, will be back ASAP to try more new things!"
Michael McAlpin
"Well done intense-on-the-stomach Latin/Venezuelan fried food. Not for everyone.
I personally like it. It’s Fried food w a slightly unique twist. More starchy in a way I can’t put my finger on. And has something buttery or something extra to it.
Flavors are largely milder but not nothing. It’s not like mexican food w cilantro and onions, salsas and hot sauce. It’s subtler. Often includes lots of cheese and lightly seasoned creams. Meats seemed stewed, a little chewy, and seasoned to a smaller reasonable amount.
I can’t say it’s the healthiest stuff - and my stomach def feels ‘worked’ after eating it. My girlfriend personally can’t eat a lot as it upsets her stomach. But this is fried indulgent food. This isn’t health super foods here.
The vibe on the inside is nice and simpler. Has some pizaz and fun to it, but generally is less frills.
Service has always been cordial and patient. I like the folks inside.
Overall this is a great restaurant to have in the city. While it’s not something you likely want all the time - it’s a nice unique treat when you want some sit-in-your-stomach indulgent less healthy food. It clearly feels like their own thing that they do well, and it’s v welcome in the city."
mcstivi
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Venezuelan street food features a variety of delicious and portable items like arepas (cornmeal pockets with fillings), empanadas (fried turnovers), and patacones (fried plantains).
Yes, the arepas are made from cornmeal and are gluten-free, making them a great option for travelers with dietary restrictions.
The restaurant is famous for its creamy cilantro and garlic sauce, often described as highly flavorful and a perfect accompaniment to empanadas and other dishes.
Yes, Cilantro & Ajo also operates a food truck, expanding their reach and making their delicious Venezuelan street food accessible at various events.
Popular choices include the Pernil Arepa, La Rumbera Arepa, Empanadas, and Pabellon bowls, all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Yes, you can purchase bottles of their popular cilantro and garlic sauce to enjoy at home.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
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Cilantro & Ajo adds a flavorful punch to the Pittsburgh food truck scene with its bold and zesty Colombian food truck dishes. You can catch them in the bustling Strip District or at the lively Pittsburgh Food Truck Park events, where their rich Latin American street food continues to win over new fans. Their vibrant menu and friendly service keep customers coming back.
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Venezuela-born couple Marlyn Parra and Anthony Goncalves opened their first restaurant, Gusto Criollo, in 2009 on Isla Margarita in Venezuela. But in 2015, the country’s political and social climate caused them to pack up their and their two daughters’ lives and move to the states — and, more specifically, to Pittsburgh. By 2018, they’d opened Cilantro & Ajo.
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Arepas are essentially sandwiches, as they are foods with fillings between cornmeal flatbread. They are quite popular in Colombian and Venezuelan cuisine. Cilantro & Ajo, a restaurant that sells Venezuelan street food, is known for incredible arepas stuffed with a selection of meats, cheese, black beans, avocados, and plantains and covered with savory sauces.
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Cilantro & Ajo was founded by Marlyn and Anthony a Venezuelan couple that shares a love for the traditional food of their country. They opened this restaurant in 2018 with the hope of sharing part of the Venezuelan culture with the community in the city through their tr aditional recipes and delectable food. Location: 901 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
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You can buy a bottle of their cilantro and garlic sauce for $9, and we wouldn’t blame you for spending most of your lunch money on sauce alone. For a meal, get an arepa or two empanadas — we love the pabellón. Whether you’re a double bacon or veggie patty person, MoonLit Burgers has a handheld for you.
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Cilantro & Ajo serves up some of the best Venezuelan street food you've ever had - even if you've never had any before. Arepas, empanadas, and delicious contemporary rice bowls add up to one delicious and understated meal, and make this one of the most interesting Pittsburgh restaurants.
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Because of political instability back home, the owners, a culinary couple from Venezuela, left everything behind to restart in the United States. Their entrepreneurial spirit and their love for Venezuelan food, bring this restaurant truly alive. We are lucky to have them in Pittsburgh.
5+ Places to Get the Best Empanadas in Pittsburgh
Cilantro & Ajo has some of the yummiest Venezuelan food around!. You can check out their brick & mortar restaurant or their food truck around the food festival circuit. Plus you need to try their cilantro & ajo sauce to dip your empanadas in, it is out of this world!
8 places to get empanadas in Pittsburgh
Cilantro & Ajo specializes in Venezuelan street food, and empanadas are the biggest seller. The white corn patty is stuffed, folded and deep-fried, and fillings include shredded beef, chicken, sweet plantain with cheese, shrimp, and bacon and gouda.
Our In-The-City Empanada Bucket List
Cilantro & Ajo has Venezuelan empanadas – instead of the Argentinian empanadas we’ve mentioned so far. We haven’t had them yet, but we are super excited to try them!. If you’ve eaten their empanadas, please tell us which flavors we need to try!
Empanadas in Pittsburgh
On the Southside, Cilantro & Ajo serves up authentic Venezuelan empanadas. Try their deep-fried, white corn patty stuffed with anything from chicken to chorizo to sweet plantains and cheese. Wash it down with their traditional brown lemonade.
Latin-Owned Businesses in Pittsburgh
Cilantro & Ajo: Founded by Marlyn and Anthony, a Venezuelan couple that shares a love for the traditional food of their country with traditional recipes and delectable food.
56 of the Best Pittsburgh Food Trucks, Street Food, & Popups
Cilantro & Ajo is a popular Venezuelan restaurant in the South Side that expanded operations with a mobile food truck!
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit