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La Caraquena Latin American Cuisine
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon., Wed-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
19 reviews for La Caraquena Latin American Cuisine
I want to rate the restaurant, food and service separately and without average scoring. So here goes:
Food - We've been here a number of times and tried just about everything on the menu. Saltenas and JP's arepa (fried not grilled) are good, the rest is OK and inconsistent in taste. I'd give these two 4 stars.
Ambiance - OK-3 stars. Nothing special, nice for-sale photographs of South Am highlights, plastic booths and very small (4 of us 5'9" and above, normal weight tried to sit in one and had no room to move our arms which you generally need to do when eating), and some decent outdoor space (but without music so we prefer to sit inside)
Service - 3 for the staff and 2 for the owner. Staff-depends who you get. Some folks are too friendly and at your table all the time, some folks take their sweet time to get your order. Owner - total sourpuss each time we were there. The first time we were there we commented we were glad to see good restaurants opening in Falls Church, close to where we live and where we can see coming at least once a week and his comment back was that he'd prefer to be in Georgetown. That's probably true and if I were him, I'd feel the same, but I probably wouldn't be broadcasting the idea to someone complimenting your new digs and potentially helping your business stay afloat. There is something mighty pretentious about this guy,
I urged my husband to take me to this restaurant after reading 2 positive reviews in local magazines. Based on the recommendations of the food critic we ordered the Saltena (tasty, but very small - 2 bites for $5) We ordered the fried yucca which came with delicious condiments, but was also small for the price when compared to offerings at similar establishments.
The disappointment came when the sopa demani arrived -- according to the menu this was supposed to be a peanut based soup with "dices of beef" -- I couldn't detect the faintest trace of beef -- the soup was a flavorful puree, but not what I thought it would be.
The corn salad topped with sirloin was greatly enhanced by the use of fresh herbs although the meat itself was quite tough.
Final thoughts -- next time I would stick to a sampling of appetizers including the arepas , which everyone else raved about.
Disappointing, at best.
Upon arriving, my roommate and I were seated at a one-sided booth (that is, side by side with another booth in front of us), which was slightly awkward. The waitress seemed to have no idea what was on the menu. First night? Maybe. Hopefully. The food itself was okay. I got some sort of cheese stick things (tequenones), and after the waitress rushed back from the kitchen to ask which of the three available sauces I wanted, I ended up getting all three, anyway. I'm not complaining, but was fairly indicative of how things went. My roommate ordered a couple arepas, which she came back and asked if he wanted them grilled or fried. He asked for one of each - they both came grilled (although we were just glad that she got them both ordered). I had a dish that was, basically, ropa vieja with a different name. It was served with some black beans and rice and a couple fried plantains. It was all very average. The place is small, seating maybe 40 at best, and that would really be pushing it. Not a complaint there, just an observation, but be prepared. I have exactly no desire to return.
La Carquena might be hard to find for non Falls Churchers, it's connected to a tiny motel in the heart of Falls Church City.
We ordered carryout yesterday, so I haven't been inside the restaurant. The food though is good. It's very flavorful, and their dipping sauces provided a lot of extra uumpf to the food.
From La Caraquena we ordered Saltenas, Tequenones, Arepas, and the Yucca Frita.
The Saltenas are better than most. I've never had authentic Saltenas so I don't know what they should taste like when cooked by a Bolivian grandmother. What I do know is that La Caraquena makes them far better than other places where I have had Saltenas. The crust of the "turnover" had a light crunch yet the inner part of the crust maintained a soft fluffy texture. The stew inside the Saltenas was loaded with great flavors, and the vegetables weren't over cooked, you could taste each part while altogether still enjoying the overall combination of flavors.
The Tequenones are good but not my bag. The crust on these Latin cheese sticks were a bit dry and the cheese wasn't as soft as I would like, maybe it's the way it's supposed to be but I don't like it when a "cheese stick" has cheese that doesn't melt in your mouth, and is a bit too chewy.
The Arepas I believe will be my undoing. If I wasn't on a mission to lose weight I think I would intentionally try to gain 10 lbs in a week just for the sake of tasting each of their 11 different Arepas. I had the Sifrina, a blend of chicken salad, avocado, and mayo with a mix of cheeses, this joyous harmony of flavors is topped off by being in the center of two grilled (or fried) cornmeal patties. I could eat just the cornmeal patties on there own with some butter.
The Yucca Frita was cooked really well; it was clear the Yucca was fresh Yucca and not out of a bag like mass produced French Fries.
This place has become another go to restaurant in Falls Church City, the city with nothing to do...
I give this a Man Boobs+ Rating or 3.5 Stars, it's good so be prepared to develop man boobs, the only reason it doesn't get 4 Stars is that I didn't like the Tequenones.
As a lanky northern white guy who can barely scissor kick a soccer ball, I can't comment much on authenticity of any Latin American Cuisine. As a person that loves food and creativity, I've got words to say:
This place is pretty cool.
It's not much to look at, but La Caraquena provided me and my date a couple of delicious, filling dishes. I had a steak served over french fries, smothered in a beer gravy and topped with chopped jalapenos. It was freaking awesome. Apparently its South American hangover food. Who knows? I loved it. Were I to ever be back in the neighborhood, I'd eat here again.
Seriously? Then I think you all need to come to NYC and try Caracas Arepa Bar. Tis why I am so spoiled.
The arepa was not toasty, and instead, chewy. A chewy arepa? Are you kidding me? It was stuffed with guacamole, only the stuff looked like it came out of a squeegee bottle. Chicken was mixed in with the guac. The whole thing just seemed unnatural to me, but the hot sauce inproved the situation somewhat.
The salteña is this place's redeeming feature. Delicious! Almost as good as the ones my mom makes. And they are big, so one might be all you need.
La Caraqueña is connected to a seedy motel in a very lonely part of Falls Church (not that the town is a hoppin kind of place anyway), but it is nice inside, if a little dark. When we went to pick up our food, there were only a few people there. They were there either for the salteñas, or because they didn't know any better.
$4.99 for a saltena! Are you FREAKIN' kidding me? EVERYWHERE else in town ( Victor's, Luzmillas, Tutto Bene, Pike's Pizza, San Antonio Grill, My Bakery- shall I go on?) will get you a saltena for under $3.00. And its not just the saltenas- EVERYTHING is ridiculously priced on the menu. If the joint was beautiful, I'd get it ....maybe..........but its claustrophobically/ridiculously small, w/ no decor to speak of- and if there are more than 4 people in your party, you're screwed: The tables simply can't accomodate you. So small- that its stiffling, prices so high its ridiculous. Skip this one and go out to dinner somewhere else.
Yes, I said it. I'm in love with arepas! What is an arepa? The arepa is a corn-based bread from the northern Andes in South America (from countries like Venezuela and Colombia) now spread to other areas in modern Latin American countries. Arepas are most popular in Venezuela, Colombia and also Dominican Republic.
Last night I went to La Caraquena in Falls Church to sample their Venezuelan/Bolivian cuisine and I was not disappointed. From the service to the food to the prices, I was impressed. Very laid back, very friend and very inexpensive food that is nothing less than mouth watering. Sounds like a winning combo right?
We started with the Salteñas which is a baked Bolivian turnover stuffed with beef stew. Think of it like an empanada but with more filling. The stuffing of beef, olives, eggs and vegetables was not one I was used to, but it was tasty none the less. While I enjoyed it, I wasn't so in love with it that I wouldn't try something else next time.
Next came the stars of the show, the arepas. We went with three to split between the two of us and along with the fried yucca, it was plenty. We had the Carne mechada (seasoned shredded beef), the Reina pepeada (chicken salad with mayonnaise and avocado) and JP's Favorite (JP being one of the chefs and apparently a fan of thinly sliced steak and onions). Three words for arepas:
OH.
MY.
GOD.
The corn bread cakes practically melted in your mouth. It's easy to see why people order them Viuda, or plain, and just take them to go. I would actually like to have a Viuda and a coffee for breakfast every single morning for the rest of my life. They're that good.
But as good as they are, they're even better with the scrumptious fillings. My personal favorite was the Reina pepeada. It was the perfect blend of flavors and would be very easy to enjoy on the go (JP's favorite would be a little bit too messy to eat anywhere without a lot of napkins). But really, I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. The server was very patient and explained most of the menu items to us and even had some really great suggestions. Here's a tip. If you order the fried yucca, which you should, make sure you get a side of their sauce. It's an entirely different experience!
So, if you're tired of the same old Tex-Mex fare and you want an authentic, low cost Latin food experience, please go to La Caraquena. You won't be disappointed.
My friends and I were looking for a place to eat before seeing the Legwarmers at the State Theater and chose this place. The location seems a bit dodgy at first as it is connected to a low-budget motel, but it is nice inside and doesn't seem sketchy.
Staff is super friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the cuisine is very authentic and therefore completely veggie-unfriendly (the beans have bacon in them). If you do not eat any animals (like me), I recommend you stay away. All I could have was fried cheese and a cheese arepa. These items were quite good for what they were, but not too interesting or healthy. My friends seemed to really enjoy their (meatful) food, so I didn't want to give them low stars just because they have nothing for me to eat.
I've been by this restaurant quite a few times, but I've never stopped in. Finally, at the suggestion of a friend, I gave it a whirl today and it hit the spot.
There are several misconceptions I had about this restaurant prior to visiting. Other reviewers have mentioned the restaurant is connected to a motel. That is precisely what kept me from visiting this restaurant in the past, but the restaurant actually makes good use of the space it has inside and it is nice. The tables are on the smallish side, but they get the job done--think of an IHOP-sized table for four people. There is outdoor seating available, but we did not partake today.
The cuisine also caught me off guard. When I see a Spanish-sounding name, I think "Mexican"--not so at La Caraquena. It's more South American (though I'll confess I don't know my @$$ from my elbow on this subject).
We started off with the fried yuca--delicious! They had some mayonaise based sauce that went with it, along with a green sauce and a diced-tomato-ey salsa. Additionally, I had a grilled beef arepa. It was awesome. Next time I'm getting it fried--you can get them either grilled or fried. I figured the real test would be how it is grilled because everything tastes good fried :)
The waiter kept our drinks filled, got our food in a timely manner, and came back to check on us...contrary to other reviewers' experiences. It seems as though the restaurant is responsive to Yelpers.
I was there with my 3 year old son, his buddy, and his buddy's dad. On the way out, my son's friend wanted to play the bongo drums that were setting out and the owner came out to play them. The owner was a very nice gentleman and took a lot of pride in his place.
The portions are a bit smallish, so don't go in expecting them to put a trough in front of you. If you're looking for a place for good food that's responsive to its customers, you can't go wrong with La Caraquena.
Tiny tables, poor atmosphere, sub-par service and over-priced food. If you want to spend this much money, you can easily find something better.
The food was good, but the rest of the problems don't make it worth the money. By the way, the place is located in the former office of a shanty motel.
"My name is La Caraquena Latin American Cuisine. You will eat my arepas. Prepare to like me!"
"Ah, granddad, not another girly story."
"Oh, okay, so maybe you don't want to hear about the adventures of eating Latin American food in Falls Church... nor the story of exotic juices (including passion fruit and mango - with water or frothed with milk) from equatorial and hothouse countries... Or perhaps you don't want to hear the story of how the lowly cassava root is soaked, dried and then fried into hot crispy sunlight filled splints of bark. Maybe you aren't interested in recalling the friendships of youth brought back to life by tequenones with tres amigos sauce (pasty cigars filled with cheese)... Perhaps you don't care about the arepas? No interest in the griddled arepa spliced and filled with foam green avocado and chicken salad. Then you wouldn't be interested in the fried arepa, corn dough crusty from frying and filled with beans and cheese. And then you wouldn't want to hear about the slight letdown of the ordinariness and toughness (equals flavor) of the lomo a la plancha (steak) with homemade mushroom sauce made with no cream. Or the plain boiled broccoli. All too ordinary. But as it's far too girly to mention, you wouldn't want to hear more about the small leather booths, electronic bathroom facilities, and warm low lighting. And certainly you wouldn't want to know about the service, friendly, cheerful and personal. Or the desserts..."
"Well, maybe, granddad. Is there ice cream?"
"Yes, there's a matching selection of Latin American sweets to match the drinks. The quesillo (cheesecake) is thick and sweet. And the ice cream is served with fresh tropical fruit (it grows on trees). And if you find yourself in this land of La Caraquena, you too can ask for the secret of the mysterious 'ice cream flavor of the day'"
"Oh, please tell me!"
"Okay. Carlos raves about it. But don't tell anyone as it's a rare flavor -- it's vanilla."
I suspect after its recent listing on Washingtonian's Cheap Eats list, business at La Caraquena will soar. This isn't necessarily a good thing because there are a total of 8 tables in the place. The restaurant actually shares space with a sketchy motel on Broad Street in Falls Church. This is one of those places where you have to read about it being good, or hear about it from a friend, in order to get over the skeezy setting and take a chance. After my wife read about it in Washingtonian, we took a chance.
The most frustrating part was the wait, which appeared to only be about 15-20 minutes, until our intended table was usurped by a reservation, which doubled our wait. After the aplogetic staff seated us, the rest of the meal went smoothly. The cuisine here is simple and straightforward. I don't have a ton of experience with Central/South American cooking, so you'll have to take what I say in context. Overall it was good. The arepas (sandwiches) were good, though the chicken variation was mixed with a good amount of mayo and guac. It tasted good but couldn't be too high on the healthy eating scale. In fact mayo features prominently in many of the dishes and sauces from what I could tell. The bread on the arepas was quite good and soft, though I can't testify as to their authenticity - doesn't matter, I liked it. The saltenas app was really good, even though its "everything but the kitchen sink" combo of ingredients sounded a bit strange when I read it on the menu. The side order of fried plantains was kinda of small.
To sum up, we'll go back, but next time we'll make a reservation.
I find the food too heavy for my taste, perhaps Latin American cuisine is just not my cup of tea. We ordered saltenas, arepas, and fried plantine. The saltenas were tasty, slightly sweet, with a very meaty flavor. We ordered two filled arepas and one plain. Eventhough these sandwiches looked small, but they were dense and overstuffed with meat. I never had arepas before, and I was hopping for something fluffier with a sweet corn taste. The fried platines were soft and lightly sweet. I dipped everything in the complimentary salsa verde, which was spicy and refreshing.
After reading these reviews and on our first outing with our new little baby, we were looking for an adventure and decided to head out for lunch for an arepa.
The location is interesting to say the least. The hotel where this is located is a little shabby and not in the shabby chic sort of way. Inside the dining room is clean and simple. The artwork is for sale and I liked several of the pictures. Be aware that the biggest table sits 4 from what I can see (maybe there is another dining area but I only say maybe 12 tables).
We ordered the arepas - I had a fried chicken and cheese arepa and the hubby had a grilled arepa. Mine won hands down. The arepas are about the size in diameter of a bagel but not as thick -- maybe as thick as an english muffin. I ordered the mango juice frothed with milk -- this just made my meal. We also ordered a saltenas which was perfect!
We will be back. The reason for the 3 stars instead of 4 is the price. For the amount of food you receive I think it is a little over priced but maybe I am just too used to the over sized portions of some many other restaurants.
This place blew my mind... I felt like was in South America, eating authentic venezuelan food.... the arepa mmmmmmmmmmmmmm they made my mouth water and the service was also great!
The vibe was super friendly..... I highly recommend this hidden gem.
4 stars for the food, 1 1/2 stars for the service. I would give this 2 1/2 stars overall if Yelp allowed. The food was great! I had salchipapas, hubby had the saltena. We were enjoying ourselves and our appetizers immensely. Then... 30 minutes goes by, and still no entrees. People who were seated after us were getting their entrees. We waited... people were finishing their food and leaving-still no entree. The entire time, our waiter never came by-we never even saw him. We were sitting outside, I suppose we could have gone inside to inquire, but we were trying to be patient. Finally, our waiter comes by and says "dessert?" Uh, no, we never got our flippin' ENTREES! He doesn't say a word and goes in. He comes back out and says 2 minutes for the entree. 10 minutes later, we're about to go in and ask for the bill when he brings the food. Still doesn't say "sorry". The entrees were great- JP's favorite and the chicken rosada arepas. He comes back with the bill and states he took the entrees off-which he should have. I don't necessarily blame the waiter-it could have been the kitchen's fault, but still. If the waiter had ever come by to check on us, he would have seen we didn't have any food! Just horrible service all around. We spent almost 2 hrs. on what was supposed to be a quick lunch. Food was good, but the service was abominable. Won't be back.
Just thinking about this place makes my mouth water. Saltenas, arepas, barros luco, quesadillas, flan, all home-made and tasty as can be. La Caraquena is right across the street from Anthony's, a lovely greek-owned diner that also has some good food. But if you're in the mood for home-cooked, affordable and filling Latin American cuisine, this is the place to go.
My first exposure to La Caraquena was at the Taste of Falls Church and I was hooked! The arepas are to die for. For those who don't know, an arepa is a corn-based bread, about the size of an English muffin, but more dense and grilled to a crisp on the outside. Cut a pocket into the arepa and fill with delicious seasoned meats, beans and South American cheese. So tasty and satisfying. The staff are very friendly and happy to share information about the items on the menu. I can't wait to try other dishes. If you haven't tried this place, definitely give it a chance!
