On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Spring Garden
Loading...
I actually came here mostly for the hot chocolate. I mean I'm a fan of all things edible buttttt the hot chocolate was my motivator so much so that i ordered it first (the food can wait).
I went with the clasico. It's funny, when your palette is soo used to cheap hot chocolate, it's hard to appreciate good stuff. I'm really use to the panera bread hot chocolate..to me, they make the best "cheap" hot chocolate (for me, anyway).
So i was served my clasico with a nice heap of whip cream. I was a bit disappointed in the small cup it came in but that size was deceiving.
It was really dark, rich and thick (uhmmmmm sorta same qualities I like in my men, their wallet and their penis...mauwahahahahah naughty naughty). So back to the drink, it wasn't too hot as the owner rightly pointed out, the "cheaper" hot chocolates are made HOT, but the real cocoa is not meant to be that HOT it ruins the product.
Anyway, I don't have much to say about the food because I only had the appetizer (platter and the smashed garlic plantain) + soursop drink. I didn't really have space for real meal so I guess I have to go back for that.
I got street parking a sketchy one block away...creeeeeepy. I like the home feel of it (owner's actually come out and interact, take ur orders, serve you..etc). The decor is also very simple but neat. I appreciated that...no fluff. I don't wanna pay for fluff.
I love me some biscuits (has nothing to do with nothing but it's a great saying).
So go check out sazon...and do it up like I did it...get the hot cocoa first. Oh, they have diff flavors...i was scared to try them because i was afraid I wouldn't like them so I stuck to the safe "classic" bet.
People thought this was:
I found Sazon by accident...while waiting to meet some friends in Spring Garden...and I'm glad I did.
I wanted a quick light lunch, so I went with the pabellon empanada. The first thing to strike my attention was the freshness of the ingredients. The side dish of coleslaw was clearly made from scratch...that day. Too often coleslaw is an afterthought...scooped out of a large vat to fill up space on the plate...but not at Sazon. The cabbage & carrots were crisp, and the seasonings subtle.
The empanada was perfectly cooked...golden brown and crisp outside. Again...the freshness of the ingredients really came though. I could taste each individual ingredient...in addition to enjoying their performance as a group. It was really a pleasure to eat here.
The decor is hip, funky and Latin inspired....with latin music over the house PA.
I found the service to be very friendly and prompt. Overall...a very happy dining experience.
People thought this was:
I heard a lot of good things about Sazon, mostly from a friend who has been there a few times. I stopped in solo to see if this would be a nice spot to take a special lady friend.
I started out with tostones, one of my favorite foods! I was impressed with the way they were cooked...very uniform shape and thickness. Nice crispness and the right texture. However, they were virtually flavorless. There were tiny amounts of cheese on top of them, but only after I hit them up with a generous amount of salt shaker did I taste anything.
I had the pernil arepa..not too bad. The meat was delicious, nice seasoning. This was my first experience with arepas. There was far too much juice in the sandwich because the bottom patty was soaked. Between this and the carmelized onion rings on top(delicious but unable to be torn with a bite), the apparent hand food moved into fork and knife territory.
I tried the chicha, which taste like rice pudding in a glass. Coming from me, that is a compliment. Creamy...nice spice to it. I would definitely order it again. Also, I sampled a few varieties of Sazon's truffles. I am a dark chocolate lover and I was satisfied with the flavors I got from the chocolate made in-house. One of them featured blueberry port wine which gave the truffle a decadent and smooth, yet slightly acidic and tart flavor. Yum yum!
It became apparent while I was there that reservations are suggested and sometimes necessary at Sazon. I had no problem getting a table with no reservations, but then again it was just me by my lonesome.
People thought this was:
After all the hype (poorly written PW article, reviews on Yelp) I finally went to Sazon - big disappointment.
Service was terrible, 15 min before we ordered, 30 minutes before appetizers and another hour before entrees. The appetizers were tasty but could have inspired a new movie - "Honey I Shrunk the Arepas." They were TINY, and $9.95. The vegetarian Patacon (#1 Seller!) was a big disappointment. Basically a few sliced grilled veggies between two tostones (the only redeeming part) for $18 - I could have made it at home.
We ordered papas fritas which looked good but were forgotten and an iced hot chocolate, the most delicious part of the meal. Ultimate insult to injury - finding out when we got the bill that the hot sauce I asked for with the entree was $1.75 extra for about 2 tablespoons worth.
The take-away from this - skip Sazon and book it up to Pura Vida for some Guatemalan food - cheaper & much, much better.
People thought this was:
Well I finally made it to Sazon for dinner! Tried some different empanadas, the Pernil (slow-roasted pork) arepa, and the Pabellon Criollo (think savory pot roast with black beans, sweet plantains and rice. All were very good. And there was so much more I wished I could have tried, you can only eat so much.
Sazon is not "latin concept." Think of it as having access to a Venezuelan grandma who is an awesome cook. Having lived in Miami a long time with access to some of the best Cuban-grandma cooks, I can say Sazon comes close. Although by Miami standards it is a bit pricey for this type of food-in Philly I'd happily pay what is asked just to have access to this latin home-cooking!
Note: Sazon is BYOB. And believe me there's no where around to easily pick up beer or wine, so ya better bring some!
People thought this was:
Popped in for a bite on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Only had a sampling of their empanadas and some of… Read more »
I went to Sazon for the first time last night, but I have a feeling I may be a regular there soon. The food is super delicious and priced right, I love the fact that it a BYOB, and the service was great.
Here is the part that really WOWed me more than just being a great place to eat... My wife and I brought a bottle of wine with us. During the meal, I got up to use the restroom. When I came back to the table, I accidentally grabbed a corner of the table cloth while sliding into the booth, which sent the wine flying everywhere! It spilled all ove me, all over the table, and all over the delicious steak & yucca I was eating! Immediately the owner came over to our table and started cleaning. He was more than pleasant about it... he moved us to a nearby table while he cleaned up my mess. Then, he brings me out another full dinner!!! I was like, what??? I said, "I can't believe this! I just messed up your restaurant, and you are giving me another steak?" He said "I want you to enjoy your meal!" with a smile! I couldn't believe it...
Big ups to Sazon!!! You took a situation that could have potentially ruined my night, made everything alright, then went above and beyond all expectations. I am definitely a fan, and will be back soon!
People thought this was:
I visited on a Sunday evening with a friend on a gluten-free diet. I saw a lot of good reviews on here so I was pretty excited. And I wasn't disappointed at all. It's a cute, cozy place. Definitely reminds me of dinner at someone's home, in a good way. We started with the platanos con queso. It was strange to eat them in a restaurant when I've cooked them oh so many times at home, but they were delicious nonetheless. I am curious to know what kind of cheese they use. My friend and I both got the arepas. After reading the description of the Pernil- slow roasted pork marinated in orange juice and cooked with olives and grilled onions- I had to taste it. My friend got the La Selva, an eggplant, mushroom, spinach, etc deal. I absolutely loved mine. And even though my friend is mostly vegetarian, I told her it was necessary she try it and she loveeeeed it as well. They look small on the plate, but I was stuffed and stayed full for a long time. We finished the meal with the Venezualan version of flan, I believe casuella? It was great. Very rich and did not have the bitter sauce that normall accompanies flan. All in all, great time.
The service was fine, nothing too great, but nothing lacking. I loved the family atmosphere and that the owner was there talking to tables. I'll definitely be back.
BYOB and enjoy the homey feeling of this restaurant. The decorations consist of pictures of the family and figurines. The owners do all the work. The husband is the waiter and the wife is the chef. The services was rather slow but we weren't in a rush. The place has a laid back feeling so you feel relaxed throughout your stay. Basically, you call the waiter when you're ready. There is traditional music playing in the background and the occassional newer songs/artists. It wasn't packed at all on a Friday night. By the end of our meal, the chef came out to ask us how everything was and if we needed anything else. She was a pleasure to talk to.
I had the red snapper with yellow rice. It was great. Their hot chocolate is to die for. Their appetizers were all pretty good too, we had their sampler and tostones. Everyone at the table had something different and everyone seemed pleased with their meal.
I'll definitely be back here, especially for their chocolate!
People thought this was:
this is the first time that yelp has steered me entirely and incredibly wrong.
i ate here with my husband and the meal was terrible. it was so bad i had to double check the address when i got home to be sure that the place i went to was actually the place for which i'd read such great reviews.
it was disappointingly awful.
my husband had arroz con pollo. it had absolutely no flavor. i mean i could see that they'd put some seasoning on it but it was basically cardboard. the rice was flavor-free as well. HOW DO YOU MESS UP ARROZ CON POLLO?!?! it tasted like the food had been prepared a week ago and re-heated for us. we could actually hear the microwave "ding" in the back. $16 for something that tasted worse than a lean cuisine?!
i had the reina pepiada and had to stop eating because i think with one more bite the food would have come back up. i LOVE avocado but this was a mushy green disgusting borderline inedible mayonaisy chicken salad mess. as the waitress cleared my plate (that i'd barely touched) she asked how everything was, and said honestly i didn't like it. and i NEVER complain about the food when i go out, i'm usually very easy to please. her respose was...no response.
i should have known something was up when there was only ONE other table full at the dinner hour. maybe the stellar reviews are part of a horrible joke that philly yelpers are playing. or maybe it was just a really bad night. one thing i know is i'm not coming back to find out.
by the way, after dinner my husband and i high tailed it over to mixto for actual food!
People thought this was:
I walked over here before the Mogwai show at the end of September for a pre post-rock dinner. Sazon is on the edge of Northern Liberties and Spring Garden. There is parking, but you do have to watch yourself because the area is pretty sketchy at night(I was there at 7:30pm). I parked next to Colosimos on a side street just before the rail road bridge/overpass.
The restaurant itself is festively decorated and felt very cozy. I got a seat right away and ordered a Chicha. The Chicha is a rice drink that tasty remarkably likely horchata. Chicha did seem to be very creamy and less milky like the horchata. And like horchata it has cinnamon and sugar in it. However, the person who made this drink must have been in a big hurry because there was a crapload of cinnamon on top of the drink. I stirred it in, but there was so much I could get it all to dissolve. Oh well, the more the merrier.
I ordered a reina pepiada for the main course. It came out as a corn patty with chicken and mayo and avocado stuffing. The chicken was pretty tasty and the avocado was very fresh. They put just a bit too much mayo in it for my taste though. The corn patty had flavor, but was a little on the heavy/thick side. It reminded me of a gordita(the real one, not the Taco Hell ones).
All in all the food was great. The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't stellar either. It took a while to get my dish, but I chalked it up due to the large number of people that were already there.
The atmosphere was ok. It was very busy and the place filled up right after I got in. So it got pretty loud, especially with Mrs. Hyena laugh lady and a group of teachers sitting on either side of me. The owner must have noticed me giving Hyena laugh lady the evil eye after the Nth time she laughed at levels approaching the speed of sound because when he brought over the check he said "You might want to come back on Monday or Tuesday when its a little quieter". I appreciated the tip and next time I'll do so.
People thought this was:
After a night at the Art after 5 at the Art Museum, we visited Sazon for dinner and met 3 other friends. The one friend recommended the place since they have a lot of gluten free and vegetarian items.
Immediately, she asked for the hot chocolate menu. A hot chocolate menu? Wow, why don't more places have a menu for that? Everyone else at the table ordered theirs early, but I waited for mine so you'll have to wait for my review on that. We ordered a feast for appetizers. We got the appetizer combo which included 3 small corn patties sandwiches and 2 empanadas. Lisa M ordered the chicken soup and it was so large it could have fed our entire table. Jen R ordered the plantains. This was my first time having them and I thought they were okay. It seemed they were a bit overcooked and the raw garlic on top was a bit too much.
The waiter who is also the owner (married to the chef, the other owner) was hard to read. It wasn't that he was mean, just odd.
Anyway, I ordered the chicken salad with avocado corn patty. The thing felt like 5 pounds but when you bite into it, it was surprisingly light. We ordered fries for the table which they made sure to cook in gluten free oil so Tammy M could enjoy them too. Jeff ordered the steak with a brown sugar reduction sauce that was very sweet, but not too overpowering.
Then, it was time for the hot chocolate! I ordered their season one that included cardamom and pumpkin mousse. The pumpkin mousse on top was amazing. The cardamom was a bit overpowering, but the drink was so good I couldn't finish it and took it home with me!
People thought this was:
The authentic Venezuelan food here was quite good though nothing spectacular, however the service, atmosphere and overall experience was fantastic! I had my birthday dinner here the other night, and couldn't ask for a better place: inexspensive good food, plus cheery atmosphere, plus BYOB add up to one happy birthday girl. For starters, they took our reservation of "10 to 15 people" for 7pm Saturday night no problem, and had no problem that half our party didn't show up until 8. The owner serves all the tables, and he was beyond friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. And his wife cooks all the food! A perfect team.
I had the pulled pork arepa - an english muffin-style corn patty stuffed with marinated pork, grilled onions, and green olives. Tasty and filling, though quite salty. Everyone agreed that the food wasn't as spicy or flavorful as we expected, I suppose Venezuelan cuisine isn't as spicy as I thought! But I certainly enjoyed it. Sour sop juice was awesome too.
The best part of the meal was the complimentary birthday treat: a handmade chocolate peanut butter cup, 1000 times better than reeses. Made from 90% cacao dark chocolate and homemade peanut butter and chilled, it tasted like heaven melted in my mouth.
I can't say enough how wonderful the owner was - taking pictures for us, singing happy birthday in english and spanish, and hugging and kissing us all on the way out! This was the absolute perfect place for a birthday dinner. Definitely go here regardless of whether you're a large group looking to celebrate or just a couple looking for a good meal, you shouldn't be disappointed!
People thought this was:
When I think of all the times I've spent $70-$80 on good but expensive food and booze at the Standard Tap after driving there. Meanwhile this place was just sitting here with better cheaper food, I am ashamed.
The food was excellent, I had a piece of chicken that was the best piece of chicken I've ever had! And I've had chicken before!
I highly recommend this place, it's BYOB so bring some of your own booze and make a go of it!
It was only after my friend told me he'd eaten here about 5 times and highly recommended it that I stopped by.
They have loads of steaks and veg or vegan options too, all affordable!
People thought this was:
Something that I appreciate in regional-style restaurants is something that you find in Sazon, it is authentic. All the ingredients of their food are imported from Venezuela. It's not venezolanized American food like most restaurants do.
The juices are from real fruit, the chocolate is amazing, and all the dishes have a great quality. They're always trying new Venezuelan dishes and if they don't approach the quality they expected, they prefer not to release it. It is the only one of its kind that you'll find in the entire city.
All the menu is really good. The asado negro is the best that I've tried in my life. I go as much as I can and I always bring new people to let them know how great is our cuisine, and Sazon have really represented us very well. You won't be disappointed by anything in their menu. Also, the owners are very involved in each detail and are always taking care of their customers
I found it terribly subpar. my meal tasted like...mmm. fresh microwave. i would not return, nor would i recommend it to anyone really. you could do much better for the money in my opinion.
People thought this was:
I really enjoyed my meal here. The place is in an unfortunate part of Spring Garden, not really near anything other than Siam Lotus. Inside, it's cute and bright and beyond colorful. The food is made by the wife, and she'll even bring it out and serve it to you. The husband takes the orders and serves as well.
I had the asado negro and it was delicious! We also had a bunch of apps including plantains, and if you like plantains like I do, then you'll love em. They also have arepas, which says it's a corn patty filled with various stuff, but it's like a big ass sandwich, and they're huge. Huge enough as a meal. It's also a BYOB which is a nice touch. Venezuelan food? Still don't really know what that is, but what I know is that it's pretty damn good.
People thought this was:
My boyfriend, our parents, and I ordered a load of food from Sazon tonight, and I have to say, first, I've never had Venezuelan food, and second, the food was fantastic! I'm definitely eating there again, without question. The Arepas (corn patty-based dishes) were delicious, and the fried plantains were just plain yummy. Everything we got, from the roasted port dishes to the veggie sandwiches were perfect. We also got their hot chocolate for dessert. It's pure cocoa and is super rich, so that we each had a shot glass worth, and that was enough for each of us. It's too rich to drink more than that at a time. But man, was that stuff good! It's the perfect way to end a meal. Next time, I'll actually go to the restaurant for dinner instead of ordering takeout. Either way, though, the food is worth the trip to 9th and Spring Garden.
I also think it's hilarious that they have "Sloppy Jose" on the menu.
The only criticism that I have is that they only deliver until 3 p.m. I'm lazy and would love it if they delivered at dinnertime, especially on the weekends.
Curiously, the place was empty when my boyfriend picked up our order. I hope all of you reading this try Sazon because I want it to stay in business for a long, long time to come. The food is just that good. Check out their menu online.
People thought this was:
I would have to say that i am a fan of Sazon! It was very good Venezulan food. I orderd the Pork Chop with White Rice and Black Beans ( it was pretty good) i also enjoyed the chicken soup, ( its BIG BIG chunks of chicken with BIG chunks of potatoes) including carrots and scanlons. I went with a couple of friends and we also got the very good hot chocolate but it was very strong and rich. We parked around the corner on 10th street and had reservations for 8pm. We met the owner of the restaurant and she was very funny & very nice. The atompshere was very comfortable and i would love to eat there again
People thought this was:
i heart sazon.
i think that sazon is wonderful.
the empanadas and arepas are filling and flavorful.
great atmosphere as well with incredibly friendly staff.
Was not quite sure what brunch would be like at a Venezuelan restaurant but was happily surprised! The omelets (which are actually frittatas) were tasty and accompanied by lovely pillows of fried corn meal dough and a well dressed and fresh salad. The pancakes were hearty and delicious.
But the real reason to go to Sazon is their killer hot chocolate! Whether the water based cacique or the milk based clasico, these are designed to please the most sophisticated chocolate-lover. Just a warning - the hot chocolate is $6 but well worth it!
People thought this was:
I do not have the same decor concerns that the previous poster expressed. Yes, Sazon is in an old diner but there is a lot of S. American style art throughout. I prefer to think of it as an effective use of an existing space.
We ate there last night for the 3rd or 4th time. We don't have a 'regular' spot and bounce around to a lot of area restaurants. The owner not only remembered us, he remembered my last name. Our last visit was well over 3 months ago!
The food is awesome and last night was no exception! We had the fried plantains with cheese. I typically avoid plantains, something about the texture and the flavor is unappealing. But these were fried to perfection and the salty cheese flavor really complemented the sweetness of the plantain. We split a ensalada mixta which was simple and fresh. She only used oil, vinegar and salt over the salad and it really complements the fresh veggies. We each got an Arepa -- my husband got the reina pepiada which is chicken with a Venezuelan guacamole and I got the pernil which is orange marinated pork with onions. The pernil is our favorite.
We usually go this route and get some appetizers and sandwiches or arepas and get out pretty cheaply. Last night with tax and tip we ate for less than $30.
People thought this was:
This place was great. The server was genuinely friendly and the food was delish. No corkage fee either.
People thought this was:
You might not think much of it when you see it on Spring Garden but it's definitely worth checking out. Their food is good, they are BYOB, I've never seen Venezuelan food anywhere else in Philly and they are very reasonable. Its a great place to eat if you need a little change of pace.
So delicious. The chicken soup cured my cold back in January. I also really love all the sweetened hot chocolate. The traditional hot chocolate was an experience too but obviously a different flavor from american sweet hot chocolate.
Comparing the food at Sazon to other like dishes is difficult as it bills itself as the only Venezuelan restaurant in the state. Judging on presentation, taste, uniqueness and value, this bright corner store at 10th & SpringGarden is a winner. Comfortable room of booths is inviting and stops short of crossing the line into Fifties Formicaville and with its just dim enough lighting and soothing Spanish style ballads playing softly, the stage is well set for the excellent food to come. Arepas, the Venezuelan answer to dinner rolls and sandwich bread is a black hole of white cornmeal denseness, an English muffin with every hole filled. Cut crosswise and butter or scoop out the middle and stuff with anything you like. Perfectly cooked pork chop and torn and pulled flank steak entrees come with black beans so unadorned its is hard to explain why they taste so good or if the chef will give up her secret. Plain white fluffy rice enjoys the same deft hand of the masterful chef who is manning the stoves at this surprising place. Venezuelan flan, or quesillo is unique in taste and texture and superb. The hot chocolates are so diverse, different and delicious, they merit a café of their own. If Sazon is the vanguard of the coming of Venezuelan food, tapas may have some competition.
Good, inexpensive food! BYOB makes it all that much cheaper. I live 2 blocks from there. This restaurant is especially good for gluten free diets and when you need some serious chocolate, come for their insane hot chocolates.
People thought this was:
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: American (New)
Voorhees, NJ
Category: Gluten-Free
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: American (New)
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
