Meson Criollo Grill Restaurant
15713 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA, 91406
Meson Criollo Grill Restaurant Menu
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Address :
15713 Vanowen St
Van Nuys, CA, 91406 - Phone (818) 904-1099
- Website https://www.elmesoncriollo.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Jhonatan J.
I've lived in Los Angeles for three years and had never gone to a Colombian restaurant with such good quality food, service and variety. It was a very good experience which was also accompanied by aliens who were very very excited flavor of Colombian food. If you are looking for a good Colombian food restaurant 100 percent would recommend this restaurant.
(5)Jessica L.
Food was decent but this was the worst service experience I've ever had. We walked in and weren't acknowledged. Took 10 mins for someone to notice us. We got out drinks and it took another 15 minutes for someone to come take our order. Don't think I'll be coming here again.
(2)Louis S.
I really wanted to like this place as it's right down the street. However, there were two major issues: Quality: We ordered the Churrasco steak cooked "medium" and Pechuga con Champinones (grilled chicken w/mushrooms). They were served with great sides: rice, beans, etc. However, in both cases the meat/poultry was way overcooked. Any establishment calling itself a "Grill" should not have these issues. Service: The staff was a bit sparse even for Wednesday evening at 7pm. We waited to be seated for nearly 5 mins before we saw any servers. Once seated, our server was super nice and friendly --but she was the only server and she looked swamped. Our food took ~30 minutes to be served. The dishes both tasted good despite these issues. I'm still willing to try this place again.
(3)Edward R.
I must say, this is one of hidden gems of Van Nuys that serves Colombian food. Ive been to many South American cuisine restaurants and this place is solid while offering variety of food. Ive ordered mixed platter of meat and every one of them was delicious. Even chicharron, the fried pork fat that I'm not a fan of, they cooked and fried it well. I love their South American beers, especially the Colombian beer. I will be back again.
(5)Patty T.
My favorite Colombian restaurant. The staff is friendly and lots of fun. The food is excellent. I although a girl frequent almost every Sunday after I go to church I go by myself and it doesn't feel at all weird, because they make you feel like you're at home. I went to all the World Cup soccer games last year to see Colombia play, and I'll tell you right now will go it in a heart best next time too. For a 1:00 pm game we got there at 7:30 am and they handled the crowd, the press, the food perfectly! Que viva Colombia I que Viva El Meson.
(5)Gary I.
Meson Criollo means an inn or tavern run by people of Spanish descent...in this case, of Columbian cuisine. A low budget strip mall restaurant that certainly has its charms such as a naïve mural of a romantic rural setting at a hacienda near a fountain, glass wood framed cabinets holding snacks & treats from the old country or bottles of wine stored in correct horizontal position, faux arched arcade w/ wall scone lanterns. Unlike many of the recent "hip restaurants" like Bestia, Republique, Animal, etc., the chairs are sturdy & comfortably padded as if to invite the customers to linger, and except for the occasional crying baby, Meson Criollo is a civilized oasis. Our waitress was casual, friendly if only a tad disorganized that would matter in an "restaurant de haute cuisine" such as not bringing a glass of wine right after ordering so that the customer can use the wine as an aperitif if so desired, but does not matter so much when a hearty main course is a stomach filling meal for less than $15. As in many Latin influenced restaurants, service is slower paced to enjoy conversation w/ friends & family so don't expect instant modern "American" service where instant gratification seems to be the name of the game so I would NOT recommend this restaurant for those on a tight schedule. I kept hearing about the Bandeja Meson Criollo, bandeja meaning a tray. As p/romised, it is a large plate full of a long strip of chewy, meaty, porky Chicharon/pork meat w/ a rind of fat & skin deep fried. Chicharon seems to be a universal latino based dish in places like Mexico, El Salvador, and now, in my experience, Colombia. The Skirt steak is thin & brined/marinated so that it still has a chaw, but the meat is moist & soft. The meaty ground pork sausage was well seasoned with a mélange of herbs, but a bit over cooked since it seemed pre-grilled & reheated. Beans are in a flavourful broth so it is not so bland tasting as in many latin based restaurants. The lightly steamed white rice that is drier & friable and the fried heavier, denser textured plantain banana served as the starch as well as Arepa, a thick Columbian style tortilla in the "Mexican sense of the word" since tortillas in Spain is an egg omelette w/ potatoes. An egg over-easy & a quarter of an aguacate/avocado were the garnishes. I saved the fried sweet, unripened bananas as a sweet end to the main course. This dish is totally worth the $13.99, and may be the best deal in the house. I'm a big eater, but I had to take a third "of it home for the next day's lunch. Use their Aji Verde salsa which is a watery puree of chiles, onions, garlic, vinegar which enlivens the meats especially the Chicharron since it is fried to a well done crisp. I ordered a glass of the "house Cabernet Sauvignon" from California and it was PLONK. It tasted like something from Carlo Rossi. I suppose that should be expected. Most Latin American cuisines do not have a great native American tradition of growing grapes, and so there seems to be little awareness in having a discriminating taste for better wines. Exceptions are Argentina & Chile so far, and Mexico may slowly be another exception since their wines coming out of the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California del Norte is acquiring better knowledge & technology to make some great wines. I ended the meal with the Natas dessert. Nata in Spain is a crème filling like the French Crème Pastisserie, but the Natas de Meson Criollo is more like a watery bread pudding flavoured with mostly condensed milk. It is a simple dessert, and their medium strong, slightly acidic Colombian coffee pairs well. Good solid 3 stars.
(3)Vanessa C.
Came here last night about 90 mins until closing. It's small and very cute place. Loved that the place was playing Columbian music while you waited and ate your food. My friend ordered for me since he knew what I wanted to eat. Hen soup was so delicious (not too salty, just right with the condiments). My soup came with a salad and rice which were also delicious. Empanadas con papa y carne w/ the salsa was again delicious. It came with bread but they only had 3 left and we got it. I also tried to order plataño maduro and they were out of that. Their style of papa rellenos were out of stock and so was their tamales. Had to only give this place 4 stars because they ran out of food and although it's a good thing but it's also a bad thing for someone who hasn't been there before. I plan on going back to try other items I wasn't able to try.
(4)Coco P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants but I live far from here but everyte I come to visit family I come to eat here very good Colombian food the best thing I love is there empanadas very good stuff the staff always very nice and fast I do recommend it
(5)Raquel C.
We don't really go out for Colombian food. I usually make it better, faster, and cheaper at home. But we had been told this place was good, so we gave it a try. The location is convenient, although most of the parking spaces were ridiculously small. But once you go inside, the decor and ambiance is the same as most fondas, clean and inviting. We started with the empanadas de carne, Pony Maltas, and a cafe con leche. The aji that came with the empanadas was pleasantly spicy. My son ordered the Churrasco sandwich, it came with loads of steak fries! I shared the Bandeja Paisa Meson with my hungry teen, it comes with a fried egg, steak, fried pork belly, sausage, rice beans, fried plantain, and avocado, all very delicious! My husband had the Carne Asada, he said the meat was a little tough and bland, but the sides were all very good. We really enjoyed our dinner and even bought some caramel figs to take home.
(4)Zacky W.
Hola, Mi llamo es ... Ohhh never mind . ... That is the extent of my second language , Spanish Was excited about trying some arepas here. Arepas are kind of like if a tortilla and a pancake had a baby that you could eat ( sorry for the creepy reference). I had the following here: Patacon con pollo ( fried green plaintain with chicken). 3 out of 5: Plantains were not very fresh, even though I got them to go I live close by and when I opened them 10 minutes later they were soft. The chicken was ridiculously sparse which is a big no no . However the able of the garlic and tomatoe/pepper sauce was very tasty bringing the rating to a 3 . Yuca frites: 3 out of 5: Really tasted like nothing but fried batter and a tinge of yuca . But I love fried batter and the small bit of yuca had me reaching for more . Arepas con camarones (shrimp): 2.5/5: The arepa itself was on the tougher and doughy side but delivered on the corn and butter flavor desired in a arepa . The shrimp was literally 3 small shrimp diced and tossed in what tasted like thousand island dressing . Defintley a let down . I would come back to try some more dishes but would not go out of my way to do so . Where are the good arepas at ??
(3)Cesar R.
The wife and I shared a pair of big, hot Colombian balls here... Great Colombian grub... SALTEADO DE RES yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Beef was a little tough but overall not bad. BANDEJA PAISA yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Rice, beans, skirt steak, fried pork, eggs, fried plantain, avocado, pork sausages, and arepa. Are you fu*king kidding me!? This was breakfast overkill in the best possible way, great stuff. BALLS yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Um, these were made out of fried cheese bread....now if that's not enough to convince you to put these balls in your mouth....then I've lost all hope in humanity.
(4)Will G.
Delicioso!!! Primera vez comiendo en este restaurante y sali completamente satisfecho!! La comida fue traida a la mesa rapido y mas importante para mi, comida caliente. El servicio fue rapido y siempre muy amable.
(5)Chris G.
Delicious Bandeja paisa!!! Reminds me of my home town when I used to eat typical colombian food at my grandmother house.
(4)Yas G.
I've eaten here several times over the years. The ambience is nothing to write home about, but you dint go there to stare at the decorations but to eat, and the food is tasty and cooked just right. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. So why only three out of five stars? The services leaves a lot to be desire. I've ordered food that never came. They completely forgot that I had ordered it. These have been appetizers so no biggie. Every time I've eaten in once the food was brought over the waiter or waitress disappeared and never return to see if I wanted anything else. Not once! Every time I've had to walk over to the counter to ask for my check. In one of my visits I sat after I finished eating waiting for the waiter to check on me or to bring me the check. I waited 28 minutes before I got tired of waiting and got up to go ask for my check and tell them that they had never brought me the appetizer I had ordered. This was during the weekday and there was only a handful of people in there so there was no justification for them not to check on me for almost half an hour after they brought my food. So if you go there, just be patient because their service does suck. If you can put up with the poor service, you can definitely get some pretty good food.
(3)Rebecca P.
Empanadas are the best! Chicharrones are crisp. Colombiana hits the spot. Arepa con camarones is delicious. Love coming here.
(5)Martin P.
Very exquisite, meat could be better done and wait staff more efficient. No soda refills :/. Kids come here during the day so it gets wild
(5)Johan M.
I was born in Medellin. I fly back and forth from Medellin to LA often. There is no difference in the food at Meson Criollo. Other Paisa's concur. If you want authentic Colombian food in the SF Valley, look no further. As far as restaurants in general are concerned, I can't imagine a more impressive place to bring a lady to. If a lady I bring to this place is not pleased, she fails the test and gets the boot. But not before I take the empanada out of her mouth, and give it a better home. Soy Paisa, y que?
(5)Lori B.
Having a Colombian friend is turning me into quite the international girl. The Pechuga en Salsa Criolla is muy bueno (chicken breast in a homemade sauce with plantain chips). Now for dessert chocoramo---so good!
(4)Guadalupe R.
Love this place great food I came here 2 times a month I recommend sancochito delicios
(5)Maribel B.
They open late and the service is good. I have had a lot better bandeja paisas. The tajadas/maduros were flavorless, the meat tasted like it was cooked a long time ago. Not sure if they cool to the order or if everything is ready for the entire day- therefore if you go earlier in the day it might be better. We were one of the last ones in the restauran
(3)Faith H.
My first time at this restaurant was amazing! I was with my 100% Columbian ambassador and roomie who has been looking for an authentic spot and we are so glad we found it! The only downside was that service was a bit slow and it was a bit more expensive than we'd hoped but neither would be enough to keep us away :-)
(4)Jonathan Z.
Went there last night I got the Bandeja Paisa and it was amazing and the eggs where exquisite. Best Colombian restaurant in LA and I do recommend.
(5)Diana E.
I celebrated a big milestone birthday recently and had Meson Criollo Grill cater the event for 60 people. I am Colombiana and wanted a party that honored my heritage. I worked closely with Patricia, the owner, who assured me that she could handle a large party and my needs with ease and her price per guest was very reasonable. I ordered arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), empanadas (beef, spinach, cheese and chicken), yucca, pandebono filled with guava, platanos (sweet and salty) and short ribs. And for a little extra cost, Patricia personally delivered the food from Van Nuys to Marina Del Rey. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING and my guests kept RAVING about it- my friends are Westside folk who love to cook, enjoy good food and eat out often- AND my boyfriend is a chef- so this was a sophisticated foodie crowd. I WAS THRILLED WITH MESON CRIOLLO GRILL.
(5)Mahaliah D.
Love this restaurant! My favorite spot in Van Nuys! My boyfriend and I are regulars! Come if you are expecting incredible, traditional Colombian food for a great price; top that off with impeccable service! Make Colombian food a part of your daily life! Choose Mesón Criollo!
(5)Kitty K.
Love this restaurant! My friends and I are regulars. My first entree was seafood and it was very delicious. I am also quite fond of the empanadas, in particular the ones made of spinach. I have had a variety of other items and everything I have tried was quite tasty. So go check out Mesón Criollo for some incredible, traditional Colombian food for a great price. Make Colombian food a part of your life!
(5)Rob K.
Found this little place via a Google maps search for restaurants near my house. This was a little far, but my wife and I decided to try it for dinner on a Saturday night. Corner strip mall location, and not one of the nicer ones, but inside the owners try to overcome the neighborhood with a clean, unfussy, but somewhat mixed bag of décor, including some murals, a few neon beer signs, and orderly rows of tables and chairs. Seemed fairly empty for a Saturday at 7pm, but a few couples of various ages, a family with a young child, and us. We admitted to being first timers, and asked for recommendations - our server (very nice and accommodating) recommended the empanadas, which she said they make fresh daily and only have until they run out. We had the beef empanada (deep fried, with a unique corn meal crust - I could have had 10 of them!), as well as more traditional, flaky-crust ones, including cheese (full and gooey), chicken (OK, but my least favorite), and spinach (very yummy seasoning). For entrees, my wife had chicken and mushrooms (quite tasty) with potatoes (small, yellow, fried - addicting) and vegetables (seemingly out of the bag carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower - unexciting, but the healthiest thing we ate, so it was nice to have a side that isn't fried, like many restaurants). I had the Entrana al Ajo - grilled steak with garlic sauce (pounded thin, with a good flavor, but could have been hotter (temperature, not spice)) - with potatoes and sweet plantains (a personal fave, and I was not disappointed). We also had a side of arepa (corn cake with cheese baked in) that we both agreed would be even better with a fried egg as part of a breakfast sandwich. All in all, dinner came to $40 and we brought food home. We were very pleased with our choice and will be going back again.
(4)Nicole B.
Best colombia restaurant. Beef empanadas are the best and lunch specials are great cheap and good.. rather wait for a fresh nutritious meal then a artificial precooked meal anywhere else & to top it off there are the best the other Colombian restaurant are overpriced and have crapy taste
(5)Carlos R.
Love this place, from the bandeja paisa to the empanadas and Colombiana soda, it's all delicious. Great ambiance and humble people always very happy to serve you. Highly recommend this place, thank god my Colombian father in law brought me here, amazing place!
(5)S R.
Best coffee and sweet bread in town!! I crave the pan dulce often and drive half hour to get to it. The cheese bread is also really good and is gluten free too. The place is family owned down home authentic food. Its where the Columbians go for a taste of home. Its a real warm welcoming place and you will enjoy some exotic food adventures here. Its nothing fancy but its must go to spot in my opinion.
(5)Janelle L.
This is my second Colombian food experience and am very happy with what I found in this gem. It's tucked away in the most awkward of strip malls. I had driven by many times before but the surrounding area always discouraged me. This morning I decided to give it a go. I was up early and driving back from a dentist appointment, the parking lot was relatively empty and they were open. I DESPISE crowds, so this was perfect. I was greeted by a welcoming-because-it's-my-job waitress. Either she didn't really want to be there or she was weirded out because I'm Asian AND non-Spanish speaking. She warmed up after taking my order and became very helpful and accommodating. I ordered the breakfast with meat. I have no idea what it was in Spanish on the menu and their website isn't functioning. All I know, i is that the food was surprisingly good. The meat seemed to be skirt steak with seasonings grilled on the flat top. It could have used a tad more flavor by itself but the rest of the food made up for it. The eggs were scrambled-ish, there were tomatoes and chile's (i think) in them. The rice was like New Orlean;s dirty rice....kidney beans mixed up in the rice. That was very tasty, not over mushy or wet. But the piece de resistance on the plate, the AREPA. I stopped one of the servers and asked her what it was, she told me the name and proceeded to explain what it was in Spanish. It was cute....thank goodness i can put 2 and 2 together and figure most of it out. I also got some stuff to go. Pan Dulce (cheese bread filled with guava), empanada de carne (stewed meat with potatoes stuffed into a masa type shell vs. a bread like empanada) The meat was very flavorful and soft. I like the masa shell, it made a very lovely crispy texture. Last but not least, I got the cheese empanada. Haven't tried it yet but if it's anything like the rest of the food, I am SOOOOOOOOOO going back. Considering I pretty much ordered enough food for 2 or 3 meals, the $24 was worth every penny.
(4)Adriana L.
I typically only come here for one thing and one thing only......they're empanadas! They seriously are delish!!!!They keep me coming back. I've tried a few of they're dishes but they are just nothing special to my taste buds. Staff is nice and courteous and the place is very nice and neat despite the area.
(3)Pancho V.
Never having Colombian food I relied on Yelp and the first review I saw was from Yelper "Lucy M." let me quote her! "First off, the waitresses have HUGE knockers (if you're into that kinda thing)" OK I'm there...... went with the wife so (shhhh, keep this on the down low) and some friends, we ordered several apps and each had a dish though I don't know names of dishes other than my own. Little Potato's - yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Seasoned beautifully, had great flavor and cooked to perfection 1-2 bite little potato. Empenadas Various fillings - yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… I remember one was Spinach and Cheese the others I don't remember but all were very good, light, dough was nicely cooked. Chicharron and Yuca yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Yuca is really not my kinda thing, BUT PIG sure is and this Chicharron was crispy and delicious, my only complaint is I had to share it with others! yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Don't remember the names of the dishes, just enjoy the photos! Garlic Shrimp - (probably not the name of the dish but that's what it was) yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… If you like garlic and you like shrimp? this is for you, heavy on the garlic flavor and they don't skimp on the amount of shrimp they give you. Lomo a lo Pobre - yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… yelp.com/biz_photos/meso… Similar to the Peruvian dish "Lomo Saltado" but the mail difference is Colombian style is deconstructed, where Peruvian the steak is cut in strips and mixed together with the onions and potato's (french fries). Another difference is the aji which is that green colored chili, this was much spicier than any I've had at Peruvian restaurants. So come for the waitresses with HUGE Knockers and while you're here have some good food!
(5)Carlos R.
Don't go there on the weekends. The staff get overwhelmed and you'll have to wait a long time for your food. The food is just ok, nothing special. If you want the BEST Colombian food in Los Angeles, head to La Fonda Antoquena on Melrose.
(3)Lina B.
I have been coming to Meson since they opened and really there isn't anything I have ordered that I didn't like. The empanadas are $1.25 and always on point, the bunuelos and breads that have the guava inside (can't remember the name). This is the only place I have been to that on the Bandeja Paisa if I ask them to replace the fried steak for carne desmechada (shredded beef sauteed with diced onions and tomatoes) they do it with no problem. There's tons of little treats from candies to chips from Colombia to delicious fruit Juices. Everyone is always friendly and when Colombia is playing futbol (soccer for you Americans) this place gets crowded with every corner filled in of Colombianos celebrating, drinking, eating and saying Jue puta malparido...etc. Aaah makes me miss my Country but you can feel somewhat at home here. This is in the corner of strip mall and there is plenty of parking but it does get filled quick. Luckily there is plenty of free street parking. Easy to find right on the corner of Haskell and Vanowen.
(5)Shirley R.
The food was delicious! The waiters were very gentle and friendly. We went during lunch time and it was definitely too busy we waited for our left over boxes and the check for 20-30 minutes. Made me sad because everything up to that point was great!
(4)Amber M.
Came in on a whim to order some food to go, saw all the reviews about the empanadas & one that said they were $1.50! I'm in... So we walk up to the dark restaurant that you could barely tell was open, walk in & ask the waitress for a menu. She motions me to follow her which I do, reluctantly, because I just told her I wanted to order to go... Why wouldn't she just bring me a menu? Whatever... So she disappears into the back & some random male waiter slaps down 2 menus on a table across the room without saying a word or even looking at us. Pretty rude, maybe those were for someone else? Nope... They were intended for us. So I walk over & grab a menu and started trying to decide what to order. Their menu is easy to read & the food was reasonably priced. The waiter who took our order barely spoke English but was nice, they were out of the fried meat & potato balls- major bummer. We ordered: 2 beef, 2 chicken, 2 cheese & 1 spinach empanada. Fried ripe plantains & a fried corn cake with cheese. 2 guava & cheese sweet breads & 2 Columbian sodas the waiter suggested. Food was done pretty quick & cost around $23 total, we took it home without checking we had everything first- big mistake! They forgot the guava sweet bread & didn't give us a cheese corn cake, just a regular corn cake that was really bland. The empanadas were good, fried plantains ok & the green sauce they gave us was spicy but also just ok. Pretty disappointed with the experience overall but the empanadas were really good and our meal was cheap & filling. I think I'll give this place one more try to see if they have the meat & potato balls next time & to try the sweet bread, but will definitely be checking my order before taking it home to make sure I got everything I paid for. Giving only 2 stars because of the rude waitress/1st waiter, the missing food & because they were out of menu items.
(2)Fabi O.
It is a convenient locacion; parking is not the best. I am Colombian and it is good to have a place close by with Colombian food! I had been here in many other occassions. On Monday I went and the menu had bolas de carne (meat balls), I had to return the meat ball because were very salty, the satff was very nice and asked me what I want instead. Yesterday I went and I decided for the "desayuno trancado", which was really good. In general, the food there is good and the staff is very nice and diligent. I will continue going there whenever I have the feel for my Colombian food.
(4)Karen S.
I was a little skeptical about this place since I hate trying new places but I'm glad I did it was delicious!!
(5)Iliana P.
This place is always busy but its because it's so delicious!! The food is very traditional Colombian and the portion sizes are perfect!
(5)Brandon F.
El meson Criollo is one of the first Colombian restaurants that I had when I moved to LA, and honestly I can say is one of the best ones! I always order the Bandeja Meson Criolla. The amount of food that comes in that plate is insane! Rice, Beans, Chorizo, Carne, Chicharron, Arepa, Fried Platain, and an egg? sounds crazy but let me tell you it is incredible! :D
(4)Harold B.
Mixed feelings about this place. I sat down and had lunch there and it was very good. The food to go was bland and the order was incorrect. On the other side, the empanadas are very good. Their chimi churri was watered down badly.
(3)Anne A.
I never had Columbian food so I wouldn't one to say this is the best Columbian food I've had. I did enjoy the chicharron and empanadas here. I can do without the lengua next time as barely anyone touched it at the table. The arepas were good, but I prefer the Venezuelan version better as it was bit more tastier and better to me. The service is just OK -- but this place isn't the type of place I would expect great service from so my expectations were low already walking in. We were the only ones dining there that evening and took advantage of the Yelp $20 for $40 deal they had that I was able to purchase on my mobile phone. Would I come back, yes for the empanadas and chicharron which reminded of Filipino crispy pata. I tried the apple soda and my dad had the Columbian beer.
(4)Francisco G.
I'm going to keep it simple: cozy and extremely clean. Bandeja paisa...superb!! Empanadas.... To die for!! Service courteous and helpful Prices: very affordable and portions big enough to satisfy the hungriest. A great dinning experience wich I fully recommend. Definitely I will come back.
(4)Hugo P.
The best empanadas and buñuelos around. I live in the Bay Area but come down to visit family often, Its a must to make a stop here. Northern California is horrible when it comes Latin food, gotta get my fix!
(5)Ed M.
Restaurant is nice, food is ok except for the bandeja paisa. At $14 dollars for this plate id rather have a lobster dinner or eat at a buffet. The buñelos are $1.25 each worh no more the 50 cents each. They do have Colombian Sweets. some what pricey but much cheaper than having to go to colombia to buy them. overall worth coming back to, but not a favorite to visit often. If you are Colombian you may give it 4 stars but not 5
(3)Maria D.
I've had homemade Colombian empanadas and I can honestly say this is probably the closest I will get to them . I have also had their papa rellena which is very different to a Cuban papa rellena , but it was still okay . I honestly haven't tried anything but the empanadas and the chicharron and they are yummy :) . Love this place ! Great stop for some Colombian empanadas and beer :) .
(4)Billy M.
Wow, what a bad experience here last night and to top it off I encouraged my friend that was with me to try Columbian food for the first time at this place! Lets start with the positives: waitress was awesome and gave us free empanadas! The ambiance was cozy and clientele seemed authentic. We ordered our food to go and maybe that was the problem. We ordered Carne Asada and the house special Bandeja Palsa. Carne Asada was rubbery and nothing special. The fried pork in Bandeja Palsa was so rock hard I couldnt eat it. Folks in the kitchen, dont pawn off old or over cooked food on your take out customers!!! Bad business!!! They also conveniently forgot to include the avocado. Again, don't be shady with take out food!!! The pork sausage was also over cooked. Don't serve old or overcooked food!!! Had the runs the morning after too. Always a bad sign!!! I really wanted to like this place. Clean up your kitchen, management!!! Especially for a $40 tab!!!
(1)Eileen Q.
I've gone a few times now & everything I've had I enjoyed. I can't wait to go back to try the oxtail soup! Service is ok, not great but ok, I think they try hard. The place is busy so be prepared - parking maybe a bit of a challenge during lunch time.
(4)Adam F.
The gf was feeling homesick so I found this place on Yelp after learning the hard way - aka driving there - that Cafe Colombia closed for good. Totally worth the drive on our way back to the coast. First of all, excellent service. Not only did our waiter constantly check on us, but each time another server or busboy walked past they would ask if we were doing ok. They have all of the classic Colombian dishes and appetizers, all done as well as any restaurant can do them. We tried three different kinds of empanadas (queso was my favorite), arrepas, pandebono, bendeja paisa, churrasco, and a couple ponymaltas to drink. Todos deliciosos!! The aji was good too. Not a really big restaurant, but big enough for live music on Saturday nights. I was one of two gringos, which is a good sign in my book. The gf enjoyed hearing different accents from home, and the unexpected bonus shopping for all of the imported items too. We will definitely go back soon. Best Colombian food in the Valley.
(5)Nancy N.
I came here with the BF as he wanted a Columbian oxtail soup. I didnt feel like having that so I instead went for the Carne Asada with rice and beans. Very typical Latino food which is really universally cooked. The wait was a little long but the ambiance was good and the BF and I always have something to talk about :) the food came and I was not impressed... the "Carne Asada" looked like a simple seared round tip steak (Milanesa) it clearly wasnt "ASADA". Besides that it had no flavor... very little if any salt was added and that was it. The beans were red served in a little cup like bowl on the side on the plate and the rice was ok... nicely cooked and it had flavor. I think the rice was the best part of my meal. Dont think I would be going back to this place if the BF wants will go and try something else.
(2)Jim S.
I have never tried Colombian food before, and I was recommended by a friend of mine who I work with to check out this restaurant. I decided to go there Monday night for dinner between 7:30pm and 8:30pm, I liked the location and the way that the restaurant was set up it really looked authentic. Although I noticed that from the moment that I walked in that there was no hostess to sit people or to direct them where to sit, and it looked to be quite busy, so I waited for what seemed to be quite a while before being acknowledged by the waitress a short dark haired hispanic girl, who took me to a table and sat me down and abruptly left. She looked to be very overwhelmed and was busy. I ordered some Colombian empanadas which were excellent and the food was very tasty it tasted very authentic and flavorful. Although the service was just very slow, and the waitresses customer service was not the greatest she didn't smile and took forever to come by and check up on us. we will definitely try to go back again hopefully there is more coverage and support and the customer service improves.
(3)Lucy M.
First off, the waitresses have HUGE knockers (if you're into that kinda thing). I stopped in as I was on my way to Balboa Park so see the Cherry Blossom exhibit. The restaurant was small but clean and cute. We were the only non Colombians in the place and you know it's good when that happens. It was delicious! The empanadas, meat, chicken, sauseges. The wine was Merlot, ok. but the dessert was the best. Fresh, figs with caramel and cheese. OMG! I will return. Oh, and Claudia the waitress was super friendly and helpful but since it was a weekend the place was packed and the kitchen runs slow. It's worth the wait though! They also sell imported Colombian drinks, snacks, chips, cookies, desserts etc.
(5)Marc D.
This was my first time at a Colombian restaurant and I was not disappointed. I ordered two empanadas as appetizers, one cheese and one spinach. Man were they delicious! As an entree I ordered the Bistec a Caballo and it was delicious too. To drink I ordered their Aguila beer, which was good. Overall I really liked this place and the staff was friendly. I will be coming back and try other dishes.
(4)Daniel E.
THIS IS THE BEST COLOMBIAN RESTAURANT IN LA! I am Colombian and have visited Colombian restaurants in downtown LA, Burbank, East La, Montebello...you name it. However, I have consistently returned to this place for years. I started out with Antojitos Colombianos which was 4 blocks down on Vanowen. But El Meson Criollo has taken it to the next level!!! Authentic delicious food that is consistent in quality and flavor. Prices are very reasonable. I had El Sancocho de Gallina this past weekend for $11.50 and it came with rice, yucca, and potatoes. The empanadas are the BEST in Los Angeles hands down. Crispy exterior and juicy interior. The patacon de res is off the chain as well. They serve authentic Colombian beer. In addition, the servers are the best. Beautiful and attentive. Lisa, Claudia, and Yadira make all the clients feel welcome and at home. Anyway, if you miss Colombia or want to see what the buzz is all about...come to El Meson Criollo in Van Nuys, CA.
(5)Bryan M.
Ohhh man the food is authentic as Colombian food gets!! Walked into the place and it smelled like my grandma's house! I'm making this spot a MUST visit in my weekly schedule!!
(5)Marco L.
I've had breakfast here several times since my girlfriend is Colombian. The food is always delicious and very tasty. The coffee is so so but I'm a bit of a snob in this case. We had the desayuno trancao and it was delicious.
(4)Marcos A.
The food is good but the service is terrible. When I arrived I had to get up from the table and asking for a menu. The good took so long to be serviced that I was about to go other restaurant and it does not accept credit card.
(1)Jackie E.
Had the Bandeja Paisa (chorizo, chicharon, egg, arepa, platano, patacon pisado, carne on a bed of rice with frijoles on the side). Delicious. They give you big servings. their food tastes homemade (although their arepas aren't like my moms), but they're still good. For appetizers...they give you mini arepas with chile. They also sell Colombian candies/snacks there. They play Colombian music videos on their big screen and on certain nights they have live music...haven't witnessed that yet, but was there on a Friday night and they were setting up as I was leaving.
(4)Ernie E.
Very nice place to eat overall. We were pleasantly surprised to eat such good food, had no idea it was Colombian food before walked in. Only complaint was the service, not good. We went on a friday night and the restaurant was not so busy but there were people in there. We walked in and no one acknowledged us at all, we sat ourselves, then eventually I walked behind the counter and grabbed two menus myself. Waitress was nice but not good at her job. When she finally came over we were ready to order our drink and meal. We ordered two meals and some empanadas as an appetizer. The empanadas came out after the food. Food was tasty (except the house "tortilla chip" things they serve before the meal were bland.), food was high quality and we left satisfied. We will go back and hope the service was just having a bad day.
(4)Raffi I.
Colombian food is so amazing. I went here a few months ago and just purchased the yelp deal which means I will go back. I highly recommend it if you are in the area looking for amazing food. The service was ok but the food oh my the food was excellent. I ordered the rice with chicken I guess it is called Aros con Pollo? It came with bread and spicy dip along side with it. I only ate half because it filled me up and took the other half to go. I have pictures of it but It was taken with a 3GS so no flash however I have the iPhone 5 which I will take better pictures next time I am there. It also included fried plantains... Nuff' Said :) It was the best part of the meal. Hope you enjoy this place like I did.
(5)Choy L.
I was looking for a new place to lunch on when I came upon this place.. Huh, I see that my friend Angela gave this place 5 stars.. Looks like I've found my winner.. The place has a very cozy feel to it, like if you were in a cafe in Colombia.. Tho' I have never been to Colombia, and the cafes there could look like meth houses here.. Let me rephrase.. This place is what I think a cafe in Colombia would look like.. Better?! It was about this time in my daydream too that the cute waitress approaches me, hands me a menu and takes my drink order.. It took me a while to decide as there are quite a few things here that look and sound delish.. I go with the Lengua, a side of Chicharron, and an empanada.. 2 sauces were laid out to me, one was very chimichurri like, and the other onions in some tomato and oil.. There was this white round bread looking thing too that I didn't know whether to eat or rub on my skin for better complexion.. Anyways, it didn't take long before the waitress (did I mention she was cute?) brought me my parade of food.. Everything was exceptional! The lengua was the perfect texture and the sauce compliments its unique flavor superbly.. crunchy skin on the chicharron, and not too oily.. The star of the show was the empanadas though.. It's that good! The symphony of flavors are impeccable! I would give this place 5 stars for the empanadas alone.. I think I have a new found love for Colombian food... and women!
(5)Nikki S.
Good food and (according to my Columbian friends) authentic. The empanadas are the best I've had, and they come with an amazing aji sauce. The aguas frescas are also delicious, and come in flavors I'm not used to seeing but really enjoyed trying (such as guanabana). I wouldn't put this on my must-try list of restaurants, but everything about it (service, atmosphere, quality of food) was good. Not great, not terrible, but good.
(3)Sandra P.
I went there with my son the other day ,and ordered empanadas ,they were dry and overcooked. aji which is a hot sauce to spicy and salty. also Milanesa,vegetables and fries. vegetables frozen,milanesa overcooked and dry and my son didn't even try to eat it. we were very upset. Also sancocho de cola,and was salty and no meat ,only papa and yuca. The restaurant was clean and alone ,no one there. So we thought great to ourselves,and little did we know it was empty cause is not good. The waitress was nice and very friendly ,that is the only good thing, I will never come back again ,I prefer to go to Antojitos Latinos,Kester and Vanowen.
(1)Sean P.
sancocho is the best!
(4)Rosa J.
I don't want to waste my time with this place and I DON'T UNDERSTAND how people are giving this place 5 stars. They must be Colombians. First of all the food is good but the service is really bad, rude specially if you are not Colombian. The waitresses have an attitude problem. Too bad for the owner because the food is really good. It is known here in the USA, and in Colombia, and the rest of the world that people will return to a restaurant for the combination of good food and good service. I have been to this place several times and is always the same so I decided to do take out instead and it was the same with the waiter and waitresses plain rudeness and unfair treatment .I had ordered 8 empanadas to go .I was told that it will take 15 minutes. While I was waiting, another customer came ordered empanadas and guess what happened; he was given my empanadas so I had to wait an additional 15 minutes for my order. No apologies, attitude, and more attitude by a waitress whom the owner has put in charge. She should not be in charge. She will drag this restaurant down because she does not know what customer service is all about.
(1)Chocolat A.
Best Colombian place in the Valley.
(5)Everest F.
So I walked in to this extravagant, so called authentic colombian food location, order 10 beef empanadas, 10 BEEF EMPANADAS!!! Multiple parties are served before their turn, although I had been waiting for about 30 min. Now. Then asked the waitress,who seemed kind at first, " ummm. How much longer until my order is ready?" . She tells me it has not even been started -__- I flipped a bitch and decided to have an empandaLESS day by walking out with my chin held high after mentioning how rude my own Colombian kind is in this shit hole they call restaurant. Now I happily get my Colombian meals at this amazing location in Burbank ; D
(1)Veronica G.
Amazing food.
(5)John B.
Wow, I always wanted to try this Colombian place, very cool little corner restaurant in Van Nuys. I haven't seen many Colombian restaurants in Los Angeles, and I think it's one of very few authentic Colombian places here in SoCal. Had dinner there tonight, the service was really wonderful and the atmosphere in the restaurant was very cool... I was really pleased to find Salmon on the menu (Salmon al Capara) which is unusual in my experience with the smaller independent restaurants (which are my preference). The salmon was amazing with a wonderful sauce and capers... and the salad was fresh with a light dressing, and the arepa was delicious. They served a green cause (ahi I think) which was amazing! This place is really cool... from the atmosphere, the service, the presentation of the food, the quality and variety... This place is a real gem in the Valley. Something very cool about this place is that they have a lot of typical products from Colombia too... like a coconut candy called Copelia... WOW, I've never tasted anything quite like it... I'm looking forward to my next time at the Meson!!
(5)Lizbeth D.
Ordered for pick up today, let me tell you they will probably hang up on you while your on the line trying to place your order. Or hang up while your trying to call again. It took me like 5 tries until I placed my order. I ordered my usual, empanadas de carne. Which are delicious!!!! I also ordered my Bandeja Paisa. Lately I've been getting the taste of Mexican food instead of Colombian. The beans taste different and the sauce (aji) taste spicy and nothing had they use to make it. I use to love the sauce too. This place is letting me down this year. If I hadn't moved, I would of gone to . La Fonda Antioquena on Melrose. They never run out of food or pastries here like this place, the sauce is on point. Servers are so,so but it's all about bringing the Colombian food to the table. Don't get me wrong I like Mexican food but that's not what I was going for.
(2)Alejandro G.
This is an honest, good, Colombian joint. It's my favorite in California, edging Cafe Colombia in Burbank by a few hairs. I always get the Bandeja Paisa; it's the law. Colombian food is simple, wholesome, home-made fair. Don't come looking for exotic gourmet typical Colombian food; it doesn't exist!
(4)JIM S.
This was my 2nd visited to a Colombian restaurant. I'm glad I tried Meson,it truly won me over the other Columbian restaurant.I first visited.What a cool place. Very clean and casual.I started off with a cold Colombian beer(not sure of the name)and a variety of empanades...Wow..What flavor. I had empanadas before at street fairs and there is no comparasion. I order the grilled fish plate. Very tasty. It came with veggies and potatoes with some kind of creamy sauce mixed in..really really good.Good portions and good price..I had a great meal and would definitely go back.
(5)Jorge M.
1st time having Colombian food, neighborhood is kinda ratty but the food makes up for that. Platanos are a must! The empanadas are very tasty. All around the food was great. The service was so so (they didnt smile)
(4)JJ N.
Best Colombian food hands down. Best prices too! Nothing bad on the menu - home cooked meals with rock bottom prices. A must for any fan of Colombian foods.
(5)Jessica P.
Came here by accident thinking it was another "Criollo" restaurant down the street that's Cuban. This spot is Colombian. Man is the food good!!!!!
(4)Luis A.
first good appetizers some plates are delicious. my plate was lack flavor .Very poor service , no organization at all.
(2)Rodrigo M.
Very good Colombian food, this place is if you are looking for good food in the Valley. I recommend the Bandeja Paisa, variety of meats and very filling. We have been coming here for years, and will continue to do so.
(5)Wolfie Y.
Delicious food! Great service. I could eat here every day.
(5)susanna l.
The BEST Colombian style empanadas in California. Probably in the United States! I order the empanadas de carne for events all the time... The sauce is super fresh and spicy. Que delicioso ---!!!
(5)N G.
We ate here around 4 pm.Food was great.Due to 2 vegetarians in our group,we asked them to mix and match,and they happily did so with no mistakes when the food was brought out.Empanadas were delicious,as other reviews have stated.Beans were a little too salty,but portions of everything were big,and I would eat here again.
(4)Christian C.
I'll make this short and sweet. I was brought here on a whim by family (a total of eight people to be exact) and was severely disappointed. Now, I want to start off by saying that my plate (bisteck a caballo) was pretty good, lots of flavor and adequate portions, but it was everything around me, everything that my family ordered that really makes the sum of this review. The vegetables on my sister in-law's plate looked like they had been tossed right out of a 59 cent can from the local grocery store, and my wife's side salad was cabbage, tomato, and a little lemon juice. BLAND. Again, I'm willing to overlook some of this stuff since other choices of our meal were decent, but the SERVICE. We went at around 8pm and there was only one other table being served. It took 10-15 minutes to get a coffee and another 10-15 minutes to get our check, and then when we did get our check, another 10-15 minutes to get it back. The lack of attention to our table was deplorable. How can you provide such poor quality service, help yourself to an automatic 15% gratuity and feel good about yourself? I most definitely will NOT be coming back here. The sub par food does not justify the bad bad bad service.
(1)Stephanie V.
This is the valleys introduction to the taste of Colombian food. I went about two days ago and still have the lasting impression embedded in my brain. Considering I am Colombian I had big shoes this restaurant needed to fill (I.E my moms food). The outside is not so welcoming, its located in a little plaza on the corner where next door is the competition of a salvy/mexican restaurant and theres also a payday loan place. As I walked into the nice dim lighting the room felt warm. The decor of the place was very elegant but felt comfortable. The chairs arent very comfortable considering theyre wooden, but I think the only thing i could concentrate on was the beautiful mural painted on the wall. It was of a woman being serenaded by a man and his guitar. In the background not too softly was the music of my childhood, SALSA! There were two flat screens playing the corresponding music videos for the music which I had never seen in my life! Onto the food! Well, the menu was pretty basic, nothing too creative, but the choices were perfect. Of course I had to j ump on the traditional "Banddeja Paisa" which can say alot about the place if its not tasty. WELL fellow Yelpers, it was delicious! It took alittle longer than usual to serve but I wasnt complaining when I tasted the deliciousness. The meat was very tender, the beans neither overcooked nor under. The platano maduro was nice and sweet and the patacones crunchy.... I must say, I would definitely have this place as a great example of what Colombian food is like. =]
(5)Liquid P.
Good food, friendly service. I had the beef soup, which I recommend.
(4)