Aromas Del Sur
548 S State St, Ephrata, PA, 17522
Aromas Del Sur Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ephrata for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
548 S State St
Ephrata, PA, 17522 - Phone (717) 738-0101
- Website https://www.aromasdelsur.us
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
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 : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Sim P.
this place is great!!!!!! the food is great!!!!!! the service is great!!!!!! the music is great!!!!!! the staff is great!!!!!!
(5)Rob H.
We were looking for something different to try in the area. There's only so many times you can hit the big chains before enough is enough. So we took a chance and took a drive. Food was great, service was great. It's a family owned restaurant, appears to have once been a VFW or something like that, and our waiter was a member of the family. He explained about the various dishes and the cultural. The iced tea was shit, but the food was good so water was fine. I had the big dish with a ton of food. I left happy and will be back!
(4)Bee D.
Dining here was a plan on our part. We were in Ephrata and in the mood for something different and unique. Other Yelpers gave this place high reviews. We love latin and thought how could we go wrong with so many good reviews? After dining here last night we left with mixed emotions. First off let me say this place has no ambience whatsoever. It's like dining in a banquet hall that's playing dress up for a big event. The owners try, really hard to make it feel upscale but the space fails them in every sense. The bathrooms however dated were exceptionally clean and that was much appreciated. Also appreciated was the effort the owners put into their business and how willing they were to share their culture with us. They were very friendly and obviously took great pride in their native country. I would have loved to see more authentic Columbian influence in the décor and more variety and emphasis on fresh ingredients in their dishes. The food I felt was not a true representation of Columbian fare. The choices, although having many protein choices felt limited to street fare while trying to be upscale in pricing. It was bland, colorless and not appetizing. Nothing felt fresh or exceptional. The ingredients were lower quality and meat tough. While the size was plentiful, too big actually, I would have loved to see some color on the plate or something unique to Columbia. I felt like the dishes weren't unique and pretty standard latin cuisine, full of starches and lower quality meats. For a $40 dining tab for two meals, no drinks, and one dessert I left very disappointed in our choice to go there and would not return.
(2)Betsy B.
We were looking for a place to have lunch and came across the reviews on this one which were good. We were a bit skeptical when the parking lot was virtually empty but decided to give it a try and were very glad we did. A couple eating in the restaurant told us how good it was and said they come often. I had the camarones enchilados and my friend had the camarones a la criolla. We both had the lulo made with milk that was recommended by the other diners. Everything was delicious. The lulo drink provided nice balance with the food that was a bit spicy, though not overly so, and we both almost ordered a second one. They have a variety of dishes on their menu including seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian. The service was good and the owner was very helpful in explaining the dishes. It is well worth a stop and unique for the area.
(4)Virginia Y.
First time trying columbian food and I loved it! I studied spanish when I was younger so I consider it to be my 3rd language (intermediate level) I felt really at home when I walked in. The owners were warm and friendly, just as they are in Spain (traveled there this past summer). I came solely for the $8.99 lunch special. I shared a carne asada with my boyfriend along with 3 empanadas and arroz con leche. The carne asada came with salad and plantains. I had beef and chicken empanadas. Since it was a lunch special it also included a soup. The soup of the day was Sopa De Pollo y Vegetales, which is Vegetable Chicken Soup. It was light, refreshing and nice on a cold rainy day. The empanadas were really good and definitely worth trying especially when they're only a dollar! The crust was crunchy, crispy and fried nicely. My favorite was the chicken while my boyfriend liked the beef. They also offer cheese ones. The carne asada was good, I regret getting the salad though. It was eh, tasted like sauceless/dressingless coleslaw. The steak was okay, just your typical carne asada, I wish they had a sauce for it to make it a little more juicy. The plantains were really good though! I love that it was shaped organically and not greasy at all. I had the arroz con leche to finish off, I was tempted to get flan but the servers said arroz con leche was their favorite. I liked it alot, it reminds me of kheer which is something I usually order at indian places. However I liked the colombian version a lot more. They had actually coconut flakes and it was served hot with coconut milk and mixed with rice. topped with cinnamon! Overall I really recommend this place. It's such a gem in Ephrata! Authentic, flavorful spanish cuisine that you don't really find often in Dutch County! 4 stars for the food but 5 stars for the service. The owners and servers here are incredibly sweet and warm and they constantly checked up on us. I absolutely loved speaking spanish with them, it made me reminiscent of my days in Spain.
(4)Mark M.
Fantastic, authentic Colombian food. Made almost entirely from scratch with generous portions and amazing flavor. The staff is very friendly, extremely attentive, and in my experience eager to discuss how their food is prepared. I personallly can whole-heartedly recommend the chorizo con arepa, paella and the chuleta empanizada (huge dish w/ two pork loin pieces!). A very nice and unexpected change-of-pace from the usual dinner fair in this corner of Lancaster county.
(4)Kristina C.
AMAZING food and amazing service! We were staying at a local B&B and looked up some good food and lucky for us found Aromas Del Sur. We came in to get take out and sat right up front and a very nice gentleman who is part of the family that owns this was very kind and explained everything to us on the menu. It was great to find out that they use Corn flour for pretty much every dish except one so that means that I could eat the good stuff! We ordered 2 entree's, and 2 apps and had enough food for 2 days. Pollo enchilado and carne a la mariena and empanadas and yucca fries were all soooo delicious! The sauce they give for each item is just perfect! We also asked them to make it more spicy and let me tell you, they did...whoooo....get some water ready. Even if I am driving through that area I will be going back to get more food!
(5)Chuck H.
Some of the best Colombian food I have had and it's right in my back yard. Everything on the menu is fresh and an experience for the taste buds. Start with the Empanadas and you can't go wrong. I am systematically going through every item on the menu and then I think I will start over. The wait staff and owners are always friendly and are more than willing to recommend something if you're just not sure. Everything tastes phenomenal and the spiciest thing on the menu isn't that bad, and I love it hot. I think the empanada sauce is one of the spiciest, but I could still drink it straight. Go and take the family for a little taste of a different culture. You won't be disappointed!!!!
(5)Kyle G.
Friendly owner. Food was average. Nothing to scream about. The decor is aghast. I never see anyone in there. It is not terrible but it is missing personality and an identity.
(3)Lorena C.
Delicious food & wonderful service!!! This is the 2nd time hubby & I visit Lancaster and we love it but our pallet really isn't wowed with traditional American cuisine so I was excited to find this gem. My mother is Colombian so I know the cuisine & this is the real deal. When my plate came i saw the salad that my great-grandmother made & it tasted just as good....it's not just a salad & it brought back so many memories. The chorizo (sausage) was amazing & empanadas were so fresh & tasty. Overall the food was delicious but one of the best parts was the service & seeing the staff interact & explain the cuisine to the Gringos (American patrons) who didn't know what to expect of the food...service like this is worth 5 stars on its own. Oh don't leave without trying the flan
(5)Joseph P.
I was in Ephrata and saw good reviews and recommendations to go eat here. I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to Spanish food. I eat it a lot and sometimes reviews are not as accurate in areas they do not have too many Spanish restaurants. They have a good sized dining area. The owner gives this restaurant a very authentic feel and he is very proud of his Colombian heritage. This is very obvious as soon as you get there. Not only was the staff very attentive the owner, or one of the owners because I believe it's 3 of them, came and talked to us for a little while. While I have nothing but good thing to say about him, this is where the positive part of my review ends. We started off with the empanadas, they were not bad. Not fantastic but they were good. With that I held out hope that the food would be good. Next the entrées came and this is where I'll be very critical. I ordered the bistec caballo and the meat was not a high quality cut. It was definitely a tougher cut of meat. My friend order the Carne asada and again he agreed that it was not the best cut of meat. We both agreed that the meat was seasoned well but when you don't have a good cut of meat no matter what seasoning you use it will not taste that good. My other friend ordered an other appetizer and not a meal. She ordered the arepa con chorizo. While I can't say much about the arepa the chorizo looked awful. Typical Colombian chorizo is not usually that big. It had an odd oder to it and did not taste good. She only had 2 bites and couldn't eat anything else. She felt pretty miserable the rest of the night after that. This place is very popular in my opinion because most people in the area have never had Colombian food and thus they think it is very good high quality food. Unfortunately the food was not good and was not the best quality. If you are going to open one of the few Colombian restaurants in the area then I suggest actually make it worth wild and buy the better quality food. In the long run it will be worth it. You will definitely have more repeat customers. I definitely would not recommend this place to a friend
(2)Rob G.
Enjoyed a dinner for four on a Saturday. Bad snow day, and called to make sure they would be open. All well so we went over with some beverages. Nice greet and then seat. Ordered our ap and meals. Great service and great food. We were all happy and satisfied with our choices. Overall, a nice place to go for good food. Staff was very polite and friendly. Will visit for dine in or take out in the future, thanks!
(4)Mason D.
Now one of my favorite restaurants, I visited Aromas last night and had an amazing meal. Whole fried Tilapia and homemade Chorizo for an app. Great service and an amazing selection of freshly made entrees. Eat here as if your life depended on it!
(5)Beth G.
Look past the slightly dated decor. Seriously folks ....it's what on the plate that counts! Amazing food, kind wait staff. Everything that we had was amazing from the empanadas to the Sobrebarriga a la Criolla! The saddest part is that the restaurant is not downtown Lancaster!
(5)Jon W.
The food was really good and at least the lunch specials were reasonably priced. Didn't look at the other items on the menu but my family loved the juices and soups along with tilapia and pork. The server was very nice and let me practice spanish with him the whole time. Arturo is the man!
(5)Tara W.
I am so glad for yelp, otherwise I would have never found this place! My friend and I were at the green dragon market and wanted non-Amish food for lunch and this was just 2 miles down the road, so we decided to be adventurous and check it out. I must say, I have never enjoyed Mexican/Latino food until now. This place is absolutely amazing!! We each got an empanada to start, and let me tell you after just one bite all I wanted was a plate of them for my meal. Soooo good! The lunch special came with soup and a main course. The soup was minestrone, which had way too much cilantro. For the main dish, I got the tilapia with rice, a salad, and plantains. The tilapia was cooked an seasoned perfectly and the sauce they put on top was so good! plus they didn't put too much on, which is rare. The plantains were good- not good the next day, so make sure to eat them while you're there. The salad it came with looked like coleslaw, but no mayonnaise. It was nice and refreshing, and complemented the warm fish and rice. basically, if you're in the area, go here!!! you won't regret it
(4)Todd C.
Muy bueno! We started with the Empenadas, one with cheesr and one with beef along with the very fresh salsa. I had the Carne Asada Steak with beand and rice and my friend had the Camarones al Ajillo (shrimp in creamy garlic sauce) snd she was just thrilled. The waitor and waitresses couldn't have been more friendly and very informative. We finished by sharing a plate of Brevos con Queso (figs with cheese and caramel) which was very unique and delicious. Thanks for a nice time.
(5)Carl G.
This was our first visit for my wife and I. Both our dinners were great! The flavor of the sauces with our entrees were very tasty. We were thinking the service was a little slow, but this was worth waiting for. We will definitely be returning. :-)
(5)Reaper R.
By far one of the best meals I've had in a long time! When you walk in to the restaurant and smell the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen you know you are in the right place. This is by far the best food you will have in this area. The staff is friendly and attentive and the food is excellent, what more could you ask for. I'll be eating all my evening meals here whenever I'm in town.
(5)Nick L.
This place totally blew my mind! I recently visited this place with 3 of my college friends because we saw the reviews on here and boy did we love it. The empanadas were fantastic (get the chicken ones!), I ordered the Bandeja Paisa (pictured at the top of the page with the pork rind) and it was a wonderful meal. My friend ordered the Paella and loved that as well, so I would highly recommend both meals. We didn't have enough room for dessert but I know we will be back soon to try the flan! The service was great, very friendly and helpful with all our first time questions. We got to talk to a man, who I presume was the owner, for a little bit at the end of our meal. It was wonderful getting to know him and learn about his son and we hope to visit again soon. Chau!
(5)Jessica S.
We love this place. Highly recommended! Colombian food is the best kept secret from the Gluten free world! Bc it's cheap! The empanadas and arepas are made with Corn! Not wheat. This is customary for Colombia. It's a nice friendly atmosphere and the owners are delightful and welcoming.
(5)Timothy R.
The food here is excellent. I was here for dinner for four, so we got to sample a good amount of the menu and everything was full of flavor. All dishes had generous potions and the service was fast and friendly. We got there just before closing so we also had an opportunity to have a fun conversation with one of the owners and cook. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in ephrata.
(5)Melodie D.
Great Food and Great Service. You don't find this often at the same place but this place has it. We had the empanadas, paella and flan. I cook authentic paella so I am very particular about my paella. The flavor was wonderful and loaded with seafood. I was so full that I could have skipped the flan but I am so glad that I didn't. EVERYTHING was delicious!
(5)Jimmy M.
Fantastic and authentic Colombian food. The owner is always smiling and greeting guests, the wait staff are helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. My family and I always recommend this to visiting friends and take family here. The food is simply great, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are straight from Colombia. Five Star must eat! Como te queiro Colombia!!
(5)S. M.
This is a fantastic place! My girlfriend and I dined here for the first time this evening. We ordered the beef and chicken empanadas for an appetizer and they were fantastic! Our main dish was the "bandeja paisa" and it was very plentiful and definitely scrumptious. The wait staff were very hospitable and the service was quick. No complaints. We will definitely be going back to try more dishes. Can't wait!
(4)Cheryl A.
I am shocked that there are better reviews on this place. I admit I heard the empanadas are amazing but when I went I had some thin dry steak and some rice that was not remarkable at all. the salad was ok but very small and it was way over priced. Frankly I wanted to suggest a chef and expected them to go out of business by now. I didnt see anything that I didnt feel I could have done better cooking it at home and I am no great cook or chef. I prefer to go to Downtown Lancaster by the court house, for the authentic Puerto Rican or Columbian cuisine, it is worth the drive.
(2)Pao P.
Been here about 2 weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We have never had Columbian food before it was very different. Plantains came with everything and of course beans and rice. Come with an open mind cuz we came expecting Mexican style food. Food ok but not too fond of Columbian style food. I'd probably come back to try something different. I did like the Luco juice. The staff was very friendly and informative about Columbian food. It did start to get busy and they only had 1 waiter.
(3)Brad B.
I really like this place. The food is good and the owner is exceptionally cool. My kids love him. Very friendly. I would rate the food a 6.5 out of 10. Why not higher? The food is very tasty but a little salty at times. I suggest the owners scale back the salt a little since many people may want to salt to taste. I have suggested this place to many people and this has been the common feedback. :( Sorry, just trying to make a very good place great. I hope the owner reads this review with great understanding. This review is not negative. It's just intended to point out a view from some locals. The serving staff has always been a solid 10+ out of 10. The service may best the best I have ever seen. The atmosphere is a 6 out of 10 but does not matter. The price of food is 10 out of 10. Overall, I rate this place a 7+ out of 10. I have been back five times and will be back in the future. Dress is ultra casual. Make sure to get the empanadas (beef and chicken) and Yuma fries (for kids) for appetizers. You will want two empanadas each. If you like smoothies, ask for a fruit smoothy. The are really good and taste like a milkshake. I hope this review helps. Pilot Brad
(4)Katy P.
Apparently they may charge a corkage fee now, so you may want to call ahead.
(5)Joseph P.
I was in Ephrata and saw good reviews and recommendations to go eat here. I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to Spanish food. I eat it a lot and sometimes reviews are not as accurate in areas they do not have too many Spanish restaurants. They have a good sized dining area. The owner gives this restaurant a very authentic feel and he is very proud of his Colombian heritage. This is very obvious as soon as you get there. Not only was the staff very attentive the owner, or one of the owners because I believe it's 3 of them, came and talked to us for a little while. While I have nothing but good thing to say about him, this is where the positive part of my review ends. We started off with the empanadas, they were not bad. Not fantastic but they were good. With that I held out hope that the food would be good. Next the entrées came and this is where I'll be very critical. I ordered the bistec caballo and the meat was not a high quality cut. It was definitely a tougher cut of meat. My friend order the Carne asada and again he agreed that it was not the best cut of meat. We both agreed that the meat was seasoned well but when you don't have a good cut of meat no matter what seasoning you use it will not taste that good. My other friend ordered an other appetizer and not a meal. She ordered the arepa con chorizo. While I can't say much about the arepa the chorizo looked awful. Typical Colombian chorizo is not usually that big. It had an odd oder to it and did not taste good. She only had 2 bites and couldn't eat anything else. She felt pretty miserable the rest of the night after that. This place is very popular in my opinion because most people in the area have never had Colombian food and thus they think it is very good high quality food. Unfortunately the food was not good and was not the best quality. If you are going to open one of the few Colombian restaurants in the area then I suggest actually make it worth wild and buy the better quality food. In the long run it will be worth it. You will definitely have more repeat customers. I definitely would not recommend this place to a friend
(2)Sim P.
this place is great!!!!!! the food is great!!!!!! the service is great!!!!!! the music is great!!!!!! the staff is great!!!!!!
(5)Bee D.
Dining here was a plan on our part. We were in Ephrata and in the mood for something different and unique. Other Yelpers gave this place high reviews. We love latin and thought how could we go wrong with so many good reviews? After dining here last night we left with mixed emotions. First off let me say this place has no ambience whatsoever. It's like dining in a banquet hall that's playing dress up for a big event. The owners try, really hard to make it feel upscale but the space fails them in every sense. The bathrooms however dated were exceptionally clean and that was much appreciated. Also appreciated was the effort the owners put into their business and how willing they were to share their culture with us. They were very friendly and obviously took great pride in their native country. I would have loved to see more authentic Columbian influence in the décor and more variety and emphasis on fresh ingredients in their dishes. The food I felt was not a true representation of Columbian fare. The choices, although having many protein choices felt limited to street fare while trying to be upscale in pricing. It was bland, colorless and not appetizing. Nothing felt fresh or exceptional. The ingredients were lower quality and meat tough. While the size was plentiful, too big actually, I would have loved to see some color on the plate or something unique to Columbia. I felt like the dishes weren't unique and pretty standard latin cuisine, full of starches and lower quality meats. For a $40 dining tab for two meals, no drinks, and one dessert I left very disappointed in our choice to go there and would not return.
(2)Rob H.
We were looking for something different to try in the area. There's only so many times you can hit the big chains before enough is enough. So we took a chance and took a drive. Food was great, service was great. It's a family owned restaurant, appears to have once been a VFW or something like that, and our waiter was a member of the family. He explained about the various dishes and the cultural. The iced tea was shit, but the food was good so water was fine. I had the big dish with a ton of food. I left happy and will be back!
(4)Betsy B.
We were looking for a place to have lunch and came across the reviews on this one which were good. We were a bit skeptical when the parking lot was virtually empty but decided to give it a try and were very glad we did. A couple eating in the restaurant told us how good it was and said they come often. I had the camarones enchilados and my friend had the camarones a la criolla. We both had the lulo made with milk that was recommended by the other diners. Everything was delicious. The lulo drink provided nice balance with the food that was a bit spicy, though not overly so, and we both almost ordered a second one. They have a variety of dishes on their menu including seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian. The service was good and the owner was very helpful in explaining the dishes. It is well worth a stop and unique for the area.
(4)Virginia Y.
First time trying columbian food and I loved it! I studied spanish when I was younger so I consider it to be my 3rd language (intermediate level) I felt really at home when I walked in. The owners were warm and friendly, just as they are in Spain (traveled there this past summer). I came solely for the $8.99 lunch special. I shared a carne asada with my boyfriend along with 3 empanadas and arroz con leche. The carne asada came with salad and plantains. I had beef and chicken empanadas. Since it was a lunch special it also included a soup. The soup of the day was Sopa De Pollo y Vegetales, which is Vegetable Chicken Soup. It was light, refreshing and nice on a cold rainy day. The empanadas were really good and definitely worth trying especially when they're only a dollar! The crust was crunchy, crispy and fried nicely. My favorite was the chicken while my boyfriend liked the beef. They also offer cheese ones. The carne asada was good, I regret getting the salad though. It was eh, tasted like sauceless/dressingless coleslaw. The steak was okay, just your typical carne asada, I wish they had a sauce for it to make it a little more juicy. The plantains were really good though! I love that it was shaped organically and not greasy at all. I had the arroz con leche to finish off, I was tempted to get flan but the servers said arroz con leche was their favorite. I liked it alot, it reminds me of kheer which is something I usually order at indian places. However I liked the colombian version a lot more. They had actually coconut flakes and it was served hot with coconut milk and mixed with rice. topped with cinnamon! Overall I really recommend this place. It's such a gem in Ephrata! Authentic, flavorful spanish cuisine that you don't really find often in Dutch County! 4 stars for the food but 5 stars for the service. The owners and servers here are incredibly sweet and warm and they constantly checked up on us. I absolutely loved speaking spanish with them, it made me reminiscent of my days in Spain.
(4)Rob G.
Enjoyed a dinner for four on a Saturday. Bad snow day, and called to make sure they would be open. All well so we went over with some beverages. Nice greet and then seat. Ordered our ap and meals. Great service and great food. We were all happy and satisfied with our choices. Overall, a nice place to go for good food. Staff was very polite and friendly. Will visit for dine in or take out in the future, thanks!
(4)Ivy C.
Worst food I ever eat, and the place smelled so bad I could not wait to leave.
(1)Matt T.
I love this place. I can not believe it took me this long to try this wonderful restaurant. Awesome empanadas and a great lunch special that includes soup & entree. The food was fresh & very flavorful. I can not wait to go back. Seriously I want to go again tomorrow. The people were friendly as well. I felt like I was eating at a friends home. I look forward to coming here for dinner very soon. If you live in Ephrata step out of the box and try this place.
(5)Skip And Laura T.
Very friendly hosts and the food was delicious with generous portions. This was our first experience eating Columbian food, and we enjoyed it. Everything tasted fresh and yummy. The menu is small, but quality over quantity is often good. The main issue is getting past the cheesy, old atmosphere. They seem to want a more upscale feel, but the decor is just lacking. If you can ignore that part, you will have a great meal.
(3)Claudia H.
I will have to start by saying that It was so great to drive and see the vibrant colors of the Colombian flag on the building. From there, we went in to see that the decor inside was even better. The service was very friendly and they really made you feel like you were right at home. The food was very good and the way that they waited was very nice. Our waiter was the son of the owners and he was very polite...my oldest daughter actually thought he was very cute. So as a native Colombiana, I am very proud to say that it was very worth the while to make the hour drive from Hershey to enjoy this establishment! It's a must for anyone who wants real authentic Colombian cuisine!
(5)Bob S.
Went here looking for a respite from Lancaster County food (which is great also). The Empanadas and accompanying hot sauce were excellent. Portions are very large; we split bandejas paisa, which we have never had before. The bandejas was sort of variable. The rice and beans were fine. The steak was tough and stringy - should it have been marinated? The pork was, I think, pork rind rather than some other cut. Tasty bits, but salty and greasy. Very inexpensive. The waiters seem a bit inexperienced; service is earnest but variable. It seems like they are building a clientele - the space, which is large, was filling by the time we left. All in all, a good change with a few kinks to work out. I hope they make a go of it.
(4)Kim G.
Great place to go - large portions of delicious homemade food, very clean throughout, very friendly. We got there early so the tamales were not ready, which was a drag, but we got the paella (not on the menu but recommended by the owner) and split it. It was a work of art and delicious! We were visiting and will go back. We only wished we had brought some beer or wine to go with it, so don't go empty-handed!
(4)Angela B.
I have been looking to try Paella and thanks to Yelp I found this place. It is a wonderful little treasure in Epharata. The staff is friendly and so welcoming. Arturo was delightful. The food was phenomenal, from the empanadas to the Paella. My daughter has the shrimp in a garlic sauce it was just right. She was disappointed that it was gone, we even ordered empanadas to take home with us. I now have a great reason to make the half hour drive. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fantastic meal with a wonderful atmosphere!
(5)Casey M.
Stopped here on a road trip and loved the food, service and atmosphere!
(5)Amanda F.
This place is delicious. It's owned by several Columbian families and serves really great Columbian food. Our server, who was also one of the owners, was very attentive and we were treated as thought we were in a fine dining establishment. The food is very large and very reasonably priced. I highly suggest coming out to Ephrata to try it out.
(5)Julie M.
Great Latin food in the Ephrata area! A real gem! Delicious empanadas, tamales and paella. Very clean and great service. I'm not sure where the reviewer Ivy ate but I don't think it was at this restaurant as I've eaten here several times and have never had an experience that mimics hers. If you're looking for great Latin food you've found it!
(5)Margaret D.
Wonderful authentic Spanish (Columbian) cuisine! Beef empanadas with delightfully spicy sauce- yum! Chorizo made on premises outstanding. Friendly, competent service. The flan was the best I've ever had. Will definitely return to try the rest of the menu offerings. Note: We were there for lunch on a Saturday and the menu is the same as Saturday evenings so a bit pricier than you'd expect for lunch. However, the owner did tell us that they are open for lunch on weekdays with a more moderately priced menu. Still, we had more than enough for lunch with appetizer, a dessert and coffees and bill was only $49.00.
(4)Em L.
The food is so delicious! The staff was very friendly, like Arturo, who made sure we had everything we needed. I've from delaware but when I visit my aunt and uncle up here in Ephrata we always make sure to come here for dinner!
(5)Warren W.
We had the lunch specials -- tilapia & pork. Both were delicious. Also, the plantains were great. Service was attentive and friendly.
(4)Missy H.
We just had a delicious meal here! I highly recommend this restaurant for great food and friendly service. We shared empanadas, fried yucca with dip, and cornbread with cheese. All 3 were yummy. The Arroz con Pollo and con Camarrones were fabulous and were a generous portion. Our 4 year old loved her mango shake and cheese empanada!
(5)Michael R.
This was a very pleasant surprise just off the main street in Ephrata. I took a client out to lunch here after reading the reviews here. When we pulled up to the non-descript building we were wondering if we had made a mistake. There were two cars in the parking lot at lunch hour during the week. I'm glad we decided to go in. It's family owned and we were waited on by a young college kid who explained the story of HIS extended family who owned the restaurant. Now I have never been a huge fan of Latin food and I'm guessing that is because I never really had a lot of good dishes. Well, this place showed me that I should try Latin food more often. I really liked the empanadas and their homemade salsa. Very spicy and just delicious. We ended up getting some to go to take home. I had a lunch special of pork, rice and a spicy salad. If I went again I'd get something different (pork was deep fried and a bit bland/dry) but the rest of the items on the plate filled me up and I was satisfied in spite of the pork. My client got a shrimp in garlic sauce dish and it was delicious and prepared very well. Very hot and very fresh! I'd love to give this five stars and the reason I didn't was because my entre was not five star worthy. Overall though, the place is a must go. Very good, fresh food, accommodating staff, authentic Spanish dishes and a it's so nice not to be in a chain. Make sure you put this place on your list!
(4)Jennifer J.
I'm from DC and I love latin food -- by DC standards, Aromas del sur is a 4-4.5 star, and by central PA standards it is easily a 5 star. I ate here with a friend and had the following: - empanadas - SO good. Made Colombian style with corn masa; chicken and beef were both so flavorful. Probably the best I've had in a restaurant. Hot salsa on the side was also different and yummy, but the empanadas were delicious even without it. - chicharrones - tasty. My friend is more the chicharrones fan, and she loved them here. - yuca frita - small pieces of yummy crispy yucca with a very tasty salsa. - tostones (with the meals) - I've never liked green tostones, only platanos maduros and sometimes plantain chips, but these were DELICIOUS. Easily the best I've had. - arroz con pollo - delicious, so flavorful! - bandejas paisa - my friend ordered this, and I didn't try it because it has stuff that I don't really like, but she said it was fantastic. Very generous servings = tasty leftovers. $40 for 3 apps & 2 entrees. It's an hour away from me, but I will definitely return soon. If I lived or worked closer, I would definitely come eat empanadas every day for lunch! Also - salsa classes & dancing on Saturdays, from 9pm - 2am. I went on Friday night, but I will have return on a Saturday for the discoteca :)
(5)Mike W.
I absolutely love this place. The food is so good and authentic. I get Lomo de Cerdo every time I'm there. The empanadas are outstanding too. Everybody that I've taken there agrees it is so good. Highly recommend.
(5)Travelerz Z.
Loved this place! We were treated like long lost relatives. So incredibly friendly! Portions were generous, everything authentic & delicious. Can't wait to back-
(4)Tiffany S.
I lived in Ephrata for all of my life and never knew this place existed. What a shame I spent years missing out on this truly fantastic food! A little pricey but very much enjoyed.
(5)Peggy I.
Aromas Del Sur has listened to their customers. The place is lovely, they service is amazing. These guys know how to cook the comfort food of their country and it's all fantastic. May not be a lot of vegetarians in Columbia so if you do not eat meat there may not be great choices for you. We had a lovely dinner this time, and it was good if not better than our first visit. Whenever we go to Lancaster area we shoot up to Ephrata for dinner. It's well worth the trip.
(5)Eilonwy S.
Tasty, tasty Columbian food, served by exceptionally friendly staff. Wouldn't expect such a place in Ephrata, but so glad we stopped here. The paella was excellent. BYOB.
(4)Danny B.
This place is a great surprise. Start with the empanadas and accompanying sauce. They are so good you might be tempted to order two for everyone. But just know that the portions are generous and the food is really delicious. There were six of us so we each ordered something different and shared. It was all fantastic. We had three kids with us who never usually like to try new things and they all loved everything. This is a family owned restaurant so the people who run the place are very attentive to make sure you have a good experience. The service is friendly and excellent. And there were tons of leftovers. Highly recommended!
(5)George B.
We've lived near this little gem for years but only stopped in on a Friday evening last month. After doing so, we wondered why it took so long! I had a steak and shrimp dish, my wife a dish made with pork, with a sauce made with red and orange bell peppers over....French fries. Yup, French fries. Both dishes were very fresh and tasty. Columbian cuisine generally is not spicy, just tasty. And huge. Did I mention huge? Both entrees come with a separate platter [yes, a platter] of rice & beans and plantains. A "salad" is also served, which is more like a slaw, which complimented the entrée perfectly. Truth in reporting here - my wife and I have both had gastric by-pass surgery, so we really do savor every mouthful. We were able to make three meals with the leftovers. But the real stars of the experience were the staff. The manager, Arturo, was a fantastic host, moving from table to table, explaining the history of the business, the style of cooking, what he and his family [the owners] are trying to accomplish. He is trying to introduce a conservative community in equally conservative Lancaster County to something different. Our server, who's name I'm afraid I cannot remember, was perfect - she explained what the various dishes were, how they are made, and some of the history of the dishes. There are negatives - the building is old and the prior occupants ran a dive bar. I have to think that this might be a turn off for some locals. The other is that it's a BYOB place, which might matter for some people. I usually enjoy a drink with dinner, but everything else about Aromas Del Sur over compensated for that. The bill? Around $45 including tip. We will be back.
(4)Sarah K.
This place is great!! My girlfriends and I met up here for lunch. The food and service was awesome. Nice find in a small town.
(5)Anthony M.
Ate here tonight and enjoyed it very much. The only let down was the corn bread and chorizo appetizer. The corn bread was inedible and the chorizo was good but had no sauce on it and wasn't spicy. Other than that appetizer everything else was great including our server who was extremely friendly and helpful to us first timers. We plan on returning to try something new on their very limited menu. I hope they expand it if they can.
(4)Zak K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the region. Huge portions, super delicious food. I've never had anything I did not like. The decor is very much a hole in the wall mom and pop establishment, but they're working on it piece by piece. You seriously can't go wrong with the food though. BYOB.
(5)Margo S.
Great food, and really lovely people. We had empanadas, paella, and other seafood. And they made a special pasta for my finicky vegetarian son. The food was really tasty, and we'll go back in a heartbeat if we're ever here again. Thanks, Yelp, for letting us find this place!
(5)Jesse G.
This restaurant was recommend to us by friends. Flavorful home style Colombian cooking with great atmosphere and service. Huge portions and reasonable prices bring us back once a month.
(5)John G.
I must start this review by thanking Yelp and my fellow Yelpers for helping me find this wonderful dining establishment. This restaurant is the real deal. this place exemplifies what great Spanish and Colombian food can be. The lentil and beef soup was flavored perfectly and the beef fell apart in my mouth. The appetizers were some of the best fried food you can find. There is an art to frying, and this place does if perfectly. The yucca was yummy and light, while the empanadas were the best i ever had. The meat and potato was like having thanksgiving dinner in a deep fried pocket of goodness. SOOO good. The cheese and corn bread was also superb. The homemade salsa type sauce was complex and delicious. The meals came not too soon after we finished our appetizers, and they didnt let us down. My friend had the Ros Con Pollo, (rice cooked with meat and veges,) which was splendid, and i had the steak and shrimp with a deep and flavorful tomato and vege based sauce. You could taste the tradition of home cooking in this food. It couldnt have been better. I would compare it to having dinner at your friends house whos mom cooks really, really good. Please go to this restaurant and tell your friends because the food is too good for them not to be busy. The location is not great because Ephrata is boring, run down, and has not cultural energy, but if you are a foodie, then you have to try it!!!! Jai Baba
(5)Judith B.
What a delightful place! The owners are warm and welcoming, and the food was fantastic. My 9-year-old daughter selected and enjoyed the arepas with cheese, as well as one of the beef dishes, Sobrebarriga a la Criolla, which was enough food for three or four children (yay for leftovers), and was absolutely delicious. I had a tamale which was moist and very flavorful. Both of our dishes came with a light shredded salad that was extremely pleasant - I'd love to have that recipe as much as the main dishes!
(5)Central P.
Aromas Del Sur bills itself as "Your Local Spanish Restaurant". The interior borders on 'fancy' ( well decorated, cloth napkins, nice beverage glasses )and I was worried that the prices might be out of my range for a simple lunch. The server was fast, efficient and friendly and I took him up on the soup special. The lentil soup was very good although I guess the sole piece of meat existed just for flavor as it was pretty grisly. My main choice was Carne Asada - a dish I have long heard of but never tasted. Before long my steaming hot plates of food arrived and both were very visually appealing. The smaller plate had beans and rice with a shredded cabbage-type salad that was delicious. The hot sauce was hot but not painful and added a great zing to the flavorful beans/rice. The steak covered the entire plate and exceeded all of my expectations. Tender and truly delicious. In fact, it was so good that I forced myself to eat only 1/2 - just so I could take the remaining portion to work. All of my food came to $14 - well worth the price. My only complaint is that they placed the flatware on the table cloth and not a napkin - something I hate even at home. I will definitely return to this restaurant. I recommend you give it a try.
(4)Tarah F.
Wonderful. Just wonderful. You can't find a cheaper more authentic meal if you tried. Try the empanadas. You can even order to take out!
(5)G S.
Really delicious, authentic food at great prices. Portions are large; servers are helpful and nice. I recommended this place to a friend; she and her husband have been there numerous times and love it! One of my friends calls me the "always ethnic eater," and this place is a favorite. BYOB, which is fine by me.
(4)Isabel K.
My mother and I went to eat at Aromas Del Sur after a long day of shopping. We did not know what to expect going in as the parking lot was pretty much empty. Well... what a great decision we took. Everything was excellent! Our food was really good. It was served within a very reasonable time. The prices are extremely reasonable and the portions are BIG! I recommend this place for anyone looking for a true Colombian eating experience! I recommend the empanadas (for only $1) as an appetizer!!! Great food!
(5)Kristina C.
AMAZING food and amazing service! We were staying at a local B&B and looked up some good food and lucky for us found Aromas Del Sur. We came in to get take out and sat right up front and a very nice gentleman who is part of the family that owns this was very kind and explained everything to us on the menu. It was great to find out that they use Corn flour for pretty much every dish except one so that means that I could eat the good stuff! We ordered 2 entree's, and 2 apps and had enough food for 2 days. Pollo enchilado and carne a la mariena and empanadas and yucca fries were all soooo delicious! The sauce they give for each item is just perfect! We also asked them to make it more spicy and let me tell you, they did...whoooo....get some water ready. Even if I am driving through that area I will be going back to get more food!
(5)Chuck H.
Some of the best Colombian food I have had and it's right in my back yard. Everything on the menu is fresh and an experience for the taste buds. Start with the Empanadas and you can't go wrong. I am systematically going through every item on the menu and then I think I will start over. The wait staff and owners are always friendly and are more than willing to recommend something if you're just not sure. Everything tastes phenomenal and the spiciest thing on the menu isn't that bad, and I love it hot. I think the empanada sauce is one of the spiciest, but I could still drink it straight. Go and take the family for a little taste of a different culture. You won't be disappointed!!!!
(5)Kyle G.
Friendly owner. Food was average. Nothing to scream about. The decor is aghast. I never see anyone in there. It is not terrible but it is missing personality and an identity.
(3)Mark M.
Fantastic, authentic Colombian food. Made almost entirely from scratch with generous portions and amazing flavor. The staff is very friendly, extremely attentive, and in my experience eager to discuss how their food is prepared. I personallly can whole-heartedly recommend the chorizo con arepa, paella and the chuleta empanizada (huge dish w/ two pork loin pieces!). A very nice and unexpected change-of-pace from the usual dinner fair in this corner of Lancaster county.
(4)Katy P.
Apparently they may charge a corkage fee now, so you may want to call ahead.
(5)Cheryl A.
I am shocked that there are better reviews on this place. I admit I heard the empanadas are amazing but when I went I had some thin dry steak and some rice that was not remarkable at all. the salad was ok but very small and it was way over priced. Frankly I wanted to suggest a chef and expected them to go out of business by now. I didnt see anything that I didnt feel I could have done better cooking it at home and I am no great cook or chef. I prefer to go to Downtown Lancaster by the court house, for the authentic Puerto Rican or Columbian cuisine, it is worth the drive.
(2)Pao P.
Been here about 2 weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We have never had Columbian food before it was very different. Plantains came with everything and of course beans and rice. Come with an open mind cuz we came expecting Mexican style food. Food ok but not too fond of Columbian style food. I'd probably come back to try something different. I did like the Luco juice. The staff was very friendly and informative about Columbian food. It did start to get busy and they only had 1 waiter.
(3)Josh C.
The paella was amazing! This place is the real deal. My wife grew up eating Columbian food made by friends in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens and the food here is as authentic as it gets. Took her back to her childhood. We will be back!
(5)J T.
Having traveled to Ephrata for work, I was basing my trip to the restaurant off yelp reviews. The posts are spot on. Food was good. The service was good. The owner was attentive (granted we were the only party there at the time). I would definitely go there again if I'm ever in Ephrata.
(5)Susan K.
Outstanding authentic Colombian food. We tried the empanadas, corn bread and paella. The sauce with the empanadas was first class flavor. Waiter was so helpful with ordering. Definitely one of our new favorites. We will be back with a bottle or two of wine since it's BYOB.
(5)TJ A.
We came here for a belated birthday dinner and it was worth the drive. The dishes are huge in size and very flavorful. (See photos). It was nice to try some new dishes like the Lomo Salteado, which is sauteed pork with onions, tomatoes, scallions & fries. It comes with plantains, rice, beans & slaw. The folks were friendly and the place is casual. A really nice experience.
(4)Sebass's Dad ..
Let me start off by saying that this is the only Colombian restaurant around this area. That being said, their prices are a little high compared to what I'm used to when I go to Florida or Philadelphia. But the quality of the food is untouched in this area. The empanadas were delicious, almost as good as my wife's mother's. I give them credit for having homemade chorizo which was the best chorizo I have ever had. I will definitely come back to this place over and over and the friendly staff was great. My wife ordered the paella which was loaded with seafood and was delicious. My son had the breaded pork, which I forget what it is called but it was very good, I know what I'm getting next time. I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Ben J.
Absolutely fantastic food! Made with fresh ingredients and home style flair. This hidden gem will leave you satisfied and wanting to come back again and again. Ossi and the entire staff was attentive, friendly, and welcoming. I will definitely be back.
(5)Rocio R.
We started off with the empanadas as an appetizer and had both the chicken and the beef empanadas. Very good with the hot sauce. J had the sobrebarriga a la criolla and I had the bandeja paisa. Both entrees were delicious and tasty. We were soo stuffed afterwards! We couldn't even finish our dinner and both of us have very big appetites. Service was extremely friendly and fast. BYOB! Will be back to sample all the other dishes I would have loved to try. Every thing on the menu sounds delicious and the service really rounds up the whole experience.
(4)Karen S.
On our way home to CT but want to return to this restaurant ! Nothing short of awesome! We had never experienced Columbian cuisine before, loved the cheese and the meat empanadas! Hot , tasty sauce to go with. I had shrimp on Criolla Sauce served with rice(nice flavor), fried plantains and fried green plantains, salad(chopped vegetable w a very light dressing). Everything was great! My husband had a chicken dish with peppers, onions, tomato served with the same yummy rice, salad, beans, fried plantains. The food was delicious and plentiful! We had a wonderful waiter, the owner's son, who took the time to explain the cuisine. It is a family business and we wish them the best. We were so excited we went back and shared our experience with another couple at the B&B we stayed at. It's a BYOB establishment if you like a drink with dinner! Very pleased, can't wait till our next visit!
(5)Ray T.
Our second visit to Aromas Del Sur was a wonderful experience, this time with the kids, nonetheless. Our waiter was outstanding, accommodating, friendly, and most helpful. He made us feel right at home, as if we were guests at his dining room table. An appetizer of cornbread with cheese was a solid starter, but the main entrees stole the show. My Pollo enchalido was outstanding, but in hindsight, I would have ordered it with a bit less heat...it required 7 or 8 glasses of water to keep the fire on simmer, and even then, I could trace my digestive tract as the warm smoldering worked its way through. Seriously, it was good. My wife's Lomo Saltado was great (although by the time I tried it, my taste buds were charred, so I'm taking her word for it), and the kids orders of shrimp with butter sauce, steak, and a grilled chicken order were all enjoyed by the kids. The plaintains were fantastic, also. Dessert was a three-scoop sherbet order for us to share. The food quality and the hospitality will be hallmarks of this visit. Total bill was $71. Definitely will be back.
(5)James R.
I've been here 3 tines with my wife but this last just made me write a review! Food is top notch. But stopped by for lunch yesterday for the first time and wow what a deal. $8.99 lunch special with steak rice salad and soup and plantains. Can't wait to go back
(5)David M.
Excellent food. Very good portions. Whatever you order will be great. Expect long waits to receive meal, particularly on weekends and if there is a special event going on. The owner is very friendly and took the time to talk to us.
(4)Lorena C.
Delicious food & wonderful service!!! This is the 2nd time hubby & I visit Lancaster and we love it but our pallet really isn't wowed with traditional American cuisine so I was excited to find this gem. My mother is Colombian so I know the cuisine & this is the real deal. When my plate came i saw the salad that my great-grandmother made & it tasted just as good....it's not just a salad & it brought back so many memories. The chorizo (sausage) was amazing & empanadas were so fresh & tasty. Overall the food was delicious but one of the best parts was the service & seeing the staff interact & explain the cuisine to the Gringos (American patrons) who didn't know what to expect of the food...service like this is worth 5 stars on its own. Oh don't leave without trying the flan
(5)Josh C.
The paella was amazing! This place is the real deal. My wife grew up eating Columbian food made by friends in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens and the food here is as authentic as it gets. Took her back to her childhood. We will be back!
(5)Susan K.
Outstanding authentic Colombian food. We tried the empanadas, corn bread and paella. The sauce with the empanadas was first class flavor. Waiter was so helpful with ordering. Definitely one of our new favorites. We will be back with a bottle or two of wine since it's BYOB.
(5)J T.
Having traveled to Ephrata for work, I was basing my trip to the restaurant off yelp reviews. The posts are spot on. Food was good. The service was good. The owner was attentive (granted we were the only party there at the time). I would definitely go there again if I'm ever in Ephrata.
(5)TJ A.
We came here for a belated birthday dinner and it was worth the drive. The dishes are huge in size and very flavorful. (See photos). It was nice to try some new dishes like the Lomo Salteado, which is sauteed pork with onions, tomatoes, scallions & fries. It comes with plantains, rice, beans & slaw. The folks were friendly and the place is casual. A really nice experience.
(4)Sebass's Dad ..
Let me start off by saying that this is the only Colombian restaurant around this area. That being said, their prices are a little high compared to what I'm used to when I go to Florida or Philadelphia. But the quality of the food is untouched in this area. The empanadas were delicious, almost as good as my wife's mother's. I give them credit for having homemade chorizo which was the best chorizo I have ever had. I will definitely come back to this place over and over and the friendly staff was great. My wife ordered the paella which was loaded with seafood and was delicious. My son had the breaded pork, which I forget what it is called but it was very good, I know what I'm getting next time. I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Ben J.
Absolutely fantastic food! Made with fresh ingredients and home style flair. This hidden gem will leave you satisfied and wanting to come back again and again. Ossi and the entire staff was attentive, friendly, and welcoming. I will definitely be back.
(5)Casey M.
Stopped here on a road trip and loved the food, service and atmosphere!
(5)Karen S.
On our way home to CT but want to return to this restaurant ! Nothing short of awesome! We had never experienced Columbian cuisine before, loved the cheese and the meat empanadas! Hot , tasty sauce to go with. I had shrimp on Criolla Sauce served with rice(nice flavor), fried plantains and fried green plantains, salad(chopped vegetable w a very light dressing). Everything was great! My husband had a chicken dish with peppers, onions, tomato served with the same yummy rice, salad, beans, fried plantains. The food was delicious and plentiful! We had a wonderful waiter, the owner's son, who took the time to explain the cuisine. It is a family business and we wish them the best. We were so excited we went back and shared our experience with another couple at the B&B we stayed at. It's a BYOB establishment if you like a drink with dinner! Very pleased, can't wait till our next visit!
(5)Ray T.
Our second visit to Aromas Del Sur was a wonderful experience, this time with the kids, nonetheless. Our waiter was outstanding, accommodating, friendly, and most helpful. He made us feel right at home, as if we were guests at his dining room table. An appetizer of cornbread with cheese was a solid starter, but the main entrees stole the show. My Pollo enchalido was outstanding, but in hindsight, I would have ordered it with a bit less heat...it required 7 or 8 glasses of water to keep the fire on simmer, and even then, I could trace my digestive tract as the warm smoldering worked its way through. Seriously, it was good. My wife's Lomo Saltado was great (although by the time I tried it, my taste buds were charred, so I'm taking her word for it), and the kids orders of shrimp with butter sauce, steak, and a grilled chicken order were all enjoyed by the kids. The plaintains were fantastic, also. Dessert was a three-scoop sherbet order for us to share. The food quality and the hospitality will be hallmarks of this visit. Total bill was $71. Definitely will be back.
(5)James R.
I've been here 3 tines with my wife but this last just made me write a review! Food is top notch. But stopped by for lunch yesterday for the first time and wow what a deal. $8.99 lunch special with steak rice salad and soup and plantains. Can't wait to go back
(5)David M.
Excellent food. Very good portions. Whatever you order will be great. Expect long waits to receive meal, particularly on weekends and if there is a special event going on. The owner is very friendly and took the time to talk to us.
(4)Mason D.
Now one of my favorite restaurants, I visited Aromas last night and had an amazing meal. Whole fried Tilapia and homemade Chorizo for an app. Great service and an amazing selection of freshly made entrees. Eat here as if your life depended on it!
(5)Beth G.
Look past the slightly dated decor. Seriously folks ....it's what on the plate that counts! Amazing food, kind wait staff. Everything that we had was amazing from the empanadas to the Sobrebarriga a la Criolla! The saddest part is that the restaurant is not downtown Lancaster!
(5)Rocio R.
We started off with the empanadas as an appetizer and had both the chicken and the beef empanadas. Very good with the hot sauce. J had the sobrebarriga a la criolla and I had the bandeja paisa. Both entrees were delicious and tasty. We were soo stuffed afterwards! We couldn't even finish our dinner and both of us have very big appetites. Service was extremely friendly and fast. BYOB! Will be back to sample all the other dishes I would have loved to try. Every thing on the menu sounds delicious and the service really rounds up the whole experience.
(4)Jon W.
The food was really good and at least the lunch specials were reasonably priced. Didn't look at the other items on the menu but my family loved the juices and soups along with tilapia and pork. The server was very nice and let me practice spanish with him the whole time. Arturo is the man!
(5)Tara W.
I am so glad for yelp, otherwise I would have never found this place! My friend and I were at the green dragon market and wanted non-Amish food for lunch and this was just 2 miles down the road, so we decided to be adventurous and check it out. I must say, I have never enjoyed Mexican/Latino food until now. This place is absolutely amazing!! We each got an empanada to start, and let me tell you after just one bite all I wanted was a plate of them for my meal. Soooo good! The lunch special came with soup and a main course. The soup was minestrone, which had way too much cilantro. For the main dish, I got the tilapia with rice, a salad, and plantains. The tilapia was cooked an seasoned perfectly and the sauce they put on top was so good! plus they didn't put too much on, which is rare. The plantains were good- not good the next day, so make sure to eat them while you're there. The salad it came with looked like coleslaw, but no mayonnaise. It was nice and refreshing, and complemented the warm fish and rice. basically, if you're in the area, go here!!! you won't regret it
(4)Todd C.
Muy bueno! We started with the Empenadas, one with cheesr and one with beef along with the very fresh salsa. I had the Carne Asada Steak with beand and rice and my friend had the Camarones al Ajillo (shrimp in creamy garlic sauce) snd she was just thrilled. The waitor and waitresses couldn't have been more friendly and very informative. We finished by sharing a plate of Brevos con Queso (figs with cheese and caramel) which was very unique and delicious. Thanks for a nice time.
(5)Carl G.
This was our first visit for my wife and I. Both our dinners were great! The flavor of the sauces with our entrees were very tasty. We were thinking the service was a little slow, but this was worth waiting for. We will definitely be returning. :-)
(5)Reaper R.
By far one of the best meals I've had in a long time! When you walk in to the restaurant and smell the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen you know you are in the right place. This is by far the best food you will have in this area. The staff is friendly and attentive and the food is excellent, what more could you ask for. I'll be eating all my evening meals here whenever I'm in town.
(5)Nick L.
This place totally blew my mind! I recently visited this place with 3 of my college friends because we saw the reviews on here and boy did we love it. The empanadas were fantastic (get the chicken ones!), I ordered the Bandeja Paisa (pictured at the top of the page with the pork rind) and it was a wonderful meal. My friend ordered the Paella and loved that as well, so I would highly recommend both meals. We didn't have enough room for dessert but I know we will be back soon to try the flan! The service was great, very friendly and helpful with all our first time questions. We got to talk to a man, who I presume was the owner, for a little bit at the end of our meal. It was wonderful getting to know him and learn about his son and we hope to visit again soon. Chau!
(5)Jessica S.
We love this place. Highly recommended! Colombian food is the best kept secret from the Gluten free world! Bc it's cheap! The empanadas and arepas are made with Corn! Not wheat. This is customary for Colombia. It's a nice friendly atmosphere and the owners are delightful and welcoming.
(5)Timothy R.
The food here is excellent. I was here for dinner for four, so we got to sample a good amount of the menu and everything was full of flavor. All dishes had generous potions and the service was fast and friendly. We got there just before closing so we also had an opportunity to have a fun conversation with one of the owners and cook. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in ephrata.
(5)Melodie D.
Great Food and Great Service. You don't find this often at the same place but this place has it. We had the empanadas, paella and flan. I cook authentic paella so I am very particular about my paella. The flavor was wonderful and loaded with seafood. I was so full that I could have skipped the flan but I am so glad that I didn't. EVERYTHING was delicious!
(5)Jimmy M.
Fantastic and authentic Colombian food. The owner is always smiling and greeting guests, the wait staff are helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. My family and I always recommend this to visiting friends and take family here. The food is simply great, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are straight from Colombia. Five Star must eat! Como te queiro Colombia!!
(5)S. M.
This is a fantastic place! My girlfriend and I dined here for the first time this evening. We ordered the beef and chicken empanadas for an appetizer and they were fantastic! Our main dish was the "bandeja paisa" and it was very plentiful and definitely scrumptious. The wait staff were very hospitable and the service was quick. No complaints. We will definitely be going back to try more dishes. Can't wait!
(4)Em L.
The food is so delicious! The staff was very friendly, like Arturo, who made sure we had everything we needed. I've from delaware but when I visit my aunt and uncle up here in Ephrata we always make sure to come here for dinner!
(5)Warren W.
We had the lunch specials -- tilapia & pork. Both were delicious. Also, the plantains were great. Service was attentive and friendly.
(4)Missy H.
We just had a delicious meal here! I highly recommend this restaurant for great food and friendly service. We shared empanadas, fried yucca with dip, and cornbread with cheese. All 3 were yummy. The Arroz con Pollo and con Camarrones were fabulous and were a generous portion. Our 4 year old loved her mango shake and cheese empanada!
(5)Peggy I.
Aromas Del Sur has listened to their customers. The place is lovely, they service is amazing. These guys know how to cook the comfort food of their country and it's all fantastic. May not be a lot of vegetarians in Columbia so if you do not eat meat there may not be great choices for you. We had a lovely dinner this time, and it was good if not better than our first visit. Whenever we go to Lancaster area we shoot up to Ephrata for dinner. It's well worth the trip.
(5)Eilonwy S.
Tasty, tasty Columbian food, served by exceptionally friendly staff. Wouldn't expect such a place in Ephrata, but so glad we stopped here. The paella was excellent. BYOB.
(4)Michael R.
This was a very pleasant surprise just off the main street in Ephrata. I took a client out to lunch here after reading the reviews here. When we pulled up to the non-descript building we were wondering if we had made a mistake. There were two cars in the parking lot at lunch hour during the week. I'm glad we decided to go in. It's family owned and we were waited on by a young college kid who explained the story of HIS extended family who owned the restaurant. Now I have never been a huge fan of Latin food and I'm guessing that is because I never really had a lot of good dishes. Well, this place showed me that I should try Latin food more often. I really liked the empanadas and their homemade salsa. Very spicy and just delicious. We ended up getting some to go to take home. I had a lunch special of pork, rice and a spicy salad. If I went again I'd get something different (pork was deep fried and a bit bland/dry) but the rest of the items on the plate filled me up and I was satisfied in spite of the pork. My client got a shrimp in garlic sauce dish and it was delicious and prepared very well. Very hot and very fresh! I'd love to give this five stars and the reason I didn't was because my entre was not five star worthy. Overall though, the place is a must go. Very good, fresh food, accommodating staff, authentic Spanish dishes and a it's so nice not to be in a chain. Make sure you put this place on your list!
(4)Jennifer J.
I'm from DC and I love latin food -- by DC standards, Aromas del sur is a 4-4.5 star, and by central PA standards it is easily a 5 star. I ate here with a friend and had the following: - empanadas - SO good. Made Colombian style with corn masa; chicken and beef were both so flavorful. Probably the best I've had in a restaurant. Hot salsa on the side was also different and yummy, but the empanadas were delicious even without it. - chicharrones - tasty. My friend is more the chicharrones fan, and she loved them here. - yuca frita - small pieces of yummy crispy yucca with a very tasty salsa. - tostones (with the meals) - I've never liked green tostones, only platanos maduros and sometimes plantain chips, but these were DELICIOUS. Easily the best I've had. - arroz con pollo - delicious, so flavorful! - bandejas paisa - my friend ordered this, and I didn't try it because it has stuff that I don't really like, but she said it was fantastic. Very generous servings = tasty leftovers. $40 for 3 apps & 2 entrees. It's an hour away from me, but I will definitely return soon. If I lived or worked closer, I would definitely come eat empanadas every day for lunch! Also - salsa classes & dancing on Saturdays, from 9pm - 2am. I went on Friday night, but I will have return on a Saturday for the discoteca :)
(5)Mike W.
I absolutely love this place. The food is so good and authentic. I get Lomo de Cerdo every time I'm there. The empanadas are outstanding too. Everybody that I've taken there agrees it is so good. Highly recommend.
(5)Travelerz Z.
Loved this place! We were treated like long lost relatives. So incredibly friendly! Portions were generous, everything authentic & delicious. Can't wait to back-
(4)Tiffany S.
I lived in Ephrata for all of my life and never knew this place existed. What a shame I spent years missing out on this truly fantastic food! A little pricey but very much enjoyed.
(5)George B.
We've lived near this little gem for years but only stopped in on a Friday evening last month. After doing so, we wondered why it took so long! I had a steak and shrimp dish, my wife a dish made with pork, with a sauce made with red and orange bell peppers over....French fries. Yup, French fries. Both dishes were very fresh and tasty. Columbian cuisine generally is not spicy, just tasty. And huge. Did I mention huge? Both entrees come with a separate platter [yes, a platter] of rice & beans and plantains. A "salad" is also served, which is more like a slaw, which complimented the entrée perfectly. Truth in reporting here - my wife and I have both had gastric by-pass surgery, so we really do savor every mouthful. We were able to make three meals with the leftovers. But the real stars of the experience were the staff. The manager, Arturo, was a fantastic host, moving from table to table, explaining the history of the business, the style of cooking, what he and his family [the owners] are trying to accomplish. He is trying to introduce a conservative community in equally conservative Lancaster County to something different. Our server, who's name I'm afraid I cannot remember, was perfect - she explained what the various dishes were, how they are made, and some of the history of the dishes. There are negatives - the building is old and the prior occupants ran a dive bar. I have to think that this might be a turn off for some locals. The other is that it's a BYOB place, which might matter for some people. I usually enjoy a drink with dinner, but everything else about Aromas Del Sur over compensated for that. The bill? Around $45 including tip. We will be back.
(4)Sarah K.
This place is great!! My girlfriends and I met up here for lunch. The food and service was awesome. Nice find in a small town.
(5)Skip And Laura T.
Very friendly hosts and the food was delicious with generous portions. This was our first experience eating Columbian food, and we enjoyed it. Everything tasted fresh and yummy. The menu is small, but quality over quantity is often good. The main issue is getting past the cheesy, old atmosphere. They seem to want a more upscale feel, but the decor is just lacking. If you can ignore that part, you will have a great meal.
(3)Ivy C.
Worst food I ever eat, and the place smelled so bad I could not wait to leave.
(1)Claudia H.
I will have to start by saying that It was so great to drive and see the vibrant colors of the Colombian flag on the building. From there, we went in to see that the decor inside was even better. The service was very friendly and they really made you feel like you were right at home. The food was very good and the way that they waited was very nice. Our waiter was the son of the owners and he was very polite...my oldest daughter actually thought he was very cute. So as a native Colombiana, I am very proud to say that it was very worth the while to make the hour drive from Hershey to enjoy this establishment! It's a must for anyone who wants real authentic Colombian cuisine!
(5)Margaret D.
Wonderful authentic Spanish (Columbian) cuisine! Beef empanadas with delightfully spicy sauce- yum! Chorizo made on premises outstanding. Friendly, competent service. The flan was the best I've ever had. Will definitely return to try the rest of the menu offerings. Note: We were there for lunch on a Saturday and the menu is the same as Saturday evenings so a bit pricier than you'd expect for lunch. However, the owner did tell us that they are open for lunch on weekdays with a more moderately priced menu. Still, we had more than enough for lunch with appetizer, a dessert and coffees and bill was only $49.00.
(4)Danny B.
This place is a great surprise. Start with the empanadas and accompanying sauce. They are so good you might be tempted to order two for everyone. But just know that the portions are generous and the food is really delicious. There were six of us so we each ordered something different and shared. It was all fantastic. We had three kids with us who never usually like to try new things and they all loved everything. This is a family owned restaurant so the people who run the place are very attentive to make sure you have a good experience. The service is friendly and excellent. And there were tons of leftovers. Highly recommended!
(5)Amanda F.
This place is delicious. It's owned by several Columbian families and serves really great Columbian food. Our server, who was also one of the owners, was very attentive and we were treated as thought we were in a fine dining establishment. The food is very large and very reasonably priced. I highly suggest coming out to Ephrata to try it out.
(5)Julie M.
Great Latin food in the Ephrata area! A real gem! Delicious empanadas, tamales and paella. Very clean and great service. I'm not sure where the reviewer Ivy ate but I don't think it was at this restaurant as I've eaten here several times and have never had an experience that mimics hers. If you're looking for great Latin food you've found it!
(5)Bob S.
Went here looking for a respite from Lancaster County food (which is great also). The Empanadas and accompanying hot sauce were excellent. Portions are very large; we split bandejas paisa, which we have never had before. The bandejas was sort of variable. The rice and beans were fine. The steak was tough and stringy - should it have been marinated? The pork was, I think, pork rind rather than some other cut. Tasty bits, but salty and greasy. Very inexpensive. The waiters seem a bit inexperienced; service is earnest but variable. It seems like they are building a clientele - the space, which is large, was filling by the time we left. All in all, a good change with a few kinks to work out. I hope they make a go of it.
(4)Matt T.
I love this place. I can not believe it took me this long to try this wonderful restaurant. Awesome empanadas and a great lunch special that includes soup & entree. The food was fresh & very flavorful. I can not wait to go back. Seriously I want to go again tomorrow. The people were friendly as well. I felt like I was eating at a friends home. I look forward to coming here for dinner very soon. If you live in Ephrata step out of the box and try this place.
(5)Kim G.
Great place to go - large portions of delicious homemade food, very clean throughout, very friendly. We got there early so the tamales were not ready, which was a drag, but we got the paella (not on the menu but recommended by the owner) and split it. It was a work of art and delicious! We were visiting and will go back. We only wished we had brought some beer or wine to go with it, so don't go empty-handed!
(4)Angela B.
I have been looking to try Paella and thanks to Yelp I found this place. It is a wonderful little treasure in Epharata. The staff is friendly and so welcoming. Arturo was delightful. The food was phenomenal, from the empanadas to the Paella. My daughter has the shrimp in a garlic sauce it was just right. She was disappointed that it was gone, we even ordered empanadas to take home with us. I now have a great reason to make the half hour drive. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fantastic meal with a wonderful atmosphere!
(5)Anthony M.
Ate here tonight and enjoyed it very much. The only let down was the corn bread and chorizo appetizer. The corn bread was inedible and the chorizo was good but had no sauce on it and wasn't spicy. Other than that appetizer everything else was great including our server who was extremely friendly and helpful to us first timers. We plan on returning to try something new on their very limited menu. I hope they expand it if they can.
(4)Zak K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the region. Huge portions, super delicious food. I've never had anything I did not like. The decor is very much a hole in the wall mom and pop establishment, but they're working on it piece by piece. You seriously can't go wrong with the food though. BYOB.
(5)Margo S.
Great food, and really lovely people. We had empanadas, paella, and other seafood. And they made a special pasta for my finicky vegetarian son. The food was really tasty, and we'll go back in a heartbeat if we're ever here again. Thanks, Yelp, for letting us find this place!
(5)Tarah F.
Wonderful. Just wonderful. You can't find a cheaper more authentic meal if you tried. Try the empanadas. You can even order to take out!
(5)G S.
Really delicious, authentic food at great prices. Portions are large; servers are helpful and nice. I recommended this place to a friend; she and her husband have been there numerous times and love it! One of my friends calls me the "always ethnic eater," and this place is a favorite. BYOB, which is fine by me.
(4)Isabel K.
My mother and I went to eat at Aromas Del Sur after a long day of shopping. We did not know what to expect going in as the parking lot was pretty much empty. Well... what a great decision we took. Everything was excellent! Our food was really good. It was served within a very reasonable time. The prices are extremely reasonable and the portions are BIG! I recommend this place for anyone looking for a true Colombian eating experience! I recommend the empanadas (for only $1) as an appetizer!!! Great food!
(5)Jesse G.
This restaurant was recommend to us by friends. Flavorful home style Colombian cooking with great atmosphere and service. Huge portions and reasonable prices bring us back once a month.
(5)John G.
I must start this review by thanking Yelp and my fellow Yelpers for helping me find this wonderful dining establishment. This restaurant is the real deal. this place exemplifies what great Spanish and Colombian food can be. The lentil and beef soup was flavored perfectly and the beef fell apart in my mouth. The appetizers were some of the best fried food you can find. There is an art to frying, and this place does if perfectly. The yucca was yummy and light, while the empanadas were the best i ever had. The meat and potato was like having thanksgiving dinner in a deep fried pocket of goodness. SOOO good. The cheese and corn bread was also superb. The homemade salsa type sauce was complex and delicious. The meals came not too soon after we finished our appetizers, and they didnt let us down. My friend had the Ros Con Pollo, (rice cooked with meat and veges,) which was splendid, and i had the steak and shrimp with a deep and flavorful tomato and vege based sauce. You could taste the tradition of home cooking in this food. It couldnt have been better. I would compare it to having dinner at your friends house whos mom cooks really, really good. Please go to this restaurant and tell your friends because the food is too good for them not to be busy. The location is not great because Ephrata is boring, run down, and has not cultural energy, but if you are a foodie, then you have to try it!!!! Jai Baba
(5)Judith B.
What a delightful place! The owners are warm and welcoming, and the food was fantastic. My 9-year-old daughter selected and enjoyed the arepas with cheese, as well as one of the beef dishes, Sobrebarriga a la Criolla, which was enough food for three or four children (yay for leftovers), and was absolutely delicious. I had a tamale which was moist and very flavorful. Both of our dishes came with a light shredded salad that was extremely pleasant - I'd love to have that recipe as much as the main dishes!
(5)Central P.
Aromas Del Sur bills itself as "Your Local Spanish Restaurant". The interior borders on 'fancy' ( well decorated, cloth napkins, nice beverage glasses )and I was worried that the prices might be out of my range for a simple lunch. The server was fast, efficient and friendly and I took him up on the soup special. The lentil soup was very good although I guess the sole piece of meat existed just for flavor as it was pretty grisly. My main choice was Carne Asada - a dish I have long heard of but never tasted. Before long my steaming hot plates of food arrived and both were very visually appealing. The smaller plate had beans and rice with a shredded cabbage-type salad that was delicious. The hot sauce was hot but not painful and added a great zing to the flavorful beans/rice. The steak covered the entire plate and exceeded all of my expectations. Tender and truly delicious. In fact, it was so good that I forced myself to eat only 1/2 - just so I could take the remaining portion to work. All of my food came to $14 - well worth the price. My only complaint is that they placed the flatware on the table cloth and not a napkin - something I hate even at home. I will definitely return to this restaurant. I recommend you give it a try.
(4)Karen S.
On our way home to CT but want to return to this restaurant ! Nothing short of awesome! We had never experienced Columbian cuisine before, loved the cheese and the meat empanadas! Hot , tasty sauce to go with. I had shrimp on Criolla Sauce served with rice(nice flavor), fried plantains and fried green plantains, salad(chopped vegetable w a very light dressing). Everything was great! My husband had a chicken dish with peppers, onions, tomato served with the same yummy rice, salad, beans, fried plantains. The food was delicious and plentiful! We had a wonderful waiter, the owner's son, who took the time to explain the cuisine. It is a family business and we wish them the best. We were so excited we went back and shared our experience with another couple at the B&B we stayed at. It's a BYOB establishment if you like a drink with dinner! Very pleased, can't wait till our next visit!
(5)Lorena C.
Delicious food & wonderful service!!! This is the 2nd time hubby & I visit Lancaster and we love it but our pallet really isn't wowed with traditional American cuisine so I was excited to find this gem. My mother is Colombian so I know the cuisine & this is the real deal. When my plate came i saw the salad that my great-grandmother made & it tasted just as good....it's not just a salad & it brought back so many memories. The chorizo (sausage) was amazing & empanadas were so fresh & tasty. Overall the food was delicious but one of the best parts was the service & seeing the staff interact & explain the cuisine to the Gringos (American patrons) who didn't know what to expect of the food...service like this is worth 5 stars on its own. Oh don't leave without trying the flan
(5)Josh C.
The paella was amazing! This place is the real deal. My wife grew up eating Columbian food made by friends in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens and the food here is as authentic as it gets. Took her back to her childhood. We will be back!
(5)J T.
Having traveled to Ephrata for work, I was basing my trip to the restaurant off yelp reviews. The posts are spot on. Food was good. The service was good. The owner was attentive (granted we were the only party there at the time). I would definitely go there again if I'm ever in Ephrata.
(5)Susan K.
Outstanding authentic Colombian food. We tried the empanadas, corn bread and paella. The sauce with the empanadas was first class flavor. Waiter was so helpful with ordering. Definitely one of our new favorites. We will be back with a bottle or two of wine since it's BYOB.
(5)TJ A.
We came here for a belated birthday dinner and it was worth the drive. The dishes are huge in size and very flavorful. (See photos). It was nice to try some new dishes like the Lomo Salteado, which is sauteed pork with onions, tomatoes, scallions & fries. It comes with plantains, rice, beans & slaw. The folks were friendly and the place is casual. A really nice experience.
(4)Sebass's Dad ..
Let me start off by saying that this is the only Colombian restaurant around this area. That being said, their prices are a little high compared to what I'm used to when I go to Florida or Philadelphia. But the quality of the food is untouched in this area. The empanadas were delicious, almost as good as my wife's mother's. I give them credit for having homemade chorizo which was the best chorizo I have ever had. I will definitely come back to this place over and over and the friendly staff was great. My wife ordered the paella which was loaded with seafood and was delicious. My son had the breaded pork, which I forget what it is called but it was very good, I know what I'm getting next time. I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Casey M.
Stopped here on a road trip and loved the food, service and atmosphere!
(5)Ben J.
Absolutely fantastic food! Made with fresh ingredients and home style flair. This hidden gem will leave you satisfied and wanting to come back again and again. Ossi and the entire staff was attentive, friendly, and welcoming. I will definitely be back.
(5)James R.
I've been here 3 tines with my wife but this last just made me write a review! Food is top notch. But stopped by for lunch yesterday for the first time and wow what a deal. $8.99 lunch special with steak rice salad and soup and plantains. Can't wait to go back
(5)David M.
Excellent food. Very good portions. Whatever you order will be great. Expect long waits to receive meal, particularly on weekends and if there is a special event going on. The owner is very friendly and took the time to talk to us.
(4)Mason D.
Now one of my favorite restaurants, I visited Aromas last night and had an amazing meal. Whole fried Tilapia and homemade Chorizo for an app. Great service and an amazing selection of freshly made entrees. Eat here as if your life depended on it!
(5)Ray T.
Our second visit to Aromas Del Sur was a wonderful experience, this time with the kids, nonetheless. Our waiter was outstanding, accommodating, friendly, and most helpful. He made us feel right at home, as if we were guests at his dining room table. An appetizer of cornbread with cheese was a solid starter, but the main entrees stole the show. My Pollo enchalido was outstanding, but in hindsight, I would have ordered it with a bit less heat...it required 7 or 8 glasses of water to keep the fire on simmer, and even then, I could trace my digestive tract as the warm smoldering worked its way through. Seriously, it was good. My wife's Lomo Saltado was great (although by the time I tried it, my taste buds were charred, so I'm taking her word for it), and the kids orders of shrimp with butter sauce, steak, and a grilled chicken order were all enjoyed by the kids. The plaintains were fantastic, also. Dessert was a three-scoop sherbet order for us to share. The food quality and the hospitality will be hallmarks of this visit. Total bill was $71. Definitely will be back.
(5)Bob S.
Went here looking for a respite from Lancaster County food (which is great also). The Empanadas and accompanying hot sauce were excellent. Portions are very large; we split bandejas paisa, which we have never had before. The bandejas was sort of variable. The rice and beans were fine. The steak was tough and stringy - should it have been marinated? The pork was, I think, pork rind rather than some other cut. Tasty bits, but salty and greasy. Very inexpensive. The waiters seem a bit inexperienced; service is earnest but variable. It seems like they are building a clientele - the space, which is large, was filling by the time we left. All in all, a good change with a few kinks to work out. I hope they make a go of it.
(4)Kim G.
Great place to go - large portions of delicious homemade food, very clean throughout, very friendly. We got there early so the tamales were not ready, which was a drag, but we got the paella (not on the menu but recommended by the owner) and split it. It was a work of art and delicious! We were visiting and will go back. We only wished we had brought some beer or wine to go with it, so don't go empty-handed!
(4)Sim P.
this place is great!!!!!! the food is great!!!!!! the service is great!!!!!! the music is great!!!!!! the staff is great!!!!!!
(5)Rocio R.
We started off with the empanadas as an appetizer and had both the chicken and the beef empanadas. Very good with the hot sauce. J had the sobrebarriga a la criolla and I had the bandeja paisa. Both entrees were delicious and tasty. We were soo stuffed afterwards! We couldn't even finish our dinner and both of us have very big appetites. Service was extremely friendly and fast. BYOB! Will be back to sample all the other dishes I would have loved to try. Every thing on the menu sounds delicious and the service really rounds up the whole experience.
(4)Kristina C.
AMAZING food and amazing service! We were staying at a local B&B and looked up some good food and lucky for us found Aromas Del Sur. We came in to get take out and sat right up front and a very nice gentleman who is part of the family that owns this was very kind and explained everything to us on the menu. It was great to find out that they use Corn flour for pretty much every dish except one so that means that I could eat the good stuff! We ordered 2 entree's, and 2 apps and had enough food for 2 days. Pollo enchilado and carne a la mariena and empanadas and yucca fries were all soooo delicious! The sauce they give for each item is just perfect! We also asked them to make it more spicy and let me tell you, they did...whoooo....get some water ready. Even if I am driving through that area I will be going back to get more food!
(5)Joseph P.
I was in Ephrata and saw good reviews and recommendations to go eat here. I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to Spanish food. I eat it a lot and sometimes reviews are not as accurate in areas they do not have too many Spanish restaurants. They have a good sized dining area. The owner gives this restaurant a very authentic feel and he is very proud of his Colombian heritage. This is very obvious as soon as you get there. Not only was the staff very attentive the owner, or one of the owners because I believe it's 3 of them, came and talked to us for a little while. While I have nothing but good thing to say about him, this is where the positive part of my review ends. We started off with the empanadas, they were not bad. Not fantastic but they were good. With that I held out hope that the food would be good. Next the entrées came and this is where I'll be very critical. I ordered the bistec caballo and the meat was not a high quality cut. It was definitely a tougher cut of meat. My friend order the Carne asada and again he agreed that it was not the best cut of meat. We both agreed that the meat was seasoned well but when you don't have a good cut of meat no matter what seasoning you use it will not taste that good. My other friend ordered an other appetizer and not a meal. She ordered the arepa con chorizo. While I can't say much about the arepa the chorizo looked awful. Typical Colombian chorizo is not usually that big. It had an odd oder to it and did not taste good. She only had 2 bites and couldn't eat anything else. She felt pretty miserable the rest of the night after that. This place is very popular in my opinion because most people in the area have never had Colombian food and thus they think it is very good high quality food. Unfortunately the food was not good and was not the best quality. If you are going to open one of the few Colombian restaurants in the area then I suggest actually make it worth wild and buy the better quality food. In the long run it will be worth it. You will definitely have more repeat customers. I definitely would not recommend this place to a friend
(2)Cheryl A.
I am shocked that there are better reviews on this place. I admit I heard the empanadas are amazing but when I went I had some thin dry steak and some rice that was not remarkable at all. the salad was ok but very small and it was way over priced. Frankly I wanted to suggest a chef and expected them to go out of business by now. I didnt see anything that I didnt feel I could have done better cooking it at home and I am no great cook or chef. I prefer to go to Downtown Lancaster by the court house, for the authentic Puerto Rican or Columbian cuisine, it is worth the drive.
(2)Pao P.
Been here about 2 weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We have never had Columbian food before it was very different. Plantains came with everything and of course beans and rice. Come with an open mind cuz we came expecting Mexican style food. Food ok but not too fond of Columbian style food. I'd probably come back to try something different. I did like the Luco juice. The staff was very friendly and informative about Columbian food. It did start to get busy and they only had 1 waiter.
(3)Katy P.
Apparently they may charge a corkage fee now, so you may want to call ahead.
(5)Skip And Laura T.
Very friendly hosts and the food was delicious with generous portions. This was our first experience eating Columbian food, and we enjoyed it. Everything tasted fresh and yummy. The menu is small, but quality over quantity is often good. The main issue is getting past the cheesy, old atmosphere. They seem to want a more upscale feel, but the decor is just lacking. If you can ignore that part, you will have a great meal.
(3)Bee D.
Dining here was a plan on our part. We were in Ephrata and in the mood for something different and unique. Other Yelpers gave this place high reviews. We love latin and thought how could we go wrong with so many good reviews? After dining here last night we left with mixed emotions. First off let me say this place has no ambience whatsoever. It's like dining in a banquet hall that's playing dress up for a big event. The owners try, really hard to make it feel upscale but the space fails them in every sense. The bathrooms however dated were exceptionally clean and that was much appreciated. Also appreciated was the effort the owners put into their business and how willing they were to share their culture with us. They were very friendly and obviously took great pride in their native country. I would have loved to see more authentic Columbian influence in the décor and more variety and emphasis on fresh ingredients in their dishes. The food I felt was not a true representation of Columbian fare. The choices, although having many protein choices felt limited to street fare while trying to be upscale in pricing. It was bland, colorless and not appetizing. Nothing felt fresh or exceptional. The ingredients were lower quality and meat tough. While the size was plentiful, too big actually, I would have loved to see some color on the plate or something unique to Columbia. I felt like the dishes weren't unique and pretty standard latin cuisine, full of starches and lower quality meats. For a $40 dining tab for two meals, no drinks, and one dessert I left very disappointed in our choice to go there and would not return.
(2)Rob H.
We were looking for something different to try in the area. There's only so many times you can hit the big chains before enough is enough. So we took a chance and took a drive. Food was great, service was great. It's a family owned restaurant, appears to have once been a VFW or something like that, and our waiter was a member of the family. He explained about the various dishes and the cultural. The iced tea was shit, but the food was good so water was fine. I had the big dish with a ton of food. I left happy and will be back!
(4)Betsy B.
We were looking for a place to have lunch and came across the reviews on this one which were good. We were a bit skeptical when the parking lot was virtually empty but decided to give it a try and were very glad we did. A couple eating in the restaurant told us how good it was and said they come often. I had the camarones enchilados and my friend had the camarones a la criolla. We both had the lulo made with milk that was recommended by the other diners. Everything was delicious. The lulo drink provided nice balance with the food that was a bit spicy, though not overly so, and we both almost ordered a second one. They have a variety of dishes on their menu including seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian. The service was good and the owner was very helpful in explaining the dishes. It is well worth a stop and unique for the area.
(4)Virginia Y.
First time trying columbian food and I loved it! I studied spanish when I was younger so I consider it to be my 3rd language (intermediate level) I felt really at home when I walked in. The owners were warm and friendly, just as they are in Spain (traveled there this past summer). I came solely for the $8.99 lunch special. I shared a carne asada with my boyfriend along with 3 empanadas and arroz con leche. The carne asada came with salad and plantains. I had beef and chicken empanadas. Since it was a lunch special it also included a soup. The soup of the day was Sopa De Pollo y Vegetales, which is Vegetable Chicken Soup. It was light, refreshing and nice on a cold rainy day. The empanadas were really good and definitely worth trying especially when they're only a dollar! The crust was crunchy, crispy and fried nicely. My favorite was the chicken while my boyfriend liked the beef. They also offer cheese ones. The carne asada was good, I regret getting the salad though. It was eh, tasted like sauceless/dressingless coleslaw. The steak was okay, just your typical carne asada, I wish they had a sauce for it to make it a little more juicy. The plantains were really good though! I love that it was shaped organically and not greasy at all. I had the arroz con leche to finish off, I was tempted to get flan but the servers said arroz con leche was their favorite. I liked it alot, it reminds me of kheer which is something I usually order at indian places. However I liked the colombian version a lot more. They had actually coconut flakes and it was served hot with coconut milk and mixed with rice. topped with cinnamon! Overall I really recommend this place. It's such a gem in Ephrata! Authentic, flavorful spanish cuisine that you don't really find often in Dutch County! 4 stars for the food but 5 stars for the service. The owners and servers here are incredibly sweet and warm and they constantly checked up on us. I absolutely loved speaking spanish with them, it made me reminiscent of my days in Spain.
(4)Chuck H.
Some of the best Colombian food I have had and it's right in my back yard. Everything on the menu is fresh and an experience for the taste buds. Start with the Empanadas and you can't go wrong. I am systematically going through every item on the menu and then I think I will start over. The wait staff and owners are always friendly and are more than willing to recommend something if you're just not sure. Everything tastes phenomenal and the spiciest thing on the menu isn't that bad, and I love it hot. I think the empanada sauce is one of the spiciest, but I could still drink it straight. Go and take the family for a little taste of a different culture. You won't be disappointed!!!!
(5)Kyle G.
Friendly owner. Food was average. Nothing to scream about. The decor is aghast. I never see anyone in there. It is not terrible but it is missing personality and an identity.
(3)Rob G.
Enjoyed a dinner for four on a Saturday. Bad snow day, and called to make sure they would be open. All well so we went over with some beverages. Nice greet and then seat. Ordered our ap and meals. Great service and great food. We were all happy and satisfied with our choices. Overall, a nice place to go for good food. Staff was very polite and friendly. Will visit for dine in or take out in the future, thanks!
(4)Mark M.
Fantastic, authentic Colombian food. Made almost entirely from scratch with generous portions and amazing flavor. The staff is very friendly, extremely attentive, and in my experience eager to discuss how their food is prepared. I personallly can whole-heartedly recommend the chorizo con arepa, paella and the chuleta empanizada (huge dish w/ two pork loin pieces!). A very nice and unexpected change-of-pace from the usual dinner fair in this corner of Lancaster county.
(4)Beth G.
Look past the slightly dated decor. Seriously folks ....it's what on the plate that counts! Amazing food, kind wait staff. Everything that we had was amazing from the empanadas to the Sobrebarriga a la Criolla! The saddest part is that the restaurant is not downtown Lancaster!
(5)Jon W.
The food was really good and at least the lunch specials were reasonably priced. Didn't look at the other items on the menu but my family loved the juices and soups along with tilapia and pork. The server was very nice and let me practice spanish with him the whole time. Arturo is the man!
(5)Carl G.
This was our first visit for my wife and I. Both our dinners were great! The flavor of the sauces with our entrees were very tasty. We were thinking the service was a little slow, but this was worth waiting for. We will definitely be returning. :-)
(5)Reaper R.
By far one of the best meals I've had in a long time! When you walk in to the restaurant and smell the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen you know you are in the right place. This is by far the best food you will have in this area. The staff is friendly and attentive and the food is excellent, what more could you ask for. I'll be eating all my evening meals here whenever I'm in town.
(5)Nick L.
This place totally blew my mind! I recently visited this place with 3 of my college friends because we saw the reviews on here and boy did we love it. The empanadas were fantastic (get the chicken ones!), I ordered the Bandeja Paisa (pictured at the top of the page with the pork rind) and it was a wonderful meal. My friend ordered the Paella and loved that as well, so I would highly recommend both meals. We didn't have enough room for dessert but I know we will be back soon to try the flan! The service was great, very friendly and helpful with all our first time questions. We got to talk to a man, who I presume was the owner, for a little bit at the end of our meal. It was wonderful getting to know him and learn about his son and we hope to visit again soon. Chau!
(5)Tara W.
I am so glad for yelp, otherwise I would have never found this place! My friend and I were at the green dragon market and wanted non-Amish food for lunch and this was just 2 miles down the road, so we decided to be adventurous and check it out. I must say, I have never enjoyed Mexican/Latino food until now. This place is absolutely amazing!! We each got an empanada to start, and let me tell you after just one bite all I wanted was a plate of them for my meal. Soooo good! The lunch special came with soup and a main course. The soup was minestrone, which had way too much cilantro. For the main dish, I got the tilapia with rice, a salad, and plantains. The tilapia was cooked an seasoned perfectly and the sauce they put on top was so good! plus they didn't put too much on, which is rare. The plantains were good- not good the next day, so make sure to eat them while you're there. The salad it came with looked like coleslaw, but no mayonnaise. It was nice and refreshing, and complemented the warm fish and rice. basically, if you're in the area, go here!!! you won't regret it
(4)Todd C.
Muy bueno! We started with the Empenadas, one with cheesr and one with beef along with the very fresh salsa. I had the Carne Asada Steak with beand and rice and my friend had the Camarones al Ajillo (shrimp in creamy garlic sauce) snd she was just thrilled. The waitor and waitresses couldn't have been more friendly and very informative. We finished by sharing a plate of Brevos con Queso (figs with cheese and caramel) which was very unique and delicious. Thanks for a nice time.
(5)Michael R.
This was a very pleasant surprise just off the main street in Ephrata. I took a client out to lunch here after reading the reviews here. When we pulled up to the non-descript building we were wondering if we had made a mistake. There were two cars in the parking lot at lunch hour during the week. I'm glad we decided to go in. It's family owned and we were waited on by a young college kid who explained the story of HIS extended family who owned the restaurant. Now I have never been a huge fan of Latin food and I'm guessing that is because I never really had a lot of good dishes. Well, this place showed me that I should try Latin food more often. I really liked the empanadas and their homemade salsa. Very spicy and just delicious. We ended up getting some to go to take home. I had a lunch special of pork, rice and a spicy salad. If I went again I'd get something different (pork was deep fried and a bit bland/dry) but the rest of the items on the plate filled me up and I was satisfied in spite of the pork. My client got a shrimp in garlic sauce dish and it was delicious and prepared very well. Very hot and very fresh! I'd love to give this five stars and the reason I didn't was because my entre was not five star worthy. Overall though, the place is a must go. Very good, fresh food, accommodating staff, authentic Spanish dishes and a it's so nice not to be in a chain. Make sure you put this place on your list!
(4)Jennifer J.
I'm from DC and I love latin food -- by DC standards, Aromas del sur is a 4-4.5 star, and by central PA standards it is easily a 5 star. I ate here with a friend and had the following: - empanadas - SO good. Made Colombian style with corn masa; chicken and beef were both so flavorful. Probably the best I've had in a restaurant. Hot salsa on the side was also different and yummy, but the empanadas were delicious even without it. - chicharrones - tasty. My friend is more the chicharrones fan, and she loved them here. - yuca frita - small pieces of yummy crispy yucca with a very tasty salsa. - tostones (with the meals) - I've never liked green tostones, only platanos maduros and sometimes plantain chips, but these were DELICIOUS. Easily the best I've had. - arroz con pollo - delicious, so flavorful! - bandejas paisa - my friend ordered this, and I didn't try it because it has stuff that I don't really like, but she said it was fantastic. Very generous servings = tasty leftovers. $40 for 3 apps & 2 entrees. It's an hour away from me, but I will definitely return soon. If I lived or worked closer, I would definitely come eat empanadas every day for lunch! Also - salsa classes & dancing on Saturdays, from 9pm - 2am. I went on Friday night, but I will have return on a Saturday for the discoteca :)
(5)Mike W.
I absolutely love this place. The food is so good and authentic. I get Lomo de Cerdo every time I'm there. The empanadas are outstanding too. Everybody that I've taken there agrees it is so good. Highly recommend.
(5)Jessica S.
We love this place. Highly recommended! Colombian food is the best kept secret from the Gluten free world! Bc it's cheap! The empanadas and arepas are made with Corn! Not wheat. This is customary for Colombia. It's a nice friendly atmosphere and the owners are delightful and welcoming.
(5)Timothy R.
The food here is excellent. I was here for dinner for four, so we got to sample a good amount of the menu and everything was full of flavor. All dishes had generous potions and the service was fast and friendly. We got there just before closing so we also had an opportunity to have a fun conversation with one of the owners and cook. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in ephrata.
(5)Melodie D.
Great Food and Great Service. You don't find this often at the same place but this place has it. We had the empanadas, paella and flan. I cook authentic paella so I am very particular about my paella. The flavor was wonderful and loaded with seafood. I was so full that I could have skipped the flan but I am so glad that I didn't. EVERYTHING was delicious!
(5)Jimmy M.
Fantastic and authentic Colombian food. The owner is always smiling and greeting guests, the wait staff are helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. My family and I always recommend this to visiting friends and take family here. The food is simply great, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are straight from Colombia. Five Star must eat! Como te queiro Colombia!!
(5)S. M.
This is a fantastic place! My girlfriend and I dined here for the first time this evening. We ordered the beef and chicken empanadas for an appetizer and they were fantastic! Our main dish was the "bandeja paisa" and it was very plentiful and definitely scrumptious. The wait staff were very hospitable and the service was quick. No complaints. We will definitely be going back to try more dishes. Can't wait!
(4)Em L.
The food is so delicious! The staff was very friendly, like Arturo, who made sure we had everything we needed. I've from delaware but when I visit my aunt and uncle up here in Ephrata we always make sure to come here for dinner!
(5)Warren W.
We had the lunch specials -- tilapia & pork. Both were delicious. Also, the plantains were great. Service was attentive and friendly.
(4)Missy H.
We just had a delicious meal here! I highly recommend this restaurant for great food and friendly service. We shared empanadas, fried yucca with dip, and cornbread with cheese. All 3 were yummy. The Arroz con Pollo and con Camarrones were fabulous and were a generous portion. Our 4 year old loved her mango shake and cheese empanada!
(5)Ivy C.
Worst food I ever eat, and the place smelled so bad I could not wait to leave.
(1)Travelerz Z.
Loved this place! We were treated like long lost relatives. So incredibly friendly! Portions were generous, everything authentic & delicious. Can't wait to back-
(4)Tiffany S.
I lived in Ephrata for all of my life and never knew this place existed. What a shame I spent years missing out on this truly fantastic food! A little pricey but very much enjoyed.
(5)Peggy I.
Aromas Del Sur has listened to their customers. The place is lovely, they service is amazing. These guys know how to cook the comfort food of their country and it's all fantastic. May not be a lot of vegetarians in Columbia so if you do not eat meat there may not be great choices for you. We had a lovely dinner this time, and it was good if not better than our first visit. Whenever we go to Lancaster area we shoot up to Ephrata for dinner. It's well worth the trip.
(5)Eilonwy S.
Tasty, tasty Columbian food, served by exceptionally friendly staff. Wouldn't expect such a place in Ephrata, but so glad we stopped here. The paella was excellent. BYOB.
(4)George B.
We've lived near this little gem for years but only stopped in on a Friday evening last month. After doing so, we wondered why it took so long! I had a steak and shrimp dish, my wife a dish made with pork, with a sauce made with red and orange bell peppers over....French fries. Yup, French fries. Both dishes were very fresh and tasty. Columbian cuisine generally is not spicy, just tasty. And huge. Did I mention huge? Both entrees come with a separate platter [yes, a platter] of rice & beans and plantains. A "salad" is also served, which is more like a slaw, which complimented the entrée perfectly. Truth in reporting here - my wife and I have both had gastric by-pass surgery, so we really do savor every mouthful. We were able to make three meals with the leftovers. But the real stars of the experience were the staff. The manager, Arturo, was a fantastic host, moving from table to table, explaining the history of the business, the style of cooking, what he and his family [the owners] are trying to accomplish. He is trying to introduce a conservative community in equally conservative Lancaster County to something different. Our server, who's name I'm afraid I cannot remember, was perfect - she explained what the various dishes were, how they are made, and some of the history of the dishes. There are negatives - the building is old and the prior occupants ran a dive bar. I have to think that this might be a turn off for some locals. The other is that it's a BYOB place, which might matter for some people. I usually enjoy a drink with dinner, but everything else about Aromas Del Sur over compensated for that. The bill? Around $45 including tip. We will be back.
(4)Sarah K.
This place is great!! My girlfriends and I met up here for lunch. The food and service was awesome. Nice find in a small town.
(5)Claudia H.
I will have to start by saying that It was so great to drive and see the vibrant colors of the Colombian flag on the building. From there, we went in to see that the decor inside was even better. The service was very friendly and they really made you feel like you were right at home. The food was very good and the way that they waited was very nice. Our waiter was the son of the owners and he was very polite...my oldest daughter actually thought he was very cute. So as a native Colombiana, I am very proud to say that it was very worth the while to make the hour drive from Hershey to enjoy this establishment! It's a must for anyone who wants real authentic Colombian cuisine!
(5)Danny B.
This place is a great surprise. Start with the empanadas and accompanying sauce. They are so good you might be tempted to order two for everyone. But just know that the portions are generous and the food is really delicious. There were six of us so we each ordered something different and shared. It was all fantastic. We had three kids with us who never usually like to try new things and they all loved everything. This is a family owned restaurant so the people who run the place are very attentive to make sure you have a good experience. The service is friendly and excellent. And there were tons of leftovers. Highly recommended!
(5)Margaret D.
Wonderful authentic Spanish (Columbian) cuisine! Beef empanadas with delightfully spicy sauce- yum! Chorizo made on premises outstanding. Friendly, competent service. The flan was the best I've ever had. Will definitely return to try the rest of the menu offerings. Note: We were there for lunch on a Saturday and the menu is the same as Saturday evenings so a bit pricier than you'd expect for lunch. However, the owner did tell us that they are open for lunch on weekdays with a more moderately priced menu. Still, we had more than enough for lunch with appetizer, a dessert and coffees and bill was only $49.00.
(4)Amanda F.
This place is delicious. It's owned by several Columbian families and serves really great Columbian food. Our server, who was also one of the owners, was very attentive and we were treated as thought we were in a fine dining establishment. The food is very large and very reasonably priced. I highly suggest coming out to Ephrata to try it out.
(5)Julie M.
Great Latin food in the Ephrata area! A real gem! Delicious empanadas, tamales and paella. Very clean and great service. I'm not sure where the reviewer Ivy ate but I don't think it was at this restaurant as I've eaten here several times and have never had an experience that mimics hers. If you're looking for great Latin food you've found it!
(5)Matt T.
I love this place. I can not believe it took me this long to try this wonderful restaurant. Awesome empanadas and a great lunch special that includes soup & entree. The food was fresh & very flavorful. I can not wait to go back. Seriously I want to go again tomorrow. The people were friendly as well. I felt like I was eating at a friends home. I look forward to coming here for dinner very soon. If you live in Ephrata step out of the box and try this place.
(5)Angela B.
I have been looking to try Paella and thanks to Yelp I found this place. It is a wonderful little treasure in Epharata. The staff is friendly and so welcoming. Arturo was delightful. The food was phenomenal, from the empanadas to the Paella. My daughter has the shrimp in a garlic sauce it was just right. She was disappointed that it was gone, we even ordered empanadas to take home with us. I now have a great reason to make the half hour drive. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fantastic meal with a wonderful atmosphere!
(5)Anthony M.
Ate here tonight and enjoyed it very much. The only let down was the corn bread and chorizo appetizer. The corn bread was inedible and the chorizo was good but had no sauce on it and wasn't spicy. Other than that appetizer everything else was great including our server who was extremely friendly and helpful to us first timers. We plan on returning to try something new on their very limited menu. I hope they expand it if they can.
(4)Zak K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the region. Huge portions, super delicious food. I've never had anything I did not like. The decor is very much a hole in the wall mom and pop establishment, but they're working on it piece by piece. You seriously can't go wrong with the food though. BYOB.
(5)Margo S.
Great food, and really lovely people. We had empanadas, paella, and other seafood. And they made a special pasta for my finicky vegetarian son. The food was really tasty, and we'll go back in a heartbeat if we're ever here again. Thanks, Yelp, for letting us find this place!
(5)Jesse G.
This restaurant was recommend to us by friends. Flavorful home style Colombian cooking with great atmosphere and service. Huge portions and reasonable prices bring us back once a month.
(5)John G.
I must start this review by thanking Yelp and my fellow Yelpers for helping me find this wonderful dining establishment. This restaurant is the real deal. this place exemplifies what great Spanish and Colombian food can be. The lentil and beef soup was flavored perfectly and the beef fell apart in my mouth. The appetizers were some of the best fried food you can find. There is an art to frying, and this place does if perfectly. The yucca was yummy and light, while the empanadas were the best i ever had. The meat and potato was like having thanksgiving dinner in a deep fried pocket of goodness. SOOO good. The cheese and corn bread was also superb. The homemade salsa type sauce was complex and delicious. The meals came not too soon after we finished our appetizers, and they didnt let us down. My friend had the Ros Con Pollo, (rice cooked with meat and veges,) which was splendid, and i had the steak and shrimp with a deep and flavorful tomato and vege based sauce. You could taste the tradition of home cooking in this food. It couldnt have been better. I would compare it to having dinner at your friends house whos mom cooks really, really good. Please go to this restaurant and tell your friends because the food is too good for them not to be busy. The location is not great because Ephrata is boring, run down, and has not cultural energy, but if you are a foodie, then you have to try it!!!! Jai Baba
(5)Judith B.
What a delightful place! The owners are warm and welcoming, and the food was fantastic. My 9-year-old daughter selected and enjoyed the arepas with cheese, as well as one of the beef dishes, Sobrebarriga a la Criolla, which was enough food for three or four children (yay for leftovers), and was absolutely delicious. I had a tamale which was moist and very flavorful. Both of our dishes came with a light shredded salad that was extremely pleasant - I'd love to have that recipe as much as the main dishes!
(5)Central P.
Aromas Del Sur bills itself as "Your Local Spanish Restaurant". The interior borders on 'fancy' ( well decorated, cloth napkins, nice beverage glasses )and I was worried that the prices might be out of my range for a simple lunch. The server was fast, efficient and friendly and I took him up on the soup special. The lentil soup was very good although I guess the sole piece of meat existed just for flavor as it was pretty grisly. My main choice was Carne Asada - a dish I have long heard of but never tasted. Before long my steaming hot plates of food arrived and both were very visually appealing. The smaller plate had beans and rice with a shredded cabbage-type salad that was delicious. The hot sauce was hot but not painful and added a great zing to the flavorful beans/rice. The steak covered the entire plate and exceeded all of my expectations. Tender and truly delicious. In fact, it was so good that I forced myself to eat only 1/2 - just so I could take the remaining portion to work. All of my food came to $14 - well worth the price. My only complaint is that they placed the flatware on the table cloth and not a napkin - something I hate even at home. I will definitely return to this restaurant. I recommend you give it a try.
(4)Tarah F.
Wonderful. Just wonderful. You can't find a cheaper more authentic meal if you tried. Try the empanadas. You can even order to take out!
(5)G S.
Really delicious, authentic food at great prices. Portions are large; servers are helpful and nice. I recommended this place to a friend; she and her husband have been there numerous times and love it! One of my friends calls me the "always ethnic eater," and this place is a favorite. BYOB, which is fine by me.
(4)Isabel K.
My mother and I went to eat at Aromas Del Sur after a long day of shopping. We did not know what to expect going in as the parking lot was pretty much empty. Well... what a great decision we took. Everything was excellent! Our food was really good. It was served within a very reasonable time. The prices are extremely reasonable and the portions are BIG! I recommend this place for anyone looking for a true Colombian eating experience! I recommend the empanadas (for only $1) as an appetizer!!! Great food!
(5)