Pabellón Venezuelan & Mexican Cuisine

Ulyan K

I recently discovered that I love Venezuelan food. I've been here a while ago, and someone I know recommends this place. I got the chicken empanada, shredded beef empanada, and a cachapa. First with the empanadas...these could very well be the best empanadas in Pittsburgh. The meat is just amazing. The shredded chicken is incredible flavorful and the texture is on point too. It's got just a bit of sweetness, a little smokiness, just delicious. The outer shell for these little empanadas is also great. The beef empanada was very good too. The meat is seasoned very well and it's not too fatty. Again, super flavorful and quite large for just a few dollars. The sauce they serve with it comes in a somewhat small container, but it's pretty good. It had a slight cucumber-like flavor to it. The cachapa here is quite good, but I still prefer Cilantro and Ajo's. Again, the meat is amazing. If you eat meat, order something with lots of protein and you won't be disappointed. The corn surrounding the meat was good, but was just missing something. I do like that you can see the kernels of corn though. The cheese was pretty standard but seemed to be high quality. All in all, very good Venezuelan food. I'd definitely come back. I also want to try their tres leches or churros. The meat and empanadas are what you must get from here!

Toni Danchik

The food was nothing short of AMAZING! This restaurant has an excellent variety of food....so many choices! There was something for everyone, including our two teenagers. They have a nice sized dining room but also tables with umbrellas outside. We sat outside and enjoyed our meal. We also had great churros for dessert. The staff was friendly and attentive. We definitely will come back again! Thank you.

Naor Wallach

A Venezuelan restaurant in Pittsburgh? Time to try a new cuisine! So, me and several friends tried them out for dinner. Being winter, the outside sign not being lit, and it being dark, made all of us almost miss the place. However we kinda knew where it was so we all eventually made it. When you enter, it looks like a fast-food place as there is a counter with a lit up neon menu above it. I asked one of the employees if they have a dining room, and if it's open and he pointed to my right -- where there was one. It was completely empty, so it was not a problem finding a table for the four of us. Menus are already on the tables so we perused it. One side has Venezuelan dishes, the other Mexican. We focused only on the Venezuelan side as that was why we came here. When the owner (?) came by to get our drink order, we asked for help with the menu selections and ended getting the Venezuelan Mix appetizer, a couple of Pabellon Criollos, and the Patacones. The owner assured us this would give us a good sampling of what the cuisine is all about. The appetizers arrived after a while and we dove in. Everything was tasy and we enjoyed them all ... but did note that everything was fried. Then, when the main dishes arrived, the same thing happened. Tasty food ad most of it was fried. We did also ask for a sample of their hot sauce since some of us like things on the hotter side. We all thought the food was very tasty and the owner kept checking back on how we were doing. His guidance was very much appreciated. While we were there, other parties drifted in. At least one party were regulars, and another may have been Venezuelan (and were certainly Latino) and knew the menu as they did not fumble as much with it as we did! Prices were reasonable at less than $25 per person when including the appetizer, main dish, and tip. Service was a bit on the slow side, but the food was served piping hot, so it was probably a factor of the kitchen being overwhelmed with takeout orders, more than anything else.

Steven Angelo

Very nice place. Clean a bit of a fast food aesthetic but very clean and with table service available. The venezuelan specialties are very well done. The Arepa and the Cachapa were excellent and flavorful. I got the seafood Arepa and found the filling so richly flavored that i almost wished i could have had it over rice as an entree but then i realized it was in a delicious fluffy crunchy Arepa! The Cachapa pancake was light but firm and so filled with meat it spilled out the sides The empenada are huge! Easily twice the size of what i am accustomed to getting at other restaurants and just as delicious. Evocative of a Jamaican meat pie although not quite as spicy. I will definitely be back for more Arepa and to try other dishes.