Zaguan South American Cafe & Bakery Reviews

We discovered this little gem when we asked for restaurants near us while traveling down I35 in Dallas. The food was delicious, and very new and different to us. I had the #1 cachapa with beef and cheese. The outside was made of sweet corn filled with a well seasoned shredded beef and cheese. It came with plantain chips and salsa. It was voted #1 Latin Lunch by D Magazine, and they knew what they were talking about. My husband had Pollo Caracus which was chicken and vegetables with rice. It was good but be wishes he had taken the plunge to have one of the unfamiliar dishes on the menu. We will be returning to try two more of their truly way south of the border creations!

We have eaten here twice and both times have loved it! Highly recommend the chicken cachapa. It is awesome. We also loved the churros for dessert. Fried sweet plantains are great! We really liked the beef arepa and the guava cookie sandwich but would try different things next time. Great great experience!

I ate at Zaguan Cafe tonight. I started with an order of the Argentian empanadas. I had the beef empanadas, which had a good beef and cumin flavor. They came with a delicious roasted pepper tomato salsa which added to the flavor. I followed this appetizer with the cachapa. It is a sweet corn turnover. I had the beef and cheese filler. The cheese was a fresh cheese. The corn turnover is the star of this dish. It had a lovely sweet corn flavor. The beef was a shredded beef and the cheese was a wonderful add-in. I had an Inca Kola to wash this meal down. Inca Kola is the Big Red of South America, except its a pale yellow instead of red. Zaguan has a number of South American carbonated sodas. I also had a couple of the cookies. The chocolate and dulce de leche sandwich cookies. The cookies were good, but could havr been a little better, I would eat at Zaguan again happily.

We recommend 1000% this restaurant... if you want to eat something different or if you are tired of the “same-old same-old” ZAGUÁN is definitely the place to come.

Loved the food, service and coffee. The food was quick, fresh and was pretty authentic. Delicious! The service was quick and polite, helpful with questions. Coffee was nice and strong!!

Zaguan has excellent food. I highly recommend the cachapa. It's VERY tasty! I'm not familiar with South American food, but they give you a menu that has pictures of the dishes, so for a "beginner" it makes it a more comfortable experience. The desserts are excellent too. But I would recommend one of the pastries, and not the gelato. The gelato they have is nothing particularly special. My only suggestion would be to replace the upholstery on the built-in window seats. It is absolutely filthy...but I'd still go there!

This is our family's favorite "go to" place for a quick, delicious dinner. We love the beef and cheese cachapa so much we have tried few other items on the menu--over the course of 9 years. Service is fast, desserts are great, juices are fresh. We love the food and vibe of this intimate cafe!

If you're going to DMC this is not too far away WE tried the Cachapa with chicken and avacado, plus the Zaguan sampler-- both around $10-- the sweet corn pancake was excellent--the accompanying sauce--very hot! the plantains both green and ripe were nicely prepared. we ended our meals with Beso de Novia and guava pasteles-- excellent

I have been coming regularly for a number of years. This last visit, some friends from Austin wanted to "go back to that restaurant with the amazing smoothies." So, we happily met for cachapas, arepas, and the vegetarian plate. We all left stuffed and happy after plantain chips, smoothies and our entrees. The place is fantastic, with friendly staff and excellent fresh Venezuelan & Colombian specialties. The coffee is excellent as well. I came home with Latin American cheese bread and guava cheese bread for dinner. Highly recommended

I’m amazed at how terrible Zaguan has become. I used to love going here for lunch and decided I’d give it one last try before saying it—I’m done! The quality of service isn’t that good and the food is worse. Any beef or chicken item tastes old and chewy. They charge extra for an add on or substitution but only give you a small amount. Thank goodness there are other choices of Latin American fare in Dallas I can now visit since I can’t be bothered with Zaguan anymore.

Nice place, real Venezuelan food, love this place on a Sunday for lunch, really nice traditional food.

I visited this restaurant on a Saturday evening, and it was much quieter than I expected. The main reason was that the inside seating area was only about 30 percent full. There was no maitre D', and a chalkboard sign instructed visitors to seat themselves. If you like rustic buildings that have been transformed into quaint restaurants, here you go! The floor was polished concrete, but full of flaws. Large doorways divided the two dining areas, and around the doorways were glossy decorative tiles, which, along with the brightly colored yellow walls, gave the place a distinctive Latin atmosphere. The furniture was wooden and not new. Outside seating was available along the porch on the front of the building, hidden behind a hedge-and-cedar screen. All in all, a nice, old-fashioned Latin atmosphere had been created by the owners. If you're looking for white tablecloths, keep on looking. I've spent some time in Central America, and this restaurant brought back memories. The service was prompt and our waitress was very friendly. The food was delicious. I ordered a steak and my friend tried the pork. The meat was properly prepared and tasted wonderful. Along with it, we were served steamed rice, and the garden salad was fresh, with plenty of greens, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions. As an appetizer, we ordered chicken empanadas. These were awesome! The shredded chicken inside was spiced to perfection and the outside was lightly deep-fried to a golden brown. To drink, I had water and a strawberry smoothie. No complaints here! It was as wonderful as the complete dining experience at Zaguan!

We actually went 2 times in the past week. Not a chain restaurant atmosphere. A lot of customers were doing takeout. The arepa was filling and does not make you feel stuffed like an omelette does. Also easy to eat while driving if you choose takeout. Will definitely return when in the area. We found this restaurant through restaurant.com but keep coming even without a coupon. Beth

Damn good! There is a reason they have won all of these awards and praises! I had breakfast and it included an arepa which was amazing. Wish I lived in Dallas because I would absolutely be a regular here. Staff is also extremely friendly.

This place has it all. The cachapas are wonderful; fresh fruit drinks are a healthy option; and you can't beat the wide array of desserts. And they do have the best coffee in town (sorry Starbuckians, it is true). Loses one star due to uneven service, but maybe they want it that way for a relaxed environment.

Saturday AMs are crowded but for a unique brunch and good coffee worth getting in and finding a spot. They ran out of some breads we wanted to try. Very helpful menu and picture menu explaining what everything is for us Anglos. And they have GELATO.

This isn't a fancy high priced restaurant, but a casual sit down café that you can come to and enjoy a good food. If you are looking to venture out from your usual dining routine, give this place a try.

A new favorite for pulled beef and empanadas. Everything was cooked to perfection and the staff was very prompt and friendly. Can't wait to visit again!

We went for dinner with friends - it popped up in a search, and we hadn't been in probably 7 years! Such a delight - it was just as we remembered! The food was delicious, the drinks were good, and the desserts were awesome. Our waiter made a few mistakes, but was so personable that we really didn't mind!

Very good "ropa vieja" and other dishes. With the menu, they also have a menu with photographs, so you get a better idea of what you get in South American cousine. Very good restaurant and bakery.

Service has been going down since the last couple of years, so has the maintenance of the place (it looks old and dirty). The staff is not friendly nor know much about venezuelan food. This place needs competition so some of us doesn't have to settle for this place.

The Venezuelan inspired food here is very good. I had the Cachapa which was tasty, but not the best I have had. I also thought the food was a little on the pricey side. My biggest disappointment though was the service........ it was very slow, not enough servers for this restaurant. Still, if you are in the mood for some authentic Venezuelan food, this is the place for you.

This place has good food. I don't remember what we ordered but we ordered a lot and all of it was good. I would eat here again,

The Tequeños are excellent, the Hallaca taste like Christmas. The passion fruit juice was great and the Arepas .. Hmmmm !

That's all you need to know. Their Cachapa is "the goods". I eat this meal nearly every time I come here and it never disappoints. Their fried queso is also very good and their churros are the best I've ever had. Actually, pretty much everything is good here. You can't go wrong...

If you love El Salvadoran food, you must check this place out. The coffee and pastries are delicious and you need to come back several times and try the different entrees. My arepa was wonderful. The waitstaff is really friendly too. Only downside - get there early, the parking lot fills up quickly. Enjoy!

Reina pepiada in an arepa: this was a Spectacular combination!!! This option doesn't need more words. 👌

A friend took me here last night. The ambience is cozy and quaint. I ordered an ice tea and the waitress recommend the cachapa with beef and cheese with a huge side of plantain chips. The ice tea is one of the best I have ever had. I asked the waitress about it and it turns out they add lemongrass to it. For dessert we shared a tres leches. I didn't care for it. I've had some amazing tres leches in my travels. The price was also a pleasant surprise. This morning I had to return. I started with a coffee and dulce de leche & cheese pastry. Very good. Then I ordered an ice tea and an arepa with chicken and veggies with a side of plantains. It was very good and glad it was a small portion because I started with the pastry. This is definitely a great place to come and eat. Can't wait to visit Dallas again and come back.

A place I never get bored going to. Excellent food, great coffee and a diverse group of patrons. Bakery has some incredible treats. Give them a try.

I have been a patron here for about 10 years and have seen the small changes in food and service throughout those years. Yes, the croissants have gotten smaller for better or worse. The service is hit or miss and the turnover is very apparent. Today, however... as I am sitting in the eating area I am unable to enjoy my meal because it smells like THE BATHROOM! The air must be circulating in a way that it is bringing bathroom air into the restaurant. Instead of the smell of food cooking in the kitchen and making us anxious to eat... you get hit with restroom odor and it is not pleasant. I lost my appetite and will be taking my meal to go where I can eat in peace and without feeling like I am sitting next to a toilet.

Can't speak for the restaurant as our meal was catered. The food, however, us great. The cachapa with chicken was very tasty; similar to sweet cornbread. The black beans were amazing; tasted home cooked, with large pieces of bacon mixed in. Highly recommended for something different from the usual tex-mex fare we eat all to often around here.

We didn’t eat here because it was very chaotic and the food looked unappealing. No one greets you and there was no indication of how to order food. So we left. I don’t recommend this place.

Chose this due to its proximity to our hotel but it was a delight! Do not be put off by unassuming exterior. Charming inside and that pasty case!! WOW! You can cohhose from dishes from various Latin American countries. I had the Ropa Vieja.....delicious shredded meat served with rice and plantains. My friend had the arroz con pollo and it, too was authentic and delicious. Lots to choose from on the menu and don't forget about the DESSERTS!

We did dinner take-out and got four meals and two desserts for 3 people to eat at home, planning on leftovers and we got that. The cachapa (sweet corn turnover) with chicken was really tasty (on the greasy side but really good). The chicken arepa (savory corn turnover) was only average because it was a little bland. There was plenty of salsa given us to spice it up the base flavors in the arepa were lacking. The Aroz con pollo was good/average. The two desserts, Maria Chocolate cake and the Tres Leches was both very good.

This is a good place for a quick lunch. the food seems (to me) to be authentic. Service is prompt and polite. There is little parking around which is the only negative about the restaurant. Come a little before or after the typical lunch hour and it is less of a concern. Prices are reasonable and portions good-sized.

Arepas with chicken and avocado 5/5 (best dish) Arepas with beef 3/5 (did not like the "barbecue" sauce much) Arepas with mushroom 2/5 (almost no mushrooms at all) Bread stuffed with ham and cheese 1/5 (dry, salty and gross) Fresh smoothies 3/5 (ok but don't add milk it tasted rotten) Cookie with caramel 1/5 (Expected great things but got dry and boring) Cuatro Leches 4/5 (no complaints but not something i will get again) Atmosphere 3/5 Service 3/5 Overall I was glad I came but I will only be coming back for Arepas with chicken and avocado as they are incredible.

The Cachapa was good, the cheese and Nata also good, we even try the hallaca an was ok .. The fruit juice was not good but the bakery has really good items. Parking is easy and price is good

I first tried Cachapas on the streets of Venezuela. Since that first encounter, I've searched for Cachapas in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, ... I have not found them anywhere but here, in my own home state, Dallas, TX. I actually did find Cachapas in San Francisco, but they might as well have called them some made up name because those were NOT Cachapas. El Zaguan is the closest that I have gotten to getting my hands on Cachapas (thank goodness Dallas is only a short 3 hour road trip from my home!). I tried several other items this time that I visited and I liked Everything that I tried! Argentinian Empanadas, Colombian Empanadas, & Tequenos, all delicious. Do yourself a favor and come to this restaurant, it is so flavorful and delicious, all in a family environment at a reasonable price - a taste of South American cuisine right here in the states. YUM

I usually come to this restaurant when I visit Dallas looking for Venezuelan food. But this was my last time. I went with my family for dinner today. The food felt reheated (not made to order). We had "tequeños, cachapas con queso, empanadas con carne mechada y pabellón". The "pabellon" was okay, but the "chachapas" did not have enough cheese inside (at $10.95, each it is unacceptable).

You know it is good when the cafe con leche taste like your mom makes! Empanadas were just right! The bakery bread was the type that you have with the 2 pm coffee. Needless to say once we found this place, every time in the area we stopped in. Was a nice surprise to find.

Stumbled upon this cafe after our early Valentines's Day dinner. We were wanting coffee and dessert so thought we would check it out. Walking in, the cafe is warm and inviting. We were greeted up entering and seated immediately. As we only wanted coffee and dessert, my boyfriend got a cappuccino and a piece of dulce de leche cheesecake, and I got their house Columbian brew, along with a piece of flan. Coffees were great. Cheesecake filling was creamy, and dulce de leche topping was tasty. Crust was just okay. Flan was very good-creamy with just enough caramel sauce. Menu is huge, with many more desserts, breakfast options, and numerous Venezuelan dishes. We hope to go back for both breakfast and dinner..

Had been wanting to try for a while because people that had been there had been very complimentary about the food. We were not disappointed. We went on an late afternoon, so it was not busy. Waitress was very nice and accommodating to our special requests. We had the Arroz con Pollo and the Ropa Vieja. The Arroz con Pollo is very authentic, served with sweet Plantains and a salads made with very fresh garden greens. The Ropa Vieja was also very authentic and so good. Served with black beans and rice and sweet plantains. Ordered a salad with it and requested something not in the menu and they made exactly what I wanted and brought me the extras I had requested. Perfect. For dessert they have a big variety of Latin American desserts or you can get up and look in the bakery to get something else. We had the guava pastries that I love and they warmed them up for us. All good.

We visited on Saturday - party of 6. We ordered some drinks and meals for the children. Drinks were terrible (Mojito & Capirinha) and the taste was way off. It was definitely someone who had 'an idea' on how to make them but did not deliver on taste. Appetizers took over 45 minutes to arrive and were not hot. This is fried food, it takes but 5 minutes to serve, I must add that the restaurant/cafe was empty. The children's food took just as long, even though we ordered them with the appetizers. The steaks for the kids were probably the cheapest cuts of beef they could get away with. I noticed so much fat while cutting it for them. When the food arrived for the adults, there was a sea of salad, which looked and tasted fresh and nice. The 'arroz con pollo' was just OK. Coffee was strong and nice, and it looked like the pastries were good Our alfajores tasted good but the 'dulce de leche' was a little hard. Overall a not so positive experience with mediocre Latin food. We will not be back.

I love the Latin cuisine here. The food is healthy and full of flavor, you can’t beat that combination! I’ll definitely be back again!

I started going to this restaurant 10 years ago, just when they open. It is small, charming café, but the dishes are great. The best is Cachapa with pulled beef and cheese. It is always delicious and satisfying. If you want something unique, off the bitten path, this is the place. Not expensive and very tasty.

I saw the reviews in the window and decided to stop in. The bakery items looked really delicious so I sat down intending to have a midday snack. I was seated promptly so I had high hopes. But after 12 minutes, all I got was a glass of water. In their defense, the restaurant was bustling with couples, friends, and a few families as well. But that's a poor excuse for leaving a table unattended for so long. I was at the point of no return because the items coming out of the kitchen smelled really good. So instead of the pastry, I decided to try my luck at the Zaguan sampler off the appetizer menu. I added a side of rice and black beans along with some avocado. Everything was a la cart with unimpressive portions and very poor presentation. . The avocado was sliced haphazardly and thrown on a plate with no attention to the statics whatsoever. I'm truly not a Latin cuisine expert but the entire platter was fried and heavy. The empanada made of beef was really delicious but I could've done without everything else on the plate. And the prices were on the higher-end considering the presentation and quality. So for that reason I tell you when it comes to Zaguan, I'm so gone.

No chain fast food here! Nothing but authentic Venezuelan food. We stopped by at lunch time and it was packed. Had to wait a few minutes for a table but it was worth the wait. Wonderful service in a casual atmosphere. Would stop here again.

I've only ever been on weekends here. And I usually call in my order to-go which takes 15-20 minutes before it's ready. The food here is incredible. The staff is very friendly. And I've never seen it too overly crowded. The establishment is fairly small, very cozy and comfortable. Recommendations: (besides everything, you need to try everything eventually) My favorite: the Latin crepe Like a crepe with melted cheese, olives chicken or beef and raisins (which I usually order without). I may be forgetting some other ingredients but damn.. It's amazing. And it's large, easily two meals and reheats well. The cachapa: almost put this as my favorite. A sweet corn turnover with beef/chicken and cheese. The arepas with beef or chicken are very good Plantain chips: a perfect side to complement the meal. Can replace with a salad which is also good. So many others.. Seriously. It all looks good. Drinks/Desserts: The smoothies are very good and there is a wide variety of fruit to choose from, which they combine with either water or milk, whichever you prefer. You can mix the fruit if you want. I can't tell you about the bakery items bc I am way too full to eat them at the end of my meal. But all you have to do is walk in to that restaurant and you can smell how good they must be. They certainly look amazing. All in all, this place knocks it out of the park. Well done.

Went here with a Groupon deal... Ran out of tuna (not sure how that happens) but the chicken sandwich was tasty with a side of plantain chips. The waitress seemed to struggle with most things I said... My friend loved the Fresno salad...

Zaguan is a great experience - unless you are a McDonald's-only kinda person. Living in Texas, one might think we know "south of the border" food, but, actually, it's mostly Tex-Mex or, ofren, along the border Mexican food. Zaguan is a delicious exposure to food SOUTH of Mexico and south of that! I was first introduced to their food when a coworker ordered a variety of yummies for work, and I even called and ordered the same yummies several times and had a coworker pick them up before I actually went to the restaurant. SO GLAD I did. There is a case of pastries filled with goodies I'm unaccustomed to, but instead of having to ask the staff to spend endless time away from waiting on tables to answer and re-answer my questions about the pastries (after all, we didn't want to buy one of everything -- it just wouldn't fit down the hatch!), they labeled and have descriptions of them so you can make a good choice. Still, my daughter, after digging in on the way home (we live 45 min away), almost insisted we drive back for more!!! They have samples on top for several, and I HIGHLY recommend sampling (and buying plenty) of one of their breads that has (going from memory now) cheese, dulce de leche (sweet cream, almost like a light caramel), olives (yes! surprising, and a DELICIOUS surprise), and ham. The whole sweet/salty experience is like none I've had before. They have a great selection of empanadas from several countries (not just Venezuela, which I think is their specialty overall), their version of fried cheese (pequenos, if memory serves me right). To be honest, all I've tried (over several times) is the kind of food that's easy to take on the road and not make a mess 'cuz I don't live in Dallas and am either on my way in or out when I pop by the restaurant. Like their pastries and empanadas, their food is unusual to this Texan (who, by the way, has been all over Europe and MANY US locations, traveling on my stomach because I've NEVER met a food I don't like), I appreciate the pictures that come with the menu. The location would be easy to pass on a busy road in a strip center, with its understated facade. However, it IS one of those rare "finds" that you are grateful to have found and glad to brag about so others can enjoy this S American jewel, too.

In Dallas, mention a Latin Bakery and minds turn to La Duni for good reason. (I could go on and on about their endless coffe menu and the Warm Milk Chocolate Cake Pudding) My daughter's new place is just around the corner from Zaguan on Oak Lawn, so we thought we'd chance it for a quick breakfast. The minute we walked in and looked at the pastry case, we knew we'd made a good decision. We chose an outside table and ordered some strong coffee; yum! I had the Zaguan brunch for $12.99 which included an omelet with peppers topped with your choice of shredded beef or chicken in tomatoes, one arepa, and a smoothie! The omelet was large and perfectly cooked, and the beef on top was tender and juicy with just the right amount of spice. There are not enough words in the English language to properly describe the perfect Arepa. Sort of like a thin corn based English muffin with toasted cheese inside, then toasted all over goodness. The smoothies are hand made with your choice of water or milk base, and any combination of fruits you choose. I decided to try the Guanana which tasted like a combination of guava, pineapple and banana. Honestly, I can't remember what anyone else at the table had, my face was buried in my plate. Zaguan, I return to Dallas in 4 weeks, and this time I'm trying you for dinner and dessert and taking pastries to go!

Everything and I mean everything is delicious. Few stellar recos would be the arepa, cachapa and the amazing coffee. Be adventuresome and try something off the beaten path. You won't regret it

I live in Mexico, and I go very often to the DFW Area, and I always find time to go there just to devour the Arepa Reina, it is one of the absolutely musts in this place. Also the bakery in general it is very good.

This is a very convenient place for a breakfast meeting for me. And, it never seems busy for breakfast making for better conversation. The coffee is strong and good. The breakfast is pretty good (lunch is better), but nothing exciting. The staff goes a little absent so we had to track down our bill. I'll definitely be back and would definitely recommend trying them out. If you have a sweet tooth, they have a good bakery selection of Latin American treats. I also like that they don't overdo it on the amount of food that they serve.

Food we had at lunch was simple but good. A few vegetarian and vegan options were bonus. Service was a little slow. Want to go back to try the bakery and pastries/desserts.

Breakfast is torture here because there are divine savory choices like the egg and cheese arepa -- a sandwich on bread that is a cross between cornbread and a corn tortilla -- and irresistible sweet choices like the perfect pain au chocolat. Lunch is somewhat easier -- everything is delicious, fresh, and well-presented. It's a gem.

I wish the owner was there... Every year I come to Dallas I visit this place because of the cold cakes/Gateaux. Never been overwhelmed by the service but like a lot of places, you just shrug it off. Today, the waitress spoke no/little English (place is in Oaklawn, towards downtown Dallas) and we struggled to order and the Entree arrived wrong, again we sucked it up. Ham and cheese sandwich with salad arrived as pulled pork with cheese and plantain-style chips. A food delivery driver seemed ignored by the staff as he tried to collect. No meal check at all, approached counter for more water. Approached counter for bill, zero service left. Cake was good. I really think the owner should do a 'mystery shopper' and see how this place works/doesn't work. Food: 3/5 | Service: 1/5 | Atmosphere: 3/5

Cachaca are really good. You also need to taste the tequeños and empanadas. Prices are good. Service ok.

I've been eating there for almost a decade an average of every other week for a reason, the food is delicious. The menu varies from traditional Latin-American dishes to international flavors; one can have scrambled eggs for breakfast, arepas and cachapas (my favorite), steaks, shredded beef and chicken with a variety of sides which usually include rice and black beans, fried sweet plantains, yucca, etc. The pastry section is what made the place, from tequeños - a traditional Venezuelan hors d'œvre, to pan de jamón (ham bread) to delicious desserts like palmier, 4 leches cake and golfeados. The place is clean but a bit chaotic and busy at times, but well worth the wait.The prices are reasonable considering that the food is freshly prepared. Enjoy.

This is a great place for something different - food from Columbia, Venezuela and other Latin American countries makes for a very unique menu of delicious food

Have to try the cachapas. So nice to have something besides toast and eggs. Super tasty.

My mother wanted to visit this restaurant and went today on the occasion of Mother's Day. Honestly, we did not like the food. Neither the presentation, nor taste. In my opinion this restaurant does not represent the Venezuelan seasoning, although the dishes are representative of Venezuela. Perhaps the chef is not from Venezuela or I did not choose the best dish. Otherwise, good atmosphere and attention. If I go back to this restaurant, I will eat only the cachapa with cheese. Best Luck for you.

very interesting menu with lots of vegetarian options. The waitress was very friendly.

Gluten Free! That's a biggie for the wife, so I figured I'd get that out of the way. They have everything clearly listed on their menu with a GF by it for easy access. The food is very tasty! It's different than anything I've ever tasted, and I like eating here. I've been to Zaguan a few times with the wife, and we both enjoy exploring new tastes. I particularly like the Cachapa. She had the Arepas last time, and really liked it as well. She almost always gets some sort of dessert as well.

Whenever I want something for breakfast that is different from the usual bakery/coffee shop fare, I head to Zaguan. With Latin-American pastries and unique breakfast dishes, plus bold coffee, you can't go wrong here. Friendly service too.

We shared the sampler platter and split a fried cheese--both were yummy! Then we tried the guava sandwuch cookies--heaven! the dulce del leche sandwich cookies-- more heaven then the flan and meringue cookies--bliss we were very sugar charge and happy when we left

This place is a gem! A friend of mine introduced me to Zaguan and every time I meet her for breakfast or lunch I only want to come here! Everything is unique and authentic! Lovely place with great food!

Everyone will find something on the menu that would please him/her. The wide variety of options is overwhelming in a good way because you want to have one of each. The pastry and coffee selection is also available if you are in for dessert. The stuff is friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere is very casual. You are not forced to leave after you leave, so if you are used to taking your time and would like to enjoy time with friends, this is a place to go. I had their pollo caracas (grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed vegetables and side of rice) which also happens to be gluten free and it was Delicious. Parking is fair depending on the rush hour, and it is close to major streets and Dallas Uptown.

I had visited Buenos Aires a few month's before...not that I was expecting to feel like I had been swept away to that wonderful city, but I still left feeling slightly disappointed in my experience. The food was very greasy. Neither of us could finish it. Both of our orders got mixed up. To their credit, the waiter offered to replace it. Not quite knowing what exactly we were eating, we had already ate a third of our meal, so we declined. They graciously didn't charge us for one of the plates. I enjoyed the coffee, while my friend found it tasted like Sanka. Most of all, we were simply disappointed at the greasiness of the food. The service was attentive and friendly, and I did enjoy the vibe of the restaurant and the clientele.

We liked this restaurant and bakery because it was a different take on Latin food- this has more of a South American feel to it. We stared with the Zaguan Sampler which has tequeños (cheese sticks), yuccas, sweet fried plantains,green fried plantains, and empanadas (beef, chicken, cheese). All were decent and some were very good. I had #3 Pabellon which is hand-shredded beef served with steam rice, black beans, and sweet fried plantains. It was all very tasty and I found the black beans to be some of the best that I've had. My companion had the #1 Cachapa which is a sweet corn turnover cooked on the grill that was filled with chicken/cheese, served w/plantain chips- he ate most of his dish and seemed to enjoy it. We had their Alfajor cookies packaged to go and found them to be really good and different as well. I particularly found the guava Alfajor good and interesting. We liked this place and the staff was helpful and friendly. I can see us returning here.

second time I have been able to eat here with my daughter (who is half Venezuelan and swears that this place is AUTHENTIC venezuelan food) and it was just as tasty as it was the first time we ate here. The cheese cachapa is too filling to finish in one sitting (but, heats up just fine in a sandwich press). The ham cachito was as good as any corner panaderia, located in Venezuela. If you are ever in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by to experience this great eatery.

We visited late on a Friday evening & were seated right away. The atmosphere is very nice. Not too bright or loud. We started with the Grilled Cheese which was fantastic! We split the Cachata with chicken & cheese. It was good. The chicken was flavorful, but had the consistency of canned chicken, which kind of bothered me, but overall it was a tasty dish. They have a pastry counter with a wonderful selection. We got a cheese croissant for the next morning since we'd leave too early to get breakfast at our hotel. The next morning the croissant was still flaky & delicious! We'll definitely eat here again!

Fantastic food in a charming atmosphere. I recommend their arepas and cachapas. They roast their own coffee which is delicious. Wonderful assortment of pastries.

This was my first visit and I didn't know what to expect. The place is small but the food and service was great at lunch. The Cachapa (corn turn over) is a new dish for me and very taste in beef of chicken -we ordered one of each. I loved the ice tea - a lemon herb tea. I added sweet plantains that tasted great but a little small on the portion. I will be back

This restaurant is consistently great - food is outstanding, service is quick, and the price is perfect for a lunch with friends. The food is very flavorful and the menu is extensive. I especially appreciate the menu labeling which notes gluten-free options (of which there are several). The restaurant itself is more like a cafe - nothing fancy, but cute. This past visit, we opted to sit outside. Lastly, I don't eat dessert, but people rave about all the choices here, especially the cake.

4 of us went for brunch on a Sunday around 10. I did not call for a reservation fortunately it was not that busy we we arrived. By the time we left at 11 is was very busy. The service was excellent and the food excellent as well. The arepas were great as I had never had one. The omelets were prefect as were the smoothies. My OJ was fresh squeezed. I would highly recommend Zaguan for breakfast and lunch. While I did not have dinner there if it is anything like their brunch you cannot go wrong. I would return again. They have a bakery as well which looks awesome.

I've been meaning to check out Zanguan for awhile and finally went last night. There really isn't a lot of atmosphere, it's a simple looking cafe. We ordered the tostones, ropa vieja and arroz con pollo. All of the food tasted great and the portion sizes were good. I will definitely be going back!

I will never forget the many wonderful arepas I had during a trip to Caracas. That was a long time ago, and I hadn't had any since then. In fact, I hadn't known of any Venezuelan restaurants until Zaguan. In addition to Venezuelan arepas, the coffee, dulce-de-leche filled pasteles (turnovers), and the ham-and-cheese cachitos are good. Service could have been much friendlier, but I will return.

In Dallas for wedding etc needed to find options for food that follows our boot camp plan we started. Zaguan did not disappoint! Fresno salad plus grilled veggies were amazing! Thanks guys!

This little "hole in the wall" presents wonderful atmosphere and delicious food. Cachapa is the main dish to try, with beef and cheese or chicken and avocado-it is do die for. The place is very cozy and charming. Their bakery will take your taste buds to the different universe.

This was our first visit to Zaguan and our first time to eat Latin cuisine. We were very impressed! We ordered the arroz con pollo and cachapa with beef and cheese. The salad was very fresh, and the all the flavors were remarkable! There's definitely a reason they've won awards from D Magazine!

Very good Latin American bakery with a nice dining room decorated with typical hacienda floors and doors. The coffee is good and they have a nice assortment of imported food products and beers. And lots of delicious pastries to choose from. Good for groups, but don't expect speedy service. They could smile more, too, but the food is good and worth going back for.

Popped in for late lunch at Zaguan based upon TA reviews, and loved everything about it. Not busy at all during weekday at 1:30 pm. Immediate service and a lovely menu of South American/Caribbean choices. I ordered one of their specialty dishes, Cachapa, a traditional Venezuelan dish made of sweet corn, made like a pancake dough. It was filled with shredded beef and melted cheese. Awesome taste, and I especially enjoyed a bit of homemade salsa on top (although the dish is quite good even without the salsa). Plantain chips come on the side -- a nice accompaniment. In hindsight, I would add a side dish of black beans. The table next to me seemed to be enjoying theirs very much. Not completely full, I ordered a slice of Dulce de Leche cake, which was very rich and tasty. My eyes deceived me. What looked like a smallish piece of cake turned out to be very filling. Next time I'll order it only if I have someone to share it with. I say "next time" because there will definitely be a next time. Too many good choices not to come back again, and hopefully again.

Recently moved to TX from FL and have been missing arepas and all those yummy pastries we are lucky to have around the corner back in FL. Found this place on google while driving to dallas. Easy to find, near the convention center. I took our food to go, place is a decent size a bit outdated, staff was friendly and got our to go order pretty quick. I got a ham and cheese arepa, (great taste but rather slim and not the typical shredded cheese and ham just a slice of each- tasty but again for the price i expected more) a ham and cheese cachito (ask them to warm it up- it was cold, good but cold) and 2 sodas for $19. It was good but not for the price- sooo overpriced. If in the area i would stop by again since it’s hard to find venezuelan/colombian food near Ft Worth where i live. Would recommend.

I went to Zaguan twice (for lunch and dinner) on a recent visit to Dallas and the food was outstanding. On my first visit, I had the "pabellón", which is whredded beef with white rice, black beans, and sweet fried plantains. On my second visit I tried the "cachapa" (it was unique and delicious).

This is a new favorite for my husband and I! My picky 14 year old LOVED the breakfast which is served all day and included a fruit smoothie! We were too full to try the bakery offerings but will be back again.

My family has actually been visiting this restaurant for several years. If you love latin food the Colombian/Venezuelan food here is authentic and delicious. The sweet corn Cachapas filled with meat & cheese are really good. Another favorite is the Arepa with grilled cheese and coffee for breakfast. For hearty eater the best is the Pabellon/Ropa Vieja, which is shredded brisket cooked with onions, peppers and garlic served with rice, black beans and sweet plantains. It puts a smile on anyone.

Excellent cacachapas. Authentic homemade Venezuelan and South American Cuisine. Great prices and food.

Two friends and I went here for dinner tonight. We split two entrees and had an order of the garlic cheese bread. Delicious! First of all -- the iced tea was fabulous! We asked the waiter, and it was scented and flavored with lemongrass. Loved it! Then was the bread -- wow! Really yeasty-tasting, with a thick slug of cheese running through the middle. Hard to not eat the entire thing! Then our entrees. I don't remember the names, but one was a traditional shredded beef dish served with rice, black beans and plantains. It was very good. But the other one!!!! The same shredded beef, but served inside a sweet corn cake. Delicious!! This spot was a complete fluke for us to find, but we found a good one!

I’ve made two pickup orders. The first time, I asked the guy to give me 3 containers of green sauce, but when I left and checked, he only gave me 2, and when I opened them, they were practically empty. Today I ordered again, went to pick it up, and asked for green sauce — and they told me they didn’t have any 🤷🏻‍♂️ Terrible, I’m not going back again.

Good place to go if you are adventurous and tired of Tex-Mex. This food is from south of Mexico, so don't expect the ordinary. My whole family loved it. Even better, it won't cost you like a higher end place. We will definitely go back when we are in town.

An acquaintance suggested this restaurant--otherwise, I would have driven right on by--wouldn't even have noticed it was there. The menu was weird and the waiter even gave us a 'picture menu' of the items listed in the original menu. Oh, BROTHER! Why? If you have to give people a menu of pictures with the regular menu, maybe you should hire a professional company to write the descriptions of the menu items more clearly and customers would be able to envision the dishes the way they do at NORMAL restaurants. Picture menus? Really? Are we at McDonald's? Actually, McDonald's would have been a much better experience. At least, I would have enjoyed my food--as bad as it is for me. Service was okay, but the menu and layout of the restaurant (helter-skelter table arrangement) put me off. I could tell from the minute we entered this place that I was going to have a bland, so-so experience and waste an hour of my life. It was just nothing special. There is a pastry display, for lack of better words, in the front of the restaurant when you walk in. I should have said, a display of "mystery pastries". Each pasty has an in-depth description of what it is. See what I mean? Why does the customer have to wonder what the pastries are? And they are big, huge pastries--all shaped similarly--with ham and cheese and other weird ingredients that you wouldn't expect to be inside a pastry. What the ? There are some sweet cakes/desserts, but I barely got that far because the huge meat/cheese-filled pastries seem to be their focus. I just shook my head and headed for the exit--weird--just not my cup of tea, I guess. I just kept shaking my head throughout the entire experience, just as I'm doing when I write this review. One of the people in our party actually stopped and bought several of the mystery pastries. It took an additional 20 minutes to make this transaction (I had retreated to the car at this point)--the cashier said they would go get some fresher pastries because the ones in the display case had been sitting there a while. Hmmm--I wonder for whom they were saving the old, stale ham & cheese and sweet pastries? I'm shaking my head again--makes no sense. If those pastries aren't moving out of that pastry case, then MAKE THEM FRESH TO ORDER. Who wants stale pastries of any kind? Honestly, I couldn't wait to drive away. I won't be back, and I don't recommend this restaurant/bakery or whatever it is supposed to be. Bad--skip it!

I’ve been in zaguán several times and always impressed by the freshness of the food. All of the arepas are great and there sopa andina is delicious. They also sell cheeses and bakeries from Venezuela. For anyone that’s visiting or living in Dallas and wants to have a great tasting Venezuelan food, zaguán is the place.

Enjoyed our food here. Highly recommend it. The prices are a bit high, but the food is unique and worth trying.

tasty South American deserts, primarily Venezuelan

Great way to taste South American food and compare to Mexican styles. Open all day, we chose lunchtime for entrees and appetizers. Quantities were filling! I had plantains three different ways, plus empanadas Venezuela style. Good meat filling (beef or pork) with a small amount of vegetables. Dipping sacuce for the plantains was SPICY

Comfortable, casual bakery atmosphere meets the best South American cuisine! Very homey food that refuses to be the same old tex-mex but also allows you to love the simply-prepared, quality ingredients. Daring and delicious. You will not be disappointed!

Two weeks ago I went in to get a churro. I was standing by the cashier for 10 mins being ignored. I made eye contact with several employees behind the cash register who were just standing there. Then other customers came up to the empty cashier next to mine with ALOT of stuff and one of the employees came and serviced them. I left. I thought maybe I was imagining it. Today I went with my daughter for a mommy daughter day out and wanted hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant. I came in. I ordered. The lady at the registered didn't say hi or how are u or anything. She just put out her hand for my credit card. Then I went and sat down. 1 min later, someone passed by our table and left a paper bag and to-go cup without stopping or saying anything. I was expecting a plate and a mug like the rest of the customers around me. ..... I went up and told them why? I didn't say to go. I clearly sat down so I wanted to dine in. The man was annoyed and said: what do you want from us I don't understand? Do you want a plate?? I felt tears at the humiliation and I grabbed my daughter and left. Raciest, Rude Cashiers

I have been going to this restaurant for some years. I first tasted the food at an event at Market Hall in Dallas. I found out that they had a location close to my house. The food is very tasty and prices are very reasonable. I like their cachapas as that is their specialty. Their arepas and empanadas are also good. Plantain chips are something that accompanies some of the meals and are good too.

Tired of Tex-Mex and want a change? This Latin Café offers a variety of foods from Latin America. Many unusual and tasty dishes and the café has a great vibe. I felt like eating healthy, so I selected the Pollo Caracas, consisting of grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed vegetables, served with rice and sweet plantains. It was delicious! I have previously tried their Venezuela and Colombian treats, Cachapas and Arepas, and both were tasty. I always enjoy the food here, only wish the servers were a bit more focused on their customers. With this change in culture, I would gladly give a fifth star. Glenn Almack

We found this restaurant on Yelp and saw that it was very gluten friendly. It has such an amazing amount of gluten free items. I had the Venezuelan Empanadas with beef and one Arapas with chicken and avocado. It was a gluten free party in my mouth. My friend got the Zaguan brunch and I wish I had gotten it too so that I could have had more of everything. The breakfast comes with a smoothie which is fresh pulpy juice.

We eat here quite frequently when we're in Dallas. They have a wide range of delectable latin bakery goods as well as tasty sandwiches, soups and small dishes.

We enjoyed three entrees here recently. They were: Latin Crepe- which is Chicken ricotta wrapped in a crepe and topped with béchamel and tomato sauce, cheese, olives, raisins. The ingredients that really made the dish were the olives and the raisins that topped the crepe. There could have been more of these two toppings in my opinion. I tried this interesting dish that seemed like a cross between Italian and South American- however I would not get it again. I liked the rice and the salad was OK. I am not a fan of having my salad served on the the same warm plate as my entrée. Arroz con Pollo was another dish that we had. It consisted of Rice mixed with chicken, peas, carrots, and corn. Served with salad and sweet plantains. Now this entrée was eaten and enjoyed very much. This diner is rather finicky and she ate most of the large portioned dish. The third dish was Beef Arepa. It is savory corn turnover cooked on the grill, filled with beef/cheese and in this case ,served with plantain chips. Nothing was left on this diners plate as he thoroughly relished the dish. I had a coffee and my companions both had iced tea. It is spiced tea and not well received at our table. We took home two bakery items with us. They were: Alfajores a cookie with soft filling of dulce de leche , chocolate or guava paste, sandwiched between two gourmet vanilla cookies. We also took home cherry turnovers. These were all very tasty of course. This restaurant is unique in it's offerings and decor so we will naturally return for it's gracious staff and good food and ambiance.

The place has mediocre food, terrible atmosphere, limited bar, poor service and high prices. The menu and pricing is misleading. The place is a dive but not priced like one.

Not terribly familiar with authentic Latin cuisine, I was needlessly cautious. We had Sunday brunch here and it was easily the best meal we had in Dallas and one of the best *ever*. There were three of us and each had different but equally amazing dishes. The Cachapas (sweet cornbread-like turnover) were sublime, the Zaguan sandwich superb. And what's not to love about a slice of sautéed queso?

We currently live in Alaska and returned to Texas for a brief visit. We found this wonderful place to have breakfast. Bring your appetite because the portions are large. The empanadas are fresh and as is the rest of their food. Totally worth the trip. Friendly service.

This restaurant has "traditional" bacon and egg type dishes, but do yourself a favor and order an arepa. After all - it is a South American bakery! Delicious! Almost like a polenta cake, warm with butter - I didn't even want to put salsa on it because it was great as it was served. Friendly waitstaff too. We will eat here again next time we visit Dallas.

Authentic Venezuelan, Colombian, and Argentinian food in Dallas TX. Great ambiance too! Pabellon Criollo is authentic. Do not miss the Tequeños (Venezuelan style cheese sticks).

A great assortment of Central and South American dishes are available on the menu -- lots of choices and some great desserts too -- the also stock soft drinks from Central/South America as well

We've been going to Zaguan for several years and it has been very consistent in its food preparation, service and flavor. The menu is varied and even has children portions. I've heard opposing opinions about this place, but if you are looking to compare it to your cooking at home (if you are Venezuelan) you may be disappointed but I doubt it. This place is the closest to home you're going to get in the Metroplex. Food portions are for big appetites, very savory and reasonably priced. The Oak Lawn location is centrally located and easy to find. Parking is small but we haven't had a problem finding a spot, even with a packed place. The ambiance is casual and service is friendly and fast. They even have a bakery/deli inside where you can order to go or dine-in. I especially recommend their "arroz con pollo" (rice with chicken) which sometimes takes a little longer to cook but it's worth the wait. Their homemade fruit drinks are also very good and refreshing (a word of caution: you can't have only one...). I just wish the place were a little closer to our home but hey, you can't have everything! It's worth the drive and a good excuse for a weekend escape. Awesome place! Very nice for family Sunday brunch.

I am vegetarian and I have to say this is my go to place!!! The food is great!!! They have many vegetarian options!!! Also I love the dulce de leche dessert!!! A must have!!!!

The staff allowed us to order a lunch entree at 7:30 in the morning. Talk about accommodating. We both ate every bite. We also tried their melted cheese appetizer. I scooped up mine with the fried plantains that accompanied our meal. We took home chocolate - filled croissants for our "dessert". Definitely recommend. We decided this would be our go-to restaurant when we are near Oaklawn