Amara Cafe & Restaurant

I was introduced to Amara Cafe by a friend and it has since become one of my favorite places for lunch meet ups. I love Amara Cafe for their great food, coffees, teas, warm and cute atmosphere, central location, and easy parking in the attached garage. It's a great place to meet a friend for lunch or have a casual lunch meeting. The owners are very friendly and welcoming. They made my first few experiences dinning there very memorable. For example, when they found out I'm gluten free they gave me a sample of their gf Empenadas. My husband is Argentine and empanadas are typical at many family gatherings. I've never been able to eat a whole empanada before (only the inside of one) because they're usually made with flour but Amara has ones made with corn. It was delicious! For lunch I always order the Fresh Farmer Salad and add their marinated Pesto chicken. The Pesto chicken is the most tender chicken I've ever tasted! If your looking for a cute, easy place for lunch, with delicious eats and drinks, give this place try.

Alex helped us to order the dreamiest arepa breakfast! His service was outstanding and his suggestions made our experience heaven sent. We had breakfast arepas (meat and no meat) and both were phenomenal! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. The churros were INCREDIBLE! Excellent outdoor seating with sun shades if you need. Don’t miss this spot if you’re in Pasadena!

Wonderful food and friendly service. We came here for the 2 time within a week just because this is such a great breakfast place. Also, they have very good coffee with some cool options like spicy coffee or dulce de leche coffee.

Great service! For large groups it might be difficult to order as you must place the order either at the counter or self serve kiosk (easier to have everyone present to order things smoothly & to their specifications). If you opt for the self serve kiosk, it's rather difficult to use due to hidden configurations for certain items so it's recommended to order at the counter. Staff was friendly and informative, place is not the biggest so for larger groups seating might be difficult. Both outdoor and indoor seating is offered. Food was great for our first time dinning in! We also got complementary churro for mothers day which was a great gesture by Chef Amara.

This place is more than deserving of its stellar reputation. Everything about the experience was exceptional from the food, to the coffee, and the service. Very kind, knowledgeable,and hospitable employees. A true gem and one of one kind of place. My croissant sandwich was delightfully buttery and fresh, the bacon was flavorful and crispy, and the eggs were whipped up to perfection. The latte is the Vanilla Panelon, which is used with real vanilla and an inhouse made panelon syrup. The ambience was very relaxing too. Highly recommend

the churros and the reina & gouda arepa were phenomenal! the portion size of the arepa was a bit small in my opinion but filling nonetheless. quick service and nice laid back atmosphere with outdoor seating. churros were nice and crispy.

Amara’s Cafe is a Venezuelan cafe that makes mornings feel special. I stopped by around 8 a.m. and immediately loved the calm, relaxed atmosphere with no crowds and no wait. It was the perfect time to enjoy breakfast with good coffee. I ordered the Galipan cachapa, a traditional Venezuelan dish that is basically a sweet corn pancake cooked until golden and folded over with salty cheese. The plate came with flavorful black beans, fluffy scrambled eggs, tangy sour cream, a bright green salsa, and tender shredded meat. It was a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and creamy in every bite. For a seasonal touch, I had the pumpkin latte which was smooth, spiced just right, and not too sweet. As an added surprise, they brought out a complimentary plate of churros with chocolate. The churros were crisp and warm and the chocolate sauce was rich and glossy, a perfect way to end the meal. The service was just as good as the food. The cashier was welcoming and gave excellent recommendations that made it easy to choose dishes worth trying. Overall Amara’s Cafe delivers authentic Venezuelan flavors with a relaxed modern cafe setting. The food is thoughtful, the service is warm, and the morning ambiance is calm and inviting. It is definitely a place worth visiting again.

Amara Café in Pasadena has become my favorite place to shop for Venezuelan food and treats in Los Angeles. One of the best things is that they sell so many items by portion, so I can take a bunch home and keep my freezer stocked with little tastes of Venezuela whenever I’m craving comfort food. My absolute favorites are the tequeños, the golfiados, and the queso de mano. The golfiados are basically the Venezuelan version of sticky buns, made with raw cane sugar and packed with flavor, especially when paired with fresh queso de mano. If you’ve never tried queso de mano before, you NEED to. It’s a traditional handmade Venezuelan cheese with this incredible soft layered consistency that’s completely different from American cheeses and honestly unforgettable. And do NOT leave without grabbing a can of Pirulín. It’s one of the most iconic Venezuelan snacks, crispy wafer rolls filled with chocolate hazelnut cream, and pure nostalgia for any Venezuelan. Everything here tastes authentic, comforting, and made with love. Amara is such a special place for the Venezuelan community and also the perfect introduction for anyone wanting to discover Venezuelan flavors for the first time. And if you’re lucky enough, you might even get to meet Amara herself, former Miss Venezuela, adored by so many back home and someone who truly brings the best energy into the space every single time. Her warmth and presence make the experience feel even more special.