Amara Cafe & Restaurant

Venezuelan restaurant

Amara Cafe & Restaurant

Venezuelan restaurant

55 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Highlights

Amara Cafe is a cozy haven in Pasadena for indulging in vibrant Venezuelan delights like arepas, churros, and rich sipping chocolate, all served with warmth and charm.

55 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105 Get directions

amaracafe.com

@amarachocolate

$10–20 · Menu

@infatuation

"Amara Chocolate & Coffee is a laid-back spot perfect for entertaining the kids, taking grandma out for a coffee, or having a quiet lunch with a coworker who equally needs to decompress. As the name suggests, this tranquil Pasadena coffee/chocolate shop makes an award-winning bittersweet hot chocolate, very good Spanish churros, and some Venezuelan-style arepas with plant-based options. The Vegana arepa is a Mediterranean twist on the dish with hummus, chickpeas, roasted eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers tightly packed inside the dough. The Orinoco also deserves special recognition for its overnight-cooked pork that’s very tender and pulls apart the moment you sink your teeth into it. The meat pairs nicely with its fried plantains and creamy queso de mano - a soft white cheese that melts beautifully and is good enough to stand on its own, minus the meat or extra fixings." - sylvio martins

The Best Arepas In Los Angeles

View Postcard for Amara Cafe & Restaurant

@afar

"Amara's is a cozy cafe, perfect for a chocolate-lover's outing, or a romantic date night. Amara offers a bakery-style breakfast, fondue, a lovely assortment of chocolate truffles, and, my personal favorite, churros with dark dipping chocolate. The Venezuelan sipping chocolates are exquisite, and Amara uses Pasadena's best coffee, Jones Coffee, to prepare unique espresso drinks, such as their Cacao Latte (you pick the type of chocolate for your latte) and the Aztec Xoco-Latte."

L.A. Day Trip: Pasadena

View Postcard for Amara Cafe & Restaurant

@eater

"Part of the Latino Restaurant Association’s Dine Latino Restaurant Week, offering a prix fixe meal at a reasonable price to drive awareness and customers toward Latino-owned businesses." - Mona Holmes

LA’s Newest Restaurant Week Features Latino-Owned Businesses - Eater LA

View Postcard for Amara Cafe & Restaurant

@infatuation

"Amara Chocolate & Coffee is one of those laid-back places perfect for entertaining the kids, taking grandma out for a coffee, or having a quiet lunch with a coworker who equally needs to decompress. As the name suggests, the Pasadena spot is a tranquil coffee/chocolate shop that makes an award-winning bittersweet hot chocolate, very good Spanish churros, and some Venezuelan-style arepas with plant-based options. The Vegana arepa is a Mediterranean twist on the dish with hummus, chickpeas, roasted eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers tightly packed inside the dough. The Orinoco also deserves special recognition for its overnight-cooked pork that’s very tender and pulls apart the moment you sink your teeth into it. The meat pairs nicely with its fried plantains and creamy queso de mano - a soft white cheese that melts beautifully and is good enough to stand on its own, minus the meat or extra fixings." - Sylvio Martins

Amara Chocolate & Coffee Review - Pasadena - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

View Postcard for Amara Cafe & Restaurant

Judy

Google

Absolutely delicious in all of their offerings. All employees were super nice and the churros were fresh. Love that the menu pointed vegan options and allows you to sub meat for avocado. EDITED review to up my rating from 4 to 5 stars for the response/acknowledgment. Previous Review: Absolutely delicious in all of their offerings, though they charged $23 for a cachapa plate (+ a $1 addon that was fine) that was advertised as $21 on the breakfast menu posted outside. Also, the menu posted outside advertised different items than the menu inside, even within the same category (empanadas, pastries). All employees were super nice and the churros were fresh. Love that the menu pointed vegan options and allows you to sub meat for avocado.

Monica Matute

Google

This place is DELICIOUS! Lives up to all of the hype. We tried the tequeños and the guava sauce is amazing and a great mix of salty and sweet. We also tried La Reina and this was my favorite meal we had because it tasted so fresh. Also highly recommend the empanadas and cachapa with pork, beans, and plantains. And ofcourse you can’t leave without trying the churros. Valeria and the staff were so incredible, the place has a great ambience AND it’s pet friendly which is a huge plus. Couldn’t recommend it more!

Merry “Merrycyclist”

Google

Don’t miss this sweet chic cafe in downtown Pasadena for a casual elevated breakfast (or lunch). We’ve now been here four times and can hardly wait to return on our next visit. This time we had avocado and egg arepas sandwiches for breakfast. Imagine a typical breakfast sandwich but with fresh scrambled eggs cooked with a touch of onion and tomato. Instead of American cheese, there are three choices (we had Gouda). Instead of a wheat English muffins, delightful corn-flour arepas are a similar shape but crispy on the outside, tender inside. Served with a little fresh sour cream and big cups of delicious dark americanos. There are house-made delicacies filling the front case (we loved the guava- cheese pastry and the chocolate cookies). There is outdoor seating.

Irena D

Google

The best Nutella coffee and almond croissant in my life 😃 Shrimp avocado burrito with coleslaw was good as well. The place is small inside, but has extra tables outside. Menu is big with a wide selection of items. Recommend!

Benjamin Franke (Solstice Son)

Google

Amara Cafe in Pasadena has a relaxed, inviting vibe that makes it easy to settle in. Their Venezuelan-inspired menu is full of amazing options. I always go for the arepas, no matter if it’s breakfast or lunch, and they never disappoint. Their hot chocolate is something else—truly authentic, rich, thick, and exactly what you want on a cooler day. Get sipping chocolate iced on the hot ones. I always find myself feeling a little high on life after drinking their chocolate options. Little science insight: pure cacao contains compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine, which can stimulate endorphin and serotonin release, improving mood and giving a mild euphoria. No wonder every amara’s visit is the start to a magical day. The service is friendly and I always feel welcomed and appreciated. It’s a bit popular and can get pretty packed. But even when there’s a crowd, I’ve never felt rushed. If you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping by just for the sipping chocolates alone. The churros are another story. I once enjoyed them regularly but now I avoid gluten, I wish they’d whip up a gluten free option. *wink wink, nudge nudge*

Safi Lodin

Google

Food was lovely and very flavorful. Would definitely recommend and come back.

DM Ramirez

Google

You have to give this place a try! The food is fresh, tasty and filling. The empanadas are a must!! One of my favorite dishes is the beef Pabellón, a delicious arepa with cheese, beans and plantains. They also have a variety of coffees and desserts.

J. V. Rychman

Google

We were Talking with a visitor to Cleveland, who said Amara Cafe is a must. So we put it in our list of must do restaurants. Got on Spirit Airlines and flew to LAX and drove to Amara. What a delight. Great service, street seating, many choices. Best recommendation from our clerk. She even checked up on us to see if we loved her recommendation. When you stop in tell them Joe sent you, they will say Joe Who? That's me 😄