Camila Alarcón, a new American from Guatemala, invites you to share a table with your loved ones at some of Pittsburgh’s amazing latin and caribbean restaurants. She hopes that each and every dish you try will be a joyful discovery of culture, and of how new Americans contribute their skills and their ideas to Pittsburgh. There is no better time than now to share with others and learn about what makes our communities so rich in diversity and flavor.

Pittsburgh’s Must-Try Latin and Caribbean Restaurants

Pupusas y Antojitos Helen

643 Broadway Avenue, McKees Rocks

As a Central American by birth, it brought me such joy to find a place where I can eat authentic pupusas. Pupusas are traditionally thick Salvadorean corn tortillas (sometimes flour) that are stuffed with delicious savory fillings like frioles, queso, and chicharron (beans, cheese as well as pork). They are usually dressed with tomato salsa and also pickled cabbage salsa. I was beyond excited to know that they have pupusas with cheese and loroco. Loroco is an edible flower bud with a distinct savory and bitter flavor that is found in Guatemalan, Honduran, and Salvadoran cuisine. The mix of the creamy melted cheese with the earthy flavors of loroco is a taste you must experience.

Duo’s Taqueria

5906 Penn Avenue, East Liberty

It is no surprise that Duo’s has made my Latin list yet again. Their investment in authentic Latin cuisine is appreciated and seen. Among many delicious options prepared by Chef Marcella Ogrodnik, I love her Aguachile negro de lenguado. This dish is a creative take on Sinaloan aguachile dishes. It marinates wildcaught fluke in a vibrant burnt habanero aguachile. Sip a beer with it. Try some sides. Linger a while.

Panaderia Jazmin

300 Beverly Road, Mount Lebanon

I can’t get enough of this authentic Mexican Bakery that makes desserts and sweets just like your abuela. Everything here is a reminder of the beauty of local Latin American bakeries that open at 6am to feed the local workforce before their jornadas and daily commutes. One of my favorite desserts here is their pastel de tres leches, a delicate sponge cake that is soaked in three different types of milk. Unforgettable.

Mezcal Mexican Cantina

4123 Butler Street, Lawrenceville

This one is new to my list, but hopefully this showcase of the many flavors of Mexican cuisine will become well-known to all of you. They have an incredible list of mezcals that you can enjoy at the bar, as well as a great happy hour menu. Their quesibirria tacos have made me a regular and also their biggest fan! Sure, there are a lot of places to try birria in Pittsburgh, but the consommé at Mezcal is on another level. Dunk the generously filled tacos into the savory broth and thank me later.

Secretos de Mis Abuelos

145 East 8th Avenue, Homestead

This is a place that is always on my list for the authentic Puerto Rican/Caribbean food on offer here. When you sit at their table, you can taste family heirlooms in the form of recipes that have been passed down through generations. Their commitment to fresh ingredients and highlighting the Latin immigrant experience is inspiring. I highly recommend ordering their Pernil, a signature slow roasted pork. This Puerto Rican dish will transport you to the warmth of the island, and we need that from time to time in the ‘Burgh.

Ceviche Peruvian Cuisine

3600 Brownsville Rd, Brentwood

I am constantly craving fresh seafood. In Latin America that urge usually can be satisfied with a great ceviche, which centers on seafood “cooked” in the acids of citrus juice and/or vinegar. You can imagine how thrilled I was to find a place dedicated to ceviche–especially Peruvian-style ceviche. This Brentwood gem offers an array of different fresh seafood plates from antichucho and tiradito to ceviche. I want to celebrate their leche de tigre. While not actually made of tiger’s milk, of course, its flavors are vivid and strong, earning the dish its name.

Chicken Latino

2100 Broadway Avenue, Beechview

I have raved about Chicken Latina before! Now they have moved to the heart of the Latin community in Beechview. The owner, Shelbin Santos, wanted to bring her happiest memories to America in the form of her mother’s recipes for authentic Peruvian cuisine. Invite a couple of friends to come with you to order their Chicken a la Brasa, which is rubbed in a mix of Peruvian spices and slow roasted.

Colombino Coffee

Lawrenceville, North Side, and Bethel Park

While Colombino is known for authentic coffee and cacao, don’t pass on their food items. They have arepas for every occasion. Their breakfast arepas, for example, are packed with delicious Colombian flavors. My favorite item to order is their Panedebono de queso, made from their own family recipe from their Cali, Colombia roots.

Cilantro y Ajo

Lawrenceville and South Side

This spot fulfills the lifelong goal of two young Venezuelan chefs to open a restaurant of their own. Like many immigrant stories, particularly from Latin America, social and political instability forced them away from their hometowns. It is inspiring to see their goal realized in Pittsburgh with Cilantro y Ajo, which started on the South Side and then recently expanded to Lawrenceville. Invite friends and share their Parilla Mixta, a combination of their grilled steak, chicken, and chorizo, paired with their delicious ajo sauce. You will all go home happy!

Story by Camila Alarcon Cordon
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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