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Sazon
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
941 Spring Garden StPhiladelphia, PA 19123
Neighbourhood: Spring Garden
(215) 763-2500
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
104 reviews for Sazon
Review Highlights
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"Sancocho De Carne(Exotic Beef Stew) = (4) very good." In 4 reviews -
"Found this little place from a gluten free website." In 13 reviews -
"I had the asado negro and it was delicious." In 6 reviews
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Natalee F.
Philadelphia, PA
5/1/2012
I really wanted to like this place more than I actually did. I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. This place is great for accommodating a large group. We originally had 10 people and added 2 more at the last minute with no problem, on a Saturday night.
The food - this is the part that I wanted to like more. I started off with the plantains. I love plantains and I like to try them everywhere I go. These were....ok.....good, but not spectacular. They were fried but not crispy and were covered in cheese, but it wasn't melted. If you're looking for the best plantains, check out Dos Segundos. Next I ordered an arepa with cheese and black beans. I've had arepas in the past and this was not my favorite. It was kind of dry and not very flavorful. There wasn't enough cheese and the cheese that was on there wasn't melty enough. They look small but they are deceptively filling, so I'm glad that's all I ordered.
The prices seem slightly high for the area and also for the food that you get. I think the plantains were around $7 for a few small pieces.
The service was great. Very prompt and warm and friendly. I sampled the desserts of my dining companions and they were outstanding. This is where Sazon shines - hot chocolate and dessert. It's BYOB too - always a plus.
I will return but most likely just for desserts and chocolate. -
Review from Angie K.
4/26/2012
I'm glad this place is in the outskirts of the city because I would not be happy if I had to wait for a seat. Luckily this place is a short shady walk for me.
The Patacon: spinach, lettuce, tomato, avocado, beef and ham, cheese between 2 huge tostones?! The ingredients were really fresh to the point the veggies looked kinda fake. The ham in the sandwich is money. When presented, it is about 2 iPhones high. It's pricey for $18, but worth it.
Arepas: the corn patties were moist and tasty. I think I enjoyed the Pernil the most, but the others (Mechada, Reina Pepiada) were great as well.
Dark Chocolate truffle (Monstruo): the chocolate was rich, but was not that impressed. It was actually kinda dry.
Vikingo (their homemade hot chocolate over ice): $7.50, but IT WAS WORTH IT. Really. I can't even imagine how good it would be served hot.
The interior was charming and the service friendly. I can't wait to go back and try everything else. -
Review from Bri H.
4/25/2012 ROTD 5/23/2012
I chose this place for my birthday dinner. I liked that there were gluten-free options (celiac friends), vegetarian options (non-meat eating friends) and reasonably priced food (broke-ass friends). I loved the bright decor and the friendly service.
The consensus around the table was that the food was a bit dry and the desserts were better than the entrees. I sampled the tequenos: fried cheese in dough - what's not to like? The plantains: tasty but a bit dry and the cheese could have been more melted (they were ok but not as good as Dos Segundo's plantains). The pernil arepa: tasty pork but overall a bit dry.
Now for the desserts: I went with the Classico hot chocolate. It was so thick and decadent. I actually ate it with a spoon instead of drinking it. My friends had some other desserts, including the churros and the flan - both received high praise.
This is a pretty good spot for a casual dinner with a large group of friends. It's even better if you're just looking for some delicious dessert.Listed in: Sweets, Treats & Desserts
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Review from Rob J.
Columbia, PA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped here quick before a concert. Ordered the Pernil sandwich.
Roasted pulled pork w/tomatoes, lettuce, onion, and Sazon house sauce. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! The pork was cooked perfectly...very flavorful. The service was quick and "chatty".
Only downside and a pet peeve of mine is they only accept cash. In this day and age...i find it a tad annoying. They did offer an ATM machine in house...but I didn't want to pay an extra $3 (a guess) in fees to order $10 in food.
That being said...I would love to visit Sazon again. It was VERY tasty and reasonably priced. -
Review from Christian L.
Philadelphia, PA
My God...I felt like I was at my Parent's place. This amazing BYO is situated at 9th and Spring Garden. They specialize in Venezuelan cuisine.
I ordered a home style prepared Bistec served with a side of white rice (jasmine), black beans, and sweet plantains. Noms
So these guys make their own chocolate...from the bean to the paste. My friend ordered a Tres Leches (deelish) while 3 of my friends and I split the Churros with home made chocolate NOMS... The service was on point, and the owners were very friendly. I'm hoping to head over there soon to explore their menu... -
Review from Brennan J.
Morrisville, PA
5/6/2012
Sunday breakfast: First we get the juice, blackberry and passion fruit. Best blackberry juice I've ever had. Passionfruit juice was delicious and had no seeds. Second we get the breakfast de Venezolano. It had skirt steak, 3 eggs and cilantro. also came with Black beans and a cheese arepa. The cheese was good. We also shared the pabellon empanada, it was amazing. Can't wait to go back for dinner and the gourmet chocolate.
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Review from Perot J.
Philadelphia, PA
3/28/2012
Well, last evening we went to Sazon for dinner, a "living social" coupon in hand.
We usually go to Tierra Columbiana for our South American fix..but the coupon brought us here.
We split the ENSALADA DE PALMITO
Hearts of palm, avocado, tomato, lettuce, onions, olive oil and balsamic vinegar..which was enough for two, tasted good..but came right out of the fridge.
$ 9.00 was expensive for this dish.
I ordered the ARROZ CON POLLO...but was told that it was not being served this evening, so I had the POLLO FRITO...a boneless breast of chicken, fried in corn oil served with avocado salad and an arepa w/cheese. A nice platter with some more of the salad that we had as an appetizer...$16.50...a little on the high side.
My dinner partner had CHULETAS DE COCHINO for $15.50.
A Pork Chop served w/ white rice and black beans. A good sized platter at a reasonable price.
We passed on the chocolate desserts that have had good reviews. We aren't choc-freaks.
The service was friendly.....but sloooooooow. Two waitresses took their time to serve a full house at 6 P.M.
We thought that the food was good...but not special. Much blander than we expected.
For the money we prefer Tierra Columbiana...many more choices..tastier food. -
Review from Jessica T.
Philadelphia, PA
2/8/2012
Have you ever tried a vegan truffle? I haven't... but if I had any room left in my stomach last Tuesday night I would have. Next time.
I finally managed to get out of my neighborhood comfort zone to try Sazon for some authentic Venezuelan cuisine. Chef Judith was managing the dining room (which feels more homey than commercial) & happily helped us place our order. She staggered the flow of our dishes so we were never rushed, nor wanting for food.
My Venezuelan boyfriend melted when he tasted the Sancocho de Carne, squealed when he saw his Pollo Arepa (arepas are his fav) & developed the smile of a mad man while he tore apart the tender meat of his Pabellon Criollo. My Grilled Veggie Patacon was large enough to keep me satisfied while my little piggy plowed through three courses. Everything that arrived at our table was fresh & mildly seasoned. The home made hot sauce, salsa, & guac perfectly complemented our meal.
Will definitely be back to what we now call "healthy Mixto" soon.
BYO, street parking, cash only/ vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options availableListed in: Vegetablearian
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Review from Tom W.
Hanover, PA
3/10/2012
We were in town for the Philly Beer Fest and met some friends here. First, it is hard to see the restaurant as they don't have a sign out front. It is on the corner, almost directly across from Union Transfer.
The food was great and the place is popular. I will say that I'm not a fan of the Arepas, they are a little dry. The empanada appetizers are great.
The next time we go to a Union Transfer show, we are going to use Sazon as our pre-show dinner. -
Review from Allie D.
Philadelphia, PA
3/21/2012
Myself and two friends visited this restaurant to try something new. Unfortunately, the food was super bland and the staff was quite rude!
One of my friends had never had Venezuelan food before, so he asked the waiter if we could have some chips or appetizer for the table- the waiter rudely told us "We don't have chips, we're further south than Mexico." Wow, there's a nice way to explain, and there's that way. Also, maybe he should have suggested an appetizer from their menu, instead, he lost the business and we didn't order anything.
I ordered the Tofu Pepidia for a main dish and it was SO bland. I know what you're thinking - isn't tofu always bland? But it's far from the truth. If you season tofu with ANYTHING, it picks up the flavor really well. This dish was not seasoned at all - tasted like white bread.
We ordered churros and coffee for dessert. I know this isn't a cafe, but the coffee tasted like it was from a diner, and the churros were nothing memorable.
I won't be back. -
Review from J W.
Westville, NJ
3/11/2012
Excellent BYOB. The pulled pork was delicious, the empanadas are great too. The place has charm.
The chocolate is great, but I am not a chocolate person, and there we're other very tasty dessert options while the rest of my group was going nuts over the chocolate. -
Review from Di P.
1/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Sazon,
I wanted to really really like you. I wanted to see 5 stars soooo bad. That's why I went on that second date with you. It's like, I saw this potential-- and so I couldn't just dump you over yelp, I had to meet up with you one more time. But alas, it's just platonic friendship between us and not love.
It's not because you're in a shady neighborhood. I'm not stuck up like that. And it's not because you're a BYOB. I first started falling for you once I realized you were one. But it's because of the details... i.e. ... the food... So like, major details.
The appetizer of fried sweet plantains with cheese was to die for. The black bean and cheese empanadas were cooked so perfectly that I swooned. But then, things started falling apart. The "asada negro" which was supposed to be slow cooked beef was so dry and tough that if it wasn't drowned in sauce of sweet deliciousness I would have been so hysterically upset. I've tried 3 different arepas, none of which I liked. Even the cheese one. Cheese and bread. And it wasn't awesome... but how?!
And then I had the churros with the chocolate dipping sauce and the quesillo and they were yummy, so I felt hopeful... But the chocolate flan was dense and not flavorful that we didn't even finish it. I've never not finished ... dessert.
So, I may find myself one lonely night going on a third date... because I'm an optimist. I hope you surprise me.
Love,
Di -
Review from Sarah F.
2/17/2012
I'm so glad we liked this place!
We live just a couple blocks away and it is always nice to find a neighborhood establishment worth going to.
We had a living social coupon, and our server (owner?) was extremely pleasant about accepting it.
There was a special Valentine's menu, but I wish the crab and shrimp in coconut sauce was on the menu all the time. the presentation was beautiful and the food was very yummy!
I also indulged and had a hot chocolate. (basically melted chocolate!) mmm. -
Review from Barrett L.
Philadelphia, PA
3/18/2012
I came here the other night with the BF to try out one of his LivingSocial coupons. We wanted to try something different and off the beat from our usual roster of restaurants, which Sazon definitely qualifies as. Walking inside, it very much felt like a cross between a diner and a dive, and the service and atmosphere felt very down-home. Overall, the food was inconsistent (some very good, some not so good), and while we didn't get a chance to try the hot chocolate, I'm not sure I would head back for round two.
We started with the Sazon Sampler, which consisted of three deep-fried cheese sticks, two mini arepas (one chicken, one beef) and an empanada stuffed wtih black beans and cheese. Everything on the plate was delicious: perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, well done. I wish we just had this for dinner because it was the right amount of flavor, portion, and tasted great. For my entree, I had the Patacon with Pernil (roast pork). The serving was enormous: a giant stack of pernil, lettuce, tomatoes, barely melted cheese, and avocado sandwiched between two giant deep fried plantain slices. Oh, and a side of yellow rice. I found the plantains to be dry and bland, the pork to be extremely dry in some spots and tender and juicy in others, and the rest of the ingredients not really contributing much to the flavor and cohesiveness of the dish. Also, it was massive. By the time I finally finished, we were too full to even consider dessert (but we took some of their house-made chocolate truffles for the road).
On the whole, this place is good, but nothing special. If I go back, I'm definitely sticking with a less filling option, maybe an arepa. However, it definitely gives off a very authentic vibe, and you can tell just how much the staff and owners care about their food, culture, and passion. -
Review from Craig D.
Wayne, PA
Updated - 11/19/2011
(4) = Overall Food & Service
Our Menu:
* Sancocho De Carne(Exotic Beef Stew) = (4) very good
* Homemade Hot Sauce(pour it in the stew!:-) = (4) very good
* Patacon(Venezuelan Sandwich) = (4) very good
* Asado Negro(King of Caracas) = (4) very good
* Clasico Hot Chocolate = (4) very good & decadent;-)
* Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dip = (4.5) Very good!
NOTES: Street Parking & CASH ONLY. Also the Hot Chocolates are VERY rich ~ more like sipping melted chocolate than the watered down american version!;-)lolListed in: Hidden Gems
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/17/2010
Very good Home-cooked Venezuelan food from a husband & wife team. You can't leave w/o having one of… Read more »
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Review from Donna C.
Telford, PA
3/9/2012
Their home made chocolate is to die for! Hot chocolate so thick you almost need a spoon to drink it. I had a Patacon(Venezuelan Sandwich) - mucho yummy. Definitely on my "go to" list when I/m in the area.
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Review from Chris M.
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is the real deal and delicious! VERY Authentic, as if we were in Venezuela. Hot chocolate & truffles afterwards, was mind blowing.
The wait for the food was mind-numbing. It was an excruciating wait to order, receive the food and the bill. We could tell they were busy, it was a full house and they were caught with their pants down with not enough servers. The decor is homey and welcoming we didnt pickup any music.
The food is authentic, and the staff/owners are very polite. We'll give them the benefit of a doubt and be back no doubt. Go here, good, Venezuelan food. -
Review from Alex S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/15/2012
Excellent restaurant. I go there almost every week, sometimes twice a week!
Their Sancocho is to die for. It's a kind of beef stew/soup with root vegetables. Excellent during winter. Their sandwiches are great although might not be filling enough for some.
The hot chocolate is excellent, although probably not something that people are used to. The hot chocolate here is very thick and rich. It is served in a tiny cup, but usually it's more then enough.
The owners are super nice, and the service is great. -
Review from Tammy M.
Philadelphia, PA
9/15/2011
I love Sazon, it's a nice intimate place, good for a date or a group of friends. They have gluten free and vegan options and a hot chocolate menu. I always leave feeling full, and the prices seem pretty reasonable. Also, it's family run (husband and wife), which is cool. She is from Venezuela and is really nice.
Sometimes they can be a little slow with taking your order, but that hasn't really bothered me because I'm never in a rush when I go, and the atmosphere is so calm. I usually get the La Selva, which is an arrepa with lots of vegetables, with their guacamole-like sauce instead of the pesto (making it vegan). It's delicious. And one of my friends really enjoys the Hamburguesa. I also really like the Mango juice.
Just a warning, they stopped taking debit cards, which ended up being a problem last time we went. -
Review from Bernadette F.
Philadelphia, PA
Excellent authentic cuisine. If you like a little spice def order hot sauce. Snapper was incredible and highly flavor able without being heavy. I hear one of their specialities is hot chocolate. Didn't have a chance to try it, but based on the homemade truffles it would most likely be amazing. BYOB.
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Review from Jamie M.
Trenton, NJ
11/2/2011
We had a living social deal for this place so we decided to check it out on a Tuesday night. Our first impressions: the neighborhood is shady but the restaurant was very nicely decorated and appeared very clean. We had a 6:30 reservation and the place was empty...but it was a Tuesday. As the night progressed a few more people came in however, the restaurant didn't appear to attract a Venezuelan crowd, which is always the first sign of authenticity.
Now the food: OVERPRICED! For $18 there was cheap and chewy meat covered in a super sweet brown sugar glaze. The menu stated it was so cooked but it was as tough as shoe leather. It was served with a size of white rice and a few plantains. Not worth $18. The beef soup we had as an appy was good but the chicken and avocado arapa was a glorified chicken salad but mixed with guac instead of pure mayo. Even the waitress said it wasn't authentic and again...had the menu explained better what this was, we would not have ordered it.
Whenever we try something new we always ask for the most authentic and interesting dishes. When we did this the waitress recommended fried empanadas, fried taqitos, and something else that was fried on the appy list. We had to ask at least 4 or 5 questions before we got her to explain the soup which was actually decent and more authentic and interesting than an empanada.
In short, we are not going back. There was nothing special nor cost effective about this place. -
Review from Jose A.
11/20/2011
Food only 3 stars though.
This is a place that definitely benefits from the location, the decor, the spectacular service, and my idealizing little byo latin joints. The owners are a husband and wife team, she a venezuelan chef, he a 'merican chatty charmer. The decor is homey and latin-themed. The food... well I think it's kinda bland, which would be ok if the price was a bit better. That said it definitely wasn't anywhere near bad, and I like everything else so much. I just can't be too mean.
Update: Desserts are pretty ridic though! -
Review from Tom D.
Philadelphia, PA
8/7/2011
I came down here with my gal for brunch on a Saturday. The unassuming appearance on the outside opened up to a cute little restaurant that was quiet but not empty.
We sat in a booth towards the rear, and were greeted by the waitress who was working the room alone. She was attentive and efficient. We ordered our coffee drinks: I got a iced cafe con leche and she got just black coffee. I'll be honest, I was not too pleased by my coffee drink. Also, they didn't have any soy milk, which was tough since they are clearly a veg friendly place.
But they made up for it in spades when it came to the food! We ordered the plantains app and it was so tasty. They bananas were covered in cheese and delightfully sweet.
I ordered the Venezuelan Breakfast dish and it was so wonderful. It was scrambled eggs with shredded beef tossed in a red sauce with tons of fresh cilantro. True to the name, this dish was flavored with sazon seasoning. It came with an arepa which was hearty and filled with melted cheese as well as a small side of black beans. Every bite was a trip down to Caracas. I took the arepa and used it to scoop up the creamy (textured not flavored) beans. Perfect way to start the day, and definitely not something I have had anywhere else in Philly.
She got a really great looking mushroom omelette. It came with two mini arepas and a side of greens. The tiny arepas looked so cute and tasty. The tortilla was slightly overcooked causing the eggs to be slightly rubbery. However, she told me the mushrooms were tasty and I was somewhat jealous of the greens on her plate.
I want to come back for dinner, or perhaps just another arepa!Listed in: Wake up you sleepy head. Put…
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Review from C K.
Philadelphia, PA
1/3/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Fantastic food. I love the sancocho here (although it is a bit greasy) and is one of the only places I've found in Philly that does a good sancocho. the Patacon was also VERY good, and after having some of my friend's, decided that I wanted to come back and get one of my own. We also got a few of the truffles, which are AMAZING!!! Love them!!
I later came back with some other friends for hot chocolate and truffles, and the hot chocolate was DELICIOUS!!!! Tried a few more of the truffles, and yep, still love them. They were out of the churros and chocolate that day (sadness) but hopefully will be back and next time they'll have them. -
Review from Jordan S.
Philadelphia, PA
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty random location. Had some great Venezuelan food in NYC recently so was psyched that LivingSocial pointed out this Venezuelan joint in Philadelphia.
Do not be deterred by the neighborhood. Sazon is very comfy and a great place to go with friends. It had this sort of secretive vibe to it, sort of like I could take people here and be sure they never been there and it could become "our" spot sort of deal.
I shared an appetizer sampler with my date, which featured some empanadas, tequenos, and arepas. Arepas are pretty standard venezuelan fare and a great take on your everyday sandwich. Definitely have to try an arepa if you are going to ever try Venezuelan.
For my entree, I tried the Sloppy Jose. The sauce on it was fantastic and the meat was cut really well and tasted perfectly juicy.
Definitely loved it here.
They seemed to be a bit understaffed though and were a tad slow but otherwise great place. Definitely try it! -
Review from Al A.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/16/2011
Tasty sandwiches. Yummy churros and chocolate. Nice service, but sometimes loud. Crappy neighbourhood.
CASH ONLY -
Review from Liana L.
Medford, NJ
1/7/2012 2 photos
So excited I finally got to try this place. This place gives you are very welcoming feeling when you first walk in as the owner greets you and makes you feel comfortable. The interior has a lot of pictures and crafts on the wall and tables are mainly booths which are comfortable unless you have long legs. We ordered the beef stew with veggies to begin with. I don't eat beef so I just had the veggies and broth which was excellent and so tasty! For the entree I had the Pabellon vegetariano which was delish! I was impressed with the portion size as it wasn't too big. My bf got the cheesesteak sandwich was excellent as well. It has eggs inside which made him excited. We were full so we didn't get to try their famous hot chocolate or dessert. Maybe we can come back later for those. The food comes out a lil longer than expected but that's only bc you know they are preparing it fresh.
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Review from Carolyn L.
Philadelphia, PA
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here with a few friends one evening for a first time encounter with Venezuelan fare. The walls were painted a really warm yellow color, and was very cozy and welcoming. It was relatively empty, but we seemed to have just missed the party train as many of the tables were still covered in beer bottles from the previous diners (It's a BYOB establishment). It did pick up a little bit as the night went on.
The owners of the restaurant both cook and serve. The husband was very kind and helpful when deciding what to order. I got the Pernil Arepa which was very flavorful, and the cornmeal bread it was on gave it lovely texture.
After dinner comes the best part...the dessert. If you eat here and skip dessert, you should be arrested. The hot chocolate here is really something special. I just got the Clasico; it was hot chocolate perfection, the holy grail of dessert drinks. It is bittersweet, thick, and creamy. The lack of over sweetening allows you to really appreciate the complex flavor of the chocolates he uses.
I also tried the El Orgasmo (dark chocolate, peanut butter, kahlua, banana, topped with banana cream). It was good, but honestly, I wouldn't waste your money, go with the Clasico. -
Review from Rubén M.
Lower Merion, PA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Small, friendly, cash-only BYOB with excellent food. Sancocho & asado negro were excellent! Portions are reasonable and prices are a bit on the high side but worth the quality, presentation, and flavor.
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Review from Karol S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/23/2011
I was excited to try out the FIRST and ONLY venezuelan restaurant in Philly. I mean, I miss home sometimes. Compared to truly authentic Venezuelan food, I found sazon overwhelming tailored to the American taste buds. The meats were mild in flavor and spices. Even the side of black beans!! Beans should NEVER fail. Ordered the sampler---meh. Ordered the beef parilla--nothing like I expected. PARRILLA--c'mon. If you've never had one, you wouldn't know the difference. But anyone who has had parrilla in Venezuela will understand that Sazon falls short of amazing. big time. The accompanying guasacaca tasted nothing like guasacaca! The only thing that tasted like it does back home was the shredded cabbage and carrot salad.
Honestly, go to sazon for dessert/sweets:
Get the chica. You won't be disappointed.
Get a hot chocolate---SOO good.
And the tres leches wasn't bad either, but you really need to have a sweet tooth. It could do without the frosting on top.
I also thought it was OVERPRICED!! Save your money and go to Cuba Libre or Alma de Cuba! You'll get much more flavor there. Unless of course you want AREPAS and nothing else. -
Review from Sara N.
Philadelphia, PA
8/13/2011
Meh...it was ok.
not bad but not good!... Im not sure what all the hype is about.
Diner atmosphere and the food is on the bland side. Portions are decent but nothing special to go back for. -
Review from Peter G.
Devon, PA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great little spot for lunch
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Review from Marc Elliott L.
Washington, DC
6/17/2011 8 photos
My girlfriend and I ate here around April 10th (give or take two days). It was one of the best restaurant experiences we have had in a long time. The quality of the food, the friendliness of other customers, the warm and hospitable nature of the service, and the knowledge the owners have of the food all enriched our experience there.
Look at their site for the menu. We ate: tequenos sancocho de carne, asado negro, the beef/ham patacon, their highest-percentage-of-cacao hot chocolate, a chocolate truffle, and La Amazona (the cold energy drink). [We also bought some hot chocolate as well as a chocolate bar to take home to DC.] EVERYTHING was outstanding and delicious. We LOVED the food and sometimes salivate just thinking about going back to that place.
Some customers nearby happened to have brought too much beer and wine; they kept filling and refilling our glasses with their extras and insisting we drink. My girl got smashed; I was having fun, and a good time was had all around.
Judy, the owner and our server, along with her husband, Robert the chocolatier, were extremely friendly and warm to us. They definitely keep it real and are funny and great to be around. We had a fantastic time around them.
All in all, from their recommendations, to the restaurant's decor, and the friendliness of other customers, everything was excellent. And, the food was really f-ing good..
I will be posting some photos on Yelp of our experience, by the way. You can see our dishes and how much fun we were having. I even took my shoes off because I felt so comfortable there (judge me if you want).
Anyway, if you've never been here, you're sorely missing out. If you have, you're not reading this review; instead, you're trying to see if you can squeeze in both brunch AND dinner there.
You HAVE to go! Simple as that. -
Review from Quinney H.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 6/25/2011
As a former server, I often find myself subconsciously critiquing the steps of service when dining out. I am usually utterly disappointed and find myself cutting the server some slack in an attempt to salvage my dining experience. This is not the case at Sazon. The lady who owns this spot is so friendly, personable, and detail-oriented. I returned about 6 months after my first visit and not only did she remember me, she knew exactly what I ordered! I definitely felt like I was over to her house for dinner.
If you're vegetarian, I highly recommend the tofu pepiada arepa. It's so freakkin' good!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/3/2010
I moved to the Spring Garden neighborhood with slight hesitation thinking I would have an awesome… Read more »
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Review from Gina H.
Alexandria, VA
2/23/2011
Just ate at Sazon while visiting Philly from D.C. It was enough to make me want to plan another trip, asap. We had beef stew --- perfect for the cold blustery night -- and two kinds of arepas, chicken and the chicken, avocado and mayo. I agree w/ another reviewer who says the arepas are a godsend to those who don't tolerate gluten (this was my first experience eating arepas but we had them at another quite good restaurant for breakfast on the same trip and those just didn't compare). We finished with the classic cocoa, which let me tell you, will blow your socks off. It was like nothing I've ever tasted before. Be warned that it's rich, so save room. Roberto sells his special mix of south and central American chocolates so you can try to replicate the experience at home.
On top of the great food and the cosy, laid back ambiance are the owners --- not only are they fine chefs but they're friendly and obviously very passionate about what they do and enthusiastic about sharing that passion with their customers. I wish I lived closer so that I could make Sazon a regular event, but I'll be back for sure. -
Review from Ellis M.
Philadelphia, PA
12/16/2011
I really enjoyed this place. A visiting friend who has celiac's found it on her iphone. Very colorful and cute inside with handmade ceramic dishes. Plenty of gluten free options for my friend and vegetarian dishes easily adapted to vegan me. Meat eaters were equally happy. Portions are big. The hot chocolate is not to be missed. Only downside: sorta overpriced, but I'd definitely go again.
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Review from Jamie S.
Sazon specializes in arepas, which are made with corn and are therefore perfect for the gluten phobic. When ordering, make sure to let the waiter know of your dietary restrictions and whatever you order will be prepared on separate cooking surfaces.
The arepas came out split down the middle and stuffed with your chosen fillings. The arepas themselves seemed like they lacked a bit of fat or butter. The fillings, no matter which kind, far overshadow the corm shells they come in. The pernil filling ($9) was really juicy and the meat was highlighted by the orange juice marinate.The chicken and avocado arepa we ordered surprised by being served cold, basically a refined guacamole- chicken salad ($7.50). Cali-Venezuelan fusion could be the next big thing? Calizuelan?
I like that Sazon has exciting options for gluten free diners, I like that the dishes are clean and flavors balanced, but the prices are really steep for the size and when you know how much these dishes normally go for.Listed in: Philly Lunch: Under $10
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Review from Diana C.
Philadelphia, PA
4/18/2011 5 photos
My first visit to Sazon was with a large group of gluten-free diners, and the owners were very accomodating. For a fixed price, we were able to try a number of dishes family style, rather than ordering 12+ separate dishes.
Our meal included the following dishes:
Domino arepitas (appetizer-sized portions of the Domino arepa - black beans and white cheese in a corn patty)
Ensalada Mixta - their house salad
Fried sweet plantains - starchy and sweet
Arroz con pollo
Asado Negro (by far the best dish that night! beef slow roasted in brown sugar can and garlic - it melted in my mouth and everyone at the table kept going back for more)
Pabellon Vegetariano (grilled tofu with portabella mushrooms, tomato sala, and served with brown rice and black beans)
I would go back for the Asado Negro alone! There's another dish that I have yet to try that sounds similar to one of my favorite Filipino dishes, Bistek Encebollado.
Sazon is also well-known for their hot chocolate concoctions. The owner takes pride in combining ingredients for any kind of chocolate craving you could imagine. This drinking chocolate is not for the faint of heart - I actually felt slightly hyper after drinking the Calabaza King (creamy chocolate with fresh pumpkin, pecan, nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon)...it was like drinking a chocolate pumpkin pie. The El Orgasmo is like a peanut butter cup with a hint of banana. When the weather permits (usually when it's colder outside) fresh chocolate truffles are also available.
Reasonable prices, nice ambiance, and friendly owners. Definitely worth checking out. -
Review from Matthew L.
Philadelphia, PA
12/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful flavorful food with a great home-cooked feel. 4.5 stars.
SANCOCHO DE CARNE. Order it for happiness. Stephanie Y explains what it is. I'll just say it's fantastic. Start with either the tiger shrimp or Tequenos - somewhat like cheese sticks but homemade and way better. They offer a nice assortment of freshly made juices, chocolate concoctions, and desserts to complement or finish the meal. Everything is made fresh and the owners Bob and Judy are very personable. Even when the restaurant is busy, they make time to visit each table and ensure you're having a good time.
The presentation of each dish is nice and while the prices are a bit high, the flavor of each dish is worth the money. Décor is simple but pleasant. The only downside for me is that random additions - sliced avocado, hot sauce, etc. - tend to be fairly expensive.
Super tasty food. Excellent service. Cocoa flavored goodness. A touch pricey but worth it.
Cheers. -
Review from Ted S.
Philadelphia, PA
11/28/2011
Best place in Philly to get arepas!
