Pancho

Food

• Arepa of the Day (cheese and pulled pork)
• Taco Tinga de Pollo
• Pabellon Criollo

The Good

The Arepa of the Day, filled with cheese and pulled pork, was undoubtedly the best thing we ate. It shares a similar base with the taco filling, though it’s less spicy and less sweet, and a good deal more savoury. The arepa was toasted hot, giving it a crisp outer, while inside the cheese was generous and melty. Delicious, and the pick of the day.

Our Taco Tinga de Pollo made for a good start. The portion was generous and the soft tortilla was fluffy and fresh. The shredded chicken was very tender and juicy, with creamy sour cream and crisp lettuce providing a welcome contrast. The sauce was savoury with a slight kick.

The Mediocre

The Pabellon Criollo rice bowl was decent, with great flavours throughout. The beans were earthy and nutty, and the pulled beef was juicy though slightly tough. The grilled plantain was nicely charred and sweet, and went well with the arepa. The catch was the portion size, which felt too small for $28.

The Bad

Nothing.

The Verdict

Pancho served up a mostly satisfying Latin American feed, with the cheese and pulled pork arepa taking out the top spot and the tacos not far behind. The pabellon criollo had plenty of flavour but left us wanting more for the price. If you go, start with the arepa.

Would Penguin Eat Again?

Yes, mainly for the arepa. We’d order the tacos again too, but we’d think twice about the pabellon criollo at that price.

Penguin Rates