Best non-Mexican Latin American restaurant
Pura Vida was the clear winner among readers and the AJC's international dining specialist. (ADRIENNE HARRIS/special)
1. Pure Vida
Readers love chef Hector Santiago and Pura Vida, with one reader calling it the most creative food in Atlanta.
2. Havana Grill
3. Tierra
4. Papi’s
5. Las Palmeras
1) Pura Vida, Virginia Highland
The AJC’s dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Pura Vida is the easy top choice for this category. Chef Hector Santiago and his Virginia Highland restaurant has come a long way over the years with a stint on Bravo’s Top Chef for Santiago to send the restaurant’s evolution into overdrive. The attached sandwich shop Super Pan and El Burro Pollo, the weekend-only burrito store in the same space, offer some of the best intown dining options for around a $10 price tag.”
2) Las Brasas
3) Las Palmeras
5) Havana Grill
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110 comments Add your comment
Doc
November 21st, 2011
7:07 pm
HAVANA!
Jadzia
November 21st, 2011
11:49 pm
Cuban Diner in Marietta has great Cuban food, owned & cooked by Cubans. Kiosco, also in Marietta, has great Colombian food, owned & cooked by Colombians.
Pura Vida and Tierra are indeed excellent hispanic restaurants. However they are, for Atlanta, fine dining, not places delivering home-style cooked meals.
Bill
November 22nd, 2011
12:33 am
The real best is this Chilean enterprise. The BEST empanadas. Not to mention humitas, pastel de choclo, and pan amasado.
http://www.empanadaschilenasenatlanta.com/
midtownfoodie
November 22nd, 2011
2:10 am
Tierra – Midtown Fave!! Wasn’t it the AJC Restaurant of the year a few years ago?
Mark
November 22nd, 2011
8:16 am
Kiosco on the Marietta Square is the best Colombian food around. There used to be one other off of Pleasant Hill, but it shut down.
Tito El Bambino
November 22nd, 2011
8:16 am
Casa Vieja y La Casona (Colombian cuisine); Derek’s in Canton Road (Dominican); Pura Vida
greg
November 22nd, 2011
8:31 am
Dulce Maria’s Kitchen, Covington, GA
Tired
November 22nd, 2011
8:43 am
For casual, Las Palmeras. For special occasion, Tierra. It’s absolutely exquisite.
Atlanta Native
November 22nd, 2011
9:03 am
Palomilla’s in Norcross
Pura Vida
Rincon Latina
Steve
November 22nd, 2011
9:07 am
Mi pilon!
Southwest ATL
November 22nd, 2011
9:10 am
Tierra.
Yolanda Rodriguez
November 22nd, 2011
9:40 am
MI Pilon
5705 Buford Hwy. NW, Norcross, GA, 30071
(770) 797-2924
BobbyH
November 22nd, 2011
9:43 am
Machu Picchu Peruvian Restaurant on Buford Highway in the Northeast Plaza. Absolutely wonderful.
Paige
November 22nd, 2011
9:49 am
Las Brasas in Decatur! Best rotisserie chicken ever!
Ken
November 22nd, 2011
9:52 am
Natarica on Buford Highway is great Venezuelan food. Hit’s the spot. Arepas are pretty good. I’ve had better in Florida, but no much to choose from here in ATL.
John
November 22nd, 2011
9:58 am
Palomilla’s Cuban Grill House in Norcross and Johns Creek
Vince
November 22nd, 2011
9:59 am
There are way too many great Latin restaurants in Gwinnett to even start naming them. Papi’s in Lawrenceville is very good. For everyone naming intown trendy spots…..get outside your comfort zone and try something authentic. It’s okay to go outside the perimeter.
Roofita
November 22nd, 2011
10:11 am
My favorites:
Cuban Food – Papi’s ( all that I tried it’s good)
Pupusas (El Salvador) – Panaderia Elizabeth (It’s a bakery that serves central america food and sells the best pupusas ever) located at 5050 jimmy carter norcross.
Pollo Tropical – Latin Food
Puertorican food – La garita bistro 2785 cruse road lawrenceville. 100 % authentic
My favorites are located in Gwinnett for now but always trying good food when I don’t cook it at home.
Had tried Pampas, but my husband as Argentinean doesn’t agree to pay the price.
Need to try Tierra.
Christy
November 22nd, 2011
10:14 am
Offering more love for Cuban Diner in Marietta. Great food and fantastic service.
Phil
November 22nd, 2011
10:22 am
Las Palmeras, without a doubt!
Edward
November 22nd, 2011
10:24 am
Vince, if you live outside of town, by all means support your local restaurants. However, for those of use who do live in town, it is unrealistic to expect us to drive 30-40 miles each way just for a meal. I can hop on the MARTA train and be enjoying some great Las Brasas chicken in 30 minutes without having to worry about traffic or parking.
chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
Moe’s
MWoods
November 22nd, 2011
10:59 am
Cuban-Mambo’s Cafe on Haynes Bridge in Alpharetta. The “Miami” sandwich is fantastic
Steve
November 22nd, 2011
11:02 am
Havanna is still great after all these years and recovering from the fire and moving! Nice folks, great food!
WarDogDaddy
November 22nd, 2011
11:05 am
Columbian Patacon Pisao in Norcross, Jimmy Carter. Sabor de Inca in Duluth, Pleasant Hill
Road
Steve
November 22nd, 2011
11:08 am
Any of the Papi’s Cuban Resturants. Kennesaw, Lawrenceville or Midtown. All very good. The best Cuban sandwich that I have ever tasted and that includes some from the heart of Little Havana in Miami.
Benj
November 22nd, 2011
11:09 am
Byron, for awesome Colombian food, go to Kiosco in the Marietta Square. Though you’ll have to wait for its imminent reopening after a fire forced its closure the last few months.
Elvis Prez
November 22nd, 2011
11:11 am
Papi’s, and for more upscale Tierra
Katz P Ajamas
November 22nd, 2011
11:12 am
Can’t find cuy in ATL. No problem in NYC.
Fidel
November 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
Salsa Havana on Howell Mill.
Joy
November 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
I agree…it’s Papi’s in Lawrenceville.!
ANA D
November 22nd, 2011
11:25 am
Mojitos in downtown Norcross.. great food! and entertainment the owners are musicians , so much fun… tiny place, get there early or you will be standing outside! PS.. next door you will find an Art Gallery featuring Cuban artist!
Jon
November 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
Unquestionably Palomilla’s in Norcross. This is the best Cuban I’ve found outside of South Florida.
BIGPIGGY
November 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
..Yo quero TACO BELL !!!…ALL OVER ATLANTA !!!
RK
November 22nd, 2011
11:59 am
Nescio quis de Latinis popinae.
Andy
November 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Tierra, hands down. Been enjoying changing, fresh menu since the day Tierra opened 12 years ago. Amazing flavor combinations. And, did anyone mention the tres leches cake or the homemade lime sorbet?
J
November 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm
Fudego de mundo in the Prada. Awesome you wont be disapointed in quality or price.
Cris
November 22nd, 2011
12:48 pm
Columbian – Presto (Marietta on Roswell Road)
Brazilian – Sabor do Brazil (Marietta on Delk Road) or Brasilian Bakery (Marietta on Powers Ferry Rd)
Cuban – Cuban Dinner (Marietta on Roswell Road)
Javier Boffill
November 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
The ONE AND ONLY “Mojito’s Cuban-American Bistro” in Old Norcross, GA is the best Cuban food I’ve had. I am Cuban and I know what real Cuban food is and Mojitos can do it there. The flan that they have there is out of this world. Please try it out!
A loyal customer,
Javier Boffill
Tomcombv
November 22nd, 2011
3:09 pm
Tierra on Piedmont.
ricky ricardo
November 22nd, 2011
5:01 pm
hey lucy..how about babba lou’s
loki44
November 22nd, 2011
5:03 pm
La Casona, just off Buford Hwy. near 285. (Colombian)
RL
November 22nd, 2011
10:36 pm
Las Brasas in Decatur
Olivia
November 22nd, 2011
10:40 pm
Tierra!
David Harris
November 22nd, 2011
11:33 pm
Tierra near Ansley Park in midtown is one of the most delightful restaurant of any cuisine.
Alex H
November 23rd, 2011
1:27 am
Las Arepas de Julia, in lilburn over by the Walmart on 29. The people are always friendly and be sure to get the Arepa Paisa filled with beans, cheese, guacamole, shreaded beef, and chicharrones. Absolutely delicious.
cindy
November 23rd, 2011
1:58 am
tierra has been serving delicious combinations of latin flavors – classics, like their tres leches cake, or original takes, such as the mole lasagna – and doing it consistently for years. there isn’t room to mention the great dishes; they change quarterly so your favorites come back around, augmented by whatever new delight they’ve found over the year.
latinlover
November 23rd, 2011
2:00 am
love pura vida. love super pan. love chef hector. some of the hardest-working people and most creative food in atl, not just latin food.
latin[food]lover
November 23rd, 2011
2:01 am
love pura vida. love super pan. love hector santiago. some of the hardest-working people and most creative food in atl, not just latin food.
Christy Rutherford
November 23rd, 2011
6:18 am
Really? Tierra by far! If you’ve not been there you are truly missing out. Wonderful food, great atmosphere and the owners/chefs are incredible! I agree with the post above – a hidden jewel in Atlanta.