HHJ Eats: Sabor Latino Venezuelan Restaurant

4.75/5

WARNER ROBINS — Sabor Latino, one of the city’s newest restaurants, is a mini-mecca of Venezuelan cuisine at 1996 Watson Boulevard. 

Ever since moving to the International City, I’ve wanted to try different flavors and cuisines. With the maiden name Romero and a father who is fully Hispanic, my brother and I grew up on Mexican food. My dad makes the best enchiladas and sopapillas I’ve ever had. I need to ask him for his recipe.

Considering my tastes, this place was a no-brainer for dinner one night.

Unfortunately, this place came with a disclaimer: my husband had already been to Sabor Latino for lunch and wasn’t a fan. He told me the food was good, but he had to wait, and it came out right at the end of his lunch hour.

While I certainly trust his judgment, I couldn’t pass judgment of my own without trying it. It was late in the day, and we didn’t feel like going out, so I ordered online and picked it up for us.

The online ordering process was straightforward and user-friendly. The website was easy to navigate, and the menu was well-organized with clear descriptions of each dish. The longest part for me was deciding what to get from the variety on the menu. We eventually settled on the exact thing: an appetizer of tequeños, fried cheese sticks, and arepas. We both got Carne Mechado con Queso, shredded beef and cheese.

The outside looks very much like the American Deli that used to stand there, but once you step inside, it is night and day. The best way I could describe it is lively. 

The atmosphere was buzzing with energy. A neon sign brightly lit up the room, and loud music played through the speakers. I caught myself dancing at the counter while picking up the order. Eating in would definitely be fun.

The cashiers helping me were outgoing and friendly, and my order was much quicker, taking only about five minutes to get to me. Past the registers, I could see straight into the kitchen, where the chefs were chatting and laughing while cooking. They looked like they were having a great time.

And it showed in the food. As a fan of mozzarella sticks, I was intrigued by their tequeños and they did not disappoint. The cheese was perfectly stretchy, with a delightful flavor, and the breading was soft and pillowy, with a subtle sweetness that complemented the cheese perfectly.

But nothing could prepare me for how delicious the arepa was. I tried a little bit of the bread surrounding it first. It tasted like a tortilla but with the consistency of cornbread, which makes sense. My research found that the bread is typically made with ground cornmeal.

Once I tasted everything together, I was over the moon. Like Orleans, I was worried about spice. Chalk it up to my dad turning up the heat on some of the dishes he made, especially if it involves green chiles. 

But this beef was seasoned perfectly. It had a minimal kick, but it was more flavorful and savory.

I regret that my hometown doesn’t have a Venezuelan restaurant, and I honestly can’t believe I’ve never tried this before. And it’s pretty affordable, too. The prices are reasonable, and the portion sizes are generous. For my husband and me, it was around $45 for our entrees, appetizer, two drinks and tip, which I felt was a great value for the quality of the food and the overall experience. 

The only thing I docked points for was my husband’s prior experience, but not too much. I honestly believe it may have just been a symptom of a lunch rush, which I’m sure has affected every restaurant, especially when they’re new and everybody is trying them. 

In my case, Sabor Latino gained a fan. I will certainly be back to try more of the menu. I for sure will see myself going back for another arepa.