Amara Chocolate & Coffee

55 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA

★★★★★4.7(1,580 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

Amara Chocolate & Coffee is a Venezuelan café in Pasadena that transforms breakfast into something genuinely special, blending meticulously crafted coffee with authentic dishes like arepas and cachapas that keep regulars coming back within days. The laid-back, unhurried atmosphere paired with genuinely knowledgeable staff creates the perfect setting whether you're grabbing a quick coffee or settling in with churros and a spicy specialty drink. It's the kind of neighborhood spot where both the food and beverage are executed with real care, making it feel less like a transaction and more like being welcomed into someone's morning ritual.

What to expect

Slow sitOutdoor seatingFull breakfastPastriesSpecialty drinksQuick grabMeetingsTraditional drinksLight food

Google Reviews

Grant Froob
★★★★★2 months ago

This place is more than deserving of its stellar reputation. Everything about the experience was exceptional from the food, to the coffee, and the service. Very kind, knowledgeable,and hospitable employees. A true gem and one of one kind of place. My croissant sandwich was delightfully buttery and fresh, the bacon was flavorful and crispy, and the eggs were whipped up to perfection. The latte is the Vanilla Panelon, which is used with real vanilla and an inhouse made panelon syrup. The ambience was very relaxing too. Highly recommend

Lauren Mendoza
★★★★★3 months ago

the churros and the reina & gouda arepa were phenomenal! the portion size of the arepa was a bit small in my opinion but filling nonetheless. quick service and nice laid back atmosphere with outdoor seating. churros were nice and crispy.

Mikhail Glazyrin
★★★★★4 months ago

The ideal place for quality and fast breakfast with perfectly made Venezuelan cuisine. We’ve had Meat & Plantains Cachapa with pork and el Criollo plate with chicken. Everything was authentic and delicious- probably best Venezuelan place across CA and Utah which we tried. Friendly and fast service! Maybe a little bit expensive, but well worth it!

Anna Limarenko
★★★★★4 months ago

Wonderful food and friendly service. We came here for the 2 time within a week just because this is such a great breakfast place. Also, they have very good coffee with some cool options like spicy coffee or dulce de leche coffee.

Erick Garcia
★★★★★7 months ago

Amara’s Cafe is a Venezuelan cafe that makes mornings feel special. I stopped by around 8 a.m. and immediately loved the calm, relaxed atmosphere with no crowds and no wait. It was the perfect time to enjoy breakfast with good coffee. I ordered the Galipan cachapa, a traditional Venezuelan dish that is basically a sweet corn pancake cooked until golden and folded over with salty cheese. The plate came with flavorful black beans, fluffy scrambled eggs, tangy sour cream, a bright green salsa, and tender shredded meat. It was a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and creamy in every bite. For a seasonal touch, I had the pumpkin latte which was smooth, spiced just right, and not too sweet. As an added surprise, they brought out a complimentary plate of churros with chocolate. The churros were crisp and warm and the chocolate sauce was rich and glossy, a perfect way to end the meal. The service was just as good as the food. The cashier was welcoming and gave excellent recommendations that made it easy to choose dishes worth trying. Overall Amara’s Cafe delivers authentic Venezuelan flavors with a relaxed modern cafe setting. The food is thoughtful, the service is warm, and the morning ambiance is calm and inviting. It is definitely a place worth visiting again.

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