We were in Novato looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon Cocina Antigua online. This restaurant specializes in Guatemalan cuisine, and we were eager to try it.
Located in the Nave Shopping Center Annex, the restaurant was filled with a young crowd when we arrived. The dining area, though small, was clean and well-organized. A friendly hostess greeted and seated us. She patiently explained the dishes, highlighted the day's specials, and even offered to prepare a couple of Guatemalan dishes we were interested in, even though they weren't on the menu.
We opted for a selection of small plates to sample various dishes. The dishes arrived, a couple with a vibrant display of colors and textures. While the presentation was inviting, the overall flavor profile lacked the punch I expected in Guatemalan food. It leaned more towards bland, leaving me wanting more complexity or heat. However, the Pork Pupusas and Plantanos stood out for their flavor and texture.
Wheelchair accessibility: This restaurant is wheelchair accessible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Pupusas, Street Tacos
Mi Bella Guatemala
The food is very good, but with respect to the amount they give, they fall quite short and leave a lot to be desired. If they want to gain customers, they must be fair because I have bought tacos and they almost don't bring any meat, just pure cabbage.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Gerson Olmedo
Place is good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rob Gaunt
This was some of the best food I've had in a while - if I lived nearby I'd come here all the time. My favorite dish was the "Garnachas" which is something I'd never had before - they were like mini street tacos made with small fried (but still soft) tortillas. We got a second order to take home even though we were already stuffed. The fried plantain and beans, and the Plate Antigua were also excellent. Everyone who worked there was very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carol Rojas
Burnt fried chicken. Grenache excess mayonnaise. And they don't give tanning for the pupusas as they should be. .......
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Izzy H
Ordered #13 Plate Antigua for $26.99. The plate has steak, shrimp, chicken, longaiza, beans, rice, avocado, and salsa. Got 3 pieces of tortillas, 3 pieces of shrimp, 1 longaiza, a thin slice of chicken, and a big slice of bistek/steak. Everything tasted really good. The shrimp, chicken, and beans were flavorful. My husband and I shared this meal, and we ended up ordering extra tortillas. My son ordered Al Pastor, and he said it was really good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Al Pastor
Eric Tessin
Love this place. Ive had 6 different things on the menu and i loved all of them, especially the beef mole and the papusas. Tastes like food someones mother would make at their home. Probably my favorite restaraunt in novato right now. Couldnt recommend it enough.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Burritos, Beef Stew
Justin Borntraeger
I feel badly giving a poor review of a restaurant with good food…but I just ate lunch here and from the time I ordered to the time I received my tamales was 45 minutes. It seemed they were prioritizing phone and takeout orders.
Also, it would’ve been easy to bring out my chips and guacamole order right away, but it came out nearly 50 minutes after I ordered everything, so a few minutes after my main dish. Probably a simple mistake, but none of this is a good sign of how they value a customer’s time.
The food was quite good and the service was friendly, but I’ve never waited this long for a lunch order.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Susana Estrada
The worst food and service in a restaurant. I would 10 times rather go to Lucerito in San Rafael than pay $65 at a restaurant that serves meat that tastes like dry, not pure nerve, meat flavor. ?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Cherraco Chapin Carne Azada
Bryan Rosales
They took a long time and there weren't many people. They charged me for an extra dish which I have no idea about because they added it to the total. The shepherd's burrito didn't have any meat. First experience there and the last. But you can go confirm it on your own.
Excellent food, generous portions, drinks, and friendly service....we ordered a variety of pupusas and a Guatemalan chicken tamale along with jamaica..... you've got to try it, you won't be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
Michael Pedersen
5/10/24 Two burritos and one horchata, $42, before tips!! Come on, this isn’t a downtown hotspot. The food wasn’t made fresh and very bland. For some reason they didn’t ask for a tip, and didn’t get any. Not impressed.Had the same but fresh at MiPueblo this week, $29, and $35 with tips.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Angel Bustamante
2 weeks ago I bought my lunch at this place and the food was completely cold, as if they had taken it out of the refrigerator, I gave them one more chance and today they charged me $21.00 for 4 tacos, not even including the taxes does it reach that price they charged me 5 extra dollars, be careful in this place with what they charge you
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Victoria D
You would miss this gem if you weren't looking for it. Glad we found this place!The pupusa was so yummy and fresh with the perfect amount of salad and salsaThe chicken quesadilla was huge! And so fillingThe horchata was nice and flavorfulThe passion fruit drink was also delicious with the little crunchy bitsWhile we waited for our food we explored their shop and got some goodiesExcited to go back and try more things!
A Glimpse into Guatemalan Cuisine
We were in Novato looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon Cocina Antigua online. This restaurant specializes in Guatemalan cuisine, and we were eager to try it.
Located in the Nave Shopping Center Annex, the restaurant was filled with a young crowd when we arrived. The dining area, though small, was clean and well-organized. A friendly hostess greeted and seated us. She patiently explained the dishes, highlighted the day's specials, and even offered to prepare a couple of Guatemalan dishes we were interested in, even though they weren't on the menu.
We opted for a selection of small plates to sample various dishes. The dishes arrived, a couple with a vibrant display of colors and textures. While the presentation was inviting, the overall flavor profile lacked the punch I expected in Guatemalan food. It leaned more towards bland, leaving me wanting more complexity or heat. However, the Pork Pupusas and Plantanos stood out for their flavor and texture.
Wheelchair accessibility: This restaurant is wheelchair accessible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortillas, Pupusas, Street Tacos
The food is very good, but with respect to the amount they give, they fall quite short and leave a lot to be desired. If they want to gain customers, they must be fair because I have bought tacos and they almost don't bring any meat, just pure cabbage.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Place is good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was some of the best food I've had in a while - if I lived nearby I'd come here all the time. My favorite dish was the "Garnachas" which is something I'd never had before - they were like mini street tacos made with small fried (but still soft) tortillas. We got a second order to take home even though we were already stuffed. The fried plantain and beans, and the Plate Antigua were also excellent. Everyone who worked there was very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Burnt fried chicken. Grenache excess mayonnaise. And they don't give tanning for the pupusas as they should be. .......
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Ordered #13 Plate Antigua for $26.99. The plate has steak, shrimp, chicken, longaiza, beans, rice, avocado, and salsa. Got 3 pieces of tortillas, 3 pieces of shrimp, 1 longaiza, a thin slice of chicken, and a big slice of bistek/steak. Everything tasted really good. The shrimp, chicken, and beans were flavorful. My husband and I shared this meal, and we ended up ordering extra tortillas. My son ordered Al Pastor, and he said it was really good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Al Pastor
Love this place. Ive had 6 different things on the menu and i loved all of them, especially the beef mole and the papusas. Tastes like food someones mother would make at their home. Probably my favorite restaraunt in novato right now. Couldnt recommend it enough.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Burritos, Beef Stew
I feel badly giving a poor review of a restaurant with good food…but I just ate lunch here and from the time I ordered to the time I received my tamales was 45 minutes. It seemed they were prioritizing phone and takeout orders.
Also, it would’ve been easy to bring out my chips and guacamole order right away, but it came out nearly 50 minutes after I ordered everything, so a few minutes after my main dish. Probably a simple mistake, but none of this is a good sign of how they value a customer’s time.
The food was quite good and the service was friendly, but I’ve never waited this long for a lunch order.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
The worst food and service in a restaurant. I would 10 times rather go to Lucerito in San Rafael than pay $65 at a restaurant that serves meat that tastes like dry, not pure nerve, meat flavor. ?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Cherraco Chapin Carne Azada
They took a long time and there weren't many people.
They charged me for an extra dish which I have no idea about because they added it to the total.
The shepherd's burrito didn't have any meat.
First experience there and the last.
But you can go confirm it on your own.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent food ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Excellent food, generous portions, drinks, and friendly service....we ordered a variety of pupusas and a Guatemalan chicken tamale along with jamaica..... you've got to try it, you won't be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
5/10/24 Two burritos and one horchata, $42, before tips!! Come on, this isn’t a downtown hotspot. The food wasn’t made fresh and very bland. For some reason they didn’t ask for a tip, and didn’t get any. Not impressed.Had the same but fresh at MiPueblo this week, $29, and $35 with tips.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
2 weeks ago I bought my lunch at this place and the food was completely cold, as if they had taken it out of the refrigerator, I gave them one more chance and today they charged me $21.00 for 4 tacos, not even including the taxes does it reach that price they charged me 5 extra dollars, be careful in this place with what they charge you
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
You would miss this gem if you weren't looking for it. Glad we found this place!The pupusa was so yummy and fresh with the perfect amount of salad and salsaThe chicken quesadilla was huge! And so fillingThe horchata was nice and flavorfulThe passion fruit drink was also delicious with the little crunchy bitsWhile we waited for our food we explored their shop and got some goodiesExcited to go back and try more things!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
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