Latino restaurants to try during Hispanic Heritage Month
From El Salvadoran to Cuban cuisine, some of the best restaurants are in the local Silver Spring area
Hispanic Heritage Month has finally arrived. The month is celebrated every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in commemoration of the culture, contributions, and history of Latinos in the United States. Marked with festivals, cultural activities, and more, events during this month can be found even in the Silver Spring area.
How can one participate? Well, a great way to start is by supporting local Latino restaurants. By doing so, you’re not only immersing yourself in a different type of cuisine but also supporting many of the family-run businesses in the area. So, here is a short list of three of the best places to try in the Silver Spring area, accompanied by stories of how they got started along with three honorable mentions. Enjoy!
Love and Flour Bakery
Love and Flour Bakery's vibrant storefront. Photo courtesy of Beck Rowe.
The bell chimes with the sound of cheerful Spanish pop in the background. The pink walls are lined with positive sayings and stickers. The smell of freshly baked conchas and bread rolls wafts in the light air. This is what you will find upon entering Love and Flour Bakery in Silver Spring.
As the founder of the 1-year-old bakery and restaurant, Vanessa Gómez says she is proud of how the restaurant has become a place of joy and welcome. “My favorite part is just seeing the people’s faces,” she says. “Every day I wake up to people asking for a coffee or maybe a pastry, and I love seeing their expressions.”
Growing up in El Salvador, Gómez was always an ambitious child. “I entered school when I was three,” she says. “I went to high school and then worked at the General Hospital of Santa Rosa for a little. But the problems in El Salvador didn’t allow me to pursue what I wanted. So, I decided to immigrate.”
Gómez was also inspired by her father’s shoe store back home. “My parents had a shoe store for more than 30 years,” she says. “I studied psychology in El Salvador and I wanted to be a psychologist, but when I came to the United States I decided I wanted to open a business. And since opening a shoe store just didn’t make sense, I decided I would try baking.”
Gómez began work in the U.S. at – you guessed it – a bakery. This is where she says she connected her knowledge of psychology and what makes people tick to her love for baking. “I like to learn about what people like, about what makes them happy,” she says. “I moved up the ranks at my job, and then I also started working at CAVA.”
From CAVA, the healthy fast-casual restaurant, Gómez learned how to make her food with fresher ingredients. This is evident today in her natural use of ingredients such as agave, papaya, and cucumber in her specialty drinks.
Love and Flour Bakery offers a wide variety of options, from traditional Salvadoran breakfasts and lunches to personalized cakes. Gómez wants customers to know that they’re welcome anytime. “This place is for everyone: seniors, adults, and kids. I want everyone to know that we are here to make you happy.”
Gómez’s recommended dish: Traditional Salvadoran baleadas, folded flour tortillas filled with beans, crema, and more
Love and Flour Bakery is located at 8202 Piney Branch Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910. They are open Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Their menu can be found on their website at https://www.loveandflourmd.com/.
El Sapo Cuban Social Club
El Sapo Cuban Social Club's interior is always festively decorated. Photo courtesy of Beck Rowe.
It can be a rainy day, but the vibrant lights of El Sapo Cuban Social Club will still be as bright as ever. The Cuban salsa still blasts and the pans of beef still sizzle. Gabriella Garcia, one of the buzzing restaurant’s many hostesses, says that she loves this energy. “I really like to socialize with people,” she says. “And this place gives me that opportunity.”
Originally from Colombia, Garcia was drawn to El Sapo Cuban Social Club because of its bright lights and Latin flavor. “Why not join a place with Latin vibes?” she says. “It feels like Miami here, and we all work together like a family to make the environment ready for the customers.”
Led by Head-Chef Raynold Mendizábal, the bustling bar and restaurant opened in 2018 after Mendizábal decided to create a restaurant in memory of his childhood in Cuba. Serving a variety of fusion and traditional Cuban dishes, El Sapo is known for its mojitos (only for adults 21 and older) and steaks.
Lindsay, a first-time customer attending the restaurant for a party, noted that the atmosphere was lively even despite the weather. “It’s a cool vibe here,” she says. “The drinks and appetizers were great and the management has been really nice to work with.”
If you’re looking for a Latin spot that will cheer you up even in the midst of school, work, or weather, then there are few better choices than El Sapo Cuban Social Club.
Garcia’s recommended dish: Churrasco, a grilled hanger steak with Cuban spices
El Sapo Cuban Social Club is located at 8455 Wayne Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910. They are open Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Their menu can be found on their website at https://elsaporestaurant.com/.
Arepas Pues Restaurant
Arepas Pues' storefront strikes the onlooker with colorful window designs. Photo courtesy of Beck Rowe.
This place is a local hidden gem. Squeezed between a sushi restaurant and an eye doctor’s office near the corner of Fenton Street and Colesville Road, Arepas Pues is easy to miss, despite the bright sign. But once you enter, you’ll see a whole different world. Reggaeton blasts and fryers churn away. There’s always at least one family enjoying their food at one of the large tables in the back. The energy is both calming and electric.
Carolina, a cashier who has been working for Arepas Pues for two years, says she loves that energy. “I like working with my co-workers and helping people out,” she says. Carolina is originally from Venezuela and began working at Arepas Pues because of her connection to the cuisine. “They serve some typical Venezuelan dishes here, which I like,” she says. “My sister was really the one who brought me here, though.”
Founded in 2016 by Nicolas Arcilla and now under the ownership of Rodrigo Encinales, the restaurant specializes in Colombian and Venezuelan delicacies – the most important of which is the arepa. Made from cornflour and stuffed with a variety of proteins, the arepa is a very popular snack in both Colombia and Venezuela.
Carlos, a recurring customer and Colombian native, says that his search for an authentic Colombian restaurant in his area ended when he found Arepas Pues. “I was looking around, and my friends recommended this place to me,” he says. “And ever since, I’ve been going about once a week.”
Although it’s small, Arepas Pues packs a punch with its atmosphere, flavor, and service. Surely, it deserves more recognition.
Carlos’ recommendation: Bandeja paisa, an assorted plate including chicharrón, an arepa, red beans, and more
Arepas Pues is located at 8555 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910. They are open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Their menu can be found on their website at https://arepas-pues.com/.
Honorable mentions
El Aguila Restaurant: Lively Tex-Mex and Salvadoran cuisine with family-friendly options. Located at 7926 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Menu located at: https://www.elaguilarestaurant.com/
Cielo Rojo Restaurant: High-end Mexican tacos and drinks with vegan options. Located at 7211 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Menu located at: https://www.cielo-rojo.com/.
Cocineros Restaurant: Diverse menu with happy hours and catering. Located at 3513 East-West Hwy West, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Menu located at: https://www.cocinerosmd.com/.
To sum it all up
All of these restaurants are located within 10 to 20 minutes of Blair and they represent a diverse range of Hispanic options in the area. I encourage you to try these places – and the many more that are not mentioned on this list – because in doing so you will get to know the people, stories, and experiences that make Hispanic Heritage Month special. ¡Buen provecho!
Tags: Hispanic Heritage Month Food
Joe Newman. Hi, I'm Joe Newman. I'm a junior here at Blair and this is my first year on SCO. I play tennis, soccer, and I run cross-country. I'm also really into religion and Christianity and I love having deep discussions with others. Oh, y no se … More »
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