Fauna Latin Flavor — Restaurant in Fairfax

I visited Fauna Latin Flavor for the first time early last month. And since then, all I can think about is going back again! The empanadas are to die for! Some of the best I’ve ever had! Everybody is always on the lookout for that hole in the wall, hidden gem, Mom and Pop restaurant. Well look no further Fauna Latin Flavor IS that local spot you’ve been looking for.

The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and cozy. Just right. Whereas the restaurant that was here previously served Mexican and Tex-Mex fare, Fauna Latin Flavor’s Lunch and Dinner menu is a showcase of the very best of South American cuisine, particularly Peruvian and Colombian. If not familiar with this cuisine, you owe it to yourself to go to this place and try it.

I went with my uncle, and we both started with an empanada. As I said before, the ones here are to die for. Beautiful , crispy, golden outside. Savory, tender pork on the inside. And served with a delicious homemade chili sauce. Absolutely scrumptious. Maybe not your abuela’s, but pretty close! As a waiter’s recommendation, we both ordered the lomo saltado. A traditional Peruvian comfort food dish made with skirt steak, tomatoes, rice, french fries, and a delicious sauce with a nice umami flavor. I’ve had lomo saltado before and I love it. Could probably eat it every day. Fauna Latin Flavor’s lomo saltado did not disappoint, best I’ve ever had! By comparison Inca Social’s is good, but nowhere near as good as Fauna Latin Flavor’s. High quality ingredients, great seasoning, and prepared and cooked just right. Couldn’t ask for more! My complements to the chef! Can’t wait to go back and try some of the other dishes! And will definitely have to come for breakfast in the near future.

As a side note, the menu features fresh squeezed lemonade and a couple other juices. I highly recommend the lemonade!

As for the waitstaff and the owner Hannah, they are absolutely lovely. Warm, kind, considerate, they go above and beyond when it comes to service and hospitality. I use a power wheelchair to get around, and it can sometimes be tricky navigating the space in a restaurant when I go out to eat. But at Fauna Latin Flavor, this wasn’t a problem at all. Hannah and the staff simply just rearranged some of the...

I had the food truck, so the menu was limited. To the point of this review, I liked the food.... But... I felt that the portion size was horrible and didn't justify the quality of food. I purchased 2 Taco and rice and beans with chips and guac for $14 and i wish i could have my money back and have went to chipotle and got the same deal for 9-10 bucks. This food is not worth it. Look elsewhere and if you see the food truck, Run! Not Walk.... Run Away! They want your money and want you to be hungry enough to buy more. Update... I love that management is proactive when it comes to customer facing and issues with their products. I don't like how they justify it. Research on the restaurant and food truck industry doesn't give you the OK to give little portions. There's no reason i should spend $14 dollars and not be at bare minimum satisfied. I could understand if you were using fish and steak for sides, but rice and beans are or should be plentiful at bear minimum. For 4 dollars you get two tacos... if you add 6 dollars for rice and beans... then the amount should be a bed of rice and beans in their respective trays and not a half panel. I would've been happier with 4 tacos had i known what i was going to get and been happier and more full and saved more money. Please all i ask is that we work on our portions and mobile portfolio, so when friends and coworkers ask, i don't have to speak negatively about this experience and the business overall. As of now. I am not satisfied and am coming to regret my decision. Its crazy to think of the true meaning behind "Coyotes" in the culture and witness capitalism as a result of management. Coming to create prosperous opportunity and instead abusing cultural...

Tried out CG, under the new ownership. The inside is revamped with chairs and tables in a wide open space. Outdoor bar still exists, inside the tent, but it was a pretty cold evening so we sat inside.

Service: Despite a less than welcoming entrance, service was quick and we got our first drinks fairly quickly. Our server was nice and attentive without being overbearing. Our second round of drinks were super slow, despite a lot of staff standing around the bar area laughing.

Food: the taste was good, but the value is not there. We tried the fried plantain appetizer, got three small round plantains to share between two of us. Our entrees tasted great, but the portion provided for the price was abysmal. The red snapper was $28 and we received a piece of fished that was maybe 2” X 2”. It came with a corn flan which helped the dish portion overall, but for $30, we expected a much larger piece of fish. The carne asade has a unique taste to it, and although portioned slightly better, still felt lacking. The tres leches cake was delicious but again, $10 for a thin slice

Value: this is why we probably will not return. The drinks were small and full of ice (Pisco sour was 3/4 egg whites), despite being $12-14. The appetizer really needed one more plantain ball for $9. And the entrees seemed very overpriced. To add to pain, there was a cash vs credit total on the bill with 3% added to the credit. We don’t mind spending money for a good meal, but the value wasn’t there with the food and the credit charge was kind of insulting on the end.

We might eventually try it again if we think it improves, but right now it won’t be on our go to list, despite living five...