OC Food Reviews

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Today we ate lunch at Mil Jugos, a Venezuelan restaurant in downtown Santa Ana. This was our second time eating there and I have to admit, before eating there I really didn’t know much about Venezuelan food. The place itself is maybe a little difficult to find, located among the maze of one-way streets that surround the downtown civic center and courthouse. The place has character though, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.

The name, Mil Jugos, means 1000 juices for those not fluent in Spanish. They don’t serve quite that many fresh juices, but they do have a varied selection as well as some smoothies. But the main attraction here are two venezuelan dishes: Arepas and Cachapas. The cachapas are a kind of sweet corn pancake served with different fillings like cheese and meats. If that sounds like your cup of tea, definitely give them a try. But as for me, I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is Arepas!

Arepas are kind of like Venezuela’s version of a taco. They’re made with a sort of freshly cooked corn fry bread that’s crispy on the outside and wonderfully doughy on the inside. Then they’re sliced open and filled with different spiced meat fillings. My favorite are the chicken arepas, but I’ve yet to try one I didn’t like.

If you get an arepa at Mil Juguos, it would be a crime to not try the sauces which come in squirt bottles on the tables. There are two to choose from, they are similar but one is creamy and smooth and the other is chunky and has a wonderful kick to it. I’m not exactly sure what’s in them, cilantro, mint, chilies, but they are not to be missed!

Mil Jugos was a wonderful introduction to the cuisine of Venezuela, and I’m happy to continue the exploration.