Los Chamos in South Charlotte
The food scene in the Charlotte region offers a range of cuisine from around the world. Grab your culinary passport and head down South Boulevard, where Los Chamos is dishing out Venezuelan flavors.
From arepas to filling platters showcasing traditional Venezuelan cuisine, Los Chamos has it all. The restaurant opened September 2022 and caught my eye after I saw photos of the mouthwatering Venezuelan burger, cheesy cachapas and grilled picanha steak served on a sizzling skillet. Los Chamos became an Offline Charlotte partner in September 2023, and I jumped at the chance to finally try this restaurant (with the added bonus of an Offline discount).
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As soon as I walked into the cozy restaurant, less than a mile from the LYNX Blue Line Arrowood Station, I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff. I was seated at one of the high-top tables and quickly started looking over the menu.
Los Chamos Food Menu
I was overwhelmed, in the best way, by all of the Venezluelan dishes on the menu. From traditional offerings like Pabellón (the national dish of Venezuela) to Venezuelan street food like the award-winning patacón (a Venezuelan sandwich made with fried green plantain and shredded beef) and even fusion dishes like the grilled steak shawarma, I wanted it all.
I started with the tequeños, which are Venezuelan cheeses sticks. Unlike traditional mozzarella sticks you’d find at any American restaurant, tequeños wrap white cheese in a soft, yet slightly crunchy, dough.
Enjoy the tequeños on their own, carefully stretching each one to achieve the perfect cheese pull, or dunk them in the side of garlic sauce to add more flavor. These are a great option for kids (or adults) that are picky eaters.
I went back and forth for entirely too long when it was time to decide my next course. I ended up going with the Arepa Punta Trasera. I’ve only had one other arepa in my life and I was underwhelmed by the portion. At Los Chamos, the arepas are practically overflowing with the filling of your choice.
The Arepa Punta Trasera features picanha steak and chimichurri, served with a side of the garlic sauce that I would eat on anything. I wasn’t leaving Los Chamos without trying at least one dish with picanha steak, a cut from the rump that shares a similar taste to sirloin. Each piece of steak in my arepa was grilled to perfection. While I did pour the chimichurri and garlic sauce directly into my arepa, I also saved some for the slices of steak that managed to escape the white corn cakes.
While beef is a staple in Venezuelan cuisine, Los Chamos has several vegetarian options, including the tequeños, black bean and cheese arepas, and yucca balls with Venezuelan guacamole, as well as gluten-free dishes.
Before my friend and I left the restaurant, the general manager and co-owner of Los Chamos, Michel Meza, was nice enough to bring us some desserts to try. While I am not a big sweets person, my friend loved the Arroz Con Leche, a Venezuelan rice pudding topped with condensed milk and cinnamon, and the Quesillo, Venezuelan flan. If you like to end your meals with something sweet, I highly recommend these options.
Los Chamos Drink Menu
Now y’all know that I’m not having a meal without a cocktail. I’m not going to lie; I saw the Caracas Old Fashioned on Instagram and knew I had to order it. I don’t typically order Old Fashioneds with dinner, but Los Chamos remixes this classic cocktail by using Venezuelan rum. The drink is served in a smoking box that is sure to turn heads.
The full bar shakes and stirs a variety of cocktails, including margaritas and mojitos that are on special Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can also order local beers and Polar, a domestic beer from Venezuela.
For non-alcoholic options, don’t miss out on one of Los Chamos’ juices. The papelón con limón is similar in taste to a sweet tea. My personal favorite was the passion fruit juice.
Los Chamos is located at 7001 South Blvd., Charlotte.