Quiero Cafe

Cute little cafe with crazy delicious food! The empanada list is super long with several vegetarian in options. Today I went with the classic queso, it was different from some traditional empanadas like I was expecting but super good. I also got the yuca fries, the aoli and cheese topping was so good, I completely stuffed myself with every last bite.

Everything was delicious and authentic. Hot tostones. Delicious variety of empanadas. Lots of house made dips, salsas, and sauces to try. We had the Lunch special with chorizo and the Peruvian steak.

Maine needs more spots like Quiero Cafe and less cookie-cutter taco joints. Latin American food is more than Mexican - obviously there’s some crossover from country to country but we need some variety. I was so excited to see tamales, arepas, and even Colombian hot dogs. I went with the chorizo empanada and the chicken tamale on my initial visit. The tamale was a bit dry but otherwise delicious and the empanada was probably close to the best I’ve ever had - perfectly crispy dough and just the right size. These are simple, homey dishes and they’re executed very well. Don’t come here and order a quesadilla but instead explore something new - my plan is to try the Chileno hot dog next time (avocado, mayo, sauerkraut and tomatoes - sounds delicious).