Check Out Café Sazón

Café Sazón is the kind of place that earns the word community without having to claim it. The small family-owned restaurant at 4704 Columbia Pike has been open since 2010, originally rooted in Bolivian food and baked goods before evolving its menu to reflect the full diversity of its staff and its neighborhood. Today the kitchen turns out Bolivian saltenas and api morado alongside Salvadoran pupusas, Peruvian stir-fries, and a Guatemalan churrasco that consistently draws raves. In 2017 the café received the Arlington James B. Hunter Human Rights Act Award — a distinction that reflects its genuine commitment to being a welcoming space for everyone.

The vibe is casual and warm: order at the counter, find a seat, and prepare to be surprised by how good everything is. The freshly baked pastries made by an in-house baker are worth arriving early for, and the breakfast menu — available all day — includes excellent omelettes and a desayuno típico that fuels a long morning. The café also hosts live music and poetry events, and a 70-seat lower level makes it a community event venue as well. Café Sazón is open Tuesday through Sunday.