Al Carbon
200 Park Rd, Rockville, MD, 20847
Al Carbon Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
200 Park Rd
Rockville, MD, 20847 - Phone (301) 738-0003
- Website https://www.alcarbonrestaurant.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Ben C.
This was bad. Really bad. Only the fact that they were very nice kept this from being a 1-star rating. My fiancee and I walked in and sat down and were promptly brought menus. We decided on four items - an arepa, a shrimp quesadilla, a vegetarian burrito, and fried plantains. We asked for the arepa and plantains to come first. Technically, the arepa did come first, roughly 20 minutes later, along with the burrito, and then moments later, the quesadilla. First -- the black beans were simply from a can, with zero seasoning. The rice was as basic as it gets. No seasoning either. The burrito was as mediocre as it gets -- and stuffed with lettuce rather than other vegetables (there were other ones, but it was probably 40% lettuce). The arepa was halfway decent, but wasn't anything special. The fried plantain came out probably 15 minutes after everything else, and was lukewarm. It was as basic as it comes as fried plantains go. Now... the quesadilla. It was a disaster. Filled to the bring with mozzarella cheese and what seemed to be basically buffalo sauce mixed with ketchup, it had what amounted to maybe four shrimp (and no whole shrimp -- just pieces of popcorn shrimp) in the entire monstrosity. It was HUGE and basically inedible. I had to open it up and pick the shrimp out (and the shrimp shells as well, a nice bonus!) in order for it to be edible. When I think of a shrimp quesadilla, I think of something like any of these: foodgawker.com/?sort=mos… -- something with lime, that's light and fresh. What I got from Al Carbon might have contained half a pound of melted cheese. And, oh yeah, just like everything else, it had no flavor. It was completely undersalted and underseasoned. It was cheap, though. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things, but I have no idea how anyone could consider this decent food.
(2)Jinshil L.
Unless you live within a mile radius, it's probably not worth it for you to drive here. The location is conveniently located right next to Rockville Metro Station. Decent food for the $10-15 meal you can get. I forget what it was called, but my banana/cheese dish was completely burned on the outside. I think it's actually cooked that way on purpose, but if I had known that the amount of edible food was going to be that little (60% of the banana), then I wouldn't have gotten it. Love the green hot sauce on each table. Server wasn't attentive, but it's okay - she was still friendly given her limited conversational skills.
(3)Andrew B.
This place is the real deal. I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the menu never disappoints. The wood fired chicken and steak is amazing in all of their meals. Their menu is extremely vast and really affordable. They also have beer, coffee and other drinks that are amazing. There are plenty of comfortable places to sit and I have never had to fight or hunt for a parking spot. It is conveniently located across the street from the Rockville station. The pupusas are delicious. The burritos are HUGE and almost everything you could ever want is under ten dollars. Anything on the menu is good. And the staff are friendly and on point. Love them!
(5)Jason H.
As improper as it is, I have been eyeing this place for sometime because of the large Hispanic population I saw visiting. Being a Hispanic food place, with lots of Hispanic customers, I had high hopes for the authenticity. I expected Peruvian chicken but was wrong. All wood grilled food. I got carne asada something and when they showed up with a sword of meat with at least two chicken breasts and a huge steak, I knew I was in trouble. The taste was great and I look forward to exploring the menu. The service was nice, but a bit slow and the lack of AC was a little tough. However, I like it and will be back. With a $14 tab, not sure how long they will be in business for the amount of food they give!
(4)Aaron M.
Awesome. This place is legit. Wish I spoke Spanish for a more authentic experience. I'll just keep coming back and try the next item on the menu no matter what it is.
(5)Dan M.
This place has the feel of a hole in the wall, hidden underneath the Metro tracks, like it's trying to hide away, but there's no need to because the food is quite good. I've had all the arepas, and they're all on the money. The sangria was a bit of a let down (not much fruit/served room temp), but the horchata was nice. Not the best horchata I've had, but def one of the better options in the DC area and the best in Rockville. If you use the Metro, you can't beat the location. I'll be going back.
(4)Duy N.
I honestly expected more from this small restaurant. It's located across from the Rockville Metro and very inconspicuous. I heard the food is good here and was looking forward to the experience. Unfortunately the service ruined the experience. We came around 6:30pm (so no excuse for being in between lunch and dinnertime), business was slow (we were one of two groups in the restaurant), and we waited over 20 minutes after ordering for any food to come out (including for my appetizer). Not much was going on behind the scenes from what I could see either. The one waitress, though nice when she got to us, did not check on us. Maybe it's the language barrier, but c'mon. I first got the mango salad, which was ok, nothing to write about, a bit on the tart side, but i can handle that. Next were the arepas. The pepiada arepa (avocado and chicken) was delicious, while the mechada arepa (shredded beef) was a little too strong. For both, the corn cakes were very good. My gf got the vegetable paella dish, which was ok. I definitely felt a bias as another group of people that came in got prompt service and delivery of food. Maybe it's a race thing, but that's not how business should be done. I've heard from others that can attest to this bias also. You'd think a small restaurant would be more welcoming and gracious. Despite the tasty arepas, I'll be finding them elsewhere.
(2)Sara A.
The price was definitely right. It was a quiet place and the food was filling! I has some grilled chicken rice and beans. The person I was with had a delicious arepa with avocado and chicken. The sangria was only okay, but I would go to this place again. Kind of a hidden gem right by the Rockville Metro.
(4)Brian S.
I figured that a place with cords of wood piled outside the kitchen would be good. But I hadn't got around to trying it. WOW. Unbelievable delicious. From the outside I thought this was a takeout counter (it's a full restaurant with beer/wine/liquor) so I placed a to-go order for a platter for two. Unbelievably delicious marinated meats, and you haven't had shrimp until you've had wood-smoked shrimp. Dinner conversation was basically reiterating how good this food was. I think we might have talked about the kids once, but pretty much, it was mostly stuff like "we need to go there again" and "this is so good! Did you taste the sausage yet?" and "Why didn't we go there before, exactly?" We're already planning out who we'll ask to join us on our next visit! Which, incidentally, won't be very long from now!
(5)Phi N.
The second time I came here, I was given much better service. I showed them a text from my spanish friend of what I wanted to order. I think because I was recommended here by someone, they treated me better, lol. I ordered the arepas and fajitas. Arepas are on point as long as you use their hot sauce. I love it! and the fajitas come out on a sizzling hot plate. Everything was delicious, and our service was perfect! Very fast and very helpful. They seem to have more items on their paper menu than what's shown on the big menu in the front, so I'll have to try those next time! Oh, and they serve Nantucket Nectar orange mango-- it's my favorite drink! My friend ordered the steak salad and loved it. We'll be back soon!
(4)Ben R.
Hidden little place near the Metro. Large portions and very fresh food. The meat is all cooked on a real wood fired grill (so you will leave smelling like a campfire) but it adds that extra flavor to the meat that you lose with gas. Lots of very authentic dishes sopa de mondongo (tripe) soup, arepas. I recommend Melvia's Burger.. with everything. Including the quail egg. You will not be disappointed. For the other reviewers, this is not a Mexican restaurant. It is South American, with a Colombian emphasis and a few Mexican style dishes
(5)Steven W.
After many meals since my first review, I just felt I needed to update based on what I'd said about the service in my original review... So: I stand by the 4 Star flavorful food, but I also stand by the less than acceptable service in most cases (2-3 star at best). They are very friendly, but you have to not be in a hurry.
(3)Tina P.
The best pupusas and arepas I had so far in this area. Amazing.
(5)Liam S.
A humble looking establishment, hidden away in the bowels of Rockville's town center. At first glance you might not think anything of it, but upon entrance you are immediately taken by the bold smells of their wood fire grill. You can watch your food ask it slowly cooks over REAL wood and not artificially "smoked" like other places. We ordered Arepas with chicken and avocado, they did NOT skimp on the fillings.(Much Appreciated) The authenticity and homliness of this place is outstanding, could use a little love and care with cleanliness, but hey we could all use that...
(4)Robert C.
Yes, this place can look very tacky and run down. The workers can also barely speak English & can't explain the food that you're ordering. When I asked her about this sandwich-type dish, she just said "Shell, inside is hidden meat" lol... My friend, you just described a turtle... However, they serve the HUGE portions of meal for a fairly cheap price. Taste wise, they're pretty authentic and delicious. I definitely recommend their Chicken Arepas - grilled corn tortillas with chicken and avocado. This was definitely my favorite dish from there. For a tapas size, it's actually quite big, they put a lot of chicken in there! The corn tortillas was crispy, it's made really well. The chicken's really tender and flavorful; the avocado's perfect finishing touch for that dish. We also tried their Carne Asada - thin pieces of steak, served with salsa, tortilla, rice & black beans. It's pretty good, definitely 1 of the better Carne Asada I've tried so far. We also tried the Steak Burrito. I like the portion and the taste of the burrito (say bye to Chipotle). It's served with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, grilled onions, rice & beans. It's a very filling meal. The total bill came up to be like $26, which's awesome for 3 dishes!!! The most expensive one's the carne asada ($12), but it's worth it. On top of that, they gave us a complimentary Mango & Chocolate Mousse Cake - moneyyy. It's a really good cake & by that time, my jean's about to rip and we could barely stand up lol. Taste wise- 3 1/2 stars, portion - really huge, price - pretty dang cheap. Definitely stop by here if you want a big meal for a low price (get the Arepas).
(3)Sherry Z.
This place was pretty decent. The first time I went, we got a vegetarian burrito and horchata. While the horchata was delicious, the vegetarian burrito was just not my taste. However, the second time I went, I got the beef soup which came with two (or three?) delicious corn tortillas and was beautifully seasoned. I would come again for that meal. The owner/cook/waiter is also very nice. Good place to eat and very convenient to the metro.
(4)Tim M.
I've driven by this place since it opened and never though twice of stopping by. Then I stumbled upon Al Carbon here on yelp. Most everyone had good things to say. I mentioned it to a group at work, who then decided to take me here for my birthday dinner. One lady wanted to try the empanadas, My gosh that was so delicate and crispy. I needed to try the arepitas. As good as everyone says they were. between the five of us we had 4 different dinners. Not one complaint besides needing a box for leftovers. I'll sure be telling everyone at work about this place that so many drive by on a daily basis. A must place to go.
(5)C M.
I don't know how this place only had 4 stars. If you're in MoCo. Stop by here to grab something to go. The chicken is devine.
(5)Ben K.
Really good arepas, tacos, and quesadillas.
(5)Julio E. G.
This is a hole in the wall place! We almost turned back and drove somewhere else, but the Yelp reviews were extremely good and mostly 4-5 stars. The place looks like a cafetÃn, but there were no pool tables or pinball machines. I kept looking for the vellonera to play "The Great Pretender". The place cooks everything with wood and there are huge stacks of seasoned wood outside the restaurant. This is not a Mexican restaurant. I am assuming this is mostly a Salvadorian place or a central American mixture. I ordered "carne a la vara" (a Latin SHISH KABOB) and it was fine, but not out of this world. The rice was OK, the beans a bit flat (I had better in Cuban restaurants). The arepas were great. I had the same before in other Latin places with a different name. They give you a hot salsa and a green non-hot salsa. The green was very good and tasty. My wife was not impressed with the plantains and she felt her meat could have been a bit better. It was OK, but not exceptional. I enjoyed the cafetÃn atmosphere and the customers who were 100% from Latin America. Unlike other Yelpers we had prompt quick service. The decor was tacky; I always enjoy those small restaurants that just throw whatever framed pictures they find on the wall. A-OK place
(3)Olivia D.
The arepas, chicken platter, fajitas and quesadillas were good, generously portioned and cheap.. but the service here was horrific. Like seriously horrific. The poor woman taking our orders couldn't keep them straight, and in the middle of the meal, I found out they forgot my arepas. It was a weird system too, how we ordered at the register, but then seated ourselves and paid at the end through the server. When I wasn't sure about whether we were supposed to pay at the register or wait for a bill, I went to ask and they told me, "Sit down." Geez. Like some of the other reviews stated, we were there in the evening and hardly anybody else was there, yet things moved slowly. And meals came out one at a time, as they were done. Since we were done with the meal and they had forgotten I even ordered arepas until I reminded them mid-way through, they handed me chicken and avocado arepas to go as we were finishing up. I was fully prepared to blast the place in this review, if it weren't for: 1. The bill. It was low. Real low. This place is really cheap eats. 2. The arepas. I ate one of these corn/pancakey/bread things filled with chicken & avocado in the car, and OMG it was so simple, yet so good, and so cheap (something like $3 each?) So thanks to the redeeming qualities of affordability and tastiness, Al Carbon gets a solid 3.
(3)Mike N.
After reading all the other reviews I had to try this place. It's hard to miss if you don't know it's there. I've found this trait to be shared among many awesome eateries. It's a small restaurant, nothing fancy. You can smell the woodfire grill when you walk in and the waitress is super friendly and attentive. Both times I've been here all I have to do is look in her general direction and she comes right over, she also constantly checks to see if everything is okay. The food is awesome. The Arepas are to die for (cliche phrase I know) and the portions are big. It's also really cheap for what they give you. Their Talapia is very good, I've had it grilled, not fried. Also their combination platter for 2 people is massive, basically a pile of various delicious dead animal that comes sizzling right off the grill served with tortas, rice, beans and pico de gallo. I get to-go from here often and simply cannot stress how awesome the Arepas are, especially the chicken with the avocado and magic sauce. We need more places like this! Go now!
(5)Lauren M.
We met some friends there who had enjoyed Al Carbon before. We were told service could be really slow, but that apparently that had improved after change in ownership. I was facing away from the front, so I didn't see the helpful photos of the food. I had no idea how big these items were, and our waitress, while very nice, didn't speak English very well. She was able to tell me not to order anything else, that it would be too much. I ordered a chicken arepas and the pabellon criollo. Both were very good and it was a lot of food! I ended up taking a good bit of it home for leftovers. Overall it was a good experience! I'd love to go back and try something else. The decor wasn't fancy at all, very laid back. It's nice to know of a casual, delicious restaurant to go to! The prices were very reasonable and we had good service from our waitress.
(4)Mike K.
Been there twice lately and had great meals. First with my kids and enjoyed the grilled meats and shrimp for three. Plenty of food and a great value. Mango and Jicama salad was fresh, had a nice dressing but was more like fresh fruit with a dipping sauce than a salad. Another night I got tres tacos and was a little disappointed that there were no toppings on the tacos, only pico de gallo. The grilled chicken leg was amazing. They cook on wood only, which differentiates them from any other local place. We tried the Arepas, and I was't that impressed by them, and figure it is more like comfort food for those who came from far away places. They should make the patio a little more festive, with lights and candles. This is a gem across from the Rockville Metro. Don't tell anyone.
(4)Rebecca N.
Awesome little restaurant- Come here for the arepas!!! I've tried a couple of the arepas, the beef and the black bean and both were delicious! Also, I tried the yucca, and it was tasty as well. Definitely get the sangria- it;'s pretty good for a hole in the wall place. The waitress was super friendly and the food came quickly! I wanna go back for more arepas now :)
(4)Claudio R.
medium quality Latin cuisine. Friendly environment Big portions
(2)Gabi L.
This place is my jam when it comes to pupusas and horchata..(I haven't tried out the other foods YET)...HOWEVER my ONE and ONLY gripe is smelling like a wood oven for hours after I leave. Anyone have that problem? just me? ok.
(5)Jonathan C.
This place ain't Mexican--it's pan-Latin. And everything is cooked on firewood. EVERYTHING. This place rocks for tacos, arepas, ceviche, pupusas, and my favorite, the grilled chicken breast platter. Don't even worry about not bringing your appetite. Just come inside and take a deep whiff. The grilled chicken platter was amazing. AMAZING! There are so many other things I want to try there. So amazing.
(5)Paola G.
FYI: this is not a mexican restaurant. It is Venezuelan and Colombian food with a mix of a little of Mexico. The owner is Venezuelan and Colombian. The food is good, its a small place but it's really typical and cute. Try the Arepitas with cream and the plantains.. Soo good. The burger with the egg on top is delish and the carne asada is a big plate for two people. Their SUnday breakfast is almost typical Colombian and Venezuelan and I love it!
(4)Shelley S.
Love this great little neighborhood restaurant. Service is outstanding and the food is great. And speaking of food there is plenty of it! Food is fire grilled and fabulous - homey place across from the Rockville Metro with nice parking. We have been there several times and are never disappointed.
(5)Jack H.
Hidden behind the Rockville Metro, if you like Mexican food and haven't been her, yo are missing somethng really good, authentic and a GREAT bang for your buck!
(5)Scott G.
Went there for lunch today - and like every other review, I have to say that the food - I had the carne asada - was very tasty and the portions were large. And, as also noted, the service at lunch was a bit slow. But let me clarify - I was greeted immediately and warmly. The waitress spoke good English and took my order promptly, even offering a few suggestions. What took a while was actually getting the food to the table. To my server's credit, she did explain when I ordered that all plates are cooked-to-order, so it could be 15-20 minutes. Fair enough. The thin steak was cooked over a wood-fired grill and served with two dipping sauces, a small salad, two small tortillas, rice and black beans. The meat had a wonderfully smoky quality to it and was perfectly cooked. The bill was presented promptly and politely. To quote Arnold, "I'll be back."
(4)Jane H.
beef tacos amaziinnnggggggggggg. its
(4)Irene F.
I was the only person eating there, but it was slow as molasses. The paella was the weirdest I've ever had in my life. The quessidilla was huge- and probably a good value. The guacamole needed major salt. The sangria was delicious. Next time I'll just come for a pitcher!
(2)Andrew K.
Hole in the wall place but pretty clean and has several tables. It was packed during lunch time with mostly hispanics so that was a good sign. Service is kind of slow but the food is cooked to order. I tried the chicken arepas which are corn tortillas grilled with chicken and avocado inside and they were really good. I also got the carne asada which comes with rice and beans and salad. This was pretty filling and good but probably would try something else next time. Prices are pretty reasonable and they serve breakfast too. I want to try their steak and eggs with home fries for $8 next time I come.
(4)Tilty A.
This place has great steak burritos and they are huge! Calling for pick up isn't very easy because the order taker doesn't understand English very well. But other than that its a nice place to fill up.
(4)Matt T.
I had the chicken breast with rice and a salad. The food,prices, and staff were excellent.
(5)Rok L.
Al Carbon is consistent and fantastic. Have had their chicken and steak, fajitas, burritos, tacos, etc. everything is so fresh and so good. Plus if you get off at Rockville Metro it is within walking distance right across the street. spend your money here instead of Rockville Town Center. The restaurant is basic--no ambiance. But excellent food and great prices.
(5)Nick C.
Perfect example of a place that would go unknown in a Yelpless world. Carne Azada was spot on and the place somehow makes you feel like you drove 500 miles, not 500 feet off Rockville Pike, which has to be one of the busiest streets in the country. I can not wait to go back to try the Arepas, smell the wood burning grill, and transport myself out of DC for a bit, even if only in mind, mouth, and stomach.
(4)Jeffrey C.
Al Carbon is decent sized restaurant, probably family owned and I've been there a few times all in which were pretty good experiences. I went to Al Carbon around 3pm for lunch. There were not many people there just a party of 9. The first thing I noticed was the people that worked there, they were very hardworking, literally jogging from the guest's table to the kitchen and then back. I checked out their menu and ordered the Al Carbon grilled chicken but the lady at the register said that they didn't have it. She suggested another chicken dish that was on the menu for $7.95. As I sat down watching the workers work, I noticed that the kitchen was dark and musty ( i hoped the cook had 20/20 vision). The party of 9 seemed extremely happy with their food so i was expecting the same reaction Although the food took 15 minutes I was extremely happy with the food. While I was eating I glanced over to the party of 9 and a guest was commenting on how good the yucca was and I decided to get an order of it , it was also extremely good. The Chicken was very tender and juicy, the different salads on the side gave the dish a kick and some color, rice and bean were one of the best I've ever had. The best part of my meal other than the flavorful chicken was the mouthwatering beans. The portion was perfect, you got your protein, vegetables, carbs all on one plate. When I finished my food I realized that most of the tables were occupied, I guess I was wrong they do have many customers that come and eat their food. Their food was so good that i did not even realize all the people that came in. Overall I would recommend this restaurant, it is good for a savory lunch if your not starving. The service was okay, I would understand that the employees there would want to focus on the bigger party, but I did not hear or see any frustrated customers. If the service was a bit faster it would have received 5 stars from me. Al Carbon has a great location, a minute walk from the Rockville Metro.
(4)Priscilla R.
Great little place, everything was clearly cooked to order and was worth the few extra minutes it took to make from scratch. We got pupusas, arepas (sp?) with black beans and the tres amigos taco plate. Everything was delicious. The salsa that came with the chips was so good, I put it on everything. I would highly recommend for a no-pretense meal where you want to stuff yourself. YUM!
(4)Mia C.
The chicken arepas, grilled steak, and grilled chorizo are definitely my favorite things on the menu. These are all full of flavor and if you're sharing (which you should because there portion sizes are pretty decent), you can be sure there will be no piece left uneaten. A quick rundown of the other items I've tried here: french fries - soggy, do not get sangria - really good, it's hard to stop! A bit on the sweet side though quesadilla - average, but it's kind of hard to make a stand out cheese and tortilla bean and rice - doesn't look the most appetizing but good salty flavor to it grilled chicken - very good, a bit dry grilled shrimp - good, hard to peel Overall, a very nice hole in the wall kind of family run restaurant. I've been here several times and there's always something delicious!
(4)Bob D.
Rockville (and DC) needs more places like this! Try the platter for two for $20. Beef, chicken, Argentinian chorizo, shrimp, plus sides for $20. Super good horchata. I love it here. Nice atmosphere, delightful staff and I get to practice my Spanish too. Definitely recommend.
(5)Carlos E.
Great food! Food made in wood fire oven! Good Salvadoran and Mexican place. The grilled chix and fajitas are my favs.
(5)Lillian C.
I do not get the hype. The meat skewer my SO ordered with chicken and beef was cooked to death and not tender or well-seasoned either. The best thing going for it was that it had a nice char to it which lended itself to flavor, but that does not negate mediocre meat. the best thing we had was the arepas because if you've never had them, they're rather interesting to say the least- think a small puck of grits served with a mild, not so tangy crema. But honestly, it was deep fried, deep frying improves everything. The ceviche, on the other hand, was abysmal. It was too salty, fishy, too onion (And not the delicious thin sliced fresh red ones you get at peruvian joints) and had gd celery in it. It was atrocious, no wonder it was $7.50. Instant regret when it hit the table. If there was one thing I appreciate is that there is some crazy s--- happening around the block because it's in a rougher part of Rockville (rough as in MoCo rough, not roughrough) and next to the bus station so you get to entertain yourself with some people watching.
(2)Ana P.
I was so excited to walk into Al Carbon after driving past it for years. It's much better on the inside than it appears from the outside and even offers a small outdoor seating area to interested patrons. I ordered one of each of the three style of arepas on the menu: shredded beef, vegetarian, and chicken as an appetizer. At $4.75 each they were costly, but I am glad we tried them since I have never even seen them on the menus else where. According to our waitress they need to be cooked over a wood-flame grill and Al Carbon offers this unique style of cooking. If I had to choose, I would have to say that the chicken arepa was my "favorite." This is because it was the most edible. The avocado paired well with the chicken and the ground maize flatbread was not soggy and falling apart like with the beef and was not tasteless like with the black beans and cheese vegetarian option. So if you want to try this unique item, order the chicken. I also ordered the chicken quesadilla. At around $7.25 I thought it was a bargain! When I ate it I knew ordering it was a mistake. The chicken was chopped in large, tasteless chunks that were uncomfortable to chew and swallow. The whole thing was bland even after I doused it with the red and green sauces given to me. I was expecting a ton of gooey cheese and was disappointed when I did not receive it. BP ordered the carne vara (or something), but was given the carne asada. It was cooked medium well, but was not what he wanted. The staff apologized and offered to re-make the meal, but we declined because we just wanted leave.
(2)Chuck C.
We discovered this small but really wonderful Hispanic restaurant...Salvadoran. The grilled fish, Carne Asada and grilled chicken cooked on their wood fired stove is just outrageously good.
(5)Michael M.
I have lived just two blocks from Al Carbon in Rockville for five years. Not a frequent customer, but I've stopped in occasionally. Relatively authentic central American atmosphere, but having lived in central and south America, I detect at this restaurant something I wouldn't expect in the native lands: an underlying assumption that non-compatriots are dumb and will take anything unusual as genuine "ethnic" -- as in, totally unfresh steak, over-salted and over-seasoned to cover up the fact that it's been in the refrigerator since the last fiscal year. For real Carne Asada, go to Mi Rancho in Silver Spring. That place is often over-flowing for a reason.
(2)Aman C.
I went at lunchtime on a Monday. The place looks tiny and easily missable. Parked out front and went inside and was pleasantly surprised by the size of the establishment. It was also done up much nicer than expected and was overall very welcoming. It wasn't clear to us if we seat ourselves, order at the counter, etc. We asked and were seated at a table of our choosing (the place was largely empty) and handed menus. My friend and I decided to split a few things. We got a chicken quesadilla, and two arepas (beef and chicken). The quesadilla was a good size and had plenty of filling. The quesadilla was served with rice and black beans. The arepas were about 5-6 inches in diameter, 2 would have been a fine lunch. The beef arepa turned out to be somewhat dry. The chicken arepa was the best thing we ordered. It had a generous amount of avocado which really contrasted with how dry the beef arepa was. We seemed to be the only people there who weren't regulars. Very local feel and friendly waitstaff.
(4)Stephanie L.
I love spending the morning here when my car is being repaired at Certified Auto. I always order the desayuno tipico (highlight is the fried plantain with sour cream) and sit on their lovely patio. This is a very legit, downscale, comfortable place. Open grill behind the counter. TVs in the corners. The patio has a comfortable mix of well-worn chairs and tables. The cement block walls are painted and adorned with colorfully painted coffee-cans turned flower planters. There is absolutely nothing fancy or trendy about this place, but it's a little gem.
(5)Lesley F.
Good alone gets a full five stars. Don't be fooled by the appearance. The food was outstanding. I had the shrimp quesadilla which was the best quesadilla I ever had - hands down. It was more than just shrimp and cheese thrown in a tortilla. It was marinated beautifully and had a unique and outstanding taste. We started with meat and cheese empanadas which were crunchy on the outside and generously filled. I will only come here from now on when I am in the mood for Latin American cuisine and I can't wait to try so many other delicious options from the menu.
(4)Cathryn L.
I'm in love with this place! While it looks like a hole in the wall outside the inside is rather nice! We've always gotten prompt and pleasant service. Even when we went during a World Cup game and they got some of the single guys to sit together so that my boyfriend and I could have a table for dinner. Walking into the smell of the wood fire makes my mouth water and you know it's going to be good. Tacos The corn tortillas are doubled up on each taco which is bare bones. Just your meat and pico de gallo with a lime on the side. Auhmazing! The smokey flavor comes out in the steak, shrimp and chicken! Downside is the tortialls are prone to falling apart so it can get messy. Pupusas Nom nom nom! I wish they served more curitdo and salsa with them, but they've always brought me more when I ask. These do fall apart so I don't peel them apart like I would normally. They're so full of flavor! You can really taste the smoke in the pork in the mixed and the cheese is always overflowing. My personal favorite is the burnt cheese that's oozed out. So good! The Big Platter (para 2) The only downside is that the peppers and onions tend to get burnt sitting on the hot plate. The meats are super flavorful as you would have guessed by now. The rice and beans are pretty standard and not a lot to say there, but you're really eating this for the meat.
(5)Oliver J.
Exactly what you would expect. I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. They had a job, and they got it right... although it was nothing special. I ordered the Carne Arepa or something like that, which was a mixed grill on a giant skewer with beef, chicken, peppers, and onion. It came with five arepas with queso blanco in the center, and rice and beans. Service: Fast, friendly, poor English Food: Good portions, well cooked - almost perfection, but taste was nothing crazy. I like the wood fire taste! Price: Exactly what you would expect.
(3)Monica S.
Seriously, try this place! Right next to the Rockville metro if you take it! I've been a few times and have enjoyed it so much! I've had fajitas, breakfast sandwiches, platter for 2, ceviche, empanadas beef and cheese, Carne asada, fried plantains and guacamole. Not in one sitting haha. Everything has been delicious, I highly recommend anything with Carne or sausage! Delicious! Not all of the servers speak fluent English, but if they realize this they try to send someone over that can! Only thing I'm not a super fan of is the amount of guacamole you get for the price. I will be back and I will bring and tell friends!
(4)Natasha T.
After doing a search online and checking yelp reviews, I found this place. I was looking for a place in near Rockville/Silve Spring that sells arepas and was excited to learn Al Carbon does. However, the "arepa" wasn't so much an arepa as it was a pupusa split open and stuffed with filling (Admittedly, I've only had arepas once before, but I've had plenty of pupusas and that's exactly what this was). I'll keep searching.
(3)Elle D.
I've only had the burritos, but they are super good. I like the rice that they give you on the side as well - the consistency is great. The location is definitely random, but easy to get to from the metro.
(4)Nina Z.
Good food at a very reasonable price! Service was nice also, super friendly & attentive. Would definitely come back. Only thing off was the water, tasted smokey and old.
(4)Nicole S.
Lovely surprise. Good quality, authentic food without pretense. Friendly family owned business. We loved it. Will be back many times. If you like greasy, cheesy Mexican food, this place is not for you. It's El Salvadorean and has great wood fired oven. Decent prices.
(5)Raghav C.
While this place may look like a hole in the wall from outside, you will be surprised once you walk in. A strong smell of the wood grill welcomes you to a quaint interior and between the decor and wait staff, you find yourself amidst a strong Latin American flare. Inexpensive food options and quick service. The menu has a variety of South American and Mexican dishes. While the two cuisines overlap quite a bit, this restaurant seems to serve the Latin American version of most dishes (heavy Venezuelan and Colombian influence). I tried the carne asada which was served with 3 small salads, rice, beans and tortilla. The meat was seasoned well and the wood flavor was evident. Expect rather large serving sizes. My friend tried the quesadilla that was rather large and looked good.
(4)Yofriend H.
Worse food I ever had! We Order tacos pabellon And empanadas, The meat was soft that's the only thing good about it but the food had no flavor at all. The beans had no flavor the meat had no flavor. The empanadas shell was perfect not greasy not hard but the stuffing meat went all in one bite I looked at the empanada and nothing else inside I to discard the left of it. I don't recommend this place and btw it is open unfortunately unlike the message on other post, but closing it would not be a bad idea
(1)Frank N.
Holy Quesadilla Batman!! The food here is delicious!! I pretty much think anything cooked on a wood-fired grill is gonna be awesome... and that holds true here.... Instead of ordering just one dish, I ordered little things so I could try all the stuff other Yelpers are raving about. No regrets. Everything was great! Arepas, pupusas, tacos and a Quesadilla. All delicious!!
(5)Nate C.
Had the player for three. Awesome. Wow. I'm reviewing while I'm eating it because it's that good. The salsa is a bit strange, but good still. Can't wait for the fried plantains get here..
(5)Red T.
There are times when one wants something simple and comforting, prepared on a wood-fire grill, particularly if one's last foray at dining out the previous night had been rather disappointing. So the girlfriend and I headed to Al Carbon. We had been there a couple of times earlier, and it continued to live up to our expectations. Understand, Al Carbon is not haute cuisine, nor is it fashionable: from outside, it looks like a hole in the wall, and the wait staff, while very friendly, are few in number. That said, it's quite airy, relaxed and spacious inside, without that sense of being jammed in that one feels in far too many restaurants nowadays. And what it does do right is serve up large and inexpensive portions of a mix of Latin American (Venezuelan? Salvadorian?) cuisine that just hits the spot. I ordered the carne asada for myself on this occasion; I was not feeling particularly adventurous this weekend and merely wanted comfort food that would be filling. And they delivered just what I needed: meat with that smoky taste and scent that only a good wood-fire grill can provide, accompanied with rice, black beans and a salad. The girlfriend and I ate, unhurried and relaxed; talked, remarking that it was nice to dine in a restaurant where one didn't have to raise one's voice to make oneself heard; and finally full, left, quite satisfied. For living up to my expectations of it, Al Carbon gets four stars.
(4)S M.
This place is amazing! Great service, cute atmosphere. Took me back to San Salvador!
(5)Rick S.
Nice atmosphere and friendly service. Paella de Pollo had very little chicken in it, maybe half a breast worth. Still a yummy meal. Wine and beer selection quite limited.
(3)Schuyler G.
Let me start by saying, for lunch on a Wednesday, we asked if they had beer, and she said "only Negra Modelo." Fine with me. We joked that what if they only had the 2 Negros, ha ha. When we ordered two more, no joke, she said there were no more. No other beer. No sangria. No nothing. All I'm saying is, at least keep some beer on hand. Or go out and get some while I'm still waiting for my arepas. It's my only day off, and I want a beer with lunch!!! 5 Stars for food, minus 2 for lack of beer and lack of running to the store for some. (3 business men came in, then actually left when they found out the lack of beer.) That said, the arepas and tacos were REALLY good, full of flavor, just the right condiments, and I know they cooked them to order, since it took about 15 minutes. Very good find to go out of your way for, very much a hole in the wall, with a table or two outside sandwiched between the two buildings. Well worth it. Just don't expect beer - really a shame.
(3)Rich E.
Great service, the waitress was never more then 10 feet away. Fast, good qualify, inexpensive, what more can you ask for. We ordered the bandea paisa, a typical Colombian dish featuring steak, chorizo, chicharon, rice, beans and an egg, it was very plentiful and the taste of the fire cooked steak and chorizo was great. My wife had the marisco soup, she loved it, we couldn't believe all the seafood included, fish, shrimp, mussels, clams, baby squid.... I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to try true Colombian food in the DC area.
(4)Roberto I.
Good food. A lil pricey for Peruvian. I guess the rent in the towncenter is excessive. Service needs work. Hate how they charge for extra sauce.
(3)Alison P.
The food is great. Kudos to rhe chefs. Fresh and tasty - worth another trip and the wait- to a point. It is fair to say the service is bad. If a young man with a big belly is working don't expect any service from him. He is sadly clueless Wait to sit in the young woman's section. She is wonderful.
(3)Barry S.
Here is the update ... we came here ... and it again was excellent. This time I tried the paella and it was quite good. This place rocks.
(4)Ben S.
This place is awesome! I was getting my car fixed around the corner, and decided to grab lunch. Everything they cook is over a real charcoal fire, and fire is always delicious. But their marinades and spice coatings of their chicken and steak really enhance the magic of fire. They also have delicious sauces to finish things off with. I had chicken, beans, rice, and salad all for under $8. And then as I was finishing up my delicious chicken, the owner brought me another piece for free, with no explanation other than "here, it's free." Even though I was already getting full, I made room for all of it. My friend had the steak quesadilla, which was more chock-full of steak and cheese than any quesadilla I've ever seen. The people taking orders were mostly fluent in English, and were patient and helpful even when their was a small language barrier.
(5)Jon B.
Don't let the looks of the place fool, this place is awesome... Great inexpensive authentic Latin cuisine with an incredibly friendly staff... For the price it doesn't get much better than this.
(5)Barry S.
I have no idea what other reviewers see in this place--the food and the restaurant aren't worth the trip. If you like dark grungy dives, this may be your dream restaurant. The place virtually screams--we don't care about providing a clean or remotely pleasant environment. I don't mind dives with delicious food, but the same lack of care extends to the menu. A $4.50 chicken and avocado arepa should be a delight, but what I received came with a tired bland filling. The only saving grace was the crisp, fluffy corn cake. A steak taco was pedestrian and forgettable. Both dishes could have used some sauce, but none was offered. At over $12 for an iced tea, taco, and arepa without even a condiment--these aren't bargain prices. Keep on driving.
(1)Michelle S.
This hole in the wall has amazingly flavorful food!! The jicama and mango salad and the plantain quesadilla are amongst my favorite dishes there.
(5)Ronald G.
I'm not sure when it happened, but this place is no longer owned by Venezuelans. I will admit that the service is better, but the food is not as good as it used to be. 3 stars
(3)Harvey M.
This is the best and the worst restaurant in Rockville. The food and the prices are second to none. Unfortunately, for some reason they can't come up with an efficient system of service. Everytime I'm frustrated but keep coming back because the food is so good. Just don't go there when want the food quickly.
(4)Ella J.
Very good food. But if you go during the evening, the place is quite empty, and much of the staff is quite inept. It may have the been their inability to speak English, or maybe the several Cerveza breaks they took, or maybe how they stared at my wife's tits... Mental note, have wife wear multiple layers of clothing when dining here!
(4)Dave L.
Great food. I've had almost everything on the menu and nearly all of it was wonderful. Excellent prices too. Not the greatest service, but the food is worth it.
(5)Julie P.
We've eaten here twice (one lunch, one dinner) and it's worth a visit. On both occasions the food was very good and very reasonably priced. Just don't expect much from the decor or the service. Also of note: the restaurant changed management a few months ago. The service is now much faster than it used to be.
(4)PIstachio B.
Like some other reviews said, food is great but service and selection can be a crap shoot. The tacos, pupusas, areaps, steak and quesadillas were all tasty and cooked superbly. Even the yuca was fried in fresh oil. If you ask, they'll even offer some breakfast menu items at dinner--like the arepas and pupsas. The only problem I have with this place is that they don't always have what's on the menu. Like the time when there was no yuca. And you cannot go by their website menu because they don't offer their weekend breakfast menu that's posted online. Also, food can come out really slow. Aside from the cons, the place is really cute and if you are patient, the food is good.
(3)Danny P.
I have passed this place by hundreds of times on my way to work when I hopped on the metro from the Rockville station. I never gave it much thought for the last few years until I one day looked them up on Yelp to see what they serve since the place never looked busy. I come to find out they sell something I've only experienced with my mother or in Colombia and that is Arepas. So I wanted to give it a try as they look the closest to what I am used to of. I stop by on Mother's Day and order one of each variety (Chicken/Avocado, Bean/Cheese, and braised beef). These were the most awesome Arepas. My favorite was definately the beef but all three were equally flavorful. I took my order to go but you can eat there as it is a sitdown restaurant. It is a small quaint spot. I will be bake again and again for these Arepas. Very good and fresh food and the staff is friendly and attentive, I wish I didn't ignore this place all these years.
(5)Stacey W.
Seriously mediocre. The menu featured online has been significantly slashed, and much of what was listed on the menu did not come out as it was described (different/missing ingredients). The food was mostly underseasoned and pretty dull. Worst of all, it was slow and arrived cold, as if no one got around to bringing it to us for a while. The black beans and rice might have been okay if they were hot, and we did enjoy the fried yucca, which came out fresh from the fryer, but the meal itself was a pretty major disappointment. Overall, "meh" is about right.
(2)Cristina G.
It turned out this restaurant was right around my mechanic's garage. So that's how I discovered this hole in the wall. I've read about the reviews on the Arepas so I had to try it. And boy, was it delicious! From the moment you inhale the grilled corn cake "sandwich" filled with ground chicken, avocado and spices used, until the last bite, I knew I was taken. Yummy! And at $4.50, it's a steal.
(4)Dan N.
My first impression of Al Carbon is that this is a very good place for a meal. I did wait a few minutes for them to cook my order. It was well worth the wait, it seems like everything is made to order, and very fresh. The food was excellent and I enjoyed every bite. The staff did not seem to speak perfect English, but I managed to get my order in without any trouble. They have a very interesting menu, I will be more adventurous next time. Hopefully soon.
(4)Roz D.
This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Rockville. Great for a casual brunch or a romantic dinner, the food is inexpensive, the service excellent, and the atmosphere cozy. Ask Milvia to recommend a dish and be sure to try one of the amazing tropical juices or sangria.
(5)Debbie S.
After a morning of shopping with my mom, sister, and friend, we were starving and looking for somewhere to chow down. My mom had noticed this restaurant while waiting for the bus at the Rockville Metro, so she suggested we give it a try. We were sort of worried it would be one of those places with limited seating, but there are plenty of tables. We walked in and the place smelled AMAZING and was warm and inviting. My friend had the guava juice which was tasty. I tried the mango juice and have been craving it ever since. The quesadillas and burritos we got were all very good. We left very full and very happy. :)
(4)Dan C.
Score! Al Carbon is al delicioso. From the looks of the outside of the place you might be skeptical to try it but this place is well worth your money, time, and taste buds. The menu consists of photos on the wall above the kitchen. I ordered a steak burrito and my wife ordered the grilled chicken plate. The burrito was excellent. The flavor of the steak, marinade, rice, etc. melted in your mouth. I couldn't put it down. It came with a side of delicious white rice and some of the most tasty black beans I've had so far in DC. The grilled chicken came with black beans, rice, and a salad for only $5.50. This dish could have easily been a few more dollars. We both scarfed down our lunch and left nothing on our plates, but made room to top it off with a tres leches parfait. This place is all about the food. 5 stars.
(5)Tracy W.
Great food for a low price and the people are very nice and hospitable. Carolina, the daughter of the owner, happily chatted with us about the food and the restaurant while we ate. Our waitress even asked to hold our baby and kindly held him while we ate our meal for a bit. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)Michael S.
I live right down the street, so after driving by enough times I had to try it. It isn't appealing from the outside, but step in and the place is friendly and inviting. It certainly wasn't busy the night we were there. The service was a bit slow, but worth the wait. The food was fresh and tasteful. The staff was very friendly, and the price was great. Will certainly be going back more often...
(4)Abbey S.
Just discovered this delightful little place and we'll definitely be eating here a LOT. While it's true that some basic Spanish language skills would be helpful, this place gets by on friendly people and terrific food. We ordered the chicken fajitas and chicken with rice and beans. The chicken was amazing and 6 bucks! The fajitas were a bit pricier (10 bucks) but well worth it if only for the amazing queso fresco. As my husband said, "we're never eating at Austin Grill again!" Also check out the amazing selection of fruit juice!
(5)David C.
This place was fantastic. Four of us went on a Saturday night. It was easy to get a table. There's only one waitress so be prepared to wait a little bit. So since you're waiting, order some of their amazing sangria. The tapas were great. The arepitas con crema and arepas were wonderful. Highly recommended.
(5)Marc L.
Everything about Al Carbon is authentic!!! The food, the look and feel of the establishment as well as the workers. The food was excellent, in addition you get WAY more bang for your buck there. The steak is amazing, chicken is superb and the pork is out of this world. We will definitely be returning to this establishment. Bye Bye Austin Grill, Hello Al Carbon.
(4)Ashley K.
Sitting in the shadow of the Rockville Metro, this place does not look promising from the outside. Inside is much better and they have a cute courtyard with colorful coffee-can planters hanging on the wall. We went at a weird time between lunch and dinner so they ended up only having roast chicken. That was served with rice and beans and a small salad. I was disappointed that I couldn't try any of the other eight or so menu items that are advertised on the wall with tempting photo signs. It was a bit difficult communicating because unfortunately I don't speak Spanish (it's on the to-do list!) and the employees there at the time did not speak a lick of English. I don't hold this against the place, in fact I think it adds to the experience. I'm sure my rating will go up once I can catch them when they have more than one item on the menu available!
(2)Michelle W.
Al Carbon has authentic food in a charming little restaurant in an out-of-the-way location. My boyfriend and I went here last night for the first time and already plan to go back as soon as possible. The order takes a little while longer, but the meat is cooked over a real wood fire (you can see the cook fanning the flames--there are no microwaves in their kitchen)! It's worth the wait. The atmosphere is casual and cozy, it feels as if you are on a veranda and not next to the Rockville metro. The waiter was very friendly. The meat was well-seasoned and the vegetables fresh. I might start taking the metro to work as an excuse to stop here for pupusas every day.
(4)