Arepas, hogao and the unhurried generosity of Colombia

There’s a particular kind of patient, generous cooking that runs through Colombia — from the mountain kitchens of Medellín to the Caribbean coast at Cartagena — and Los Bravos brings it to Crows Nest. We may not be the first Colombian restaurant in Sydney, but we’re the one that puts Colombian arepas alongside an Argentine charcoal grill, a Peruvian pisco bar and a Venezuelan
dessert list — without any of them feeling out of place. Completely interconnected and in unison.

The Colombian dishes on our menu were chosen by people who grew up eating them. Hogao the way your tía makes it. Arepas hand-milled, not shortcut. Pizza Calena exactly the way Cali serves it on a Friday night.

The Colombian indulgence on our menu - 
Arepas — hand-milled, house-made cornmeal bread that originated in pre-Columbian Gran Colombia and is now a staple from breakfast tables to late-night street stalls. Ours come paired with our legendary Pico de Gallo and Hogao, with your choice of 12-hour braised beef brisket Birra or a vegetarian Birra. All simply sunning. Add grilled cheese if you want to add the flavour of the coastal version.
Yuca con Hogao — thick, hand-cut cassava chips fried golden, served with Hogao, the slow-cooked
tomato and shallot sauce that Colombian families pass down through generations. Crisp outside, soft
inside, addictive enough that one serve rarely gets you through the night. A present from an amazing tía that keeps on giving and giving.
Patacones Tradicionales — green plantain fried twice until golden, served with house-made Pico de Gallo and fresh guacamole. Four heavenly pieces to a plate. Vegetarian friendly.

Pizza Calena — a Caleño favourite from the Cali region. Rectangular base, tomato, pancetta, sweet
plantain and mozzarella. This isn’t a fusion idea — it’s how Cali has made pizza for decades, and we keep it true.
Tarta de Lulo — for dessert, a Colombian lulo and citrus tart with bruleed coconut and double cream. Lulo is an Andean fruit that tastes like tropical citrus and pineapple had a sharper, quieter
cousin. Trust us on this one.

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Why Los Bravos for Colombian food in Sydney
Colombian food in Sydney has lived in Surry Hills and Newtown until now. Los Bravos brings it directly to Willoughby Road in Crows Nest — walking distance from St Leonards station, Cammeray, Naremburn and North Sydney. Be it a short 2 minute stroll from Crows Nest Metro or a slightly more extended journey from St Leonards. The room holds whoever you’ve brought: a Friday-night small group, a Saturday celebration, a Wednesday catch-up. No table feels rushed.

Los Bravos is pan-Latin. The Colombian dishes share the menu with Argentine empanadas, Peruvian ceviche and Venezuelan snacks — the way you’d find at a real Latin family table where someone’s tío is Argentine and someone’s abuela is Caleño and nobody is asked to pick sides.

Visit us

Shop 2, 59-61 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 4pm to late. Walk-ins welcome. 

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Hogar lejos de casa.