Casa Latina & Cacao Lab

Now open along Persiaran Ampang's privy food block, this Latino joint promises ethnic dishes for a unique wind-down dinner with your buddies. At the top of that list is their Arepa (RM12), a quintessentially Venezualan delicacy. Made from grilled ground maize dough, the buns are stuffed with fillings ranging from chicken and avocado to marinated pulled beef. The latter is especially tasty, offering robust flavours alongside the soft and slightly grainy texture of the buns. For a smaller bite, get the Empanadas (RM6 per piece), deep-fried pockets filled with juicy meat. Our favourite has to be the prawn, bolstered by aromatic chopped greens. The cafe also doubles as a cacao lab, crafting luscious chocolate bites like a zesty Passion Tea (RM7) and a delightfully nutty Dark Almond Crunch (RM7) for dessert. Those who get off work early should look out for their happy hour (4-8pm) deals — RM15 wines and three for RM15 empanadas!
Avg price per person: RM40

Creamy and fragrant but just a touch short of flavourful, the Moqueca Bahiana is a lot like our local masak lemak dishes. The chef says it's a Northeastern Brazilian dish, often enjoyed ladled over rice. I'd have liked it to pack a bit more punch, found in their other offerings. The hot, crispy prawn Empanada (RM6) takes the top spot on my list of favourites here, followed by their friendly service.