Skip to content
71°F





Loading your recommendations…

---------

Guasaca

4.6

2200 W Main St
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 294-8939
Visit Website

Hours:

Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Price Range
Visit Website

See something wrong with this listing? Contact Dan Fitzgerald.

Guasaca
Mapped location of Guasaca

Google Reviews

4.6
Write A Review

See All

Photo of Brie Dorsey Brie Dorsey
Mar 7, 2019 5

I am never disappointed with this place. The food is great and the service is quick. If you’ve never had food from here try going during an off time. It gets super busy for lunch. But the staff is really nice and can help you to understand the menu. This one is located in a really busy center so parking can be tricky but to me that’s the only downside.

Photo of Ann Vogler Ann Vogler
Jun 15, 2019 5

Loved this place! Nice quick eat. Recommend the avocado chicken, steak, and vegetarian. We will definitely come again. High quality quick food.

Photo of Mike Marchetto Mike Marchetto
Jun 2, 2019 5

This counter service restaurant makes the perfect lunch. The food is so flavorful, unique, and filling. Pair it with a very walkable part of Durham and you have a great little afternoon.

Photo of Sourabh Boruah Sourabh Boruah
Apr 23, 2019 4

The best spot near Duke University for a quick and satisfying lunch. Arepas are neither too big, not too small. Just the right size. It may be time to scale up as the queue gets lengthy and it gets quite difficult to find a spot to park. Some seasonal perturbations in the menu, and a few more vegetarian options would be an icing on the cake.

Photo of Corinne Goudreault Corinne Goudreault
Jun 30, 2019 5

This food is so good! The arepas have always been fresh and well cooked when I have been there. The filling is always delicious. Their signature avocado sauce is good with everything. The salsas are very cilantro heavy so I stay away from them. Definitely recommend. Their catering is good as well.

Photo of Leighann Breeze Leighann Breeze
Jun 21, 2019 5

Quick Mexican counter service restaurant. The menu is short but everything is good. There is outdoor seating for people who bring their dogs everywhere (like me).

Photo of Grace Dodge Grace Dodge
Jun 25, 2019 5

Relatively cheap and super delicious. I’ve only ever had the vegetarian options, and they’ve all been amazing. The guasaca sauce is not to be missed and plantains are always a go to. Always more filling than I expect, which is not a problem in my book.

Photo of Zach Milne Zach Milne
Jul 1, 2019 4

Staff was super nice, helpful and polite. The avocado chicken was good. Not out of this world though.

Photo of Collette Jackson Collette Jackson
Jul 30, 2019 5

This South American restaurant has the best Arepas in town. The service is quick and friendly. I placed my order via telephone and it was ready in 5 minutes, being that I said I would pick it in a 10 minutes.

Photo of Eduardo Sandoval Eduardo Sandoval
Aug 12, 2019 5

First time in and I was really impressed. The service was quick and friendly. The arepa was cooked perfectly with a little crunch. The avocado chicken was awsome and the banana that I added to it was delicious! I will definitely be back!

Photo of Barbara Maha Barbara Maha
Jul 9, 2019 4

Stumbled into the place. Great casual restaurant near Duke hospital. Low cost for a great taste. Staff was kind enough to walk my father through the menu as he had never had arepas before. I like the corn based arepas best. Guacamole was also very good.

Photo of r largo r largo
Aug 25, 2019 4

great food! great variety! make sure you ask for the green sauce :) 4/5 - only because I feel like every time I go, have to wait 5-10 for them to make arepas or wait for another ingredient to come out. Service can use a bit of improvement.

Photo of Kaushik Hatti Kaushik Hatti
Sep 28, 2019 5

I was staying in that area for a week and ate at several places around there. Guasaca was the best and I ate here twice! I am sure to visit them whenever I am around that place. Great food.

Photo of Chris Dillman Chris Dillman
Nov 13, 2019 5

First time at this joint. Food was super good. Had a shredded pork bowl with black eyed peas, black beans, pico, and their signature guacamole concoction. Super tasty and super filling. Service was wonderful as well. Thanks for the effort folks!

Photo of Elizabeth Evans Elizabeth Evans
Nov 12, 2019 5

I ordered Guasaca for an event that benefited the organization I work for. It was such an easy process and the manager Mauricio is so patient and easy to work with. If I could give this place a 6th star, I really would. My team is so grateful for businesses like this and hope to continue partnering in the future.

Photo of Jennifer Hennigan Jennifer Hennigan
Oct 25, 2019 5

Fresh food at a reasonable price and infinitely better than Chipotle or Moe's. The cilantro sauce is delicious and unique. Haven't had anything like it elsewhere.

Photo of Lindsey C Lindsey C
Nov 6, 2019 5

Sometimes I eat here for lunch multiple days in a row. Not because it's convenient (it's not... parking can be tough at lunchtime), but because I just adore their arepas that much. The guasaca and cilantro sauce are amazing.

Photo of Lizzie Gerber Lizzie Gerber
Oct 25, 2019 5

Very fresh and yummy. It would be great if the bowl could be larger.That being said, I did think the quality of food was above average.

Photo of Florian Emmerich Florian Emmerich
Nov 21, 2019 5

Great place with amazing Arepas, the food is finger licking delicious. Go there! A little iffy to park. Use the parking garage and get up to third floor. We did park outside and taking the stairs you are pretty close.

Photo of Allan Voichuk Allan Voichuk
Nov 13, 2019 4

Good food. The staff at this location are a little disorganized. Still a good place for fast and healthy food options. I'd go back.

Photo of Elizabeth G Powell Elizabeth G Powell
Dec 4, 2019 5

Neat quick less expensive place to eat for that area. They will offer a taste of something to make sure you will like it. Def recommend trying them out.

Photo of Daniel Ace Daniel Ace
Dec 27, 2019 5

Overall, this is a very good place. They are very plugged in with Duke Hospital/University community so they stay pretty busy with customers even during the holidays. Quality food at fair prices. A solid winning combination.

Photo of Quinton Smith Quinton Smith
Feb 7, 2020 5

Great experience on a first time visit. The food was EXCELLENT, and with friendly staff to boot. Restaurant was also quite clean despite the lunch rush. Will absolutely be back, and soon.

Photo of Erik Bradley Erik Bradley
Mar 6, 2020 5

The food was super good. I have never had anything like it before. They also have a bunch of different sauces to suit your personal tastes. I had fish which was really soft and moist. Then I tried the shredded beef all of which were amazing. The guacamole was one of the best I've had. Deliciously yummy. I would recommend it and go back when I'm in the area.

Photo of Jafet Aparicio Jafet Aparicio
Jan 17, 2020 5

Upon arriving I was greeted with a warm welcome from the entire crew in the front and in the back! Confused with what I wanted to get, the crew member helping me was extremely patient and even suggested a couple of menu options to help my decision which was something I really appreciated. With a smile in their face and friendly laughter, the overall experience was top of the line and impeccable. Cashier was extremely helpful regarding additional options to my food and the chips were a must! Overall very satisfied with my visit and look forward to coming back again.

Photo of Will Sutton Will Sutton
May 6, 2020 5

I went to this place yesterday for the first time. I had never heard of it before but my lovely wife recommended it. Little did I know that she had been there 3 times in a row before. I probably would have never noticed it in the Erwin Square area. But anywho, the photos of the Arepas looked amazing online. I knew that is what I wanted to try. It took a minute to find out what is an Arepa (a flat round, unleveaned Patty of soaked, ground kernels of maize or meal that can be grilled, baked or fried). To make a long story short, I highly recommend the signature vegetarian Arepa! It was amazing.

Photo of Matthew White Matthew White
Mar 4, 2019 5

Guasaca is a delicious restaurant! If you just need a quick bite to eat, this is the place! They have the best arepas! The environment is very clean and almost reminds me of a sweet frog. You build your meal and you just eat it right there!

Photo of Rae Cornwell Rae Cornwell
Apr 5, 2019 5

Very tasty arepas and diverse menu options at a price well-suited for the student population around Durham. We came all the way from Greensboro because there are no arepas here, anywhere. We will be back for sure!

Photo of Michelle Dennis Michelle Dennis
May 22, 2020 5

Great papusa shop. Stopped with a friend from Bolivia who was hankering for very authentic South American cuisine. Prices are great and service was excellent. We will be back.

Photo of LORIELLE B LORIELLE B
Jun 21, 2020 5

The food is the bomb.com they were out of steak so I got chicken. It was absolutely perfect!!! My tastebuds are happy. Thank you so much

Photo of leslie Brown leslie Brown
Jun 24, 2020 4

Quick service and delicious arepas! Very hearty! I got two but one would have done the trick.

Photo of Sabrina D Sabrina D
Jun 17, 2020 5

Great food, affordable prices. The first time I tried it, I wasn't blown away but that may have been because I ordered a white corn arepa. On subsequent visits, I've gone with the yellow corn arepa and they've been AMAZING. Highly recommend.

Photo of Tracey DeShazo Tracey DeShazo
Jul 10, 2020 5

The staff is super friendly and not only is the food delicious it's also reasonably priced. My favorites are the shredded chicken and avocado chicken arepas. I highly recommend giving them a try.

Photo of Nicole Diaz Nicole Diaz
Aug 25, 2020 5

Guasaca is the best! Always delicious and a weeknight favorite. Amazing customer service too!

Photo of Wesley Hayward Wesley Hayward
Aug 25, 2020 4

Shredded chicken was great. Volume/cost not ideal.

Photo of Cayden N Cayden N
Sep 8, 2020 5

The staff followed all Covid-19 regulations, the food was fresh, and the prices were reasonable. I have gone here multiple times before with no fail of quality food and service.

Photo of Ciro Mcalpine Ciro Mcalpine
Sep 4, 2020 5

We enjoyed a tasty lunch at Guasaca today. My brother had a chicken bowl and I had a veggie salad. Everyone was fresh and yummy; my personal fave ingredient are the plantains. Think Chipotle, but better! Do it yourself ingredients; quality of food is just as good as a few years back when we last ate there.

Photo of Soumen Saha Soumen Saha
Sep 15, 2020 5

Love their food and service.

Photo of Keshia Best-Barnes Keshia Best-Barnes
Sep 27, 2020 5

The staff is always extremely friendly at this location. I love the Super Bowl which is my favorite menu item. There are other locations in the area but this one is my favorite. Thank you for always making my visits amazing.

Photo of Michael Anderson Michael Anderson
Sep 29, 2020 5

Very tasty, loved the shredded beef arapa. Clean and did a great job of social distancing.

Photo of James Butts James Butts
Sep 13, 2020 4

Not what I expected but tasty at a decent price with many combinations

Photo of Domino Banks Domino Banks
Oct 9, 2020 5

I loved the food ..the price is affordable. The customer service was perfect it was my first time and they WOW me...no more Chipotle..Guasaca is the place. Plus they set up the distancing for customers..Thank you Guys...Awesome Time!!!

Photo of Nicholas Schneider Nicholas Schneider
Oct 21, 2020 5

Guasaca was very good. I had the shredded beef bowl with red sauce. It was delicious. The staff was very pleasant. Guasaca is a couple of notches above Chipotle.

Photo of Marek K (Elementsofwire) Marek K (Elementsofwire)
Nov 3, 2020 5

Delicious food. It was my first time visiting this place and I wish I knew about it earlier. Super friendly staff and great food. Convenient location and plenty of parking. I was here during the lunch hour and was able to park just fine. Will be definitely back.

Photo of Alexandra Rice Alexandra Rice
Nov 12, 2020 5

Delicious and fresh tasting food! I was visiting Durham and stopped here to find some unique and healthy food. I ordered beef and chicken arepas. I ordered a shredded beef bowl with mushrooms, brown rice, spinach, and cheese for my husband. He loved it and he's normally not into trying different foods. They offer curbside service which is greatly appreciated! I'll be back next time I'm in town!

Photo of Holly Daniel Holly Daniel
Dec 28, 2020 5

The food is amazing all the way across the board! IF you are looking for different and amazing this is it!!! Arepa are my new Favorite FOOD! They are open 7 days a week GO AND GET IT!!

Photo of Siddharth Kawadiya Siddharth Kawadiya
Jan 15, 2021 5

Wipes the floor with Chipotle. The food is always so fresh and tasty! The options are plentiful, every ingredient tastes wonderful, and the arepas are to die for. The best South American restaurant in the area, period.

Photo of Kimberly Fuentes Kimberly Fuentes
Jan 26, 2021 5

Came to this place a few months ago from NY and OMG was this so freaking delicious. Never had this type of food before and I instantly fell in love 😍 with their stuffed arepas. Amazing flavors!! Definitely recommend you try

Photo of MK MK
Feb 14, 2021 3

Food is good but when getting your order, they should stop using a marker/ink on the paper in which they serve the arepas. The ink touches all over the food and clearly it is not for human consumption. This may be practical but not safe. I stopped going this place since every time I had to spend a lot of time to stop them using the marker on my order.

Photo of Ashlyn Whiteside Ashlyn Whiteside
Mar 4, 2021 5

If you like chipotle this will immediately become your new favorite fast casual spot. Fantastic food and super friendly manager! The arepas are the perfect blend of savory and sweet and all the flavors are so balanced. The pork is delicious and the cheese they use goes so well with everything!!

Photo of Ray Wag Ray Wag
Feb 12, 2021 5

Food and service is excellent and they do currently have limited dine in seating and a few outdoor tables, so if you need a good quick lunch or wanna relax during a meal, check them out!

Photo of Teri Groves Teri Groves
Apr 9, 2021 5

Love this place. Got two vegan gluten free arepas and had to eat them both in one setting. So good

Photo of Daniel M. Daniel M.
Apr 2, 2021 5

Fantastic every time! A wonderful break from the typical to-go burrito experience. But please open one in the triad.

Photo of Bobbi Armentrout Bobbi Armentrout
Mar 27, 2021 3

Loud (not from customers bc there were only a few) and employees' accents were difficult to understand. Everyone was nice, but the language barrier plus the noise made it a nerve racking experience. Bathroom was clean. Food looked delicious but lacked flavor. The shredded beef was good, but other additions missed the mark. Although a chain, Chipotle beats it by a long shot.

Photo of Debbie Blake-Knox Debbie Blake-Knox
May 30, 2021 5

Friendly service - great food and flavors! We love the fact that items are priced individually so that you only pay for what you really want to eat. Arepas are out new favorite!

Photo of Omar Torres Omar Torres
Jun 13, 2021 4

The food is excellent. I loved the salmon arepas, they were really good. We tried the chicken and it was good as well. My only complaint was that the beer is barely cool since they're on the open refrigerator.

Photo of J Ferguson J Ferguson
May 17, 2021 3

Please ask your employees to put their masks over their noses. I generally have good experiences with this place, but today was pretty off-putting. I placed an order online to pickup 15-20 minutes later. I arrived maybe ten minutes even after it was due to be ready and called to request that the order be brought out (it was just one arepa). The girl on the phone said she would be out shortly. I waited for ten more minutes after that (forty minutes since I had placed the online order) and could see inside that it didn’t seem so busy that the order couldn’t have been run out to me. So I went inside since I felt that I was just being ignored since I was waiting outside in the pickup area. What was upsetting was that I placed an order for curbside to avoid exposure to covid. I do this when possible, and typically without issue. As soon as I walked in, the cashier is simply standing at the register, not busy, and with her mask below her nose. I asked if I could either have my order or a refund since it was way past time for my order to be ready. She then looks at the two bags on the pickup shelf, sees that one is mine, and sarcastically asks, “so you don’t WANT it?” Yes, I wanted it when I showed up, since it was ready, you guys weren’t busy, and I didn’t want to be in a place where the cashier doesn’t have regard for the safety of others. An “I’m sorry” at the very least, would have smoothed things over some. She seemed indifferent, on another planet, and completely lacking in initiative and customer service skills. It’s a shame, but I wouldn’t recommend curbside service, if I would even recommend this place at all after my experience today.

Photo of Mr. A. C. Mr. A. C.
Jun 5, 2021 5

Excellent! Busy, open to the public. Easy service. Food very delicious. Must get a salad with the fixing, Super Bowl. Great value.

Photo of Renee P Renee P
Jun 5, 2021 5

Loved it! This was my first time eating here and I'm never eating at Chipotle again. Guasaca has more options and flavor.

Photo of Lillian Hagermeister Lillian Hagermeister
Jun 24, 2021 3

Pretty good but not consistent. I always get it to go. Hot or not hot food? Reasonable amount of chips or 1/3 a bag? Will I get the sauces I requested? Nothing is certain.

Photo of Mark Wlaz Mark Wlaz
Jul 24, 2021 5

You create your own meal / dish. The choices of proteins and other components is far greater than that of a major Mexican chain and what it has to offer. The food was incredibly fresh and tasty. The restaurant was very clean. We chose to eat at one of the outdoor tables since there was a nice summer breeze. This was our first time dining at Guanacaste and we highly recommend it.

Photo of Mark Mark
Jul 27, 2021 3

Love this place. I've been there several times. Unfortunately today I showed up on time to pick up my order. It was not ready when they said it would be. I had to wait 20 minutes because I had not even made it yet. They took care of everyone else that was walking in even after they knew about my pickup. I had originally given this place five stars but because of the absolutely horrendous, unforgivable experience today July 2021 I had to change it to a three.

Photo of Jack Dwyer Jack Dwyer
Jul 26, 2021 4

Good food not great. It was yummy but didn’t stand out. I had a salad and an arepa. Watch one today, so I was able to save half of the bowl for a second meal