If you’ve ever searched for a Colombian food spot in LA, Vivi’s is the place for you. Founded by Viviana Enriquez, a Colombian from Cali, this restaurant brings the rich flavors of South America to California. With deep love and dedication, Enriquez carries on her grandmother’s culinary legacy, faithfully recreating the exact recipes that marked her childhood.
From Cali to California: A Colombian emigrant dream
“I want to inspire everyone, especially women. I want them to focus on their dreams and make them come true.” Viviana Enriquez arrived in Los Angeles in 2005. While Colombian communities exist across the U.S., the local presence in California was not as developed or prominent as in places like Florida, New York, or New Jersey.
Far from her homeland and her people, Enriquez began to yearn for the comfort that warms every immigrant’s heart: their food. “I missed my food so much that I started wondering, should I try making arepas myself?” she recalls.
Enriquez’s journey into the food world began within her local church community, where she started preparing empanadas and other Colombian snacks for gatherings and celebrations.
Eventually, Enriquez opened a spot of her own: Vivi’s La Sucursal, LA’s beloved Colombian food destination. Located on 8155 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 114, Panorama City, the restaurant’s name is both a reference to Viviana’s name and her home city, Cali, known as “La Sucursal del Cielo” (The Heavenly City).
Vivi’s, Los Angeles’ top Colombian food spot
Vivi’s offers a wide variety of Colombian cuisine, from street food to traditional national dishes.
In addition to arepas, empanadas, chorizos, and perros (Colombian-style hot dogs), Vivi’s also serves classic Colombian breakfasts. “For breakfast, we have huevos pericos — green onions, tomatoes, eggs,” says Enriquez. The menu also features calentao, a hearty morning dish made with rice, beans, and a protein of your choice.
Beyond individual dishes, Vivi’s celebrates family gatherings and shared meals — a hallmark of Colombian tradition. Highlights include the bandeja paisa and, above all, sancocho, a traditional Colombian soup that embodies the country’s spirit of family and celebration. In Colombia, this soup is often cooked outdoors in large pots over a wood fire — always a major event. Vivi’s brings that same spirit to life in Los Angeles.
“Sancocho and bandeja paisa bring families together in Colombia,” explains Enriquez.
Abuela’s seasoning conquers LA’s heart
Over time, thanks to her signature seasoning and flavor, Vivi’s has built a loyal customer base and become a local reference point for authentic Colombian food.
“Right now we have all kinds of customers. Mainly Colombians, yes, but also Mexicans, Americans, Africans — they love our food!” Enriquez says proudly.
Her secret lies in family. Like any self-respecting Latina, Enriquez owes her cooking skills to her beloved grandmother, whose seasonings she still uses today.
“When my customers say, ‘This reminds me of my grandma,’ or ‘When I was young, my grandma used to make that’ — that’s the best feeling. That’s what I love to hear.”
In addition to the restaurant, Vivi’s also operates a food truck, beautifully decorated with iconic symbols of her homeland: the Cocora Valley, Willys jeeps, coffee beans, characters from the Barranquilla Carnival, and of course, the Colombian flag.