At La Cocina de Abuela, a vibrant family-owned restaurant, traditional Colombian flavors meet the convenience of counter-service dining. With an assembly line-style setup, guests are invited to build their perfect bowl, savoring fresh, made-from-scratch dishes that tell the story of generations of Colombian heritage.
One of the co-owners of Abuelas, 43-year-old Sara Puyana, said she was inspired to open the restaurant due to her own experiences of looking for a Latin restaurant that would serve a quick meal in contrast to most sit-down dining experiences.
“What we did have here was sit-down, higher-end, but you couldn't find an easy, quick spot, you know? I just want a sandwich, I just want a bowl,” she said. “You had to sit down, and for students that's inaccessible.”
After taking inspiration from one of her childhood staple restaurants named Chico’s in Hialeah, Florida, Puyana opened La Cocina de Abuela in 2018.
Although the main goal of the restaurant is to provide good quality meals that are easy and convenient to obtain, Puyana also expressed her desire to create a family-friendly and inviting space where people of all ages can feel welcomed and enjoy themselves. Abuelas has an outdoor space featuring a playground for children and parents to enjoy.
“When we opened Abuelas, I was pregnant with my third daughter, and so I opened Abuelas so that I could have a space where she could hang out and play,” she said. “The whole reason is for my kids.”
With her vision of creating a space for her children and family in mind, the name “La Cocina de Abuela” felt like a natural choice, considering the restaurant is based on the recipes and dishes crafted by Puyana’s mother, Marta Puyana.
Drawing inspiration from their hometown of Barranquilla, sitting on the coast of Colombia, Puyana and her mother feature dishes like Arroz con Coco, a flavorful coconut rice, and Ensalada de Repollo, a vibrant slaw made with carrots, cabbage and tomatoes.
The restaurant also serves a traditional Colombian dish named a Bandeja Paisa, which is often described as a hearty, one-plate meal that typically includes a variety of ingredients such as grilled steak, fried pork belly (chicharrón), a fried egg, rice, beans, avocado, arepa (a cornmeal flatbread) and plantains. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it serves a Colombian version of oxtail as part of the restaurant’s specials.
In addition to her mother’s council and recipes, other members of Puyana’s family contribute to the family business as well.
Her father had been in charge of managing the registers and making the deposits for all the stores, but when her sister moved to Gainesville in July, she took over the bank account and register duties. Her brother bakes the bread sold in the restaurant as well.
With various family members contributing to the restaurant's operations, La Casa de Abuela has become more than just a business; it has also grown to hold significant meaning for the local Latin community. Puyana explained that for many in the Latin community, finding a place that reminds them of home is important.
“If you’re Latino and you’re missing something from where you're from, you try to find a place that reminds you of that,” she said. “We’ve had the chance to meet so many families through owning the restaurant. I have so many friends who were customers at first.”
The family-oriented atmosphere extends beyond just the ownership; it also translates to the staff.
“It is such a good environment, I feel like I’m at home here,” Luis Angulo, a 26-year-old cashier at the restaurant, said. Angulo is the son of the restaurant’s manager and works alongside his mother in the family-focused atmosphere.
Angulo noted the restaurant has an equal amount of frequent clientele and newcomers, and both audiences really enjoyed the dishes sold at Abuelas.
“Our food has a flavor that you can't really find anywhere else in Gainesville,” Angulo said.
Angulo’s thoughts on the food are shared by both first-time visitors and returning customers. Jaela Auguste, an 18-year-old UF kinesiology sophomore, said Abuelas has a special style that can’t be found anywhere else in Gainesville.
“The food was really, really tasty, it's flavorful,” she said. “I would come back.”
La Cocina de Abuela’s blend of authentic Colombian flavors, family traditions and welcoming atmosphere has not only made it a favorite among locals but has also allowed the Puyana family to create a space that feels like home for everyone who walks through its doors. Whether it's first-time visitors or returning customers, the restaurant continues to be a cornerstone of the local Latino community, where food is not just a meal, but a way to connect with culture, family and each other.
Contact Gabriella Chavez gchavez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @gabriellach19.
Gabriella Chavez is a senior journalism major and Spring 2025 Caimán reporter. Whenever she's not writing, you can find Gabriella reading, creating playlists or playing with her cat.
