Where Brazilian & Portuguese Flavors Unite in Every Bite

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Marisol and Diego Rivera, Sabor Unido was born from a dream that simmered for years. Both first-generation immigrants—Marisol from Puerto Rico and Diego from Mexico—shared a deep passion for food and a vision to honor their roots while embracing the many cultures that make up their city.

“When we first moved here, there weren’t many places where you could sit down and feel the warmth of home,” Marisol reflects. “We wanted to create a space where people could come as they are and taste a little piece of our heritage and more.”

The menu at Sabor Unido is as colorful and lively as the mural that graces its main dining wall—a painting of two hands, one brown and one tan, holding a bowl of arroz con pollo. The mural, created by a local artist, symbolizes unity and nourishment, which are at the heart of everything the restaurant stands for.

From the moment you walk in, Sabor Unido greets you with the rich aromas of slow-cooked stews, grilled meats, and freshly baked bread. The restaurant’s open kitchen design allows diners to witness the care and skill that goes into every dish. Chef Diego, who runs the kitchen, weaves together ingredients and techniques from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and even a few unexpected places.

One of the most popular dishes is the “Plato Unido,” a generous sampler of Puerto Rican pernil (slow-roasted pork shoulder), Mexican mole enchiladas, and Dominican tostones (fried plantains), served alongside a small salad tossed with Peruvian aji amarillo dressing. It’s a plate designed to be shared, just like a family meal.

“Food has always been about bringing people together,” Diego explains. “In our cultures, we sit, we share, we talk, and we eat. We wanted to bring that same energy to Sabor Unido.”

But it’s not just the food that draws people in—it’s the atmosphere. Every Friday night, Sabor Unido hosts “Cultura Nights,” featuring live music from local bands, spoken word performances, or even salsa dancing lessons. The events are free to the community, and the restaurant often partners with neighborhood organizations to spotlight local artists and entrepreneurs.

“Our goal is to uplift not just our own culture but everyone’s culture,” says Marisol, who manages the front of the house and organizes events. “This city is a mosaic of identities, and we want to reflect that.”

Guests often say dining at Sabor Unido feels like being welcomed into someone’s home. The warm lighting, rustic wooden tables, and mismatched chairs give it an unpretentious charm. On the walls, family photos—both of Marisol and Diego’s families and of their customers—tell stories of love, resilience, and togetherness.

During the height of the pandemic, when many restaurants were forced to close, Sabor Unido became a beacon of hope for the community. Marisol and Diego pivoted quickly, turning their kitchen into a community kitchen and providing free meals to frontline workers and families in need.

“We couldn’t just sit back and watch people go hungry,” Diego says. “We knew we had a kitchen, and we had to use it for good.”

Today, Sabor Unido continues that legacy through its “Comida para Todos” (Food for All) program, where they donate a portion of every meal sold to support local food banks and shelters.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Sabor Unido is how it has brought together people from different backgrounds. On any given night, you’ll see an older couple sharing empanadas at the bar, a group of friends laughing over pitchers of sangria, and families with kids learning to dance to the rhythms of a live salsa band.

As Marisol says, “When people come to Sabor Unido, we want them to feel seen, to feel heard—and to leave full, in every sense of the word.”

In a world that sometimes feels divided, Sabor Unido is a reminder that when we sit down to eat together, we share more than just food—we share stories, histories, and a sense of belonging.

So, if you ever need a good meal and even better company, Sabor Unido is waiting to welcome you home.