San Carbon: A Popular Steakhouse in Medellín Worth Visiting

San Carbon is a steakhouse in Medellín that is very popular with locals. It’s reportedly the largest steakhouse in Medellín and has some very good steaks. San Carbon is known as a parilla, which is a restaurant where grilled-meats are served.

I have eaten at San Carbon many times over the past seven years. And it’s one of my favorite steakhouses in Medellín. In my experience, the meats are well-prepared to order and the food is consistently good. In addition, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere and they frequently have live music.

Since this restaurant is located high along Avenida Las Palmas, it has a good view of Medellín from its lower patios. It’s also an open-air restaurant with a thatched roof. Since it’s located relatively high up it can get cold at night. So, dress appropriately. Furthermore, it’s an upscale place that caters to a more sophisticated customer base. But jeans and a nice shirt are fine to wear.

Note the above photo of inside the restaurant is courtesy of San Carbon.

Entrance to San Carbon

History of San Carbon

On April 23, 2003, San Carbon first opened its doors to the public, thanks to the dream of a group of friends who came up with the idea of ​​a good steakhouse restaurant that they felt Medellín needed.

But San Carbon wanted to go further than just good steaks. So, it offers complementary live entertainment along with its gastronomic service, which provides customers a varied program of artistic and musical shows weekly. They reportedly have live music every day they are open except Monday.

Thanks to its ample size, San Carbon is also used for events, seminars and training. And it also sometimes hosts tastings of wines and liquors. Furthermore, it hosts some parties for special dates and holidays, with shows of music and dance, particularly for New Years each year.

Since it’s a very sizable restaurant it can handle large parties. I have seen some large birthday parties with over 40 people being held at the restaurant.

Angus Ribeye steak at San Carbon

The Food Menu

Since San Carbon is a steakhouse, meats are the specialty. And they have many meats on the menu, including:

• Churrasco – 46,500 pesos
• Entrecot – 41,500 pesos
• Filet Mignon – 42,500 pesos
• Punta de Anca – 47,500 pesos
• Solomito San Carbon – 48,500 pesos
• Solomito Oriental – 43,500 pesos
• Sterling – 49,500 pesos
• Malevo San Carbon – 49,500 pesos
• Bife de Paleta – 42,500 pesos
• Mix of Meats – 49,500 pesos
• San Carbon Mix of Meats – 67,500 pesos

And the following are imported cuts:

• Trip-Tip steak – 65,500 pesos
• Short ribs – 53,500 pesos
• Flap steak – 71,500 pesos
• Picana (sirloin cap) – 67,500 pesos
• New York steak – 72,500 pesos
• Ribeye – 72,500 pesos
• Porterhouse – 90,500
• Tomahawk – 209,500

Each of the steaks comes with at least one side like a choice of potato such as baked potato, mashed potatoes or French fries. They have several other side dishes including bread, patacones, rice, beans, arepas, pasta and Chorizo for an additional cost.

Also, on the menu are 10 different pork dishes ranging in price from 37,500 to 62,500 pesos. In addition, they have over 15 different chicken and fish dishes ranging in price from 38,500 to 45,500 pesos. Also, there are two “surf and turf” options on the menu – one with solomito with prawns for 83,500 pesos and the other with an Angus cut of beef with prawns for 131,000 pesos.  And they have one pasta dish on the menu for 47,500 pesos.

Salad bar at San Carbon

Furthermore, the menu has 17 different appetizers including Portobello mushrooms, chicharrón, ceviche and several other appetizers that range in price from 16,500 to 27,500 pesos.The menu also has a trip to the salad bar available for 22,500 pesos.

Also, there is a children’s menu with five options with prices ranging from 25,500 to 36,500 pesos.

They also have several deserts on the menu that I haven’t tried, as I never seem to have room for dessert after a big steak.

The bar at San Carbon

Drink Options

San Carbon has a full bar with many drink options. First of all, they have a large wine list with over 70 different options by the bottle from Argentina, Australia, Chile, France and Spain ranging in price from 75,000 to 555,000 pesos. On the wine list they also have a few half bottle wines at 55,000 pesos. And they have several wines available by the cup for 19,000 pesos.

In addition, they have many whisky options, many rum options, many vodkas, several sangrias, several tequilas, two aguardientes, brandy, cognac, several champagnes and many different cocktails available.

Also, there are several beers on the menu including Aguila, Budweiser, Club Colombia, Reeds and Stella Artiois with prices ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 pesos.

Furthermore, on the drink menu, you’ll find several other options including bottled water, lemonade, natural juices, Red Bull, sodas and tea with prices ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 pesos.

Meal with a friend at San Carbon recently

My Recent Experience at San Carbon

I recently went to dinner with a friend and we were both in the mood for steaks. So, we decided to go to San Carbon.  This was on a Tuesday evening. So, we didn’t call for a reservation, as I knew based on my previous experiences that the large restaurant typically only gets busy on Thursday to Saturday.

Punta de Anca steak

I ordered the Angus Ribeye steak and my friend ordered the Punta de Anca steak. And when the steaks arrived, they were cooked perfectly to order and were very tasty. We also had a half-bottle of Malbec wine with dinner. And the restaurant had a nice atmosphere with live music playing while we were there.

Our total bill for the two of us was 196,000 pesos ($69) including tip. This was for two steaks with a baked potato and mashed potatoes, wine, bottled water and extra side dishes.

How to Get to San Carbon

San Carbon is located in El Pobaldo on Avenida Las Palmas, which is one of the routes to the José María Córdova international airport.

The easiest way to get to San Carbon is via a Medellín taxi, as most drivers will know where it is. You just have to tell the driver “San Carbon restaurante en Avenida Las Palmas” or give the address below.

And it’s easy to catch a taxi at the restaurant. They will call a taxi for you that typically will arrive in about five minutes in my experience.

Website: http://www.sancarbon.com.co/

Address: Calle 14 # 30-10 Avenida Las Palmas, El Poblado

Phone: +57 4 444 7602

Email: diseno@sancarbon.com

Hours: Monday to Wednesday: Noon to 10 pm, Thursday to Saturday: Noon to midnight or later, Sunday: closed.

Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley

Steakhouses are popular in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. And on the Medellin Guru website we have looked at 12 of the best steakhouses in the area:

1. Lucio Carbon y Vino – a popular steakhouse in Envigado with very good steaks.
2. Barbaro Cocina Primitiva – a popular steakhouse with two restaurants in Medellín with good steaks.
3. El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada – a steakhouse chain with three restaurants in Medellín.
4. San Carbon – reportedly the largest steakhouse in Medellín.
5. La Pampa – a chain with six Argentinian steakhouses in Medellín.
6. Cambalanche – a popular Argentinian steakhouse in the Patio Bonito barrio of El Poblado.
7. Malevo – a popular Argentinian steakhouse in the Manila barrio of El Poblado.
8. Voraz Restaurante – a popular steakhouse in Laureles.
9. Toro Restaurante – another popular steakhouse in Laureles.
10. La tRES uno – a small steakhouse in Envigado with good steaks.
11. Black Pepper Steakhouse – a popular steakhouse in Envigado.
12. Mama Santa Parrillada – arguably the best steakhouse in Sabaneta.

In addition, we included San Carbon in our list of the 12 best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.

Solomito con langostinos (beef tenderloin with prawns), photo courtesy of San Carbon

The Bottom Line: San Carbon

San Carbon is pretty popular on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and holidays in my experience. So, I recommend calling for reservations on these days.

Service has usually been excellent in my experience and the atmosphere feels intimate with a nice ambience even though it’s a large restaurant. I went to San Carbon with my father when he visited last year and he said his steak was excellent. And my father is picky about steaks and normally grills his own steaks at home in the U.S.

If you are looking for a good steak with a nice atmosphere, San Carbon is recommended.

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Editors note: updated on September 8, 2019 with the current menu options and updated menu prices at San Carbon.