Catering To Impress
$120 starting price
Chicagoland area
Service area
Juliana Barrientos
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Based in Chicago, IL, Cocina Fusion is a wedding caterer specializing in menus that combine Italian, Latin, Mexican, and American cuisines. Boasting over a decade of catering experience, this family-centric company passionately produces food bursting with flavors, colors, and textures. Every gourmet dish is designed to tantalize your taste buds and add a dash of culture to your wedding reception.
Cocina Fusion is owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Chef Anaxi and Juliana. Through their dedication to excellence and tireless work ethic, the pair built the company from the ground up, gaining recognition for their flavorful dishes and cuisine combinations. Together, Anaxi and Juliana continue to cook and serve delicious and mouthwatering food for wedding events and private gatherings.
Cocina Fusion offers customized catering services and bar packages for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, and wedding receptions. You can tailor your dining experience with taco bars, interactive dinner stations, and churro carts, enjoying tasty and wholesome foods. Wedding packages include linens, dinnerware, and serving staff.
Hispanic or Latinx-owned and Woman-owned Business
Pricing details
No pricing details yet
We’re here to help! Find other vendors that suit your budget.
Continue browsing vendors
Details
Cuisine
American
Fusion
Italian
Latin American
Mexican
Specialty
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Halal
Nut Free
Sugar Free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Chef Stations
Family Style
Menu Tastings
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Juliana Barrientos
Owner
I was born in Cali, Colombia and graduated with a Business management degree from Boise State University. Upon moving to Chicago and meeting Anaxi ,my husband and also head chef of Cocina Fusion, we opened the doors of Cocina Fusion and started with this amazing business adventure. Our business has grown at great rates as well as our family :) we have 2 girls and 1 boy! We enjoy traveling and eating authentic street foods!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0224 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Cocina Fusion is highly praised for its exceptional food, attentive service, and professional staff for weddings in Chicago. Guests loved the menu, including dishes like Chimichurri Steak and Chicken Marsala, with standout items like the late-night tacos and churro cart. Couples appreciated the thoughtful gestures, prompt communication, and easy planning process, making Cocina Fusion a top choice for those seeking delicious, affordable, and well-coordinated catering services. Their Latin cuisine, exceptional service, and attention to detail left a lasting impression, leading to high recommendations from numerous satisfied customers.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Kristyn R
Highlighted review.
5.0
10/16/2024
I can’t say enough good things about Cocina Fusion! Every guest at our wedding RAVED about all of the food served; between cocktail hour, dinner (in particular the spinach and cheese stuffed chicken was a huge crowd pleaser!), and the late snacks, our guests had so many good things to say about the food. Juliana and the staff were all fantastic and great to work with, and one of the things we really appreciated was a plate of the cocktail hour appetizers being hand delivered to my husband and I right after the ceremony so we could be sure to eat and have them all! Highly recommend booking them!
Vendor response 10/17/2024
Kristyn and Colin, it was a pleasure to be part of your vendor team for your beautiful Art...
ifact Events wedding. Not even a week had passed, and you were ready to review us! (That means a lot) Felicitaciones! Juliana.
Wendy O
5.0
1/20/2025
Amazing food - Juliana and her husband were thoughtful, very helpful and the service on the day of the event was 10/10.
Any questions?
Pedro U
5.0
1/01/2025
Working with Juliana & Cocina Fusion was one of the best & easiest decisions we made for our wedding! Throughout the entire process, from the tasting to the day of the wedding, Juliana was so great with communicating with us. She was always available to answer our questions and responded so quickly which always gave my wife and I peace of mind! Whenever there was a guest count change or anything that came up through the process, Juliana was always so accommodating and took care of everything. Juliana was there during our final walk through and was there the night of the wedding to ensure everything ran smoothly which meant the world to us. She truly felt like family afterwards ! Also , the food was absolutely amazing. Heard nothing but great things from our family and a lot of them asked where they could get that food again ! I highly recommend Cocina Fusion !
Julianna G
5.0
12/31/2024
We are incredibly happy with our decision to have Cocina Fusion cater our wedding on November 8th 2024. Throughout the entirety of the process from the tasting until the event, Cindy and the team did a fantastic job. Communication was prompt when needed and the vision for our event was clear it certainly added peace of mind to have a caterer that was very familiar with our venue and most of the other vendors as well. For the event we selected the mini crab cakes, beef empanadas, bruschetta and the big hit for our guests which was the chicken and waffle. The pear dinner salad was a perfect choice with our dual plate dinner which was the Chimichurri Steak and the Chicken Marsala. The risotto was perfect and is a must have for a side option. Perhaps the best aspect of Cocina Fusion was the affordable option to add on the late night tacos and churro cart. These were some of the best authentic tasting tacos and churros we have had and helped keep the night alive up until the very end. If you are getting married in the Chicagoland area Cocina Fusion should be at the very top of the list of options to consider.
Daniel P
5.0
12/30/2024
I cannot recommend Cocina Fusion enough as a wedding caterer! From the moment we tasted their food, we knew they were the perfect fit for our special day. Not only was their food the best tasting out of all the caterers we tried, but their prices were also incredibly reasonable. Their chimichurri steak was an absolute standout - it was the best I've ever had. But it wasn't just the main course that impressed us. The appetizers and cocktails were equally delicious and beautifully presented.
But what truly sets Cocina Fusion apart is their exceptional service. They made sure that my partner and I actually got to eat on our wedding day by bringing apps to our suite right after the ceremony. It was such a thoughtful gesture and truly made us feel taken care of (highly recommend the empanadas for this part!).
The staff at Cocina Fusion were also amazing. They were professional, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure our guests were well taken care of. Overall, Cocina Fusion exceeded all of our expectations and played a huge role in making our wedding day perfect. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a dream caterer - they truly are the best in Chicago. Thank you to Cindy and everyone at Cocina Fusion for making our special day even more memorable!
Madeline P
5.0
12/13/2024
We had a great experience with Cocina Fusion! Our wedding guests have raved about the food, and Cindy was super easy to work with in terms of planning.
Helen K
5.0
12/04/2024
If you're looking for a caterer who makes unbelievably delicious food, has incredible attention to detail, and is extremely professional, please choose Cocina Fusion. If I could give Cocina Fusion 10 stars, I would. I knew we wanted Cocina as our caterer when we had their food at my best friend's wedding 2 years ago. Their food was that amazing that I still remembered everything we ate and my friend was raving about her experience with them.
We worked with Cindy starting from our tasting until the day of our wedding. Cindy was amazing to work with and her team is so on top of everything at all times. After we signed with Cocina Fusion, Cindy made sure to send reminder emails about all of our deadlines but never made us feel pressured. We really appreciated that, especially in the midst of stressful wedding planning.
Cocina Fusion's food is the BEST wedding food I have ever eaten at all weddings I've been to and all of our guests felt the exact sentiment, especially my family! It made us so happy that our guests enjoyed our cocktail hour and reception so much and that is all thanks to our wonderful caterer. And best of all, we had 4 people at our wedding who had their wedding food catered by Cocina so you know that Cocina is a top choice for weddings in Chicago. We are so grateful for the team and we cannot recommend them enough.
Stephanie L
5.0
11/12/2024
Cocina Fusion was AMAZING!! We could not be happier with the service and the delicious food. We really wanted to try something new with the taco bar and it was a total hit. We still have guests talking about how good everything was. The churro cart was also a nice little touch! Highly recommend them. We wish we could get married all over again just to eat the food.
Caissa M
5.0
11/07/2024
We only went to one food tasting because as soon as we had Cocina's food- it was a done deal. My husband and I take pride in serving good food for our wedding as we are big foodies!! We LOVED everything we had during our tasting, the variety, the flavor, and the service from day one. Cindy and team were exceptional in making our dream wedding perfect. Cindy was responsive, organized, collaborative, and helped us a lot with the way our floor plan went. Loved everything about it. Okay now the food- we are now one month in and we still have guests tell us how good the food was for our wedding. Some telling us that it was the best wedding food they ever had, especially the stuffed mushroom chicken! On the day of the wedding, we appreciate how attentive Cindy and team was with the details of everything we talked about during the final walk through. It was executed perfectly, everything ran smooth and on time. We are so grateful to have them as our catering team and so thankful of how they took care of all of us from start to finish. Thank you Cocina! We will always recommend you to family & friends.
Shannon F
5.0
11/02/2024
Cocina Fusion was amazing! We got so many compliments on the food and drinks from everyone at our wedding! It was all delicious. Cindy and her team were so communicative and flexible on anything we wanted. They were full service which was a huge bonus, they handled all the linens, glassware, tables, and it made it so easy on us. They had worked at our venue before and they knew exactly what to do while they were there. They worked with us on our budget and answered any and all questions in a timely manner. Cindy was seriously the best and we are so thankful we used their services for our big day!!
Vendor response 11/04/2024
Thanks so much for taking the time to review and for taking the extra step to add these be...
autiful pictures! Salud, From the Cocina Fusion Team.
Lucille B
5.0
10/21/2024
Juliana and her team were reliable, responsible, and professional from our initial tasting to our wedding reception! All of our guests loved the food, and Cocina Fusion had the best menu by far of any caterer we tried, so it was a no-brainer to work with them! Hiring them is the best decision you could make for your wedding!
Molly L
5.0
10/09/2024
Cocina Fusión went above and beyond to meet our needs! We knew when me and my husband went for our tasting for our wedding just how professional this company is as well as Cindy. Cindy was very organized when helping us choose everything for our reception. The food was outstanding, and that’s the one thing everyone keeps talking about from our reception about how great the food was! If I could give more stars I would! I highly recommend them for any event!
Holland R
5.0
10/04/2024
Cocina Fusion blew my expectations out of the water with their food & service during our wedding! We opted for buffet style with the Argentinian and Puerto Rican options, and so many people told me it was the best wedding food they had ever had. The late night taco bar was also a hit. Highly recommend working with Cocina Fusion, especially if you are doing buffet style.
Vendor response 10/04/2024
Holland, thanks for your fabulous review. We are thrilled that our catering at your Bridge...
port wedding was a highlight of your special day. Wishing you both all the best! Cindy
Becca S
5.0
10/04/2024
Cocina Fusion was absolutely fantastic to work with from start to finish of our wedding planning. We had such a lovely tasting with them and knew right away that they were the right vendor for us. Prior to the wedding day we had a meeting to finalize details and I had mentioned that I wish I had chosen gold flatware and they did a complimentary upgrade for us! Truly went above and beyond to make sure I had the perfect day. After dinner, I had several people come up to me raving about the food. Truly would recommend Cocina Fusion for any Chicago brides.
Vendor response 10/04/2024
Hi Becca, we are so glad that our catering contributed to your special day and that you ha...
d a pleasant experience throughout the wedding process. Best wishes for your future together! Cindy.
Kathryn C
5.0
9/28/2024
There are truly no words to describe how incredible Cocina Fusion really is. Juliana and her husband are so professional, warm, and kind. When you go to your tasting you feel like they've invited you to their home. Juliana is so attentive to your needs and so quick to respond. No detail was missed. I knew at the first bite this was our choice for catering.
Our guests cannot stop talking about the food and everyone told us it's the "best wedding food they have ever had!". For appetizers, we had the bacon wrapped date, beef arepa(favorite), chicken empanada, and the burrata fig crostini - all of which was outstanding! For the entree, guests had a choice of a duo plate which included stuffed chicken (to die for) & steak, or the stuffed poblano pepper. Both options came with a side of marbled mashed potatoes and green beans. Everything on the entree plate was perfectly cooked and delicious! We had a lot of guests with dietary restrictions and they also raved about the food.
The wait staff was literally incredible. They were ON IT! Everything came out quickly and hot. We also opted for wine service and they made sure glasses continued to be full through dinner service!
Food was one of the most important vendors and we made the BEST choice possible. Thank you for making our wedding food dreams come true! PERFECTION!
Vendor response 10/04/2024
Hola Kathryn!
I'm delighted that our catering helped make your wedding day memorable. I a...
ppreciate you noticing the hard work that goes into this type of event. It was a pleasure working for your families. Salud, Juliana.
Kasia P
5.0
9/27/2024
We had Cocina Fusion cater for our wedding and they were INCREDIBLE! The food was absolutely delicious and the team was so wonderful to work with. Cindy was our catering manager for our wedding and she went above and beyond throughout the entire planning process as well as on the wedding day. She always responded to all of our emails so promptly, gave us incredible advice whenever we needed it, and made sure that everything ran smoothly on our day. Cindy was truly so wonderful to work with, our biggest thank you to her!!
And the food was beyond incredible! It was way better than your standard "wedding food" - we had so many guests raving about it afterwards! For our entree, we went with the salmon with mango pico de gallo & the chimichurri chicken - SO good!! And for our appetizers, we had corn & cheese empanadas, bacon-wrapped dates, arepas, and mushroom risotto bites. Everything was so delicious! I personally can't stop thinking about how good the empanadas were. We also had late night hot dogs, sliders, and churros which was an amazing addition to the event.
Cocina Fusion was truly amazing. We would hire them again in a heartbeat. We plan on recommending them to all of our family and friends for their weddings/events. Thank you to Cindy and the rest of the CF team!!
Amanda O
5.0
9/25/2024
What's not to say about Cocina Fusion that you haven't already read in these amazing 5 star reviews! They are without a doubt the best vendor we had at our wedding, and honestly one of the first ones we booked as we planned our September 20, 2024 wedding!
Cindy and her team are without a doubt the most attentive and her relationship with our venue manager was pure bliss. They made sure that we were able to eat our delicious appetizers and personally handed us our signature drinks as we entered cocktail hour. Just a prime example of attentiveness they had the entire day!
Our guests wouldn't stop complimenting the food and I'm so glad they loved it as much as we did when we had our first tasting! Everything was so perfect!
Muchisimas Gracias Juliana, Cindy and Team!
Nely & Arturo R
5.0
9/24/2024
I would recommend Cocina Fusion for all your catering needs! We were blown away at our tasting and took leftovers home to my parents - my parents tried it and said "cancel your other tastings book them". my family is latino
and i wanted authentic Latin food served at our wedding, and already had a high bar coming from a family of good cooks - their dishes did not disappoint and all our guests raved about the food, especially the churro cart! Cindy was an absolutely pleasure to work with and was so responsive to all our needs. thank you so much Cocina fusion!
Andrew F
5.0
9/22/2024
Cocina Fusion catered our September wedding in Chicago, and the experience was perfect. Leading up to the big day, they were always available and in frequent communication, making catering stress-free. Our two tastings were outstanding...it was hard to pick just 2 stations because everything was delicious. Finally, on the wedding day, many of our guests specifically complimented the food as a highlight of the evening. We highly recommend Cocina Fusion!
Nayeli S
5.0
9/19/2024
Cocina fusion has been the best caterer we’ve ever booked. All my guests loved the food!! Their team were amazing the day of our wedding. They made the process as stress free as possible with their communication and hospitality. Definitely would recommend Cocina Fusion to anybody looking for high end Latino cuisine!
Maggie L
5.0
9/14/2024
Cocina Fusion catered our recent wedding and we are SO happy we got to work with them! Juliana and her team are so kind and helpful. We were indecisive about our menu and linen choices, but they were very patient with us, providing us with perspective and advice to help make those decisions. The tasting experience leading up to the wedding was wonderful - my husband and I went with my parents and had the best time getting to know Juliana and her team. And of course - the FOOD! We ended up going with a plated meal with the steak with chimichurri and salmon with pico de gallo as our entree choices - both were fantastic (note we also sampled the tacos for a potential taco bar and they were also amazing). We also went back and forth for so long choosing between the appetizers - they were all SO good. On wedding day, Juliana and her team executed everything flawlessly (there were a few bumps apparently but we did not notice at all!). They were very thoughtful about ensuring my husband and I were taken care of - when we were done with our ceremony, they had our signature cocktails and a beautiful plate of our appetizers ready for us in the bridal suite. The entrees were also just as delicious as we remembered from the tasting and we got many compliments from our guests on how great the food was. We are grateful we got to work with such a talented and kind team at Cocina Fusion on such a special day for us. Please hire them! You will be so happy you did!
Maggie G
5.0
8/26/2024
Very responsive communication and attention to our requests. Professional staff on the day of. Dinner service ran very smoothly. Quality of food was great.
Bailey L
5.0
8/23/2024
Cocina Fusion catered our wedding, and they were incredible!!! Juliana was professional, kind, and communicative! Not only was Cocina Fusion great to work with, but we had a huge number of people tell us it was the best food they have EVER had a wedding!! Everything was delicious, and they made the process easy. We highly recommend working with Cocina Fusion!!
Vendor response 08/23/2024
Bailey! Thanks so much for your glowing review! I'm thrilled to have been part of your spe...
cial day last weekend. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness! Salud, Juliana B.
Jaclyn M
5.0
8/14/2024
We got married in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood in July 2024 and hired Cocina Fusion as our main caterer - including all staff and bartenders. Cocina Fusion made our taco bar wedding dreams come true! Our guests still continue to rave about the food (passed taquitos, arepas, empanadas / full taco bar/chips and salsa on each table/churro cart / late-night Chicago dogs and sliders). Even our photographers said it was the best wedding catering they have ever had!! The bartenders also exceeded our expectations with our three specialty cocktails (margaritas, aperol spritzes, old fashioned). On top of the high-quality service and copious amounts of delicious food and drink, the entire team was incredibly professional, responsive, and an absolute JOY to work with from start to end. Thank you again to the entire Cocina Fusion team for an incredible wedding catering experience!
Kristin G
5.0
8/13/2024
We had an amazing experience from beginning to end. Their food is outstanding, they are organized and efficient, and Cindy couldn’t have been more supportive and available. I’d recommended them to anyone interested in delicious food and stellar service. Thank you Cocina!
Jono K
5.0
8/08/2024
If you're looking for the best caterer in Chicago, look no further because you've found your one! Couldn't say enough great things about working with Julianna and the entire Cocina Fusion team. We loved them so much that we used them for both our rehearsal dinner and wedding. Her attention to detail, timeliness responses, flawless execution, and incredibly delicious food are only a few of the amazing reasons why you should choose Cocina Fusion.
Jennifer T
5.0
7/18/2024
Cocina Fusion was absolutely amazing! As soon as we met with Juliana for the tasting we were sold. The food was so delicious we had a hard time narrowing down our choices. Juliana and her husband were wonderful, so nice and personable. She worked with our planner to ensure a smooth wedding day. Communication was always prompt and her team was very professional. The wedding day food was just as good as we remembered and several people commented on how much they enjoyed their meals. The food and service exceeded our expectations and we would recommend them wholeheartedly!
Jordan D
5.0
7/09/2024
Juliana and her team are fantastic- from our first meeting/tasting through our wedding day, Juliana was there every step of the way to help. She is extremely professional and responded so quickly to emails with questions.
We received so many compliments on the food AND the service our wedding.The Cocina Fusion team made our day seamless and perfect.
I can’t express how much I would recommend Cocina Fusion as your wedding caterer. They truly are top tier and helped us create the most special day.
Jordan
Jord
Jord
Dan S
5.0
7/08/2024
My daughter recently got married at the Old Post Office. The food and the bartender/wait staff service were both out of this world! We received so many compliments about the food. In summary, people said it was just not great “wedding food” but high end restaurant quality good. The staff was also attentive and fun to be around. Would highly recommend Cocina Fusion for your next event!
Ruby H
5.0
7/08/2024
I had a fantastic experience with Cocina Fusion catering for our intimate civil wedding, which hosted 20-30 guests. We coordinated with Cindy via email and text message throughout the entire process, and she was an excellent coordinator. The payment process was also very flexible, offering multiple options. We chose the Latin Fusion Menu - Brunch, which included a cocktail hour, stationed brunch, waffles bar, and rentals (linen napkins, disposable plates, and flatware). We even had a tasting for my husband and me, where we tried all the foods prepared by the chef himself and selected the colors and tablecloth for the event. I highly recommend Cocina Fusion for any intimate event where you want an elevated dining experience. My family and friends still rave about how delicious everything was, especially the Argentinian Ground Beef Empanadas, Argentinian Corn & Cheese Empanadas, and Mini Short Rib Sopesitos.
Vendor response 07/08/2024
Hi Ruby, Thanks for trusting us with your special intimate event. It was a pleasure to wor...
k for you. Cindy!
Colleen H
5.0
7/02/2024
Juliana and her team were excellent to work with. After our tasting with Cocina fusion we knew they would be perfect for our wedding… Juliana was beyond helpful and answered any and all questions we had, even if it wasn’t related to catering!
Her team was professional and efficient at the wedding and the food was delicious. All of our guests have told us after how great the appetizers and entrees were and how grateful they were that the caterer took into account any allergies/food restrictions.
Can’t recommend Cocina fusion enough for a wedding or event in Chicago!
Heirloom E
5.0
7/01/2024
Cocina Fusion exceeded our expectations in every way! Their appetizers were absolutely phenomenal—each bite was a burst of flavor, beautifully presented and delicious. Our clients guests couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the food was, and it truly set the tone for a memorable event.The wait staff at Cocina Fusion were exceptional. They were attentive, professional, and always on top of things, from clearing dishes promptly to making sure every guest felt tended to. Their attention to detail and dedication to providing outstanding service went above and beyond what we expected.If you're looking for a caterer that delivers not only fantastic food but also exceptional service, Cocina Fusion is the way to go. They made our event seamless and enjoyable, and we couldn’t be happier with their work!
Vendor response 07/08/2024
It was relly nice working with you as well, we look forward to many more events together!
Trevor D
5.0
6/28/2024
Cocina Fusion was amazing! All of our guests had nothing but great things to say about the food. Cindy, our catering manager, was even helpful beyond the catering. During our pre-vendor meeting we mentioned that we were each walking with both parents down the aisle, and she had the smart idea to recommend wider aisles to accommodate. We highly recommend Cocina Fusion for anyone who believes that the food is one of the most important things at your wedding!
Zach H
5.0
6/18/2024
Cocina Fusion was truly perfect! Juliana was incredible to work with and the food was amazing. We had guests raving about it for weeks.
Julie C
5.0
6/06/2024
Juliana, Cindy & the Cocina Fusion Team deserve a 10 star review! We couldn't be happier with our experience working with them to cater our wedding - they went above and beyond every step of the way and we've received so many compliments from our guests that it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding! The responsiveness, flexibility, options & pricing exceeded our expectations and I would recommend Cocina Fusion to anyone planning a wedding or event! We cannot thank the team enough for providing such an incredible catering experience and making our wedding day so special!
McKenna B
5.0
5/13/2024
We couldn't be happier with our decision to hire Cocina Fusion for our wedding on 5.3.24. From the moment of our first tasting we felt the quality and professionalism working with Cindy and her team. Not only was the food delicious, the place settings were gorgeous and the staff were amazing. Cindy and her team were always prompt with any inquiries or changes we had. Not to mention our signature cocktails were delicious and we received so many compliments on the food as well. If you are looking for a caterer in Chicago for your upcoming wedding or event, I fully recommend Cocina Fusion!
Donna J
5.0
5/08/2024
Five Stars+++ for Juliana and her Cocina Fusion Team! After experiencing a fantastic tasting with Cocina Fusion, we took a chance by veering away from the preferred vendor list at our wedding venue...and couldn't have been happier!! They exceeded our expectations in every way!
We loved the variety of appetizer and dinner food options to choose from...and the Churro Dessert Cart and late-night Tacos were also a big hit! We're still hearing rave reviews from our guests!
In addition, the Cocina Fusion service was over and above! The bartenders handmade every specialty drink (nothing batch), timing of everything was spot-on, and as Mother-of-the-Bride, they even noticed I was delayed in getting back to my table for dinner and immediately brought out a new, and warmer, dinner plate for me!
We couldn't be more grateful to Cocina Fusion for providing an exceptional and memorable catering experience on our daughter's wedding day! A top-notch company in every way!
Diane H
5.0
4/20/2024
We got married 2 weeks ago and our guests keep complimenting how good the food was! Working with Juliana and the Cocina Fusion team was the best decision we made in planning our wedding. They were so easy to work with and responded quickly to any questions or modifications we had. We also used their blue water glasses and they helped our tables and color scheme really pop at the reception, a small detail that I absolutely loved.
Vendor response 04/20/2024
It was a joy working for both of you! Congratulations and thanks for the trust given to us...
!
Jenna K
5.0
4/16/2024
We could not be happier with Cocina Fusion! We had a 220 person wedding and our guests were all raving about the food, service, and specialty drinks. Juliana and team delivered the entire time we worked with them. We even did the churro cart which was a unique touch! Very grateful for how all of this turned out. Highly recommend Cocina Fusion for your wedding.
Vendor response 04/17/2024
Jenna! It was an absolute pleasure working along side your families and vendor team. Thank...
s again for the opportunity given. FELICITACIONES!
Amelia C
5.0
4/03/2024
I can't recommend Juliana and her team from Cocina Fusion more for your wedding day! We used Cocina Fusion for our wedding at Room 1520 on 3/22/2024. Juliana was the easiest vendor to work with leading up to our wedding day. Always extremely responsive and helpful. We knew the food was going to be incredible from our tasting with them, but it was even better then we remembered on our wedding day. We received tons of compliments on the food saying it was the best wedding food our guests had ever had. Juliana and her team made sure we were completely taken care of throughout our entire wedding day and every single thing that they were a part of turned out great! Thank you so much Juliana and the entire Cocina Fusion team for everything you did for us!
Vendor response 04/04/2024
Thanks, Amelia, it was a pleasure to be part of your celebration and I'm so glad that ever...
ything on our end was to your satisfaction. Felicitaciones! Juliana
Cristina P
5.0
1/24/2024
July 2024 was a month to remember, our family was going through many transitions, relocating from Chicago to Texas, closing many cycles. However one thing that was perfect from all the madness we had in our lives, was our decision to have Cocina Fusion for daughter's XV event. From the beginning conversations with Juliana we knew CF was it! Her professionalism, carisma, dedication and passion can not compete with others. Every question we had it was responded in a timely manner. The tasting was exceptional, Chef Anaxi's vision of international foods and its combinations makes their service just exceptionally delicious. We had a very hard time deciding what we wanted for our event! During our actual event John their event manager was also exceptional, extra helpful, and super nice approachable person. We had a few more guest attending John was able to find solutions right away. Not only that, but he was also able to be a problem solver as we had another hiccup with our event late snack (not provided by CF) very solution oriented. Our experience with Cocina Fusion was just EXTRAORDINARY and people still compliment our events delicious food.
Meredith S
5.0
1/09/2024
Juliana was INCREDIBLE to work with. She and her whole team are responsive, professional, and friendly. We had so many compliments on our food and the dinner meal was a personal highlight of my night!
Stephanie D
5.0
1/08/2024
We went into this trying to get some of the best food we could have in a wedding setting, but we ended up getting some of the best dishes we ever had. From the empanadas and arepas to the tacos and lechon, every bite of food was delicious (especially the lechon). We’d like to particularly call out the vegetarian tacos, which we mostly chose to accommodate vegetarian guests, but which ended up being one of ours and many of our guests favorite items. The horchata was so delicious that many people chose it over alcoholic beverages (or made rumchata). The groom would also like to thank them for a delicious habanero salsa—habanero is his single favorite flavor, and it made everything feel just right.
Paul G
5.0
12/22/2023
Hands down, Juliana and her team at Cocina Fusion DELIVER RESULTS. Phenomenal food, great experience, best-in-class service, and rave reviews from SO MANY GUESTS.
Taco Bar Food Quality: 10/10. Outrageously delicious selection of meats, veggies, toppings, and a BOAT of guacamole.
Service: 10/10. Navigating the Tasting, the Pre-Wedding Walkthrough, and then the Actual Day, Juliana was truly a kind and direct Professional. Even when we through new info or unique requests at her, she handled everything without blinking.
Guest Reviews: 10/10. SO MANY GUESTS RAVED ABOUT THE FOOD. Our out-of-town-foodie-extended-family even raved about it. What pretentious foodie guest goes out of their way to celebrate the wedding food? Guests at a wedding catered by Cocina Fusion, that's who.
The Extra Nice-To-Haves: Juliana personally catered to us as the bride/groom during several unique moments throughout our day, MAKING SURE we had enough food and drink at ~exactly~ the right times.
Lastly, Cocina Fusion was founded in 2008 and made it through 2020/COVID. As a small local business, they've weathered the hardest economic times and have stayed afloat. It means they know what they're doing, they've got great people, and they deliver results.
If you're hoping to have hispanic food for any event near Chicago and you need a professional caterer, look no further than Cocina Fusion. Anywhere else will just leave you wishing you worked with Juliana.
Christine G
5.0
11/21/2023
Cocina fusion is the best! The steak with chimichurri sauce was delicious and our guests raved about the appetizers (empanadas, dates, mushroom caps, etc.). Also, Juliana is the most helpful individual on the planet and made us feel so relaxed because of her attention to detail. Thank you, Cocina Fusion!
Maria Z
5.0
11/20/2023
Juliana and Cindy were so helpful throughout the whole process! They were accommodating to our guest's dietary needs, and were able to make some changes with restrictions closer to the date as well. The food was delicious, all their staff were friendly and helpful from appetizers, to serving drinks, to dessert and helping us set out the late night snack. Thank you so much, would definitely recommend them!
Taylor M
5.0
11/14/2023
Any bride and groom in the Chicagoland area looking for a caterer stop what you are doing and book Cocina Fusion for your wedding! My husband and I are at the age where we are attending a lot of weddings where a slightly different variation of the same meal is served so we decided we wanted something different for our wedding and we found that in Cocina Fusion.
Cocina Fusion was a recommended vendor by our wedding venue, and I understand why. For our wedding we chose the bar mixer package, champagne served upon guests’ arrival, appetizers during cocktail hour which included mini crab cakes, mini chicken and waffles and chicken taquitos and the taco bar for dinner. Everything was outstanding from the presentation to the taste, to the service from the moment guests entered the venue.
My husband I live out of state, so planning was a bit difficult but working with Julinana made everything a breeze. From little questions to big planning decisions Julinana was there with a very quick response every time.
At the close of the ceremony, while our guests were enjoying cocktail hour my husband and I were off taking pictures. A member of the Cocina Fusion staff was always nearby with a tray of our chosen appetizers making sure we didn’t go hungry and got to partake in the delicious food. This minor detail did not go unnoticed, and I believe speaks for our entire experience with the Cocina Fusion Team.
The Cocina Fusion team was attentive, friendly and accommodating to myself, my husband and our guests. During the reception and for days, weeks and months after guests have raved about how our wedding had the best food they have ever at a wedding.
My husband and I could not be happier with our experience working with Cocina Fusion to cater our wedding!
Vendor response 11/14/2023
Taylor, Thanks so much for taking the time to review our business months after your weddin...
g. We love our Taco bar weddings as mush as the guests! Juliana
Hannah T
5.0
11/13/2023
When we were first planning our wedding, we knew good food was a non-negotiable. A friend recommended Cocina Fusion, and after setting up our tasting, we were blown away. Almost two months after our wedding, we still have friends and family talking about the food - the poblano risotto cakes, chimichurri steak, and grilled shrimp app were all crowd favorites.
Juliana was extremely organized, focused, and professional. She accommodated a last-minute venue change, and her input was crucial as we figured out the logistics of the day. Anaxi is an amazing chef, and all of Cocina’s staff were lovely. The day ran so smoothly, due in no small part to Cocina. We are so grateful for the whole team!
Vendor response 11/13/2023
Hannah, Thanks so much for your trust while navigating the last-minute changes. We had a g...
reat time catering to you and your families. Congrats, Juliana.
Bianca S
5.0
11/09/2023
Cocina Fusion truly made our wedding complete! Their food is phenomenal; some of the best food I have ever had! From the very beginning of the planning phase through the wedding itself Cocina Fusion made us feel like part of the family. Special thanks to Julianna; she was like our fairy godmother making sure everything was absolutely flawless.
Vendor response 11/13/2023
Bianca, Thanks for trusting my company to be part of your special day. It was an honor to ...
be part of your vendor team, Juliana.
Maricela R
5.0
11/04/2023
Cocina Fusion was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. Working with Cindy and Juliana was so easy, they were both very accessible and quick to respond to our emails. They had great insight and advice on timeline, bar service, signature cocktails, table layout and many other things. But let me take a moment to praise the food- THE FOOD WAS SOOOO GOOOOD- we kept hearing this from our guests during and after our wedding. Everyone absolutely loved the food, holy cow from the appetizers to the dinner- everything was authentic, flavorful and just plain delicious. After the ceremony my husband and I shared a private moment in the suite and Cindy delivered a tray of appetizers and signature cocktails for us to enjoy before we joined cocktail hour- this was such a special gesture. The entire team was amazing, they did such a great job with ceremony and table set up for dinner- yes they do this! Also, people commented on how friendly the bartenders and servers were throughout the entire day. Everything was just PERFECT. We cannot recommend Cocina Fusion enough!
Dag G
5.0
11/04/2023
Juliana and her team were fantastic to work with! We planned our wedding in about 8 months and we quickly settled on Cocina Fusion after trying their food at a family wedding and having a great food testing. Right away, Juliana was very communicative, transparent, and very helpful in us picking out the most incredible menu and decor. We chose the short rib and salmon, and our friends and family raved about the food, appetizers and all the cocktails the bartenders prepared. Service day of was excellent and Juliana even went above and beyond in helping us pick our craft cocktail list, finalize our alcohol purchase (our venue was BYOB) and accommodate some cultural food vendors we wanted to incorporate into our wedding. Overall, we were super pleased with every single interaction we had with the Cocina Fusion team and were glad to have Juliana with throughout an otherwise stressful wedding process.
Vendor response 11/05/2023
Dag, it was a true pleasure working for your families ( again). It means a lot when we get...
to be recommended by past couple or when you have attended an event and decide to hire that vendor. Gratulacje! Juliana
Sarah S
5.0
11/03/2023
Cocina Fusion is the “best wedding food I’ve ever had, hands down” as commented by MANY of our guests! My husband and I worked with them for our August 2023 wedding. Juliana was great to work with from start to finish. She is always quick to respond via email so it was easy to set up our initial tasting, which was enjoyable, comprehensive, and fun! She also had great advice and answers to all our questions about timeline, how to do wine and bar service, allergies and dietary restrictions, and more. We had two other meetings with Juliana which were much appreciated – one meeting to select linens and do a table mock up, and another at the final vendor meeting. She worked so well with our coordinator and other vendors and was so great to work with throughout the way.
The food and service were outstanding. We went with the corn and cheese empanadas, mini crispy chicken taquitos, and plantain chips with grilled shrimp for our appetizers, the fusion salad to start, and the chimichurri steak, chipotle chicken, and stuffed poblano pepper for our entrees, accompanied by cilantro rice and baked plantains. After the ceremony there was a tray of appetizers waiting for us in the bridal suite, as well as our two signature cocktails, so we could get a quick bite before mingling at the cocktail hour! And at dinner, the staff made sure to ask before clearing my plate, as I had gotten pulled up quickly after dinner service. Everything was delicious! The ceremony and reception spaces were set up beautifully (there is so much behind the scenes work that the catering team does that goes unrecognized!) and service went perfectly. The bartenders were great too! We got so many compliments on our signature drinks (as well as the food, obviously!). I cannot recommend working with Cocina Fusion enough!
Vendor response 11/03/2023
Thanks so much, Sarah for taking the time to review us! I appreciate you noticing how much...
more work goes behind the scenes :) Best wishes! Juliana
Elizabeth R
5.0
10/16/2023
Choosing Cocina Fusion was one of the best decisions my husband and I made for our wedding. I heard of them through someone else and am so glad I did. I am still receiving compliments about how good the food was. I heard "I've never had food that good at a wedding" so many times! Some people said they positioned themselves near the kitchen so that when the appetizers came out, they were the first to get them. Everything from the appetizers, to entrees, to the churro cart was perfect. I really loved working with Juliana and her team. They are so professional and you can tell they have a lot of experience. They refilled waters and cleaned dirty plates off the tables quickly. I can not recommend them enough!
William P
5.0
10/16/2023
Cocina Fusion was excellent and we are so glad to have chosen them for our wedding this past September. Communication throughout the whole process was prompt and thorough, the day-of team was accommodating and professional, and most importantly the food was absolutely incredible! There are so many great things that other reviewers have previously pointed out that ring true for our experience as well, but one thing that stood out that I had not seen in other reviews was just how considerate the catering staff is – My wife and I had ordered late-night tacos as a part of our catering package, but we were having too much fun on the dance floor and completely forgot about them until the party was wrapping up and the taco station had already been cleared away. As we gathered up to leave (lamenting our lack of tacos), the catering staff presented us with a sampling of tacos packed up to go – they had noticed we didn’t get tacos and set some aside for us at the end of the night! Cocina Fusion created a fantastic experience for our wedding and we cannot recommend them highly enough.
Veronica G
5.0
10/15/2023
My husband and I worked with Cocina Fusion for our wedding in August at Loft Lucia. Julianna and her team were amazing to work with from the very beginning of planning to the tasting to the day of! Their staff on sight during the wedding day were professional, efficient, and courteous. They especially took great care of us during the wedding day as the bride and groom, ensuring we had plenty of appetizers, dinner first and a drink in hand. We loved that we could serve Latin-inspired/fusion food at a reasonable price for our event. Our personal favorites from our menu included the short rib empanadas, chimichurri steak and the churro cart with ice cream for dessert, which was a massive hit with our guests. We highly recommend!!!
Vendor response 10/15/2023
Thanks so much Veronica! It’s important for us to learn how your experience was on your bi...
g day and during the process! Felicitaciones , Juliana.
Zach B
5.0
10/07/2023
The team at Cocina Fusion is full of rockstars! From the moment we got in contact with them, through tastings, planning, and the day of, our service was incredible. Not only is the food amazing, but the people were so nice and made us feel heard throughout the process. They were flexible and accommodating of our requests, and they were very responsive to all of our questions. I would recommend Cocina Fusion without any hesitation.
Linda R
5.0
10/05/2023
My husband and I are so happy that we worked with Cocina Fusion! During the planning process, Juliana and Cindy were incredibly helpful and responsive, which made the wedding planning process easier. They answered all my emails/questions. Sometimes my emails would be answered in minutes! Cindy arranged the tasting and asked me all the specific questions that I planned to ask without needing to initiate asking, including specific colors for linens and napkins, and table setting style, how many linens were needed, etc. It was also nice that we were able to rent our outdoor ceremony chairs with them so that was one less thing to worry about. Cindy also came for two venue walkthroughs with me, just to make sure things would go smoothly on wedding day. The service I received from Cocina Fusion was excellent. In terms of the food, the guests kept commenting about how amazing the food was and went up for second/third servings! Thank you, Cocina Fusion! It was so nice to work with a trusting, responsible catering team!
Vendor response 10/06/2023
Hello Linda! Thanks so much for allowing us to be part of your day celebration. We are exc...
ited to hear about the positive feedback you received form guests. It was a pleasure planning and catering your event a few weeks ago. Juliana & Cindy!
Gabrielle C
5.0
9/30/2023
Choosing Cocina Fusion was maybe our best vendor choice we made at our wedding -- and we loved all of our vendors! Juliana and her team were proactive and attentive, not only at the event but also the months and weeks beforehand. They truly go above and beyond from helping you pick your menu to making planning decisions. EVERY GUEST we talked to about the food said it was the best wedding food they think they've ever had! One even said they don't know if they'd had a better piece of steak.
We highly recommend Cocina Fusion to all Chicagoland couples looking for high quality food full of unique flavors with flexibility to choose the food you really want and not pay for the things you don't.
Vendor response 10/01/2023
Hi Gabby! I can't believe you are already posting reviews ( it does mean a lot when you do...
n't think twice after your wedding about your vendors) It was great working with you because you trusted us from day one as your vendor partners. Congrats! Juliana B .
Courtney L
5.0
9/25/2023
Julianna and her team are absolutely AMAZING! We had our wedding on 9/8/23 and they truly made our day the best day ever. We have gotten so many compliments on how delicious the food was and the churro cart was such a hit! They ran everything flawlessly and the bartenders and servers were the sweetest, most efficient team I’ve ever seen. I highly recommend Cocina Fusion, the best decision we made when planning our wedding!
Kelly S
5.0
9/12/2023
I am floored by Cocina Fusion's services for our September 2023 wedding! From the very beginning of the process, Juliana and her team could not have been nicer, patient, and more accommodating! They gave us an accurate quote right away which helped us to determine that they were in our budget and available for our wedding day. Cocina Fusion are experts in our venue (Ovation) and we felt comfortable with them executing the room flip, bar, and catering services for our reception. The tasting was phenomenal and it made our experience so exciting and special! Throughout the months leading up to our wedding, they provided us with a lead coordinator, Cindy, who was amazing, helped us to finalize our menu, and accommodated our last-minute requests and changes as needed. On the day of the wedding, the services were so professional and organized! You can absolutely tell that they are an expert team and great at executing big events! The staff was friendly and kept our guests happy! The food was amazing!!!! Shoutout to the empanadas and late-night tacos and churros! We couldn't have asked for a better experience for our wedding and Cocina Fusion is the best!!!
Vendor response 09/12/2023
Thanks so much Kelly for taking the time to review us! while a wedding is a lot of work on...
both ends, we try to make the experience as easy and effortless for the couple. Thanks so much for electing us to be your cater, Congratulations! Juliana B.
Bianca C
5.0
8/26/2023
Cocina Fusion did a phenomenal job at my wedding. I started my journey with Juliana, and Cindy stepped in later in my planning journey; both ladies were phenomenal and exceeded my expectations. I could not have asked for a better partner to help plan the catering necessities for my wedding. My guest raved about the food, the churro cart, and the late-night tacos. The bar staff were so helpful, and the serving staff were outstanding. If I were ever to do another event, Cocina Fusion will always be my number one catering company to choose from. If you pick Cocina Fusion, you will not regret it!
Vendor response 08/26/2023
Bianca! It was a pleasure to be part of your wedding journey. Thanks for the trust you gav...
e our small business. We look forward to serving you in the future. Gracias, from the Cocina Fusion ladies ( Juliana and Cindy)
Brett O
5.0
8/18/2023
Cindy and Juliana were incredible to work with!
Firstly, they were very responsive and patient with all of our questions. Whether it was about the food itself, plating and linens options, or seating charts, the Cocina Fusion team was always there to help guide our process.
Secondly, the day-of staff was great to have on our day. All of our guests were able to get plenty of wine and food refreshed on the table during the meal. During our happy hour, plenty of food was passed out by the Cocina Fusion staff. And of course, we were treated like royalty - our food was always out and ready for us so we were not waiting at all.
Lastly, the food choices we made were absolutely delicious! Our guests raved about the chimichurri steak and salmon with mango pico de gallo. Our appetizer selections (whitefish ceviche, empanada, mushroom risotto ball) were loved by all of our guests, and Cocina Fusion was able to make a special dish (watermelon feta skewer) on request. We also elected to do this family style so our guests had the option to sample both steak and fish!
Cocina Fusion was a reliable and trustworthy partner on our wedding day who delivered a delicious product for our guests. We are very lucky to have found them and wholeheartedly recommend them for your wedding!
Vendor response 08/26/2023
Brett, Sorry for taking a while to respond. It means a lot that you have taken time out of...
your busy lives to leave a review for my business. Thanks for your partnership and trust during your wedding planning process. Congrats! Juliana and Cindy.
Rachael K
5.0
8/13/2023
Juliana and her team are absolutely spectacular and went above and beyond to ensure the food at our wedding was exquisite!
Throughout the planning process, Juliana and her staff were extremely helpful and responsive. The tasting was an absolute highlight. The mother of the bride was unable to attend the first tasting, so she offered a second tasting to accommodate her. Her willingness to accommodate just one person is a testament to how she treats every individual person she works with.
Our wedding had around 260 guests and everyone RAVED about the food! We got the bacon wrapped dates, goat cheese mushroom cups, steak skewers, chicken empanadas, and had a guacamole bar. Everything was amazing!! The guest said it was the best guacamole they’ve ever had! The dinner was just as delicious. We had a chimichurri steak and chicken duet plate with roasted vegetables and a twice baked potato cup. Everything was as incredible as the tasting!!!! They accommodated every guests allergy or special request we had. We are so grateful we got to work with cocina fusion!!
Look no further! Hire cocina fusion as your caterer! They are the BEST of the BEST!
-Rachael & Scott
7/8/23
Yishi L
5.0
8/12/2023
The important stuff - the FOOD WAS AMAZING. Everyone from meat eaters to vegans to very picky adults LOVED the food. We had so many compliments, and people were even asking for the recipe of the rice haha. It was also beautifully plated, and that took the already delicious food to the next level.
The small details - we worked directly with Cindy, and she was so responsive, patient, and pleasant to work with. It's a very anxious feeling to have to follow-up on major items for a wedding, and with Cocina, we never had to follow up on anything. They brought us (the couple) a small tray of appetizers to our dressing room so that we could have a break and eat as needed. They handled everything from allergies and dietary restrictions to setting up the tables and chairs perfectly. We HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Cocina Fusion!!
Sam Y
5.0
8/12/2023
My wife and I could not be happier with our experience working with Cocina Fusion to cater our wedding! First and foremost, the food was AMAZING! Every single appetizer was absolutely delicious, our short rib barbacoa was one of the best short ribs we've ever had, and we heard rave reviews from every single guest we spoke to about the meal and food service - multiple guests said it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding! Providing delicious food for 140 guests can't be easy, but Juliana and Anaxi made it happen! Juliana was an incredible partner to work with throughout the planning process, always extremely helpful and responsive, and the tasting was one of the highlights of our wedding planning process. They provide plenty of options to choose from so every couple can find something suitable for them. They are also extremely flexible when it comes to allergies/restrictions and helped us accommodate every single guest. We also used Cocina Fusion's rentals for our charger plates, flatware, linens, and napkins, and it was absolutely stunning. Everyone on the team was extremely nice and made sure every guest had everything they needed! We are so thankful for Juliana, Anaxi, and the team for providing such an incredible catering experience!