New York City: February 27

Caracas Arepa Bar @ 93 1/2 E 7th St.

What is an arepa?
Native from Venezula and Columbia, an arepa is a staple that can be described in many different ways. Made of white corn meal, the round fluffy patty can be grilled, fried or baked. What makes an arepa really special is the stuffing inside!

Caracas Arepa Bar has 3 locations in NY. Their recipes come straight from Venezuela but with a NYC twist.

Caracas Arepa Bar - La Sureña

We ordered the fresh guacamole appetizer (not pictured), but rest assured, the crispy plantain and taro chips did its job opening up our palettes. I ordered the La Sureña – an arepa stuffed with grilled chicken and chorizo, with avocado slices and a spicy chimi-churri sauce. Absolutely delicious. Since I wasn’t too hungry in the beginning, the portion was the perfect amount. At first, I thought the patty was a bit dry, but as I kept eating, the chimi-churri sauce gave it some life. The avocado was probably the best part of the dish as it added a soft creamy texture to the overall taste. The chicken and chorizo didn’t lack any seasoning. I’m glad that I had a chance to try this wonderful dish.

Caracas Arepa Bar

My other friends ordered 2 other styles of arepas. The Reina Pepiada (middle) and the Los Muchachos (left) are shown above. The Reina Pepiada was stuffed with chunky chicken and avocado mix salad. The Los Muchachos was stuffed with grilled chorizo, spicy white cheese with jalapeños and sauteed peppers. Service was great. She explained to first-timers like us what arepas were and how they were made. The location in Manhattan is pretty small, but the decor stayed true to Venezuelan influences. I would definitely re-visit the place because I would like to try some of the other stuffed arepas.

– Charmin Bear J

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