Venezuelan Arepas

Anyone know where I can get a good arepa in Chicago? And not the small bricks some restaurants like to pass off as an arepa.

Can you be specific as to the difference between a Venezuelan arepa and the relatively common Columbian ones (other than the brick-ness, which I'm guessing is not an issue of nationality but of execution.)

GNR Mekato's Colombian Bakery has arepas I thought were delicious. You can see them here atop the pile of chicharron and next to the sausage.

The late, lamented Caracas Grill had excellent Venezuelan arepas.
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Blended in amongst the rows of three unit houses on Southport near Roscoe street

This spot opened up shop a few months back and they bring some good pre-game snacks to the neighborhood. They advertise a Latin American menu and feature a variety of bites from Pozole to a Cuban Sandwich to Arepas. To the best of my knowledge there is no big difference in a Venezuelan or Colombian arepa, except maybe the fillings and or the size. The ones I've had from here have favored comparably to those I've had outside of Chicago. Specifically the breakfast options. If you're headed to a Cubs day game I recommend a bacon, egg, and cheese with avocado arepa beforehand. As good of a breakfast sandwich as you'll find in the neighborhood. They have espresso, ice cream, and a nice outdoor patio too.


Breakfast Arepa

Puesto Sandwich Stand
3349 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 661-2490

In OAK PARK (close to Chicago- although not Chicago....)
a place that's not as good as my friend from Carracas made for me-

Aripo's Venezuelan Arepa House
Prices range from $4.50 (cheese) to $6.75 (shredded beef + beans + plantain + queso)

If you get desperate, arepas are pretty easy to make yourself--just make sure you buy the right kind of corn flour (you need the precooked kind rather than the usual kind used for tortillas.) I've been making them a lot lately and they always turn out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Hombre de Acero wrote:In OAK PARK (close to Chicago- although not Chicago....)
a place that's not as good as my friend from Carracas made for me-

Aripo's Venezuelan Arepa House
Prices range from $4.50 (cheese) to $6.75 (shredded beef + beans + plantain + queso)

Also at Aripo's, you can purchase baby shark arepas, if you're in to that. There's a bartender name of Carlos who I see at festivals and other events and every time I see him, he practically tears up describing the baby shark arepas of his youth, which he enjoyed during family trips to the beach in Venezuela.

Really enjoyed my pre-cubs game visit to Puesto earlier this week. Full flavored masa, friendly owners, byob and none of the typical wrigley nonsense. One note - despite being nearly empty, our food (2 arepas each) took a seriously long time...but we had beers and time to kill so no big deal.