I was never a big fan of arepas. I've tried them a handful of times and wasn't particularly wow'ed. I assumed perhaps this specific dish wasn't my thing, but after trying this cafe, I realized that I simply haven't tried good arepas before! My friend and I came for a late lunch on Tuesday. There were plenty of seats available, and we were seated close to the entrance. The staff was friendly, and our server in particular was clearly passionate about Venezuelan cuisine and was excited for us try to their dishes. My friend ordered their pulled pork arepa, and I ordered one of their rice plates. The arepa was filled to the brim. It was full of beans, meat, and topped with cheese. My plate was absolutely delicious and its aroma filled the restaurant. The meat was tender, well seasoned, and saucy. The plantains were pan fried to perfection, tender and sweet. The beans were flavorful. I could have just that with rice all day. Writing this review is making my mouth water. Maybe I should return there soon! read more

Arepas Cafe - Pulled pork plate - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Food: solid 8/10 Service: 8/10 My only reason for the 3 star review is because this establishment charges gratuity without informing the person. There is clearly a tip option at the bottom so I ended up paying double tip. It is common practice for the restaurant to inform the consumer when they do this. Please consider letting your customers know. read more

Arepas Cafe - Double Tip Charge without warning - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Love this place ! Great arepas and great service. The jugo de papelon and the coffee is my favorite thing there ! The arepa pabellón is my go to. The ladies there are so nice ! read more

Arepas Cafe - Mini Platter (Appetizer Sampler) - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

My husband and I just went to arepa cafe and Niko and Nani greeted us so nicely and treated us like family. The food and drinks were incredible. The quality was homemade and delicious. We will definitely be back. The frozen Pina colada was also awesome. Can't wait to come back! read more

a cool neighborhood spot to go for authentic venezuelan food not that I would know what that is. got the mini platter which was fun and arepa pabellon which had more shredded beef than i thought possible to fit in an arepa. taste was solid and service was great. definitely a filling meal. read more

Arepas Cafe - arepa pabellon - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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We had an arepa and their special. So good! They had a habanero based spicy sauce and an avocado sauce that made the food taste infinitely better. We came near closing and were able to order quickly and eat before they closed. Staff were great and a great plus is that they have customer bathroom! read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

A popular local spot for arepas! The staff were very nice and friendly, they gave us a great recommendation for their tres leches cake and it was so delicious! I got the shrimp arepas and definitely a favorite of mine! The flavor had a tomato base and sweet but not dessert sweet like the good tasting sweet. I would definitely come back and there was a soccer game on that the staff were rooting for and I appreciated the energy! It's a great place for eating, hanging out with friends, and even watching TV! read more

Arepas Cafe - Shrimp arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

One of my friends had been hyping up this cozy Venezuelan spot in Astoria as having some of the best arepas around. He wasn't wrong - my arepa with pernil was huge and really good, especially with the extra sauces at the table! They have really tasty sangrias too! The service was also good and they were able to take a last minute seating for our group. read more

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Simply put, one of the best arepas I've ever had. Venezuelan arepas are so different than Columbian arepas and I appreciate it so very much. Arepas Cafe is small but mighty. Their assortment of arepas is almost overwhelming. Do you go carne or pernil? What about pollo? Wait and theres a holiday specials? I'm a sucker for a special and I almost got what they were featuring but the gentleman that helped us was honest and said they were out of their chicken salad and that the special isn't complete with out it. I appreciated his honesty and with Mami de carne. I was not disappointed in the slightest. We also ordered yuca fries and boy was I blown away. The cilantro sauce and mango salsa should be bottled and sold separately cause I would put it on everything. Back to the arepa though, the carne was so delicious I am so sad I don't have it right now. Same goes for that passion fruit juice. Ugh, I'll be dreaming of this meal for a while. Service was superb and I loved how lively it was at lunch on a Friday. Also to note, because you know I will shout out a great bathroom when I can, the bathroom was small and clean with uplifting messages on written with sharpies on the wall. Put a smile on my face that people chose positive messages rather than raunchy ones. Will definitely repeat visit a bunch. Also walking distance to Tea and Milk which is a HUGE win. read more

Arepas Cafe - Mami de Carne - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Was in last weekend visiting my sister. Did not make reservations and just walked in. Very small Location so would call ahead of traveling 20-30 minutes to see how long wait is. Great service, food was flavorful, pricing reasonable, and nice portion size! Can't wait to come back and visit again when I'm back in town read more

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Ordered: Passion Fruit Sangria Pitcher (~$36): with white wine Mini Platter (~$19): 3 tequeños, 3 mini cachapas, 3 mini empanadas, 4 yuca fries Arepa Pabellon (~$15): shredded beef, black beans, grated white cheese, and fried sweet plantains Arepa Pabellon de Pollo (~$15): shredded chicken, black beans, grated white cheese, and fried sweet plantains Aya's take: I've been to Arepas Cafe once before but it was their other (now closed) location on Broadway. Glad this one is still around! We started off with the Passion Fruit Sangria Pitcher which was light, fruity, and refreshing. The Pitcher makes about 4 glasses, so it's great for sharing! The Mini Platter is the perfect appetizer to start with as you get to try a bunch of their appetizers. I'm a big fan of the cachapas; these were a bit greasy and tasted like meat or whatever was on the grill before they made these. The empanadas and yuca fries were also delicious and went well with both sauces. The pink sauce was like a ketchup & mayo blend while the white one is nata aka a Venezulan sour cream. It's more buttery and soft than a typical sour cream. The Arepas are huge! We got one with shredded chicken and one with shredded beef. The beef definitely had better flavor and paired so well with their green sauce. We could've just gotten 1 Arepa since they're huge and stuffed to the brim. Probably one of the only places left in Astoria you can get some delicious arepas! Do yourself a favor and come by! read more

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Ordered 3 arepas with different fillings and all were AMAZING. The beef was our favorite and the creamy sauces and salsas on the side were an equally big hit. The portions were large and fair for the price. The restaurant was clean and staff helpful. I carried out and food was prepared pretty quickly. We will definitely be back. read more

Ate here today for dinner by myself after work while being a temporary substitute paraprofessional at P.S. 112 Q. I had tried and brought the mini platter with a side of arepa and a cold and refreshing can of Venezuelan soda that it was really good and delicious. The service there was also attentive and friendly. I couldn't agree more. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :) read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Thank you yelpers! The chicken soup IS AMAZING!!! I've been struggling with coughing fits & malaise remaining from a recent upper respiratory infection. No amount of water, cough drops, medications, etc were working BUT this SOUP!!! After drinking it, my throat settled for many subsequent hours - the longest without coughing in a while and I started feeling MUCH better! Also it was absolutely DELICIOUS & FLAVORFUL!!! packed with tender chicken on the bones ( so authentic!) carrots celery potatoes corn etc!!! The amount was plentiful and came with either rice or arepas. I chose the arepa and so glad I did! The interior was clean and welcoming but I took it to go this time. Staff friendly and efficient! Highly recommended and hope to return! read more

This place caught my attention since I see it every day at work. The choices satisfy all preferences and staff is great. This restaurant is worth remembering for future visits. You can taste unique flavor pairings in every dish. I shared my recommendation of this spot. read more

This restaurant shows what's possible when excellence is the goal. Just thinking about the food makes me hungry again. What deserves primary recognition is the staff's attitude! He showed a positive outlook and made our initial Restaurant visit thoroughly enjoyable. I'm counting days until I eat here again. read more

Every bite offered something worth savoring. Everything tastes properly sourced. Employees never waver in their friendly approach. The casual space and friendly team create a good experience. I intend to eat at this restaurant again. read more

Awesome arepas spot that will satisfy any craving. They've got all the arepas I love: standard, sweet corn (cachapa), and fried plantain (patacon) style. The roast pork one I ordered was almost too flavorful for me after I already had my fill of apps like the mini-empanadas and cachapa orders. Add in delicious natural juices like passionfruit and mango, you know I'll be back for all my favorites. The lunch rush picked up it seemed after we sat down, so service did slow down noticeably. Ideally they'll smooth out such kinks by adding an extra person for busy shifts. All in all, a super delicious visit and definitely makes the cut of the "to return" list! read more

The best arepas ever. Staff is so kind and friendly. I've been going here for close to 10 years and can confidently say it's some of the best food in New York. read more

Arepas Cafe - Mami de Pollo - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

i haven't had cachapas in 5 years - this was truly so delicious and delightful. The service was amazing and efficient without making me feel rushed at all. 10/10 can not recommend enough! read more

Arepas Cafe - Guayanesa Tropical - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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I still love Arepas Cafe! The staff here is so lovely, they always make my family and me feel comfortable in their space. I love ordering their mini-cachapas, tequenos, and the arepa pabellon. My husband loves their different desayuno options. My 15 month old adores the cachapas and the arepa pabellon. She gets upset when I don't want to share with her. read more

This place is definitely best for take out. The pernil arepa was fire especially topped with the hot salsa and green sauce- the pork cooked deliciously, wasn't greasy and the arepa was nice and soft. I loved the sugar cane and lime tea!!! The restaurant space is extremely tight, we were a party of 5 and I felt really cramped in the side space they sat us at. The service was okay, there was a language barrier which is fine but we had to ask for things a couple of times to get what we needed like an extra plate and cup. read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Food was good but my dish was cold. Service was good. The place was clean and staff was friendly. Portions generous but dishes overpriced for the quality and location and type of restaurant. read more

Arepas Cafe - Flank Steak and fries and Yucca Fries - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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No frills local eatery. The waiter was very helpful in helping us choose an item. I didn't like the 'national dish' as much as the pulled pork arepas. All in all would go again because this place has good value for the price read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

I love Arepa cafe. Nice big portions that taste very good. I love the tuna arepas. Other plates are very big to eat maybe better to share so go hungry. House sauces they give you are delicious. Very friendly nice people work there. Some drinks they make are a little sweet to me so I like the coffee instead. Very good value for your dollar your wallet and tummy are very happy after read more

SERVICE: 2/5 This is our first time coming here. Having seen 4 stars on Yelp, we wanted to come give it a try. Busy restaurant with 2 rooms but I did not find the service to be satisfactory. There was one waitress with glasses that was not the most friendly with us. When she asked what we wanted to drink, I said hot water and my boyfriend said water. She brings us both hot water and when my bf clarifies cold water, she looked annoyed that she had to go back to redo it. Later, my boyfriend asked for a refill on his cold water and it took soooooo long for the water to come. Even after our second dish of arepa came and the tables next to us got their food, it still didn't come. I thought she forgot honestly. Because we sat in the center of the restaurant, I saw her standing around at times casually talking. When we were paying for our meal, we were figuring it out on the handheld device and we struggled to get our card to read. The same waitress left us as we were struggling! We kept trying our ways to figure it out, as opposed to having help from an employee???? Mind you, we are not Venezuelan and we don't speak Spanish. Not sure if that contributed to such service. FOOD: 4/5 Ultimately, the food was great. I highly recommend the tasting platter ($19) if you aren't familiar with arepas and want to try them out! I had such a fun time trying out the different meats and breads. After we finished that, we ordered the mami arepa with pulled pork avocado and white shredded cheese. Avocado felt a little stingy. read more

Arepas Cafe - Arepa Pabellon Pernil - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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There are a couple of ways of knowing if a spot is authentic. One, a kid working at the register or sitting at the table doing homework and trying to stave off boredom. Two: no ac and only fans running. It was a two for two here. Everything was very fairly priced and very filling. I really think after having tried so much that one arepa would've been enough food to fill me up but of course when you're with friends you gotta eat through the whole menu and get the full culinary experience. Plenty of options for all dietary concerns. I legit couldn't even tell you what the appetizer platter was made up of but it was all very good. We wanted the baby shark with our rice and beans but alas it wasn't available so we were actually able to sub it for tuna. The chocolate shake tasted like milo. The food overall was actually very mild/plain/simple. Like no spice at all. I usually don't care much for things that are "bland" but you really cannot go wrong with cheese and hearty beans and rice. It's very comforting. The sauces really amplified everything. Adding cheese is an extra 1.50 in case anyone was wondering. read more

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I discovered a place I'll return to consistently. Arepas Cafe makes you feel like you belong there. Their service approach was superior. Their kitchen creates excellent dishes at fair costs. I worry everyone will catch on to this place. read more

Friendly and efficient staff. Got our drinks/food on time, it was delicious. Drinks were -2 during happy hour. Fair value for plate size. Cozy atmosphere. Close location to train. They provide a cash discount and have a credit card processing fee. read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Food 5/5 We know a lot of us are not gonna finish the plate so we were all sharing. The waiter noticed that we are sharing, she evenly divided food into different plates for us, and the portion is still big. Can't thank her enough Ambiance 5/5 I personally think the music was a little too loud at one point and I could barely hear people who sat next to me, but I feel like this is the theme for all the restaurants in the neighborhood read more

Arepas Cafe - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

I wished I lived closer, everything we had was so good, my son had the arepa mami or Miami with the steak cheese and avocado , we shared the mini empanadas and I had a cachepa with ham and cheese. the coffee was also really good as well as the mango juice if I'm ever in Astoria I'll definitely stop by again. The waiter was really nice and the service great. read more

This place has great and unique food. Venezuela food is something different for my taste buds. The sauces are also great. read more

Arepas Cafe - Mini Platter (appetizer sampler) Pabellon de Pollo - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Spotted by this place for lunch while returning from an estate sale on a rainy day and the restaurant was still packed. The service was impeccable, our server was so sweet and kind, despite dealing with hangry masses in a small space. We got the arepas tasting platter and the sweet corn pancakes. Both were delicious. The Reina arepas stood out with their avocado chicken filling. We also got the sugarcane lemon drink which was very refreshing. I will be returning here to try their all day Venezuelan brunch menu next! read more

Arepas Cafe - Sweet corn pancakes - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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So good! The arepas and apps and drinks are so yum. Such a gem in Astoria. Definitely would be coming back more and more

I came here once before so writing a review on my second experience. This is apparently Venezuelan food. The hours aren't accurate on Yelp so it is actually opened from noon to 10pm everyday. When you first walk-in it looks very casual and not fancy at all. There is seating in a different room as well. They have two restrooms too. But it feels very cozy since it isn't big and the wait staff are nice. Unto the food items that were ordered - for appetizer I ordered the tasting platter which has 4 mini arepas, 1 plain arepa and 4 yucas. All were delicious with the two sauces given with it. It came with cheese that you choose so got the guayanes cheese ( it tasted like mozzarella and looks similar to it) and could pick the meat. Also, ordered the soda de Pollo which is chicken soup with a choice of rice or plain arepa. It was a very hearty soup which was savory. I recommend when it is cold outside to drink and eat up with rice. read more

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Mini cachapas were good, slightly more sweet than most. The camarones arepa was ok, the flavor and seasoning of the shrimp was ok. Service was friendly and kind. I'd recommend visiting and trying different items, they have a pretty wide menu with more than arepas. read more

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It's tough to judge a cuisine if you've been spoiled by a spectacular place back where you used to live. Decent arepa, likes the size, ingredients were fresh. The flavor complexity was a little bland. Also the one I settled on was a little dry. I was surprised to see that the cheese was served cold, melting the cheese alone would take this arepa to the next level. Also the basil aioli could use a little bit more punch. All and all solid, I just feel like with a few flavor and texture changes this place could be really spectacular. More mixes of wet and dry ingredients some I think would be a game changer. If I could I think a 3.7 would be more fitting. But ultimately this place is decent so I'm happy to round up. read more

Arepas Cafe - Guayanesa Tropical - Venezuelan Near Me - Astoria, New York

So fire great service 10/10 arepas would fs go again the hot sauce was bussin got a pork beef and chicken different styles can't go wrong w any read more

I took a chance and decided to order from a place I didn't know. Let me tell you how surprised we were. The portions alone we like nothing I've seen before. The flavors were on point. Everything from the empanadas to the tres leches was just flavor after flavor. And now that I see the pictures of inside the café, we will definitely being heading there. Wish I took pictures but I didn't want to put down the food. read more

Spectacular Spot!! I was craving for one Venezuelan Arepa for a long time. I found this place and I told my friend, we need to go there, now!!. Amazing Place! They have outside seating and inside. They taking all the precautions which is great now with the second wave of COVID-19. We choose to sit outside, they clean the tables and brought the menu really fast. We ordered a jar of Passion Fruit Sangria, was amazing ! strong and sweet, just perfect. Food! 1 - Mini Platter - 3 tequenos, 3 mini cachapas, 3 mini empanadas and 4 yuca. Delicious!!! Everything was great , my favorite 3 tequenos! 2- Reina ( Cold Salad) - Shredded chicken, mixed with avocado, and mayonnaise. phenomenal! stupendous arepa!! you can't go wrong if you order this Arepa. Drinks - 1- Passion Fruit Sangria - 10 of 10 !!! incredible taste !!! Service was great!! Extremely recommended !!! I will be back ! read more

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