We had 50 minutes to burn when our Amtrak stopped in Albuquerque, and we stumbled upon this absolute gem. The dude behind the counter (owner maybe?) was super friendly and helpful. We got an iced latte and a strawberry banana smoothie to drink, both insanely good, and the marinated pork empanada with green sauce to snack on the train and it was hands down one of the best I've ever had. I never write yelp reviews and it was that good. If I ever find myself on the Amtrak or Albuquerque again I will definitely stop by again! read more

Arepas el Pana - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Wow!! After a google search and reading about their 5 star rating, I decided to check it out! Holy Moly! One of the best plates I've ever consumed. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Arepas el Pana - Grilled chicken plate! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Friendly service. The owner/manager is really nice and super accommodating. He let me sample their lemonade and talked me through the menu to figure out if there was anything I could make vegan. I ordered an arepa with black beans, sweet plantains, and avocado (no butter, no cheese). It was phenomenal! I also ordered a mango juice and I loved that I could choose with or without sugar because many times they don't give you the option and it comes out too sweet. I asked for no sugar and it was perfect. Indoor and outdoor seating was available and the bathroom was clean. I tried to come back a second time during my trip and they were sold out of their arepas. That goes to show just how good they are and how popular they're becoming, so definitely go check them out! read more

Arepas el Pana - Vegan arepa with black beans, sweet plantains, and avocado (no butter, no cheese) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I've gone twice now and this may become a go to lunch spot in downtown. It's a small shop situated downtown with a cute patio to dine outside. The first time i visited, I tried the veggie arepa (black beans, plantains, aguacate and queso fresco) which was very tasty and filling. Then my most recent visit I had the pabellón which is shredded beef, plantains, black beans and queso fresco. Also very delicious. Their sides are ones best shared with a friend. Yuca Fries were garnished with chimichurri. Then they had the cheese wrapped in breading with a dipping sauce. I can't remember the actual title and don't see it on the menu but they were great. All in all a sweet visit. I will go back just just for the refreshing beverages alone and friendly service alone. Staff is very friendly and family run and can't wait to keep going back to support this small business. read more

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Gluten Free options with Aprepas! This is a local small business in downtown Albuquerque. It is off of 4th and Central and a great option if you are in the area. We ordered pineapple smoothie and chica (think thicker horchata) to drink and they were both delicious. The food is flavorful, prepared quickly, and there are a variety of options. Seating is limited, so be prepared to wait or take your food to go. We will definitely be back! read more

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I had the pericos and queso arepa and enjoyed every bite! Also enjoyed a pernil empanada that was arguably the best empanada I have ever eaten. My son had an entre of shredded beef, rice, potato salad and soup. And we could not get over how delicious everything was. The rice tasted like my mom's home-cooked rice and the soup reminded me of the caldo my mom made of Saturdays. This meal was not only delicious, it transported me in time to the delicious food of my youth. Highly recommend this Albuquerque gem ! read more

Arepas el Pana - Shredded beef, beans rice and plantains, as pictured in the restaurant. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

There is one thing I will say about Downtown and that is it absolutely needs more open after lunch food spots. We have so many great spots that are popular for lunch during the week but it feels much more limited once the workday is over. I stopped in Arepas el Pana on a whim because I was super hungry and well I love a good arepa. They had just opened and were still very much getting things figured out but the staff was very friendly and the space is cute. I grabbed one of my favorite arepa options, the pabellon which contains beautifully seasoned meats and plantains plus beans and cheese. The arepa came alone without sides which is my only thought considering other similar places serve yucca fries or such in addition to the arepa for that price point but I won't fault them for that. read more

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Great for solo diners, but I can't recommend it for groups. Ambiance - 5/5 Relaxed and upscale but not overwhelming. The family matriarch may be seen occasionally inspecting the plants. Pabellon Arepa - 5/5 Undeniably delicious, but also served positively molten. The juice from the black beans nearly burned my hands when I first tried to eat this. Fried Plantains - 5/5 A huge side of perfectly cooked fried plantains. Love it. Pernil - 2/5 Barely seasoned pork covered in a heaping dose of melty cheese, stuffed inside an arepa. More garlic and herbs would have made a big difference. Service - 2/5 Unfortunately there were a lot of issues here. We ended up with only one drink when we ordered two, and two sides of plantains when we ordered one. My arepa came out searing hot and oozing liquid out of the wrap (resting is a thing for a reason!) but my dining companion's arepa didn't come out until mine had both fully cooled and been eaten. There's a lot of promise here, and if you're a solo diner, and order the right things, Arepas el Pana is surely an excellent choice. However, I'd shy away from recommending it for groups. read more

Believe the hype! This place is absolutely amazing. I love Venezuelan food and this place is sooo bomb. Not only is the food great, but the juices as well. I had a passion fruit, banana and strawberry smoothie and I can't speak more highly about it. All of the staff is so kind and accommodating, I had my dog on the porch and they made sure to give me a water bowl! I will be back and I recommend this place to everyone!! read more

Absolutely amazing! The Pernil is vey tender and moist. The empanadas were great. Generous size and most importantly very tasty. Personally I don't like the empanadas that are very doughy, and these did not have a lot of dough. But the chicken and ground beef inside were very well seasoned. Definitely will return next time I visit Albuquerque! Wish they'd open something similar in L.A. read more

Arepas el Pana - Ground beef and chicken empanadas - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Made my way downtown to check out Arepas El Pana... a small cute little Venezuelan restaurant with delicious food. I've been wanting to try this place for months and I'm so mad at myself that it's taken this long! Their yuca fries were the best I've ever had! And I will definitely go back again for the arepa and empanada with carne desmechada! They make their cilantro sauce in house and it went perfect with everything! And I really appreciated the great customer service. Carlos helped me figure out what to try, which I really appreciated. Him and his entire team were so friendly! read more

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Was definitely feeling the love at Arepas el Pana, a tasty lil spot downtown serving Venezuelan food. I enjoyed a Pernil Arepa with this delicious homemade cilantro sauce and a spicy side of green chile. Mmmm! I also had the sweet fried plantains, and to drink, a papelon con limon. The hospitality was overflowing and I was offered a complimentary cappuccino while I wait... why thank you! Everything was delish! Service was friendly & prompt! Head downtown and support this local business. #yelpelitesquad #SYOY read more

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I've never had an arepa before so this was a treat! It was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and stuffed with chicken, avocado, and cheese. I was surprised they gave me a little bottle of sauce but that cilantro sauce was 10/10 and I added it to every bite. read more

Arepas el Pana - Reina Pepiada - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Found this please on accident but boy were we happy. Ordered a couple of empanadas and a couple of arepas. The ground beef empanadas was so flavorful. The queso arepas melted in your mouth . It was a wonderful treat on our girls trip headed to Santa Fe. Offered us coffee while we waited which hit the spot. Highly recommend this place! read more

Such an adorable arepa cafe! There's small tables inside and more seating outside. It was a beautiful day so we opted for outside; the owner even came out and opened the umbrella for us. The food is on point. I had the reina pepiada along with black beans and plantains. All fantastic, specifically the beans. You can tell they're made in house. My partner had the pabellon which was bursting with fillings and was so incredible he got another one to-go for later! Cappuccinos were also very nice. read more

Arepas el Pana - He needed another one to-go! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I stopped in here for lunch today and got an iced caramel latte and a pabellon (black beans, beef, queso fresco and plantain) arepa. Service was friendly and I didn't have to wait long for my stuffed to overflowing arepa, hot and fresh, and sweet creamy drink. I could try to wax poetic about how flavorful and substantial it was but really, look at the pictures of what they have and understand that you want this in your face. They're in a pretty convenient part of downtown so I am sure I will be visiting again. read more

Arepas el Pana - Pabellon arepa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Eh, not great. Maybe for folks who haven't had an arepa before. I got the #5 and it was boring and the blk beans were salty. Only 3 small maduros, so wasn't an even eat. read more

This fun little eclectic spot is perfect if you would like to try something new or a familiar favorite! I know the owners and they are very passionate about their cuisine and coffee! The latte was *chefs kiss* the food I mean come on! I had the arepa carne desmechada and it was amazing. I had never tried Venezuelan cuisine before but I will be back asap! read more

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Excellent, fresh very authentic Venezuelan food. Carlos was very friendly and helpful and the place was very cozy. Highly recommend this great little restaurant! read more

We had the vegetarian arepa and a black bean and cheese empanada. Both were soooo delicious. The individual sized green sauce they provide you for each meal is out of this world, so garlicky and heavenly! Also appreciated the small outdoor dining area. Big enough for me to bring my pup along. Excited to go back, still thinking of that green sauce... read more

Arepas el Pana - Vegetarian arepa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

A terrific cafe specializing in delicious Venezuelan casual dining, and it's like walking into your Venezuelan grandmother's kitchen and being welcomed and comforted by the smell home cooking. The staff is gracious, friendly, and polite, greeting us warmly at the counter and taking our order. If something would take a bit longer than expected to prepare, they would update us and reassure us, asking if we'd like another coffee in recompense for any perceived delay. The empanadas were hot, delicious, and very, very satisfying. The side of plantains were just right, and fed two of us. It's a great place to eat, and definitely worth your time and money. Next time I'm in Albuquerque and I'm in Old Town, I'm coming back to try the arepas. Thank you, Arepas El Pan! read more

Ive now tried them out twice, yum yum, from the areapas to the pastrlitos, all.were amazing, gave us a sample of the cane juice, that and their sauces were amazlzing too. I love Venisuelian food. And this was some of the best ive had around. read more

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My husband had been craving some Venezuelan food but I didn't really like the places we had tried so far. So in doing a search I found that they had recently opened a new Venezuelan restaurant downtown so we ventured out to try Arepas El Pana. Right as we walked in we were greeted warmly. Everything on the Menu sounded so good. I was so surprised by all the choices and the different variety of foods. Which is a Great Thing by the way when you are someone that is so picky like me. My husband ordered the #12 (The Breakfast Platter) and he gobbled it up like he hadn't ate in days. He said that the flavors were amazing and that that was Exactly what he was craving and he was excited to try all the other options they had on the menu. I had the # 30 which is the 505 Burger & Fries and let me tell you it did not disappoint! The burger tasted so fresh and juicy and the green sauce next to my fries had me HOOKED. One of the owners came by to check on us and I took the opportunity to ask what was in the green sauce - if I recall correctly he said it was a Cilantro Mayo Aioli or something close to that (but I am a bad listener sometimes - my bad ) BUT all I know is that it was Addicting and I wanted more. He offered us complimentary Lattes and my husband took him up on his offer and it was very creamy, frothy and delicious. This place is definitely worth checking out. It's a cute little spot with indoor and outdoor seating and a super clean bathroom. You won't be disappointed read more

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this is seriously the best Arepa I've ever had. do yourself a favor and get #5. quick and nice service, just the best food ever. I can't say it enough! read more

The next time we go to Albuquerque this will be our first stop, not our last. We were served by the owner who is so gracious. One of the things we ordered was going to take some extra time so he insisted on paying for our coffee drinks. The empanadas were probably the best we've ever had. The plantains were delicious. The cappuccino excellent. read more

The arepas were fantastic! I also had a passionfruit slushy that was delicious! The owner is usually working and is so sweet and had great suggestions for my first arepa ever - I've had pupusas but never an arepa so he kind of guided me through the menu based on what I might like more. The setup of the cafe is very intimate with bar seating close enough to see the action of arepa-making, a few tables inside and a few outside. I'm still dreaming about the arepa I had! Next time I'm in ABQ I'll be making my way over to have another or a couple of arepas. read more

Arepas el Pana - Passionfruit slushy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Decent food, very few seats though. So I'd say this is more so a takeout place. It's also downtown so you may see some homeless people walking nearby if you eat outside. The location is inconvenient because of limited parking too read more

A truly authentic Venezuelan restaurant. Hard to find arepas in New Mexico and these were excellent. The ripe fried plantains were top notch (and I'm Cuban and a plátano connoisseur!). I didn't try their "quesillo" which is a version of flan but better - they had run out. Highly recommended. read more

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Food is authentic and flavorful! Service is great as well! Very small dining room with a homey feel. Definitely appreciate the gluten free marking for the Arepas menu page. read more

Cute little shop and great food! I didn't try the drinks or desserts but they look amazing. The arepas are very flavorful and worth the stop. read more

Well to caveat off the other reviews... this place is great! Food is really reasonably priced and super tasty. I recommend the beef plate. Staff is friendly and helped accommodate are large group. Highly recommended. Get a smoothie too! read more

Just wow! The food is amazing and a very comfortable place to grab some lunch. It was just a short walk down the street from our hotel. Service was beyond amazing. The gentleman helping us, maybe the owner, was awesome. Great gluten-free options. I would highly recommend you give this place a try. Really wish I had taken pictures, the food was too yummy to wait. read more

Veegie arefa was fresh and tasty. The breakfast platter is also very good. I highly recommend if one is in town. Service and ambiance were both good. read more

BEST FOOD DOWNTOWN! I recommend the arepa with the black beans. The sauce is really good. All of the meat is very tender and flavorful. The owner is super kind. Feels good to support a downtown restaurant. They are few and far between! read more

The service is terrible, place is really small, you eating and there's people right behind you ordering also expensive .

The manager/owner and all the workers are the kindest, friendliest folks. The food is all from scratch and mostly GF, and made fresh when you order. The green sauce is heavenly and I keep coming back for the empanadas but everything is good. A downtown gem for sure!! read more

Both he food and the service is fantastic in this cute little restaurant. I say little because the space is technically small but there are several tables and stools, both inside and out. Though parking can be a smidge challenging, the food and hospitality is definitely worth it! Don't miss the chance to enjoy this hidden gem! read more

Fantastic! Great spot for a quick and filing meal. I had the chicken and avocado arepa. Number 3. We also had yucca fries. You have to have the green sauce. Everything is tasty, filling and fast. read more

Están deliciosas! Muy sabrosa, muy buen dueño/mesero. Se portó muy lindo, es ligar es súper chiquito pero súper cómodo, y está limpiecito. Muy bien. read more

Just treat yourself and go! Tasty food, friendly folks, authentic. Everything we had was super -- pabellon plate (shredded beef), veggie arepa, tajadas (fried sweet plaintains), fried yucca (like potatoes), guanabana smoothie (trust me). It's a small place, just a few tables inside and on the patio, but very pleasant. read more