I decided to order some food from this restaurant for a family event, unfortunately it was a HUGE MISTAKE. I called two days in advance to order 35 vegetarian empanadas, asked several times to make sure they were fully vegetarian, and assumed then that there would not be any issues. Once I picked up the empanadas, came home and my family and I decided to try one empanada before our event. My partner, who is fully vegetarian, took a bite out of one and found that it had chicken in it, she spited it out and threw it in the trash, and so I immediately called the restaurant to speak with the woman we placed the order with; while we were waiting on the phone we opened two more, one had chicken and the other was vegetarian EVEN THOUGH they all looked the same and had two lines on the crust -- They had obviously made a mistake, which I understand happens. The first person was very understanding, apologized and initially said they could replace the empanadas. I agreed to pick up the new order of empanadas and she asked me to wait on the phone while she spoke the manager; when she came back to the phone, she said they would replace ONLY the empanadas that had chicken if I could give them a picture of the two chicken empanadas. I explained that they were in the trash and so she asked me to wait once again and then the manager came to the phone... ...THIS IS WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED GOING DOWN HILL: The manager who later identified himself as Ruben Arcila, the owner of the restaurant, WAS INCREDIBLY CONDESCENDING AND RUDE! He told me I needed to take the two chicken empanadas to his restaurant so they could be replaced. ONLY THOSE TWO. I of course told him that I unfortunately I had thrown them in the trash and was not going to go in there to take them out (TOTALLY UNSANITARY, A RESTAURANT OWNER SHOULD KNOW THAT) and that I needed to make sure they were ALL vegetarian; I offered to take all the boxes with untouched empanadas back because it seemed like they were mixed. I was obviously willing to bring the food back to the restaurant so they knew I wasn't lying or trying to get away with getting "freebies". He kept repeating over and over again that he needed to 1) see a picture or 2) OPEN UP EACH EMPANADA TO CHECK, AND HE WOULD REPLACE ONLY THOSE THAT HAD CHICKEN INSIDE! This was of course a ridiculous suggestion as no one can serve their guests something like that, and he was not going to replace them. He even said I wouldn't be losing anything! I kept on asking them to replace the food and he refused repeating the same thing over and over again, giving me this condescending and disrespectful attitude. My partner got the phone at this point because this man was making nonsense arguments, explained she was a vegetarian and had just spited out one of the empanadas and thrown it in the trash, which was an uncomfortable experience caused by a mistake made by the restaurant. This person Ruben said then that he needed to see a picture of the chicken inside of the empanadas, to which my partner explained ONCE AGAIN that she was not going to take out of the trash, and that she couldn't believe the owner of a restaurant expected such thing. He then said that vegetarian empanadas were marked with TWO LINES. Again, they all had the two lines on the crust so they were OBVIOUSLY MIXED! My partner was very frustrated at this point, told him so and attempted to once again explain that 1) she couldn't open them all up, because that is not how you serve food, and 2) that she was not going to put her hands in the trash after she had spit one of them. Then he told her in a ver condescending tone "DID YOU SPIT OUT ALL OF THE 35 EMPANADAS?!" At this point it was very clear that this person has no managing skills whatsoever and so my partner told him she was simply going to take them all back and wanted the money back. He kept on repeating the same over and over again --pictures of the disposed empanada OR cutting the remaining in half to check-- This was so frustrating! My partner was furious and told him that this was no way to run a business and that he was being rude, condescending and unable to recognize they made a mistake, and told him we just wanted our money back. When he finally agrees to refund the money, told her he didn't need the empanadas back "...AND PLEASE, DO ME A FAVOR AND DON'T BUY FROM US AGAIN" which was of course just his way to be rude once again because why on earth would we buy from this restaurant again. Someone who knows a thing or two about customer service would never lose a customer over something like this, especially because they were the ones who made the mistake. I think is important for people to know this is the kind of response you will receive if they mess up your order and you say something about it. ***And here is a picture of two more empanadas we opened up after this uncomfortable phone call, two lines on the crust and yet they had chicken inside.*** read more

See all

We walked in on a busy Sunday and the three workers, including a white tall old man that passed by who I guess is the owner, didn't even look at us and asked us to wait to be seated. We waited and waited and nothing. I noticed the arrogance of a business having a bit of success that comes with this type of mom and pop restaurants. Thing is that that arrogance, in my years of experience, only leads to one place which is being closed and bankrupt within a year give or take. I hope they get the message. Poor customer service never ever makes a business last for a long time. read more

Arepas con queso with the pink sauce ! So yummy so simple and cheap if you want a snack or to pick a few up for lunch craving. I've always had good food here. Prices went up a little bit as they have changed it a bit but meh. Not that much more. Worth it read more

Great food and friendly service. I got a special of the day with roasted pork on fries with 2 delicious sauces on top. Very good!

Amazing dining experience. A Super cozy and inviting place. Small, yet that's what makes the whole experience soo warm and home like. Also, they have great music. The waitress, (assitant manager) , was super friendly and helpful when it came to us asking about certain dishes and about the vast arepa varieties. She had a great sense of humor and just made the whole experience worth while. This was my 1st time ever tasting the "Arepas Rellenas" and they were super delish. I had the arepa "La Pelua"...Crispy, yet soft arepa tortilla filled with succulent shredded beef and with shredded cheedar cheese. And let me just say, it had a very generous amount of beef, the bomb! I will definitely be coming back to this place and recommend to anyone who is looking for a great place to eat any type of Arepas. read more

This place is truly a hidden treasure, it is small inside and might take you a few minutes to get seated on a busy day, but worth the wait. My family and I visited here on a Sunday afternoon for the first time. We tried the arepas, and bandeja paisa, and plantain with cheese and guava, wow wonderful. Our waitress Lily was super friendly and revommended some things from the menu. If you've never tried this place give it a try you won't be dissapointed. read more

See all

This place was amazing! I tried an arepa, taquenos and empanadas. I was satisfied with every single one of them. The staff was super nice and the place was clean! Definitely going back to this place. read more

First time here for lunch was today- my waitress was so sweet & nice ( I forgot her name but she was the younger girl) my food came out fast and it looked so good!!!!! I ordered the Bandeja Paisa con carne- I'll probably get the ground beef next time instead. The steak was kind of bland, even the beans didn't have seasoning. I added salt & pepper to everything on my plate. The food wasn't as flavorful as it looked- but it was DECENT. I'm pretty sure they specialize in Arepas so maybe I'll just get that next time. read more

Arepas Pues - Venezuelan Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I had dinner tonight. I order seafood soup( $20) the entire soup was littered with fish bones of variable sizes. The largest can be 3cm. The soup was white and I can barely tick out the fish bones. Finally I called for a quit and don't wanna wind up in emergency room. read more

Arepas Pues - Venezuelan Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I came super hungry after a near by work meeting. Weekday 2pm. Perfect time. I ordered the arepas basket, beef empanadas, mora&milk juice and brevas with arequipe and coffee. Everything was delish and well presented. I will definitely come back if I am in the area again. read more

This was my second time eating here, and it was even better than the first. I got the Arepa basket, which is one avocado, one chicken, one beef and one pork. They were all amazing. They're made to order, so they come out hot and fresh, the cheese on top is excellent and the hot sauce they give you is really good. The service is really good, very polite staff and it's a very clean environment. I'll definitely come back here, I had a great experience overall! read more

Arepas Pues is my go-to place in Silver Spring. It's definitely a little pricey for two arepas, but they are super ricas! The staff is also awesome, and extremely kind. If you are a fan of Columbian food, go here! But also, their cuban dishes are excellent. I recommend the shrimp and avocado arepas, platanos maduros, and their frijoles negros. read more

My wife and I frequent this restaurant at least twice a month. She is Colombian so getting a taste of home is always on the priority list. Arepas Pues offers an amazing selection of Arepas, my favorite being La Sifrina and hers being La Reina Pepiada. The empenadas are also very good and don't forget to order miti miti so you can get chicken and beef. Do not miss out on the skirt steak or bandeja paisa each being amazing, but bring your appetite! The owner Don Nicolas is a true gentleman and loves chatting with the guests about Colombia and his buisness. Highly Recommended. read more

Had the pleasure of experiencing their delicious Cuban sandwich for the first time today. The restaurant was small but cozy and clean. The staff was friendly and very attentive. I look forward to trying the rest of their menu and the many arepa options read more

I absolutely love this place. I have never been disappointed by the food, the service, the coffee, or the price. My only complaint is that I don't get to eat here more often. read more

Wow. Years after returning from living in Venezuela, I finally fulfilled all the nostalgia I craved for when I bit into a Reina Pepiada. A creamy avocado chicken salad in a fresh arepa and an arepita with a crispy chicharrón strip were the perfect lunch. I live in VA and would make the long trip to silver spring again just for this meal. I'll have to return for the tequeños and the bandeja paisas which looked superb. The soups also smelled great. Lastly, don't leave without having the Papelon con Limón. One sip and I was back I Cumana in Venezuela. read more

I tried a pabellón arepa and....if I didn't know any better after trying the same at ArepaZone, i might have tolerated it better. HOWEVER, after you've had ArepaZone, the bar is set pretty high. The pabellón here did not have cheese, it was not as hearty, and the cornmeal was not fresh with the softness on the inside and slight crunch on the outside. What I did appreciate is the sweetness of the plantains though. If I really want an arepa and don't feel like traveling the distance, I might return since this is near work....maybe... read more

I was never able to try the food whatever was on the table waiting to be delivered look good, to bad I was never able to try it. Service is horrible you need to get better help or better training. read more

I got the Bandeja Paisa. The food was horrible. Let's just start with the meat, the meat was burned with no flavor. That includes the ground beef and the chicharrón that comes with it. Not even on a good day is this dish good. read more

This food is solid (some is excellent), the service is great, and every time I return I make another discovery that leaves me happy. I don't go to Arepas Pues for *haute cuisine*. I go for a Colombian experience, I go for authentic eats, I go for great service, and I go so I can feel pride in my heritage. Arepas Pues delivers all of the above in spades. All they need to do is keep on keepin' on. It doesn't hurt that these people have fantastic taste in music. Advice to management: concéntrense cada día más en la entrega de una experiencia típica, excelente e invariable. ¡Que viva Colombia! read more

Delicious! We had the tostones, the arepas and the empanadas - plus a delicious juice that tasted like the happy love child of a lime and a blackberry. It was really easy to get vegetarian options. My wife had the beef and chicken empanadas and said they were crispy and delicious. A nice, friendly place with good service. Also, to the person who Yelped before me who complained about the servers not speaking English to his liking: this is authentic Latin American food. Linguistic and cultural diversity is part of what creates great food. Yum! read more

Arepas Pues - Venezuelan Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Driving by I expected this to be more of a carry out but it's a nice little restaurant. The service was great (our waitress was Debbie) and the food was really outstanding. I was very pleased there was plenty of vegetarian options including grilled tofu. The vegetarian empanadas were amazing. Everything felt really fresh with quality ingredients. Will definitely be returning read more

Terrible terrible! Had a casserole and the shrimp wasn't pealed! Had to peal every single shrimp with my hands. Most of the clams were unopened which only means either they are bad(dead) or they were not fully cooked!!! So much lack of attention for a meal that requires experience and professionalism. As a Colombian I have to say that I am very disappointed. Worst part, complained about it and the staff didn't do anything! I can't believe I'm even wasting time writing a review on Yelp but I think this should be taken seriously. Sea food is not meant to be offered in every restaurant. read more

This is more like a 2.5 star rating. I came with my family & father expecting authentic colombian food. Let's face it, there really arent any in the DMV area. So when I drive from Fairfax I really am expecting real colombian food. We were disappointed. The service was fine. The ambience was fine. The arepas actually were decent but I think they were more venezuelan style (nothing wrong with that). Empanadas - pretty much a staple in colombian cuisine. The first bite was promising. They were crunchy and hot. Then we realized there was barely any meat but plenty of potato. Toward the last bite all we got was fried dough. :( Sancocho - I love sancocho. I order it wherever I can. This was NOT sancocho but more of an ox tail stew. Maybe it was more venezuelan? Sancocho does not come with slices of tomato & long slices of onion on top (garnish, perhaps??). I've NEVER seen that at home, in Colombia or restaurants in Miami. It also didnt taste like traditional sancocho, sadly. I ate enough to be polite but after fishing out tomato & a ton of white onion, I pushed my bowl aside. Asado negro - Yes, I know this is a typical venezuelan dish but we ordered it anyway. The meat was dry & had absolutely no flavor other than the red wine that it had been soaked in & didnt cook off. I dont want to bash a neighborhood restaurant (my father used to own a colombian restaurant for 16 years). I understand they thrive off good reviews & word of mouth. But this wont be a place I'll drive out of my way for. Sorry. read more

Great food! The empanada is yumiiiii. It is a small place with a good service. The waitress helped us with our choice in that day paciently

Awesome Colombian/Venezuelan/Cuban spot!!! Empanadas and Sobre barriga were to die for!

Very bad customer service, I read the reviews before I visit the restaurant and just want to confirm that it was right. I walked in and someone give me a table, was waiting for someone to come and take my drink order or anything, the restaurant was not busy at all, about 4 tables at 9pm. There was 2 servers talking to each other, so I decided to leave the restaurant. It should be a zero star, but to post my review have to choose one. read more

Yummy authentic Central American etc food! I had a sampling of various items ranging $2-3 in price because I wanted a little bit of everything. It all was so good. Great bang for your buck. I had the yuca frita (a fried root that tastes like the best French fries you've ever had), arepa con queso, tostada con pollo (highly recommend; fried plantain and you can get beef, chicken, or an avocado sauce on top), and some frijoles! Their hot sauce was delicious and different - homemade! Mayonnaise-based; reminiscent of crema. They also brought me a small side of a pico-like salsa and it was just the right amount to add some extra kick as flavor to the tostada. Excellent and quick service. Very friendly. Wonderful experience! Will be back! read more

See all

Beef empanada, coffee con leche and an arepa. Brought back so many memories. Highly recommend.

Terrible service! The waitresses were more interested in their personal conversations than in serving us. From the moment we walked in we were given a side eye as if we had interrupted them, and we never got so much as a smile or the name of the waitress . The food was okay, but definitely not for the price they were charging. The decor is cheesy and generic. DO NOT EAT HERE. read more

First time trying Venezuelan, was absolutely blown away. The arepas are incredible, especially with the spicy cream sauce. Service was fantastic, and the place had a "dive"/hole in the wall feel that I love (I mean that as the best kind of compliment). Will come here first next time I'm in town. read more

Amazing food the real deal, the service was paramount my server Stefania and manager Milly were great and welcoming, we had Tequeños arepas empanadas and natural juices.. I thought I was back home... a must try... read more

I love the arepas, empanadas and natural juice. They have a great selection of authentic Colombian food. Best Colombian restaurant. Hands down!! read more

Wow....the shredded beef plantain one is amazing - pabellon - with the homemade blackberry juice.

When staying in Silver Spring, we passed this place many times when walking to the metro. On a late night, nothing in the area was open except for Arepas Pues. So glad we went in. The staff was very friendly, and generous with refills. Ordered the tequenos, which were amazing. I wasn't really hungry, but the beef empanadas were perfect. Although ordering all deep fried food at 10pm wasn't the healthiest choice, the food was never greasy. Would recommend to everyone. read more

Great people and authentic food. If you are in downtown silver spring come have some good Latino food. Debbie is an awesome waitress!

I was so excited for this place to open up..waited Weeks, months even. First of all the arepas were fine, nothing apecial. They brought us the wrong yuca and forgot to refill our water, even though the reataurant was empty. We decided to give it another try and came back a week later, this time they brought the wrong sauce with our mariquitas and it took 20 minutes to bring out the right one. Also, they forgot to bring part of our order. The beef was ridiculously salty and when we returned the beef arepa they still charged it on our bill. I wanted to like this place I really did, but between service and food it is quite a dissapointment. read more

I am Colombian and was super excited to see Arepas Pues arrive in dt Silver Spring. First time meal was fine. Nothing spectacular. Second time last Friday I went back with my husband and the kids and the Arepas were definitely more tasty, flavorful, and with good texture. We had a salad and tajadas ( delicious fried sweet plantains with cheese) The staff and our waitress was very friendly. We were brought the wrong appetizer but our waitress quickly corrected the situation. Also we did have to wait a good 25 min for the food. But overall I'd recommend the food, and at reasonable prices, I'll be back. read more

Best Arepas in Montgomery County!! great service as well, you should definitely try them!!

1 Arepa was enough to fill me up. The juices are delicious as well. Service was excellent. Nicolas treated us like family. With that being said, there is not like other place for Colombian food! read more