A quick, delicious gluten free lunch!! Stopped on our way to hotel & grabbed some empanadas for lunch Ordering was quick, we found a table & they quickly brought us our food The empanadas were HOT, crispy and the flavor was so intense - I wanted to try all the flavors because they were so good but I held off until next time! read more

Arepittas - Chicken empanada - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Tired the shrimp empanada and thoroughly impressed by the filling. Very crispy fried breading. Empanada is served with some green sauce. At least five tables inside as a mom n pop like shop. read more

Arepittas - Shrimp empanada - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been wanting to try Arepittas for the past four years during our trips to Pittsburgh. We visit about 3-4 times a year and there are just so many great places to eat that we hadn't made it here yet. I was really happy we finally made it in. I hadn't had an arepa since a stop in Minneapolis and had been craving that classic mix of Venezuelan beef, black beans, and plantains. We started with the taqueños with cheese. They were okay. They came with the pink sauce, and while there were other sauce options available, nothing was really recommended when we ordered so we weren't sure what might pair best. They typically come with 6, but I ate one before the picture was taken lol. They reminded me a bit of a dry cheese stick, and unfortunately one of mine was still a little cold in the center. They weren't awful, but I probably wouldn't order them again. The pink sauce was good but didn't blow me away. 2.5/5. We also shared the yucca fries, and one small basket was plenty. I love the heartiness of yucca and these were a great standard version that gets the job done. Nothing fancy to elevate them, but still very good with the pink sauce and shredded cheese on top. 4/5. I ordered the Pabellón arepa, and the Venezuelan beef was wonderfully flavored -- really delicious. Mine had very few black beans and the plantains were mostly at the bottom, but once I got to them the combination of the savory beef and sweet plantains was fantastic. I definitely wished there had been more beans throughout. I think my first couple bites had some, but the rest of the (quite large) arepa didn't. It was served hot and fresh though and still easily a 4/5. My husband ordered the Reina Pepiada (shredded chicken with avocado mayo and garlic). It was good, though to me it reminded me a bit of chicken salad, which I'm not usually a huge fan of. He really enjoyed it. It had great flavor and was very juicy. I wasn't sure if the avocado made it cooler or if that sandwich is meant to be served more on the cool side, because his wasn't hot like mine. Even as someone who isn't big on mayo or chicken salad, I'd still give it 4/5. The arepa bread itself was cooked really well, not too crumbly and it held both sandwiches together nicely. I also loved the little Arepittas grill mark on the arepa. I'm telling you though, after this meal you'll be full for quite a few hours. Or days! Lol The ambiance is fun too! It's basically built into a parking garage which makes it kind of unique. The staff was friendly. They did initially forget my chicha andina, but when I mentioned it the woman (possibly the owner) made it right away and it was very good. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back to try more of the menu. The bowls looked really popular and I'd love to try one next time. read more

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Arepittas is a local restaurant that serves Venezuelan empanadas, arepas, arepittas bowls, tacos, appetizers, sides, desserts, and drinks. Some foods are vegetarian or gluten-free. I have been a customer of Arepittas twice. At the Pittsburgh Taco Festival in 2022, my husband ordered an arepa and a tres leches from the restaurant's food truck. (Arepas are cornmeal flatbread that are stuffed with meats and other fillings.) My husband enjoyed the arepa very much. My tres leches consisted of the typical milk-soaked cake and was covered in a topping of very rich cream cheese. In 2026, we ate lunch inside the restaurant downtown. The employees took a bit of time to cook our foods, but they spoke nicely with us. We enjoyed eating the following: Pabellon Criollo - Venezuela's national dish; juicy shredded beef, rice, black beans, fried plantains, white cheese, and plain arepa Arepa Reina Pepiada - corn flatbread stuffed with shredded chicken, avocado, and garlic mayo Churros with chocolate Chicha Andina - drink with rice, pineapple, brown sugar, and spices read more

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Lots of options here with all kinds of arepas, empanadas, taco, etc. They have a ton of different meats to choose from and have an extensive vegetarian menu as well! We ordered a chicken arepa and a chicken empanada. Both were extremely fresh and delicious! Service was a fast and friendly. Highly recommend! read more

Arepittas - Reina Pepiada (Chicken Avocado Arepa) and a Shredded Chicken Empanada - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Don't miss this gem! Stopped in for lunch to go because good arepas are hard to find. Reviewed the menu and saw they had meat and vegan options. Ordered the eggplant and soy chorizo arepas to go. You order at the counter, pay, take a number, and wait for your order. Fairly fast service at noon on a weekday. My order came out with napkins, utensils, and the herbaceous green sauce for each. The only thing I wished they'd change is the styrofoam packaging. I get it's cheap, but love the environment a little more. The branded arepa was a fun surprise. See my photo. Menu is clearly marked with vegan or vegetarian options. The eggplant was my fav. So flavorful! The soy chorizo was good too, but not as delicious IMO. I walked here, but street parking is available. read more

Arepittas - Branded arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This spot is hands down my favorite place to order out from. The food is consistently amazing and everything tastes incredibly fresh, and flavorful. You can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. The service has always been great as well. My orders are accurate, ready on time, and the staff is friendly every time I pick up. It's a small, cozy space from what I can see when grabbing my food, which honestly just adds to the charm and makes it feel like a hidden gem. I haven't dined in yet, but for takeout, this place never misses. read more

Arepittas - Pabellon Criollo (National Dish) - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My coworkers and I ordered lunch from Arepittas recently. We tried to place an order over the phone but there was no answer. I ended up placing a takeout order through Uber Eats. The order was ready about 20 minutes later. I ordered the cheese and jalepeno tequenos and a choriqueso empanada. My coworkers ordered a variety of different items like yuca fries, sweet plantains, empanadas and arepas. Overall, the feedback was positive. The coworkers who ordered the arepas mentioned that they didn't have much flavor. We all enjoyed the sauces that accompanied our dishes. read more

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The pabellon arepa was really delicious, I especially loved the delicious plantains inside and the spicy cilantro sauce was a great pairing. I also loved the fish tacos on soft corn tortillas--they were huge and the tortillas tasted very fresh. I'd also highly recommend the spicy avocado sauce, as well. The service was wonderful...I believe it was the owner who checked up on us during our meal there, which I appreciated! I definitely get the hype of this local spot, I'm looking forward to returning next time I'm in Pittsburgh. read more

Arepittas - Fish tacos - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Fantastic Venezuelan food in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh! I must admit this was not what I was expecting while visiting with family, but it far exceeded my expectations. The shop is a small, quaint location just off the beaten path. The owners/staff were all very friendly and helpful. Offering suggestions and giving ideas. We ended getting the Venezuelan National dish of Pabellon Criollo (beef bowl) and the most popular meal in Venezuela, a Reina Pepiada (chicken). Both dishes were fantastic! Loaded with flavor and light complexities, especially when adding their green sauce. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Arepittas - Menu - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stopped by for lunch. The menu is pretty extensive and definitely has a lot of solid options. We went with two empanadas and one arepa. The seafood empanada was definitely my favorite of the three. Full of delicious seafood and really packed with ingredients. The pork one I found to be a little lacking in filling and didn't really reach anything until about halfway through. The arepa in the end we did enjoy, but it's a bit hard to eat. I also think arepas just aren't my favorite, as the arepa portion itself can be a bit dense. I do with that the ingredients were a bit more mixed, as I felt like I ate most of the cheese at the top and mostly meat at the bottom. Service was friendly but did take a bit of time during lunch. We grabbed the sugar cane/limon drink which was definitely not worth. The sauces were all incredible, we went with three different and the garlic was my favorite. I appreciate the branding a lot on the actual dishes, which I think both serves the purpose for the restaurant and for the consumer. It's a super unassuming place and would be easy to walk by in the area. If I lived in the area I would probably come back. read more

Arepittas - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Went Friday for lunch with a friend. Perfect, lunch spot. Food came out fresh and rather quickly. Staff was nice, helpful and patient. I ordered the llanera which was delicious. The steak, grilled white cheese, green sauce and veggies complimented each other so well. read more

Arepittas - Arepa Llanera - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The most delicious arrepa. I got the shredded chicken salad in a warm arrepa served with a side of crema. So refreshing and delicious perfect for a summer afternoon lunch. Lots of choices and options. I'd drive from Toledo Ohio again for these. read more

Arepittas - Chicken Arrepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Excellent lunch selection. Never had so went with Pabellon Empanada and the Reina Pepiada-BOTH EXCELLENT!!

Such an amazing hole in the wall. Amazing service, staff are the sweetest! And the food. Wow. Delish!! So so so good. read more

Arepittas - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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A truly hidden gem tucked away on Cherry Way in Downtown Pittsburgh--blink and you might miss it, but you definitely shouldn't. This family-owned Venezuelan-style eatery is serving up authentic, homemade street food that's bursting with flavor. Open daily with online ordering (highly recommended during the busy lunch rush!), they offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is full of Venezuelan staples like empanadas, arepas, tostones, tacos, and bowls--all made fresh in-house. I started with the tostón chips & avocado chunky--warm, crisp plantain chips paired with homemade guac. Absolute perfection. I also tried the shredded chicken empanada, a golden fried corn dough crescent served with their signature pink sauce--crispy, savory, and so satisfying. But the star of the show? The pabellón arepa--a corn flour flatbread stuffed with shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains, and grated white cheese, served with a spicy cilantro sauce. It's the most popular Venezuelan dish for a reason. The arepas come stamped with the restaurant name- how cool!!!! To drink, I had the papelón con limón--a traditional Venezuelan refresher made with raw brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, and water. Light, tangy, and super refreshing. Spice, freshness, and big flavor are not missing from any dish here. A must-try for anyone wanting to explore vibrant Latin American street food--right in the heart of the city. Truly where Pittsburgh meets Venezuela! read more

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Good was amazing!! We are def going back!! I got empanadas and I can't express how good they are!

Not somewhere in downtown Pittsburgh that gets a ton of foot traffic, Arepittas can easily get overlooked. The food here, however, is worth a visit. The Pabellon arepas are one of their signature / staple dishes, and being that it's shredded beef with beans and cheese (plus soft and sweet plantains) sandwiches between cornmeal patties, it's hard not to love it. Everything had plenty of flavor. Of course, the menu has much more than arepas and includes vegetarian options too. For the amount of people in the restaurant that evening, the service was fast. I'll be back to try more and encourage anyone reading this to go if you haven't already. read more

Arepittas - The "Pabellon" arepa (shredded beef, cheese, plantains, black beans between cornmeal cakes) - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The food was delicious! And the staff was super helpful! Great environment! I would certainly come back again! read more

Arepittas - Yuca Frita (Small), Pabellon Criollo (National Dish) - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We had the Arepa Pabellon and the Super Bowl. For the $4.50 difference in cost, the Super Bowl has a huge amount of shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains plus you get salad, scrambled eggs and a canned drink. The Super Bowl is the winner. But if you are doing takeout, double check to be sure they include your canned drink. I was disappointed with our Arepa Pabellon. Not with the taste because it was excellent, but with the size and amount of fillings, shredded beef, black beans and sweet plaintains. And that is all you get, a sandwich about the size of a woman's small hand. The value for Arepa Pabellon just wasnt there for me. So on our next visit, I will just get the Super Bowl. I liked the bowl. This was my first time with Venezuelan food. It was well worth wandering Pittsburgh's screwy streets finding it. I not only will return but I will seek out Venezuelan food in other cities. read more

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In town for one night for work. Too humid to wander too far from room at The Joinery hotel. Saw this listed on Yelp as the closest five star spot. 100% accurate. Fantastic welcome from the staff and amazing food. Best empanadas I've ever had. Loved the cilantro and garlic sauce for both my empanadas and arepa. Ordered two days in a row, with the second time through DoorDash pick up. Would absolutely visit again when in town. read more

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I think I want 5! So damn good. The staff came outside to meet me because I was a little lost. I had a chicken shredded arepa with black beans sweet plantain white cheese. Omg, better than what I've had in Miami. I'm considering ordering to go read more

The food was deliciously flavorful. The inside seating was cozy with pops of bright yellow. We tried a Pabellón arepa and chicken empanada, but they were sadly out of pork when we got there. I'm taking a star off for the service and the long wait for the food. It can be a difficult restaurant to find. It is locally owned and the food was amazing! read more

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We are staying at a hotel by the Station Square. There is no good food here. I ordered the beef, plantain, and black bean arepittas. Sooo good. They have amazing guacamole too. read more

tldr tasty Venezuelan arepas + empanadas with lots of protein/flavor options for a quick bite in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh visiting pittsburgh i was delighted to see a venezuelan spot with the aunties and friendly staff whipping up fresh food thru a fast causal set up ordered a llanera (diced beef arepa), cachapa (shredded beef sweet corn arepa), and ground beef empanada llanera (4/5) tasty and savory bite with plentiful diced beef and green sauce to complement the corn arepa - a bit bland without the sauce and meat was just a bit tough empanada (5/5) fresh seasoned ground beef filling with a corn/mochi like exterior and piping hot + creamy white sauce was great addition cachapa with shredded beef (5/5) sweet corn arepa filled with a tender flavorful shredded beef topped with tomatoes and a slice of grilled cheese - great on its own but sauce was bomb there was a decent amount of seating with a modern interior! only critique is the restaurant does get pretty smoky and warm when food is being made food 4.5/5 service 4/5 ambiance 4/5 value 5/5 read more

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Best arepas in town! -- We ordered an assortment from pulled beef arepa to the empanada. Our personal favorite was the grilled steak arepa topped with the delicious sauces that came with it. Their service was quick, and they have generous indoor seating. Be aware that they have only one bathroom, and people came in to use the restroom without ordering. read more

I'm a huge empanada lover and these did NOT disappoint. Dare I say, they may have been the best empanadas i've ever had. Perfectly cooked and I loved the sauce on the side. The service was slightly slow, but I didn't mind at all because it was definitely worth the wait. Also the prices cannot be beat. This is how things should be priced!!! I hate going places now and you get a taco and it's like $9 for one taco. If they ever raise their prices, i'd be super disappointed. Also i thought we had a great portion for the price. They were big and filling. I'm really excited to come back. read more

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I have had my eye on this place for a couple of years and finally made it in. I once had a Colombian roommate that made delicious arepas and have been a fan of them ever since. The restaurant is small but a good atmosphere and clean. The staff were all very friendly and helpful as we maneuvered our way to seat with a stroller. We got two orders of arepas with beef and pork and the flavors were SO good. Filling food and though it was a little pricier than we would have supposed, it was worth it. We will definitely be back and will be recommending this place to anyone looking in the area. read more

Arepittas - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Pabellon Empanada was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life! So delicious.

Omg this food is to die for. Delicious. The staff is a bit clueless, but the food is Worth a small wait.

Absolutely fantastic. Nearly everything is gluten free and clearly marked. 100% coming here again to try everything on the menu. read more

Arepittas - Arepa Capressa - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Friendly service here. We walked in to order takeout unexpectedly while downtown. The inside is decorated in black and yellow for Pittsburgh. Cute vibe, very clean. Menu has a ton of options, and there are is a whole separate plant based menu for the vegans out there! We ordered a choripollo and pabellón arepa. Both were flavorful!! Can tell everything is hand made with love. 10/10. read more

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This is a great example of the value of Yelp! I was in a different one of my downtown employer's buildings and thinking about how I'm kind of bored with all of my usual lunch options. I thought, is there anything around here I'm not thinking of? Just typed in, "lunch," and one of the closest results to me was this little spot, with five stars. I recognized it, have passed it, and honestly never considered going in because it just looked so unassuming and I didn't think Venezuelan food interested me. The reviews couldn't be denied, though, so I stopped. Wow, have I been missing out. They have an extensive vegetarian section on their menu, for starters. So many choices for me! When I said I wanted a vegetarian bowl, he asked which one and showed the lengthy list of options. I am not used to this kind of choice! When I ordered the soy chorizo bowl, the server made sure to ask if cheese was OK on my beans, which is always something I appreciate. I paid at the calendar and sat down at one of the indoor seats for a few minutes, then someone brought me my food for takeout. Everything was absolutely delicious. This was a really filling lunch option with so much protein. The sweet plantains were my favorite part of the meal. With so many choices. I immediately started thinking about when I would be in the area next time so I could try another option. Learn from my mistake and do not sleep on this place! It's a gem! read more

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What a great little find! This place has amazing food! We wanted a quick dinner after site seeing all day. We had the shredded beef tacos, the eggplant arepitta, and an order of tostones with cheese. It was just enough food for two. The arepitta is about 5-6" in diameter and stuffed full. The tacos are stuffed generously as well. The inside is small and more like a fast food dining vibe, so we took it to go. The employees were very helpful and kind. Everything was served with a smile! read more

Excellent arepa. great flavor. Happy i tried. would eat here many times if I lived closer

Esta delicioso! Lunchtime Venezuelan delights await you at this downtown restaurant: Everything we tried was cooked to order and absolutely delicious. There was a line just before noon on a Monday but the cooks made the orders quickly. The chicken empanada and the super yummy green sauce that comes with it was one of the best I've ever had. The chicken was extremely well seasoned and moist. I liked the yucca fries too that came with cheese and sauce. The shredded beef arepa with the white sauce black beans and sweet plantains was killer. This place is spectacular! read more

Was so excited to try this place after reading all the reviews. Never had arepas before, but I'm now a fan! I ordered their beef and pork arepas. Both were great, but the pork I liked the much much more than the beef. The pork was juicier and tasted like it had better seasoning. The arepas were crispy, but with sustenance. Also very saucy. The service here was great, one guy saw me making a mess with all the juices dripping from my hands, he read my mind and grabbed a handful of napkins for me. I also ordered an empanada with shredded beef. So good, but so greasy. When it was brought to my table there were literal pools of grease just soaking into the empanada. A little off putting, I wished they would have dabbed some off or let the oil drain a bit, but the taste was undeniably perfection. They stuffed it with a hefty portion of juicy beef, so good. Would come back again! read more

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While I wasn't particularly hankering for Venezualan, I was drawn by the promise of quality. This cuisine is good for special diets; with ample vegetarian options and of course it's very good if you're avoiding gluten. Avoiding dairy is a bit more of a stretch, but it could be done. I ended up with my favorite arepa, a domino with black beans and cheese. The beans were wonderfully spiced, adding a slightly bitter, complex flavor to the less subtle salted cheese and grilled corn. Their yucca fries came with cheese and the delicious pink sauce these restaurants usually have. It was very satisfying stuff. They gave be a side of guasaca (avocado-based sauce), and while I wasn't thrilled that you had to pay for more sauces if you wanted them, I had plenty of flavor as things were. They had some interesting drink options. It was really fast food with cheap plastic utensils offered and such, but to have found such a fresh and delicious meal where I did, I was happy. read more

Arepittas - Arepa Domino - Venezuelan Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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No question, this place is phenomenal. Come for the food, stay longer for some more food. I promise you won't be let down; I mean unless you don't like delicious things. The staff is friendly and the food is absolutely busting. Personal recommendations: Pabellon arepa and a cachapa con todo. I'm also told by my bro that the tres leches cake is fantastic. read more

I have been wanting to try Arepittas for a long time. So since I am working on the north shore, and not often downtown, I checked Door Dash and was able to have my order delivered to the north shore. I realized after I placed the order that you can order delivery or take out via yelp. I will do that next time for sure. My expectations were no doubt met! I really enjoyed the Llanera which is a steak with avocado& fried egg on a cornmeal flat bread. It was so fresh! I drizzled the cilantro sauce on it too. I also ordered a beef empanada and it was quite delicious and fresh as well. Nice size too. The Yuca Frita were ok. This was my first time trying yuca's. I thought they were similar to French fries but less of a strong taste. The taste was mild. I added salt n pepper. They were fun to try and dip in the cilantro sauce. They were a great accompaniment to my meal. I look forward to ordering again and ordering different items on the menu. read more