We were there for Feed the Soul week, so I am not sure if the portions were small because of features being cheaper then the menu or not but it looses a couple of stars because the arepas were tiny...and I mean tiny. The deal was for 10 bucks you got an arepa but the thing was less then a hockey puck in size. We chose two - the pulled pork, and the beef. The pulled pork definately packed more flavour. And it was just meat with the bun...no veggies or cheese. I really think if they were less cheap adding those things would have made it more satisfying. I also ordered the yucca fries which were excellent. They were perfectly cooked and plump and because they weren't on the special menu they were plentiful. They came with a mojito dip which was zippy and tasty. Service was nothing great. They barely came to service us and see how we are doing/ It is cute inside , but not comfortable for sitting. Although there were a lot of interesting things on the menu I doubt that my husband and I will be back. Based on the service and the skimpy portions it isn't really worth giving a second chance. read more

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Almost all of the menu is gluten free (GF). Empanadas too!! Arepas are made from corn... and they have frozen tequeños you can purchase from Uproot Collective or in house! Classic Arepa (sandwich) is a gigantic creation! I get two meals from one... and the leftovers are divine! I order with the green sauce... just slather me with that delicious creation! Yuca fries (cassava) are a special treat with delicious dipping sauce(s)! Love Love Love the food!! Drinks! Beers, mixed drinks, tequilas and local product from RigHand on the shelf and house-made fruit selections. The Papelón con limón (cane sugar lemonade!) is refreshing in summer! Watch out for construction... it is worth it! Park west, just past 108 street on the north side of Whyte and pay by ePark. Cheap to park a few minutes... I've paid between free and $0.40 for take out! Beat that! There are plug-ins with USB ports for you to charge while you are dining. Seats about 30 inside. Busy time is evenings - come for lunch! Service is friendly, and we definitely rate this as one of our favourite places in Edmonton! Also available from skip and Uber eats, but I like to make sure a good local business gets all of the money...plus, it's hot and fresh when it hits my hand! read more

Very unique experience. Tried the Caracas burger. Yum. Next time a little less time on the BBQ but otherwise great. Will come back to try other things. read more

Avila Arepa - CARACAS BURGER Street food burger. Burger with hickory sticks, smoked pork chop, tomato, cabbage, feta cheese, salsas & sunny side egg. - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I checked out Avila Arepa soon after they first opened and really enjoyed my experience. However, subsequent visits have been mediocre in terms of the food. Overall, the atmosphere is quite nice with the music, server/owner, and general setup. I'd recommend their specials and Ávila Signature Arepa if I were to come here again...and I'd give them 7/10. read more

Avila Arepa has been around for a few years but it's been on my radar to try. They specialize in arepas and are nearby Spice Grill and SweetHoney Dessert. We dropped in on a Friday afternoon (around 1:30pm). Service is friendly and genuine. There's a couple of tables outside on their sidewalk patio. The menu consists of criollo brunch, sidekicks, yums and arepas (classic and signature). Arepas are in the $9.00 to $16.00 range. - Passionfruit juice ($6.00) - C always orders one of their fresh fruit juices when he comes for a meal. - Yuca frita ($6.00) - fried cassava sticks with Venezuelan mojito. These came out piping hot. Good bite but somewhat of a small portion. - Avila ($14.50) - this is their signature/OG sandwich. Pork was unfortunately dry and took away from the other flavours. - Pabellon ($14.50) - easily the better of the two arepas that we tried. Beef was tender and moist. Our waitress accidentally dropped a piece of plantain but came back with two more. The bean and feta cheese was a fantastic combo. Would get this baby again. - La trinidad ($14.50) - didn't get to try this one but it sounded great and C devoured his arepa. Nice to see AA bring some Venezuelan flair to the city. 3.5 stars. read more

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I was so excited about this Restaurant. Period a Venezuelan restaurant with many vegan and vegetarian options is very rare. They also have a cute little patio and I was excited to sit there in the sun. First of all the service was very slow it took quite a while to get out food. When it came I was shocked to see how small the portions were for the price. I chose the Arepa with beans cheese and avocado. The avocado was so hard it wasn't edible. They could just let me know that there was no avocado and I would've picked another vegetarian option. My husband got the breakfast bowl with avocado and his avocado was also not edible. The waitress didn't come once to the table to ask us how things were going. We also asked for extra beans and we never got them but they did charge us for them Too bad read more

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Really enjoyed surprising my husband with lunch at Avila Arepa on our Anniversary. This place has been on our bucket list for awhile but the location is out of the way for us and not something our minis would likely enjoy. From the moment we walked through the doors, i loved the vibe - the colours, the chalkboards, the photos, the newspaper clippings... basically everything! The owner, Rolando, was super personable, informative, and patient as we looked over the entire menu. We asked for his suggestions and went to town sharing Pabellón Arepa, Palo Verde Arepa, and Tequeños! There were so many, many more things we wanted to try including drinks and desserts but we were sooooo full after sharing two arepas and a starter. The garlic cilantro dipping sauce with the Tequeños was to die for. SERIOUSLY. The Arepas we chose were night and day different - The Pabellón with pulled beef, black beans, plantains & feta! The Palo Verde with avocado, queso de Mano & roasted peppers! Both were divine and I loved having a half of each! Definitely planning a return visit next time we are near Whyte Avenue! read more

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Had a discount code for free Arepitas appetizer with the purchase of 2 Arepas entrees. Went here with 2 friends. Street parking available and was able to find a spot near the restaurant on a Saturday night at 7PM surprisingly. 2hr parking also available down some of the side streets (free on weekends after 6PM). No public bathroom but there is a 1 person-at-a-time bathroom that was clean and well-kept for customers. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Friend recommended we try the Tequenos (deep-fried Venezuelan cheese sticks) appetizer - this was like a take on mozzarella sticks. Great breading and cheese inside is just like mozzarella cheese. Didn't taste too greasy and I like the breading. Dip (guasacaca) was interesting and went really well with the Tequenos. The free Arepitas appetizer (plain fried mini arepas) was quite greasy but loved the texture. Soft, doughy, cornmeal-like. Dip (fresh cream, "nata") was delicious and went well with the Arepitas. Friend got the Asado Negro (roast beef) - LOTS of filling. Great taste and very juicy but would have loved to see a crisp veg or something fresh on it to give it acidity, texture, and/or color. I got the Domino (black beans and feta cheese) - black beans taste kind of like re-friend beans. Feta was lovely. Tasted even better with the Arepitas fresh cream dip as it needed a little kick in my opinion. Maybe a side of hot sauce? Friend got the Manicomio (create your own, - portobello mushroom, avocado, tomato, and queso de mano {fresh house made cheese}), I got to try a piece of the house-made cheese - very nice. Friend though it was a little bitter but I did not get that. Was a nice soft light flavor. Would have loved to see a side of slaw/raw veg for the price and for a change in texture (Everyone was definitely tired of the same bite every bite). Not sure I would be full with just 1 arepas ($15) but I think that's what to expect with eating on Whyte Ave as well but glad we got appetizers. Overall very good food and I would come back to try a few more items! read more

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Cozy, Friendly and homie! The guy who waited on us whom I think was the owner was very welcoming. Service was excellent! And the arepas!! Wow I had never had them this good. A party in your mouth. I ordered some with plantains and meat. It was fantastic! Very accommodating towards food allergies. Great music, and outmosphere. Easy to find parking and the food came out fast. I also had the tamrine margarita and it was delicious. I highly recommend this place! read more

Avila Arepa - Cozy place ! - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Discovered this place thanks to a couple of friends that had been here before, and soooo glad they brought me here! I've never had Venezuelan food before, but I will definitely be back for more! The restaurant was very quiet for a Thursday evening, and we were the only diners all evening. I don't think there were any take out orders either. Our meals all came out quickly and a perfect temperature. For my review, I'll only be commenting on my orders and not the other meals at our table. Only because I didn't taste them, but what I can say is that both other guests loved their meals and only had great things to say! I started with the Tequenos and they were delicious! Think of a gooey, amazing cheese stick, but in a crescent roll type dough. And the special sauce that comes with it is fantastic! It's a cilantro based sauce, and normally I'm one of those people that hates cilantro because it tastes like soap. However, I could eat that over and over again! My main entrée was one of the Signature Arepas, the Chacaito. It was packed with pulled beef and the queso de mano. It also came with the special sauce on the side. The beef was flavorful and juicy. The cheese was similar to a feta type cheese and was a bit salty, but that added to the entire delicious meal! It was super filling and I would order it again! Of course we made room for dessert and I had the Tres Leches. It was beautifully presented and so amazing! The sauce was similar to a melted vanilla ice cream, and when you soaked your piece of cake in it, it would melt in your mouth! The staff were all incredibly friendly, helpful and wonderful! Very pleasant people and they seem like the type that you would love to have them sit down and join you for supper. For sure I'll be back! Thank you to the staff for a great meal out! read more

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Today we will be chatting about the arepa and where to get one in Edmonton! An arepa is a type of latin sandwich from Venezuela and Colombia. The word "arepa" refers to the flat and round corn flour patty that is used as the bun. It's a little bit like a tortilla except fatter and puffier. When Ávila Arepa opened a few years ago in Strathcona they were the first Venezuelan restaurant in the city and they've been dishing out arepas aplenty ever since. In fact, in 2018 VUE Weekly gave them just about every award possible; #1 Best Appetizers 2018, #1 Best Soups 2018, #1 Best Salads 2018, #1 Best Spanish 2018, #1 Best Mexican/Latin American 2018, #1 Best Sandwiches 2018, #1 Best Hidden Gem 2018, #1 Best Bargain 2018. Ávila Arepa has been one of the hottest places in town ever since. A self-proclaimed "urban Venezuelan kitchen," Ávila Arepa was opened by an actual Venezuelan immigrant who is bringing latin vibes, homemade flavours, and traditional food with a twist. You feel it the minute that you enter the restaurant and are met with bright colours and latin music. It feels like taking a little vacation! I especially loved the mural in the front entrance that wraps around the walls and down across the floor. You'll see a lot of distressed wood, from the counters to the tabletops, that gives a hip tropical feeling to the space. I loved the comfortable and boisterous atmosphere. The friendly gentleman at the cash was happy to take my order and was very helpful. I was excited (as usual) to find some interesting beverages on the drink menu and immediately went for the Maltín Polar (Venezuelan non-alcoholic malted beverage. The perfect sidekick for your empanada! - $3.00). I loved this drink! It was very unique and different. The malt flavour really comes through and the carbonation and colour makes it feel a little bit like a coke. I liked this a lot especially since I've always enjoyed malt in various forms. There are two sections on the menu that seem the same but different; Sidekicks and Yums. Both are full of things that I would love to try. The Yuca Frita (Fried cassava sticks with Venezuelan mojito - $6.00) were an absolute must for me because I rarely come across them and I love them very much! Yuca is the root of the cassava plant and it looks a lot like a sweet potato or yam. I don't know what it is about these things, but I love the flavour and texture of them. These ones were wonderful and fried to a golden perfection. A totally different mouthfeel compared to french fries, yuca is much starchier and really captures the crispiness in a magical way. The Venezuelan mojito dip on the side was oily, garlicy, and herbaceous - nothing even close to ketchup (and I say this in the most approving way possible). I also couldn't ignore the Cochino Frito (Half pound of fried pork bites with guasacaca - $9.00) because the only option for them had to be "delicious." Little bites of amazingness and possibly the perfect snack. These small chunks of pork have an intense deep-fry on them, creating something quite similar to well-done, yet still chewy bacon. You could just keep popping these into your mouth and not even realize that you'd eaten the whole thing - they've got that addictive quality about them. The guasacaca - the Venezuelan answer to guacamole - was especially creamy and wonderful, with a bright, tangy flavour. You could put that stuff on anything/everything. I didn't even get around to the Tequeños (Venezuelan cheese sticks), Patacones (Venezuelan nachos made with fried plantain instead of chips??), or the Empanadas. Needless to say, I must return. OK. It's arepa time. Ávila Arepa has two sections for them on their menu; Classic and Signature. Combined there are 22 different versions available which provides a ton of choice and endless options. The first one on the Signature list is the Ávila (Oven roasted pork, cheddar, tomato and arugula with spicy aurora sauce - $14.50) and I figured that since it was my first visit I should probably try the self-titled arepa. I also added fried plantain ($2.00) because it could only make things even more amazing. Additionally, I took the "add salad" option and requested the Venezuelan coleslaw ($1.00) on the side. As soon as I got my hands on this thing I would tell that it was literally bursting with flavour. I could barely wait to sink my teeth into this erupting corn bun of dreams. The meat was impossibly tender and juicy, melting away in my mouth. The pork is really special and I want it on every arepa that I eat from now on. The cheese provided a wonderful melty tang, I mean, you can never go wrong with cheese. The tomato and arugula were both bright and fresh, adding the ideal freshness to the other heavier flavours. Adding the fried plantain was the absolute correct choice and I loved the fried sweetness that they added, and especially the spicy-sweet combo that was created with the glorious aurora sauce, of which everything was soaked in. And the arepa itsel read more

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Tried this restaurant out with a group of friends for a goodbye gathering. I was impressed how fast the food came out considering they said they ordered just before I arrived and we had a table of 8 people. It was the same pace for my order even though there was other people that ordered before me too. Impressive. As this was the first time I've ever had a selection of arepas, I asked for some suggestions from the table and from the lady that took my order. I'm not exactly sure what I decided on was what I received but my god it was definitely what my stomach thought I wanted. I've been suffering from poor apatite for awhile and it was refreshing to be able to really enjoy a meal. The arepa was bundles like little sandwich and was just the right size for a lighter supper. The coleslaw on the side was enough to sample but not to make me feel I wasted if I didn't like it (which I surprisingly did love and had room for it!). I also tried their version of fries as an appetizer with my friends. I can't really say it was life changing but definitely interesting to try. I don't know what else more I can say that other yelpers haven't covered already. Seems like a reasonable price for the amount of food. I really enjoyed listening to the music and the decor is just enough different to make it unique without being too over the top. Looked like they also had some items for sale too that were showcased on the walls. It's also conveniently close to hexagon so if you wanted to grab a quick light supper before board games, this would be a good restaurant choice. read more

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I was looking for something different for brunch while in Edmonton last Sunday and found Avila Arepa on Yelp. Four of us walked in at around 11:30 am and we were the second table seated. We ordered two appetizers to start, yucca fries and tequeños. The yucca fries were absolutely delicious, they were pipping hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, dipping into the Venezuelan mojito made them even better. Unfortunately, the yucca fries were the high point of the meal and it went downhill from there. The tequeños although also delicious, it was not completely cooked through no ooey gooey cheese like in the menu photo. We ordered the Pernil and Manicombio arepa, both supposed to have oven roasted pork but after waiting for over 30 minutes, the owner came out from the kitchen and informed us he ran out of roasted pork and suggested to replace with the fried pork instead. Our arepas finally arrived after another 10 minutes. They were disappointing. The fried pork was hard and dry. The arepas had burnt spots that were bitter. People who came in after us got their arepas almost right after we got ours and I suspect the arepas weren't ready when we came in, once the arepas were ready, the food came out much faster. read more

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GREAT CELIAC FRIENDLY SPOT!! I loved the Asada Negra Arepa. My daughter is celiac and ordered a vegetarian arepa. Also amazing. I got my hubby the pork one and he loved it. Really love the corn bread in place of bread... my Asada Negra was had beautiful notes of coffee and chocolate... wasn't spicy but the rich flavours of the beef were so delicious. The staff were so friendly, and the patio was great!! I will be back. read more

Avila Arepa - Vegan portobello mushroom arepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Avila Arepa has a very cozy atmosphere with a nice variety of Hispanic music. The food is very tasty! We were a group of 8 and ordered many things. It took a bit long but gosh! The food was so so good. The cheese empanada, tequeños, juices etc were really good Avila Arepa a une atmosphère très confortable avec une belle variété de musique hispanique. La nourriture est très bonne! Nous étions un groupe de 8 et avons commandé beaucoup de choses. Cela a pris un peu long mais ça alors! La nourriture était vraiment très bonne. Le fromage empanada, tequeños, jus de fruits, etc. étaient vraiment bons アビラアレパは、ヒスパニック系の音楽が豊富に揃ったとても居心地の良い雰囲気です。食べ物はとてもおいしいです！私たちは8人のグループで、多くのものを注文しました。少し時間がかかりましたが、すごい！食べ物はとても美味しかった。チーズのエンパナーダ、テケニョス、ジュースなどは本当に良かった read more

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We went to this place on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a great meal and our server provided a great service which made our experience great

Avila Arepa, where have you been all my life! I love Latin food but I had yet to try Venezuelan. I was missing out all these years! We had their arepas con choclo with pork and chicharrones. The chicharrones came with a side of guasacaca which is basically the Venezuelan version of guacamole and it's one of the most delicious sauces I've ever had. The empanadas are hot and crispy with delicious filling. My only complaint is the food takes quite awhile to come out and last time I was there the person taking and preparing orders had a really obvious cold which was a bit of a turn off. Besides that, the food is insanely good. read more

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I haven't had the privilege to visit this restaurant yet. However, I've had the delight of ordering on Skip the Dishes! Their menu offers a variety of Arepas which I learned are a maize flour pocket filled with all kinds of South American goodness. They also have a nice amount of sidekicks as they call them. I ordered the Patacon which is fried green plantain patties topped with a savoury vegan 'meat', sauce, veggies and feta. I think I would order a couple of these and be good to go. They are flavorful with a nice starchy base and marinated and sauteed meat. I tried two kinds of arepas. The domino was this salty and savoury black bean stuffing. The Bello Monte was a delicate combination of portobello mushroom, sun dried tomatoes, arugula. Both were amazing. If you want salty and savoury I'd go with the domino. If you want subtle and hearty go with the Bello Monte. This was a totally gamble for me and it paid out. It held it's own when compared to other South American dishes. I'm thrilled they offer vegan and vegetarian options. I recommend it for any social occasion or night to yourself. read more

Avila Arepa - Bello Monte and Domino Arepas - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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I love love Avíla Arepa! Arepas are so delicious! The owners and staff are absolutely incredible. Let me tell you why! So, I am trying to find opportunities to practice my Spanish. It takes a lot for me to get the courage to start having a conversation in Spanish. All I said was gracias when I got the menu, and the person serving me responded in Spanish instead of English. This helped me build my confidence as it created an opening for me to continue in Spanish. We spoke the whole time in Spanish and it was a really great experience for me. As far as the food: arepas are the tastiest! They have patacones, yucca fritas, modelo negro, I mean what else do you need?!?! I posted a pic of the menu so you can see more. I had the Arepa Chacaito, which is pulled beef and queso de mano. I highly recommend it. Ask for the hot sauce to dip into and you are set. You are missing out if you haven't been! read more

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This was my first time visiting and it was so welcoming! They happily explained the menu to us and suggested favorites to try. Once we decided what we wanted we put in our order at the front. Then sat down and once it was ready they brought it over to our table. The best part for me was almost everything on the menu was naturally gluten free! If you are celiac be sure to let them know when ordering and they will make your items in a gluten free area. Everything we tried was delicious! We will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. I had the passionfruit juice and it was fresh tasting- very refreshing! read more

Avila Arepa - Menu almost all gluten free! - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Arepas are mini sandwiches of sorts, made from corn dough and stuffed with delicious fillings. Until recently there were very few places you could get them in Edmonton. But, thanks to the marvel of immigration, Edmonton now has Ávila Arepa to help us satisfy our cravings, and I intend to become a regular. The restaurant is family-run with a casual vibe. Orders are made at the counter and then table service takes over. The menu is divided into classic and signature arepas, sidekicks and sweets. There is an impressive selection with a variety of fillings to choose from, such as pulled beef, oven-roasted pork, black beans, plantains and queso de mano (a cheese they make in-house), to name a few. There have several vegetarian and vegan choices, and the arepas are gluten-free. The arepas themselves are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, without being mushy. Each arepa is generously filled and served with a small cup of coleslaw. The meal packs some heft by itself, but if you are looking for more, there is the "sidekicks" menu. On the drinks side, they offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, including beer, wine and some signature cocktails. I opted for the Papelón - a Venezuelan beverage with sugar cane and lemon. If you do not like sweet drinks, this one is not for you. My favorite was the Avila arepa (oven-roasted pork, cheddar, tomato and arugula) and the yucca fries. The slow-roasted pork is a stand-out, with delicious house-made sauces. The service was welcoming and efficient, given the diversity of the menu and prices are very reasonable - we paid about $30 for two of us with drinks. They are open from 11- 9 Tuesday to Saturday, 11-3 on Sunday, and closed on Monday. They are also available on Skip the Dishes. It is located on Whyte Ave, with no private parking lot so look for street parking. read more

Avila Arepa - Menu board at Avila Arepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Visited this new hot spot for the first time yesterday. When you walk in, there's this really funky, bright pattern going down the walls and it continues onto the floor. The decor is super cute, with little wooden tables, neat lightbulb signage and the huge menu written on the wall in chalk. I was a fan before I even tasted the food. I was totally overwhelmed by the menu, so I copied the person I went with and ordered the shrimp and cilantro arepa. I had no idea what to expect because I had no idea what an arepa was. Turns out it's this heavenly pocket of dough filled with a huge amount of cheese, meat and flavour. The spice sauce they give you on the side is delicious too (albeit not spicy in my opinion, but I have a super high spice tolerance, so maybe it is?). It seems like they're still getting some of the service details sorted, but the staff were SO kind and friendly throughout our visit that it didn't matter. Definitely a positive experience and I'll for sure be back in the next while to try the other million items on the menu! read more

Avila Arepa - Shrimp and cilantro arepa. - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

What a fabulous addition the the Whyte Ave scene! My friend and I happen to stumble upon it on Saturday evening when were looking for a place to eat. I have seen this place under construction and couldn't wait to try it. Upon entry, there was a line up although, they do also provide table service. There was a great vibe in the air - lots of smiles, good music and a wonderful aroma. The decor is more modern and trendy with some Venezuelan flair. I immediately liked it. Once we arrived at the counter, the server explained to us what arepas are and how they make them and the many kinds we could choose from and explained their side dishes. Arepas are delicious flat, round, unleavened patty of soaked, ground kernels of corn that cut in half and filled with a variety of options of meat or vegetarian. Once the order is made, the arepa is heated on the grill and then cut and filled with the desired fillings that you choose listed on the menu. We ordered the Tajadas to start found on their SideKicks menu. They are baked plantain with feta. These did not disappoint and were a great treat to start off the meal. My friend ordered the Reina PePeada which is an arepa filled with creamy avacado and chicken salad and I ordered the Rumbera that was filled with oven roasted pork and cheddar. Both were equally delicious. The avacado acted as the mayo for the chicken salad - so creamy and filling. The oven roasted pork was cooked well and had a slightly spicy sauce finished off with cheddar. The sauce and cheese definitely made the nicely seasoned pork stand out. We didn't have to wait that long for our food and found the owners very friendly and inviting. We enjoyed our little trip to South America and would love to come back again. read more

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Really wonderful casual place to hang out or bring your family. We had the shrimp arepa, handmade Taquenos...gooey Venezuelan fried cheese..it is soo good. And for dessert we had chirps drizzled with chocolate...everything was so good. Can't wait to try other items next time. read more

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Every time somebody says lets go for an arepa, my eyes light up!! Arepa Yummy! This new-ish place in the heart of Whyte Ave is my place to go, it's like comfort food! The atmosphere is genuine, the music, the employees and the food are all that I need. I've tried at least 8 different arepas, also yuca frita, cochino frito, patacones, next on my list are the sancocho and the cachapa. I really enjoy the mix of. The pulled pork & feta cheese The owner is almost always there and that makes me feel that they care about you. The idea is like a fast food service, when you get there check the menu, order at the main desk then take your number and they will bring the food to you. You will get a number sign per table, not a number per person Parking hasn't been an issue for me, there is always a spot around the block. I have no idea what I'll order next time but there will be a next time for sure! read more

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Avila Arepa is a Venezuelan restaurant on Whyte Ave specializing in... you guessed it! Arepas! If you've never had one before, an arepa is a corn flour bread pocket stuffed full of delicious fillings. They are goooood! I've visited Avila Arepa a few times now and I'd have to say my favourite arepa is the vegetarian Pabellón. The combination of the fried plantains with beans and cheese is heavenly. A very close second would have to be the Palo Verde. It is less traditional than the Pabellón but great if you're looking for something fresh and delicious (the roasted peppers are amazing). Avila offers lots of substitutions to make a number of their arepas vegan or vegetarian and almost everything is gluten-free. No one has to miss out! This is a great place to stop by for a filling lunch or for dinner. It can be a bit busy in the evenings and seating is limited so get there early. read more

Avila Arepa was one of the stops on a recent tour we did with Edmonton Cannabis Dinner Club. Neither M nor I had heard of this little spot before, but I'm glad that we had a chance to be introduced to this spot! Situated in the far-west section of Whyte Ave, this cute little restaurant is something you could almost miss if you didn't know it's there or you weren't looking for it. When you walk in, it's almost like you're transported to a local spot in Venezuela! They play upbeat music, are greeted with a warm "hello!", and might even be lucky enough to see the owner (who, I've been told, will answer to "El Jefe"). Avila Arepa's main focus is on arepas - a popular and traditional Venezuelan corn-based bun, filled with various toppings. While we were here, we didn't get a chance to try their signature dish, but we were treated to tequenos, which are like a non-deep fried mozzarella stick which are actually wrapped in dough, and were paired with fried plantain chips. Both of these were sooooo good and I wish I had got more to take with me! I can't wait to come back to this cute little spot and actually try their arepas (and get some more plantain chips)! read more

Pretty disappointing. Had the Avila Arepa, which somehow took almost 20 minutes to receive, even though the restaurant was not very busy at all. The lone staff member (possibly the owner) seemed more interested in chatting with regular customers than serving a new one. The flavor and presentation of the arepa was good, with some very fresh ingredients. Sadly, the portion size was well-below what I was expecting for $12, barely enough to qualify as a snack, let alone a meal. As a comparison, you can get a 5 piece meal including a drink for the same price at Seoul Fried Chicken in the same area. Compared to El Fogon Latino (the other arepa place in town), the service was much worse and the portion was at least 25% smaller for the same price. Like so many Whyte Ave restaurants, this is a place for people with big wallets and small stomachs. read more

Check out this cool little spot on Whyte Ave, specializing in Venezuelan street food. My wife and I always have fond memories of eating at this one tiny little Arepa spot in Miami, and this place totally channels that same energy. The arepas are pretty good (think little sandwiches that are stuffed with pulled pork or chicken), the taquenos (deep fried cheese) are amazing, and I really like their sugar cane/lime drink (sorry can't remember the name). When it gets busy, the kitchen can be pretty slow (I think they only have one cook back there). read more

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This was my first time having arepas. The selections were great and the service was amazing. Since I wasn't familiar with arepa I asked the lady to choose for us and her selections were delicious. If you like bananas the fried plantains is a must. If you love corn you need try cachapa. You have the option to put protein but we chose to just have cheese. Yummy! We tried Avila and La Trinidad arepas. Yummy! read more

I enjoy having the arepas very much. I got to tried the carne Nevada (pulled beef), pollo mercado ( pulled chicken), and reina pepiada(avocado and chicken salad), and Yucatan frita ( fried cassava sticks). I like the decor, and music as well, as a new business they just need to improve a little bit in the accuracy of the orders and the speed on them. I am sure you will enjoy.your visit here and enjoy delicious Venezuelan arepas. read more

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I read most of the food here is gluten free so we decided to give it a try. It was Mother's Day and place was not open until 11:00 am. The place was nicely decorated and you order your food at the counter. We decided on brunch special that came with shredded pork, black beans, fried plantain and shredded cheese. My husband was not impressed with food nor the presentation. For $15 there wasn't much food and it looked like it was served on cheap Corelle plates. I have to say the service was great. They gave out roses and free fruit drinks to moms to celebrate Mother's Day. read more

We came late on a Sunday afternoon thinking we'd miss the lunch rush (I knew that they were recently reviewed by the CBC so I expected that would make it very busy) - but it was packed when we got there. The restaurant is vibrant in decoration and has music videos playing on multiple tvs and it was a cozy place. Long and narrow, you have to walk through the dining area to get to the order counter at the end - if you've got some booty and it's packed in there, you're probably going to be brushing up against some people. :) The menu has quite a few choices, but we went with a roasted pork and a pulled beef & cheese - plus we ordered the cassava fries and a coffee. We wanted to try the tres leches cake, but they were out of it for the day. They gave us a number and we sat ourselves to wait for our food. First off, the coffee was great - suuuuuuuuuuper strong and fresh. I really enjoyed it, and I don't drink a lot of coffee. The fries came out first, and for $5, we got a little basket with maybe 8 thick-cut fries. They were a bit soft and could have used salt. They also came with a dipping oil/herb mix that was kind of like a chimmichurri sauce. I squeezed some hot sauce into it to give it more flavour. We waited and waited, and waited some more - until one of the servers asked if we were still waiting for food. He rushed back to the kitchen and came back out with our arepas - so I'm not sure if they forgot about our order, or if they were making it as he was asking us. Either way, the arepas were decent - crispy and hot dough filled with a decent amount of filling. The roast pork was flavourful and moist, and had a drizzle of sweet sauce on top of it. The sauce was awesome. I would drink it. The pulled beef was flavourful as well, but the cheese was on top whereas if they had pushed it down into the sandwich itself it would have melted it better. I did find that the dough itself was super greasy - it left my hands shiny with oil and that was a bit off-putting. They were both served with a small cup of sweet, creamy coleslaw. I liked it - I think it's a good place for a flavourful, inexpensive meal. They may need to add some staff if they continue to be this busy because we waited for a really long time, and there were a lot of tables they didn't get around to bussing because they were busy. read more

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I was really looking forward to eating here as I enjoy Latin American cuisine and have not found a place for Arepas. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. We went here for lunch. The atmosphere is friendly and it wasn't very crowded. We got a Patacon as an appetizer - plantain topped with meat of choice which was fine. My wife and I each got an Arepa - she made her own and I got La Trinidad. It was also just fine. I am quite disappointed that they serve most of their Arepas with cheddar cheese - which does not seem to be very traditional to me. I will likely not be frequent visitor to this restaurant. Tip: request to substitute Queso e' mano (a more traditional cheese) for cheddar on any arepa. read more

My first time coming in and the owners were very friendly and personable. The venue was very clean and well lit, and the food was a delicious change from the usual cuisine in this area. I had never had an Arepa before, but I will definitely have one again! read more

Avila Arepa - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

This place is a beautiful and convenient place located on Whyte avenue. The place is cozy but with enough room. The concept is you order, pay, sit and they bring the food to you. I ordered the Bello monte, a signature arepa with arugula, Portobello mushroom and roasted tomatoes. All arepas come with a side salad. My order took roughly 30 minutes to get to me. Something I find a bit too long for such a simple dish. The arepa is roughly the size of a small tea cup dish. The salad portion is the size of an egg. The salad is in fact Cole slaw with a poppy seed dressing. Regarding the taste of the food. I think the arepa was not seasoned well and the salad was unateable. Overall for taste the dish was poor. The price of the dish was roughly 12 dollars for a single small arepa that was pretty bland. I think this was a food experience to try once and never again since the prices, quality of food and the portions were subpar. What saves this place is the customer service, very nice people but that won't be enough to keep me coming back. read more

I can't verify the authenticity since I've never been to Venezuela or had any other Venezuelan food. BUT.... the food is dry and no flavour. I couldn't finish my food, that's how bad it was for me. I think unless you only salt on your food this is probably not the beat place. They were nice and friendly, but doesn't make up for the food. read more

This was my first Venezuelan cuisine experience and I enjoyed it a lot. The restaurant is decent sized and can fit a sizable lunch crowd. Their specialty ofcourse are the arepa sandwiches which is crispy corn flour bread filled with delicious meat, veggies and sauces. The owner was nice and helped us pick the most popular arepas, we ended up ordering the roast pork arepa, pulled beef arepa, fried plantain, and arepitas. Everything was delicious although a little too greasy, but it is meant to be fast food :) the arepas are served with a salad which is lacklustre. I do want to try their other arepa fillings and sides, so I will be going back for sure! read more

Avila Arepa - The arepitas and tostones - Venezuelan Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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I love arepas, and was so thrilled to discover this place! The owner is perhaps the friendliest person I've ever met, and asking for recommendations is a good idea. You simply must try the Pabellon and the cheese appetizer. The cheese is wrapped in this delicious dough and cooked to perfection. The arepa itself is filled with pulled beef, black beans, feta and has plantains on the side. Yum! Do yourself a favour and eat here! read more

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Love the atmosphere here. It can be quieter on some week nights but don't let that fool you into thinking that they aren't busy. There is usually a steady stream of people that come in. We have been here twice now and it has been great each time. This time I brought hubby and we tried the Avila arepas - their name sake with nicely cooked pork , the fried plantain and the sweet corn pancake. Really, you can't go wrong with any of their options. Also all of their arepas comes with a small side of coleslaw like salad. read more