Hola Arepa had a line out the door and for good reason. The food that was offered was one of the best things I had on my trip to Minneapolis, and also one of the most unique. Served on a warm cornmeal griddle cake and some Yuca fries to go along with it, it is full of flavor. All of the Arepas looked delicious and you cannot go wrong with what you pick. The drinks were also very good and I enjoyed the Horchata Painkiller. It was very busy inside, with an orange tint from the heaters above. However if you go during winter, cold is the last thing you will be. If anything we were almost too warm! If you go, just know that as it is popular, tables are close together and it is a little noisy, but all those are just signs of a well loved establishment read more

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The food was so dry and no flavor. The drinks were so strong and not even good. I wish I could leave a better review but I'm disappointed, I had to most of my arepa and my whole drink. Waste of money read more

Hola Arepa is a place I happily return to again and again. The food, the service, the ambiance --five stars all the way around. Because of this, it's usually a busy spot so reservations are strongly recommended. I love the vibrant and tropical decor here whether you're sitting outdoors or inside! While cozy inside, the music and atmosphere are so inviting that you easily slip into your own little world. The service is always friendly and welcoming! But what truly keeps me coming back is the food. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my favorite bites include: - Nachos Divorciados - Yuca Fries with aioli verde - Chimichurri Chicken Arepa - Shredded Beef & Sweet Plaintain Arepa - Argentinian Steak Arepa - Sopes de Albondigas Hola Arepa has also curated a bangin', playful-yet-stiff, cocktail menu along with mocktails, beer, wine, and fountain drinks. I love visiting for both brunch or dinner, but my absolute favorite time to visit is during their Holiday Pop-Up bar "season". Themed drinks and holiday menu items are only the beginning of what makes a visit to Hola Arepa a hoot during this time. Regardless, anytime is a great time to give them a try! read more

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Super cute restaurant! The lighting was super fun, darker but with many colors and a cute patio for outside seating. There was a small parking lot if you're lucky! Service was very quick and attentive. We got the arepas, and they did not disappoint! Super filling and paired with the fried yuca they were delicious. Loved eating here! read more

Hola Arepa - Cuban Arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Hola Arepa is a unique and flavorful spot in southwest Minneapolis. The restaurant is small but mighty. They have a GREAT patio for the warmer months. I find myself here often to enjoy their expansive menu of Latin inspired dishes and fun cocktails. They also play into fun themes around the holidays and throughout the year with themed drinks. The hallmark of Hola Arepa is of course their stuffed Arepas, which are Venezuelan style. Arepas are made in house every day using cornmeal dough (which is gluten free!). The Arepas are stuffed with various meats, veggies and toppings, and surely there is one for everyone on their menu. My favorites are the Cuban Arepa and the Shredded Beef and Sweet Plantain Arepa. They have both an aoli and a chimmichurri sauce to choose from for dipping. Lastly, their Yuca fries deserve a special call out- they are the best Yuca I've found in the twin cities. They are so crispy and light. Everything pairs well together, and is flavorful and consistent. This is a staple for me in the cities! read more

Hola Arepa - Cuban Arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nice casual restaurant Cute tropical vibe, especially like their patio in the summer Arepas are decent, I prefer most of the fillings than the actual arepa(that's just me) Yucca fries are okay Cocktails are good Service is fine Street parking read more

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Hola Arepa is usually a slam dunk, and this visit was no exception for flavor--their take on Latin street food is genuinely fantastic. I had the Black Bean and Queso Fresco Arepa and the fillings were spot-on: flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the sauces were vibrant. The cocktails are also a highlight and the vibe is always fun and lively. However, there was a noticeable slip this time: the food was served a little cold. It's such a letdown when a dish that is meant to be warm doesn't have that piping-hot fresh-off-the-griddle feel. It dampened the experience, which is a shame because every ingredient tasted great. Service was friendly and fast, as usual. I'm definitely a repeat customer and know this place can deliver 5-star food. Hopefully, the kitchen can dial in the temperature next time because the delicious flavors of Hola Arepa deserve to be enjoyed at their best! read more

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Made my way to one of my favorite places for their Halloween pop up. Made some reservations for inside, but I think the patio might have been a little better for the moody lighting. Parking here isnt always the best cause they have a small parking lot and then its street parking. This place stays busy but this time they actually seated me as soon as we got there. Ordered a couple drinks, a Cuban and a steak area. Their cocktails are amazing, I had the one that looks like a witch potion, and my date had the carved pineapple. Loved the food and drinks, always a great experience and cant wait for my next visit. read more

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Fresh off the plane to this fabulous find. Love the tapas style portions. Beware....some things look small (ie: Pao Burger), but are super filling. Almost all items on the menu are gluten-free. A unique menu, plethora of drink options, a wonderful ambiance with both indoor and 2 outdoor seating areas. We were only in town for a quick visit, but if I lived here, I would definitely be a regular. There is a small parking lot, plus street parking available. There is construction in the area currently which impacts street parking availability. So many photo ops...highly recommend! read more

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Second time here but this time we came for the Christmas decorations too! They had a huge selection of Christmas themed drinks in addition to their usual selection. All of them were super fun and well made. We also got an arepa and nachos. Highly recommend the nachos with pork. Yum! They were generous with their toppings and allowed a free chip refill. The only issue was the service. The server felt like she was half there/wanted to be there and half not. read more

Hola Arepa - Christmas drinks - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Given the holiday season,l and I reservations available online, my friends and I came in on a walk-in basis at 5pm expecting a bit of a wait. To our surprise - there were a handful go tables available for 90 minutes in the covered patio! Initially, I worried it might be cold, but Hola Arepa really has the section weatherproofed - space heater, fuzzy benches! As usual, the food and drink selection was great. We had our choice of Monday specials, happy hour promos, and the holiday drink menu! We started our night off with a round of cocktails and nachos to share. For entrees, we each got an arepa - I always go with the carnitas! So much food - but now I have a half leftover arepa to enjoy for lunch today. read more

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Perfect place for summer patio parties. Our group of 11 ladies had a great time here. We arrived at 5pm and were able to easily get a large table on the patio. I recommend the Yuca Fries and Rhubarb Cosmo cocktails! The food was good, but the drinks were great. Both service and ambiance were excellent. Overall, I would give this place 5 stars based on wonderful ambiance, service and drinks. Here's what I tried: Rhubarb Cosmo (5/5) light and pretty. I could drink these all night long. White Sangria (4/5) Piñata Punch (3/5) Embarrassment of Mangoes (3/5) stronger than I expected Yuca Fries (5/5) more texture than potato fries and paired so well with the aioli verde Nachos Divorciados (3/5) read more

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I love this place! The ambiance and cocktails are on fire! Some how Hola Arepa's patio makes you feel like you're not on the busy corner of 35 and Nicollet. They have a small parking lot and despite the corner being chaotic I usually find street parking pretty easily. My group started with the chips and four salsa appetizers, add queso. The middle two green ones were our favorite. My friend commented the cheese was salty, I however gobbled it right up! Arepas were everyone's choice. We had hot honey, chicken chimichurri, Yucatán chicken and shredded beef. No one complained and only one person had leftovers. Oh we also got the Brussels Sprouts. Dee-licious. I could actually use more Brussels next time instead of the accompanied sausage. read more

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Had such a fantastic night at Hola Arepa! This place is one of my favorites for good reason. The service is so friendly, and the Halloween vibes were on point, loved the decor and the themed cocktails (they really went all in). The sweet potatoes here are seriously underrated, easily one of my favorite sides anywhere. The steak arepa is perfection: tender, flavorful, and super satisfying and the hot honey chicken arepa is just as good. One of those spots that nails both food and atmosphere every time. read more

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Tried this for the first time! Vibes, food and drinks were all there! This really checked all my boxes. We went for the Halloween pop-up, which was very fun. Drinks were super yummy, strong and flavorful. We got the steak and the chicken arepas! Wow so flavorful and they included a lot of meat, which was great. I was pleasantly surprised about the side salad, it was yummy. This is a small space and gets busy fast. Definitely book a reservation. Will definitely be back! read more

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I stopped by hola arepa for their Halloween themed cursed Cove. They had wonderful Halloween cocktails. Seriously they were so fun! We started with a nachos which my partner labeled as his favorite nachos he's ever had. I got the steak chimichurri Arepa and he got the burger. We both loved our meals. All of their food is gluten-free, which made me so excited, I wanted to order everything! You can't tell it's gluten-free though I'll tell you that! The bar was decorated all spooky and lit up for Halloween. This was definitely a fun Halloween stop with amazing food, I would come back here without the Halloween bar just to get there awesome Entrées! read more

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Well hola Arepa is the best arepa ever! Nestled in South Minneapolis is this special little restaurant that serves up beautiful food, warm and nutritious ... much of which is gluten-free.., or vegetarian! If you love fresh made guacamole, then you will love this restaurant! There's some parking in their lot and also there's abundant parking on the side streets. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They have wizards in the kitchen that produce food, fast, fresh and efficiently ! One secret item is their coffee !!! Highly recommend it! read more

Hola Arepa - Black Bean & Queso Fresco Arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My favorite spot to take out of towners, Hola Arepa has a fun, tropical ambiance even on the coldest days. The food is familiar enough to be approachable for shy eaters but there is absolutely nothing boring about these dishes. Personally, I'm obsessed with fried chicken and cachapa. I've branched out with the hot honey chicken arepa (also insane), and have had bites of almost every other arepa on the menu but I always go back to my one true love. Service is good, usually nothing over the top and the servers can get busy at times but I've never been stuck waiting and who wants to bug a server when you have yucca fries to eat. My one wish is for a more "fun" coffee drink or a thc seltzer when cocktails aren't an option but again, just give me my cachapa and I'm in heaven. read more

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The place was jammed but the service was friendly and efficient. Glorious drinks, spectacular arepas and a sweet ambiance that made me want to return. If you like horchata, this one is not to be missed read more

The patio is amazing! Kind of feels like tiki bar vibes with the colorful decorations, lights, and swings. We got a table for five on a Sunday evening around 8pm and it was still pretty busy. They have a small variety on the menu (also a kids menu), with most items beings gluten free. Since this was my first time here I felt like I had to try the arepa. There were so many kinds to choose from! And your choice of yuca fries or mixed greens that come with the arepa. I tried the black bean and sweet potato arepa with the mixed green salad. The arepa reminded me of a taco to be honest but with a little fluffier breading. I really enjoyed mine and it had really nice flavors. I wasn't a big fan of the mint in there but I bet some people love it. The mixed greens had an amazing fresh dressing that I could eat everyday. We also enjoyed the chips and salsa. it comes with four different kinds of salsas in shallow dishes, so there isn't a ton of salsa, but it was enough for the table. They have some great happy hour deals if you're into that! It also appears they have brunch on the weekends. We had no issues with service. Parking can be challenging in this busy area. They have a tiny parking lot otherwise it's street parking. I went around the restaurant and in the neighborhood to park - there weren't plenty of spots here. read more

Hola Arepa - Peruvian Black Bean & Sweet Potato Arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Delicious happy hour! Great vibes, amazing drinks and fast, helpful and welcoming service!!! We had the nachos, the Pao burger and some arepas! read more

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Beautiful aesthetics. Delicious food. Quick service. Can't wait to return and try the other menu items. read more

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You're my butterfly. Sugar. Baby. I think about this food when I am not here. The drinks are fabulous too. Especially the fun holiday drinks that came out in 2024. I love that they did illustrations on the menu of the drinks so that it was easy to find what caught my eye on Instagram. Staff is always friendly and attentive. I've been able to park in the small lot in front of the building, but I usually go around 2pm on a weekend. Good to have a reservation. This is a great way to escape the cold winter and embrace colors. Like going on vacation. Patio in the summer. read more

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From the moment I walked in (and out to the patio), I was charmed by Hola Arepa's tropical, tiki-bar-inspired energy. The outdoor space is just cool -- think festive lighting, lush greenery, playful décor, and enough seating to soak in the ambiance. Inside, there's plenty of room too: booths, tables, and an airy, casual layout that makes it great for groups or solo visits. Others have mentioned that the patio feels "kind of feels like tiki bar vibes with the colorful decorations, lights, and swings." Now, the food: I sampled a few items, and every one was delightful. * Yucatán Chicken Arepa -- This was phenomenal. The flavors were bold but balanced, with a satisfying level of spice that didn't overpower the arepa itself. The cornmeal patty was perfectly griddled--crispy exterior, tender interior. * Yuca Fries -- These were good, though I only got six (they're larger than typical potato fries). Even so, each fry was hearty and satisfying, more substantial than expected. * Black Bean Empanada -- A hit. Crispy shell, well-seasoned filling, and just the right portion size. * Beef Barbacoa Tacos -- A personal favorite of the meal. These were generously filled, packed with tender meat and great depth of flavor. The portions felt generous relative to the price. For what I got -- multiple plates, variety of flavors, fun setting -- it felt like a strong value. Service was warm and prompt, which only added to the experience. Other reviews echo a similar vibe: folks praise the relaxed, colorful space, the fast service, and the fact that much of the menu is made from scratch. One caveat: it can get a bit loud inside, so outdoor seating might be the better bet for conversation. If you're in Minneapolis and looking for Latin street-food done well, Hola Arepa deserves a spot on your list. Highly recommended -- I'll definitely be back to try more. read more

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Hola Arepa is so warm and tropical! I love the food there and can't believe I keep forgetting how good it is. It's worth making a reservation since it gets really busy, both inside and on the heated patio. I feel like you can't really go wrong with anything you order! I like all the meat arepas I've tried. The chips and salsa are also super good! The Christmas decor on my most recent visit was fun and festive. The restaurant has a small parking lot and there's also street parking in the neighborhood around it. read more

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We came here for a pre Christmas brunch! The place was packed and you're probably going to wait unless you have reservation! Parking is always very tough in their lot but there is plenty of parking on the street. The food was great! I didn't know they switch menus for lunch and dinner and I was looking for the sweet potato and black bean arepa but they only serve it during dinner. The shredded beef arepa was still amazing! The Christmas drinks are also only offered during dinner so we had some of their regular brunch drinks which were great! Very spirit forward...haha During December the vibe is Christmas with decorations and lights! It's a cute place to get together with friends and family. read more

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I always enjoy visiting Hola Arepa! It's a nice escape from the MN cold as the inside has a fun tropical feel and the food is soo yummy! There are many options - bowls, soups, arepas. My favorite is the slow roasted pork arepa and make sure to get it with the side of aioli! There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant, but it's pretty limited so you'll likely have to park on the street nearby. But it's worth a short walk! read more

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We had a wonderful dinner and cocktails. The chips & guacamole were fresh and delicious.

Fun spot, with unique ambiance and seamless service. The food was good, nothing crazy. I got the Yucatan Chicken Arepa and a side of chips and the 3 signature salsas. read more

First time here for dinner on a Friday night. Parking is brutal. The lot holds around 10 cars, so you are trying to find street parking in a busy area. The resturant is very cute with inside and outside seating. The food I really wanted to be better. It was pretty average. Same with our drinks. I wouldn't deal with the traffic and parking issues for the food. read more

Hola Arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amazing ambiance, similar to the owner's other restaurant Hai Hai it has a kind of tiki vibe to it. The breakfast arepa was good (nothing mind blowing), and I've also had the nachos for happy hour which were pretty good. I'd say it's a bit pricey for the quantity that you get. I recommend making a reservation as it can get busy on the weekend. There's a parking lot just outside but it's a bit small, but there is street parking near by as well. read more

Hola Arepa - Fried chicken breakfast arepa - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

First time at Hola Arepa and I'm already planning my next visit! Our waiter was bubbly, warm, and incredibly knowledgeable -- a total gem. As someone with gluten and dairy allergies, dining out can feel like a gamble, but I felt completely taken care of. The menu was explained with care, and their thoughtful recommendations made it easy to order with confidence. I went with the slow-roasted pork arepa and yuca fries, and wow -- absolutely killer. I didn't know what to expect going in, but the flavors totally blew me away. That pork? Mouthwatering. We sat outside and the patio setup is just as gorgeous as the food. Whether you've got allergies or not, Hola Arepa is a must-stop. It's delicious, welcoming, and safe -- what more could you ask for? read more

Hola Arepa - Yuca Fries Slow-Roasted Pork - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We were lucky to snag parking in their small lot but otherwise it would have been street parking. Best to make reservations ahead of time, especially during peak hours. Fun spot for date night. Friendly and quick service. Food was delicious. Highly recommend their Hot Honey Chicken Arepa. read more

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Order Hola Arepa for delivery, so the food is never as good as when you order it in person. I had the slow-roasted pork arepa with Yuca fries. I though the pork was really delicious. I wasn't a huge fan of the arepa bread. I appreciate that it is gluten free, but I thought the dryness of the bread (I think that's just the type of bread it is) took away from the pork. There is a big enough serving of the pork that I still felt I had a full serving/meal by not eating the bread. While I loved the pork I wouldn't have to be a loyalist and reorder it. I would however reorder the Yuca fries and aioli. I'm obsessed. read more

Our journey here was inspired by the Halloween pop-up and our love for arepas. First, Halloween vibe: 10/10. I think it would still be pretty great even without the Halloween decor. I made a reservation for 6:30, and it was pretty packed and loud. There's also no waiting area that I could see, so we did have to stand awkwardly in the doorway while they got our table ready. The patio was slightly quieter than the dining room, but still loud enough to the point where my boyfriend had to say, "HUH?" after everything I said which always evokes a primal sense of rage in me. But around 7ish it had cleared out enough so that we could talk about the conversations around us that we'd been eavesdropping on. Service: 10/10. Not overly attentive but also not like a "we haven't seen our waiter in half an hour " type thing. The service was so timely, we even had enough time for me to get TWO of the special Halloween menu drinks: the Toxic Exotic (which was just okay. I got it mostly because of my anxious attachment to vodka and then realized I didn't really like any of the other ingredients, but the steam was fun) and the Fang's Out which was much yummier. The food was also really great, especially the Yuca Fries!!!!! I could've slurped the aioli and I wish I would've asked if there was any way for me to take home the little dish they gave me. Overall, would really recommend, especially if you're looking for something fun and little different. read more

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and had a mixed but mostly positive experience. The taco was the standout. Really good flavor and I loved the shell. Crisp, sturdy, and just the right texture. The arepa was decent, but I liked the taco more overall. That said, the sauce that came with the arepa was excellent. Super flavorful and definitely the best part of the dish. Plantains were regular. Not bad, not great. Just kind of there. It's a little pricey for what you get, but the service was great. Friendly, fast, and professional. The atmosphere was loud, which made it hard to hold a conversation, and the phone signal inside was terrible. No WiFi either, which added to the inconvenience. read more

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Great food, such a fun tropical atmosphere and good service This is our go to place for a care free but delicious and reasonably priced meal! read more

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Whoa. This place has delicious food and great service. Fans of Latin food will LOVE the menu--with options for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers, there's really something for everyone. The drink menu is impressive as well--options for beer lovers, wine lovers, aficionados of sugarcane and agave spirits, plus intriguing cocktails and zero proof options. This place is just begging to be where you next meet friends for happy hour. We started with the black bean plantain tostones and the vegetarian style of the Brussels sprouts. The tostones were delicious--the black beans, guacamole, and pickled onions went perfectly with the crispy plantain. As for the Brussels sprouts, they were truly superior--deeply caramelized and served atop a beautiful onion jam, they were truly a pleasure. Tamarind added a je ne sais quoi to both. My only regret is that I had to share. For our mains, we tried a variety of the tostones, which are lovely little mouthfuls. The black bean and sweet potato was my favorite--the combination of beans and sweet potatoes is always magical, and the pickled banana peppers added an awesome bit of acidity. The cilantro and mint were deliciously refreshing too. This one was bright and beautiful. We also tried the jackfruit al pastor. The jackfruit was tender and flavored with pineapple and adobo that went beautifully with the citrus onions, citrus crema, and fiery habanero sauce. For dessert, we had the horchata banoffee trifle pie, which was absolutely amazing. The dulce de leche, the horchata pudding, the graham cracker crumble... an absolutely gorgeous bite--all of the flavors and textures were wonderful. We really loved our server Miles, and we were especially impressed by the ultra-speedy service overall. Our food came out lickety split despite the fact that it was already busy. It was pretty warm out, so we sat inside. While it was a super fun space (plants, bright colors, and fun decor), it was quite loud so a bit hard to talk. The extensive outdoor seating options look great, though (includes two swings at the bar!), and I can't wait to come back and try one of their patio options. read more

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Hola Arepa is such a cute restaurant and DELICIOUS. We went here for my brother's birthday and all ordered arepas. I got the Argentinian steak arepa and it was ~chef's kiss~. Others in my party ordered the chalupa, pork belly, Peruvian black bean and sweet potato, and slow roasted pork arepas. All of them were a hit! The yuca fries that came on the side were great, too. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts and shredded beef plantain tostones--also delicious. All of the cocktails were great, too! Our server was super friendly and even brought us free slushy shots to celebrate my brother's birthday. read more

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Absolutely delicious food! If you love sandwiches like I do, arepas are an absolute must. The atmosphere is so fun and colorful. They were having a 90s throwback night when we went and had lots of cocktails named after 90s songs. It was super busy, but our waiter was incredibly attentive despite this. read more

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