Cornmeal Gold in Polanco Órale Arepa offers a polished setting in Mexico City's high-end Polanco district, and with that comes a matching price tag--nearly $50 USD for a late lunch for two. Expected for the neighborhood, but steep for what is, at heart, elevated Venezuelan street food. We ordered the arepa tasting: six warm, griddled half-arepas served like DIY fajitas, with two meats, three cheeses, and three house-made sauces (chipotle, garlic, and avocado). The format encouraged creativity, but 60% of the offerings leaned on cheeses--mostly mild, forgettable, and largely untouched on our plates. The grilled and pulled meats were solid, as were the arepa bases: crisp-edged, warm, and fragrant. The sauces helped pull it all together, though often had to do too much of the flavor work. A side of avocado and underripe tomato did little to elevate the meal. Service was attentive and kind--our server's advice not to over-order was spot on. But while the experience was pleasant, the food fell short of memorable. For the price, there simply wasn't enough depth or distinction. A generous 3 stars. #PolancoDining #ArepaReconsidered #CDMXEats Oro de Maíz en Polanco Órale Arepa se presenta con estilo en la exclusiva zona de Polanco, y su precio lo refleja: casi $50 USD por un almuerzo tardío para dos. Comprensible por la ubicación, pero elevado para lo que esencialmente es comida callejera venezolana, por más refinada que sea. Elegimos la degustación de arepas: seis medias piezas servidas como fajitas para armar, con dos tipos de carne, tres quesos y tres salsas caseras (chipotle, ajo y aguacate). Aunque el formato es divertido, el 60% del contenido se basaba en quesos poco memorables que apenas tocamos. Las carnes cumplieron y las bases de arepa fueron lo mejor: calientes, bien cocidas, con aroma y textura. Las salsas hicieron lo posible por levantar el conjunto. El acompañamiento de aguacate y jitomate no aportó mucho, especialmente con el jitomate sin madurar. El servicio fue atento y honesto--nos advirtieron amablemente sobre las porciones--pero la comida no alcanzó el nivel que el precio prometía. Una experiencia correcta, sí, pero sin el impacto que esperábamos. Tres estrellas, por mérito del servicio más que del sabor. #ComerEnPolanco #DegustaciónSinSorpresa #CDMXFood read more

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Abso-freakin-lutely delicious!! We went here on a whim and I am so happy we did. The service was great and the food was even better! For appetizers, we ordered the tostones con guacamole (green fried plantain slices with guacamole) and tequeños de cachapa (sweet corn cheese sticks) & I am so glad about that choice!! As someone who detests bananas and plantains, the tostones were actually delicious! Not a strong banana/plantain taste and the little coleslaw + guacamole were a great touch. I honestly cannot say enough good things about the fried cheese sticks. The mix of sweet and savory was perfection! Now, onto the star of the show: the arepa llanera. WOW. Just absolutely incredible. The arepa itself was delicious and crispy, the cheese was so good, and the beef was marinated and perfectly tender. This place is a must go in CDMX! read more

Orale Arepa - Arepa plane to - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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We ordered two drinks and two dishes. The food was good and highly recommended. We ordered the soup, which was perfect. The arepa with chicken salad tasted good as well. They also offer an English menu. However, the melon juice and papaya juice were tasteless; I believe they added too much water to them. read more

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Back before COVID 19 emptied the streets and Trump started building his Wall - Back when I had some inheritance Money, a nice Volvo, and was in reasonably good health - Back when the Stars above moved into some fortunate alignment - I grabbed the chance to take my 17 year old daughter on a nice long trip to Mexico. AREPAS are round, flat cornmeal patties that are often split open and filled with a variety of ingredients like shredded beef, chicken, cheese, or vegetables. They can be grilled, baked, or fried. CACHAPAS are thick, pancake-like creations made from fresh corn dough. read more

Get the cachapa!! It's a mix of sweet corn served with your filling of choice (we got the shredded beef) and a pat of sweet butter on the side. We also ordered a chicharron arepa and yucca fries. There is a series of house made sauces you can use for everything as well. Really tasty food and a relaxing vibe to rest your feet. read more

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This place reminds me of Argentinian food. Their Pastelitos are like my grandma's. We walked here from the park. Lovely neighborhood with my boyfriend. read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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We came here after a visit to the anthropology museum purely based on Yelp reviews. Thank you! It's a modest, chic place in contrast to the nearby over the top restaurants. Wait staff was great and fast. We had yucca fries, arepas and a plate of beef rice and beans. All delicious. And they are accompanied by four sauces, each different and tasty. Servings were too big but we liked it! Had Polar beer. Venezuelan beer, brewed in Florida. Oh well Ps Yelp map is wrong by about 75 yards. Keep walking down the street. read more

Yum! Great service and great arepas! The fried pork was amazing. Will def be back next time I'm in CDMX.

Great venue for a tasty light lunch. We took outside seating and enjoyed the tasty treats with a glass of red wine and a couple of beers. Service was excellent and friendly. We'd go back if we had more time. read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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We loved the arepas; the service was more than great- very appropriate for a restaurant situated next-door to the Venezuelan Embassy in a lovely upscale neighborhood read more

Best pastelitos in town, the cheese one was incredible. Cachito was really good, made me feel back in Venezuela. The traditional garlic sauce was amazing, very tasty!! 100% recommended read more

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100/10 la comida y los juego estaba muy rico es difícil encontrar un restaurante venezolano donde la comida sepa de tu país. buen servicio. Me encanto volvería mil veces. read more

Orale Arepa - Cachapa 10/10 estaba demasiado rica. - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

Nice Lil spot in Polanco area. There is much you want to try on the menu however they are bug portions and your eyes are way bigger than your stomach! Plenty of options for your gluten free friends. Got a sampler of chicken, beef and pork and all very good! All this fed 3 people. All were happy too! read more

Orale Arepa - Tostones! - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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Must try. The food is excellent and authentic. Ambience and service is great. I recommend any arepa, cachapa or the long empanadas and durning December try the Hallacas! read more

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Delicious food huge portions and great friendly service. I sat outside and enjoyed the nice tree covered street too.

the best arepas i've ever had! They are full of flavor and this place has lots of variety! Also these things are HUGE!! They are packed with meat and the sauces this place gives you are amazing as well. read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

El mejor sabor venezolano en CDMX, al lado de la Embajada Venezolana en Polanco...la mejor referencia... atención súper amable y paciente con los paladares más exigentes read more

The atmosphere, the food, the staff. This place has it all. From the moment you sit down, the staff makes you feel as if you're a part of the family. Couple that with the soulfully cooked dishes (which taste like your grandma made them) and you really feel like you're at home at Órale Arepa. The restaurant is bursting with energy, smiles and laughter and the energy is infectious. Onto the food! We came for breakfast around 10am and I ordered the Desayuno Llanero. My girlfriend had some dietary restrictions and Jorge, one of the partners of the restaurant, was more than accommodating (thanks so much!). We fell in love with both our dishes immediately after the first bite. Words can't describe how delicious our meals were. You should just come here and try it for yourself! read more

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Best cachapa I've ever had in my life, and it comes 2 sizes - regular and large! Large is pretty huge! I was so happy and grateful that they let me make a custom cachapa, like one I had seen in a yelp photo for breakfast - eggs, cheese, cabbage salad (creamy), avocado! They charged extra so it ended up costing more than a meat cachapa would have been, but at least they allowed the customization. And it was delicious and gluten free! read more

Huge portions and pretty good tasting arepas. Mine with chicken, avocado, and cilantro mayonnaise had SO much filling. Also the sauces that are on the table are really great. The staff is nice but speaks limited English. You can ask for an English menu though. read more

Orale Arepa - Chicken arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

Too expensive! Two arepas and 2 sodas for $37 it's too much. They were good but in my opinion nothing out of this world. Service was promt.

Great service and delicious food. We had an arepa, an empanada, and tostones with guacamole. Fast amd friendly service plus a great value, especially in Polanco read more

If you find yourself in the posh Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City, I highly recommend coming to this beautiful and chic place for lunch. We walked here after visiting the National Anthropology Museum (about 15 min walk) with a huge appetite and we were not disappointed! The arepas are huge (you are good with 1) and their plates are enough for two people. The vibe is hipster and chill and the service is prompt and professional. They also have desserts and drinks (Stella Artois on tap). I ordered the Reina Pepiada arepa (classic chicken & avocado) and he ordered their beef, black bean, rice & plantain plate (sort of like Cuban Ropa Vieja). All of it was delicious and we wish we could've eaten here twice. They accept cards and you find a lot of locals! read more

My girlfriend is on trip from Venezuela and she wanted some food from her country and I found this place and decided to give it a try..and it did not disappoint she felt like she was back home points for me read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

I had a long layover in Mexico City and we wanted to get Mexican food but of course we ended up at a Venezuelan place! Thankfully the service and food here were incredible! I had no idea what I ordered because my boyfriend and I literally said "bring us anything that is delicious" out came huge plates of meat, cheese and avocado with different forms of what looked like pupusas. The staff didn't really speak English and the menu we got at least was half English/half Spanish so we trusted the staff choice for tasty eats. Everything was beyond tasty. It was filling, cheap and tasted homemade. My boyfriend and I have vowed to return to Mexico City and I'll be back here for sure! read more

The arepas were amazing. I already want to come back for more. I also really enjoyed the sauces on the table, especially the ajo (garlic) and chipotle sauces. We just asked the waiter what he recommended and got that- one arepa with beef and cheese, and one with fried pork, avocado, tomato, and cheese. Both were very good and it was fun to try two different arepas because the flavors and textures were pretty different. The outdoor seating was a good atmosphere too. read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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I ordered the empanadas and two arepas, but the waitress told me that I'd ordered too much food so I downsized. She was right. The food was amazing and the hot sauce they served on the side was fire; really great. Definitely worth a try if you're nearby. read more

Awesome arepas! Hearty portions! The tequeños and patacones were also really good! As a Venezuelan it was great to get a taste from home abroad! The passion fruit juice (parchita) was SO good! read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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A little Venezuelan arepa place tucked between Horacio and Masaryk, makes for a great quick lunch or dinner! I stopped by and got the arepa with beans and plantains, with a guava juice on the side with no sugar added. All was excellent and the service was really great. I recommend it! read more

Excelente no hay ni un sitio parecido en Houston Tx que es donde resido, el sabor de las arepas , tequenos y cachapas muy real venezolano y el customer service fue excelente volvería cada vez que esté en CDMX!!!! read more

BLUF: absolute gem. Cheap, great atmosphere, dishes prepared with soul. Yah, I know its Venezuelan food in Mexico, but so worth it. We came in here after a late flight into Mexico City. Everything was more or less closed, but this was within walking distance of our AirBnB. Thank God. We knew we had come to a good spot when the owner asked us what we wanted to eat and suggested some dishes that weren't the most expensive on the menu. We had some Yucca fries to start (this was the only thing we didn't take his first suggestion on - I just had fries on the brain). Meals were incredible. I could go on about how a particular dish was great but honestly - I'm sure everything is good. I say this because of the way the owner and staff attended to us. They didn't have to even ask if it was good as my wife and I kept going "mmm" "ahhh". One of our few regrets about our trip to CDMX is that we wanted to try new places so we didn't go back here for brunch. For any tourist in Polanco, this is an absolute no-brainer. You need to eat here. read more

Súper ricas las arepas y de muy buen tamaño, el lugar es agusto y tienen productos de Venezuela para cocinar en tu casa.

Excellent place and location. The food in general is very tasty, although I consider it to be overpriced. This only ocurred to me once, I got a clearly reheated dish which I didn't like since it was a pricey one. Review en español: Excelente atención y ubicación. La comida en general es muy rica aunque considero que tiene sobre precio. Una sola vez me ocurrió que la comida me la dieron recalentada cosa que no me gustó ya que era un plato costoso. read more

This is the place where you go to for that real Venezuelan flavor when you visit CDMX. Take a break from the city's amazing cuisine and head for this local favorite. Órale Arepa is always crowded and after a sitting, you'll understand why. Arepas are the only way to go, but make sure you start with their delicious tequeños and order the amazing jugo de parchita- you'll feel transported to Caracas, even if it only lasts one bite... read more

Orale Arepa - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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This place is so good!! I came with a small group of friends from different countries and everybody fall in love with the food. We had the arepas catira, peluda, llanera, queso de mano, tequeños, and a cachapa - everything was excellent. Honestly you just can't go wrong (Don't forget to try the "Salsa de Ajo" and the "Guasacaca"). The quesillo (desert) was really good too. Something worth mentioning for a restaurant in CDMX is that the speed of the service was very adequate - If you have ever been stuck in a restaurant just trying to get your check, you know what I am talking about. I am definitely eating there again when I am back in town. Thank you Órale Arepa, keep it up! read more

So glad we found this place on Yelp! We are tourists who don't speak Spanish and had never had Venezuelan food before so the owner/manager helped us with the menu. We got the ribeye arepas and the cachapas cochino frito per their recommendations. Holy mole, they were GOOD! The ribeye was tender and well seasoned. The cachapas was pretty much fried pork and cheese wrapped in a sweet corn pancake. YUM! I still have dream about it! I hope cachapas will invade the US soon and take over chicken and waffles. It'll be the new savory and sweet combo king. We washed both down with lots of cerveza. read more

Orale Arepa - Arepas llanera - Latin American Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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Fantastic. Huge portions, excellent for breakfast or lunch. Quality ingredients. Very friendly service. English speaking staff and menus. This place is legit. read more

Very welcoming, quick and delicious! Love the sauces! Cute spot with great service. Glad we found it and that it was our first meal when arriving to Mexico City. read more

This was a great stop in CDMX! The owner gave us English menus and lots of tips about the area. Each arepa is pretty big so we ended up splitting an app with one arepa each and it was probably too much food. read more

Fantastic Arepas. Great service. And many gluten free options. All corn meal is gluten free!