Chicago | Venezuelan Arepa—Rica Arepa 🌮🇻🇪

A Latin American friend brought me here years ago, and recently when I was planning a meetup with a friend from xiaohongshu, I remembered this place and suggested we go here. My friend asked, "The one in Lakeview?" That’s when I found out that in just a few years, this shop has opened several branches across Chicago—proof of how delicious it is! Arepa is a traditional dish from both Colombia and Venezuela. It’s essentially a cornmeal patty stuffed with generous fillings—kind of like a Chinese roujiamo (meat sandwich), but with its own unique twist! 🫓✨ Actually, this shop leans more toward the Colombian style: Colombian arepas don’t fully split the cake open, while Venezuelan arepas are often cut completely and made like a sandwich. 🌮 Picture 1 is the Pabellon Arepa I ordered, filled with shredded beef, cheese, black beans, and fried plantains. The beef is marinated and hand-pulled—so flavorful! The outside is a corn cake, and inside are sweet plantains and black beans. Carbs wrapped in carbs—pure happiness, am I right? 😋 🌮 Picture 2 was ordered by my friend—I can’t quite remember, but it might’ve been the Rica Punta. Basically, you can freely mix and match with chicken, beef, and various veggies. You can also add or remove ingredients like cheese and black beans. Even off-menu combinations are possible—total customization! 🌮 Picture 3 is the special of the day: Sancocho de Cruzado. It’s a classic Latin American stew made with pork, chicken drumsticks, yuca, and corn—a bit like a Northeast Chinese "big stew." Having a bowl of this in winter instantly warms you up! 🍲❤️ Although the photo shows two bowls, it was actually one full portion. The staff saw we were sharing and kindly split it for us—great service and huge portions! 🌮 Picture 4 is the freshly squeezed guava juice, though it’s more like a smoothie. This shop offers a variety of tropical drinks—definitely worth a try! 🍹 After all these years, this place has remained consistently delicious. It’s a classic example of great food at a great price! Rica Arepa: 2913 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 🌮 Have you tried arepas before? What’s your favorite filling? Let me know in the comments! 💬 👇 Planning a visit? Save this post for your next food adventure! 🔔 Follow for more hidden gems and international flavors! ✨ #ChicagoEats #ChicagoFood #ChicagoLife #FoodReview #ArepaLove #LatinFlavor #GlobalCuisine #FoodieAdventure #BudgetEats #ComfortFood