Arepas El pana — Restaurant in Albuquerque

The only thing I regret about coming to Arepas El Pana is the fact that the food was so scrumptious that I inhaled it before I could get a picture!

Luckily I snapped one of our yummy papelon con limon (sugar cane juice with lemon) which was sooo refreshing on a hot Summer day. To our surprise and joy, one of the gracious partners working at the restaurant on a Saturday gave us a couple of cappucinos on the house which were equally fantastic with rich depth of flavor and just the right amount of creaminess. So kind!

Now on to the food. I have tried a few different pabellon arepas in my short time on earth, but this one takes the cake in terms of flavor and structure. The arepa itself was cooked to perfection, a slightly crispy outside with a soft luscious inside that held all the other components much better than arepas I have tried at other restaurants. The black beans added a nice hearty balance of flavor to the sweet plantains and sharp queso blanco. But the star was the desmechada (shredded beef). Along with adding bold flavor with its array of Venezuelan spices, the beef was incredibly tender. I'm glad we also got the desmechada empanada because I was left wanting for even more of it after my arepa! The empanada was perfectly golden and packed so much flavor. The green sauce (I believe it's garlic and cilantro) was the perfect dressing to add some zip and zing to each bite.

Looking forward to coming back to try a smoothie and more fantastic...

If you’re craving bold, authentic Venezuelan flavors that hit the soul as hard as they hit the taste buds, this is the spot. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm hospitality and the mouthwatering scent of arepas sizzling on the grill.

I tried the Pabellón Arepa, and it was absolute perfection — tender shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains, and queso blanco, all packed into a crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside arepa. The empanadas were golden, crispy, and generously filled, and don’t even get me started on the tequeños — pure cheesy heaven.

Their sauces (especially the garlic cilantro) deserve their own spotlight — I could drink that stuff. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the love they put into the food is obvious with every bite.

Whether you’re Venezuelan and missing a taste of home, or just a foodie looking for something unforgettable, this place is a must-visit. I left full, happy, and already planning my...

First impressions as I walked in. The space is cute and it’s nicely kept inside. Decorated very nice and the ambiance is spot on. When I came in we ordered our food to go and the owner/front of house employee said we can have some coffee while we waited. Let me tell you… the coffee is incredible. I don’t drink coffee often, but I can admire and recognize great coffee. I was gifted a small cappuccino while I waited and it was the most savory, delicate, and tender cup of cappuccino ive ever had. I’m guessing it was their light roast or something but it was just right.

The food is top notch. Incredibly delicious and very well made. This is a great spot for a great price. They are new to downtown area and are about 5/6 months new. Worth supporting their efforts, it looks family owned we and operated....