Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen — Restaurant in Bellevue

Arepa delivers an exceptional dining experience that captures the vibrant essence of Venezuelan cuisine. From the first bite to the last, every dish is a delightful celebration of authentic flavors, making this spot a standout for those craving genuine Latin American fare.

🌟 Highlights: Exquisite Arepas: The star of the show, the arepas, are perfectly crafted with a crispy exterior and a soft, warm interior. Each arepa is generously stuffed with fresh and flavorful fillings, whether you prefer traditional options like shredded beef (Reina Pepiada) or the classic Pabellón, with shredded beef, black beans, and plantains. The balance of textures and flavors in each arepa is a true culinary delight.

Diverse Menu: Beyond arepas, the menu offers a rich variety of Venezuelan specialties, including empanadas, cachapas, and tequeños. Each dish is prepared with care, using authentic ingredients that transport you straight to the heart of Venezuela. The diversity ensures that there is something to satisfy every palate, from savory delights to sweet indulgences.

Inviting Atmosphere: The ambiance of Arepa is warm and inviting, with a cozy and contemporary decor that makes it perfect for a casual meal with friends or a relaxed family dinner. The space is clean and well-maintained, creating a comfortable environment to enjoy your meal. The friendly and attentive staff add to the welcoming atmosphere, making every visit feel special.

Outstanding Service: The service here is top-notch, with staff who are both knowledgeable about the menu and genuinely passionate about Venezuelan cuisine. They are always eager to recommend dishes and ensure that every customer has a memorable dining experience. Their enthusiasm and helpfulness greatly enhance the overall dining experience, making each visit enjoyable.

Delicious Drinks: Complementing the food, the selection of drinks includes refreshing Venezuelan favorites like papelón con limón (sugarcane lemonade) and chicha (a sweet rice drink). These beverages pair perfectly with the dishes and add to the authenticity of the dining experience. The drink options are thoughtfully curated to enhance the flavors of the food, providing a well-rounded meal experience.

Convenient Location: Conveniently located in Bellevue, Arepa is easy to find and offers ample parking, making it a great choice for both locals and visitors. The central location makes it a perfect stop for a flavorful and satisfying meal, whether you’re on a lunch break or enjoying an evening out.

✨ Summary: Arepa is a culinary gem that brings the vibrant flavors of Venezuela to the Pacific Northwest. With its authentic dishes, inviting atmosphere, and excellent service, it stands out as a must-visit for anyone seeking a true taste of Venezuelan cuisine. Each dish is a flavorful journey, making every visit a delightful experience.

An absolute must-try for Venezuelan food...

This was my first time having Venezuelan food, and I was blown away by this place

Normally, I would go with the meat option, but I had to limit myself to vegetarian options for the day, so I picked the Arepa Moqui, which came with white cheese and 3 sweet plantains. I also got the Venezuelan Empanadas with cheese filling

The Arepa was really, really good. The cheese was melted slightly, and not fully, but I found this actually made it better as full melting would've caused it to overflow beyond the bounds of the arepa. More importantly, there was a ton of cheese in here - and it tasted fantastic. Another great part of this was the bread - it was lightly fried and resembled a pita bread of sorts, but the physical format of the sandwich made it really good as it was able to hold food on one end and open up to your mouth on the other. I found that the bread was soft, thick, and tasted amazing

While not much of a filling, the plantains did taste really good. They were quite sweet, but also oily on the outside, and it was certainly a unique experience to try. I think it would've been slightly better ordering a different arepa that was more consistent in its non-cheese filling throughout, but it was still good

I think my favorite part, though, might be the Empanada. The fried dough was unbelievably crispy throughout and remained so across the entire empanada. Each bite delivered an incredible crunch that was just so satisfying. The cheese filling was also really good - it was super warm and plentiful, and also melted perfectly inside. The empanada was also massive - arguably more filling than the arepa. I wasn't even able to finish it.

I love how warm everything was - when the food was delivered - it was so hot we had to wait for it to cool down for a second. Also, the provided sauces were amazing. We filled up the chipotle, spicy, and garlic sauces, and I absolutely loved dipping both of these in the chipotle and garlic sauces.

For the price, this was around $20 per person, so not that cheap, but I thought it was really filling

Overall, a simple yet fantastic new...

Arepa is a great place to have a taste of Venezuela!! You know it's good when you see other Venezuelans and no -Venezulans trying it out.

Ambience: typical diner style. Nothing crazy. They do a good job at keeping it tidy.

Notes: Frescolita: Tastes like a less-sweet candy, almost like a Jolly Rancher! Per the can, it's also produced in Poland, for a company in Miami.

Arepa de pabellon: Nice and moist! Even though I saw it, I still didn't expect the sweetness from the banana/plantain. Tastes great! I didn't really taste the grated white cheese though it did lend a bit to a slight creaminess. -Love the beans!!

Venezuelan empanadas de pollo: It feels and tastes fluffy!! The dough also tastes slightly sweet but not overwhelming! The pork inside has the same texture as pulled pork and it tastes great! Not too salty or greasy at all. Moist but not dripping in oil or anything. It's slightly on the mellow side compared to the sweeter dough. After a while you can't taste the sweetness in the dough. The pork is where it's at.

I tried some of the sauces, namely the garlic sauce, cilantro sauce, and unlabeled sauce. They were all on the buttery creamy side meaning the garlic and cilantro flavors were both pretty light. Still great as creamy sauces but didn't have as much garlic or cilantro flavors as I would like (I like heavier...