Arepitas (Harker Heights) — Restaurant in Harker Heights

Better service at Mcdonalds. So disappointing. We order from here all the time for take out & tonight was the first time we ate in. We were asked if we called ahead, which we didn't since they don't take reservations. We were seated right almost away (by the bar person..? ) not by the host, who sat all the other tables. We were ready to order within 10 mins and we watched as 3 other tables who came in after us were taken care of. 20 mins went by until we were acknowledged. Like even asked for drinks. I was ready to walk out but my husband was really excited to eat there as we never get to eat out alone and with 5 kids you know we never get our food hot 😑So, I stuck it out and we ordered drinks, another 15 mins and watching tables who came in after us get their food. I had planned on getting a half pitcher of sangria, two appetizers and two of the pricier dishes and two desserts as this was literally our once a year night out 😭 I ended up just getting a soda and a beef empanada, as my appetite was gone from being blatantly ignored by staff. Oh, it was the bar person who took our order and served us, we watched serves look right past us 😑 Honestly, I'm just heartbroken. I have an eating disorder so it is hard for me to find places to eat and this was my favorite and now, I will never go back, I cried the whole way home, this was my FAVORITE place to eat. They compt the drinks...two sodas... and said "sorry, they don't know what happened " I still tipped a little but I will never go back. 😭 I can't really say anything about the food because I asked for no cilantro and they still put it all over the food "as decoration " I have that weird gene that makes it taste like soap so I didn't even take a bite of my food. I tried my husband's food but honestly, with my disorder the food just tasted bland but that could just be the whole mental part of the whole ordeal. My husband was starving when we went and he only ate maybe half his food so I'd say the food was just as good as...

Confession: I'm (usually) a low-carb/keto lifestyle devotee, which can sometimes make dining out feel like navigating a minefield of hidden upcharges and tiny portions. But, Arepitas made it easy and delicious. The restaurant itself is clean and comfortable, and the restrooms were very tidy (always a plus!). We visited around 3 pm, the sweet spot between lunch and dinner, and it was pleasantly uncrowded – perfect to enjoy a meal with friends.

I ordered The Parrillita bowl with a cabbage base. Let me tell you, this was not your average sad salad bowl. It was a generous portion of yummy grilled steak and chicken, with grilled onions, sweet red peppers, avocado, and a delicious garlic sauce. Chef's kiss. Seriously, but it is very garlicky. At $16.50, it's a little on the pricier side for me, but the portion size and quality made it worth it. It was incredibly filling.

My friends went for the arepas. One had The Texan ($15.50), which was similar to my bowl but with the added bonus of jalapenos, tomatoes, even more avocado… and of course the “bread.”  The other had the Party Animal ($13.50) with what I believe is shredded pork (pernil). They got the sandwich only, no sides. They were both happy with their choices.

We also shared the Mini Arepitas appetizer ($12). They said it was good (I did not actually eat any of it), but honestly, our main courses were so generous, we probably could have easily skipped the appetizer in my opinion.

Overall, the menu had a great selection – enough to make me want to come back and try other options (especially if I can do a sandwich-without-the-bread), but not so much that I felt overwhelmed. The service was great – friendly and attentive, which always makes a big difference.

Whether you follow a low carb lifestyle like me, or are just someone who appreciates delicious food, I do think you'll find something to love here. I'm already looking forward to going back and maybe trying to sneak out a container of that garlic sauce...

Highly...

This was my first time trying Venezuelan food and it was perfection! The food was delicious and the service was wonderful! I went with my daughter and my best friend. We decided to share a few things so we could try more of the menu and we were not disappointed! We ordered the tostones (3 pieces) without meat, the Pabellon empanada (shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains, and cheese), the parrillita bowl with fried yuca, and a the kid's hamburger and fries. I've had tostones before, but not this way! It was so fresh and loaded with delicious cabbage salad, sauces, fresh cheese, and avocado. The flavors and textures were delightful. Then the empanada came. The pabellon empanada is the only one that comes with the black beans, sweet plaintains and cheese as well as the meat. Every part of the empanada was lovely! We chose the garlic sauce and it was delicious too! It tasted like a garlic cilantro sauce, but the cilantro was not overpowering so if you are not a fan of cilantro this sauce is still wonderful! I can't forget to mention the corn fried turnover it placed in was mouthwatering and delightful. The parrillita bowl was a perfect portion for us to share with the empanada and tostones. The friend yuca was a wonderful choice to pair with this. I would definitely recommend it and choose it every time! The meats were seasoned very well and were tender. Everything in the dish worked so well together to make a delectable bowl! The hamburger for my daughter was great too! She said it was perfection! I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant. The food was great and the service was wonderful as well! Our server was polite, attentive (but not hovering), and her suggestions were great!

Edited to add: I forgot to mention one of the things I also loved and appreciated was that they brought the kid's meal with...