Arepa Culture

The food here is very Americanized, though the flavor is definitely there. We tried four different arepas from the menu. The presentation was really nice and the prices were reasonable, but the food was served either cold or at room temperature, which my mom and I found odd. The salmon was also a bit too salty. That said, the cilantro sauce was amazing, and I really liked the juice selection, it was authentic. The arepa combinations were creative, but overall the experience still felt more American than traditional. The staff did not greet us when we came in, which isn’t required but does make the place feel less welcoming. The seating was uncomfortable, and some of the tables were a bit dirty. On the plus side, they recycle, there’s plenty of parking, and they offer outdoor seating.

Fast and delicious food here! I enjoyed learning about Venezuelan cuisine from their very informative menu. The arepas themselves are so fluffy and soft- and the fillings are seasoned to perfection. My friend got a Cachapa- absolutely FILLED with cheese!! Perfection. They have vegetarian options (vegan too!) and even coffee options. I would recommend to anyone in the area to try from this local spot/ it beats all the chains around it. Perfect for someone who wants to try something different.

This place was lovely decorated. The food was great and the team members were very helpful and polite however the tables where all dirty and just needed to be wiped down. Other than that, everything was great, the music was very nice and amazing and I would definitely recommend this place and go back again. :)

I have never had an arepa, but I love Mexican tacos so I thought I might like this Salvadoran/Colombian taco-like specialty. I like spicy, but the food here, even their salsas, are very VERY mild, bland even, so I was disappointed. But other folks who avoid spicy will love it. The arepas are hearty and quite filling, about the size of a hamburger. The "buns" are made of a tasty cornmeal, with the soft texture of tamale masa. They say you need 2 arepas for a meal, but one filled me up for lunch, and they are reasonably priced at $6.99 each. Their bowl dish was huge, you need to be really be hungry!

OMG! We stopped here for lunch and it did not disappoint. We had 2 arepas each (La tica and La pelua) plus a side of rice and beans. The young lady who took our order was very friendly and made great recommendations. The food was delicious, and the selection of fresh juices was great too. Best rice and beans I’ve ever had. Try it!

Falan with Offline - Great service. I enjoyed the La Tics arepa. I did not like the La Surena as much as the chicken. The rice and beans were fresh and good. The peach just was okay. It has an acquired taste.

Having tried Arepas first time in Merida, Mexico, I was craving for them and got excited when we ran into this place. They have a lot of Vegetarian Options to pick too. We started with "la Domino" (Organic black beans with caramelized onions ,peppers and cheese )and "La Tica " (Chicken). Both were really good. (Of course, Not as good as in Mexico for 20 pesos each vs $8 here ) We also got specialty Cachapa with beyond meat crumbles . Huge disappointment in first bite . It had a weirdly sweet taste to it and to add, our choice of beyond meat was horrible. Together it was disaster. Having paid 15$ for it we managed to finish half of it but it but had to throw away the rest. Guess we picked wrong protein but will never order it again ! 4* for the Arepas . I will ignore the Cachapa for this review since it doesn't suit my taste bud. But will come try other options in future. Cachapa with beyond meat crumble

I've loved this place ever since I had their food truck years ago. The brick and mortar store makes it so much easier to get their delicious arepa's! Staff is always incredibly friendly. The food is to die for and not just the arepas. Try a cachapa as well! My personal suggestion is the la pelua dripping in their spicy sauce.

Trying something new one evening while out running errands. The person at the front counter was pleasant and welcoming. Arepa's are great balance of simple and comforting go to food. Gluten free options are always a lighter and a less heavy option, in my option. This is one of the perks. I tried the La Tica (chicken) and the La Surena (bbq). I enjoyed the chicken. Very flavorful. I wasn't a fan of the bbq - a bit on the dry side for me. The chicken was delicious but the cheese could've been melted and I would've preferred my food on the warmer side. Giving Grace with 4*, perhaps I tried this too late in the evening. Maybe these are intended to be served that way I received them. I do recommend Arepa Culture NC but I'd recommend go at opening or before lunch time for freshness. The rice and beans were good. The peach juice was okay.

WOW, I want more..... Ordered the Vegan Beyond and the Vanilla Crema, I have my taste buds hounding me for more more more. Flavorful, easy to eat (too easy, wolfed it down) and well packaged. My only gripe is the food is on the small side for what you pay but the flavor is hitting hard in such a good way. Shall return and enjoy more sometime soon!

Food was top tier- so flavorful and delicious. The woman working at the counter was so kind, patient and helpful as we navigated the menu and made our selections. The restaurant itself is gorgeously decorated, lots of plants and greenery and the natural lighting is amazing. Great experience overall. Highly recommend!

Service was very friendly and welcoming; they were helpful with answering questions about the menu. This was my first time eating arepas, so I was not sure what to expect. Personally, I was disappointed. I felt like the ingredients were cold and the flavors didn't seem to go well together. When I tasted the shredded chicken I thought it tasted very familiar with a flavor I had many times before. I could not put my finger on it until I read the other reviews and I have to agree the shredded chicken has the flavor of canned chicken. I did enjoy the dessert. Overall, for me, the value of what I got versus the taste was just not a hit for me. It might have been the arepas I chose that day.

Pretty good! I prefer the green sauce over the orange. The spicy orange sauce goes better with the beef arepa and the chicken goes better with the green. The other thing is a vegetarian sweet corn pancake (cachapas) that comes with sweet cream upon request but they just gave it to us without us asking haha. Definitely nicer with the cream. The diet coke part of the soda fountain wasn't working. Only clear soda water came out.

Having tried Arepas first time in Merida, Mexico, I was craving for them and got excited when we ran into this place. They have a lot of Vegetarian Options to pick too. We started with "la Domino" (Organic black beans with caramelized onions ,peppers and cheese )and "La Tica " (Chicken). Both were really good. (Of course, Not as good as in Mexico for 20 pesos each vs $8 here ) We also got specialty Cachapa with beyond meat crumbles . Huge disappointment in first bite . It had a weirdly sweet taste to it and to add, our choice of beyond meat was horrible. Together it was disaster. Having paid 15$ for it we managed to finish half of it but it but had to throw away the rest. Guess we picked wrong protein but will never order it again ! 4* for the Arepas . I will ignore the Cachapa for this review since it doesn't suit my taste bud. But will come try other options in future.

Order rice and black beans with the LaTica Arepa. The food was very flavorful. I ordered to go mostly because dining room was like 60 degrees. Too cold. The front counter staff were friendly and service was prompt.

this was pretty good! not too expensive either - i got a chicken arepa with a side of black beans. the black beans were really salty - so i wouldn't get that again but the arepa itself was flavorful and yummy. the green cilantro sauce was a great addition on top

This place is so good! The location and ambiance left me a little skeptical at first but I loved my food. This build your own bowl packed so much flavor and I absolutely crushed it. Their complimentary sauces are so freaking good. Will def be back.

Finally made it to this restaurant! Food: I ordered their menu stated popular arepa La Tica Arepa with a Housemade Frescos Natural flavor papelon con limón. The agua freca was delicious. The arepa was very filling and juicy. The chicken though was not very flavorful. Arepas themselves are not very flavorful either so it left a little to be desired. They add an abundance of cheese on top but once you take bites off the top there is minimal cheese in your other bites leaving a very meaty tasting entre. There are two sauces you can self serve (cilantro and hot) which are okay but honestly the arepa tastes better without them. I will say they do leave out the salt and pepper for customers to add but I don't believe that's what the dish was missing. Price: I felt the item was a little pricy for what I was getting. I had arepas in many places and this is probably on the higher end. The portions may make it worth it but the lack of flavor left me a bit dismayed. Service: I was impressed with how fast the food was ready. By the time I found a seat the chasier called my name to get my food. I appreciate they take card and have tap available for easy check out and email your receipt. The cashier was very friendly. Ambiance: abundance of seating inside and outside. It's a nicely kept clean and welcoming space with nice seating a decor. I appreciate their eco friendly serve ware (straws and "plates"). I would like to try their other flavors and redo this review. I have high hopes for this place and am sure I will love at least one of their menu items.

This pulled pork with pico de gallo and the sauces are just amazing. I feel like I am on the show Diners and Dive. I was introduced by the food truck. And it was so good I drove across the city to just pick up and share with my family this tasty treat. It is the kind of food that makes you go quiet and just focus on the flavor and texture. No picture as I order hungry and eat fast. Being gluten free I don't find food that great often. But when i do I write about it. This is the only thing I have gotten here.

Food was ok . Missed a side item to serve and no signs of regrets . Sauces dispenser were broken . Hot sauce in dispenser need to be trashed .

This was my first time My self and my kids went I really liked the Specialty Cachapa with chicken I wish it was warmer so the cheese was melted The cilantro sauce was a delicious addition to the cachapa The La Tica Arepa was good but the El Carnivoro Arepa was my kid's favorite The house juice was refreshing and a great complement to your meal. I look forward to trying it again soon.

Yummy I tried this place for the first time yesterday but ordered takeout through DoorDash. The food was so delicious that I had to drive up to the restaurant myself because I wanted more. I walked into a cute, clean and inviting atmosphere. I was greeted by a sweet young gentleman, I wish I had looked at his name tag. He kindly took my order and told me that I made a great choice. I end up getting the La Surena arepas (shredded BBQ pork loin with housemade pico) and a side of plantains top with fresh cheese. Man, I thought the food was good yesterday, but today was superb. Everything was fresh and hot. This is definitely a new spot I will be frequenting when I am in the area.

This is a delicious hidden gem in Raleigh. Everything on the menu is scrumptious and the employees are kind and helpful. Even their homemade drinks are great! The inside and outside seating is lovely. This is my favorite place to eat and I highly recommend for a healthy and fresh meal! There are so many options

My experience at their FOOD TRUCK was not great. The staff was very nice, but to start off with, they charged me $0.75 for a few extra leaves of lettuce and $2.00 to add diced tomato. When I got my arepa, I did not see any onions or peppers, which were supposed to come on the shredded chicken arepa. After a bit of confusion around my question, they told me that peppers and onions were mixed into the chicken. I may have found 5 chunks of peppers or onions. The arepa itself was also not great. It was not crispy or flavorful. I try to be gracious in my reviews, but I was very disappointed with this experience (the restaurant may be better) and will not be returning to this food truck.

So yummy! I've had this twice so far and both times were delicious. All the food tastes more fresh than other places and digests well. The natural fruit juice is also so satisfying. All perfectly portioned, I will be back and recommend anyone considering to try it out

It's a great place to grab a bite to eat. I believe we stopped at the food truck on Pleasant Valley Road while we were in the area, waiting for another store to open. The food was excellent and served quickly. We loved it! I don't have many opportunities to eat at food trucks, but this one was right there, and there was no question. We had to grab a bite, and we were very glad we did!

Another great meal at Arepa Culture. I took my daughter for lunch today. She is vegetarian and was thrilled that they had beyond burger as a protein. She chose avocado as one of her toppings and was pleased with the generous portion. And, like me, she fell in love with the green cilantro sauce. I chose the chicken saute as my protein with toppings of plantains and onion/peppers. Good portion size for lunch. I probably took half home for lunch another day.

What an awesome little place! I stopped by for an Arepa, but was won over by the description of the "cachapa" when I arrived. Their menu is detailed and has a ton of options if you're in the mood for fresh Venezuelan food of all sorts. It's a "fast casual" experience where you place your order at a counter and then go up and grab it when it's ready. Everything went smoothly during the order process and any questions I had were answered. The cachapa itself was a tasty, and not too greasy combination of sweet and savory. You can choose from a set of different proteins, and I landed on BBQ pork. It complimented the corn pancake well, but may have been a bit on the sweet side if you weren't expecting it. Me? Well, I was, and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. The arepa I got featured shrimp, and was pretty good! Not too filling and the shrimp and sauce were unique. For drinks, there's a nice selection of fountain choices and fresh juices made there at the store. I'll be visiting again for sure, and I'm glad it's one of the first places I visited in Raleigh!

I enjoy going to arepa culture. Everything is gluten free! There are vegan options and they are willing to make some changes if you see something you like. Get the beyond arepa and make sure to ask for the vegan cilantro sauce, (if your not vegan, they have a non-vegan cilantro sauce) The passion fruit juice is delicious. The people are super kind. The place is always clean, and there is plenty of seating inside and outside. The only reason I didn't give a 5star is because there were some variety in flavor consistency the different times I went. But they always made sure to make sure everything was fixed if there was an issue.

Not a bad spot for arepas in the Raleigh area but would suggest passing on their dessert options. My family and I decided to try two arepas from here as a pre-dinner snack, though do note that their menu recommends two per person for a whole meal! We opted for the La Tica and the La Surena. The chicken in the La Tica was a bit bland and I wish there was more flavor in the arepa itself, because I just had to keep adding sauce on top to get more flavor. However, the La Surena was fantastic and all three of us much preferred it to the La Tica! The La Surena was filled with a sweet and savory BBQ pork topped with fresh pico de gallo -- sooo good. We also tried the flan cheesecake for dessert which I was not a big fan of. I generally love all things flan and I'm also a huge sucker for cheesecake, but this dish did not hit the spot unfortunately. The takeout container was filled up halfway with the caramel liquid, and the texture was not quite that of flan or cheesecake. Maybe it's just an acquired taste type of dessert but I would not order it again...

Went here a few months ago and it was delicious! I can't remember which one I got but it was good. Prices were reasonable for something different. And I remember the service was fast! And they have delicious drinks that are different too!

I visited the actual restaurant on Glenwood for the first time rather than the food truck. It was just as delicious as the food truck. It's exciting that I could come here anytime for some arepas rather than tracking down the food truck. I had the La domino arepa and I tried a sip of all three of their fresh juices. All the juices were amazing! My favorite was the papelon con limon. Yummy, sweet, and refreshing! Everything is delicious-my absolute favorite arepas in town.

So pleasantly surprised. We are visiting from out of town and were looking for gluten free options. The food was fresh and healthy. Non gmo corn. Yummy juices and coffee drinks. Great space and decor. Fast and kind service.

My mom and I was looking for keto options and found a great build your own bowl option here! Take away the carbs and build to your keto dreams! Even without rice, this was a great tasting bowl. If it didn't take 45 minutes to get there, I would go there again!

Oil family owned business. Great food. Great family place. Very clean. Very friendly The are vegan friendly so bring your vegan friends you can have a great meal for all

The chicken is very favorable and well seasoned. My fiancé loved the vegetable one the best

It's been a goal of mine since relocating to Raleigh to create a "passport tour" of different restaurants and food trucks that serve food from different countries. Arepas are made differently depending on which Latin country you're from. Arepa culture serves Venezuelan style gluten free arepas. My daughter was excited to try one after seeing the movie Encanto. I gave in. When we arrived the customer service extended was superb. The menu features quite a lot of different options for toppings on arepas. I decided on the "Reina" which featured chicken salad topped with avocado. It was just that. It was like a tiny sandwich. The arepa didn't have a taste. It was a cold, bland corn cake. My daughter ended up throwing her $6 arepa away. She didn't enjoy it at all and for one stuffed with cheese, it was cold also. I'll stick to Guasaca for arepas.

SO GOOD!!!! I went with a group of people and we split what we ordered and everything was amazing. I don't even remember which was my favorite because they were all so good

Let me start off with the staff!!! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The woman at the register helped guide me through my experience. She explained the arepas and dishes. The food was amazing! Fresh and flavorful. Omg! I got the bowl and chicken arepas. Make sure you try the cilantro sauce. This is definitely my new spot in Raleigh. I will be back! So good!!! It's very clean and nice vibe. The ambiance is nice.

I never get to take photos of my delicious arepa because I devour it immediately . So yummy! Inviting space and friendly service. My new favorite lunch spot.

when looking online for places to eat in raleigh, i came across this place and definitely wanted to try it out. my friend and i went there and got the cachapas - regular and beef toppings - as well as arepas - cheese, salmon and other flavors. i also got a side of sweet plantains. overall the food was good but both of us preferred the cachapas to the arepas - the cachapas had better flavor and the taste with the toppings was outstanding. the arepas were good but needed the sauces and the topics to enhance the flavor overall great food and nice atmosphere

Congrats on Arepa Culture's 2023 Diamond Awards! They won gold for best food truck and tied for bronze for Best Business Lunch. Flavorful and filling but pricy arepas. The arepas are $6.25 each and they recommend ordering two for a satisfying meal. Yes these arepas are packed with fillings, but I expected them to be in the $4-$5 range. I did not enjoy the flavor of the vegan El Beyond, however, it was greatly improved with the addition of the complimentary sauces. The rest of my party chose other protein options and really enjoyed them. The menu is easy to read and ample options are available. Order and pick-up at the counter. Arepas are made quickly and accurately (although a side of plantains was missing from our order). This place is a good choice for a quick lunch. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. We chose to dine at a large indoor table with stools. The stools are tall and challenging to sit in. Tables with regular chairs are a more comfortable option. Overall, we had a positive visit and left a little hungry (since most of us ordered 1 arepa each).

Ample parking, clean inside with indoor/outdoor seating. First time visiting and enjoyed ourselves! The menu recommends buying 2 arepas for a meal, but honestly they're pretty thick so I was full after 1 and had to bring the other home. I ordered the La Tica and La Pelua with a cup for the Venezuelan drinks. The specialty drinks were sweet for my tastebuds, but fun to try and experience! Both of the arepas were good, especially with the green sauce they have near the cutlery. Staff was quick and efficient. Would recommend and come again.

Before heading to a comedy show we stopped at Arepa Culture to grab a coffee and I decided to order an arepa to go, because I've never had one before. Initially I thought I would just eat the filling but the cornmeal bun was delicious! I order the La Tica and it was shredded pork in a delicious sauce with onions and cheese. Their cilantro sauce and hot sauce that were served on the side were a great compliment. This was a great little snack to have while bouncing around downtown late last night!

Our most recent weekend getaway to Raleigh of course had to be capped off by visiting Arepa Culture!! I first had an arepa from them about 5/6 years ago at the Greensboro Food Truck Festival and they have been a favorite of mine since. They never disappoint whether it's the food truck or their physical location. The meat from all of the Arepas is always so tender and juicy and paired with the sauces it's just down right amazing. On our most recent visit we grabbed a BBQ Cachapa as well and it's soooo good! Sweet and tender pulled pork on top of a yummy fluffy corn cake stuffed with cheese. The perfect way to end the weekend!

Incredible flavor and customer service. Fresh aqua Frescas. Don't forget the cilantro lime sauce to top it off with!

Really heavy compared to arepas I've had before. The rice drink is like a blended rice pudding. Good, incredibly sweet. Definitely a once in a while thing.

First experience with this food truck and it was a good one. And I do believe it was our first arepa experience (as far as I can remember), so I can't compare it with anywhere else. You can order arepas one by one or order a combo. Not realizing how large they would be, I chose a combo with the fish one and the veggie one. Husband tried the Chicken and the Steak with cheese. Loved that they were wearing masks and friendly. Took our order, paid, and waited several minutes for them to freshly prepare our meal. Brought them home. Husband's combo came with a green sauce (cilantro mayo perhaps?). Mine came with fantastic spicy red/orange sauce that somehow managed to go with both the fish and the veggie one. Husband really enjoyed both of his meat arepas and was sufficiently full. I enjoyed half of each of mine as they were so rich and bigger than I had expected. The fish one was piled high with smoked salmon and had a thick slice of fresh mozzarella as well as a tomato slice. Veggie one was thick and rich with cheese as well. The arepas themselves were more of a tool than full of flavor. The fish one got a big soggy on the bottom. Would not hesitate to order from this truck again as everything was very good quality and prices reasonable.

This place is so underrated and not enough people are talking about it! Found this place randomly looking on Yelp and so happy I stumbled upon it. I had the reina pepiada ( which is like avocado chicken salad inside of an arepa) it was delicious! It's definitely not your traditional arepas but was simply delicious especially with the sauces. I ordered the plantains too which I'll admit wasn't my favorite. They were cold and they weren't sweet like they are supposed to be, my guess is they use plantains that weren't ripe yet. Overall I would highly recommend- if your looking for a healthier option to Latin food your gotta try this place. Food was delicious, service was fast and it's super affordable.

What an amazing find! I've never had an arepa before and Arepa Culture NC knocked it out of the park! My wife and I love to stay away from chain restaurants when we travel and we hit up AC/NC on our way back home. There are so many options available but I have to recommend their El Carnivoro (3-meat) and their Reina Pepiada (chicken salad). While we like to explore new stops when we're in Raleigh, this spot will definitely be a regular for us now. Well done, Pedro and Hannia!!

Flavorful and filling arepas from local food truck. The arepa is about 4" round and made of cornmeal. It's reminiscent of a biscuit, grilled crisp on the outside, doughy and chewy on the inside. The cornmeal makes for a very distinct taste - almost like grits. Definitely "stick-to-your-ribs" goodness. The arepas are sliced and filled. Many choices on the menu, I tried 2 types, La Tica and La Pelua. La Tica is shredded chicken, with sauteed onions and peppers, topped with shredded provolone & mozzarella cheese. The chicken is moist and flavorfully spiced. I barely noticed the onions and peppers... could've used a little more. A tasty combination... You need a fork because the arepa is stuffed full! La Pelua is shredded beef topped with shredded cheddar. The beef is tender and well seasoned and in sizable chunks. Another sandwich that needs a fork. 2 sauces are offered, a hot sauce and a cilantro sauce. Go with the cilantro - just a smidge of heat and a great earthy/tangy enhancement for both the chicken and the beef. A delicious and filling meal - 2 arepas is plenty per person.

We tried four different arepas and plan to try the whole menu eventually. Tender meats, fresh ingredients, and authentic arepas make this spot a must. I could drink the cilantro sauce by itself. The homemade juices are great. Prices are very reasonable--it's tough not to buy out the shop between the taste and the price. Staff are very helpful and friendly--I felt that they were very personable. The plantains were delicious too, I've never had feta on plantains but it actually really worked.

I stopped by the food truck to eat and the arepas here are quite delicious and worth the price tag. I could taste the quality of the meat and ingredients in every bite. I got the chicken and beef Arepa -- the MVP had to be the chicken. That one just had more flavor in my opinion. The beef was good but I didn't enjoy the texture. I also got the plantain chips, which were delicious!

Great atmosphere for a food truck turned permanente location! Great place to try out some arepas and cachapas! The cilantro sauce was fantastic and would highly recommend trying it with anything you get there!

If you're in to cold meat and cold cheese then this is your spot. What a disappointment. Cheese wasn't melted at all, sauce wasn't mixed in and the meat was cold. Sad to see someone care so little about the food they create and share.

Tried arepas for the first time here. Got the la tinga- lots of flavor and good portion of chicken inside !! The cilantro sauce was a delicious addition

In an unusual turn, I'm rating food that my wife got as lunch and brought to me as a snack. The woman at the counter was incredibly friendly, and explained everything to my wife, as she'd never eaten this type of food before, including what was an authentic "Venezuelan flavor". Since it's counter service you can see your food being maxed, and everything is made to order so it's easy to customize. Everything inside was clean, and for a first experience it's turned us on to something we will definitely try again. A few things, as I'm not so sure about the value of this place, as it was slightly pricey. -Everything was home made from scratch. -There we're a ton of Organic, gluten free, and vegan options. -There were complimentary Venezuelan sauces. -Everything is made to order and custom.