Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen

I’ve been meaning to try this place for a while now, and I’m so glad I did! Staff were super friendly. I told them I’d never had Venezuelan food before, and my server made helpful recommendations. My food arrived quickly and it was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be coming back here. I sent a picture to my mom and she has demanded that I take her the next time she visits!

Wow! I should have come here earlier. Clean modern interior, lovely lady to take my order, and just the best arepa I have ever had. Will be back again. A lot. I got the seattle arepa, yucca fries, and lemonade. Also some empanadas for later. Just had a bite of one emenada so far but it was great. Way too full after the arepa to eat more but looking forward to them later for dinner. The pork in the arepa was superb. I only got a picture of the very remains (I was too busy enjoying it) but you can see the beautiful pork they uses in the arepa. Get their garlic sauce.

Magnificent! Tonight was my first time trying Venezuelan food. Arepa’s made it unforgettable. The food was refreshing, full of rich flavors, and beautifully presented. Every dish had its own personality and I genuinely wanted to try everything on the menu. I’m so happy that we started with the sampler and kept going! The atmosphere was warm and inviting—it made me want to visit Venezuela just to see more of the culture that inspired this place. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and I appreciated them making the whole experience feel personal and welcoming. I’m not usually the type to want to sample everything, but this food was so good that I honestly felt sad going back home. I already wish I lived closer just so I could come back again and again. A sincere thanks to Arepa’s host “C” and the entire team for such a delicious and heartwarming experience.

Very testy, authentic food. Definitely recommend if you are in the area!

Very pleasant Staff!!! The Venezuelan soup, fried yucca, and mini arepas were amazing!! But the sauces .... wow!!! I will be back! So good, I was full and could not stop eating. 😋

I had the most wonderful experience at this restaurant in University District. During the brunch hour, I had appetizers like the sweet plantain dish and tostones. The staff are very knowledgeable about the food and the history of each item. I came for dinner and had the Reina Pepiada and absolutely loved the dish. Highly recommend the Seattle location.

The new location is fantastic! Same delicious food with a bigger, brighter interior and way more space to sit. Fun new decorations and tabletops highlighting Venezuelan geography. We felt so welcomed by the staff and the arepas were amazing as always!

6 years later and this place doesn't disappoint. Pabellón is my favorite!! Empanadas are Gucci!! And the tres leches, super moist and delicious. New location with plenty of sitting. Must I say more?

As someone who is part Venezuelan and has had many different arepas these ones are SO TASTY GOOD!!! nice variety, very filling, perfect meal. I can't believe I haven't gone more (prob bc it was far away from west campus). Service was very nice! The seating inside and the entrance makes the whole place feel very cozy and warm.

Unlike other quick arepa places, they really put thought into their interior space. It's warm and alive with paintings on the wall. The Seattle arepa featured a crispy and soft masa pocket, succulent beef (perhaps that released too much liquid), and 2 types of cheeses. I loved that there were at least 5 sauces to choose from at will, my favorite being the cilantro mayo.

If you want authentic Venezuelan food, this is the place for you. I LOVE the food! The place is small and cozy.

I was in the area and wanted to try something new for lunch. I called my order in and it was ready a few minutes after my arrival. I don't think I would have seen this restaurant off the street if I wasn't looking for it. I found Arepa on Yelp and it did not disappoint. I ordered the #4 and #15 and both were very good. The meats were very flavorful!

I was told that #4 with the pork and plantains arepa (4/5 stars) is the most popular arepa. I enjoyed it and might be back again if/when I'm in the area.

Absolutely smashingly good food. I can't wait to come back, it's so good it hurts. We only tried their arepas because they have a small discount on a combo meal for the cherry blossom festival. I really want to come back and get a plate/entree next time, seemed like most of the people there for lunch were getting those instead of the arepas. Despite that, the arepas come out in such large portions, and the flavors are all so on point. I tried their pork arepa which was soooo juicy and went so well with their cilantro sauce. The black beans and fried plantains with beef was def my favorite. Fried plantains were yummy with their sauces. And the beef Colombian empanada was banging. What a gem! Muchas gracias

The food was good, but it was too salty for me. The dish only came with the bun and meat, so no side dish that comes with it. $14 is way too pricey.

Was walking around the Ave and my partner remembered stopping into this spot a while back, and wanted to check it out again! We were greeted by the staff as soon as we walked through the door, you could see them making fresh arepas and they had a great selection of topping/filling combos! We went for the miss piggy and Seattle arepas- they were so filling and for a great price point as well. They have an extensive sauce menu, we tried all of them on our arepas- including the habanero- and there is no bad option! Bacon Mayo was a fun standout flavor I had never seen as a mayo before!

If you order online and give your information they send spam constantly. As for the food I wasn't going to leave a review but this, to me at least, tastes like a fast food version of Venezuelan food. It wasn't bad but I have no desire to return.

Very chill little spot with amazing food and quick service. Everything here is sooo good!! And reasonably priced too. Try the empanadas and the Llanera Especial and Moqui arepas are so good !!!! Love their sauces. They have a great selection. My daughter loves the bacon one and I'm super into cilantro and garlic... already planning my next trip over there (:

I love arepas. Our favorite arepa spot in San Francisco (Pica Pica) was supposed to cater our wedding. Thats how much I love arepas. But even though the service was friendly, Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen just didn't have the quality ingredients I was expecting. I ordered the reina pepiada arepa and the pabellon arepa. The reina chicken salad mix just didn't taste good and the pabellon was solidly 50% beans with lower quality meat. I also found myself not liking the arepa itself as it wasn't soft or fluffy, but hard, toasted, and very difficult to eat. This is the second restaurant in this area we've been to that uses obviously lower quality ingredients, so although the honey had been wanting to try this place, I just don't see us coming back and we will likely be avoiding U District restaurants in the future.

The best sandwiches of all time fecking food is so good makes my mouth and stomach and soul and benis happy

We wanted to try something new in the Bellevue-Factoria area. We were a little disappointed to discover that it's inside the mall, but the staff was friendly and seating was comfortable. They have inside seating and a little patio area where you can people watch (although Factoria mall is never high traffic). I ordered the #4 arepa combo (beef, cheese, plantain) and Columbia empanadas. Delicious meal with generous portions and fresh ingredients. Will definitely return.

Service - 1/5. Extremely slow. We ordered at 3:30pm and waited for a half an hour to get our food. Food - 2/5. We ordered #4 pabellon ($11.95) and a parilla plate (steak combo plate; $20.75). They both taste like college food. No wonder it's in a college town and most of customers are college kids. Arepa is definitely filling with lots of beans and cheese. Steaks were flavorful but they were so dry. Ambience - 2/5. It looks like a small old beach house turned into a restaurant. Very casual dining spot. We can see this place being popular among kids and hungry people because those sandwiches fill you up with beans, cheese, and plantains. Nothing is bad, but they taste like someone just cooked for you at the tailgate party. Don't expect to get a gourmet food from here. Overall, it's not our thing. Everything was too greasy and heavy for us. We wouldn't come back here again unless some hungry kids beg to come here together. Now we know.

I first had arepas in Arizona and once I got back home to Seattle, I knew I had to find them again! Low and behold: Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen! I have brought friends and family here and I really enjoy it every time. My favorite dish to order is the Pabellon Arepa and add on avocados. It may look like a small sandwich, but it is super filling! It's stuffed with shredded beef, black beans, cheese, and fried plantains. Every bite with the avocado is pure perfection! The tequeños are also a nice little appetizer to share around the table. They're essentially deep fried mozzarella sticks, but with a thicker dough. Hope you find some time to check out this cute place!

Nice, casual hidden spot in the u-district. You walk up to the counter to order food and sit yourself. The food came out pretty fast ~10 minutes after ordering. We tried The pabellón arepa which is shredded beef, Monterrey cheese, sweet plantains, and beans. This was a 4/5, the beef was juicy. We tried all the cilantro sauces. There wasn't a major taste difference between them except for the garlic cilantro sauce. If you love chicken salad and you love avocado, you're gonna love the Reina Pepiada arepa. It is the perfect balance of avocado/mayo sauce paired with the chicken. It's really good 4.5/5. For dessert, we had the tres leches cake. Pleasantly surprised, very good flavor. It tasted like arroz con leche. The whipped cream was good too, just a teeny bit over whipped as it curdled once in your mouth. Still very good! (4/5)! I would definitely come back :)

Everything here was delicious! We ordered a few arepas (#4, 6, 7) and the sampler plate. All were good but the ms piggy and pabellon were standout. We were impressed by the quality of meat and the freshness of the dough. Super juicy and flavors well balanced! The sample plate was also good to try as first timers. All was freshly fried / crisp, and was a good opportunity to try all of the house sauces they have in the back :) The owner and staff was so nice, the owner came around to check on all of us individually.

We stopped here for a quick lunch, and I'm so glad we did. Coming from TX, we miss good authentic Hispanic food and this place hit the spot! Staff was super friendly and service was quick, but you could tell the food was fresh! Hoping to be back when we're in the area again.

I got the best bart and it was pretty good. I added my own cabbage when I got home because it just needed something more than the meat, some avocado would've been great as well (not expecting this of the restaurant of course, just as a personal preference and because I took it home). Though I do wish the cilantro sauce would've been placed in the whole sandwich not just the top because it was a bit dry. But the meat was well seasoned and well cooked and there was a substantial amount of meat. $10-12 seemed like a lot for an arepa but when I got it, I understood the price for sure. I almost couldn't finish it!

I was pretty excited to try this spot! Ordered the Sampler Platter ($16ish) and the Arepa Combo ($15ish). The sampler platter was a combination of a bunch of fried items (yuca fries, empanadas, mini cheese arepas, tequenos, plantains). The fried items honestly weren't all that flavorful, but great dipped in the cilantro/chipotle cremas. Chose the chicken-avocado arepa, it was alright. Shredded unmelted cheddar cheese with a shredded chicken breast - avocado mixture (this was pretty mayo-y). All the she shredded cheese was un-melted, which I guess is normal but how much better would it be if it was all melty and crispy!? Was a bit disappointed - I likely need to order other items next time. Food took a but to come out as they were busy. Plenty of indoor seating with an outdoor patio. Staff is super friendly :)

I got the Pabellon Arepa and it was delicious! The portion was good as it was super filling! All of the ingredients went well together. I also love that it came with two types of sauce :) It made the Arepa even better! The meat was very juicy and packed with flavor. Just writing this makes me crave one. Service was very friendly! This place definitely makes me want to check out more places that sell arepas in my area.

This was our first time trying Venezuelan food, so we don't have anything to compare it to, but that being said, it was still delicious. We both got an arepa & a side (with the combo deal). Very filling! Would definitely eat here again.

Food/drinks: For $23 and some change, I had hands down one of the best lunches of my time in Seattle! An arepa overflowing with juicy shredded beef, crisp yucca fries, fried ripe plantain, and all gluten free and dairy free! The combo is the way to go...but I added another side because it all sounded too good. And it was! Service: Isamaria was an absolute gem! Friendly, helpful, and patient as I spent way too long perusing the menu. Ambiance: It's very chill. Order at the counter, find a table to sit, admire the artwork as you enjoy your meal. SO good! And easy to do gluten free and dairy free! I'll be back!

Their signature pork arepas were very underwhelming to me....it was very bland, and kinda tough - I had to make sure it wasn't chicken that I was eating. It lacked flavor for sure. The beef arepa, on the other hand, was MUCH better. I'm surprised they came from the same restaurant. Would absolutely order another beef arepa, but never a pork one. Even with the lack of other Venezuelan options around it was still very disappointing.

Lived in UDist for 4 years and it was my first time trying it. The empanadas lived up to the hype but the arepa I ordered was just ok. It's inconspicuously tucked away but I've heard good things about this place and wanted to try it. The chicken empanadas were amazing!! They taste exactly like the ones I had in Spain; the texture is to die for, super crispy on the outside and super flavorful inside (they were fresh and piping hot too)! We also got #13 Best Bart; the meat was a little thick and had less flavor than I would have like for that type of cut. Would not get again. Love the ambiance inside, it was very homey and comfortable and the staff was very nice!

The food was greasy, like dripping/pooling greasy. Other than that I'd give the flavor a 5 of 10. The sauces they had were good, it took 20 minutes of my 30 minute lunch for me to get my food.

Pros: easy to find, good seating outside and inside, friendly staff, fun decor, food is filling and served piping hot. Also self-serve water and extra napkins accessible which are needed because it's messy eating! Cons: lots of cheese and cream, not a whole lot of flavor, disappointing for my first time trying arepas (I was told they cdd ask be super flavorful). Even the sauces are a little bland. Immediate food coma within an hour of eating as it's a bit heavy in the stomach.

One of my favorite comfort spots for a quick bite. Super friendly staff who stuff the arepas to the brim. Juicy flavors, love the side sauces, and so filling!

This place is fantastic! We got the Pabellon Arepa, beef empanadas, tequeños and a passionfruit lemonade. The place was packed when we got there which was a good sign. The wait was pretty long but worth it. They were definitely working hard. Loved everything that we got. The arepa flavor was on point, great blend between the beef, plantain, cheese, beans. The empanadas were a lot larger than I was expecting. The fry on it was excellent, great crisp and super tasty.

one of the best places to visit while you're on the ave! for the price ($9-$13) per arepa, it was very filling (but i do have a smaller appetite) and they give generous portions of meat. i would highly recommend grabbing some sauce for your food from the sauce bar in the back. my personal favorite was the cilantro mayo! pabellon arepa 4/5: since the plantain was thick it was difficult to eat but it had a good mix of beans, plantain, and meat. this tasted better if you added a good amount of sauce in it! queen beef 4.5/5: i liked this one more since everything balanced well together and worked well with the sauce. i would get this or the version with pork next time!

It is so hard to find good Latin food in Seattle. But this place is pretty good. I love arepas con todo! The prices are pretty good too. I think you get the most for your buck if you get the combos they have. It's a pretty small, hidden place, but cute. I definitely recommend. I do wish that was a bit more flavor. The empanadas were perfect though!

Always fresh, always tasty! Staff is helpful with accommodating special requests, love the gluten free and vegan options!

Grilled steak arepa was outstanding! I honestly got it because it was the only option on the menu that has grilled cheese. Hoping to come back to try their empanadas soon! Support this awesome small local business!

Every one in a while, I'll get cravings for South American or Caribbean flavors: something with black beans, plantains, and pork. And I have to say, Arepa Venezuelan kitchen hit the spot! During our visit we got the Queen Beef and the Pabellon. I really enjoyed the pabellon with the black beans, cheese, and the whole plantain slice in the middle! It was a bit messy to eat, but totally worth it. Because of pandemic, we've been more comfortable with outdoor dining, and there were a couple of small tables just outside the restaurant. A word to the wise: the restaurant is right next to the Grand Illusion Cinema! For me, the restaurant wasn't the easiest to spot, especially while driving down 50th. If you're walking around and see signs for (and the stairs leading up to) the Grand Illusion Cinema, you're on the right track. I'm looking forward to the next time I'm by UW, so I have an excuse to stop by Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen.

I got a combo, which was about $15 plus tax and tip. It was an arepa of choice (which is nice because they don't list prices since they are all slightly different prices ranging from about $8-$12, so just choose what you wish) plus plantains (which normally cost $8). The ambiance is adorable especially if you sit on the outdoor patio at this "house" of businesses. Service was lacking; the person seemed annoyed to serve us, but did so informatively anyway. Maybe they were just having a bad day. As for the food, it was good when you add enough of the red aioli to the sandwich, but was otherwise bland (meat is unseasoned) and the plantains were a bit overdone. Further, I don't really think the combo was worth it since I only got three bitesize pieces of plantain on the side -- and a can of soda didn't quite make up for it. (And if the full size side of plantains is only 6 pieces for $8, ouch, also not worth it.) COVID has changed a lot of pricing, and this place isn't going to break the bank. But a burger-sized sandwich with a small side of plantain plus soda for $15 with flavor provided mostly by a spicy mayo isn't worth it to me. That said, the crunch of the arepa was good and the quality of the ingredients was high -- fresh and leaner cuts of meat. Bottom line: You will be satisfied if you slather enough spicy mayo on the sandwich, and in reality this is still what is now considered a low-cost meal outside of fast food, so check it out... but don't expect it to deliver on the stars rating other Yelpers have granted it. I find it overrated.

This was our first time here and we will definitely be back. I had the steak salad. It was lean pieces of steak, a whole avocado cut in slices on top of spinach. It was so good. My son had a sandwich that he ate so quickly and thought was delicious.

I had no idea what an arepa was but this small spot just off the Ave (University Way) said Caribbean food on their sign and that was enough to get me in the door. I got the best bart arepa with a chicken empanada on the side. The arepa is very filling; it's way bigger than I thought it would be. The beef was a tad dry and slightly under-seasoned, although the cilantro sauce picked up the slack. I wish there were more of it. This specific arepa could also use some acidity to contrast the beef and pork but overall I recommend it. I'll definitely be back to try the other ones. I also think this is a tad overpriced at $10. Empanada shell was good but the filling was a bit lackluster. The filling to shell ratio could definitely be increased. Follow my Instagram @nikon.foodie :)

Some of the best arepas I've had outside of South America!! The flavor was amazing and these things are huge!! Also the chicken empanadas were amazing. If you're in the area, this needs to be on your list to try

I've always wanted to try arepas and glad I found this place because their arepas are really good. I tried Queen Beef ($11.75 as of Nov 2022) and it was very meaty! I also tried Special Steak Arepa ($14.75) and it was super yummy, especially the meat. The restaurant is very clean and the customer service is good. Overall, good first time experience.

First time in Seattle and walked four miles to try this kitchen, and it did not disappoint! Certainly recommend the Moqui Arepa with their cilantro and corn sauces.

Excellent and authentic Venezuelan food. The quality was like the food I grew up with in Caracas all those years ago. I ordered the pabellon plate. Pabellon Criollo is composed of rice, Shredded beef, black beans, sonetimes with an arepa or fried cheese. This time a fried egg was added for extra protein and flavor. Very tasty! There are also 17 variations on the arepa to try. Lots of Venezuelan drinks (including Venezuelan Beer) to try. Next time I am in town, I will check out their arepas. Newbies should try the tequeños (Venezuelan version of the cheese stick) if they want to get hooked on Venezuelan Cuisine.

Great food and service. Always a nice spot to drop by for a quick traditional Venezuelan bite to eat

These were exceptional as far as flavor. And if I rated these on messiness they'd get 5 stars too - but that makes them all the more yummy! The meat was tender. The service was great!

Was craving something different so we ordered pickup from Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen. We ordered the Reina Pepiada, the Best Bart and the Mini Arepas. It was a great dinner! I'd only had venezuelan food once before and I really liked the arepas. My favorite was the reina pepiada - also make sure you ask for extra cilantro sauce, trust me, you will want it! The best bart was a biiit greasy but delicious, just make sure you have enough napkins available!

They have a tiny little patio with 3 tables that are great for scarfing down their arepas while still hot during covid times ! (You order inside at the counter) I got the moqui (sp?) arepa, which was a corn patty stuffed with caramelized sweet plantains and white cheese. I ordered one and wasn't sure if it was going to be enough for a meal based on the pictures but each arepa is larger than you think! Especially when stuffed with meat or beans, it's a very filling meal. It also came with two creamy sauces, one cilantro based and one pepper based. Those came in handy for the last bits of the arepa after the filling was eaten. I also got some passion fruit juice which was very sweet but very refreshing on a warm spring day. An interesting place to try something new and delicious!

I'm so disappointed, the food was so tasteless and boring, a little salt would go a long way. Service was fine though very very slow. Won't be back

The Queen Beef Arepa was delicious but the meat was cold. The sauce was amazing and thy were generous when we asked for more! Tequenos are like a better version of fried mozzarella sticks and was the highlight of my meal tbh. I think this place was authentic since a lot of locals came in and everyone was speaking Spanish! Overall, really good and inspires me to try out more Venezuelan food in my area!

Very good place to get arepas! You'll be hard pressed to find them anywhere else around here and there's a variety of sauces at the sauce bar too! I got the Miss piggy which came with a plantain as well. There was adequate seating and the interior is decorated nicely. I'd definitely reccommend coming here!

Been coming here for 5 years regularly, excellent food excellent service most of the menu is naturally gluten free and delicious! I hope this place stays open forever because where else in Seattle can you get Venezuelan cuisine and comfy home vibes?