Arepas Latin Cuisine - San Francisco

One word comes to mind - solid! Great food, service, setting and drinks. I had no expectations when we walked in, it was late for Sam Francisco to get some dinner. As we didn't want to go and go for an endless walk and refute every restaurant we came across we decided to give Arepas a try. I'm typically a bit hesitant to go for Latin as it can be a bit on the filling side, yet we either picked the right dishes or the kitchen in general serves light refreshing dishes. The portions are large so go easy with ordering, the flavours crisp and distinct. My favorite for sure was the Chicharron Ceviche. Not only is the presentation beautiful, the flavours are stunning. Well done I will be back.

I got the chicken arepa (forget the Spanish name), a chicken empanada (a la carte), the passionfruit juice, and the passionfruit cheesecake. Both chicken dishes were delicious. I especially liked the sauce, which was tangy and fatty and great. Both passionfruit things were also delicious (although I was sick of passionfruit by the end). The cheesecake was decadent; depending on your sweet tooth, could be too much dessert for one person. One thing I didn't like: the cheesecake had passionfruit seeds sprinkles on the top. They looked cool but they were unpleasant to chew. Took myself out to dinner and nobody minded that I was sitting alone and reading. Introvert approved!

I love the Cachapa con queso de mano, was my first time trying that plate is amazing. Loved the atmosphere, service and the food quality.

Delicious Mexican food and a fun vibe. Quality and quantity both were great.

Fresh and new, great food at very reasonable prices and great service. Will definitely go back. The arepas are varied and excellent. Save room for dessert, especially the Venezuelan flan. There’s also a cozy bar upstairs perfect for after work or a date. The wine is pretty good and also very reasonable. 👍

Have to admit, this place was in a mental blind spot for me until a friend recommended it. Turns out it's delightful! The place was totally empty on a Monday night, but the service was very friendly, the food was solid, the decor was lively, and the seating was comfortable. Looking forward to going back 😊

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Arepas San Francisco, and it was nothing short of fantastic. The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the flavorful sauce that accompanied the dishes, elevating each bite to a new level of deliciousness. The Arepitas Sliders were an absolute delight, perfectly crafted and bursting with flavor. Additionally, the Picada Colombiana Chopped was a revelation, superbly seasoned and expertly prepared, showcasing the chefs' attention to detail and commitment to quality. The meal was made even more memorable by the dessert – a superb Passion Fruit Cheesecake. This dessert was a perfect blend of tangy and sweet, with the passion fruit adding a unique, tropical twist to the classic cheesecake. Every element of my dining experience at Arepas San Francisco, from the appetizers to the dessert, was carefully curated and beautifully executed. This restaurant is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking unique and delicious dishes. I highly recommend it and am already looking forward to my next visit.

Walked in to pick up my order and was greeted by… no one. Waited 7-8 minutes because there was no host, no server, until I finally got my order. Arepa was small, meat was very dry, and they charge significantly more than the place a few blocks away. Cannot recommend unfortunately

This place is scrumptious, the service was perfect, and the interior was clean and pretty. I stopped by for a quick bite, literally, before an appointment. I ordered, ate, and paid within a half hour. I ordered tequeños and and an arepa cochinita. You'll never miss me skipping out on fried cheese or something with shredded pork. Their house sauces made the food even better too.

Food is bomb, live music, good aesthetic... it's the whole package. Big fan. The empanadas are probably the best I've had in the Mission. A bit small, but very tasty. Arepas were super! The side sauces were godly. The free table side tequila shots were a big bonus too. They were running some promotion with a tequila brand so I doubt that's regular.

I recently dined at Arepas and had a mostly enjoyable experience. The food was excellent, with a wide menu that had all of my favorite foods. I ordered the arepa sliders and my partner got the huge steak. Both were incredible with good flavor and portion size. I ordered a mojito and found out that there was a 2-for-1 drink deal when they brought out two drinks. It was a fantastic bonus and the drinks lit up! The servers were kind, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our meal. However, partway through dinner, the restaurant transitioned into a dance club. While some people might enjoy this lively atmosphere, we found it difficult to converse and fully enjoy our time due to the loud music. Overall, Arepas is a great spot for those looking for good food and a vibrant nightlife, but if you're looking for a quiet dinner, you might want to come earlier in the evening.

The food is pretty good. Service is terrible. The waitress has not social skills. I don't t know why she is working there or why she even has a job there. On top, I need to pay 18% for a bad attitude and bad service. Suggestion to management, get people that are sociable and want to work.

I recently went to the weekly comedy show at Arepas - what a great show. They hold it in the upstairs are on Tuesdays currently. I loved the arepas. I got the one with black beans, plantains, and beef. I've had it here before. Go for the fried one over the grilled one, in my opinion. Also try their shrimp my friend had looked great as well

I came here to try the empañadas because I've been on an empanada kick lately. I decided to take a break and come try this place. I walked in and was greeted quickly, nicely and seated. I ordered a Passionfruit Margarita (no salt), however I'm unsure if this is on their menu. I asked the server what drinks they had with passionfruit and that's what I got. The server let me chill for a moment before ordering food but also came back to check, perfect balance. It's hard to describe the feel of the place. I could come here for a business lunch or in jeans. They care about customer service here - a lost but low key necessary art. I will be back with friends!

We had the opportunity to visit Arepas Latin Cuisine in San Francisco at 3198 16th Street for a Saturday celebration of Venezuelan culture. While the music and atmosphere were enjoyable, the service was unfortunately the worst I have ever experienced. The staff appeared disorganized and inattentive, with only two servers attempting to manage what seemed like over 300 guests. It took a significant effort just to flag down a server to take our order, and then another 45 minutes to an hour to receive the food. When it came time to pay, we faced yet another challenge, as the server was hard to locate and dismissive throughout the experience, making us feel undervalued as customers. Typically, I avoid posting negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share this to prevent others from encountering a similar experience. The people and music were wonderful, but the service was unfortunately a minus 100. As a business owner myself, I understand the importance of creating a positive customer experience. I truly hope that management takes this feedback to heart and improves their staffing and service approach.

Came in on Cinco de Mayo & the waitresses were so nice! I got the passion fruit margarita, the arepa sliders & fries. All were delicious and leaving me wanting more! The music is upbeat but not overwhelming and the restaurant has a nice ambiance to sit and relax in. When I come back I'm going to try the Arepa Santa Barbara! Bring friends , grab a drink and enjoy the food!

As a homesick Venezuelan, I loved to discover excellent empanadas, tequeños and the pabellon is authentically delicious! All washed down with cereveza Polar tipped pilsen

outstanding service and amazing venezuelan food. we go every week! arepas and cachapas are go to orders, but don't skip the tequenos and empanadas!

The food surpassed my expectations! We tried a variety of sliders and one of the sandwich style arepas, and the meats were super flavorful. I'd honestly want an even higher ratio of salsa/lettuce to meat for more balance! My only qualm is that the portions are a bit small for the price, but the interior and vibes of the restaurant were really good!

The food is Amazing. great service and a full bar . You gotta try this ceviche chicharrón , unique.

Been here a few times and the staff were very friendly. Wasn't into the ceviche so much but I really liked the arepa paballon! The savory shredded beef with the sweetness of the plantains was something that really hooked me. One gripe I had was that they were cleaning the table next to us once while we were eating and the smell of whatever cleaning solution they were using was really strong, it made me want to stop eating and leave just to get away from the odor. This happens at a lot of restaurants and businesses should be more mindful of how that affects their customers' experience with the food. Again, the arepas were really good I thought and I would recommend if you're in the area.

Excellent service. Place looks spacious and clean. We were greeted and seated right away. Our food took a little long to come out but the wait was with it. Everything fresh and hot. Tasty arepas. I recommend. Apparently they have music on some nights. My cocktail was tasty as well.

I was visiting from Orange County and in the mood for Columbian food. The area outside is a bit sketchy, but inside was immaculate and clean. It was really busy too. The customer service was phenomenal. I ordered the Bondi paisa, and I'm a scale one to 10, I would give it a 7 1/2. I didn't care for the sausage, but everything else was on.

Yesterday I had an incredible experience at Arepas Restaurant in San Francisco! From the moment I walked in, the staff was super friendly and welcoming. The menu offered a variety of mouthwatering options, and I decided to try the arepas, tostones, and bandeja Paisa. Each dish was a flavor explosion - the arepas were perfectly cooked and filled with deliciousness, the tostones were crispy and delightful, and the bandeja Paisa was a hearty and satisfying meal. But the real star of the show was the coconut dessert. It's an absolute must-try! Creamy, coconutty, and just the right amount of sweetness. I'm recommending it to everyone I know. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, making it a perfect spot for a delightful meal. I can't wait to visit again and try more of their menu. If you're in San Francisco, don't miss out on this culinary gem!

¡Qué experiencia tan maravillosa en Arepas Cuisine! Desde el momento en que llegamos, nos sentimos bienvenidos y atendidos. El ambiente es cálido y acogedor, perfecto para disfrutar de una buena comida. Nuestro mesero, Carlos, fue excepcional. Su atención al detalle y su amabilidad hicieron que nuestra visita fuera aún más especial. Carlos nos recomendó probar la mezcal margarita y fue una excelente elección. La margarita estaba perfectamente equilibrada, con un sabor fresco y una presentación impecable. Sin duda, una de las mejores que hemos probado. Recomendamos Arepas Cuisine a todos

This is one of my favorite places for getting my arepa or cachapa, depending on what I'm craving. All their food is amazing and tasty. I've been going here for over a year now and I have not been disappointed once. Also, the service is pretty on point. All the staff is friendly and attentive. The decor is colorful and vibrant. Súper recommended

Ok so this place is the jam!!! What a sleeper, I miss a good arepa coming from NYC there are tons of place to grab one but in the Bay there are few and far between. So finally I found one and it did not disappoint. I tried as much as our bellies could handle and was only saddened by the fact that I couldn't eat more. Service was friendly, quick and attentive. Pabellon Arepa Cachapas Vegetarian Tostones Tres Leches

We came here on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't very busy but the service was very slow even with two people working the front of house. They took some time to get our order. Our server was friendly though but not attentive. She left dirty dishes on our small table and didn't ask if we wanted refills of drinks that were clearly empty. For a starter, we had their Ceviche. It was just pre boiled shrimp with lime juice vs actually being "cooked" in the juices like a true ceviche...such a disappointment. Then I had the Mini Arepas which came with one each of shredded beef, pork, and chicken. They were delicious and just the right size. The sauce was a little bland but my son liked it. Then we shared the Arroz De La Casa (salted rice, chicken, beef, shrimp and green onion, served with french fries). The fries were good. The rice was overly salted with smoked salt. That seemed to be the only seasoning. My husband had the breakfast special of scrambled eggs, shredded pork, and black beans served with an arepa. He said it was not special in any way. Their green hot sauce was also boring. It wasn't a great meal by any means.

I recently visited Arepas Latin Cuisine and had a mixed experience. The food was absolutely delicious. However, my takeout order took 40 minutes to be ready, and I had to wait standing in the middle of the restaurant. This was quite inconvenient and detracted from the overall experience. I hope they can improve their takeout service to match the quality of their food.

Service - 4/5 we came here an hour before closing and it was popping! The waiters were definitely busy but still got us to a table and helped us out. We had to catch their attention a few times but we were always greeted with a smile. (They did drop our credit card at the end but they luckily found it on the floor) Atmosphere- 5/5 not sure if we happened to stumble upon an eventful night but there was live music and dancing and everyone was having an incredible time. The decoration is cute and the place is clean. Food- 4/5 realllly good arepas with quality filling. They definitely need the sauce as the meat can be a little dry. Definitely get them fried - the crispy exterior is amazing. Not the best I've had but pretty good for SF. would definitely come back

Good place to try out venezuelan cuisine! We stopped by close to closing time and were greeted by a friendly server! We ordered small bites - vegetarian tostones and tres leches cake. The tostones were great, especially with the habanero sauce the server brought us. Tres leches cake was unfortunately a disappointment for us since we didn't expect it to have alcohol - it had a bitter aftertaste. They had a live DJ playing great foot tapping music and lots of people enjoying their meals. The vibe was great! I recommend checking it out!

Interior is amazing and great food! The vibe was chill and I wonder if they ever do any private events since I did see stairs leading to an upper level wine bar. It'd be great to reserve entire restaurant for a private event party. Service was welcoming and friendly. It is pretty pricey but worth it. The empanadas and arepas are to die for! The sauce is chef's kiss. I regret not having a nice beer to go along with the food.

Delicious spot for arepas. My kids ordered the Arepita sliders and the empanadas which they devoured. My husband ordered the Arepa de Queso. It was crunchy, simple but delicious delicious. The sauce was yummy . He had order a second one. The Mango juice was very fresh. Would definitely be back if we didn't live in L.A. The service was good and the ambiance was nice.

This place is so fun and vibrant when you enter. They have so many good options and so hard to choose stuff and decide. I wanted the arepas. These seem solid. I decided to get the cachapas. I got mine with chicken. This is made with sweet corn and then it is filled with chicken, topped with cheese and sour cream. Wow!! The chicken is so so flavorful! I also tried the taqueños which are filled with cheese. Amazing with the aioli. The coffee martini is nice and smooth and the shrimp tostadas are on top of plantains and include a tangy slaw. You got to come and try!

I really like this spot. I'll say I've only come during the weekday lunch hours so there's never a wait. The service can be slow at times. I think there's only 1 server during the week day but whenever I've gone there's only a handful of people and service feels slower than it should be. I usually have to get there attention to bring the check. I have only tried the arepas, I want to try more but I love the arepas so much I end up getting them again. I've been getting the arepas sampler. It's a perfect size for an individual small lunch. I plan on continuing to come back and try more on the menu.

So glad to finally have a great place for Arepas in the Mission! Arepas Latin Cuisine serves high quality arepas among other Latin dishes, such Venezuelan steak, Cachapas, Tostones, Empanadas, etc. On weekends, they have a $25 deal for Arepas Sliders and mimosas. Pretty solid deal if you'd like to sample their Arepas with a side of mimosas. Overall the Arepas are well made and the filling (beef, chicken, pork, or cheese) are quite delicious and savory. Service is wonderful and the space is clean and spacious. Definitely a great spot for a quick bite.

el lugar muy lindo pero a los empleados le falta más amabilidad y atención con los clientes porque nos toca esperar mucho para que nos antiendan cuando no hay nadie en el lugar. sirven la comida y la dejan en la barra no se si es para que el cliente la busque. más atención porfavor amo la comida de Venezuela pero con esa atención no vengo mas ni recomiendo el lugar tan creo q deberían de abrir a las 10 y no a las 11

tasty but pricey for a small portion! got the carne asada arepa and it was a lil dry but the sauce made it soo good. wish it was bigger- for $15 hope to be full

I had reserved a private room and prepaid for food. The food was good at first but the rest didn't arrive. They argued with me until I brought out the contract and clarified that a few main entrees were missing and folks were hungry. Several friends left before we finally got the main food orders. It was sooo disorganized and the kicker was when went to leave they demanded I pay for additional sangria. My friends already paid for this I learned afterwards. I hate leaving bad reviews but this service was horrible and put a damper on the special occasion. Don't go here for anything more than 2-3 people because it was chaos and I'm not sure if they weee sneaky or just didn't keep track of things.. either was it became $$$ for a bad experience....

Best arepas in San Francisco . Being Venezuelan I am pretty picky about finding the right Venezuelan food restaurant . I found it!!!! Also great service and fun music on the weekends. What else to ask for ? 5 stars plus !!

I'm going to go ahead and give them 5 stars, mainly because I'm sitting here and I really want to go back for lunch again today. I was able to try 4 different items, the arepas themselves were very tasty...preferred it fried over grilled, preferred the chicken and pork over the beef. Loved the pabellon and the beef on this dish was great. Service was attentive and nice. I'm looking forward to going back for dinner sometime on a night with live music.

Decent portions. Great Ambiance and very friendly staff. Me and my girlfriend came for a lunch date and it was nice!

Es muy buena la comida hace tiempo quería probar las arepas y están super ricas se merecen las 5 estrellas

I love this place my family try it ones it so delicious we love the arepas drinks as well we loved that place .

Terrible rude condescending service. Some people should not work in the food industry if they have so much dislike for people and cannot answer simple questions about menu items without so much hostile attitude. Food was ok yet a little bland. Hire more genuinely friendly people.

Cute place in the The Mission District. The music, and service was great. Food was good. The tostones were my favorite thing we ordered. The arepa was good and a big serving but I've had better.

Growing up in Miami, I was familiar with Arepas. Used to work to Wynwood and at least once a month for lunch would grab an arepa from a street cart. I was pleasantly surprised one Friday when walking to my girlfriend's that this had magically opened up on the corner of 16th and Guerrero. We didn't have dinner plans, this was nearby and brand new, and the menu was full of deep fried carbs, so what's not to love? We arrived and quickly got a seat by the stairs leading to the private bar, and spent some time on the menu. We knew we'd want a Sampler, but had to spend some time thinking about the actual arepas. We eventually ordered, along with a sangria. Sampler: Can't decide on which fried breads you want? Don't bother and order the sampler! We went with the 2 empanadas, 4 tequeños, and 2 mandocas. The empanadas were solid, hard to beat them. The tequeños were like Venezuelan mozzarella sticks, so if you like cheese wrapped it dough, get them. Finally you had the mandocas, which were our waitress' favorite. Basically a ring of cornmeal you dip in butter. What's not to love? Arepa Reina Pipeada and Arepa Cochinita - My gf and I read each other's minds because these were the two we both wanted to try. So we ordered one each and decided to cut them in half. Cutting them in half was a lofty goal as the deep fried cornmeal wasn't the easiest to cut, but we made do, with a lot of scooping of innards. The Reina Pipeada was delicious, especially on a warm summer day. The cold chicken, avocado, cheese, and veggies is more like a salad within the arepa. The Cochinita was delicious. I've been a fan of cochinita for years, especially if it is wrapped in banana leaf, and this was tender, juicy pork. Super flavorful. Sangria - It was a solid sangria. They offered us a pitcher, but considering the size of the glass you get, one is more than plenty. Just make sure you have a clean fork to scoop out the fruit. Flan - Of course we saved room for dessert. The flan was super rich, and basically between the fried apps, the sangria, and the flan, we were full. The only reason for the 4 stars is this was opening weekend, and our waitress - who was clearly new - was asked for waters at least 4 times and we never got them. Every time she came over we'd ask for water, she'd nod, and then we'd see her go to another table. We would gladly return. A lot more to try, and hard to beat deep fried goodies.

I went with a group of friends on Saturday to enjoy some Latin food and some live music, and I was utterly blown away by how much fun the whole experience was. First, the food was great! We ordered some arepas and a Colombian picada, and they were spectacular, full of flavor, and authentic. They serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and both were great. And then, the band that was playing, Senxao, was brilliant. They were so much fun that the whole restaurant danced and cheered at the spot. The service was excellent, and all the servers were friendly, talkative, and attentive. The consensus among my friends is that we want to go back! It is highly recommended!

¡Por fin! Un lugar venezolano de verdad en el Área de la Bahía, además la atención es excelente. Yo como venezolana puedo recomendar cada uno de los deliciosos platos que tienen, están hechos como debe ser. Es difícil escoger mi plato favorito porque todo es delicioso, pero empezar con tequeños y margaritas mientras deciden que pedir es buena rutina. Finally! A real Venezuelan place in the Bay Area, plus the service is excellent. As a Venezuelan I can recommend each of the delicious dishes they have, they are made as they should be. It's hard to pick my favorite dish because everything is delicious, but starting with tequeños and margaritas while you decide what to order is a good routine.

I had high hopes and was sadly disappointed. I should've checked yelp. The red flags were there- open but as if they were setting up for something else. No greeter. Peacocking servers. Vendors set up out in front of the restaurant. Loud music and video monitors. Wine bar, cafe, live music & djs. Took a while to get my order and even longer to get the food even though there were only two other tables at that time, and one other person at the bar. Even as hungry as I was the food just wasn't good. I mean when you're asked how's the food it's not the server's fault so why be honest? A brunch option that was basically a deconstructed arepa with a scrambled egg and pork. Hot sauce with that? Ok. Tabasco. Yup. Latin place bringing Tabasco. Oh, brutha. Likely a good place for drinks and live music.

Super delicious food. Really nice service staff. Restaurant is cozy but with a pinky up twist. Ordered the vegan arepa which was so bomb. The beans had great flavor which made me want to google recipes on how to make beans taste better. Got it fried vs grilled which was the recommendation from the waiter and it delivered! The first bite literally had me pause and say "wow, so good".

Nice open atmosphere. This staff was great. Very nice! what we had was delicious. But pricey! will go again to try something else.

Tried this for the first time awhile ago and was pretty tasty. Come hungry because the food is really heavy and filling! We got the sampler and 3 different arepas. The sampler was pretty good and favorite was the empanadas. The rest really was just fried and not super flavorful. The menu showed another item in the sampler that we didn't get. The 3 arepas were good and super filling. The arepas are thick and good amount of filling on top of that. We had 2 grilled and 1 fried. Honestly couldn't tell a difference. Nothing was too oily thankfully. The space is new and clean. Service was friendly but super slow and food was slow to come out too. We came on a week night when there was only a few other tables seated. Overall I'm happy to have checked this new place out but don't feel the need to return.

I went on Sunday in there was two servers in front took a long time to get helped and there was not many people and the service was very bad and did not like it at all and the food was good got a picada and it was very good small but with good taste and the arepa super tasty just the gusto Er service should really improve

Shhhhhhhh..... Don't tell anyone this place is bomb. I want to keep it real quiet that the food here is delicious and the service is great and the decor is refreshing. I want to keep getting a table when I walk in so don't say a word. Only comment is it is a little pricey in my unprofessional opinion but nothing that warrants removing a star from my review. I have tried a few things and they have all been good.

Loved the arepas & vibes at this new restaurant! It opened a few weeks ago and offers a wide variety of arepas, empanadas and more. Seems like the perfect place to grab a coffee in the morning, quick lunch, or dinner & drinks (it really does it all). Ordered the Vegetariana Arepas and got it deep fried. The outside was super crunchy and fluffy and fillings were well balanced. Knocked it down 1 star because I think the food was a bit pricy for the amount that you get. Definitely recommend this place - Great location (super close to Dolores Park), service was fast (seated immediately on a Sunday evening), and food quality is great.

I ordered the sample platter and a Reina Pepiada Arepa and they were delicious. They actually fried the arepas and other items for a more traditional taste. I'm actually from Venezuela and I can say this is very close to the real deal. This is my new favorite Venezuelan restaurant in San Francisco. I have to come again to try the other items and maybe not drive so I can have some drinks on their full bar. One thing that made my experience good is that the female bar tender taught me how to eat the empanadas. She told me to use a napkin to hold it instead of my fork. All I needed was a second napkin and I started to eat it with my hands. The atmosphere was very pleasant and perfect for big groups. I ate alone at the bar and it was also fun.