BienMeSabe Venezuelan Arepa Bar

A true Venezuelan gem in the heart of Chicago’s Loop! As a Venezuelan, finding a place like Bien Me Sabe right in the middle of Chicago’s financial district honestly blew my mind. Surrounded by office buildings and big companies, this spot brings a real taste of Venezuela to the Loop and people know it. I saw so many non-Venezuelans coming in for lunch, which says a lot about how good this place is. They serve arepas with huge, flavorful fillings, cachapas, and Venezuelan bowls that look and taste amazing. Everything was fresh, and the service was super fast and friendly. The empanaditas come in orders of three, same with the tequeños, and they’re perfectly stuffed, small enough to try different flavors, which I loved. They also have natural juices. I had a passion fruit one and it was delicious, perfectly sweet, super cold, and really refreshing. They even sell Frescolita, Malta, and all those drinks that make Venezuelans instantly nostalgic. There’s plenty of space to sit, and the location couldn’t be more convenient. Honestly, this place is a 10 out of 10. Whether you’re grabbing something quick or sitting down for lunch, it’s perfect. The portions are generous, the food is complete, protein, carbs, flavor, everything you need in one plate. It’s not the cheapest spot in town, but that’s just how Venezuelan food is, and trust me, it’s absolutely worth every dollar. If you’re in Chicago, especially around the Loop, and want something truly Venezuelan, Bien Me Sabe is the place to go. 🇻🇪🔥

If you’re visiting downtown Chicago and craving authentic Venezuelan food, Bien Me Sabe is a must visit spot. I stopped by recently and tried a few dishes that truly captured the flavors of home: the empanadas on the side were perfectly golden and crispy, filled with delicious, well seasoned ingredients that made each bite comforting and satisfying. I also ordered a cachapa, and it was outstanding, sweet corn pancake paired with fresh cheese, hearty enough to feel like a full meal yet light enough to leave you wanting more. To drink, I had two classics: papelón con limón (sugar cane lemonade) and passion fruit juice. Both were refreshing and balanced, papelón had that sweet-tangy kick that’s so typical of Venezuelan street drinks, while the passion fruit juice was tropical and bright, the kind of flavor that instantly transports you. Beyond the food, the restaurant itself is welcoming and conveniently located just steps away from the Art Institute of Chicago, making it a perfect stop before or after exploring the museum. The atmosphere is casual, cozy, and family friendly, and the staff were warm and attentive. Overall, I highly recommend Bien Me Sabe, not only for the authentic Venezuelan flavors, but also for the convenience and charm of its location. Whether you’re new to Venezuelan cuisine or already a fan, this place is a gem in the heart of Chicago.

Have you ever had an arepa? Me neither, until now. I had the number 3 (pork, cheese, guac). So yummy. Fresh. Flavorful. Sweet plantains hit the spot too. Service was great and prompt. I will return.

Stopped by for a quick lunch while visiting Chicago. It was a late lunch, so wasn't crowded at all. Walked right up and ordered the Pabellon Arepa and found a spot at the window seating. They brought it out within 5 minutes. Arepa was generously stuffed and was more than expected. Flavor of the beef, beans, plantains, and rice was very good. Simple ingredients, but tasted great. Good place for quick, casual meal that tasted great.

These are some very tasty and satisfying arepas. The fluffy and chewy corn flour pocket hold all the delicious filling in place. The shredded beef (pabellón) is juicy and fatty, like other pulled meats. But the combination of the saltiness of the meat with crumbled cheese, black beans and sweet plaintains is a huge treat. Wash it all down with the unique Venezulean lemonade (papelón) which uses whole cane sugar (panela) and tart limes. This lemonade has the brown color that looks like iced tea but has a different sweet and tart overtones. A must try!! The owner was super friendly and for a Noontime on a rainy Saturday, this place was packed. A small cafe but huge on flavors!! Will try more of their menu in the future.

It wasn't bad, but I still haven't discovered the authentic taste of Venezuelan food! It seemed like my empanadas and tequeños were reheated, and hearing the manager say that the Frescolita tastes like raspberry made my head spin like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

I had a catira arepa and mango juice and everything tasted very good. Friendly service on top of good food made for a great experience.

This was our first time here and we were pleasantly surprised. We came at around opening time, the food was hot, fresh and absolutely delicious. I had the shredded beef and cheese arepa, and the Chicha (similar to the Mexican horchata) my son ordered one of the shredded beef rice bowls and beef empanadas, this is our first time having Venezuelan food and we loved every bite, we will be back when we come into the city again, also the place was clean and the staff was extremely friendly...

Recommended by a colleague, so we took an adventure to visit this place. It is a cozy restaurant. Seatings are limited, but most people were picking up their order. I had the traditional patacone with chicken (you can pick the protein), and my colleague ordered an arepa. The portion was generous. I only finished half of my patacone. While it's a "sandwich", I would recommend using fork and knife. Definitely will come back to again.

Not a ton of seating, decent food...anything with their cheese was delicious Enjoyed the flan and passion fruit juice

One of the tastiest porks I've ever had on a bowl. I wanted to try something new for lunch and my coworkers highly suggested this spot. The grilled plantains are amazing. Very high up there with another place I love to go. A group of around 15 people was in the restaurant and I still got my food relatively fast! I was impressed and also happy they weren't too overwhelmed. They also have a lot of dishes inspired by the culture, which I thought was amazing. Quick meal for lunch, and you'll get your order quickly.

Overall Thoughts: This was a cute space in the Loop close to tourist highlights like the Bean, Art Institute, etc., with stools lined around a long center table and restaurant sides for indoor seating. However, the food felt overpriced for the small-ish size and mediocre taste. The veggie seta bowl I ordered was ~$16 and was just okay. The flavors were a lot milder than I would've hoped; everything tasted kind of watered down. Maybe their meat / cheese options are better since this was an entirely vegan bowl and maybe their non-bowl menu items are better too. However, based on the veggie seta bowl alone, I'd give the spot 3 stars, but will update later if I try anything else I like more from here! -- Price (relative to peers): 3.5/5 Food: 3.4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.8/5 Overall Value: 3.5/5

Went here for brunch. Food was alright - I'm not too big on fried foods so perhaps that's where it wasn't my favorite. We ordered the sampler plate of appetizers and it all felt like variations of fried mozzarella sticks. For vegetarians, there are usually more limited selections, so I went with the cheese / mushroom arepa. The flavors were good and I liked the arepa but they put a giant chunk of straight up mozzarella in my arepa, which wasn't really melted or flavored in any way, so i ended up having to take most of the cheese out just to be able to eat it. What I really liked was the price point - I found them to be pretty reasonable!!

Their Arepas slap. One is enough to fill you up because they really really pile on the meat, no complain here. Very flavorful and fresh. The Tequenos are a must as well!! Crispy outside and filled with stretchy cheese; the best. They got a wide variety of combinations you can choose from too. This would be a great quick lunch spot on weekdays.

I was excited to try Venezuelan food at Bienmesabe. I had heard a lot about their arepas and decided to give them a try. I tried the Caribbean arepa with sweet plantains and cheese. Honestly, not a fan of the sweet plantains and the arepas were a bit grainy too. I then tried the Domino arepa which tasted better as it was savory but the arepa corn bun was still a little grainy to me. I do love cornbreads, don't get me wrong so I expected arepas to kinda taste the same. The service is fast and ambience is nice and casual. Overall, a good restaurant to try if you do like Venezuelan food. For me personally though, the food was a miss.

Wow, this place was delicious! We stopped by here for lunch, and we were greeted by their friendly staff. I ordered their Pabellon Arepa, which seems to be their special, and I also ordered some Tequenos for a side. The Tequenos were so freaking good! They're fried cheese served with a cream dipping sauce, and it was rich and cheesy and delicious. The arepa was also amazing. They were stuffed to the brim, so I had trouble using my hands- but what a good problem to have. The beef was tender and seasoned well, and one arepa was more than enough for me. I would definitely come here again, but one important thing to note is that this location does not have many tables, so be wary with bigger parties.

Stopped in here on a whim, and had some of the best arepas and yucca fries I've ever tasted. Although the store is small, that doesn't keep it from making some truly fantastic food. The service is good as well; my only complaint is that the restaurant does not have a restroom. I will absolutely be back, and if you like arepas or yucca, you have to give Bienmesabe a try. You won't be disappointed!

It could be 4 stars but the service made me downgrade the review to 3 stars. I was happy to find this place while looking for some vegan options for dinner. This is not a vegan place but they have few items that are vegan. We had the Caribbean and Tropical Vegan arepas with added Guasacaca, plus a side of Fried Yucca. Tropical Vegan was good, tofu had a nice flavor, beans were delicious, Guasacaca is very similar to guac, just more tangy. Both arepas were served with a side of sauce that smelled like a mayo based so it wasn't vegan and I don't know what the flavor was. Arepas were huge, I have a healthy appetite and I ate it all but I definitely reached my limit. I wish they would serve it with a spicy sauce cause with tofu, beans and plantains the flavor was very heavy and it was lacking something fresh or spicy. Caribbean Arepa was smaller but filling too. Yucca went home with me as I couldn't finish it but it was very good. We went around 6:10pm and I'm not sure if the staff was already tired as they were almost at the closing hour but they acted slightly annoyed that we were there. Hence one star less.

We were in town on a visit and read about this lovely spot with what sounded like to die for arepas. And they were! All three of us had the Pabellon Arepa with shredded beef, plantains, black beans, and cheese. It was delicious! My husband also ordered the chicha (a rice-based milkshake that tasted a lot like a horchata) and loved it. And the service was so friendly. Highly recommend!

The food and service was great. Would recommend trying this out if you've never had Venezuelan food before.

I am a fairly picky eater. Blending that many flavors and textures did not sit well with me. The place is pretty cool when you walk in and the menu displays over top of people working. The arepa is just not my flavor / texture profile. I am sure those who love arepas will find it wonderful, but for me, I will pass. Food was hot. Service was fast. I tried the after party and the pabellon arepas. The pabellon had flavor, but the plantains threw off the texture and flavor for me. The after party was just a flavor issue with me all around.

Ordered the pabellon arepa for dinner takeout and it was veryy filling. Plenty of shredded beef, which paired well with the sweet plantain and cheese. Would gladly order arepas from here again.

Staff was very nice when taking my order. I went with the #5 Pabellon Arepa. It contained shredded beef, black beans, plantains topped with cheese. If you're familiar with sopas, it shares similarities. Delicious beef and the plantains created a nice contrast of flavor. One arepa was more than enough for me. Didn't finish the dish because the portion was pretty big. I ordered the tres leches dessert and was not disappointed. Similar to the arepa, the portion for dessert was huge. Definitely recommend for dessert (if you still have space after).

3.5/5 The first few bites were really good. The pulled pork was delicious, plantains were very interesting, and the beans and rice made it a very filling meal. However, since there were no vegetables to balance it out, it got way too heavy toward the end. Overall, it was still good though!

I never had an arepa before last week, but when I passed Bienmesabe I was curious. I live in Ravenswood and I've passed the restaurant in the neighborhood, but I don't eat out much so hadn't gotten there. I'm definitely a fan. I got the catira arepa, as well as the lemonade. It was so, so good. The flavor was outstanding. I love cheese and they put a ton of it on this. My coworker and her husband plan to visit here soon, because he grew up on them and wanted to test how good they are. I will definitely recommend Bienmesabe to folks visiting the Loop, and I'm hoping to bring my family here when they visit since I know they've never had one before.

Las arepas me dejaron súper feliz. Súper buena comida y servicio rápido. Y cantarías de carne que le hecha. Salí súper feliz y definitivamente volveré.

Loved the pabellon arepa which was sufficient to put 2 of us in a food coma. The beef was very tender and tasty topped with cool cheese and plantain. Had the yuca fries with guasacaca (I guess it's guacamole) and finally the tres leches were delicious.

Walked in and was happily greeted. I ordered I Papelon (Venezuelan lemonade) tasted like and Arnold Palmer with dark sugar so it looks like tea. I also ordered Bienmesabe cachapa w/shredded beef.... It was amazing sweet Venezuelan cornbread, cheese and meat... This would definitely be a pick if you're nervous to try new foods!!! Yummy New Eats.

It's like a make your own stuffed arepa. I took my meal to go and ate it in the millennium park. I ordered an arepa with mushrooms, cheese and gucasaca (basically like a very lemony guac). I think it was good but it was missing some spice. We were given a sour cream like sauce on the side but I would've much more preferred a spicy sauce that would originally go with a traditional arepa. My partner and my friend ordered a pulled pork one and they said it was super yummy (5/5). I think they enjoyed it more than me because their meat was seasoned unlike my mushrooms. I think it was a super fancy of eating an arepa but I think I would've a traditional arepa with cheese and sauce alone more :)

Bienmesabe is a small place in The Loop that serves Venezuelan cuisine. It seriously is cramped inside. So small there's not even enough interior to put in a bathroom, so go before you go if you know what I mean. Has quite a few authentic tasting items including arepas. There's good choices whether you want protein or whether it's something with beans and tofu. I came in recently for lunch and while it wasn't busy there's few seats anyway. It's a very tiny place and not at all good for groups so being by yourself is a very good thing when you dine in. They also have many customers who order takeout. Arepas are the main thing here. These are kind of like burritos but also kind of like pitas. I had a Tropical Vegan arepa. It's about $10 but it's pretty big. This is stuffed with black beans, plantains, and tofu. Good spice and lots of flavor. This is a pretty simple item but it was good for a fast lunch. Arepas are the best thing here and there's lots of these to choose from. In addition they also have bowls filled with rice and protein choices so if you would rather get the fillings without the bread these are an option. They also have arepa specials on Wednesdays.

Absolutely delicious. We ordered it delivered so didn't go in the restaurant. But this was some of the best food we've ever eaten.

This is the best restaurant in all of chicago. I leave chicago in a month after 5 years here and plan to fly back just to get their caribbean arepas once or twice a year. Small eating area at their downtown location so if you go at a busy time, might be best to get it to go and eat in millennium park.

Very good! I dont know how authentic it is but it tasted very good. We had the signature pabellon #5. It's pretty big and it's hard to not get messy when you eat, but so tasty! The service was fast, we only waited 2 min before getting our food.

Came for takeout and it was solid, but not nearly as spectacular as I remembered. Caribbean Arepa - 3.5/5. Heaping avocado, cheese, and plantains but overall the dishes doesn't fully come together. Cachapas (traditional) - 3.5/5. Corn and cheese do make for a reasonably nice combination.

My husband and have been craving arepas since we moved to Chicago and after reading the great reviews we stopped by the loop location. The staff was super friendly and answered all our questions about their favorites and most popular arepas. They were huuuge like bigger than I've ever had. The cheese and flavor delicious. My husband swallowed his I couldn't finished mine but will later today. Not pictured the delicious tequeños. We swallowed them as soon as they came out so much cheese. We'll definitely be coming back for more especially on Wednesdays for their $9.99 specials- riquísimo todo!

Authentic Venezuelan fare with arepas, pabellon and tequeñas. Everything was tasty. The arepas were comprehensively stuffed. Bare bones ambience, but how much does that matter when the food is so good.

Excellent service! I'm genuinely surprised this place isn't busier than it is. The food is delicious, portions are plentiful, and flavor incredible. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area. Perfect stop after the art institute!

Woohoo! A delicious authentic meal. Easy to get to (just off the red line) and quick service. Got a pabellón arepa and my buddy got a pabellón bowl. My buddy couldn't tell the difference between this and his grandma's homemade version. Great!

No voy a comer aquí Nunca más, Acabo de ordenar For pick Up and They JUST gave me the wrong ORDER. plus the lady had a really bad actitud at the cashier She didn't deserve my tips and she should be eating Healthier maybe that's why she's that way STOP EATING BAD FRIED FOOD. Raw food come on

Delicious arepas served with impeccably fresh toppings await you here at Bienmesabe! We have never had Venezuelan food For, so when we were wandering art institute taking it we might be having to either Chicago style hot dogs for lunch, but when we saw this place 200 feet down Adams Street, it was easy to make the call: Venezuelan is is!! (No offense to Chicago style hot dog from an established hot dog kiosk, but we have had several already on this trip and wanted to try something new!) An arepa is a crispy on the outside tender on the inside corn flour pancake stuffed with delicious filings like stewed meat, plantains, cheese, black beans, or guacamole. I had the #3 arepa, filled with roasted pork, guacamole and cheese. It was a delicious combination and now I'm wondering if I can find a recipe for Venezuelan pork to make at home. 5 Venezuelan comfort food stars

Love that they have two locations spaced out across Chicago (Ravenswood and The loop). For me, the loop location is more of a grab and go as there isn't much space to sit, I also don't believe they have a bathroom for customers. The one in Ravenswood is very nice, I took my family there on Mother's Day a couple years ago and we all enjoyed everything we had. I get one of their vegan arepas when I go. The tropical vegan sounds good (tofu, black beans and plantains) but I usually customize that by subbing my tofu for avocado. Love that Bienmesabe shares Venezuelan food for us in Chicago!

Great food on the go! I was walking around the area and wanted a quick snack. I saw this place on my way back to my hotel so I decided to stop over. I got the arepa and some empanadas. The arepa was very flavorful and full of delicious meat. The empanadas were snack size but perfectly flavored. They are worth the visit.

It was wonderful to have some options downtown - they had 3 different vegetarian choices. Mine was really filling - with mushrooms - and flavorful.

My parents and I had a great quick lunch here! We arrived on one of those freezing February Chicago days, and the staff greeted us with samples of their tomato soup (may have been the soup of the day). They checked our vaccine cards immediately. Our food was really tasty! I had one of the veggie arepas with plantains and black beans, which was amazing. My parents had the chicken arepa and really enjoyed the flavor. The shop is pretty small with semi-limited seating. There is one big shared table and then 2-3 high stools by the front window. All in all it was an inexpensive, quick, and delicious lunch! We are excited to return.

I was looking for a new lunch spot to try a couple weeks ago and stumbled across this place on help. Having never had Venezuelan cuisine before I was intrigued. They have two locations- one in Ravenswood and one in the Loop. Ravenswood is more of a sit-down classic restaurant experience, while the Loop location is an order-to-go lunch spot. Admittedly intimidated by the arepa photos I saw on Yelp I ended up ordering the Pabellon Bowl. It had really good flavor! Loved the way the meat was prepared and really enjoyed the sweet plantains on the side. Wasn't so much a fan of their side sauce, which I also read in their reviews. Was a bit too spicy for me when the bowl was more savory/sweet. They have a great Arepa deal on Wednesdays (4pm-10pm) where if you dine-in they are only $7.99. Definitely going to have to check that out.

So good and authentic. Huge portions fantastic chicken pork and beef......arepas , sweet plantains. DELICIOSO!!!!!!

I don't remember if I ordered a premade arepa or a custom, but I can say that it and the tostones were REALLY REALLY GOOD. The protein is juicy, the bread is a superb base, and the cheese and sauces on top of all of that make my taste buds dance joropo. The staff were great and the vibes are chill. Come here for a delicious and quick bite that will not disappoint.

Cute little arepa restaurant a quick walk from Millenium Park. They have quick, friendly, and efficient service. It was my first time eating an arepa and it was fantastic! I loved the crisp corn flour bread with the subtle gouda cheese as well as the meat filling. It came out hot and delicious with a tangy mayo based sauce on the side that paired well. Would come here again!

Stellar food! Quick service. Kind staff. The empanaditas are worth the trip. They are wonderfully generous with the cheese!

Great food, great service. Simple menu, but it was perfect for a quick early dinner before heading to a soccer match.

The service was amazing the staff really nice sharing Venezuelan vibe with Chicago community and the food so good typical and authentic cuisine Hope to come back

The staff is so welcoming and always smiling! Quick service, but fresh food ALWAYS. Super huge portions too, took some home to eat later. Good luck with business guys, you deserve it!

The restaurant is good for smaller groups, kind of cramped. The food here is delicious and all of the waitstaff are super friendly.

This small Venezuelan spot is like a little slice of heaven in my neighborhood! I had been wanting to try Venezuelan cuisine for some time and decided to go into Bienmesabe and explore. I tried the After Party Arepa (with caribbean cheese instead of gouda) and a Pabellón Cachapa, which I both highly recommend! First off, their meats are to die for! Secondly, please try their guasacaca (a Venezuelan guacamole) with any of the items you get. To share some thoughts: The arepa reminds me of the traditional tortilla made in Central America - a savory, maize-based round flatbread - and I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a soft intro in the cuisine. For anyone who likes tropical cuisine or sweeter corn dough, check out their cachapa. It's a sweeter "flatbread" that reminded me of corn tamales from Mexico or Central America. And last but not least, their team is really kind! They were really helpful in offering recommendations and later dropping off a dessert sample at our table.

Finally came here last Wednesday and really enjoyed it! They had some kind of happy hour deal going on, which I think is Wednesdays only, so some of the arepas were a few bucks cheaper than usual. I tried the tropical arepa (~$10) and the chicha drink (~$5) and both were really good! The arepas are weighty and very filling. Eating 1-1.5 would be a decent meal. The green garlicky sauce they come with is very tasty, and the chicken in the arepa would've been a little dry without it. Since my arepa was generously filled and had liquid that seeped to the bottom, I found it quite messy to eat and IMMEDIATELY dripped something on my pants. Pls be more careful than me and expect some mess. The chicha drink was basically like a thicker, grainier horchata and not overly sweet, which was perfect. I also liked that it's rice-based. This is a very casual place so water, utensils etc are self-serve. Seating is also somewhat limited. The staff were very friendly and I'll definitely be back to try more of their tasty items!

We decided grab lunch #1 here because we heard a lot of good reviews about this place. Our group of 3 decided to grab 2 arepas, the after party one and the most popular one (I forgot the name). Both arepas looked a little small when it came out but it was heavy in weight. The fillings were generous as they stuffed everything they can into a tiny bread. I like the subtle crisp of the bread and that it was able to hold so much stuff inside. However, I wish they mixed around the fillings because you're basically eating individual components how they set it up. The first layer is all cheese, and then you get to the meat and then the other fillings that was at the bottom so you don't get to experience how they all work together I feel like price is on the higher end for these as well.

Good example of Venezuelan food. Good service and very nice staff. The place is not impressive, but very clean.