Caracas Arepas Bar

IF you want to talk about a whole in the wall, a GREAT whole in the wall, then you should definitely check out the Caracas Arepas Bar in the East Village. For those of you who are unaware what an Arepa is, it's origin in in Venezuela, although they have variations in other South American countries such as Columbia.

The arepa is a flat cornmeal patty which is grilled, baked, or fried. They may be stuffed with cheese, vegetables, or any other desired stuffing. It is believed that arepa is a word from the dialect of the Caracas Indians (north coast of Venezuela) that translates into maize (corn).

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela as well, is also a very very crowded place. This is due to the size of the restaurant which sits about 10 people. On average, you will find about 20 people waiting outside. Some people even order an Arepa at the counter and then eat it on the sidewalk outside. Either way, there is no wrong way to enjoy one. As a side note, Caracas also has empanadas which as basically variations on the arepa.

You should order 2-3 arepas, not only because they are fairly small, but because then you can sample some of the varieties. Here are some I suggest:

La Paisa paisa cheese (mild but tasty white cheese)
La Pelua shredded beef with cheddar cheese
Reina Pepiada chunky chicken and avocado mix salad
De Pollo grilled chicken breast with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese
La Jardinera grilled eggplants, sundried tomatoes (antipasto style), caramelized onions and guayanés
La De Pernil roasted pork shoulder with tomato slices and a spicy mango sauce

Definitely not a date place but a good place to grab a quick bite or a quick meal for a very ethnic and flavorful experience.

Stay hungry my friends.