Arepera Guacuco
“These are the best empanadas and areperas I've ever had and the amazing coconut milkshake is really amazing.”
“It's similar to the Surena at Caracas Arepa (except that has chicken and sausage), or the Ropa Vieja Arepa at Cleveland's Barrocco.”
“There are a million things that make this place great, but I think I can sum it up in a few points:
-Paisa cheese like manna from heaven
-Multiple delicious sauces to get crazy with
-The cocada.”
Arepera Guacuco
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I came to NYC for work and offered to take my friends for arepas. "What are arepas?" they asked, and I explained that arepas are the South American answer to the pita, only with better fillings because as much as I love falafel, it's not exactly plantains and avocado. They were intrigued, so we walked on over.
The menu here is fairly traditional, but there are a lot of choices including a few vegetarian options. We started with appetizers; tajadas for me, arepitas for them. For arepas, I had a vegana picante, which was served as an uncut arepa, a knife, and a plate of the filling so I could fill my own, which I was originally a little nervous about but it worked beautifully and filling it in advance would have meant a soggy arepa so this was perfect. My friends had a pabellon and a pernil. We loved them. We also tried beverages – the cocada and the tres un uno were both amazing. One of my friends had the best flan of her life. So, I had a great meal, and my friends have discovered a new cuisine they love and a new restaurant in their neighborhood, and everyone wins!
Anything vegetarian is easily made vegan by asking for no cheese. Almost everything is gluten-free. I don't think there is soy on the menu. Staff are great with questions and service is good.
I needed a place to charge my phone and decided why not get a beer and an empanada. I normally never come this far out, but it's worth a trek to Bushwick for bars and events. I ordered a vegetarian empanada; which had coconut in it (so I had to get it no matter what). They have a surprisingly vast selection of beers, I was able to get an Imperial, which I haven't seen since I left Costa Rica. The prices were decent- $5 an empanada and $5 a beer. They hand make all their arepas and empanadas- I had a fun time watching the guys make them behind the bar. Authentic, affordable, and delicious! The empanada was pretty big too, not those small ones you get in a truck, and came with a green sauce. Mm my mouth is watering at the thought of coconut, plantain, and beans in a fried shell… I'll come back soon!
Somehow a few weeks ago I became obsessed with exploring the neighborhood, bars, and restaurants of Bushwick and subsequently stumbled upon Arepera Guacuco!!!!
We visited on a Saturday afternoon, no wait and we were seated immediately at the high top table in the back.
We took a look at the menu and well, when in Rome on a Saturday in NYC we ordered the pitcher of sangria….YUMMY!!!! It was sweet, flavorful, and strong but don't worry we finished it by the end of our visit!
We decided to order/split an appetizer of rice and beans ($4). They were really good and definitely enough for two people to split. Both are great with the green cilantro sauce in the table!!!
I ordered the Pernil arepa. It came with a very juicy pulled pork and cheddar cheese. The waitress suggested avocado on it but I declined to be slightly more health conscious with a pitcher of sangria.
My husband ordered the Pabellon which came with shredded beef, cheese, plantains, and black beans. The flavors melded well together. Both arepas went really well with the cilantro sauce.
Onto the arepa itself, which deserves its only section and review. I've had arepas before at a spot in Raleigh, NC and I thought those were good…these were AMAZING!!! They are light and crispy with a ton of flavor.
What we ordered was more than enough food for great prices. This place is sort of a hidden gem! Go!!!
Excellent arepas! Had the pabellon and it was a perfect marriage of savory beef, sweet plantains/maduros, salty cheese, and creamy black beans. Make sure to put some of their sauces, it's delicious!
Mmm! Never had an arepa before and I've been waiting to come here to try some.
A friend and I tried the vegana picante, mariscada, pernil (I think?) and pabellon. Half of which come alredy prepared and in half you fill your own. The arepas themselves were delicious though they come out very, very hot and were difficult for us to cut evenly when we needed to fill them ourselves. We agreed the pabellon was perhaps the best (the cheese and sweet plantain added so much to it).
The cocada was also quite tasty, though I think it would have been better if it was a bit thinner and creamier.
I stopped by here NYE with my BF for dinner. There was enough people and we had to wait a couple minutes for seats. But the staff there was very nice. We got our seats in 10-15 min and ordered. We started off with tostones as our appetizer. It was amazing!!! The green sauce mixed with the cheese on the plantains… I'm salivating thinking about it. You will not be disappointed.
For entree, I had the pabellon criollo. They had the similar thing in the arepa that we ordered. But it came with plantain, rice and beans on the side. Last, we ordered a pabella arepa.
For drink, I had the papelon con lemon which is molasses with lemon. It pretty much tasted like honey tea with lemon. I liked it although it had the bitter sour taste.
I will def be coming back since it's close to my house and work!!
Unique Venezuelan food in Bushwick with a diverse menu of arepas and empanadas, plus interesting fresh juice blends and Sangria. Small but affordable wine and beer list, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
I recommend the #12 (Vegetariana) which is a delicious corn arepa stuffed with plantains, avocado, and tomato. Ask for no cheese if you are vegan. Perfectly seasoned and filling without being too greasy or heavy. Their spicy verde sauce made it extra special. The "Tres e Uno" juice was a fresh and delicious compliment to my meal. I also enjoyed the sangria, which was flavorful and strong-not watered down whatsoever. My entire meal with drinks came to just $15. Service was friendly and fast.
Super delicious and very authentic. So glad I found this place. We live way on the other side of town and drive the 30 minutes to Bushwick to get our arepa fix. Fresh, good quality ingredients, casual atmosphere and always really tasty. Thumbs up!