Arepera Guacuco Offers Brooklyn’s Best Venezuelan

Bushwick is getting trendier everyday. With an influx of hipsters moving in and chefs setting up shop, this Brooklyn neighborhood off the L train is becoming a dining destination. Foodies already flock here for Roberta’s Pizza, when they can’t get it at food festivals like Madison Square Eats and don’t mind the two-hour wait for a table on a Saturday night to devour their Bee Sting, among other pies and plates.

But there's more than just great pizza out in Bushwick. It’s time for the amazing Venezuelan food at Arepera Guacuco to get some extra attention! I had my first Arepa back in 2008 at Caracas in the East Village with my lovely friend, and then roommate, Caitlin of Style Within Reach. I instantly fell in love with these lightly fried corn patties stuffed with an array of meats, cheeses and veggies. So when Rev of Burger Conquest (and owner of Idle Hands Bar, among other foodie entrepreneurial projects) suggested Arepera Guacuco to McKenzie of MMMGuide, she invited me for a lunch date asap! 

While Arepera Guacuco offers a large variety of Venezuelan dishes, like Empanadas and Pernil, we showed up to dig into their Arepas. We ordered four Arepas to share, but know that two would be enough for two ladies who lunch. And believe me, McKenzie and I are hungry gals, and the shared four had us super stuffed, wandering around Brooklyn to burn off some of the calories.

(Pernil and Pabellon)

We dug into a variety of flavors with The Pernil (juicy pork shoulder with cheddar cheese and spices), Pabellon (shredded beef, plantains, black beans and salty cheese), Jamon con Queso (grilled ham and white paisa cheese) and Vegana Picante (mushrooms, leeks, tomatoes, jalapeños and red and yellow peppers). Each Arepa was bursting with savory flavors (and clearly made with love). Make sure to try each Arepa with their three homemade dipping sauces at your table for an added kick.

(Vegana Picante)

Each arepa was seriously stuffed - they do not skimp on the ingredients here! The Arepa itself was heavy in weight to hold, but tasted like a doughy bun on the inside with a crisp outside layer from the light fry.

(Cocada)

If you’re going to indulge - and cheat on your diet with four of these babies - make sure to order a Cocada. This coconut milk milkshake features coconut, cinnamon and condensed milk, topped with a maraschino cherry for an extra sweet ending. We shared this shake, as our server politely split one shake into two glasses for us. This was a wonderful compliment to the savory Arepas.

Have you made Bushwick a priority on your dining list? Now is the time! Hop on the L for a fifteen minute ride from the East Village to Arepera Guacuco for lunch or dinner. With these made-to-order and stuffed-to-the-brim Arepas, you’ll get tons of bang for your buck for a satisfying foodie-approved Venezuelan meal.

Arepera Guacuco. 44 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn.