Rica Arepa Lakeview - Chicago

My favorite takeout spot in Lakeview! I always order the Rica Reina arepa and it never misses. I also recommend the sampler plate if you’ve never had Venezuelan food, it’s a fun intro!

Overall Thoughts: I was excited to try this spot as it had a lot of good reviews. Unfortunately, the pabellon arepa I ordered was a miss. I’m still keeping it at 4 stars because the vibes were good and I’d be open to coming back to try the diverse selection of other items on the menu. The restaurant interior is cute and had a good amount of seating inside. The service was also quick and friendly. The prices seemed a little high for the portion size, but reasonable overall.Food I tried: Pabellon Arepa (3.6/5): This is their most popular arepa, but it fell short for me. It was difficult to eat it as a handheld because the arepa was too brittle and crispy, so everything kept falling out. The meat was a little tough and I wish the cheese was more melted. Otherwise, the plantains were good and everything was flavorful. Cachapa (4.2/5): I also tried some bites of my the cachaca, which was pretty good. It was sweet, dense, and piled high with cheese.—Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5Food: 3.7/5Service: 4.8/5Overall Value: 4.2/5

A few coworkers and I went here for lunch this week. We all enjoyed our meals. I already want to go back. I had the Pabellón Arepa with a side of beans and rice which I could’ve made into a meal alone. The beans were cooked with spices and not plain like some other places. The arepa was packed with beef, beans, plantains, etc.

Ordering from this place it’s my guilty pleasure.Shoutout to Maria!!! Great customer service!!! She went above and beyond once with an issue on my delivery order.

The food was rich and flavorful, the service was excellent, and the timing was spot on.