Arepa Zone

Man what a disappointment!!! What is going on DC?! The arepa (at a place called Arepazone!!!) was too hard to eat. I guess I went after lunch time so maybe it had been sitting for a really long time or something? I LOVE AREPAS! I was so excited! It was super tough and hard. Not warm. My cheese wasn’t melted. The beef was good, really good, so I sat down with a fork and ate the inside… But I went to arepa zone to get a dang arepa! Not a pile of shredded beef. :(

Really, really, really good. Split the #13 with a friend and I could’ve for sure eaten the whole thing. So tasty, crispy outside, amazing meat. Added the avocado crema sauce to it to sweeten the deal. Didn’t think I would like the plantains on it but WOW… really yummy.

First time trying an arepa and it was amazing! Crispy outside, stuffed full with beef & toppings. We had a #13 and it was delicious — will definitely be back!

This place was a pleasant surprise and is worth the stop. Excellent flavored and reasonably priced for the area. Definitely stop by and try.

Great food! It is legit Venezuelan food. We had the pelua which is the arepa with shredded beef and cheddar cheese. We also had a cache pa called presidencial which had queso de Mano and shredded beef. The shredded beef was tasty and not overly oily. Lastly, we had tequeños. They were Delish and come with a tasty sauce. Love the food truck!

I love Arepa Zone! The food is amazing and the service is fast and friendly. I am so glad they have their location at Union Market, otherwise my only chance to eat them would be at festivals. My husband and I will drive an hour just for Cachapas, and Tequenos. I would be so happy if they had late night food truck hours near me.

Voted best food truck of 2014 and I can see why.
I always get curious when something is «the best» so I’m usually a hard critic. Wow, I was in a complete lost for words when I bit into their Arepa. It’s like a taco, but with crispy dough, stuffed with loads of meat! I read a review saying the outside of their Arepa was soggy, but mine was absolutely crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I wasn’t sure which to order so I asked the owner who recommended me the best one. Very humble guy running the truck and the rest of the staff were all smiles too. The green sauce they included had a citrus spice with a slight creaminess. It was so addicting that I dumped it all over and even got some running down my hand. Real ingredients from real people and damn real tasty.
This was my first crack at authentic Venezuelan cuisine and I can honestly say that I’m definitely in the zone!

This is a great food truck! I tried their Pabellan which had a lot going on and was delicious. Im going straight here at the next Truckeroo.

Overall the food was pretty awful. I had the chicken salad with cheese arepa. The chicken salad was whatever, but the arepa was nasty. Very dense, and dry on the outside, and it had such a smokey taste it wasn’t good.
I also ordered the vegan one with beans, avocado and plantains. They just filled it up with beans and threw a piece of avocado and a piece of plantain on top.
A hungry person could probably eat 2 of these. They’re like $ 7 – 8 each, so a $ 16 lunch is pretty pricey, especially when they’re gross.

SOOOOOO YUMMY!
I had the chance to try Arepa Zone at the «Taste On Wheels» event and I kid you not; I ran to this truck first when I arrived!
I ordered the Pabellon Arepa (sorry if I butchered the spelling) but WOWWWW! I’m not exactly sure what an arepa is… It’s some other worldly hybrid of a taco tortilla and a papusa filled with delicious meats/​cheese… Obviously I’m culturally illiterate, apologies.
This specific arepa was filled with shredded beef, sweet plantains, beans and cheese. Like how could that not be tasty? The beef was super tender and super flavorful, the plantains added just the right kiss of sweetness and the cheese married it all together. Too bad I only had one.
I’ll deff make a trip just to visit this awesome truck again, highly recommend!

This was a tasting size portion (½ arepa) at taste on wheels. I had the ½ arepa filled with Venezuelan scramble eggs. It was ok. Nothing I have to complain about, but nothing to also have me seek them out in the future. I will say though I, loved the cilantro– style mayo sauce served with the arepa– that was insanely delicious! My Personal preferences are probably somewhat shading this review as I really don’t enjoy Mexican/​South American cuisine, but since I felt A-​OK about the arepa I had, I would recommend this truck to anyone seeking that type of food. Three are so many options according to their menu– many vegetarian too — that would make this seem like a great place to satisfy that craving foe south of the border food.

I loved my arepa today. Ground beef, shredded queso, sweet plantains and black beans — delicious! Loved the sauce they give you for the arepas as well — needed more! Potato salad on the side was yummy as well.

I know this place is known for their Arepas but try the Cachapas! Best i’ve ever had. They’re crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. The salty cheese contrast the sweet corn cake perfectly and the shredded beef gives it a kick of spicy flavor. I highly recommended. I usually never get cachapas because no one can ever make them like my grandma’s but these are way better! (sorry grandma)

I went with a couple of friends to introduce them to Venezuelan food, they loved it.
We had an order of tequeños with garlic sauce (crispy and the cheese properly melted), a classic arepa (Queso de Mano), a Canosa (Shredded beef+Shredded queso fresco), a Sifrina (Chicken Salad+Avocado+Shredded Cheddar Cheese) and a Pelua (Shredded Beef+Shredded Yellow Cheese) and they were all delicious, the arepa was cooked to perfection, soft and buttery in the inside and golden brown on the outside.
I’ll definitely come back and my friends will certainly come with me.

Ordered my food at the union market arepa zone at 12:03 it’s now 12:25 and I’m still waiting. Don’t like giving bad reviews but that pretty much sticks as far as customer service goes. Maybe the food truck is better. Can’t rate the food still don’t have it. All I ordered was a number 17.

The arepas where delicious very flavorful Great variety… The staff where we’re very polite and extremely helpful. will definitely be going often.

As a market regular, I love seeing new additions to the food scene and ArepaZone does not disappoint. The arepas are always made fresh and served hot. I have had the chicken and cheese arepa a number of times and have really enjoyed it. The sauce they serve with it is also great– fresh and a little spicy.

I went into Union Market this morning looking for breakfast. I decided to get something from Arepa Zone and they did not disappoint. I ordered the Jamon y queso arepa and it hit the spot! The cheese was delicious and the arepa was fresh and warm. This was the ultimate comfort breakfast for me without the gluttonous feeling. One Arepa was enough to hold me down until lunch. I regret not trying their other menu items but I will soon be back.

Excellent authentic Venezuelan food in DC! It’s a must if you’re at Union Market. You won’t regret giving it a try.
My favorite dishes are tequeños, cachitos, and the holiday ubiquitous pan de jamon. Highly recommended!

Huge disappointment. After having been to some of the best Venezuelan restaurants in NYC and Miami, this was a big let down after specifically hearing about ArepaZone during frequent DC trip. We waited 30 minutes to PLACE an order and an hour before we were served our lukewarm and severely flavor-​lacking food. The arepas were chewy and cold. The Cachapa was cold (although the cheese was good.) The tequenos were good but that was about it. I understand there was only one person working at the time but this was just unacceptable to run a business in this manner.

I got an arepa with beans and cheese and plantains. It was really delicious. The meat one my friend got was good too. My only qualm is the wait– be prepared to wait ten minutes. One arepa was enough, but I wished they had some savory sides other than the fried cheese bread.

I had the «clasica» (cheese) cachapa and a canned soda, $ 11. The food was just sort of… lukewarm, despite quite a bit of time on the griddle being heated up. I felt like there needed to be some acid added, so I topped the whole thing with hot sauce, which helped balance the flavor, but overall, it was just not worth the money, and needed to be warmer.
I also tried the maduros with cheese, which were not evenly heated and just… eh.
I’ve had arepas from the truck before (I think I usually go for the Domino) and that seems like a much more reasonable meal — and better quality/​flavor balance.

So overpriced! I thought the food was fine but not worth $ 16+. I got a cachapa (like a thick corn patty) with cheese (so much cheese!) and shredded chicken, plaintains (with more cheese) and a can of san pellegrino.
The cachapa tasted reasonably good, but I think it’s hard to go wrong with corn + cheese + chicken. It wasn’t super remarkable– the chicken didn’t taste like a lot– but it was pretty filling. The plaintains were a very small portion and slightly warmed, but since they were covered with cold cheese that the employees attempted to heat up (but failed) they got cold pretty fast.
I definitely wouldn’t go back.

My co-​worker told me about this Venezuelan food truck a few months ago but they seem to be mostly in NOVA. It was just by happenstance that I checked the food truck fiesta website yesterday and saw that they were going to be in Dupont Circle. I brought my lunch but since they were around, I decided to check them out anyway. I went a little after 1:00 p.m. and while there was a line, it wasn’t super long. The young lady taking orders was very friendly. I told her that I wanted the taquitos and she asked if I wanted anything else – she just knew I wanted something else… lol. I told her that this is my first time coming to this food truck and she asked what type of protein but I wasn’t really in the mood for meat or chicken. I asked about the cachapa (la clasica) and she highly recommended it saying that it’s deep fried (with a big smile on her face). My meal came up to almost $ 16 bucks which is more than I’d like to spend on lunch but the food was really good. When they say you get a corn kernel in every bite, they are not lying. The cachapa is deep fried but not hard. I was able to cut through it with my knife with no problem. The cheese was just delicious. It’s the perfect cheese to go with the corn pancake. It’s dense but very mild in flavor. I ate that with my lunch I brought in from home and I had no room in my belly for the taquitos. I decided to have that for lunch today – they make great leftovers if you reheat them in a toaster oven. I had mine with some homemade tomato soup (I didn’t bother using the green dipping sauce). This food truck has good food and good service; I’ll try one of the arepas the next time they are in my work hood.

I have never had an arepa prior to Arepa Zone, but if I had to describe it in plain terms — it reminds me of a South American take on a cheeseburger minus the excess toppings. Replace the buns with corn patties, fill with your protein and cheese of choice, and voila!
Having no prior knowledge of this type of cuisine made ordering a little difficult. Based on the pictures alone, I decided to go for #12 — the «Canosa» filled with ground beef and queso fresco (white cheese). Unfortunately they were out of white cheese so I had to settle for cheddar.
At first glance I was a little put off by how small the thing was, especially for $ 8 +tax. But I quickly realized that it was stuffed to the brim with perfectly seasoned, tender shredded beef and topped generously with cheddar cheese. It does get a little messy to eat. The green chili sauce that comes with it is so delicious, but that one tiny little cup was definitely not close to enough. It also came with a small cup of watermelon which was refreshing after finishing off my arepa.
The service of the food truck is quick and friendly, plus they offer a variety of specialty desserts, drinks, and snacks. Would definitely eat here again once it’s back in the area!

After trying them in Colombia, in all different sizes, fillings, for breakfast, lunch, snack, etc., I fell for the arepa and was excited to try the Arepa Zone truck.
There are a lot of things to like about the Arepa Zone truck. The service is efficient, the packaging of the food is well-​done, and the branding makes me want to love Arepa Zone. These perks came at a cost, as I just didn’t feel like the ultimate product – the arepa – stood up to that branding.
I ordered the bean and cheese arepa. The cheese wasn’t melted. The beans were heavily salted with no real spice. The patties were ok, but a bit crumbly (I’ll put a caveat here that this may just be a normal variation, but not my personal preference). While I didn’t dislike the green sauce, and it did brighten up the arepa, I actually thought some heat would have been preferable.
Would I go back? Sure. But comparing apples to apples, I would venture to the Corn Factory truck in a heartbeat over Arepa Zone if they were in the same area. My arepa from the Corn Factory did not suffer from the deficiencies noted above, and as an added bonus, I was able to add plantains and enjoy two different salsas with my arepa.

I’d actually been stalking this truck for months, but whenever I would remember to check my food truck app,
Either
— It was too late
— it was too far
Luckily the stars aligned, and I was able to hit this spot.
These are Venezuelan arepas, not Colombian arepas. I came into the game loving Colombian style arepas, but I quickly realized that the Venezuelan joints are top notch as well.
Went with the Cachapa con Queso (I was looking for an Arepa con Chocle though).
It was really good. Sweetness of the cachapa and the sweetness of the queso came together perfectly. It did set me back about 8 bucks. But I got a cachapa the size of a small red snapper.
Recommend.

Here comes a Colombian to rain on this parade. In all seriousness, I’m a huge fan of Venezuelan style stuffed arepas. As a Colombian I also make these on a regular basis so I may be an arepa snob. I also grew up in Miami and while I’m excited Northern Virginia is getting some arepa-​loving, we still have a long ways to go.
I got the arepa with the white cheese and the tequenos. The tequenos were pretty fabulous which is making this a 3 star rating. That little green sauce on the side, give me a bucket of that and let me dunk all my foods in it.
Now for the arepa… oh the arepa. The whole reason why I’m a Colombian who appreciates Venezuelan style arepas is because while Colombians top their arepas, Venezuelans stuff their arepas. I want to eat the arepa like a sandwich. Your arepa should be soft but firm. My arepa was pale (where the hell is the char?) and when I tried to pick it up (all it had was cheese… just cheese… lots of cheese but seriously just cheese) that joint fell apart. Luckily, as a Colombian am I versed on eating arepas with stuff on top, but… I was disappointed to say the least. The masa wasn’t that great either and can I get a better cheese here?
My friends have raved about these arepas but as an arepa connoisseur, it just didn’t live up to the hype.
Honestly though, if I’m hungry and there are bunch of food trucks I’m going hit up those tequenos.
But 6 dollars for an arepa… and it’s not that great? What in the hell? Leave it to a South American to get away with charging 6 dollars for an arepa when a Pupusa (which is kind of the Central American cousin to the arepa) goes for 2 something, tops.

4.5 stars
Luckily got to stop here on a weekday, so this place had no line. Quick service, good food.
The pulled chicken arepa– it was alright. I should’ve gotten the one with cheese, it was a little dry. The dough was soft, but crispy on the outside. Good flavor and not greasy though.
The chicken cachapa. OMG. GET THIS. The thick corn pocket was amazing. Juicy, flavorful, with chunks of corn. it fell apart a bit when eating, but it’s possibly the best thick corn flour creation I’ve ever had. Seriously, it’s Arepa Zone… but get the cachapa.
Flan was awesome. Very thick, smooth, creamy texture, and a light (almost watery) syrup.
Overall, Union Market has done it again. So many good choices to eat… The arepa without cheese needs work, but I’ll be back here for sure.

Now if you are an ignoramus like myself and have never tried Arepas, the heavens are calling out to you. Arepa Zone finally has a stand at Union Market (aka Yuppieville). Arepas are basically corn patty sandwiches with a variety of meat and toppings inside. Their amazing green sauce they give you on the side definitely brings this baby home.
You must get the number 13 Arepa with the sweet plantains — I didn’t realize how much of a game changer it would be.
But $ 9+ for that tiny little sandwich?!? And only one little packet of the green sauce? Definitely don’t expect to leave full after one sandwich. And definitely expect a 20+ minute wait. This place gets crowded.

The Arepa Zone is a food truck that recently opened its own stall in the Union Market. A brand new addition (they have been opened since Saturday), the menu offers a variety of arepas, cachapas, and tequenos. I was able to try their #13 Pabellon arepa, which was a grilled corn patty pocket, filled with shredded beef, shredded queso fresco, sweet plantains, and black beans — the shredded beef was tender and had a nice little sweetness to it; the black beans were cooked thoroughly and it was overall an enjoyable bite. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive in trying arepas out, as I didn’t have such a great initial experience a while back. However, I’m really glad that I gave this place a shot as it was pretty tasty! I also tried their La Clasica cachapa, a sweet corn pancake filled with queso de mano cheese; I didn’t expect this item to be so sweet, but it kind of reminded me of a Venezuelan version of an elote; definitely more of a dessert than a savory. I couldn’t walk away without trying their tequenos, which are gourmet cheese sticks — thick of it as an ungreasy version of mozzarella sticks, that comes with a side of their AZ garlic-​cilantro sauce; I opted out of these, but apparently, the ‘original’ way to eat them is to dip them in ketchup (much more of my style!) :P The staff here were all super friendly, especially Ms. Gabriela, who told me about their food truck history, their tried and true recipes, and the love that goes into their items. I’m glad I was able to check them out as this is definitely a place worth stopping by when you’re at Union Market: D I can’t wait to try their other versions of arepas: D
+arepas :D
+tequenos (with ketchup) :D
+ask for Ms. Gabriela: D
+located diagonally from Co Co Sala, off of Righteous Cheese

Arepazone is a delicious, fabulous food truck and I crave their food DAILY!!! I am Venezuelan, so naturally when I found out about this food truck’s existence I had to try it immediately. My fav arepa choice is always with just cheese inside, and the best cheese for an arepa, in my opinion, is queso de mano, a soft, unassuming Venezuelan cheese. Ahh, so good. It is a perfect, thick, white cheese that softens with the heat of the arepa, and it melts in your mouth! YUMMMMMM! Tequeños are Venezuelan’s favorite appetizer/​snack so of course I am obsessed with these, and Arepazone’s are perfect. I don’t use any of the green sauce they provide but my friends like it!
Overall this truck is just great. It hits a perfect spot for me! If you’re looking for something delicious to eat, definitely get something here! Cachapas are also amazing! The only thing I’ll say, it’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth it.

How have I not had an arepa before this point in my 30 years on earth?!? Man, I’ve really been missing out.
This food is sooo tasty. We had the Queso rellado, Dominó, Sifrina, & Jamon y queso. I don’t eat meat but the last two were raved about. I had the first one (cheese (queso fresco) only) and although plain, it really was amazing — hot, gooey, salty… what’s not to like? Whatever sauce they serve with them is unbelievably tasty and that little crunchy-​yet-​soft corn pocket of goodness that is the arepa is unbeatable.
Father and daughter were running the truck and were both lovely — very smiley and helpful. Food comes out quickly & too-​hot-​to-​eat. Truck was also one of the cleanest looking at Truckeroo.
If you see this one out and about, don’t pass up the opportunity to do yourself a favor and try an arepa! Mmmmmmm.