Hey, Arepa City has relocated. They did not mention this when we called in our order. They have not updated their address here on Yelp, or on their Contact Us page, or on their site footer, or on their Facebook page. You are supposed to: Drive to the old location. Find a parking space in the busy city. Pay to park. Walk to their old location. Read the small sign on the old location telling you they've moved and where to. Then, you walk back back to your car. Make your way to their new location. Find a parking space in the busy city. Pay to park. Walk to their new location. We ordered pick-up, because while their Web site says they deliver, they don't. It took us forever to find it and get there, but luckily, our food *still* wasn't ready. When we got back to work, we found that they charged us for all the extra sauces we ordered, but they did not give us any of them.
(1)
Rachel S.
I'm giving Arepa City 5 stars for the food. My first few bites I had to close my eyes and just be in heaven. It was so delicious. Can't even describe. From the pictures online I thought that the atmosphere wouldn't be that great, however, I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival that it has a nice ambience. I wish I would have brought a bottle of wine though, since it's BYOB. The servers are very nice, I tipped them well even though I did have to ask for another glass of water after she stopped by and didn't notice it herself. Many compliments to the chef!! Amazing food. My boyfriend and I will come back to try other items on the menu. We are excited to have found a place with such great food. It's hard to find around here. I'm used to Washington DC where there are so many great food options. Arepas is a real gem for Harrisburg.
(5)
Wade C.
The wife and I are fans of this place, both before and after their move. We are repeat customers--both dine in and takeout. We like that they are BYOB. The first time we tried it was when a friend commented on their food--we had not heard of it before. We decided to give it a try. Being a vegetarian, I especially like the number of options for me. Having an entire section dedicated to vegetarian-friendly food gives this two-thumbs up for me. Most recently, we visited as a double-date with friends. The place was empty and there was no one at the entrance to greet us. We walked through the building to find someone, but we were eventually seated. The service could use a bit of training--more on that later. The wife and I both ordered arepas (3 each), and our friends ordered a plantain entree. We also ordered two appetizers. Only one appetizer came out, but we weren't charged for the second. She may have gotten confused, because we were debating which appetizer. While she should have confirmed with us which ones we wanted, it was ok--too much food anyways. The food did take a bit to arrive, but that was ok--we were socializing. I could see how this would get a tad frustrating if we were there over the lunch hour. When we are with these friends, we could talk for hours. And we did. We didn't realize they were closing until they made it quite obvious. Since we were finished with our meals and just sitting there, someone could have come to us and simply said, "we will be closing in XX minutes, please finish up". Or something similar. We would have been ok with it. Except, we didn't get that. We got loud mopping and cleaning of floors, trash bags being carried beside our table, and what we thought was quite funny: lights flickering. Like I said, the service could use a bit of training. In addition, they didn't charge the tip I made on the receipt. I feel bad that the tip didn't go through. Anyways, despite some of the service issues, the food is quite delicious, and I would recommend anyone that has a bit of time on their hands.
(4)
Kat C.
BYOB. Arepas, tostones, and sweet plantains are delicious. I have been here a few times and have had an awesome meal with 3 arepas for $13. I tried my friends' entrees which included the arroz con pollo (or something like that) and it was also really good. I want to come back and try more things on their menu. The service is alright, not the best. Plenty of seating in this new location. Try it out!
(4)
Sonal V.
The benefit of having a co-pilot when you're on a road trip is having an extra set of hands to google a delicious local eatery to try along the way. This not only helps you support local business but helps keep greasy fast food containers from cluttering your car. Our search landed us at Arepa City, right off the highway and provided us a lil peep into the riverfront views of Harrisburg. Arepa City was amazing. Great food, great value, and friendly service. Arepa City also has tons of choice and a great variety of vegetarian options. It's not the quickest but the price is equivalent to a fast food road stop and the food is 100 times better. We both got the arepa sampler plates and tried 6 kinds between the two of us and loved them all. We loved it so much we tried to stop on our way home...unfortunately closed on Sunday!
(5)
Jeanette C.
arepa city has changed locations they are now a block before there last location. The new address is 221 North 2n St. Harrisburg pa 17101 and between jimmy johns and true value . the phone number stayed the same
(5)
K D.
I highly recommend the Chili appetizer with the fried plantains and the Arepa trio..everything on the menu looks delicious. The tostones come with a purple cabbage slaw that is just a little bit spicy=DELCIOUIS
(5)
Kris M.
I was just introduced to Arepa City and I'm so glad I was, The food was wonderful - the tostones (fried plantains - purple slaw and 4 different sauces) were DELICIOUS and the 2 arepas I had - 1 with beef and one vegetarian - just YUM! (I don't know how people eat 3 at 1 time-they are filling!). Plus it's BYOB!! Our service was great - and our server was friendly. If you are looking for something different and good - check this place out!
(5)
Elena S.
I was so happy to find this place in the Carlisle/Harrisburg region! These are real Venezuelan arepas, not Colombian arepas which I don't really like. We came for lunch on a Saturday and were surprised at how empty the place was. The waitress was very sweet and friendly and the service was prompt. We ordered the arepa trio and each one was delicious! So so good, and so affordable! Can't wait to be back and try more arepas!
(5)
Carolina S.
I am from Venezuela, thus I am very critical of its food. This Venezuelan restaurant owned by Danny and run by a very friendly staff, is a gem on Second St. My husband and I enjoyed the patacones, the trio arepas, and a wonderful tres leches cake. We were welcomed in the restaurant event though it was already late and they were closing, and believe me, we were really grateful for that. You should definitely give a try to this place. They have many gluten free options and dairy free options as well.
(5)
Cedric L.
Don't be put off by the small storefront. Even though it does not appear to be a nice restaurant from the outside, it actually is! When we walked in, I was surprised by the huge space in the back. I have never had Venezuelan food before, so I have nothing to compare it with, but based on the dishes we had, I am definitely craving for more! I had a set of 3 sliders, which you can combine as you wish, and my friend had an entree. They all tasted fantastic! I liked the corn buns with the plantains and the other one with black beans and pork meat. Unfortunately, the waitress mentioned that the owner is going to close down the restaurant in a few days (If I am correctly, it will be September 5 or so) and possible won't open up again. Thus, if you have the chance, check it out before it is gone.
(4)
Chrissy K.
Amazing!! Our server was wonderfully helpful and joked around with us making the trip even more enjoyable. We came around 8:30 on Wednesday summer night and the entire restaurant was empty. Now on to the arepas- wow! I did not know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't that perfectly crispy corn bun. I wish I could take baths in those corn buns. Wow. What a bun.
(4)
Eric B.
Well, I am on a Cafe/Coffee Tour up here in Central Pa. and wanted to get to Agia Sophia, a coffee shop that donates all of its profits to charities in Harrisburg. It is run by volunteers who are of the Orthodox/Eastern Christian Faith. Great coffee! Great space. On the way from my parking spot to Agia Sophia, I saw this Venezuelan restaurant and decided to lunch there. My meal was fantastic! I ordered the Pabellon Relleno (description in photo) which is the staple dish in Venezuela. The plantains were great. Usually, plantains taste like wood blocks. These were sweet, but not too much. And they formed the sides of the dish like a ship with black beans, steak, and cheese as the inner workings. I got to chat with Manu the server (pic also below) and I asked him how things are in Venezuela. Apparently, not good. He thanked me at the end of my meal for knowing something about Venezuela. I love culture and its foods, and I have a deep interest in people. I guess it is easy to see food as an end on its own. Better to see it as a bridge to the world. I am really happy that I stopped by. Good to see a different type of restaurant take a place on Market St.
(5)
Holly R.
Yesssssss. Try this place. This was a first for Latin cuisine for me, and I am totally on board with trying it again. I got the arepas sliders, which is three arepas of your choice. The plantain and cheese one was so amazing, as well as some kind of meat (forget, brisket maybe?) with cheese and avocado. The third one was pork with cheddar, but I wasn't a huge fan. Two complaints, which is why I give them four, and not five stars- My dining companions got the Nutella shakes, and neither of them seemed thrilled with it. They said it was watery, and to me it didn't look very ice cream-y. Also they only have cans of soda, not fountains, and when we were there they were out and somebody was out buying the soda at the moment. It was a Saturday evening dinner, so you'd think they would have been prepared....
(4)
Kim H.
Just had their 3 arepa sliders, and they were great. The highlight for me was the plantains, but their pork was also great. Would come again and highly recommend.
(4)
Will D.
Enter the front door!!!!! I came here three times until I actually went in because it looked like an empty small restaurant with no patrons. The dining room is deceivingly on the next level, in the back, not able to be seen from looking in the front window. It's decorated in a warm orange color with colorful wall art...very inviting once you're in! The Venezuelan food is awesome - tasty, hearty, unique, and fun! I ate there two nights ago and am craving the sliders as I write this - like no sliders you've ever had!! They come in an order of 3 of your choice for $13. I got a chicken, flank steak, and pork shoulder slider. The meat is tender, moist, and juicy with stellar flavor and the toppings (spicy slaw, cheese, avocado, and sweet plantains) are fresh and a perfect compliment to the protein. The best part of the sliders is the corn bread bun - crispy, sweet, salty, and soaked with the delicious meat drippings. One of a kind!!! To die for!! The main course was great too - a big sweet deep fried plantain stuffed with juicy flank steak, the best black beans, spicy slaw, and Venezuelan rice. Oh so good!!! I will be back soon and never again question walking in the front door. Great place to bring out of town friends too - unique and fun!! Byob.
(5)
Jennifer C.
Awesome Venezuelan food! The arepas are delicious. I usually do the 3 arepa combo with the chicken and avocado salad, chorizo stew, and grilled veggies over spicy cabbage. If you're a fan of spicy, get the cry baby sauce. I promise you the name is 100% accurate but still really good, just go easy. The alcapurrias are fantastic. Service has always been top notch, as well. Apparently the moved into a bigger building, which was a wise choice, because the previous location was quite small. I haven't been here in a while, unfortunately, because it's a bit far for me and I don't want to deal with parking in Harrisburg. I absolutely love Arepa City though... wish they'd start a west shore location!
(5)
Meh G.
I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem in Harrisburg area. Very authentic with a lovely and attentive staff. The arepas are very delicious and if you are going as a group it's a good idea to get a bunch and share them all. I really enjoyed their fried plantains and the Arepa trio. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Jen Q.
Perhaps the best restaurant in the city. Not that there is fierce competition for the title in a struggling city like Harrisburg, but I know there are a lot of rather mediocre and over-priced spots in Harrisburg that would declare themselves the best. I can't speak about Arepa's service or the ambience, as I've only ever gotten takeout, but even served in a steamy styrofoam container, the food is delicious.
(5)
Siu-Wei H.
UPDATE: according to the waitress when I went in for another great meal yesterday, the restaurant will be closing down next Saturday! This is will be a terrible loss for the city's restaurant scene, as this place with such delicious offerings really deserves more business! Get your perfectly crispy arepas soon, before they disappear! Stomach will be sad =(
(4)
Laurie H.
They recently moved up the street to a bigger location. Addres is 221 North 2nd Street, Harrisburg PA 17101 Food is AMAZING. But be prepared for a hour and a half+ lunch, and poor service. Awkward servers who don't know the menu. Questions about the menu that went unanswered with a reply of "I dont know". I dined with 3 other people, and they all recieved their food 5 minutes before mine came out, which meant they got to sit there and watch me finish my lunch. Apparently, only the dinner menu is available on Fridays, which is a new development, with higher prices but the same portions of food, i.e. the trio is usually $10 at lunch, but at dinner is it $13. I understand that the new location just opened, but the service issues have always been a problem.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lee C.
Hey, Arepa City has relocated. They did not mention this when we called in our order. They have not updated their address here on Yelp, or on their Contact Us page, or on their site footer, or on their Facebook page. You are supposed to: Drive to the old location. Find a parking space in the busy city. Pay to park. Walk to their old location. Read the small sign on the old location telling you they've moved and where to. Then, you walk back back to your car. Make your way to their new location. Find a parking space in the busy city. Pay to park. Walk to their new location. We ordered pick-up, because while their Web site says they deliver, they don't. It took us forever to find it and get there, but luckily, our food *still* wasn't ready. When we got back to work, we found that they charged us for all the extra sauces we ordered, but they did not give us any of them.
(1)Rachel S.
I'm giving Arepa City 5 stars for the food. My first few bites I had to close my eyes and just be in heaven. It was so delicious. Can't even describe. From the pictures online I thought that the atmosphere wouldn't be that great, however, I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival that it has a nice ambience. I wish I would have brought a bottle of wine though, since it's BYOB. The servers are very nice, I tipped them well even though I did have to ask for another glass of water after she stopped by and didn't notice it herself. Many compliments to the chef!! Amazing food. My boyfriend and I will come back to try other items on the menu. We are excited to have found a place with such great food. It's hard to find around here. I'm used to Washington DC where there are so many great food options. Arepas is a real gem for Harrisburg.
(5)Wade C.
The wife and I are fans of this place, both before and after their move. We are repeat customers--both dine in and takeout. We like that they are BYOB. The first time we tried it was when a friend commented on their food--we had not heard of it before. We decided to give it a try. Being a vegetarian, I especially like the number of options for me. Having an entire section dedicated to vegetarian-friendly food gives this two-thumbs up for me. Most recently, we visited as a double-date with friends. The place was empty and there was no one at the entrance to greet us. We walked through the building to find someone, but we were eventually seated. The service could use a bit of training--more on that later. The wife and I both ordered arepas (3 each), and our friends ordered a plantain entree. We also ordered two appetizers. Only one appetizer came out, but we weren't charged for the second. She may have gotten confused, because we were debating which appetizer. While she should have confirmed with us which ones we wanted, it was ok--too much food anyways. The food did take a bit to arrive, but that was ok--we were socializing. I could see how this would get a tad frustrating if we were there over the lunch hour. When we are with these friends, we could talk for hours. And we did. We didn't realize they were closing until they made it quite obvious. Since we were finished with our meals and just sitting there, someone could have come to us and simply said, "we will be closing in XX minutes, please finish up". Or something similar. We would have been ok with it. Except, we didn't get that. We got loud mopping and cleaning of floors, trash bags being carried beside our table, and what we thought was quite funny: lights flickering. Like I said, the service could use a bit of training. In addition, they didn't charge the tip I made on the receipt. I feel bad that the tip didn't go through. Anyways, despite some of the service issues, the food is quite delicious, and I would recommend anyone that has a bit of time on their hands.
(4)Kat C.
BYOB. Arepas, tostones, and sweet plantains are delicious. I have been here a few times and have had an awesome meal with 3 arepas for $13. I tried my friends' entrees which included the arroz con pollo (or something like that) and it was also really good. I want to come back and try more things on their menu. The service is alright, not the best. Plenty of seating in this new location. Try it out!
(4)Sonal V.
The benefit of having a co-pilot when you're on a road trip is having an extra set of hands to google a delicious local eatery to try along the way. This not only helps you support local business but helps keep greasy fast food containers from cluttering your car. Our search landed us at Arepa City, right off the highway and provided us a lil peep into the riverfront views of Harrisburg. Arepa City was amazing. Great food, great value, and friendly service. Arepa City also has tons of choice and a great variety of vegetarian options. It's not the quickest but the price is equivalent to a fast food road stop and the food is 100 times better. We both got the arepa sampler plates and tried 6 kinds between the two of us and loved them all. We loved it so much we tried to stop on our way home...unfortunately closed on Sunday!
(5)Jeanette C.
arepa city has changed locations they are now a block before there last location. The new address is 221 North 2n St. Harrisburg pa 17101 and between jimmy johns and true value . the phone number stayed the same
(5)K D.
I highly recommend the Chili appetizer with the fried plantains and the Arepa trio..everything on the menu looks delicious. The tostones come with a purple cabbage slaw that is just a little bit spicy=DELCIOUIS
(5)Kris M.
I was just introduced to Arepa City and I'm so glad I was, The food was wonderful - the tostones (fried plantains - purple slaw and 4 different sauces) were DELICIOUS and the 2 arepas I had - 1 with beef and one vegetarian - just YUM! (I don't know how people eat 3 at 1 time-they are filling!). Plus it's BYOB!! Our service was great - and our server was friendly. If you are looking for something different and good - check this place out!
(5)Elena S.
I was so happy to find this place in the Carlisle/Harrisburg region! These are real Venezuelan arepas, not Colombian arepas which I don't really like. We came for lunch on a Saturday and were surprised at how empty the place was. The waitress was very sweet and friendly and the service was prompt. We ordered the arepa trio and each one was delicious! So so good, and so affordable! Can't wait to be back and try more arepas!
(5)Carolina S.
I am from Venezuela, thus I am very critical of its food. This Venezuelan restaurant owned by Danny and run by a very friendly staff, is a gem on Second St. My husband and I enjoyed the patacones, the trio arepas, and a wonderful tres leches cake. We were welcomed in the restaurant event though it was already late and they were closing, and believe me, we were really grateful for that. You should definitely give a try to this place. They have many gluten free options and dairy free options as well.
(5)Cedric L.
Don't be put off by the small storefront. Even though it does not appear to be a nice restaurant from the outside, it actually is! When we walked in, I was surprised by the huge space in the back. I have never had Venezuelan food before, so I have nothing to compare it with, but based on the dishes we had, I am definitely craving for more! I had a set of 3 sliders, which you can combine as you wish, and my friend had an entree. They all tasted fantastic! I liked the corn buns with the plantains and the other one with black beans and pork meat. Unfortunately, the waitress mentioned that the owner is going to close down the restaurant in a few days (If I am correctly, it will be September 5 or so) and possible won't open up again. Thus, if you have the chance, check it out before it is gone.
(4)Chrissy K.
Amazing!! Our server was wonderfully helpful and joked around with us making the trip even more enjoyable. We came around 8:30 on Wednesday summer night and the entire restaurant was empty. Now on to the arepas- wow! I did not know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't that perfectly crispy corn bun. I wish I could take baths in those corn buns. Wow. What a bun.
(4)Eric B.
Well, I am on a Cafe/Coffee Tour up here in Central Pa. and wanted to get to Agia Sophia, a coffee shop that donates all of its profits to charities in Harrisburg. It is run by volunteers who are of the Orthodox/Eastern Christian Faith. Great coffee! Great space. On the way from my parking spot to Agia Sophia, I saw this Venezuelan restaurant and decided to lunch there. My meal was fantastic! I ordered the Pabellon Relleno (description in photo) which is the staple dish in Venezuela. The plantains were great. Usually, plantains taste like wood blocks. These were sweet, but not too much. And they formed the sides of the dish like a ship with black beans, steak, and cheese as the inner workings. I got to chat with Manu the server (pic also below) and I asked him how things are in Venezuela. Apparently, not good. He thanked me at the end of my meal for knowing something about Venezuela. I love culture and its foods, and I have a deep interest in people. I guess it is easy to see food as an end on its own. Better to see it as a bridge to the world. I am really happy that I stopped by. Good to see a different type of restaurant take a place on Market St.
(5)Holly R.
Yesssssss. Try this place. This was a first for Latin cuisine for me, and I am totally on board with trying it again. I got the arepas sliders, which is three arepas of your choice. The plantain and cheese one was so amazing, as well as some kind of meat (forget, brisket maybe?) with cheese and avocado. The third one was pork with cheddar, but I wasn't a huge fan. Two complaints, which is why I give them four, and not five stars- My dining companions got the Nutella shakes, and neither of them seemed thrilled with it. They said it was watery, and to me it didn't look very ice cream-y. Also they only have cans of soda, not fountains, and when we were there they were out and somebody was out buying the soda at the moment. It was a Saturday evening dinner, so you'd think they would have been prepared....
(4)Kim H.
Just had their 3 arepa sliders, and they were great. The highlight for me was the plantains, but their pork was also great. Would come again and highly recommend.
(4)Will D.
Enter the front door!!!!! I came here three times until I actually went in because it looked like an empty small restaurant with no patrons. The dining room is deceivingly on the next level, in the back, not able to be seen from looking in the front window. It's decorated in a warm orange color with colorful wall art...very inviting once you're in! The Venezuelan food is awesome - tasty, hearty, unique, and fun! I ate there two nights ago and am craving the sliders as I write this - like no sliders you've ever had!! They come in an order of 3 of your choice for $13. I got a chicken, flank steak, and pork shoulder slider. The meat is tender, moist, and juicy with stellar flavor and the toppings (spicy slaw, cheese, avocado, and sweet plantains) are fresh and a perfect compliment to the protein. The best part of the sliders is the corn bread bun - crispy, sweet, salty, and soaked with the delicious meat drippings. One of a kind!!! To die for!! The main course was great too - a big sweet deep fried plantain stuffed with juicy flank steak, the best black beans, spicy slaw, and Venezuelan rice. Oh so good!!! I will be back soon and never again question walking in the front door. Great place to bring out of town friends too - unique and fun!! Byob.
(5)Jennifer C.
Awesome Venezuelan food! The arepas are delicious. I usually do the 3 arepa combo with the chicken and avocado salad, chorizo stew, and grilled veggies over spicy cabbage. If you're a fan of spicy, get the cry baby sauce. I promise you the name is 100% accurate but still really good, just go easy. The alcapurrias are fantastic. Service has always been top notch, as well. Apparently the moved into a bigger building, which was a wise choice, because the previous location was quite small. I haven't been here in a while, unfortunately, because it's a bit far for me and I don't want to deal with parking in Harrisburg. I absolutely love Arepa City though... wish they'd start a west shore location!
(5)Meh G.
I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem in Harrisburg area. Very authentic with a lovely and attentive staff. The arepas are very delicious and if you are going as a group it's a good idea to get a bunch and share them all. I really enjoyed their fried plantains and the Arepa trio. Will definitely go back.
(5)Jen Q.
Perhaps the best restaurant in the city. Not that there is fierce competition for the title in a struggling city like Harrisburg, but I know there are a lot of rather mediocre and over-priced spots in Harrisburg that would declare themselves the best. I can't speak about Arepa's service or the ambience, as I've only ever gotten takeout, but even served in a steamy styrofoam container, the food is delicious.
(5)Siu-Wei H.
UPDATE: according to the waitress when I went in for another great meal yesterday, the restaurant will be closing down next Saturday! This is will be a terrible loss for the city's restaurant scene, as this place with such delicious offerings really deserves more business! Get your perfectly crispy arepas soon, before they disappear! Stomach will be sad =(
(4)Laurie H.
They recently moved up the street to a bigger location. Addres is 221 North 2nd Street, Harrisburg PA 17101 Food is AMAZING. But be prepared for a hour and a half+ lunch, and poor service. Awkward servers who don't know the menu. Questions about the menu that went unanswered with a reply of "I dont know". I dined with 3 other people, and they all recieved their food 5 minutes before mine came out, which meant they got to sit there and watch me finish my lunch. Apparently, only the dinner menu is available on Fridays, which is a new development, with higher prices but the same portions of food, i.e. the trio is usually $10 at lunch, but at dinner is it $13. I understand that the new location just opened, but the service issues have always been a problem.
(2)