I love when businesses change hands and reaccelerate their brand in a positive, exciting direction. Arepa Please, formerly Johnny's Deli is a prime example of this rare phenomenon. First and foremost, you can't miss the stunning mural slapped outside. It's probably the most visually appealing art mural in the Brooklyn neighborhood. Going for lunch? The lot fills up quickly and so does the restaurant! Based off the name Arepa Please, I thought the menu would mostly consist of arepas. On the contrary, the menu is additionally loaded with various NY-American sandwiches and wraps, which I believe were from Johnny's. But when you go to Arepa Please, you order a freakin' arepa! The Queen -- Venezuelan shredded chicken so rich in flavor you'll slap your mama. The avocado mayo was super creamy and made the perfect marriage with the tender chicken. The arepa itself, piping hot, was very traditional. The chicken was the undeniable standout. Pro tip: get extra napkins! The fusion of South American flavors and NY deli should work in Jacksonville. We have many adventurous diners, but we also have many by the book locals who are set in their ways. Arepa Please can appeal to people of all walks of life. They even serve Bold Bean Coffee! read more

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A divey place - in a good way - I really liked this food. Each of the arepas were prepared and served hot - I wouldn't call it crispy but it did have a great feel of having an edge outside of a soft bread-like texture. The arepa was a welcome vehicle for all the beef options we decided to try. My favorite was the Pabellon which is their signature filled with shredded beef with sweet plantains, queso blanco on a bed of black beans. Just a fantastic balance of savory, sweet, and cheesy - again, in a good way. Full of flavor, amply filled, and freshly made combinations make for a nice change of pace from the everyday humdrum lunch. Consider me a fan. read more

Arepa Please - Pop Brunette - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Absolutely loved the experience! So much so that while in the area on vacation we came to the restaurant twice. The food is incredibly good, the café con leche was perfect and the vibe is chill with cool art. The pictures don't do the food justice! We tried the Queen, Mona, Pabellon, and the Porko Loco. Definitely a must. read more

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Got the queen. DELISH! The sauce on the side was flavorful as well. The service was great. Will definitely be back read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Huge to-go salad! Great pricing and speedy delivery through DoorDash too! The ingredients are fresh and the dressing is tasty read more

Arepa Please - The Queen Salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

The place is close to the Riverside Arts Market. I ordered the Queen: classic Venezuelan shredded chicken recipe with homemade avocado mayo, cilantro. It was served in a crisp Arepa, with a side of potato salad that was delicious! A small side of cilantro sauce seriously made the dish. My date ordered the Jax Blonde: shredded beef slow cooked in pomodoro sauce on a bed of cheddar cheese.OMG, yes!!!! I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back here again soon! read more

Arepa Please - The Queen: shredded chicken, avocado mayo,&cilantro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I was honestly amazed at the art on the side of the building and that was the first thing to draw me into this place . The inside was just as cute as the outside with the booths and cafe style tables to the nice high chairs facing riverside . When first going in you are automatically greeted by friendly staff and since it was my first time in, I wanted to try the famous Arepas !! So I went with the Pabellón Arepa without cheese and a side of potato salad . The Arepa was delicious and the meat was seasoned and very flavorful with I believe to be a red pepper or Chile . Now going to the potato salad , I was taken aback because I thought it was going to be a classic southern potato salad but it resembles more like a twice baked potato . All in all Arepa Please has the nice views , diversity of food , and great staff !! Who wouldn't love that ?!? read more

Arepa Please - Pabellón arepa with potato salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

A friend recommended this place after we were discussing the beautiful paintings and murals on the exterior walls and interior. The staff was all super nice and welcoming. We had two arepas and the tequenos. Both arepas were very different. The beef and plantains in the pabellon was delicious and soo full of flavor. The queen was a chicken salad type arepa with lots and lots of avocado (which I absolutely love). The actual arepa crust was soo good. It had a crisp outside and a slightly soft and chewy inside. Most of the other ones that I have tried are super dense. The tequenos are a must if you like cheese sticks. The crust is crunchy and the inside is moist and delicious. I will come back and definitely recommend it for people to try. read more

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Fresh tasty food and well prepared. It was a pleasure to try this place out! Will certainly return. The family loved the food! read more

Oh my goodness. I went back to Arepa Please for their first official day to treat myself to an AREPA! They have a nice variety on the menu to choose from, with enough differences to please most. If you know me, you won't be surprised that I had The Queen ($8.50), basically a Venezuelan chicken salad with chunks of avocado and a lovely avocado/cilantro mayo served on a perfect arepa. That arepa was bigger than the ones I've had in the past, it had to be to hold all that food! It was not greasy at all, it was actually light and delicate but did not fall apart. Perfection! I had a scoop of potato salad for the side. It was good, but honestly it paled in comparison to the sandwich, anything would. Other sides available, that I saw, were coleslaw and chips. Soda, tea, and coffee was self serve after paying and you bus your own table. I highly recommend this place and I can't wait to come back with my husband. *** Brand new sandwich shop replacing the old Johnny's Deli. The new owner is keeping the old menu and adding in Bold Bean Coffee (yes!) and (...drumroll...) AREPAS! What is an arepa? Simply, it's a corn cake used in Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine for things similar to sandwiches. (The owner is Venezuelan.) Unfortunately, they don't start serving them until Monday, July 2nd. So, while I was disappointed, I was still hungry (and in a hurry) so I ordered a BLT to go. When I unwrapped it at home, a short while later, I was very pleased. Toasted bread with mayo (they asked first), minimal lettuce, generous tomato slices and bursting at the seams with bacon. Fresh and still slightly warm. Delicious and hit the spot. Believe me, I will be back because I'm am SO looking forward to those arepas! read more

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Fave place in town!! Go NOW. Cannot recommend it enough. Super friendly staff and the juices are 10/10 , I tried the Passionfruit and I hoe surly wish I got two . Whole menu is delicious but my fave is the pabellon read more

This place is amazing! My favorite is definitely the queen arepa but the cheese arepa is also pure deliciousness. Service is always on point and the entire team goes above and beyond to make sure you're enjoying your food. Try it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Arepa Please - Reina Pepiada/ The Queen Arepa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Super yummy spot! Ordered through grub hub for delivery. Food was on time. Tons of options on their menu. Food had insane flavors. I ordered an arepa with plantains on the side and my friend ordered the gyro which came with chips. Large portions for both. Everything was wrapped neatly and still warm when it arrived. Would 100% order again! read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Yummy!!! I had seen another Yelper write about this spot, and being that I love Arepas I was so excited to see we had one in Jax. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. I had to have the Arepa with chicken and avocado. I had potato salad as a side. Oh my goodness. The chicken salad was so tasty and full of chicken. The avocado mayo was creamy and so fresh. Potato salad was a little filled with chunky potatoes and a nice tart dressing. I loved them both. My teen had the gyro and really enjoyed it. The meat was well-seasoned and the tzatziki sauce was creamy and tart, just like it should be. The pita was a little thinner than most gyros, but it held up well. Hubby wasn't really hungry, so he got a BLT. Bacon was crisp and plentiful, tomatoes were fresh, and bread nicely toasted. There were several things on the menu I want to try on our next visit. Staff was very nice and helpful with all of our questions as well. can't wait to return! read more

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OMG today was my first time having an arepa and boy was it life changing. It was sooooo delicious! Everything was really fresh. Also really liked the art on the walls and the tshirts they sell (although they were too expensive to buy). read more

Delicious arepas, friendly service and vibrant decorations! I got the Jax Blond (shredded beef and cheddar) and Trevor got the Mona Chicken (shredded chicken, plantains, and queso blanco). We were extra hungry so we got tequenos too. They stuff those arepas to the very top! Everything was phenomenal, I really enjoyed the chipotle sauce they serve with the tequenos. I could barely finish because there was so much food. You will not leave this place hungry! read more

Arepa Please - The Jax Blond Arepa (front), Tequenos, and Mona Chicken Arepa (back) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Getting brunch for the first time here !! This delicious coffee is the Guayoyo. I believe the coffee is in partnership with Bold Bean as well The 2nd slide is The Queen #Arepa shredded chicken and sliced avocado nicely coated with the sauce, I definitely loved the freshness of this. The 3rd is Pabellon beef with sweet plantains cheese and black beans. Don't let the sweet plantains throw you off, it was a great balance between savory and sweet. The arepas are cooked and made perfectly, crunchy on the outside and fluffy when biting into it. Highly recommend this place. Nice chill atmosphere as well. Support local businesses if you can. For anyone concerned, they do still wear masks. read more

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Food and service was amazing, the staff greeted us when we came it and the guy who was taking our order was very helpful and also gave us recommendations! the meat was mouth watering. I also got a vanilla latte it needed a little bit more vanilla for my taste but the latte itself was very good. Would definitely recommend and I plan on coming back!! read more

Arepa Please - The Jax Blond Arepa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Amazing Venezuelan food, my favorite is cachapas, the best I ever have had. Cachapa A must try read more

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Excellent food. I've been a few times and love the Jax Blonde. The service is consistently good.

It was my first time at Arepa Please and my first time getting burnt food at a restaurant. The Philly Cheesesteak was pretty flavorless with the burnt part being the most flavor. read more

The Arepas are delicious! I had the blonde and the meat was flavorful and tender. Enjoyed the sauce that goes with it too.

Quite the hidden gem! I had been to this establishment a few times under its prior name. When they closed and rebranded as Arepa Please, I was a bit skeptical. However, I am so glad they did! The previous restaurant was kind of a last resort in options. Arepa Please though, is high on my list! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their Arepas! The Queen is truly queen in my heart for Arepas! It is a wonderful Venezuelan chicken salad topped with avocado in a crispy yet tender arepa. I love it! I have tried a few other arepas and seriously, they are all great in their own way but no matter my mood, the queen satisfies me every single time! The arepas with the plantains are wonderful, seriously fantastic so give one of those a try. The sandwiches, gyros and wraps are fine. They aren't much different from sandwiches, wraps, gyros and burgers you can get anywhere else, but the Arepas really set them apart from other sandwich shops in the area. You can tell the fillings are all homemade and you can taste the time they put into it. The The restaurant itself has quite a few chairs. It does get very busy during lunch hours on weekdays but you can usually find a spot to sit as people come and go. The prices are decent for the quality of the arepas and the amount of food. I have never finished an entire meal. I always leave stuffed! Please give them a try, you will not be disappointed if you go with an arepa! read more

Arepa Please - The Queen!! Amazing! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Ordered "The Queen"! It was amazing! Chicken salad with avocado Mayo and sliced avocado on arepa with cilantro. Taking my husband with me next time! Total deliciousness! Service was great, Nice & clean inside! Forgot to take a picture read more

Expensive for what is supposed to be street food. Two arepas, two beers, and táquenos was over $55. Food was mediocre. Beans lacked seasoning. The texture and taste seemed like they were pre-made cooked beans. The worst part was the táquenos which came out cold in the center. These are not fried to order and most definitely sat around a bit in a fridge. Cheese was not melted gooey and in some was cold to the touch. The outer breading was dry from reheating instead of the soft dough pastry shell. Will not be returning. Rather wait till I'm back in Orlando or Miami for better authentic Venezuelan/Colombian food. read more

Best cafe con leche! Super friendly service! It's very fun, vibrant, and clean. Very happy we stopped by! read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Such good food. I hate that I waited too long and can't remember the names of what I got, but the latte is excellent and all of the food we got had great flavor without being too much. I really enjoyed this casual little gem! read more

This was our first time visiting Arepa Please and having arepas! We didn't know what to expect, but we were not disappointed. The atmosphere is unassuming and relaxed. We ordered the Queen and the Mona Chicken, sweet tea and espresso. The Queen had large chunks of ripe avocados. The Mona Chicken had grilled plantains. Both arepas came with a side of cilantro sauce. They were so delicious! The espresso was perfect and beautifully presented and the sweet tea wasn't too sweet. We were so impressed we forgot to take photos of the food and dug right in! That's okay, we'll be back soon. read more

Arepa Please - Avocado plant on the windowsill - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Unlike South Florida, Jacksonville isn't a particular hot spot for traditional Latin food. If you're looking for some classic Venezuelan flavors in Florida like I was, head on over to Arepa Please! Arepa Please has a very Miami vibe from the mural painted outside to the indie décor with plants, growing avocados, and its neon purple sign indoors. Gregorio greeted me with a smile as I gazed over the menu to make my selection. They have a breakfast menu with morning style sandwiches and coffee and they also serve lunch and snacks such arepas and tequenos. I was debating between two different arepas. One was the "Fancy monkey" - stuffed with fried plantains, queso blanco, black beans and avocado. However, I chose to order the San Marcos which is filled with black beans, queso blanco and piled on with avocado. The dish is served smoking hot making the queso nice and melty. The arepa flour bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The heavy pile of avocado adds a creamy freshness, and the dip on the side gives the dish some fresh zest. This dish brought out all the Latin flavors I was hoping for and each bite gave me a feeling of home-style comfort....seriously it was to die for! They have options for everyone between one vegan option, a couple vegetarian options, chicken lovers, plantain, cheese, or steak lovers. And if none of those suit your likings, just order the "create your own!" Seeing it was brunch time, I also got myself a vanilla latte which was served with beautiful foam art on top. I can't wait to go back to try their tequenos and grab a drink! (oh yeah... did I mention theres beer too?!) read more

Arepa Please - vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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The food is great. Just need to spend a bit more time cleaning. That my only draw back. Every seat/table was covered in food. Asked to clean...only the table got cleaned. When clearly food is on the seat. read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This place was good. Plenty of parking BTW. The Arepas were huge and stuffed to the Max. I got what I believe was the Fancy monkey (black beans, cheese, and plantains) and my sister got something with carne asada and plantains. We loved it. They're worth every penny and I would come back within days! read more

This is a cute little restaurant in the Brooklyn area. I loved that they had their own parking lot next to it so no need to pay or drive around looking for a spot. The inside is stylish and cool place to eat at. The food was tasty but it's more americanized. If you are expecting a traditional Venezuelan arepa you will be disappointed. However if you are open to try their version of an arepa you won't be disappointed. The empanadas had a little sweetness that I appreciated. If I'm ever in the area again I would stop for lunch and try something else. read more

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People were very friendly. Most of us liked the food, but I will not get beef next time. My concern is that we ordered 5 meals and some were finished eating before the last person got theirs. Not sure why burritos take so long, but we don't like to have some who are not fast eaters finish before last person receives food. He watched us eat, then we watched him eat. Took a very long time for dinner, but my wife and I will try it again, but will not get beef next time. read more

I highly recommend Arepa Please! What they lack in size, they more than make up in passion, attention to detail, tasty creations on an old Latin classic, the Arepa. They have breakfast Arepas, lunchtime ones, sandwiches, coffee by Bold Bean and an array of classic Latin sodas, like Malta and other childhood favorites. Bright, white, splashes of color and artwork adorn the walls. They certainly add some Pizzaz to this part of Riverside where not many restaurants are, but conveniently located by GuideWell, FIS and Black Knight. I popped in hangry and hankering for some comfort food. They must've literally just opened for the day, But the young man was super gracious, greeted me and immediately took my order. I'm sad that I haven't written a review for them sooner! There are arepas are the bomb and 100% authentic! Colombian approved! read more

Arepa Please - Breakfast Arepa with eggs, bacon and queso blanco (like a Cotija/Queso Campesino). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This was my go to place at least 3 times a week but I don't know if they have a different cook but the food is not the same it's not as seasoned as before the last 3 times where bad experiences read more

Got to-go and it was so good. I got the pabellon with potato salad and a side. Simply delish and the portion was HUGE. read more

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Fancy Monkey took me back to NY street arepas that I had to sit down with a fork to eat all the yummy falling out. It was so good I could not eat all at once but I definitely finished it at room temperature. Will be back soon! read more

Great food as you can see on the picture. I got the "pelua" arepa with a passion fruit juice. Both were awesome read more

Arepa Please - Great food as you can see on the picture. I got the "pelua" arepa with a passion fruit juice. Both were awesome - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I had to make a trip downtown and since I was I leaned on yelp for a lunch spot close by. Great food, reasonable prices and fast friendly service. Perfect! Thanks Arepa please. I will be back. read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

What a pleasant surprise! I have lived down the street from Arepa Please for over 10 years and never visited. My mistake. Many vegetarian arepa options. The plantains were the best I've eaten and a must for any arepa you choose. Simple food is the best and AP delivers. I had the Fancy Monkey and was pleased. Food is served on open metal trays lined in parchment paper. The arepa is also served in a paper wrapper which is a necessity since it is stuffed beyond what corn bread can contain. I really enjoyed the counter sweetness of the plantains provided against the beans and queso blanco. The avocado provided a nice fatty mouth appeal. There was a nice flavorful green sauce which I could have used more of :(. Washed all of this down with a Polar beer which is originally from Venezuela. Anxious to get back to try some additional menu items. read more

Arepa Please - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida