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    Bocata Arepa Bar

    4.7 (160 reviews)

    Bocata Arepa Bar Photos

    Business Info

    BOCATA AREPA BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Harrison C.

    Such a good place for lunch! The food is great and the staff is so friendly! The arepas are so delicious and so filling! This past time, I got a ham and cheese arepa and a chicken empanada! If you want authentic Venezuelan food, you should certainly try Bocata out! You will want to check to see if they are open before you go, as they have more restricted hours than most restaurants.

    Arthur F.

    When the Bocata Arepa Bar was on Rt. 10, we are there frequently. Since their move to Broad Street, rarely get there. When you enter you see to the left an open kitchen. On the right is a line of tables. Towards the back, it's all tables. Always warmly greeted there, though most often they are standing near the other end of the kitchen. On this trip, the order consisted of a cachapa, fried plantains, 5 shredded beef and 3 cheese empanadas. Their cachapa is very good ranking number 2 in Richmond. The empanadas are the best in Richmond. The fried plantains are solid. So the food is great and the people are welcoming, why only 4 stars? It's frankly the cost. Their prices are noticeably more than charged for similar food elsewhere. Will that stop a periodic visit there? No, but it won't be as often as we would go if prices were better aligned with the market.

    Arepa Pelua
    Zachary F.

    On our recent trip to DC we stopped in Richmond for some Arepas and Empanadas from none other than Bocata Arepa Bar! I'm still thinking about how mouthwatering good this place is!!! When looking over Yelp-Richmond's Instagram page we came across this spot and immediately decided we were stopping on our road trip. Among Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat for 2023 we now know why! To start, the service was nothing shy of exceptional. We were seated immediately and our server was so nice throughout the entire visit. We dove right in once we were seated and ordered a few empanadas and arepas. I went with the Pelua Arepa (shredded beef and cheese) and a shredded beef and a shredded chicken empanada. Both empanadas were delicious in their own right and super fresh. Perfectly seasoned meats in a crispy and flaky shell. The Pelua Arepa is what stole the show though. Perfectly seasoned and pull apart tender shredded beef paired with a perfect amount of shredded cheese...wow I'm wanting another one typing this review! Paired with the house sauce, it took everything in me not to eat this as quick as I could haha. My girlfriend got the Sifrina Arepa and I was able to taste it and it was just as good! A refreshing chicken and avocado salad filling with cheese was tasty and different as I had never tried anything similar before. We would hands down recommend Bocata to any and all locals and anyone passing through as well!!

    Llanera
    Lena M.

    I am so grateful I had the chance to try this 2023 Yelp Top 100 restaurant! The Yelp Elite Squad had had an experience with them before my time as an Elite. My best friend (who taught me about the squad) told me we HAD to try it someday. As soon as it made it on the Top 100, I ran (not walked) there. ***LOCATION*** Located in a strip mall in Glen Allen, it was totally worth the drive for me. It's easy to find parking out front. ***EXPERIENCE*** It's a pretty casual place with an amazing sign for your Yelp/IG photos. If you're looking for incredible Venezuelan cuisine, this is the place for you. I ordered the llanera arepa. The steak was absolutely divine! It was a very filling meal. My friend ordered an empanada (which a bit too greasy for my liking). I am thrilled to return to try more of their arepas. We also shared the chocolate tres leche cake which was so sweet and light! Our meal was heaven with every bite. ***PRICE*** I spent about $15 for an arepa and a coke. ***BATHROOM*** They had all gender single stall bathrooms that were clean. ***CONCLUSION*** Although this is a bit out of the way for me, I am excited to return and bring my friends to try more.

    Plantains
    Sean G.

    Very interesting to find this little gem near our home. My mother had seen the reviews (from Texas), and suggested we try it out. Honestly, I had no idea this was even in the area, so I was game to give it a go. The restaurant is located off Broad St in a strip center that is home to all sorts of restaurants as well. The decor is nicely done, very clean, and we were greeted by an enthusiastic young lady who sat us immediately towards the back of the restaurant. We were handed menus and drink orders taken. The menu is pretty good at describing the items for those (like me) who are unfamiliar with some of the Venezuelan dishes. All of them looked very tasty, so it was difficult to choose. I settled on the "Patacon," a fried plantain sandwich filled with meats, coleslaw, avocado, tomato, and topped with sauce. It was divine! We had also tried the fired plantains for an appetizer. They were very delicious, and a good balance of sweet and savory to start the meal. She had the "Pepito" for her meal - a sandwich (roll) filled with chicken, avocado, tomato, cheese and sauce. Really nice! For dessert, we opted to share the Tres Leches cake. WOW!! This was really done right! You could tell there was time and effort put into this. Each bite was better than the previous. For those looking for something new...please try them out! They are only open 4 days a week, so check in advance. The food is well prepared and the staff is great.

    Charla J.

    I wrote in the notes on my DoorDash how much I missed the avocado salad arepa (forgive me for forgetting the actual name) but Eduin literally sent me the exact arepa I wanted + extra sauce on the side. And THAT is how you deliver customer service. The rest of y'all need to take notes! Not to mention the rice I ordered is on POINT. The plantains were excellent but I personally do not like them any other way besides a dessert. Rest assured if you can eat them whenever wherever then these are most def for you! I love trying new cuisines and Bocata is IT! Can't wait to go through the whole menu

    Empanada Chicken
    Miller G.

    Wow, this place lives up to the hype! I had never heard of, or eaten an arepa before coming here, but saw the rave reviews and had to try it. I did not know what I was missing out on, and am sold now! Staff was very friendly (and helpful) explaining what an arepa was and the menu. We split a chicken empanada, beef empanada, and an arepa. All were amazing. The empanada breading was so hot and crisp on the outer shell, but fluffy on the inside. The sauce that comes with was delicious. The arepa was great - stuffed to the brim! It was our first time experiencing Venezuelan cuisine and will not be the last. We finished with the tres leches cake, which was out of this world. It might not look like much in the container, but this was so moist and delicious. We were fighting over scraps and the last bite. I could have eaten 4 pieces of this cake it was so good - my mouth starts to water just thinking about it. Had a great experience here. I would definitely recommend and definitely return!

    Arepa with Arepa Fried Egg and Cheese and Avocado
    Nathalie D.

    Amazing Venezuelan place. The best I've had in the USA, even though I used to live in S. Florida. I'm very glad I stumbled upon this place driving past Richmond. I've been here 4 times and every time it is perfectly fresh and tasty. I live in NY so don't come often but I always try to come when driving past the area. My go-to is the arepa with egg, cheese and avocado. The pabellon is also great. This time I tried the cheese empanada and it was crispy and delicious.

    Plantains
    Joey W.

    Plantains - perfect combination of savory and sweet. The plantains were caramelized and topped with a savory sauce and cheese. Tostones - super crispy plantain topped with coleslaw. I liked how the coleslaw added some freshness to it. This was my favorite dish out of everything ordered. Shredded Chicken Empanada - super crispy on the outside but the shredded chicken was extremely salty. I could not finish it because of how salty it was. Arepa Carne Asada - the arepa was crispy on the outside. The carne asada was very chewy. I dipped it in the sauce it came with.

    Chicken arepas, chicken empanada, seasoned white rice and steak arepas
    Brezzy B.

    Just stopped by this amazing restaurant! We were greeted right away and because it was mid day we were the only customers. There are tons of tables to sit inside so we decided to eat there. The food was fresh and soooo good! We will be back soon!

    Cassie M.

    Very disappointed... I fell in love with arepas after my first visit to a place near NC State. There the corn was perfectly sweet, the meat was tender & flavorful, & the sauce just topped it off. It was also half the cost. I went here expecting the same experience, but that wasn't the case. I got the El Pabelon - it was big & I didn't feel the need to finish it. The meat was tough, my jaw was tired eating it. The meat was also not very flavorful. The arepa itself wasn't sweet at all either. The only thing I particularly liked were the plantains & the sauce so it was not very satisfying. Additionally, I don't recommend eating in because they will not give you tap water so if you want a drink you're going to have to buy a bottle, & as you might've already read they throw on their own 20% gratuity charge.

    The Arepa Pabellon
    Alexus P.

    I tried them today and the atmosphere was great!! They have a lot of plants at the front door which I appreciate(I'm a plant mom myself). It was really clean and bright. I was greeted by a guy, I didn't catch his name but he was so nice. My mind was fried from work so I was really speaking gibberish but he played along and made it less awkward lol. I ordered two arepas. One Arepa Pabellon and an Arepa Sifrina. They were both equally good but, complete opposite flavors lol. The sauce complimented both of they nicely. I ate half of both and was STUFFED!!!! The price for each one was $11. I mean come on that's cheap af for the quality of food you're getting. Not only that but they are pretty huge. I've never had an arepa before but I did not expect them to be that large! That's a good thing. You have a forever customer! (I was rushing to take picture, but trust me it was delicious)

    Hamburguesa
    Rebecca W.

    Literally run don't walk to Bocata Arepa Bar. The food is incredible. All made fresh right in their open kitchen. I've been more than 3 times since the first of the year and have yet to have a bad meal or service. You will not regret eating here.

    Arepa Sifrina and Empanada Chicken

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    2 years ago

    Friendly service and great arepas! Bocata Arepa Bar is a great place for a casual lunch.

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    Bocata Arepa Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bocata Arepa Bar

    Full bar or any kind of adult beverages?

    They aren't open for dine in yet. No alcohol on their menu.

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    Soooo good! This was so satisfying and at a great price! I got the sweet plantains and a arepa and…read moreit came with sweet tea. I can't wait for them to come back near me to get it again!

    Pretty good! The menu is extremely confusing though. I have had arepas before, but someone who has…read morenot would have a hard time understanding this menu. I still didn't know what my topping options were for them. Luckily after looking at the menu, their website, Yelp, and google images I was finally able to figure out what I wanted (too much work lol). I landed on the Pabellon Arepa which had shredded beef, black beans, cheese and plantains.... They deffffffffff needed to strain them black beans a lot more and distribute the ingredients more because it wasn't just messy, it was atomic bomb messy. I needed 100 napkins and a knife and fork to get through it. It was pretty tasty though! My hubs got the pulled pork with avocado, def not as messy and it was pretty good. We also got the cheese sticks appetizer, I would say this was just okay. It was their take on mozzarella sticks essentially. My friend ordered the Cachapas Richmonder.... It was SO SO GOOD! We all took a bite and were wowed by how good it was! She definitely won in the food ordering. I would get that next time and highly recommend it to anyone! Overall it was really good! We were all satisfied!

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    Arepas On Wheels

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    Food was totally amazing, I would definitely order from here again…read more We've had their truck food and had some delivered and both were great. I've had the pork black beans plantain egg and cheese arepa a few times and it's awesome. I got it recently in bowl form with an arepa on the side and it was a ton of food for the value. My boyfriend had a sliced steak arepa maybe with avocado and it was also very good. The empanadas are also amazing!! Food is knockout and the arepas are stuffed full for what you pay. So good. Definitely would order again!

    I was in the shopping center and decided to stop by Arepas on Wheels on a whim for a Venezuelan…read morelunch since I saw their open sign was on! I didn't know what to expect but we decided to try their Pabellon beef bowl and the beef and pork empanadas. Everything came out quick and the empanadas seemed to have been made to order and were hot when brought out to us. The empanadas were crispy, hot, and full of meat filling. The Pabellon bowl came with an arepa on the side. It was our first times having arepa and we enjoyed the saltiness flavor of it. The denseness of the arepa was a new experience for the both of us, it's something that you just have to try for yourself! The bowl goes well with the light, creamy sauce that is brought out with it. The staff are kind and helpful, glad to have been able to support a local business in Charlottesville!

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    I always go for the pupusas! They're fresh and made to order, have plenty of meat and cheese. The…read moretacos and rice are also great.

    The name of this market has been changed to: Cielito Lindo, which is a popular Spanish song and…read moreroughly translated means "Lovely Sweet One" although "cielo" means heaven and "lindo" means pretty - combined this phrase is typically a term of endearment. This tidy little Latino market carries many Hispanic, Mexican and South American products. Being of Cuban descent, I frequently head to this site for Goya products, including rice, black beans, plantains, Adobo spices, coffee, Maria cookies, fresh fruits and veggies, tomato items, empanada shells and my "never be without" Mojo Criollo Goya marinade. This marinade truly is the spice of life and I use it in many of my recipes! You will also find baked goods, household items, and sundries at this store. There's a deli/butcher in the back and a frozen food section. There's also a small restaurant and pupuseria serving Latin fare, from Cuban sandwiches to tacos to tostones to tamales to yucca to soups/sides and more. They serve Cuban coffee, horchata, Latin sodas, and other drinks and some tempting desserts, like flan and tres leches cake. For an inexpensive, quick bite in a casual, no nonsense eatery with lots of festive atmosphere, you've gotta try Cielito Lindo, it really is "a slice of heaven". And not to worry if you don't speak Spanish, some of the folks there speak English. ¡Provecho!

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    La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant

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    3.9
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    When driving up I was nervous about what to expect when I went inside. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised. It looked as though this place had recently undergone a remodel . It was clean and nicely decorated. My friend and l visited on a early Wednesday evening. We were seated immediately. After being seated it did take a little while for someone to take our order. But it wasn't too bad. The menu had a lot of appealing options. Only select items had prices on them. For appetizers we chose the oxtail empanada with cheese and the larger potato ball. Drinks we had mango margaritas which were on a happy hour specials for 5.99 ( Happy Hour is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m daily!) For dinner I had peril( roasted pork) with white rice and beans and sweet plantains. My friend had the roasted pork sandwiches between plantains. Pernil could have used more seasoning but was very tender 7/10 Potato ball- well seasoned, piping hot! 10/10 Mango Margarita 10/10 Oxtail empanada - not a lot of meat and kind of expensive for the size. $9.99. 6/10 Overall, I had a good experience and will definitely be back to try more items on the menu and another Margarita amd Potato ball.

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    Bocata Arepa Bar - venezuelan - Updated June 2026

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