Caracas Arepa Bar

The arepa is not quite a snack, but then it’s not quite a meal either. It’s a Venezuelan corn cake, crisp on the outside and steamy-soft in the middle, stuffed with fillings like chorizo and queso blanco; or shredded beef, black beans, and cotija cheese. At Caracas Arepa Bar, they’re even given regal names like Reina Pepiada (chicken and avocado salad) and Hot Queen (chicken and sautéed peppers). They come in 14 varieties and are served in plastic baskets, like burgers, only instead of ketchup and fries, you get to enjoy them with bowls of nata (sour cream) and fried plantains.