Arepa Please

T Mccool

4 months ago · vía Google

This place honestly felt like vacation, like stumbling upon a hidden local gem while exploring side streets in a cruise port, in all the best ways. I pass it otw to work and have been wanting to try it for at least a year. Mostly bc I had no idea what an arepa was. I had time today. The food is made to order, fresh not fast, so bring your patience. It's absolutely worth it. The menu has arepas, wraps, salads and even a burger. Beer, coffee and fresh juices were available. I was pleasantly surprised to find several "no meat" options. I went with the Flying Monkey. It looked similar to a pita but definitely wasn't. I struggled figuring out how to eat it properly since picking it up sandwich-style just wasn't working. I ended up using a fork. The flavors were divine. The black beans complemented the cheese perfectly, and the plantains added the perfect kick of sweetness. I ate the whole thing! My friend had what she declared "the best BLT she's ever had," served wrap-style. We also split two empanadas—10/10. Just a heads up: it's busier than it looks. They had a constant stream of visitors on a rainy Saturday after 3pm, plus tons of to-go orders being prepared. Again, bring your patience. Price point- most items were $12-16. Highly recommend.

Herb

2 months ago · vía Google

I stopped by this Venezuelan spot in Jacksonville and ordered the chicken gyro platter, and I have to say — it was a ton of food for such an affordable price. The portion size alone makes it worth the visit. The biggest surprise for me was the fries. They were absolutely out of this world. I’m pretty sure they were lightly battered because they had that perfect crispy, golden exterior with an amazing crunch, while the inside stayed soft and fluffy. Honestly, some of the best fries I’ve had in a long time. The chicken itself was flavorful and well-cooked, though I wish it had been cut into smaller pieces. The chunks were fairly large, which made it feel a bit less traditional in style and slightly harder to eat. I was also expecting a bit more bold seasoning or a stronger Venezuelan flair in the spices. That said, the sauce paired with it was delicious and really brought everything together. The only downsides were that the food took a little longer than expected to come out, and my Diet Coke was a bit flat. Still, the generous portions, great fries, and solid flavors make this place worth checking out if you’re in the area.

David

3 months ago · vía Google

Wow oh wow. Take time and come here. Absolutely phenomenal. Hidden gem. So many options, I don’t think you can go wrong. The Jax blonde was exceptionally well seasoned. You may think it’s like Barbacoa or maybe crockpot beef, but you would be wrong. It was bursting with flavor. Empenada was great. A little oily, but well seasoned and crunchy. Great beer pricing. Sangria was like a mulled wine. Rich, fruity, heavily spiced. Takes a few sips for it to settle down but I liked it. Looking forward to coming back.

Maddie Mae

2 months ago · vía Google

Super delicious arepas! I got the Queen and the Jax Bond and both were amazing. The fresh blackberry juice was also phenomenal. The staff was very friendly and know exactly what was gluten free and what wasn’t (plenty of GF options!) and asked if I had an allergy. As someone very allergic to gluten, I felt comfortable and safe eating here which is always a struggle for me. It also has a fun, clean, chill atmosphere (almost coffee shop vibes). I’d absolutely come back!

Stephanie Holbrook

5 months ago · vía Google

Wow! This food here is flavorful and delicious. Highly recommend the Jax Blond. The server gave us their cheese sticks, tequenos, which were amazing. Be careful when taking a bit though, can be a little messy. I can’t wait to go back and try other items. It gets pretty busy at lunch and could use better seating but totally worth stopping in.