ArePA George

I'm reviewing the pop-up at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. I ordered the arepa with beef and avocado and I think it's one of the yummiest things I've ever eaten. "Sweet plantains""Well, I love all plantains so--""I will put them in. You will love them."I love them. I'm excited to learn that there is a stable location to visit!

The updated vegetarian arepa leaves alot to be desired from when I first tried it years ago here. The restaurant has been updated to accommodate more seating, but the prices have increased and the quality/ presentation was very disappointing. There was no complexity in texture and flavors anymore. What is pictures on yelp is not accurate anymore -I received large chunks of California/Mediterranean mixed veggies stuffed inside with a side of sauce. What happened to the bitable pieces of vegetables, plus the crispy broccoli carrots slaw like veggies on top? Sooo disappointed I probably will never return. They do finely offer a vegan empanada with spinach and mushroom which were tasty but a bit over priced.

This was our first time here and overall good experience. We were seated and provided menus- although there are no prices on the actual menu- you have to use a QR scanner to go online to view prices. We ordered the sampler which had 4 different things to try- everything was good except one of the items was cold in the middle...We also ordered 2 Arepa's- one chicken and one beef. The beef one was tasty, but dripping oil which was not something I was expecting. It's wrapped in paper but the paper was wet too and leaking out. The chicken one came out with a spicy sauce which was really nice and the beef came out with a mayo based sauce. We also ordered a drink which was really good. Nice staff and good food- a bit steep for what we ordered. Before tip it was $65 which I'm not sure if the appetizer was worth the $22.

My best friend brought her Colombian son to Chicago from Baltimore. I looked for the most authentic food I could find and I found ArePA George! Her son missed Colombian food so much and was so happy to have a taste of home. The staff was very kind and helpful! Give this spot a try!

I stopped by here on a walk because I wanted some fuel since I planned to walk several miles, and I've had this place bookmarked. I ordered a beef empanada and mango juice (with a water base, not a milk base) to go, although the inside seems very cute and a lovely place to have a dine-in meal. I loved the mango juice (and I'm snobby about mango flavored things and mangoes lol) and absolutely would come back for both the juice, beef empanada, and to try more things. Highly recommend this delicious Colombian place.

Hole in the wall Colombian restaurant in Humboldt park, featuring an intimate interior and very friendly staff accommodating of dietary restrictions. The arepas here were delicious, but my favorite dish was the ajiaco- a hearty soup featuring three different types of potatoes and shredded chicken. This is quite literally the perfect dish for a cold Chicago winter day. Must try this place!

Quaint Columbian restaurant located in Humboldt park interested in serving the community for years now. They're small in business but mighty in heart as the family works together to tun the business. My friend and I came here for dinner on a Tuesday night to indulge and see what their cuisine was like as well as the vegan options they have. We ordered six empanadas - two chicken, two cheese and two veggies. The options listed aren't all they offer so be sure to inquire of all the flavors they have! The cheese were super cheesy (stretch test approved) and not dry but after one you're done. The chicken is good but top it with the hot salsa and it's bomb. The veggie one is alright. I recommend mincing the spinach for better bites. Super crunchy thick crust on the empanada and worth the price to size ratio. For dinner, I ordered the vegan chimichurri rice dish. Disclaimer: while it says only for lunch, they do make it for dinner as well. Just let the server know that. My friend ordered the Arepa mix (pork and chorizo as the meats) as well as the montanero dish. The chimichurri rice just tasted like broccoli and white buttered rice to me. The beans to accompany was cute but I felt a fried plantain should've been added to elevate the dish. It was too plain and the flavors just sat there. My friend stated his dishes were top tier. A lot of meat for the price but could've used more spicy sauce. The meat was tender and juicy. I will say the real true entrees, will leave you full and satisfied but then again it's mostly meat base so you have to account for that as well. I'd be interested in returning to try their patacones or arepas.

We live within walking distance from ArePa and decided to give it a try. We tried the empanadas, the mixed grill plate and a cheese arepa. All were very tasty and filling and full of flavor. I loved the arepa though it was full of cheese and so gooey. Ambiance was small but inviting and the service was attentive. Definitely will be visiting for an arepa again.

There is free parking along Humbolt Park which is convenient. The place is a small family restaurant with about a dozen 2 people tables, so don't expect a lot of ambience. The servers were quick and efficient with requests, but I didn't see any above and beyond services. It is a small establishment so quick service for turnarounds are totally understandable. It is our first time dining there, so I ordered a variety of dishes to try. I had high expectations of the Arepas that the restaurant is named for, but found it to be hard and tough on texture. We had the steak, chicken and mushroom, and pork belly arepas. The empandas came out hot and tasty. We tried the beef, chicken, cheese & plantain, and cheese and guava. Whether the dish was described as pork belly, roast port, or just pork, it was chicharron that was in the dish. The chicharron seems to have been refried so it was dry and the pork skin was chewy instead of crunchy which was a disappointment. The 3 papa rellenas came out cold as if it was barely microwaved warm or frozen and not thawed enough before frying. The Bandeja Paisa was an interesting combination and very flavorful. Portion is big enough for 2 people. The Tamal reminded me of a large version of the tamale except wrapped in plantain leave instead of corn leaves. The Arroz con Pollo has a lot of flavor, but the shredded chicken is too dry. It is the same chicken used in the Arepas, but there was cheese in the chicken mushroom Arepas, so was not as obvious. I will probably pass on trying the Pico (too salty) and Tostones (too dry, but not cruchy) and the Chicharron with fried cassava (no flavor) and no dip to make it more palatable. I will pass on the El Parce as well. The fried chicken was too dry. 5 people and above, they treat it as a large party and automatically add 18% gratuity. Considering inflation and tip inflation in particular, I thought it was a smart move for a small business to stay viable.

the price, in my opinion is too high in some items. The empanadas $3 bucks for a miniature. Waiting time is okay. Good Ambience.