Been here a few times- amazing every time!

Ordered two arepas (#4 A Vegana Picante and #11 A Parrillada) and they were both fantastic. Flavors and textures were perfection. Highly recommend! Reasonable prices, very friendly service and love that it's a family owned local business!

I wish the menu had more side items + I felt like the portion to price ratio was outsized some, but the food was delicious at least!

Excellent vibe, great food & friendly staff. Had arepas for the first time and it was very nice to see that they had vegan/vegetarian options too. Their drinks are also freshly made, so that's a big plus too. All in all, definitely recommended to visit if you're in this area of Brooklyn.

This place continues to impress. Came back to visit after moving out if the area, and I must say it was worth the drive. The empanada dough was tender and crispy with a hint of sweet and the perfect complement to the savory meat fillings. The arepas were stuffed and filled with delicious goodness. We only got the green sauce in our to go bag. I truly missed the creamy red sauce they usually serve. I'm happy we made the drive from Long Island

Came here randomly during a drop at OPC and I have to say I’m impressed! Nothing fancy in decor but the food is spot on. Also the cocktail I got was actually perfect! (Mothers migraine it was a Mezcal cocktail really well done!) this empanada (shredded beef) is bangin and only $6. Highly recommend if u go to a restaurant for the tastiness of the food and drink and not the bk “scene”!

Always a great place to go. I do wish there were more vegetarian options, still a great spot to come with friends, the boo or fam.

Really enjoyed this place and were happy we stumbled upon it. We got an arepa and one of their specialty dishes - everything was great and full of flavor. Service was super friendly and the interior was cozy and warm.

Arepas were so great. Love the sauces on the table. Empanadas were pretty big and made from corn. The cocada was refreshing. I cant wait to come back

The food is amazing, our sever Emmanuel was incredibly kind, and the atmosphere is chill and relaxed. Highly recommend the empanadas!

Great food, great service ! If you coming to brooklyn to take some pictures of graffit art just make sure to stop here first .

I have never had a bad experience here. I’m vegetarian and the vegetarian arepa is what dreams are made of. I’ve ordered delivery + eaten at the restaurant and the food quality was impeccable both ways.

One of the best arepas I’ve had ever!

I've been there twice and love everything they have on their menu.

I love the vegetarian arepa! I added chicken for $3 more and it was stuffed! The toastones, rice and beans were also good. And the cocktails were great. My rum punch was perfectly blended.

The best of the best. The cachapa was flavorful and delicious- I’ll be back for sure!

This spot has been around forever. I remember having it about 7+ years ago and loving. Just went back today and was blown away. The rice and beans? My god. Trust me, it looks unassuming but the magic and seasonings they put in those beans is next level. Also got the arepa (forgot the name) with shredded beef, beans, cheese and plantains. The beef was delicious. The addition of plantains added a great sweetness. Highly recommend and dont sleep on those rice and beans!!

Service wasn't perfect, but the staff and guests had a great energy. Love the vibe, decor and food. A few good dairy, vegetarian options.

So fresh and delicious! Make sure you get a beverage too... I had the Cocada on a hot day and it hit the spot

My favorite restaurant in NYC. If you want an excellent, classic arepa, look no further. The staff is friendly, attentive, and great with allergies (even if you have a lot, like me). Everyone I’ve taken here loves it, and so do I.

Love love love - their seafood soup and traditional Venezuelan dish of rice, beans, meat, with an arepa and plantains are our absolutely favorites. We always look forward to eating here and will go back again and again.

Hats off to the chef. Rolando provided good service. Thanx.

Great food at an affordable price backed by outstanding service. The portion sizes are generous! The pulled pork empanada was moist and delicious, the shredded beef arepa had a lot of tasty meat. The setting is clean and modest and it was great to drink ice cold beer from Costa Rica to cool off 😎!!

This place is AMAZING!!! The food is delicious. Their reina pepiada is phenomenal! Definitely coming back!

Very fresh arepas and meat. I take everyone here because it makes you feel full but not heavy. Generous portions. Only one time did I feel mildly disappointed by the quality but we did show up 30 minutes before the kitchen closed. Understandable!

Nice place for Venezuelan food; casual vibe with delicious and simple arepas. Their cachapa is also very good.

+4

Vegetarian empanada 👍👍👍👍. Beans, cheese, plantain, coconut and jalapeno sounds weird but totally works and so good. Every empanada made fresh from scratch to order. And the staff cares.

If you're craving typical Venezuelan arepas then this is the place for you. If you've never tried Venezuelan arepas this is also the place for you. Perfectly crispy shell with a soft pillowy interior and a wide variety of classic fillings as well as some originals to choose from. Best enjoyed with a glass of fresh juice. Friendly Venezuelan staff, great service.

Great food and service. Always love some good fried plantains.

Great range of arepas, with veg/vegan options too. The light green garlic sauce is 👌. They were super accommodating with our group of 20+!

Came here at night and it’s a very nice place with the candles on the tables, the place is decent in size, tables are close to each other and there was a bathroom. The host was nice, I ordered an arepa a Pabellon, Empanada de Queso and a Cocado which was an Amazing Coconut milk shake. It all tasted delicious and I would really recommend this place to you. The prices are also average depending on what you ask for.

Their food and drinks are just perfect, one of my favorite places in the neighborhood, You should definitely try reina pepiada.

You have to stop here if you are in bushwick. Get the tequeños y take advantage of the green sauce

After a friend suggested we go, me and another friend went there with high hopes. We ordered the shredded fish arepas, rice and beans with plantains sprinkled with cheese. It was sooooooooo good! I highly recommend this restaurant.

Great place i tried the 24 slow cooked beef with the mash potatoes and two empanadas with yummy juice . Waitress and staff were very friendly highly recommended

Amazing place, really original and authentic Venezuela 🇻🇪 food in here plus service was just super friendly and helpful, what else can you ask for? just give it a try, you'll thanks me later ☺

Had lunch with a Canadian tourist yesterday at Arepera Guacoco in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Venezuelan cuisine hit the spot. No wait. Seated immediately. Quiet place. Staff came over whenever we needed anything. She knew exactly when and to stay out of our hair while our group caught up chit chatting. Started with a large pitcher of red sangria, which was quite strong. I ordered the Reina Pepada, which was incredible! Every bite was a tiny piece of heaven. They also brought us 4 sauces. Verde a little spicy, a vegetable mayo sauce which tasted fresh and two other mayo sauces. All dairy free. Inflation and popularity have impacted them as prices went up quite a bit since 2019 when we last ate there. Can't wait to return!

As I was walking along Bushwick I started to feel hungry. Being that it has been a while since I had an arepa I decided to come here and to my pleasant surprise they had one named after me. This service was fast and the my namesake arepa satitated the void I had felt. I look forward to trying the other items when I get the chance again.

+2

Absolutely stellar meal. Went on a whim, listened to the recommendations from our very kind server (#6 and #9), and left happy.

I’ve tried the reina pepiada arepa!!! Thank you guys, this is so good!!

I had the A Leo’s Arepa and the passion fruit juice. The pork was very well seasoned. The tomato and avocado tasted fresh and I enjoyed the selection of sauces as well.

Very good arepas. The place was nice, good attentive service. I got the passionfruit juice which was absolutely delicious.

The arepas were delicious!!! And their sauces are perfect! Make sure you try the Pabellon area! Soooo good!

+3

If you like colour and wall art its a great area to walk about.I love the original individual graffiti,many small places to stop off along the way and lots of art in different forms.

+1

The ambience, and food here are amazing! From the moment I sat down until I left, my table was attended with professionalism and care! The Leo arepa is a must have! It’s so delicious! I also had the chicken empanada which had the right flavors! I’m definitely going back and I recommend this spot to anyone looking for some good Arepas!

This place was soooo good! Small with the Venezuelan vibe. The food was AMAZING! It was so good we went back on our last day because we wanted it to be the last thing we ate before we went back home! We ordered arepas (reina pepiada and the vegetarian with black beans), the asopado de mariscos and the cachapa… it was CHEFS KISS!!!! I highly recommend!!!

Pamela Poppe

Amazing food and drinks in a clean and cool atmosphere. The Leo’s Arepa and Sangria are top notch. Such amazing customer service and food. Also enjoyed the rum punch and pernil arepa. Honestly can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Vivian Rogan

Small and cozy, fresh and delicious food made to order, super friendly staff. Had the stuffed arepa with shredded beef, plantain, added avocado, and drank the lemonade with molasses last week, still thinking about how delicious it all was. Will be back for the rest of the menu :)

Grace Murray

After I moved from Washington heights I was so sad because I love cachapas but didn’t know where to get a good one—this one is so bomb (several diff meat options) and the guys that work there are very nice and helpful about answering questions on the menu. I took my bestie here who is—let’s just say not-so-adventurous in eating and she tried tostones the first time and was obsessed. It’s also very affordable for what you get and the vibe is casual but it’s cute!

Judith Vasquez

I regret not coming here earlier. They focus on good meats and vegetables with satisfying serving sizes. This represents peak attention to customers. The spot offers a contemporary, sanitary environment. I appreciate this restaurant completely.

Terixo Smitix

This spot is new to me and serves some seriously impressive food. Their cooking feels amateur. I make repeated visits to this restaurant. The staff balances rapid service with friendliness. I'm truly impressed by all aspects here and plan frequent returns !

Laura Lacy

This place has been around for a while and is still consistently delicious. They’re usually busy but be patient because the food is so good you’ll be glad you ordered from them. Always order extra green sauce! I could drink that stuff.

Juan King

The menu offers delicious options and the servers are friendly. These dishes become conversation topics. The food has always satisfied me and the serving sizes are just right. Team members are useful and outgoing. I give this restaurant perfect ratings.

Green Tree

This is one of my favorite spots. Great to pick up some empanadas to go and great for a nice sit down dinner. Always have a great experience. The food is awesome. Staff is friendly. Will be back again soon!!

Angel Hsu

Best arepas I’ve ever had. The meat melts in your mouth and each arepa is packed with all sorts of fresh flavors. I love the shredded beef with cheese, avocado, plantains, and black beans. The sweet savory combination is so good. Cocktails are to die for as well. It’s a small place, not a ton of seating, so get there early. Turnover though, is decently fast. You will not regret coming here.

Hayley

Friends and I went around 8:30pm, nice ambience with low lighting and “lanterns” on the table. Not busy at all and service was good. 3/4 of us got empanadas, they are huge in my opinion. 1 was enough for dinner and I took my second home to warm up the next day for lunch, it was also still good after being reheated. I would definitely get food there again.

Margaret Pulgarin

Cute cozy spot, quick and courteous. The beef maduros were absolutely delicious! My favorite were the huevos rancheros, they were a little spicy but sooo good!!

Very nice surprise discovery around my house and great choice before heading to the theatre. The portions are small but very tasty and just a little pricey. Service was good, nothing to write home about yet the support staff was more engaging then the waiter.

Great food, and great service. Food sometimes take awhile to come though.

The food was decent and the service was pretty good. We tried quite a few arepas - but my fav was steak. The coconut milkshake is a must try. I just found it a bit pricey for the serving size!

Have visited many times and i have to say food and service has always been great. However I visited again yesterday at around 6 pm for a take out order and it seems the guy at the registered must have been having a bad day since he made a big deal over serving us extra to go sauces for our order. We then requested a pinnaple sauce to go and he said he didn't have any. He must have thought we did not notice the container right behind him on the counter but we did not say anymore as to not make a big deal over it. Besides our encounter with this guy, the food continues to be great.

Delicious arepas, nice staff! I just found it to be a little pricey for what it was, especially the vegetarian one.

The table sauces were amazing on everything! Had a huge Mixta Salad and the Chicken Salad Arepa. Perfect! Also had some other great apps and tasted the coconut milkshake! Delish!

This was a quaint spot, with great arepas and friendly and quick service, though we felt that the portions were rather small. An arepa ranged between $7 and $10. The Papelon con Limon($3) was excellent, a beautifully refreshing drink for a sweltering day.

Wanted a quick bite and I’ve been craving empanadas for a minute so I really enjoyed their carne mechada empanada. The dough was extra doughy and chewy with plenty of meat filling!

Food tasted great, very casual setting and friendly, attentive staff. Do think some of the menu was a little overpriced given the portion size, including the arepas which don’t come with any side either, but overall good experience.

went here to try the empanadas. the meat itself and the sauces were great, but the batter was a little too fluffy/doughy for my taste. still delicious, although a bump down from the better empanadas i've tried in the city. very friendly and fast service, the prices are pretty reasonable for the area, and the environment is warm and inviting. definitely somewhere to stop into if it's convenient.

Delicious! Everything was seasoned to perfection

Came here for lunch since I was in the neighborhood. Food is a little on the pricier side compared to the arepas I get in Queens but nonetheless it’s delicious. Service was average but food came out quick.

Authentic Venezuelan flavors !! Small,but comfortable place,the waiter's are very professionals,they explain everything you ask for. Our food was Tasty and well seasoned. The Cachapas(corn dough pancakes)were delightful and the Arepas(cheese)very yummy. Please try The Asopado(seafood soup).

The cocada was DIVINE. I literally attempted to replicate it at home and failed. I highly recommend getting this drink when you come here. I got the Leo’s Arepa and Pabellón Criollo. The arepa was sooooo good, I wish they had more cheese because it really complemented the meat and sauces. The actual arepa bun was the best though. Very crispy on the outside and tasted homemade. The pabellón criollo was delicious just a bit pricey since everything on the plate could fit inside the arepa- which then it would just be more reasonable to just get an arepa, which is this places specialty to begin with. Great customer service, very clean and great food!! Please don’t forget to stop by for the cocada, it’s DELICIOUS.

• cocada - got it with no rum. initial sip was creamy. not too sweet with nutty undertones. i think it’s something you have to finish quickly because i let it sit out halfway for a little bit and it was icy/ bland by then. notes was immediately greeted by a lovely lady. service was accommodating and i was in and out with ease. overall, tasty drink!

Really enjoyed the thick crust empanada. Torta was also well portion and had a homemade feel! Could skip the fish imo.

The carne mechada empanada was delicious!!! But the marquesa de chocolate has the weirdest taste… so sad cause I was really excited to have marquesa after a long time…

Valeria Escrich

The tequeños were crispy, the hallaca was good, and the salad was okay—it depends on how much mayo you like. The pernil, however, was terrible. The service was excellent, with very friendly and welcoming staff. The prices are high. Great atmosphere, good music, and good vibes.

+2

Christine Kim

i had the arepa pabellón. as other reviewers pointed out, the portion initially feels a little small but end up being perfect for one person. flavor wise it was pretty good - the beans and shredded beef were well seasoned. i did prefer to have it with the provided sauces. the arepa shell was fried nicely, not too oily but crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Christian Stueve

Look to be honest I don't know what a fair price is for Arepas or an Arepa sandwich for that matter all I know is that they may appear small but I had one and was full for a long time. The beef the chicken arepa sandwichs where both winners to me. We also had the fried cheese which was better than any mozzarella stick in the area. The service was friendly and pretty quick also.

Melany xo

Food was alright, but service could improve though. Got seated pretty quickly and put the order in quickly as well, but it did take about 40 minutes to prepare everything I have pictured. The arepa was a bit hard and very dry. Everything else was pretty good.

Dwight Kenneth

Food was AMAZING!!!!! Cannot complain about the service, the atmosphere was very clean and the server was super friendly. I was just a bit disappointed in the portions to price ratio. For that reason I have to give them 4 stars. Of the portions were bigger or if the price was a bit cheaper, I would have given them 5 stars. Trust and believe this food is beyond AMAZING!!! Highly recommend the shredded chicken or the beef with sweet plantains + beans.

+9

Usually it’s amazing but today I ordered a pabellón and a pernil and 2 pernil arepas arrived, and honestly it’s the first time they’re very bad, the flour was soggy and the pernil was meh, donno what happened today… is the chef having a bad day? Disappointed

Maybe my expectations were a little to high, because I was a bit disappointed. I got two arepas which are on the traditional side, the Reina Pepiada and the Pabellon, but they were both just ok, probably wouldn' t come back for it. Also they are not exactly cheap, 7-8 dollars for each. On the other side the service was pretty good, nice people. The passion fruit juice was great too, remind me of home (I'm from Brazil).

I’ve been to the one on BedStuy too and brought a group of 6 here on a random Saturday night. The food is small and expensive for the portions and taste. The drinks were pretty good though. We had extra charges on our bill for things we didn’t order. I had to ask the server a total of three times before it got fixed correctly. This rubbed us the wrong ways because in a group with people ordering multiple different things, it easy to miss these details but we had an extra $28 added to our bill. Add on to that the fact that they add a 20% gratuity to the bill….for what service? We were about to overpay for things we didn’t order. Don’t think we’ll be coming back.

had high hopes for this place cause its always busy but i found the food dry and bland.

A little disappointed if I am being honest. I ordered an arepa, it was expensive for the 3 slices of meat it came with. And the cheese was not even melted. I really expected the shredded cheese to be melted. I was still hungry after it and had to order an empanada. It was good but the dough was sweet, not as expected. The staff was great. But overall the price to tastyness of the food was just ehhh.

Danny Altamirano

Food is ok, waiter is nice(Price seem elevated for two things and a drink). But it is not the real Venezuelan food, other olaces taste much bettee. The cook is Mexican and the arepa mass was dry, and the pabellon had too much fluid. Guys with the glasses seem upset why? Idk.

I came here so excited to try arepas& as an afro latina I greeted and ordered in spanish but the man taking my order refused to adknowdlege me speaking spanish and continued responding in English and i was asking questions and instead of answering he shoved a paper menu in my face. The whole interaction and receiving my food, cashier had an attitude, even when given my food i said thank you and was just given a look of disgust . I ordered the mini cheese arepas and the food was okay. the only flavor was in the sauce but it was hard to enjoy after this disheartening interaction.

I’ve been here about three times the first 2 was ok but last time… starting with the fact that the prices increased about 20% or so… that’s about 2 dollars per item but what really killed it for me was the service with the food taking a little long, which I understand but the server comes and deliver our check just a few minutes after the food arrives and then 10 more minutes and she is getting the plates away even though we haven’t finished our food or drinks and I’m talking about at least half arepa on the plate (plastic basket) we paid about $130 for three people which to me wasn’t worth it. So disappointed I used to like this place.

On Tuesday the 24th, my fiancé and I ordered from Arepera Guacuco after confirming online (Google + multiple delivery apps) that they were OPEN and accepting pickup orders. We placed the order through Toast and decided to walk there to pick it up. There was snow everywhere from Monday and the walk was not easy. We get there, lights off, doors locked. Completely closed. So now we’re standing outside in the cold with no dinner and no explanation, scrambling to find another place last minute. The next day, we checked again while trying to resolve the issue. I get it… mistakes can happen but next day when our call wasn’t answered we passed by (not convenient we don’t live close it) and again showing open online. Still closed. By the third day, we called again. The server told us he can’t do refunds and would have to “pass the message to the owner.” We gave our information. We didn’t write a bad review even though it’s been days… It is now day FOUR at 1pm. No refund. No call. No accountability. This is just ridiculous and I cannot be on top of this every day, if I forget and don’t insist it looks like we won’t ever get our refund. So yes now I leave a review because it was been annoying trying to get a refund If you are closed, update your hours. If you take someone’s money without providing the meal, refund it immediately. This is basic business integrity. Extremely disappointing.

Zain Aziz

BEWARE: A couple weeks ago when eating from this restaurant I found a small pebble among my lentils and chipped one of my teeth. After sharing this with the restaurant, I received extremely rude treatment, including being called a liar by employees and receiving no response (not even an acknowledgment or apology) from the owner. I have no problem with the food here, but if you want to support a small business I’d suggest going somewhere where they actually care about their customers.

Débora L

About two weeks ago, we visited Guacuco for lunch. Since we have a newborn, we wanted to sit outside to avoid crowds. I arrived exactly at 12:00 PM — their posted opening time — and was completely ignored by the woman inside. When she finally acknowledged me, she said the restaurant wasn’t open yet and asked for 15 minutes. That was fine with me, so I politely asked if we could sit outside and wait while they got ready. She ignored me again several times, even as I repeated the question more clearly. Eventually, she responded quite rudely, saying, “We’re not open yet!” I was shocked by how dismissive and unprofessional she was. It’s really disappointing to have this kind of experience in our own neighborhood, especially when we love trying new local spots. Sadly, after this interaction, we won’t be returning — and I wouldn’t recommend this place to others. (Note: The doors were open and the outdoor tables were already set, which is why I thought it would be okay to sit and wait.)

Franklin trujillo

A very disappointing experience at Guacuco, located at 44 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237. I first visited this restaurant a couple of years ago, and back then the food was excellent. Unfortunately, this time it was terrible. I ordered a seafood soup and it was served cold. The “tostones” were a joke: they didn’t look like tostones at all, just peeled and sliced plantains without any sense of presentation or aesthetics, barely topped with a bit of meat and cheese. My companion ordered a pabellón, which was completely bland and flavorless. The service wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good either—just mediocre, with no effort to make the experience better. Overall, the quality of the food has declined drastically, and I left feeling very disappointed. I do not recommend this place at