Arepa Please

Oh my god this place is a must for any local or for anyone just passing thru!! A true Jacksonville staple. Amazing food, service, and atmosphere!!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

DELICIOUS arepas that did not make me or my celiac kiddo sick. They also let me substitute avocado for the fried plantain at no additional cost. The young lady working the register was also lovely and very helpful.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for dinner
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Good vegetarian options
• Offers online ordering

Love the arepas here, never had any reaction. They are HUGE and yummy.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

The arepas are amazing, love to be able to have delicious gluten free food. All the arepas are GF.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good vegetarian options

I stopped by on our way through Jacksonville. I’m celiac and extremely sensitive, but we had a wonderful experience! The staff was knowledgeable and, like everyone else said, warned me about the shared fryer for the plantains. I got the Queen arepa and my husband (non-celiac) got the Jax blond and we both thoroughly enjoyed our meal!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I had The Queen, which is chicken salad with avocado and a cilantro sauce in an arepa. Excellent! Staff was knowledgeable and said I could not have plantains as previous diners have reported. I’d definitely return.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Great food! Arepas are gluten free but the fried plantains share a fryer.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Venezuelan-American deli fusion serving up arepas (ground maize dough) stuffed with what naught. The arepas are GF, prepped and pressed in a GF, dedicated area/warmer. The arepas unstuffed are good enough to eat by themselves. At $3.50 each, a few of these and a tea would make a decent meal. They slice them and butter the inside so if not into milk ask about the butter. There are a lot of arepa GF “stuffing” options: The Queen, a kind of chicken salad with avocado, and The La Catina with shredded chicken and cheese. There’s a Jax Blond with shredded beef, a Just Cheese with… just cheese, and perfect that way. The staff seem well aware of their ingredients and importance of conscientious preparation: they gave us a heads up that they won’t serve us plantains ‘cause they are fried in a mixed fryer, and when I tried to order a cachapa, described innocently enough on the menu as “sweet corn pancake with fried cheese in the middle”, they said it wouldn’t work because the pancake is 75% corn and 25% regular flour. That kind of awareness put us at ease that we were being properly guided. They also let us know that they have bread in the kitchen. You can take a topping from one of the wraps or “items from the grill”, like the Philly cheesesteak, and substitute an Arepa for the tasty looking but forbidden soft but crisp roasted wheat-based sub roll. With the deli angle there are things for kids: fries, burgers, a few others. The staff are warm and welcoming and couldn’t be more pleasant. Looking forward to trying more.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free space in the kitchen
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout

All of the Arepas are gluten free and delicious. We have been several times and one arepa is plenty for a good lunch

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Tried a Queen salad and The Jax arepa. Both were amazing and portion size was larger than I was expecting. Staff very helpful and the restaurant is very neat inside.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Food was fabulous. All arepas are gf and they also have amazing Greek salads. Very friendly. They have the added bonus of parking!!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I was a little concerned when I first walked in, but everything turned out great. All their arepas are gluten free. I tried 3 different ones. All were good, and I didn't get sick 😊 It's a nice casual atmosphere and all the staff are very friendly. Not only would I go back, but I want to go back.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Knowledgeable about gluten free and their arepas are gluten free. Very helpful.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Overall the experience wasn’t bad. The food was tasty, however they were out of chicken (which is what I really wanted). I was a bit nervous about whether or not it was gluten free because when I asked they didn’t seem 100% confident. But I did not get sick and would like to try it again when they have chicken!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

I have Celiac and I stopped in one day to check them out for lunch. After speaking with the woman at the counter, she assured me that the arepa options are all gluten free and cooked in a dedicated space (not dedicated gf per se, but dedicated for making the arepas, which are gf). I ordered the PABELLON (signature shredded beef with sweet plantains, queso blanco on a bed of black beans, stuffed between 2 corn cakes/arepas)

Not only was it delicious - I am very sensitive to gluten and cc and did not get sick. Give them a try-I will definitely be back!

Celiac friendly?

Yes