Las Vegas strip malls are where you can find some of the best hole-in-the-walls we’ve got. Take Viva Las Arepas, which began in the kiosk now occupied by Goodwich, and gained such a following it needed a bigger kitchen and an actual dining room. If you’ve never eaten the Venezuelan street snack, arepas are savory, griddled cornmeal cakes that are stuffed with a wide variety of ingredients. I prefer them chock full, as in the Reina Pepiada, which has chicken breast, avocados, mayo, and cilantro. Vegetarians can opt for vegetables, black beans, or cheese, or all three. Other than the arepas, the roasted, marinated chicken is a big seller here, cooked over mesquite wood for nice char and flavor. Add in a few authentic sides, like fried yucca or plantain, for a filling and tasty, but still inexpensive, meal.
Las Vegas› Restaurant
Viva Las Arepas
1616 Las Vegas Blvd S. (at Oakey Blvd.)
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours
Sat–Mon 8am–10pm, Fri 8am–midnight
Phone
702/366-9696
Prices
Main courses $4–$15
Cuisine Type
Venezuelan
Web site
Viva Las Arepas
Map
1616 Las Vegas Blvd S. Las VegasNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.