Maria's Cafe
You'll want to get breakfast at Maria's, and luckily they serve it all day, so it's not hard to fit it in. Jeff Mauro likes the corn pancakes (cachapas venezolanas if you're being authentic), made with corn flour, butter and cut corn, and sprinkled with sharp Cotija cheese.
La Latina
This Venezuelan joint with a playful, vibrant vibe offers classic staples from the home country, including a pork and cheese arepa that has Richard Blais hooked. A slightly sweet dough made from corn flour, water, salt and oil is formed into a tiny cake that’s grilled until crisp, then sliced through the middle and stuffed with salty, tangy Guyanese cheese and succulent shredded pork.
Valencia Luncheria
Valencia Luncheria took Guy by surprise, as he'd never had the Venezuelan tortilla called an arepa. The thick tortilla gets fried and then stuffed with both savory and sweet fillings. Think roasted pork shoulder, tender shredded chicken, ceviche and even Nutella and cream cheese.
