Arepa 2Go, Southsea

After years of trading at Outside In, Arepa 2Go have now opened a restaurant of their own on Victoria Road South. It’s still much very a family affair and you can really notice the love and passion that goes into their food and service. Nothing’s changed in terms of the food and menu but this new restaurant is certainly something special and they’ve worked hard to get here. 

Arepa 2Go continue to be the best Venezuelan food we’ve ever tasted and we love the summer feel their new place brings. Think Latin music, colourful local artwork and a fun, relaxed vibe. It makes us feel like we’ve been transported across the Atlantic to sunny Venezuela! The menu features their much-loved classics including our favourites, the Avila arepa and Tequenos. Both dishes were incredible! This was all washed down by a traditional Venezuelan beer. Arepa 2Go is the only place you can try arepas and Venezuelan food below London and I’m super grateful they’ve chosen Southsea as their home. Whether you’re new to Venezuelan food or you’re just after a taste of summer, try Areap 2Go at 60b Victoria Road South in Southsea. You will not be disappointed! 

**Read our original review from 2021 (before they opened their own restaurant) below**

Arepa 2Go are one of the original street food vendors at Outside In and they continue to call it home. They’re one of our favourite go-to comfort foods in Portsmouth and over the years we’ve become friends.

Latin food

Arepa 2GO serve up delicious traditional Venezuelan arepas filled with different fillings, plus Latin American sides like tequeños and cassava fries. Arepas are corn pockets, a bit like a pita but made from corn as opposed to wheat. This means they’re gluten-free and can be vegan too.

The Avila

The Avila arepa is our all-time favourite and it’s filled with shredded chicken mixed with avocado and a special homemade garlicky sauce to create a soft moist filling. A couple of slices of sweet plantain are added along with some grated cheese which often melts with the heat of the arepa. It really is the perfect flavour combination and just enough to leave you feeling satisfied.

Tequeños

Of course, we always order more and rarely go without tequeños.  Tequeños are dough sticks filled with a special white cheese but they are different to anything we’ve tasted before – in a good way! These are the best thing since sliced bread and go wonderfully well with that special garlicky sauce (Salsa de Ajo) and sweet guava sauce too (we like to mix them both!)

Arepas

There are arepas filled with slow-cooked shredded beef for all those meat lovers (Caracas, Cumana and Pelua) out there and a couple filled with refined beans (Domino and Santa Ana) perfect for veggies and one for vegans too (Plantanera). We like them all but do keep returning to the Avila!

Empanadas

One of the newest additions to the menu is the empanadas which are also gluten-free and very different to the empanadas you’d find in Spain. These are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle and almost have a slight sweetness to them. They’re great filled with cheese or slow-cooked shredded beef.

Arepa 2Go are a family business and everyone digs in when needed. You’ll likely find brothers Alejandro and Dani heading up the kitchen while Alejandro’s wife runs their marketing. Their mothers help with the prep; those homemade sauces, the slow-cooked shredded beef – it’s a real family affair. They’re all from Venezuela which clearly shows in their food and their passion for Venezuelan cuisine.

Arepa 2Go have recently opened their own restaurant on Victoria Road South in Southsea. You can also find them on Just Eat and Uber Eats and order yourself some delicious Latin American food!

Service – 10
Quality 9.5
Value 8.5
Ambience 9
Return? Yes
Overall 9.5/10

Living life, loving Latin food,

H x