Description
Arepas are made with cornmeal, from a dough similar to tamale masa that's been formed into a thick patty and griddled. The South American specialty is the foundation of Hola Arepa's offerings, which come topped with everything from shredded chicken and avocado to pulled pork with black beans and crumbled cheese. Since the arepas are fairly starchy, they're well serviced by a scoop of pickled red cabbage or a hefty squirt of tomatillo salsa. Hola Areapa's turquoise truck, which often parks in Minneapolis on Marquette Avenue, is one of the city's most aesthetically pleasing-no surprise, since co-owner Christina Nguyen founded Minneapolis's chic Design Collective. Nguyen is also a partner in the Tea Garden shops, and her partner, Birk Stefan Grudem, is a former bartender at Town Talk Diner and Bradstreet Craftshouse, so the team's house-made beverages are exceptional. They do several lemonade variants, including cucumber mint and pineapple caraway, and their not-too-sweet hibiscus strawberry punch is one of the summer's best refreshers. On top of its regular offerings, Hola Arepa has been adding extra dishes, including ceviche, a corn dog made with deep-fried arepa dough and chorizo, and guinea pig confit!
