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| - What a transformation! The humble little arepa shack on the corner has grown up into a bright, clean cafe with a great menu of Venezuelan specialties. Besides the usual arepas and empanadas, they now offer wood grilled chicken and other meats. The selling point? $8.49 for half a chicken (or serving of another meat) plus two sides! Considering the location on Las Vegas Blvd, expect this place to fill up quickly at lunchtime, attracting workers from downtown and tourists in search of a deal. You'll pay about the same for four small tacos de adobada over at El Gordo.
The chicken is marinated in secret Venezuelan seasonings and grilled over wood and charcoal. My husband gave this pollo al carbon a big thumbs up. On my visit, the smoke from the grilling process overwhelmed the room, but the owner reassured me that this issue was being resolved immediately. Order at the counter, take your number, and wait for the food to be brought to your table, or to-go is a great option if smoke is present. For $19.99, the parrillada mixta serves two people a nice variety of grilled meats. Pork ribs and Pabellón (the official shredded beef dish of Venezuela) also stood out on the menu. Sides include rice with veggies, black beans, salad, chicken soup, and plenty of fried carbs. My favorite is the tender and crisp yuca, though I also enjoyed the patacones (smashed, fried plaintains) that look like bananas rolled over by a car tire-- in a good way! The french fries were pale and soggy, so something went wrong with those. Unfortunately, the mixed salad had a strange flavor that made me quit after a few bites. It seemed fresh, so I'm guessing the lettuce absorbed some of the smoke coming off the grills. I don't really eat any smoked foods, and I won't be adding smoked salad to my diet anytime soon. Venezuelans cook some of the best black beans (caraotas, in their country), and at Viva Las Arepas, white cheese is crumbled over the top. These caraotas with a side of sweet fried plaintains or yuca fries, a cheese empanada, and passion fruit juice to drink make up my ideal comida! The creamy green sauce and creamy red sauce (salsa Golf) are essential. I rarely pass up a pastelito (guava or coconut) for dessert.
Admittedly, I grew up eating these foods in Florida at various Colombian and Cuban joints, and some of the side offerings at Viva don't quite match the flavors I crave from home. They are already doing a very good job, and if they tweak the recipes a bit and clear out the smoke inhalation risk, I won't be able to stay away from this place. Family friendly (high chairs and a changing table), salsa Golf, occasional reggaeton (spare us the bachata, please!), and very cheap eats. ¡Chévere!
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