Shachi's Arepas

I met up with an old coworker, D, for lunch at Shachi's Arepas near Penn Station. It's definitely a take-out lunch type of place, as there are really only 2 tables that fit 2 people each. Fortunately, D and I managed to snag one of the tables, at which we devoured our savory, Latin-spiced, deep-fried goods.

For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to eat an arepa and do not know what an arepa is, it's sort of similar to a tortilla, except it's much thicker, often made of cornmeal, grilled or fried and stuffed with various types of deliciousness. Sometimes arepas are called "Venezuelan corncakes".

D and I both ordered the $9 lunch combo, which includes 1 arepa, 1 empanada and 1 soda. I got a pernil (pork, with tomato & aioli) arepa, a pabellon (beef, plantains, beans and cheese) empanada, and a bottle of water (healthy!), while D got a pollo (chicken) arepa, a queso (cheese) empanada and a diet coke (caffeine!). We were both quite pleased with our purchases - dense, flavorful, and full of just enough variety to make our tastebuds sing.

I did find the arepa to be just a tad dry, as seems to happen frequently with arepas. And while others have raved about the pernil being supremely juicy and flavorful, I thought it was missing just a slight bit of depth. The aioli didn't add much, and the pork and tomato combination was somehow slightly flat. But the empanada was perfectly crisp, with the sweetness of the plantains adding exclamations of joy to the beef and beans. I have a terrible weakness for plantains.

I cannot help making a comparison to Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village, since it's the only other place in Manhattan with "Arepa" in its name. I would have to say that I enjoyed the arepas at Caracas more than Shachi's because of three things. 1) The ratio of corn patty:filling at Shachi's was just slightly too high, 2) Caracas' menu is more extensive, and 3) Caracas' arepas had stronger, bolder and more creative flavors. But I unfortunately will not be returing to Caracas anytime soon. Why, you ask? Because last time I went with my husband, a single bite into his deliciously juicy pabellon arepa squirted all manner of meat sauce onto my clean-freak husband's recently pressed shirt. Suggestions of bib-wearing have been met with resistance.

So all things considered, I was quite happy have been able to re-experience the arepa at Shachi's and to have the lovely company of D to top it off. Shachi's may not make it as high on the list as Caracas, but Caracas sets quite a high bar. And Shachi's is still a fantastic choice if you're looking for something different in the Midtown West neighborhood and want to try some arepas.