Sunny Late-October Comfort Found at Hola Arepa

By late October, the Minneapolis air carries a brisk, unmistakable bite, shifting our collective appetite toward food that restores and comforts. Tucked along Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis, Hola Arepa delivers an electric antidote to the encroaching chill. What began years ago as a humble, beloved food truck has long matured into an essential brick-and-mortar sanctuary, where owners Christina Nguyen and Birk Grudem bottle up perpetual tropical heat against the autumn wind. The core attraction remains unchanged: Venezuelan-style white cornmeal arepas, griddled to order until the crust blisters with crisp, savory edges while staying tender and steamy within. Fillings are treated with meticulous care. The slow-roasted pork shoulder is rich and melting, heightened by sweet fried plantains, black beans, and cotija cheese. For something earthier, the chimichurri chicken or black bean and sweet potato options never play second fiddle. Do not overlook the sides. An order of yucca fries—shattered-glass crisp on the exterior and custardy soft inside—served with their house garlic aioli is non-negotiable. Wash it down with an agave cocktail or a tamarind-laced house punch crafted from Grudem’s standout bar program. As the golden leaves collect outside on the sidewalk, Hola Arepa’s palm-wallpapered dining room feels like an essential neighborhood retreat. It is vibrant, unpretentious, and enduring proof that Minneapolis warmth is something we can always find gathered around a table.