The arepa is a corn dough cake, griddled or fried, that Colombians eat at any time of day: for breakfast with butter and cheese, as a side in bandeja paisa, or stuffed as a meal. Every region has its own. At Tequendama, we serve it stuffed, as arepitas to share, and as a side to our dishes.
At a glance
| What it is | A corn-dough flatbread, griddled or fried |
| Where it's from | From all over Colombia, and also from Venezuela |
| How it's eaten | On its own, with butter and cheese, or stuffed |
| Variants | Paisa, de choclo, boyacense and de huevo, among others |
| At Tequendama | Arepa mixta gourmet and arepitas in Las Rozas; arepitas with chicken or with pulled pork at Moments |
Types of Colombian arepa
- Arepa paisa or blanca: thin, made with white corn and barely salted; in Antioquia it goes with meals the way bread does.
- Arepa de choclo: made with fresh young corn, sweeter, and almost always with cheese.
- Arepa boyacense: made with yellow corn, sweet and filled with cheese.
- Arepa de huevo: from the Caribbean coast; fried with an egg inside.
Colombia and Venezuela
Both countries have arepas and both consider them their own. In Venezuela it's more common to split it open and fill it like a bread roll; in Colombia it's often eaten plain or with something on top, though also stuffed.
Tequendama's arepas
- Arepa mixta gourmet (Las Rozas): white corn arepa with shredded chicken and beef, hogao, corn and melted mozzarella.
- Arepitas mixtas (Las Rozas): small white corn arepas with shredded beef and chicken, melted mozzarella, corn and crispy onion.
- Arepitas with chicken and arepitas with orange-and-rum pulled pork (Moments).
- As a side: in the bandeja paisa, the picada and the punta de anca.
You'll find them on the Las Rozas menu and the Moments menu.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an arepa and a Mexican tortilla?
An arepa is thicker and made with precooked corn flour; a Mexican tortilla is thin and made with nixtamalized corn dough.
Do arepas contain wheat?
Arepa dough is made from corn. Even so, all 14 allergens are handled in our kitchen: if you have any allergy, check the allergen menu or ask us.
Where can you eat Colombian arepas in Madrid?
At Tequendama Las Rozas (C/ Escorial, 1) and at Tequendama Moments (Av. de Felipe II, 4, Goya).
Updated October 7, 2026 · By the Tequendama Team · Next: what to eat at a Colombian restaurant · More from the guide