If you have been missing your weekly arepa fix since June, I have good news. Arepa Culture NC, a new Venezuelan restaurant in Raleigh, threw open the doors on a brand new home this past Saturday, September 26, and it is exactly the kind of comeback story I love telling. This is a family restaurant that started as a single food truck, built a loyal following one arepa at a time, and just landed in a bigger, better spot at Six Forks Station in North Raleigh.
A New Venezuelan Restaurant in Raleigh With Deep Roots
Arepa Culture NC has been part of the Triangle food scene since 2014, when it was just one truck making the rounds through Raleigh, Apex, and Pittsboro. In 2021, the family opened their first brick and mortar at Pleasant Valley Promenade on Glenwood Avenue, and it quickly became a go to for anyone craving real Venezuelan cooking in North Raleigh. That location closed this past June while the family looked for a new home, and the food truck kept things going in the meantime, parking daily at the old Glenwood Avenue spot so regulars never had to go without.
Now the wait is over. The new restaurant, at 9320 Forum Drive inside Six Forks Station, celebrated its grand opening with live music, desserts, and giveaways. CEO Marcel Jara called it a new beginning for the business, one built to carry the family’s legacy into its next chapter. That kind of staying power is rare in this industry, and it is worth celebrating with your business, not just your good wishes.
What You Will Find on the Menu
The heart of the menu is the arepa itself, a gluten free white cornmeal cake that the team handcrafts and grills fresh, made from scratch daily with just three ingredients. Expect classic Venezuelan fillings built around shredded meats, black beans, and plantains, along with vegetarian and vegan options for anyone at the table who wants them. The team has also talked about adding a weekend brunch and breakfast menu now that they have more kitchen space to work with, so this is a spot worth checking back on if you are a Sunday morning regular somewhere else.
Hours, Ordering, and How to Go
The new Six Forks Station location is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You will find it at 9320 Forum Drive, tucked between the shops near North Hills, so it is an easy add on if you are already running errands in that stretch of Six Forks Road. Arepa Culture NC also takes online orders directly and through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates, and they offer catering along with a loyalty program if this turns into a regular habit, which, if their food truck fan base is any indication, it probably will.
Stories like this are exactly why I started The Raleigh Local. A family business that started with one truck and a lot of hustle just earned itself a second storefront, and that only happens because a community of regulars kept showing up. If you are building out your own list of Latin inspired spots in the Triangle, this is a great excuse to also revisit Little Rey in Raleigh and keep an eye on K38 Baja Grill’s arrival in the Triangle. And if the food truck side of this story is more your speed, my guide to Raleigh’s most creative food trucks is a good place to keep exploring.
Go say congratulations in person this week, order something with plantains, and if you need more ideas for the next few days, my running list of things to do in Raleigh this weekend is always current.
Keep exploring: things to do in Raleigh and what’s happening this weekend.
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