Chicago may be dominated by Mexican eateries, but there is an entire arena of other Latin American cuisines to delve into as well.

Let me introduce you to one of the best Venezuelan restaurants in the city: Bolivar & Lincoln is a family-owned and run business established in 2019. The restaurant’s name is inspired by Venezuelan military and political leader, Simon Bolivar, and 16th President of the United States and Illinois native, Abraham Lincoln.

The vibrant, compact interior reflects the vibrancy of the restaurant’s traditional Venezuelan favorites served to Chicago’s Lakeview community.

A must-order is, of course, the arepas. An arepa is one of Venezuela’s most well-known foods; it is a crispy corn cake that can be filled with different fillings, such as beans, cheese, and sweet plantains. Bolivar & Lincoln has 10 pre-made arepa options, in addition to a “build-your-own-arepa” option. My favorite order is the vegetarian arepa, which is stuffed with black beans, a generous portion of avocado, and sweet plantains.

Additionally, Bolivar & Lincoln has tempting appetizer and dessert options, as well as fantastic empanadas that are HUGE.

I would highly recommend getting both an arepa and an empanada!