White Maize image

White Maize

Restaurant Vegetarian restaurant Vegan restaurant Gluten free restaurant Venezuelan restaurant

Traditional Venezuelan eats doled out in a compact space with communal tables & rustic-cool touches. People often mention delicious, arepas, Venezuelan, good, recommend, friendly, chicken, bowl, order, great,


Address

277 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Website

www.whitemaizebk.com

Contact

(347) 946-2493

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (456 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Thursday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Friday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Saturday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 12 to 9 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: Closed

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: delicious (18) arepas (15) Venezuelan (12) good (9) recommend (9) friendly (8) chicken (8) bowl (8) order (7) great (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Valentina P. 1 year ago on Google • 6 reviews
    The Venezuelan arepa was delicious as well as the tequeños! The staff is always friendly, kind, and helpful. I have been their customer for a long time now and I can’t stop recommending this place to everyone.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nick B. 1 year ago on Google
    These are must-have arepas in the area! The pabellón (beef, plantains, and cheese) is a favorite and love the táquenos (like mozzarella sticks). Haven’t had a bad arepa there!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bella T. 1 year ago on Google
    Tequenos are so good!! I also ordered the pulled chicken bowl, so refreshing and flavorful! Definitely will dine in next time but definitely order here!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julia H. 2 months ago on Google • 851 reviews New
    I always wanna try arepas since I never had this dish until I started traveling. Although I can only speak as a foreigner not familiar with this dish, I think it was delicious. A chill, low-key place to enjoy food with friends. Staff was also friendly. I had the Pabellon arepas. Although the pulled beef was slightly dry, everything else was delicious. The corn pancake was slightly crispy outside. ✨✨✨My VIP goes to their Tres Leches cake..!! It was rich, moist, and creamy. But I don’t recommend their flan, have to be honest. It was hard like jello. Not the expected texture.

  • 4/5 Zanib A. 9 months ago on Google • 46 reviews
    The Arepas are delicious! I would recommend eating it hot and fresh as it tends to get stale once it cools down. Highly recommend the Tajadas! + the staff are super friendly and very helpful. Ambience is laid back and the outdoor space is a great touch. Please note that there isn’t a restroom option.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marc S. 2 years ago on Google
    Extremely delicious stuff here. My partner had the steak bowl and I had the chicken arepa, we also enjoyed the tequenos
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ann S. 4 years ago on Google
    Super friendly service, really beautiful and comfortable cafe! They open the front wall when the weather is nice. Standouts were the tequeños and the passion fruit juice! They have two types of sauces you can add to your dishes, I loved the spicy one. My friend had a chicken burrito and said the chicken itself was seasoned well, very flavorful. The prices are a little high, but there's plentiful seating and the cafe is very clean! They accept credit cards. White Maize is a nice introduction to Venezuelan cuisine.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Elias F. 8 months ago on Google
    The place is cute with its set up but they took 30 minutes to get 3 arepas out. They needed to be reminded about our order. We were the only people in place too. I understand having to fulfill online orders but you would think people in house would get taken care of first. The food was ok.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 María Andrea P. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing place in the city! The tequeños was so good. No words to describe the dessert
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jerry 1 year ago on Google
    I really enjoyed the authentic fresh delicious, flavorful pulled chicken and beef bowl. Highly recommended. I will be back for more great food. I will be recommending this cozy friendly place to many. Wishing Kathy the pleasant owner, many more years of continued success.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Abel P. 1 year ago on Google
    You can try everything! 100% recommended. When you are tasting the food you can feel that’s from Venezuela, it’s really good.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Vinegar Hill Veterinary G. 1 year ago on Google
    Never again!! They are never on time with their deliveries. ALWAYS get the orders wrong! We ordered from them 3 times and all 3 times the orders were wrong, missing ingredients (MEAT!) , missing an order (and it was paid for and on the bill), sent wrong items. The food, however, is very good, when you get it and put it together yourself and reheat it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Emily B. 1 year ago on Google
    The entire menu is phenomenal; it’s truly authentic Venezuelan food but above all are the Tequeños (appetizer) they are the best ones that I’ve eaten in my life life. I highly recommend this restaurant not to mention the owner Katy, who is exceptionally hospitable!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ana E. 4 years ago on Google
    Truth be told, in 5 years around, better Venezuelan restaurant I’ve tried so far. From good service, clean and comfortable environment to a very good variety of items, whether from the South American country or the rice bowls as well, if you are no adventurous with new foods. I recommend this place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 C M. 6 months ago on Google • 417 reviews
    Had the cachapa years ago sometime before COVID, and never had the chance to make it back to Cobble Hill to try the bowls I’ve had my eye on last time. Unfortunately, I had really high hopes which ended up falling short. I got the shredded chicken bowl and tequenos, which came to $30+ with small tip. The $18 bowl was very reminiscent of Chipotle with its large portion of lettuce and pico de gallo…. but overall portion/amount much smaller than Chipotle for $6 extra. Oddly, there was 2 tiny little slivers of plantain barely a teaspoon in size and maybe one small ice cream scoop sized portion of rice, which I found somewhat unusual and disappointing. Tequenos were tasty but for $10 and 5 small bite size pieces it felt overpriced. I received 1 green sauce. Would likely only return if no other options open

  • 5/5 Tara M. 2 months ago on Google • 62 reviews New
    absolutely delicious arepas after long drive, clean and safely gluten free!

  • 5/5 Felicia H. 1 month ago on Google • 18 reviews New
    I love arepas and these didn’t disappoint! We got two pulled chicken arepas with rice, beans, and plantain. They were stuffed to the brim and delicious. The chicken ratio was a little too much but nothing a fork couldn’t handle. The staff were friendly and attentive. I recommend!

  • 5/5 James G. 1 month ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    Great flavors, super pleasant staff. Their empanadas were like pillows with a light crispy shell filled with flavor. Arepas were delicious. Easy spot for a casual date or early family dinner.

  • 5/5 Nicole L. 4 months ago on Google • 12 reviews
    Stumbled upon this quiet little spot when I needed lunch and it was perfect. Portions left me full but not overly stuffed. Everything is fresh and hot, not reheated, which I appreciate. Very accommodating for gluten free. Loved the shredded beef.

  • 5/5 Ana Lucia Garcia C. 9 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Incredible Venezuelan food! Highly recommend the tequeños and their bowls!! Make sure to stop by this little gem right in the heart of Chelsea.

  • 5/5 Danne D. 1 month ago on Google • 5 reviews New
    My dear friend and I have been going here once a week before a meeting for the past month. We kept coming back because the food is delicious, affordable, and there are menu options for everyone. I’m gluten free, and so the arepas are my go-to. The atmosphere is friendly and the staff are lovely.

  • 5/5 Régulo G. 6 months ago on Google
    I'm from Venezuela and live in Germany since 20 years. It's been a great experience dinning in this charming venezuelan food restaurant. I couldn't stop tasting such delicious variety of like home made style dishes. The desserts and drinks were amazing. It was much more than expected to find Venezuela in New York. But the top of all was the kindness and lovely attention received from the owner Katiana, her sweet mother Soraya, the handsome grandson José and the whole team. I highly recommend White Maine and for sure will repeat on my next visit to the Big Apple.

  • 5/5 ricardo t. 1 year ago on Google
    I got here and took the train all the way from Manhattan to try this spot. It was 100% worth the time. Food is delicious. Anything from the menu is Yummy and it’s a super well run business. I highly recommend it. Congrats to Kathy and team. Ricardo & Fio

  • 1/5 Luis C. 5 months ago on Google
    Tried to order through Grubhub. Placed an order at 7pm and kept getting delayed by 20 minute increments. Two hours later they cancelled the order. So we waited more than two hours for nothing. It was incredibly frustrating. Obvious to me they decided not to pay attention to the delivery system and did not shut it down. Also terrible job by Grubhub telling me the order was “being prepared”

  • 5/5 MacKinsey M. 8 months ago on Google
    This restaurant has delicious vegan options! I love the tostones and the grilled portobello bowl. The space is very clean and has nice servers. Recommend!

  • 5/5 Orlando A. 2 years ago on Google
    Best Arepas in BK! So fresh and filling. I got the Pelua🙌 Highly recommended! Stuffed with pulled beef and Gouda cheese 🤤🤤🤤

  • 5/5 Gloria S. 6 months ago on Google
    This is the best Venezuelan food in NYC. We have been coming to White Maize for few years and the food is always delicious, the service is great, the place is clean and with great ambience.

  • 2/5 s 6 months ago on Google
    Got the steak bowl and the bowl came with 6 pieces of steak and only three were cooked and didn’t have a pound of fat on it.

  • 5/5 Yuliya S. 8 months ago on Google
    We were craving Cachapas and this was the first place that popped up. It was 10/10. The service was fantastic, the atmosphere was cute, music was great, and the food was delicious. We also got an Arepa, the beef was juicy and cooked to perfection. Very happy with this find, will come back!!

  • 5/5 Luis l. 8 months ago on Google
    It’s unlikely you’ll find a Venezuelan restaurant that won’t suck. White Maize really sets the bar for GOOD LEGIT VENEZUELAN FOOD! No other place compares to this spot! Even if you are 1hr 15min away… GO EAT THERE! Or delivery, whatever, just eat the entire menu, it’s unbelievably delicious! Don’t miss out. Will eat here everyday of my life. It’s also important to note the entire staff is out of this world friendly and welcoming. EAT HERE!!!! P.S they catered my 150 people party, there was not a single soul that didn’t love the food. Tequeños are ridiculously delicious and all the arepas so good!

  • 5/5 Chloe H. 2 years ago on Google
    The food is excellent here. Great atmosphere and prices.

  • 5/5 Esteban Q. 11 months ago on Google
    Finally an authentic Venezuelan restaurant, the Arepas are amazing. I ordered from there a few times for lunch and then I visited the restaurant with my Mom and Grandma and they loved it. Inexpensive but large portions.

  • 5/5 Asdrid V. 2 years ago on Google
    Always have a craving for arepas and White Maize always satisfies me! The classic Pabellon and Reina Pepiada are my go-tos.

  • 5/5 Ryan K. 1 year ago on Google
    Better arepas than expected. Meat was juicy and flavorful, plantains were perfectly starchy and not too sweet. Arepas themselves were crispy on the outside and chewy inside. Our cashier and server was both knowledgeable about the presence of allergens among menu items and lovely, too. She offered us complimentary dessert after our meal! Outdoor seating was heated and comfortable. Great overall experience.

  • 5/5 A J. 1 year ago on Google
    Best Venezuelan food I've had in the U.S! The arepas are thick, with lots of different types of fillings, and delicious. This place was on my list of restaurants to try during my latest NYC trip and it didn't disappoint! Staff are excellent and very helpful. Location's great, too. Can't wait to be back!

  • 5/5 Jonathan J. 2 years ago on Google
    Been here a couple of times. Fantastic arepas...the real deal (versus the Mozz-arepas at festivals) is gourmet 🤤! Plus their $20 bucket of beer or cider happy hour is unbeatable! A must try for Venezuelan comfort food!

  • 5/5 Yennifer G. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food and the owners make you feel at home!! 100% recommended!!

  • 5/5 Sean C. 2 years ago on Google
    My partner's favorite Venezuelan place (she is Venezuelan, for context), and i see why! Really fantastic arepas, and the taqueños are to die for. We go back every chance we get.

  • 4/5 Crystal A. 2 years ago on Google
    Im giving them a 4 star due to the fact that a few things we wanted originally was not available and also no access to the bathroom they said it wasn’t available 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ which was annoying since I was with my toddler… But anyway what we ended up getting was pretty good. Is the cheese on the arepa supposed to be melted? I’m still confused about that, but it was still really good

  • 5/5 Colin P. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious, authentic, and a terrific value. $10 arepa got me super full, a complete lunch for cheap not to mention the quality and speed of service is top notch. Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Tatiana G. 8 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    I am currently training with an intense diet to follow but i decided to spend my last cheat day here and let me tell you they did not disappoint, they over exceeded. Kathy was excellent with her hospitality skills. She was very helpful giving me recommendations and explained key details and difference of each item. She has gained a loyal customer who will continuously stop by to have New Yorks best arepas. Well done.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍


Call (347) 946-2493 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as women-owned

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