Arepas Grill
Saint Kevin'S, Dublin
Restaurant in Dublin, Ireland
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Arepas Grill on Richmond Street South is one of Dublin's better casual bets for something outside the standard modern-Irish or pub-food rotation. The format is focused; Venezuelan arepas done with consistency; and the price point is low enough that the quality-to-cost ratio is hard to argue. Walk-ins are the norm, dress is casual, the weekday evening slot is the pick for a quieter room.
About Arepas Grill
Is Arepas Grill Worth Visiting in Dublin?
Yes; if you want something genuinely different from Dublin's default pub-grub and modern-Irish tasting-menu circuit, Arepas Grill on Richmond Street South is worth the detour. The format is casual, the price of entry is low, the cooking is the kind that makes you wonder why you don't eat arepas more often. This is not a destination restaurant in the Patrick Guilbaud sense, but that's precisely the point.
What to Expect
Arepas Grill sits on Richmond Street South in Dublin 2, a stretch that draws a mix of locals, students, anyone sensible enough to skip the queues on George's Street. The draw here is the arepa itself; a griddled corn cake that arrives with fillings rather than on the side, a format that is inherently practical and deeply satisfying. The kitchen works with the kind of focus you get when a menu is narrow and a team knows exactly what it is doing. Compared to the broader Latin American options in Dublin, the specificity here is a point in its favour: this is Venezuelan comfort food done with consistency, not a pan-continental menu trying to cover every base.
If you have been once and ordered cautiously, the second visit is where Arepas Grill starts to make sense as a regular. The aroma from the grill, toasted corn, warm fillings, a faint char from the plancha, is the kind of thing that registers before you sit down and tells you the kitchen is already working. Go in the evening on a weekday if you want a calmer room; weekend lunch draws a crowd and the pace picks up accordingly. For a quick, filling meal before heading elsewhere in the neighbourhood, a weeknight early dinner is the move.
Booking and Practicalities
Booking difficulty at Arepas Grill is easy, this is a walk-in-friendly spot rather than a reservation-required operation, which puts it in a different category from the trickier tables at Bastible or Glovers Alley. If you are planning a group visit, arriving early or off-peak is advisable, casual venues at this price tier fill quickly on Friday and Saturday evenings. No formal dress code applies; come as you are. The address, 39 Richmond Street South, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, puts it within easy walking distance of the Grand Canal area and Portobello, making it a natural stop if you are already in that part of the city.
For those exploring Dublin's broader dining scene, our full Dublin restaurants guide covers the full range from casual to fine dining. You can also find Dublin hotels, Dublin bars, and Dublin experiences on Pearl. Elsewhere in Ireland, Liath in Blackrock and Bastion in Kinsale are worth the trip if you are moving beyond the capital.
Planning details
- Location
- 39 Richmond St S, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, D02 DC84, Ireland
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- arepasgrill.ie
- Phone
- +35315523344
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Arepas Grill presents a food-first, unpretentious atmosphere that foregrounds South American street-food culture. Set in an unglamorous stretch of Saint Kevin's, it attracts a younger, local crowd who come for the arepa rather than the room. The writing emphasizes discipline and simplicity—the quality of the masa, the integrity of the grill and the balance of fillings are immediately legible. That focus gives the place a minimalist, relaxed character: the kitchen’s craft and straightforward execution are the centrepiece, not décor or theatrical service.
Best For
This is an ideal stop for casual, unfussy dining across the day. Because the arepa tradition is described as everyday working food eaten at any hour, Arepas Grill suits solo diners, families and local groups looking for honest, affordable flavors rather than a formal night out. It leans away from tourist circuits, so it works well for neighbourhood meals and low-key hangouts with friends. The emphasis on simple, well-made fillings makes it a dependable choice for anyone wanting direct, food-forward South American flavors in Dublin.
Ordering Tips
The menu rewards attention to fundamentals: order with the format in mind and sample the signatures—pabellon criollo and cachapas are called out for a reason. The arepa’s success hinges on masa quality, grill char and balance of filling, so opt for classic combinations that showcase those elements. Because the format exposes every detail of technique and seasoning, pick items that sound traditional or ingredient-led rather than ornate. Treat the meal as street-food discipline rather than plated excess and focus on texture, char and filling harmony.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual and colorful atmosphere with filtered light in the dining room and a covered terrace out back playing fun tunes.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- pabellon criollo
- cachapas
Planning details
Location
39 Richmond St S, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, D02 DC84, Ireland · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Patrick Guilbaud; Irish - French, Modern French, €€€€
- Bastible; Modern Irish, Modern Cuisine, €€€€
- Host; Nordic, Modern Cuisine, €€
- mae; Southern, Modern Cuisine, €€€
- Matsukawa; Kaiseki, Japanese, €€€€
Restaurant context
Arepas Grill sits at the opposite end of the Dublin dining spectrum from the city's formal options. Patrick Guilbaud and Matsukawa are both €€€€ operations where the booking process, dress expectations, per-head spend require planning and commitment. Arepas Grill requires none of that; it is a walk-in, come-as-you-are venue at a fraction of the price. If your priority is value and informality, Arepas Grill wins that comparison without contest.
Against Host, which also sits at the €€ tier with a casual format, the difference is cuisine style: Host works a Nordic-inflected modern menu, while Arepas Grill stays in Venezuelan comfort-food territory. Both are good options for a low-commitment, high-return meal in Dublin. If you want something more chef-driven and ambitious at the casual end, mae at €€€ adds a layer of Southern-influenced modern cooking that sits between the two tiers. Bastible at €€€€ is the splurge pick for Modern Irish cooking with genuine ambition; but it requires advance booking and a different kind of evening investment entirely.
The practical read: book Arepas Grill when you want a quick, filling, affordable meal in Dublin 2 without the planning overhead. Book Bastible or Patrick Guilbaud when the occasion justifies a longer, more formal evening. Host is the closest direct alternative for casual dining at a similar spend level, either will serve you well depending on what cuisine you are in the mood for.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Arepas Grill guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Arepas Grill
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arepas Grill | Dublin | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Patrick Guilbaud | Dublin | Irish - French, Modern French | 2026 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #23Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #212025 Michelin 2 Stars2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #232024 Michelin 2 Stars2023 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #23 | €€€€ |
| Bastible | Dublin | Modern Irish, Modern Cuisine | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3972025 Michelin 1 Star2025 The Sunday Times Ireland's 100 Best Restaurants2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3732024 Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ |
| Host | Dublin | Nordic, Modern Cuisine | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6362025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6862024 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended | €€ |
| mae | Dublin | Southern, Modern Cuisine | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2025 The Sunday Times Ireland's 100 Best Restaurants2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #7692024 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Recommended | €€€ |
| Matsukawa | Dublin | Kaiseki, Japanese | No published awards | €€€€ |
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How Arepas Grill compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
FAQs
- What should I order at Arepas Grill? Lean into the core format: the arepas are the reason to come. The menu is built around them, so avoid the instinct to hedge with sides and commit to the fillings. If you have been before and stuck to one, try a different combination on the next visit, the kitchen's consistency across the menu is part of what makes repeat visits work.
- Does Arepas Grill handle dietary restrictions? Arepas are naturally gluten-free by format, corn masa is the base, which makes this a more accommodating option than most casual venues in Dublin for gluten-sensitive diners. For specific allergen queries, contact the venue directly; phone details are not currently listed on Pearl, so stopping in or checking at the door is the practical approach.
- Can I eat at the bar at Arepas Grill? The venue is a casual grill rather than a bar-led operation, so bar seating in the cocktail sense is not the format here. Seating is informal and the room is compact, you are here to eat, not to linger over drinks in the way you might at a Dublin cocktail bar.
- What should I wear to Arepas Grill? No dress code. This is a casual neighbourhood spot, not a tasting-menu room. Come in whatever you wore during the day, the vibe is relaxed and the room reflects that.
- What should a first-timer know about Arepas Grill? The menu is tight and focused, which is a feature rather than a limitation. Do not arrive expecting a long menu of options, the format is the point. Prices are at the casual end of the Dublin dining spectrum, making this one of the better-value meals you can have in Dublin 2 without sacrificing quality. Walk-ins are the norm, the atmosphere is neighbourhood rather than destination.
- Can Arepas Grill accommodate groups? Small groups of four to six should be fine, particularly on weekday evenings. Larger groups are harder to manage in a compact casual venue, if you are coming with eight or more, arriving early or during off-peak hours is the safest approach. The venue does not have a listed phone number on Pearl currently, so showing up to check capacity is the practical option for larger parties.
- How far ahead should I book Arepas Grill? Walk-in is the standard approach here and booking difficulty is rated easy. You do not need to plan days in advance, this is not in the same booking-pressure bracket as Chapter One or Patrick Guilbaud. Weekend evenings are the one time when a little patience or an early arrival helps.
