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Viva Las Arepas
Address: 1134 S. Rainbow Blvd. (Charleston Boulevard and Rainbow Boulevard)
Status: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fans of chef Felix Arellano's Venezuelan dishes now have a second location to pick up arepas. The downtown favorite Viva Las Arepas, open since 2013, is now open at the Mercado Del Sol Shopping Plaza, at the southeast corner of Rainbow and Charleston replete with more parking opportunities than the Las Vegas Boulevard and Oakey Boulevard original home and are surrounded by no close dining rivals.
In 2011, Viva Las Arepas debuted a menu of cornmeal patties, arepas and wood-fired chicken, beef and pork at a stand in the parking lot of Dino's Lounge.
Earlier, Arellano opened Pepito Shack in that parking lot stand with new signage that already proclaims "World Famous." There find gourmet burgers and dogs, plus the namesake pepitos, a traditional Mexican and Venezuelan street food, similar to a torta sandwich and infused with the mesquite-grilled flavors found at the casual restaurant a short walk away.
