An arepa is a Venezuelan and Colombian breakfast food made from ground maize dough and cooked as a round, griddled cake.
Arepas are made from cornmeal or precooked maize flour mixed with water and salt. The dough is shaped into thick disks and commonly griddled, baked, boiled, or fried, depending on the regional style.
In Venezuela, arepas are often split and filled with ingredients such as cheese, shredded meat, chicken, avocado, or beans. Colombian versions vary considerably by region and may be thinner or served with cheese, eggs, or meat.
Arepas predate European colonization and are linked to Indigenous maize-based food traditions in northern South America. They are not the same as Mexican tortillas: arepas are generally thicker and are frequently opened and stuffed after cooking.