Caracas street food lands on San Pedro
Zulia's Kitchen is where San Antonio's Venezuelan story starts. The family storefront on San Pedro north of Loop 410 turns out the arepas people cross town for: big, overstuffed, the kind the reviews warn you not to try to split with a friend, because they fall apart the moment you cut in. The Reina Pepiada is the standard-bearer, chicken and avocado in a crisp cornmeal pocket, with the cachapa, a sweet corn pancake folded over white cheese, as the co-headliner and a Venezuelan burger for the crossover crowd. The specials board earns attention too; the record shows regulars ordering off it as often as off the printed menu.
The room is small, clean, and family-run, with a second counter out at The Block food park by UTSA. It is also more than a lunch stop. When an earthquake hit Venezuela, this is where San Antonio's venezolanos dropped off donations, which tells you exactly what the place means to its community. Come hungry, order one arepa fewer than you think you need, and keep a fork handy.
