I’m not sure how long I’ve been telling myself that I’m going to hit up Doggi’s Arepa Bar, but I finally dropped into their location on Biscayne Blvd.
I made sure to sit by the window to get some natural light action, aka how to have the best looking photos. I was familiar with the menu from checking it out online but felt overwhelmed trying to pick out a few items.
*At that exact moment, the owner Giovanni comes over to my table and introduces himself. We talk briefly about Venezuelan food, and I order.
Coffee & Arepas
Every place in Miami has some coffee variation, but it’s not often that I order one and enjoy it black. It wasn’t intentional as I dropped a packet of sugar into it and started sipping away. Who needs half & half anyway, I thought? This guy right here, BUT it was terrific.
The Pabellon Empanada (shredded beef, black beans, plantains & house-made white cheese) comes “Operada” or open face. Besides being awesome, this empanada is a meal in itself. I have to stop myself from eating the entire thing, or there’s no way I’ll be able even to try everything else I ordered.
I went a little lighter with my arepa option (they’ve got over 20 to choose from) and chose the Kikiriki (fried egg with shredded cheese). The egg was cooked beautifully, and that salty shredded cheese was so good. I was trying to figure out how much of it to eat, then one of the loves of my life arrives.
My Love of Cachapas
Oh, cachapa, how I love thee! If you’ve never eaten a cachapa, then you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest treasures. I know I’m overselling this a bit, but I’m a big fan of this dish. A cachapa is essentially a corn pancake folded over a slab of house-made cheese. Believe it or not, I only ate one bite, but only because I knew I would eat it later (and did).
I’ve got an aversion to anything green on my burgers. It’s a common misconception that I won’t have a tomato on a burger. After checking out Jose’s Burger (house-made white cheese, caramelized onions & tomato), it seemed like the fella to get. The 8 oz patty arrives perfectly to my preferred temp, medium. I loved it, but I can’t help but think that two 4 oz. burger patties would work better. Just throwing that out there.
As I walked out of Doggi’s Arepa Bar, I couldn’t help but think of all the work I have ahead of me. I haven’t even made a dent in trying everything on the menu, but I’ll get there.
Doggi’s Menu
Doggi’s Food Pictures
Hit Up A Doggi’s Arepa Bar:
Doggi’s Arepa – Biscayne
7281 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33138
786-558-9538 / 786-536-5129
Doggi’s Arepa – Coral Way
1246 SW 22nd Street (Coral Way)
Miami, Florida 33145
305-854-6869 / 305-999-7498
Doggi’s Arepa – Food Truck
2250 NW 2nd Avenue
Wynwood, Florida 33127
305-434-2241
Doggi’s Arepa – Hallandale
801 N Federal Hwy Suite 118
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009
754-400-8115
Doggi’s Arepa – Key Biscayne
260 Crandon Boulevard Suite 47
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149
786-485-4355
*The owner spotted me when I walked into Doggi’s Arepa Bar and covered my meal. It was very nice of him and, even though I insisted I would pay for it, there was no changing his mind. I’m just glad I loved the food and had every reason in the world to write about it.
