Guasaca Arepa Salsa Grill - Cary

The arepas at this restaurant are amazing, and although it appears they only offer a vegan option on the menu, the variety of herbal fillings allows for many different delicious combinations to be created.

I have frequented this restaurant often and have never had a bad experience! The arepas are heavenly and the dishes are delicious, all at a reasonable price.

Guasaca recently added a vegan option to their menu for their arepas, along with a vegetarian option. Despite speaking with two staff members about vegan and gluten-free options, I was not informed that the arepa bread contained dairy. As a lactose-intolerant and gluten-intolerant individual, I became sick after eating it. After checking their website, I discovered that the allergen information did indeed list gluten and dairy in the arepas. Despite reaching out to multiple locations and messaging the company on Facebook without receiving a response, I left a negative review on their Facebook page. The marketing team eventually responded, acknowledging numerous complaints from gluten-free and celiac customers who had also fallen ill. In mid-September 2019, the company issued a formal apology on social media, admitting that their staff had provided incorrect allergen information. They advised customers to rely on the website's allergen information rather than staff recommendations. I also raised the issue of the vegan option with their marketing team. If you still choose to eat at Guasaca, I recommend sticking to the salads or rice bowls.

Guasaca recently updated its menu to include a vegan option for its arepas, in addition to the vegetarian option. I inquired with two employees about vegan and gluten-free options, and was not informed that there was milk in the arepa bread itself. As a result, I became ill after eating due to my lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance. I checked the website and found that the allergen information did mention both gluten and milk in the arepas. Despite reaching out to the company through various channels, I received no response for a month. I left a negative review on their Facebook page, prompting a response from their marketing team. It seems that there have been multiple complaints from gluten-free/Celiac customers who have become ill, leading to a formal apology on social media in November 2019. The apology acknowledged that staff had been misinformed about allergens, and recommended checking the website for accurate information. I also requested that their marketing team address the vegan issue. For those still considering dining at guasaca, it may be safer to stick to the salads or rice dishes.

The arepas at this restaurant are amazing. Although they appear to only have one vegan option on the menu, the variety of vegetable fillings allows for numerous delicious combinations to be created.