Candela Arepa Bar, the ‘little sister’ to Alma Cocina Latina, opens in Station North

Candela Arepa Bar, the long-awaited Venezuelan arepa bar from Alma Cocina Latina co-owner Irena Stein, finally opened to the public Wednesday.

First announced in 2023, Candela sits directly beside Alma — the acclaimed Venezuelan fine-dining restaurant — in the heart of the Station North arts district.

Stein describes Candela as “Alma’s little sister,” a separate, independently run business built around speed and convenience rather than the multicourse experience Alma provides.

At Candela’s 10 E. Lanvale St. location, diners order at a self-service kiosk then watch as their food is prepared in front of them at a Chipotle-style bar. Orders are paid for and picked up at the end of the line.

The 44-seat pink-and-white-walled dining room includes a sink where customers can wash up after eating.

The menu launched with six arepas, including one filled with smoked brisket made in collaboration with Blue Pit BBQ and another with chicken from Rooted Rotisserie, plus shrimp, vegetarian and vegan options.

Customers can also order the same fillings on rice bowls alongside appetizers like yuca fries, tequeños and coleslaw served over a crispy green plantain. All menu items are below $20.

Stein was careful to distinguish Candela’s arepas from the Colombian version some diners may know. Venezuelan arepas, she said, are split and stuffed with fillings, while Colombian arepas tend to be thinner and used more like bread.

Stein said the restaurant plans to add a walk-up takeout window on the Alma side of the building that will remain open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to serve nearby concertgoers and partiers.

Stein said Candela’s business plan grew as a way to address a gap she sees in Station North.

She said that with Alma open only for dinner and just a few other fast options nearby, there’s little for the neighborhood’s residents, students and visitors to grab during the day.

“The lunch need [in the Station North district] is huge,” said Stein, whose restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. “Arepas and it being grab-and-go is perfect for this environment.”

The location sits near the Metro Gallery, the Parkway Theatre and the Lyric Baltimore, among other cultural venues, a cluster of institutions Stein believes will help drive traffic to Candela.

The arepa bar is also aiming for a younger crowd than Alma typically draws, Stein said.

“We’re getting into TikTok, which we haven’t with Alma,” she said. “A lot of young people are in it, and that’s a big universe, more than other social media.”

Candela was financed in part through a 2024 crowdfunding campaign that raised $125,000 from roughly 60 to 70 investors, each contributing a minimum of $100. Investors are set to be repaid by 2030 at a 6% interest rate.

“It’s so cool because even if you have a little money, it gives you a sense of belonging,” Stein said. “Candela belongs to all these people.”