Aripo's has all the elements of a classic American success story. An immigrant family comes to the states, makes good, and opens a business. Luckily for Oak Park, the Rodriguez family was homesick for Venezuelan food, and with the opening of Aripo's, has decided to bring us their country's signature dish, the arepa.

Not quite a taco and not quite a sandwich, the arepa is served on a flatbread called masa, made from cornmeal, salt, and water. The mix is hand-formed into a patty, and the end result is something that looks somewhat like a rough pita. The arepa is then stuffed with nearly anything, from pulled pork to chicken to vegetables to pretty much anything edible and tasty that will fit between two slices of masa.

And with prices like these, you'll likely end up trying most everything too. The most expensive arepa is less than $5, and is pretty sizable. Some special entrees are available for a bit over $10, if you're not in an arepa kind of place. Aripo's is BYOB.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Bill Burman