Bites Nearby: Las Arepas de Julia

Located on a busy stretch of Lawrenceville Highway, Las Arepas de Julia is an authentic Colombian restaurant. Walking inside the small space, you will hear sounds of traditional Spanish music playing in the background, and the aroma of fried plantains being cooked in the kitchen.

Las Arepas de Julia serves traditional Colombian dishes all day long. There's a daily lunch special and a kids' menu. Listed as "typical dishes" are Picada, mixed fried chicken with pork sausages and plaintains, as well as a pork tamal served with rice and corn cake.

Recommended dishes include the Tilapia Empanizada o Asada, a generous portion of fried tilapia served with rice, avocado and lettuce. As an accompaniment to the tilapia, try the special sauce placed on the dining table, a sweet creamy blend with a mayonnaise consistency. Another menu highlight is the shrimp with garlic sauce, white rice and french fries. While the medley may sound like a wacky mix of entrees and sides, the combination of crunchy french fries with the firm garlic shrimp makes for an excellent pairing.

Las Arepas de Julia has a dessert menu which includes traditional Spanish sweets such as Caramel Flan. There are also traditional sodas such as the brand Popular that for the adventurous beverage connoisseur is worth the risk.

As a real Colombian dining establishment Las Arepas de Julia draws a big crowd from the local Spanish-speaking community in Lilburn. Patrons are encouraged to either brush up on their Spanish skills before dining or to practice patience when placing orders with the predominantly Spanish-speaking staff. Service was great and orders came out quickly.

Las Arepas de Julia is located at 4044 Lawrenceville Highway. Hours of operation are Mon.- Thurs. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 9 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. and Sun 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. You can reach Las Arepas de Julia at 770-559-4094.