In a bright blue building on 49th Street South, the aroma of grilled corn and garlic wafts through the air, beckoning passersby into one of Gulfport’s most cherished dining spots. Inside 1 Chick 1 Bro Cafe Bistro, Xiomaira Webster greets customers with warmth while her brother Henry Barrero works his magic in the kitchen, crafting what many locals consider the area’s best arepas.
These Venezuelan corn cakes, made from white maize flour kneaded into soft dough and grilled until golden, have become the centerpiece of the siblings’ culinary tribute to their homeland. Webster and Barrero, who hail from Caracas, Venezuela, opened their restaurant in 2024, transforming the space previously occupied by Cori’s Seafood Grill into a cozy Venezuelan haven.
“The arepa is so versatile, you can eat it any time of the day,” explains Webster. “And you can put anything in it — it’s like bread to us.”
Though this marks their first independent brick-and-mortar establishment, the brother-sister duo aren’t newcomers to Tampa Bay’s arepa scene. They have connections to another popular Venezuelan spot, 11 Chicks in St. Petersburg’s Edge District, which is run by their sister. Before launching their Gulfport location, both spent time working alongside their sibling, honing their craft.
The menu showcases arepas in various forms, each stuffed generously with carefully prepared fillings. For meat lovers, the Porky Pig ($12.99) combines chicharron, caramelized onions, cheese and avocado, while seafood enthusiasts gravitate toward La Gamba ($13.99), packed with grilled shrimp, sauteed spinach, avocado, green onions and pickled red onions.
Traditionalists often order the Venezuelan Queen ($12.99), which features a creamy chicken salad with herb-infused mayonnaise and thick slices of avocado. One patron noted the sheer size of this particular arepa, describing it as weighing “five pounds because there was so much chicken and creamy avocado, I almost needed a fork to devour it.”
Every arepa arrives with two signature house sauces: a spicy orange concoction with Sriracha and paprika, and a green garlic-cilantro blend that perfectly complements the corn cakes.
The restaurant’s offerings extend beyond arepas. Their menu reflects Venezuela’s diverse cultural influences, including dishes inspired by the country’s substantial Chinese population (the siblings’ grandmother was Chinese) such as Asian ground pork and Chinese fried rice bowls (both $13.99).
Early risers can enjoy breakfast options, while those with a sweet tooth might opt for the tres leches cake. Refreshing beverages include natural fruit juices ($4.50-5.50) like soursop, which “tastes like a freshly juiced green apple,” along with espresso drinks and frappés.
What truly distinguishes 1 Chick 1 Bro is the family atmosphere cultivated by its owners. While Barrero manages kitchen operations, Webster maintains a constant presence in the dining room, greeting both regulars and first-time visitors with equal enthusiasm. On weekends, Barrero’s three daughters take turns at the cash register and in the kitchen, reinforcing the establishment’s family-oriented character.
In the year since opening, the restaurant has quickly established itself as a community fixture, with locals and visitors alike drawn to its authentic flavors and welcoming environment. For those unfamiliar with Venezuelan cuisine, the siblings offer not just a meal but an introduction to their culinary heritage, one arepa at a time.
1 Chick 1 Bro Cafe Bistro is located at 1431 49th St. S. in Gulfport and is open Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call 727-688-0855.