CaracasRestaurants

South American restaurants in Caracas

  1. A

    La Guayaba Verde

    This wonderful comida venezolana hotspot got an upgrade both in space and location, moving from the edgier center to the safe confines of Santa Eduvigis. Here you’ll find Chef Eduardo Castañeda’s healthy-ish takes on his country’s dynamic cuisine, from a Trinidad- and Tobago-influenced curried shrimp wrapped in roti to upscale tequeños, a local staple of bread dough stuffed with white cheese.

    reviewed

  2. B

    La Cocina de Francy

    Instead of Spanish fare, this tasca-style restaurant specializes in delicious Venezuelan cuisine rooted in ancestral recipes. Check out the pelao guayanés, a soulful chicken stew laced with herbs and olive oil, or the pabellón criollo, Venezuela’s national dish of rice, black beans, fried plantains and shredded beef. The burlap tablecloths and funky art are a nice touch.

    reviewed

  3. C

    La Castañuela

    Located on a particularly busy corner of Las Mercedes, this is an updated drive-up version of a traditional tasca (Spanish-style bar-restaurant) with a boisterous atmosphere enhanced by freely flowing scotch and lounge singers. The waiters seem constantly in motion, toting enormous pans of paella or trays of tapas to big groups of revelers.

    reviewed

  4. Hajillo’s

    A block west and half a block north of the plaza, this small chef-managed restaurant offers some adventurous culinary hybrids of Venezuelan and Asian fare, with assuredly aphrodisiacal ingredients. Try the mango rice for a true experience: curried chicken and rice comes along with a cornucopia of flavor enhancers to mix in. Perfection!

    reviewed

  5. D

    Restaurante La Atarraya

    This classic dining hall is named after a store that operated here in the 19th century, when the plaza functioned as the city market. Comida criolla staples like cachapas and roast chicken are served at the counter or in the wood-lined dining area.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Arepera 24 Horas

    Open round-the-clock as the name suggests, this big, busy, open-air joint is always good for a well-stuffed arepa – choose from classic caraqueños fillings in the display case, such as carne mechado, a shredded beef.

    reviewed

  7. F

    Restaurant Urrutia

    Urrutia is one of the best Basque restaurants around. Shaped like a pie wedge with tables along the perimeter, the place is often crowded with local office workers relaxing over a seafood meal or noshing on pasapalos (finger food).

    reviewed

  8. G

    Restaurant El Coyuco

    Mouthwatering grilled chicken is what’s served up in this vast, smoky dining hall on the main drag. Order your bird con todo for sides of yucca, salad and a hallaquita (mini tamale) – then fight the masses for a table.

    reviewed

  9. H

    El Budaré de la Castellana

    This bustling, two-level restaurant offers good cachapas, arepas (small, thick corn pancakes) and other Venezuelan standards. Mention it to a local and you’ll consistently hear one thing: ‘classic.’

    reviewed

  10. I

    La Estación del Pollo

    This popular dining hall has racks upon racks of chickens roasting over coals and attentive waiters rushing them to your table, along with the obligatory side of yucca laced with guasacaca sauce.

    reviewed

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  12. J

    Lunchería Doña Agapita

    Excellent cachapas (corn pancakes that end up looking like a ménage-a-trois of a pancake, omelet and taco) stuffed with ham and/or cheese are griddled to oblivion at this no-nonsense spot.

    reviewed

  13. K

    Punto Criollo del Este

    Though easy to overlook, this hole-in-the-wall kitchen on the east end of the district is a locally recommended purveyor of reasonably priced comida criolla lunches.

    reviewed

  14. L

    Arepera Doña Petrica

    This arepa restaurant, serving healthy-sized, inexpensive portions to beer-drinking locals, makes a casual introduction to the basics of Venezuelan cuisine.

    reviewed

  15. La Gorda

    ‘The fat lady’ has been serving traditional Venezuelan dishes for decades. This is where some five-star hotels send guests who want to eat ‘local.’

    reviewed

  16. M

    Casa Farruco

    Decorated with beautiful tile work and ship models, this atmospheric locale offers tranquil dining upstairs and a boisterous bar downstairs.

    reviewed

  17. N

    Restaurant El Presidente

    This simple, checkered-tablecloth spot fills up quickly at noon, when locals pour in for its home-style set-lunch menus.

    reviewed