La Cachapera | Restaurante Venezolano Barcelona — Restaurant in Barcelona

I was excited to try this place after many years of not having access to real authentic Venezuelan food. So I made an effort to solely stop by La Cachapera on our recent trip to Barcelona and introduce my partner to the food I grew up eating.

Nothing out of the ordinary with the atmosphere, however, we did have an issue with the amount of fruit flies that was pestering our table and dishes. Throughout our meal, we were constantly using our hands to swat away the flies to no avail. To our surprise, the staff did not intervene, step in or say anything. We were not expecting any special treatment or have the issue fully resolved immediately (which is impossible), but a simple comment addressing the issue would have been nice. Perhaps a suggestion to change tables and see if that would alleviate the problem?

Food wise, it really was nothing to write home about. I grew up eating cachapas, platanos fritos, nata, you name it. But it really was all just very bland. The plantain was not even sweet and tasted pre-fried, tasteless shredded cheese, the cachapa with the 3 dots of tartare sauce on the side (?) and supposedly the star of the entire meal) was really just okay (a nub of butter or margarine would have been nice). The only item that had any flavor whatsoever were the chicken tostones or patacones. The Maltín Polar was nice too.

Service was pretty straight forward and plain. Definitely lacked the vibrant energy and Latin American welcome I had grown up experiencing. I speak fluent Spanish (with a native Venezuelan accent as well) so it was not a language barrier issue.

I really tried to like this place and had no expectations coming in. I also wanted to support a Venezuelan business because this culture and cuisine was a major part of my life. But this was a big no for me. I am genuinely amazed at how this place is able to receive so many positive reviews.

My advice? Find an alternative if you are looking for authentic Venezuelan food. It is Barcelona after all - you...

One of my favourite meals in Barcelona. The portion sizes are excellent, 10/10 value for money and the food itself is delicious.

Ordered one of their signature cachapas (sweet maize flour pancakes) – the Mixed Cachapa half and half – with one half filled with succulent shredded beef and the other with reina pepiada (Venezuelan filling of chicken + avocado + mayo which is heavenly), lined with their queso de mano (hand cheese.)

I also ordered the Arepa Apureña, which comes with picaña or Venezuelan style steak, guasaca (a creamy, delicious Venezuelan salsa with guacamole and herbs) and the hand cheese.

The meal was a 10/10. The ambience is lively and has a vibe of a cozy bistro. You can tell people love the place from the handwritten testimonials that customers scribble on their walls. Javier, our server, was lovely and helped me feel at home even with my intermediate Spanish. Would 100% recommend this place if you're looking for a fulfilling meal where the taste and portions far surpass the price. Would definitely come again on my next...

This is definitely my favourite restaurant in Barcelona! It has a very nice ambience and decor. The staff is very friendly and fast. But the greatest thing is of course the food. What I appreciate about La Cachapera are the rellenos (stuffing) of their cachapas. There are plenty to choose from and they also have many vegetarian ones (and it is not just queso de mano like some other Venezuelan restaurants). I tried the cachapa mixta vegetariana which comes with queso de mano, caraotas (black beans) and avocado and it was delightful. The queso de mano was just how it should be, firm, just slightly melted and with the right amount of saltiness. It combined perfectly with the caraotas and avocado, a really nice blend. The portion was also very big (including the avocado), it was more than enough for one person. For drinks they have most drinks you could get in Venezuela, malta, frescolita, chicha, papelón, so there is a lot to choose from. The prices are also very reasonable. Everything was perfect! Thank you. I will be happy...