Asunción’s dining scene has turned around in a few years. Although the pandemic has wreaked havoc among restaurateurs, by 2021 many of Asunción’s best restaurants had reopened their doors and have regained affluence.
Here are some of the charming places where you can sample the best of Paraguayan cuisine, an essential part of a trip to Paraguay.
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Café de Acá
It is my favorite restaurant and cafeteria in Asunción because of the charm of the space in the middle of the Villa Morra neighborhood. Café de Acá is the perfect summary of all Paraguayan gastronomy.
You can eat from street dishes like mbeyú, pastel mandi’o or chipa, to a delicious mandi’o chyryry or more hearty dishes. They also have a wide selection of sandwiches, salads and other healthy ingredients.
It is an ideal place to have breakfast, brunch or a snack and almost all day has a high volume of people. Among the things it offers that are not so easy to find is a pitcher of iced tereré (maté with cold water and aromatic herbs) that is perfect to spend summer afternoons in the shade of its garden.
Since a few months ago, it has a branch in the Textilia complex, in the neighborhood of Las Mercedes. It is easy to park, but not so easy to find a table on holidays.
Karú
Ignacio Fontclara’s bakery is much more than a bread store. On weekends, be prepared to reserve their sourdough breads and fight for a table on their patio. It’s a great place to have breakfast, a snack or a light lunch.
They always have typical Paraguayan dishes with a more gastronomic touch, like their payagua mascada made of meat or a vegan version with beans and mushrooms. They have one of the best coffees in Asunción and sweets to die for. You will find both traditional and some innovative proposals.
Karu is committed to art and proximity production. To keep up to date, it’s worth following their Instagram profile. Also, it is one of the few places where they always sell some of my favorite gourmet products, such as Origen Ka’aite mate and chef Su’s kimchi.
Since a few months ago, they have opened a branch in the Las Mercedes neighborhood, where it seems like all the businesses in Asunción are moving.
El Bolsi
It is an institution in downtown Asunción. If you haven’t been to El Bolsi, it’s as if you haven’t visited the center. Whether it’s dead all around, a horrible day or a pandemic, El Bolsi is always full.
You have the option of eating minutas (snacks) at the semicircular bar which, for me, symbolizes the quintessence of the place. There is also a lively terrace, especially on weekends, and if you want something more substantial or a more formal meal, they have a dining room with traditional style service.
It depends on whether you want a vintage experience with uniformed waiters, the more casual treatment of the bar or being outdoors, the menu is the same. They have everything from empanadas or the famous chicken and cheese coxinha or the best cuts of Paraguayan beef. The menu is very extensive and even includes sushi, but if we are in the classic restaurant of Asunción we must order a chicken vorí or a traditional meat dish.
Korean Restaurant Su
Su Yun Jeoung is the Korean chef of reference in Paraguay. Chef Su has placed her restaurant at number 1 on Tripadvisor for several months. Probably, you did not know that Asunción is a city with a large Korean community.
Locals and foreigners show their taste and interest for Korean food in Paraguay. It is curious to see how the local palate has accepted very well the proposals of Korean cuisine, which has much spicier flavors than what is customary in Paraguayan dishes.
It is worth going more than once and discovering the menu, especially if you are new to Korean cuisine. For a first time, I recommend a bulgogi menu (marinated beef) or a jeyuk menu (spicy pork). All main courses are served with a selection of Korean tapas or banchan that includes six different types of vegetable dishes.
Restaurante Pakurí
The couple formed by chef Sofía Pfannl and sommelier José Miguel Burga have been winning recognition and awards for quite some time. They have appeared in the list of the 50 Best in Latin America for their cuisine with Paraguayan roots and global vocation.
Since their beginnings, they have experimented with the menu and the wine cellar, being one of the places where you can eat a gastronomic menu in Asunción. Some of my favorites are the raw meat, pork ribs, sweetbreads and surubi ceviche.
The good thing is that with top quality produce and such a careful cuisine, the bill does not go up more than 40-50 €. For the price of a good international restaurant, in Asunción, you can eat a menu worthy of a Michelin Star.
Lido Bar
It is the historical enemy of El Bolsi. The Lido Bar is less pretentious, but just as classic. It has changed its historical location, but it hasn’t gone too far. The terrace that used to be on the sidewalk in front of the Panteón de los Héroes is now a couple of blocks away, on El Paraguayo Independiente.
Lido’s empanadas are a classic choice for a quick dinner in the evening, but the best is the caldo de surubí, a typical Paraguayan fish soup. You can also find the classic dishes of Paraguayan cuisine, such as soup, chipaguasú, lomito, etc.
In the new location they have more space, although they have not lost the tradition of the bar. Also, it has a nice walled terrace where you can have a good time with friends and family.
Pizzeria D’Alessandro
In Paraguay, there is a large population that has its origins in the Italian migration to America. They may not be as visible as in Uruguay or Argentina, but they have left a rich culinary legacy. The love for gnocchi exemplifies this very well.
Here is the best pizza in Asunción, Paraguay and the southern cone (maybe I’m exaggerating there). I have really traveled a lot around the world and outside of Italy, this is one of the best pizzas I have ever tasted. The products are excellent, the dough is well done, the oven is perfect.
Located in a plot of land in the neighborhood of Las Mercedes, halfway between a food truck and a restaurant, this pizzeria in a container has been all the rage since its opening. There are days when it is difficult to get a table and in addition to delicious pizzas, they have a selection of national beers to spend a fantastic evening al fresco.
For you to know: in Paraguay, it is usual to order two different flavors in the same pizza. It is a great way to try more than one option.
Hiroshima Japanese Restaurant
It is a true institution in Encarnación and is on the same path in the capital. The best Japanese restaurant in Paraguay has a varied offer with quality sushi and a large space in the Recoleta neighborhood.
Would it be possible to have a good sushi offer in a country with no sea? It seems so. Surely, it helps that there is a large community of Japanese origin in Paraguay.
But Hiroshima is not only about sushi. They have on the menu several proposals with locally produced wagyu beef with Japanese criteria and at a very affordable price and also an excellent variety of the most classic Japanese dishes.
Koggi – Korean Food Cart
This Korean and Lebanese fusion restaurant started as a food truck that has been expanding. Food truck cuisine is still at the heart of Koggi, but the offerings have been enhanced with craft beers and an extraordinary cocktail list.
This is where the hip, alternative young people of Asunción come to eat a bibimbap-style vegetable rice or a Turkish-style beef or chicken roll with a Korean twist. Over time, they have expanded the menu. However, you should not miss these classics accompanied by a beer from one of the local craft breweries.
Asadito on the go
Having a few beers and meat skewers in a traditional local is a must-do experience when visiting Asunción. The asadito is the Paraguayan version of the shish kebab, or meat skewers. Butifarra, chicken, pork, different cuts of beef or blood sausage are served with manioc and garlic sauce to accompany a casual get-together with friends.
The asadito places are the closest thing to street food in Paraguay, but because of their atmosphere and good price, they are a place to go out at least one night during your trip to Paraguay. Among my favorites is Carnívoros General Santos, although if you want something even more local, you have to try the asadito at the corner of Plaza Italia and Rodriguez de Francia, delicious and right in the historic center.
If you have visited Paraguay and want to share one of your favorite restaurants, leave a comment to tell me about your experience. I’ll read you in the comments. By the way, among the best restaurants in Asunción are also Tierra Colorada and Bastardo – Cocina sin Raíces.
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PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. This post contains some affiliate links.
These links allow you to follow my recommendations and book them, and provide a little commission. Thus, you help keep this travel blog ad-free at no extra cost to you.
