Don Arepo, based in suburban Patraix, is perhaps an unusual choice of restaurant to highlight. In this article I want to show you why we enjoy visiting it and why you really should give it a go too if you are looking for a real Colombian experience in Valencia.
Valencia is a city with a thousand and one different food options. Restaurants here come in all shapes and sizes. There are ones for when you are feeling fancy and ones when you are broke. I always enjoy those that feel authentic, that take you back to a place or a time. For many years I lived in Colombia and I want to share with you a place that helps me go back and time to those days. This restaurant is Don Arepo.
Hustle and bustle
The first thing you notice about Don Arepo is how busy it is. It’s a small place, not much bigger than my living room but every inch of it is a hive of activity. All the tables inside are normally full and the ones outside often have people standing and waiting patiently close by. There is also always plenty of staff milling around, taking orders and serving customers. Inside you can see all kinds of weird and wonderful Colombian delicacies on display behind the counter.
Service is warm and friendly but efficient without ever feeling rushed. Once the QR code for the menu didn’t work on my phone. The waiter gave us his and then waited patiently for us to decide. He wasn’t hanging over us, making us feel uncomfortable and we appreciated the chance to decide without feeling pressured.
The second thing you notice is that the restaurant is full of Colombians. In my opinion this is definitely a good thing and the restaurant in my mind is authentic in almost every way. Almost but not quite, there is no Caldo de Costila, Beef short rib soup on the breakfast menu. Don Arepo if you are listening please add this! In fairness, I am yet to see it on the menu anywhere in Valencia. The waiting staff always seem to know lots of the clientele and are seemingly always coming out to say hello to someone they know. It is that kind of place. It is honest Colombian food, by Colombians and for them. That is not to say you have to be Colombian to enjoy it.
Inside you can see all kinds of weird and wonderful Colombian delicacies
A walk or take the metro
Its location in Patraix neighbourhood is about 20 mins walk from Plaza de España. If that’s too far to walk then Patraix metro station is just around the corner. It is a little bit far from the tourist trail definitely but Don Arepo rewards those who dare to venture a bit further. There are lots of Colombian restaurants in the centre of Valencia but this is the only place that takes me back to what places are actually like in Colombia. Many of the others just seem to be overpriced caricatures of what a Colombian restaurant is. I am not saying the others are bad and there are many we enjoy but they don’t take me back like Don Arepo does.
Valencia’s most unique Colombian menu
The menu has a large range of Colombian favourites, snacks and fast food options. You will find traditional dishes which most Colombian restaurants have like Bandeja Paisa, Sobrebarriga and Chuleta. For those who don’t know, Bandeja Paisa is Colombia’s national dish. It is always a large plate of goodies. Expect Colombian sausage, minced beef, rice, red beans, Pork crackling which is called chicharrón, an arepa, plantain, a fried egg and a piece of avocado because we all need to be healthy. Yes, It is carb heavy and yes you could well be very full after but it is also really good.
You will also find other things which are not as well known outside of Colombia. Some are not for the faint hearted such as Chunchulo which is roasted beef intestines or bofe which I am reliably informed is pork lungs! For the adventurous or for those who relish something different this is your place!
What it might lack in refinement it makes up for in other ways. It’s honest, hearty and heavy but admittedly not the best place for Vegetarians. It might be simple but also incredibly satisfying. My advice for a newbie is to start with the staples like soup and a meat dish. Pick one of the excellent fruit juices, which you might never have heard of, and take it from there.
Valencia’s best Colombian style empanadas
If you are not looking for a main meal, they also have some of your typical Colombian style street food. For me the king of Colombian street food is the empanada. The ones they sell here remind me of late nights in Colombia after a few beers. They are stuffed full of shredded beef and potato and taste best when combined with a spoon or two or homemade aji, Colombia’s excellent spicy sauce. They might not be the biggest but at €1.20 are good value. Honestly, try leaving without ordering at least 3!
If you are looking for an authentic restaurant and a place with a sense of community you should really consider Don Arepo. It combines welcoming and convivial service, traditional Colombian food and is all served at sensible prices. It’s not trying to be the next stop on a foodies itinerary and is all the better for it. For me, Don Arepo is perhaps the best example of an authentic Colombian restaurant in Valencia and well worth a try.
