When you travel abroad just by flavoring their local cuisine, you know you've hit the jackpot. And what better way than with a little piece of Carúpano abroad: Carupanadas, serving up legit Venezuelan empanadas.
I went all in and tried a few classics: the peluda (shredded beef with cheese), the molida (a meatball-style filling, bien resuelta), and the cazón (that clean shark meat that's puro oriente). But the real heavy-hitters were the cheese with bacon, where the queso just busted out in every bite; the cazón with sweet plantain and cheese, a proper bomba de sabor; and the absolute queen--the asado negro with Guayanese cheese.
Now that one is otra liga. Sweet and savory perfectly balanced, no alcohol overshadowing the flavor, and topped with a chunk of Guayanese cheese--super moist, grasosito, and giving that trademark texture that makes a Venezuelan empanada legit. Best part? It's not even on the menu. Yep, pana, it's Carupanadas' secret move, only known by true Carupanero foodies.
The vibe is just as good as the food. Yari and Daniela welcome you with that warm Carúpano cariño, while Alejandra and Ruth drop all the sazón in the kitchen. Frank is the crack at frying--golden, crispy empanadas without drowning them in oil (nobody wants a skinny-dipping empanada, bro). And at the helm, Liborio, siempre mosca, making sure everything runs like clockwork.
Just wish the place was bigger, but rumor has it they will open a mew location.
And listen, no matter how full you get, save some espacio for the tres leches. Soft, creamy, with just a hint of cinnamon--el cierre perfecto to your Venezuelan food trip. read more