Exploring Nashville: Nashville Venezuela Food
In a city where whiskey and hot chicken dominate the food scene, it can be challenging to find diverse ethnic cuisine. Every food blogger in Nashville can rattle off their favorite taco spots, burger joints, and coffee shops, but how many can tell you where to score proper Venezuelan food in Music City? Well, until this past week, I wouldn’t have been able to. And if I’m being completely transparent, other than knowing where Venezuela is located on the map and the current struggles the country faces, I know very little about the culture or cuisine. All the more reason to explore, right?
I received so many positive responses to my Explore Nashville: Mi Colombia post ( last seen here), I’ve decided to get out of my “restaurant bubble” and continue to explore this amazing cuisine the city of Nashville offers.
This week my travels took me just a few miles down Nolensville Road to Nashville Venezuela Food.
Driving down Nolensville Road, you won’t miss Nashville Venezuela Food. The building facade is painted in a vertical tricolor of yellow, blue and red that match the country’s flag. One thing to note, parking can be a challenge. If I recall, there are only two spots in front of the restaurant and we ended up parking in front of the building next door.
Nashville Venezuela Food is rather modest in size. There are four tables that seat parties of two or more and bar seating is available for those solo diners. As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted and handed menus.
“Yes!!!” I thought to myself.
Compared to my last undertaking where there was NO menu, I already felt more prepared.
For those not well versed in the Spanish language, this menu has English translations available. Yet another win!
Nashville Venezuela Food offers a variety of freshly squeezed juices along with several other beverages unique to the country. When I heard that they had passion fruit as an “off-menu” option, I jumped at the chance to have it. Solid decision if you ask me!
Diving in head first, we started with Tequeños. This might be my favorite dish, but also the most Americanized thing on the menu. Tequeños are fried breaded cheese sticks where the chef takes a stick of queso blanco and wraps it in bread dough and then fries in oil. What can I say, I have a fondness for all things cheese and this was no exception. I could have made a meal on these alone.
Our next dish, a cachapa, is a quintessential Venezuelan dish that is often found at roadside stands. Cachapas are very similar to quesadillas except they are much more labor intensive. Rather than a tortilla, the chef uses sweet corn that has been mashed/ground and makes it into a thin pancake and then fills it with copious amounts of cheese.
Are you beginning to see a pattern?
This dish is commonly served as an appetizer or can be served for breakfast with various fillings.
At this point in the meal, I was so full it wasn’t even funny. But, I had to carry on in the name of research, right? Next to the table was the Reina Pepia, which several friends insisted I order. The Reina Pepia is an arepa filled with creamy avocado chicken salad and topped with sliced avocado. When I went to pick it up, chicken salad was literally falling out warm griddled corn cakes. Grab your knife and fork and make sure you share this with your partner in dine. There’s plenty for everyone.
Do you know that point in the meal when you know you are so full that you can’t eat another bite, but yet there’s still so much more food to experience? That exact moment when you are wishing for your elastic waist band pants so desperately? It was at that point in the meal when the Pepito arrived at our table. Before laying my hands on this sandwich, I knew it would be the highlight of our meal.
Why, you ask?
When a sandwich has beef, chicken, cheese, bacon, ham, lettuce, tomatoes, fried potato sticks and avocado all in one bite, you know it’s going to be both gluttonous and out of this world. As I pulled back the paper wrapping, it was very similar to a torta or even a loaded sub sandwich. Roll up your sleeves and have plenty of napkins because this is one delicious mess.
My jaunt down Nolensville Road was a success as Nashville Venezuela Food does not disappoint. The menu is approachable and even the pickiest of eater is sure to find something to their liking. If you are a cheese enthusiast like myself, make sure you order the Tequeños . You’ll thank me later!
Tariff: Dishes range between $3.00 and $10.00. Beverages are priced from $2.00-$4.00.
Can’t-Miss: By far the standouts of the meal were the Tequeños and the Pepito. I strongly recommend ordering both. If you want to explore more of the menu, share the Pepito. It’s massive.
Potential Pass: Even though the Reina Pepia came with such fan fare, it was likely my least favorite dish that I tried during my visit. I was a little disappointed as it was rather bland lacking the flavor and spice that I anticipated.
Until Next Time!