Eating Out

Paraguay isn’t exactly world-renowned for its sophisticated dining, but Asuncion is a fairly cosmopolitan capital, and as such there are plenty of opportunities for formal dining here, as well as more relaxed options. Visitors can take their pick from international options as well as traditional Paraguayan dishes. Many of the restaurants are particularly good on weekend evenings, when live music will sometimes accompany your meal. Shopping center food courts are usually good places to come for a quick bite to eat, and the street markets are good places for snacks and for self caterers to stock up on fruit and vegetables.

Traditional Dishes
Traditional food in Paraguay tends to be on the heavy side, with much use made of yucca, maize, meat and cheese. Vegetarians are less well-catered for here than in some of the other South American capitals, but pay-by-weight buffet restaurants are always a good bet for salads and meat-free side dishes, and street vendors can be found selling barbecued or boiled corn on the cob, or try the empanadas (tasty little pies) filled with corn (choclo) or cheese (queso).  Churrascarias, selling every kind of meat imaginable, are a real treat for carnivores, and fish features on plenty of menus too. One of the best Churrascarias in town is Sajon, at Av. Carlos A Lopez, and there is often good traditional music here too.

Budget Options
For the best cheap eats, you’ll need to fill up at lunchtime instead of making your evening meal the main dish of the day. Many good value set meals can be found between 11am and 3pm, particularly in the city center, and this is also the best time to find buffet-style restaurants where you pay for the weight of the food you eat. There are lots of Chinese buffet restaurants in the center too, including Mirasol, at 25 de Mayo, which often offer good choices for vegetarians as well as carnivores.

International Dining Scene
Asuncion offers everything from rustic Italian and cheap and cheerful Chinese food right through to sophisticated Japanese restaurants and contemporary places selling pan-national food. Although many restaurants change hands or close and reopen under another guise, a current good Japanese place is Hiroshima, at Choferes del Chaco, while good Spanish food can be found at Taberna Espanola, at Ayolas 631.