Pabellón Criollo // Orinoco, Boston MA

Slow-roasted shredded beef, white rice, black beans, and plantains.

Pabellón Criollo is Venezuela’s national dish, and I can definitely see why! The beef is stewed with onions, garlic, vegetables, and spices for a couple of hours until it is so tender that it falls from the bone. The result is a delicious meat that is full of flavour without being spicy.

Orinoco is a Venezuelan restaurant in Boston’s South End neighborhood that was recommended by a friend and fellow food-lover.The Pabellón Criollo at Orinoco is mouthwateringly good. It is served with white rice, delectably seasoned black beans, and plantains cooked just how I like them–soft and flavourful and still sweet, without being dry or overly fried.

It is very hard to pick just one dish here. Also incredible are the Empanadas Verdes, made entirely with plantain dough and filled with heavenly spiced forest mushrooms, piquillo peppers, and manchego cheese.

Another amazing choice: the Arepa Pernil, a sandwich of mojo-marinated pork, guayanés cheese, fresh tomatoes, and an addictively delcious garlic sauce.

Maracuchitos are fried plantains wrapped around soft guayanés cheese.

All of this food goes down nicely with a passion fruit margarita. Even the drinks are delicious here!

Orinoco has locations in South End, Brookline Village, and Harvard Square.