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Food & Dining in Asunción

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Expect generous portions—Paraguayan food is famously filling.
  • English is not widely spoken when dining; learning a few food-related Spanish phrases is helpful.
  • Naturally vegetarian choices include chipa, sopa paraguaya (if without meat broth), mbejú, mandioca frita, and various salads. When ordering, use words such as 'sin carne' (meat-free) or 'sin pollo' (without chicken). State 'Soy vegetariano/a' (I am vegetarian) or 'Soy vegano/a' (I am vegan) clearly.
  • Many traditional dishes contain lard (grasa), so it is worth asking about preparation if you follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet.
  • Lido Bar is where all the locals go when they want traditional food without the fuss. The Mercado 4 was perfect for trying street food, and Bolsi has this amazing old-school vibe.
  • In Asunción and across Paraguay, most supermarkets are open from 6, or 7 AM, until 9 PM.

Supermarkets

  • Superseis
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations throughout Asunción (Recoleta, Villa Morra, Ycuá Satí, Mburucuyá)
    Description
    Has more than 30 stores, making it one of the most relevant supermarket chains in Paraguay. They are reasonably large stores with all the usual sections of a modern supermarket, parking for vehicles, and also have an online store with home delivery.
  • Casa Rica
    Neighborhood
    City center and multiple locations
    Description
    Typically offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan products, including plant-based meats, dairy alternatives, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
  • Mercado 4
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (Silvio Pettirossi Avenue)
    Description
    If you want to know where to eat in Asunción more originally, you have Market 4, where you'll find the Market 4 food court, with all kinds of Paraguayan dishes at affordable prices.

Budget

  • Bolsi
    Price Range
    PYG 35,000
    Neighborhood
    Downtown Asunción (city center)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Traditional Paraguayan (24-hour diner, vori vori, sopa paraguaya, milanesas, surubí preparations)
  • Lido Bar
    Price Range
    PYG 40,000
    Neighborhood
    Downtown Asunción (city center)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Traditional Paraguayan, local comfort food
  • Mercado 4 Food Court
    Price Range
    PYG 30,000
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (Silvio Pettirossi Avenue area)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Diverse Paraguayan dishes, street-style food stalls

High End

  • Tierra Colorada
    Price Range
    PYG 180,000
    Neighborhood
    Centro
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Upscale Paraguayan cuisine (Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list), local ingredients
  • Ofelia
    Price Range
    PYG 160,000
    Neighborhood
    City center (inside Factoría Hotel)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Modern Paraguayan and international (surubí tiradito, rack of lamb)
  • Cocina Clandestina
    Price Range
    PYG 150,000
    Neighborhood
    Villa Aurelia
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Contemporary Paraguayan (smoked, fermented, pickled ingredients; playful tasting menus)

Mid Range

  • El Café De Acá
    Price Range
    PYG 65,000
    Neighborhood
    Villa Morra
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Traditional Paraguayan, modern café-style, breakfast, lunch, brunch
  • Kang Nam
    Price Range
    PYG 55,000
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (across from Mercado 4)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Korean (bibimbab, bulgogi, kimchi fried rice)
  • La Casita Pizzería
    Price Range
    PYG 70,000
    Neighborhood
    Las Lomas
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Wood-fired pizza, modern cuisine, sweetbread toast, cauliflower

Delivery Services

  • No Current Verified Delivery App Data Available
    Note
    Active food delivery apps operating in Asunción in July 2026 not confirmed at the time of research

International Cuisine

  • Italian
    Availability
    International (including Italian, Chinese, Mexican and others) and traditional Paraguayan cuisines are available in various restaurants and hotels.
  • Chinese
    Availability
    In recent years the city has seen a marked increase in Asian influences to cater to the many immigrants from the Pacific Rim, such as Japan, China and Korea.
  • Korean
    Availability
    There are dozens of Korean restaurants around Asunción.

Local Must Try Dishes

  • Sopa Paraguaya
    Description
    A famously misnamed dish that is not a soup at all, but a dense, savory cornbread baked with cornmeal, cheese, onions, milk, and eggs.
  • Chipa
    Description
    A ring-shaped cheese bread made from mandioca starch and aniseed, sold throughout the city by street vendors and enjoyed at all hours of the day.
  • Vori Vori
    Description
    Small cornmeal-and-cheese dumplings served in a flavorful chicken broth.
  • Mbejú
    Description
    A cassava starch flatbread cooked with cheese and fat, reflecting indigenous Guaraní culinary traditions.
  • Pira Caldo
    Description
    A spicy river fish soup.
  • Asado
    Description
    Asado culture is central to daily life, with parrillas serving exceptional beef grilled simply over wood or charcoal.

Vegan And Vegetarian Dining

Overview
Traditional Paraguayan cuisine is meat-heavy, so dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurants are not common. However, Asunción is gradually embracing vegetarianism and veganism, especially among the younger generation, and there are several places where you can find vegetarian-friendly options.

Venues

  • Bolsi
    Neighborhood
    Downtown Asunción
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Paraguayan with dedicated vegan section
    Description
    In the back pages of the Bolsi menu, you'll find a dedicated vegan section with more than a dozen options. These include international fare, such as hummus, veggie burgers and chop suey, as well as veganized versions of some traditional Paraguayan dishes.
  • Combitos Restaurante Vegetariano
    Neighborhood
    Villa Morra
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Asian vegetarian buffet style with vegan options
    Description
    Vegetarian restaurant with vegan options. Open Mon-Sat 11:00am-3:00pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm.
  • ECO Café Resto Plant-Based
    Neighborhood
    Asunción
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Plant-based dining
    Description
    Offers a diverse menu featuring vegetarian and vegan dishes with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients.
  • La Vida Verde
    Neighborhood
    Downtown Asunción
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Vegetarian Chinese buffet (pay by weight)
    Description
    They serve a variety of Chinese vegetarian food, among other vegetarian food that tastes very good. They have salads and good pastries too.

Gluten Free

Overview
Many traditional Paraguayan dishes are naturally gluten-free because they use mandioca flour.
Note
Limited dedicated gluten-free restaurant options; best options are traditional Paraguayan cuisine at general establishments or specialty cafés

Halal And Kosher

Note
No documented halal or kosher dining establishments currently operating in Asunción
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.secretflying.com
  2. 2.tasteatlas.com
  3. 3.en.wikipedia.org
  4. 4.howtoloveparaguay.com
  5. 5.newworlder.com
  6. 6.milehacker.com
  7. 7.foododisha.com
  8. 8.travelunicorns.com
  9. 9.tripadvisor.com
  10. 10.happycow.net
  11. 11.thenomadicvegan.com
  12. 12.asunciontimes.com
  13. 13.tripadvisor.com
  14. 14.karlbooklover.com
  15. 15.tripadvisor.com
  16. 16.happycow.net
  17. 17.foursquare.com
  18. 18.tripadvisor.com
  19. 19.neverendingvoyage.com
  20. 20.asunciontimes.com
  21. 21.evendo.com
  22. 22.movetoparaguay.com
  23. 23.blog.esplendorhoteles.com
  24. 24.paraguaypulse.com
  25. 25.supermarketworldguide.com
  26. 26.vivirenparaguay.com
  27. 27.tripadvisor.com
  28. 28.wanderlog.com
  29. 29.simonsparaguay.com

More About Asunción

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.