Venezuelan restaurants play an important role in Gainesville, bringing people together through traditional food. More spaces in the city are embracing accessible formats like food trucks and community-focused concepts in recent years. Here are three Venezuelan restaurants you definitely have to try if you haven’t already.
1. Tinker Latin Restaurant
The restaurant, owned by Tinker Quevedo and Antonella D’Errico, originally opened as a food truck in 2019. It is currently located on South Main Street and stands out for its large space, ideal for family gatherings and social meetups. The restaurant also functions as a venue for large events such as parties, watch parties and celebrations.
In 2024, the business opened a second location in Tioga.
Although the menu is primarily based on Venezuelan cuisine, it also includes dishes from other Latin American countries, such as bandeja paisa from Colombia.
Among its most popular items are various types of arepas and empanadas, as well as more elaborate dishes like hallacas, chicharron, breakfast arepas and bistec a caballo. The restaurant has options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Roberto Carrero, a 22-year-old UF computer science senior, said Tinker is his favorite restaurant in Gainesville.
“I like the food, I like the atmosphere, the place is very nice,” Carrero said.
He also mentioned that he appreciates having Venezuelan food in the city, despite there not being many Venezuelan restaurants. It’s a good place to come with friends, he said.
2. Stop Venezuela
Stop Venezuela is a food truck specializing in Venezuelan hot dogs, located on Northwest Eighth Avenue, which operates daily from 6:45 to 11 p.m.
Stop Venezuela is popular for its Tuesday promotions, which offer a combo of two hot dogs and one drink for $9.99.
Pedro González, a 35-year-old frequent customer, said many hot dog stands like this can be found throughout Venezuela, where he is from.
“You arrive and share with people you don’t know, but in that moment, you kind of become familiar with everyone,” González said.
His favorite order, he said, is a hot dog with bacon and a malt beverage.
3. La Maracucha Restaurant & Creperie
La Maracucha focuses on the traditional cuisine of Maracaibo, Venezuela, though over time it has adapted to offer dishes from different regions of the country.
The menu includes items such as the arepa de aguita e’sapo — a traditional Maracaibo-style arepa — mandocas, empanadas, tequenos, pastelitos and cachapas.
La Maracucha also offers a wide selection of desserts, including crepes, ice cream, sorbets, milkshakes and smoothies.
The restaurant is owned by María Alejandra Puentes and Eros Puentes, both from Maracaibo. The project began in 2017 as a food truck in Miami and now operates a permanent location on West University Avenue.
Kush Miryala, a 22-year-old UF computer science and economics junior, visited the restaurant for the first time after seeing a promotion offering half off appetizers and desserts.
“The location is good; the atmosphere is good,” Miryala said, adding that it seems like a pleasant place and that he would return to try more of the Venezuelan food they offer.
Contact Ornella Moreno at omoreno@alligator.org.
Ornella Moreno is a senior journalism student with a concentration in psychology in her first semester at The Alligator. She covers El Caiman Ave. Previously, she worked as a radio anchor for WUFT Noticias. In her free time, Ornella enjoys doing yoga, reading and going to the movies.
