the local food scene in catia la mar: what the residents actually eat
so here's the thing about catia la mar-nobody talks about the food scene like it's some hidden culinary paradise. it's not. it's real. it's loud. it's full of fried fish, arepas, and street vendors who yell at you from three blocks away. i'm writing this as a freelance photographer who's been living here for two months, mostly surviving on empanadas and sheer stubbornness.
let's get the ugly data out of the way first: rent in catia la mar is about $150-200 a month for a decent place. safety? let's just say i don't walk around with my camera out after 8pm unless i want it to become a souvenir for someone else. job market? mostly informal-people sell food, drive taxis, or hustle whatever they can. but the food-oh, the food is honest.
*breakfast usually means arepas stuffed with cheese, shredded beef, or black beans. you'll find them at every corner. cost? about 1-2 USD each. locals don't call it "artisanal"-they call it breakfast.
lunch is the main event. pabellón criollo-rice, shredded beef, black beans, and fried plantains-costs around $3-5 at a comedor. these are the no-frills spots where the cook might yell at you for taking too long to order.
street food is where it gets fun. fried fish (usually pargo or corocoro) with tostones (fried green plantains) is everywhere near the coast. a plate costs about $4. locals say the best ones are sold out of coolers on the beach, not in restaurants.
here's what a local vendor once told me while flipping fish: "si no te gusta frito, no viniste a catia." ("if you don't like fried food, you didn't come to catia.") and honestly? he's right.
overheard gossip from a taxi driver: "the fancy seafood place by the marina? overpriced. go two blocks down, there's a lady with a cart-best fried fish in town."
another rumor from a bartender: "don't eat the ceviche from the beach vendors unless you want to spend the night in the bathroom. go to el fogón de doña carmen-they actually clean the fish."
if you're into coffee, good luck. most locals drink guayoyito-watered-down coffee with lots of sugar. for real espresso, you have to go to a hipster spot in caracas, about 30 minutes away.
desserts? quesillo (venezuelan flan) and cannoli (not the italian kind-these are coconut cookies). both cost less than a dollar and will ruin your diet.
weather here is hot. like, "i regret wearing black jeans" hot. but the breeze from the coast makes it bearable-unless it's raining, then everything floods and you're stuck eating street food under a tarp.
nearby cities worth mentioning: caracas is just a short drive away, and while it gets all the culinary hype, catia la mar keeps it real. no pretense. just food that fills you up and doesn't empty your wallet.
if you want to see what locals actually eat, skip the tourist traps. go to the central market early in the morning. bring cash. bring your appetite. and maybe some antacids.
sources & further reading:*
- tripadvisor - catia la mar restaurants
- yelp - local eateries
- reddit - venezuela travel tips
- local food blog - venezuelan street food
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/best-suburbs-in-mission-viejo-for-families-and-young-professionals
- https://topiclo.com/post/sustainability-in-seluklu-how-green-is-this-urban-space-2
- https://topiclo.com/post/marrakech-the-real-pros-cons-and-my-touristbeaten-soul
- https://topiclo.com/post/akure-etiquette-how-not-to-be-that-tourist
- https://topiclo.com/post/tucson-yeah-its-hot-dusty-and-kinda-magical