Valencia Luncheria brought Venezuelan food to Norwalk, Connecticut in a setting that looked more like a casual lunchroom than a destination restaurant, which made it exactly the kind of place Guy Fieri was built to find. It appeared in Season 5, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Something from Everywhere,” which aired January 12, 2009. Guy found arepas stuffed to capacity, fresh empanadas, and the kind of Venezuelan home cooking that most of coastal Connecticut had never encountered at a neighborhood restaurant. The kitchen operated on from-scratch discipline: the masa for the arepas made fresh, the fillings house-made, the sauces built from real ingredients. Valencia Luncheria became a Fairfield County institution on the back of that DDD appearance and the food that justified it.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Valencia Luncheria
City: Norwalk, Connecticut
Cuisine: Venezuelan / Latin American
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 6
Episode Title: Something from Everywhere
Original Air Date: January 12, 2009
Address: 172 Main St., Norwalk, CT 06851
Phone: 203-846-8009
Website: https://www.valencialuncheria.com
Status: Open
What to Eat at Valencia Luncheria
The Arepas are the centerpiece — corn cakes split and stuffed with a range of fillings including shredded beef, black beans, cheese, chicken, and avocado. The Empanadas, freshly fried with various fillings, are the other must-order. The Pabellón Criollo — Venezuela’s national dish of shredded beef, black beans, white rice, and sweet plantains — is the plate that gives the full picture of what the kitchen does. The fresh-made sauces accompanying everything are worth asking the staff about.
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Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours.
Address: 172 Main St., Norwalk, CT 06851
Phone: 203-846-8009
Website: https://www.valencialuncheria.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Something from Everywhere episode on Amazon and pick up Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip with Recipes for the spirit of global neighborhood cooking the show celebrates.
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Valencia Luncheria appeared in Season 5, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Something from Everywhere,” originally aired January 12, 2009.