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Chelsea offers salvation for those ashamed to call Chipotle “Mexican food”

¡Vaya al Cocotero!
El Cocotero
228 West 18th Street
See map here

If you’re sick of the traditional UWS burrito, I highly recommend you venture down to Chelsea to get a real Spanish food fix. El Cocotero is a Venezuelan restaurant my friend Bettina raves about. Luckily, my other friend Hillary, Bettina and I had the time to venture down for lunch right before classes started. May I just say right off the bat, that once you try an arepa, you may never want to settle for a burrito again…

Bettina, being the Venezuelan native that she is, ordered for us Tequeños, a.k.a. mini fried cheese sticks (I can’t think of a better way to describe them). We are currently trying to figure out how we can make them here at school…NOMS CHEESE.

As for me, I decided to order an arepa—a baked and stuffed white corn pocket (Venezuelan pita pocket, if you will), that I had been dying to try. Mine was stuffed with guasacaca (Venezuelan guacamole!), avocado, and tomato. (Yes, I enjoy eating avocado in as many forms as possible at each meal.)

Hillary and Bettina ordered Asado Negro (slow braised beef eye round cooked in red wine & onions) complete with rice, beans, and sweet plantains. While the plate may look big, it tasted too good to leave anything unfinished.

Overall, this lunch expedition was not only a great catch-up with friends, but an enjoyable journey for our tummies. I plan to go back to El Cocotero soon and you should too!

Pro tip: There have a great lunch special here Monday-Friday from 11:30-3:30pm, if you’re looking for a Friday afternoon adventure!