Each week, Tommy-Maurice is going to a different restaurant in Asunción. This week, he has been to Manjares, an establishment located in the old Barrio Pettirossi.
Last year, I went to this restaurant so often that I cannot remember precisely how many times. Let us say I was there frequently. I was living a corner away in a lovely hostel that is now closed. This year, I have visited the neighbourhood multiple times to see how things have changed. I liked the area. This week, I also wanted to see how things had changed at the restaurant, and I invited a colleague to join me. Like last year, the food was good.
Manjares is a tiny establishment offering local cuisine. You have to pick between three options for lunch, being different each day. You can get milanesa, guiso, tagliatelle, chicken with rice or mashed potatoes, and many other options. You can also contact the manager to get the daily menu options and get your food delivered to you, as long as it is close enough to the restaurant’s location. I took the tagliatelle with beef, while my colleague took the milanesa with cheesy rice. We were also given a basket of bread. For my part, the pasta and the meat were cooked to perfection, and the sauce accompanying my dish was savoury. My colleague also liked his plate and fell in love with the bread.
Apart from the food, I was very impressed by the renovation they made between last year and this week. It now has a more modern look while still looking local and authentic. It felt very welcoming. The establishment is very clean. The personnel are friendly and dedicated to the job. It is also well located between the first few streets downtown and the Mercado 4.
As for the price, it is relatively low cost. Most plates cost between 18K and 25K Guaraníes plus the beverage. At most of the restaurants, you would pay between 10K and 15K Guaraníes more for the same kind of dish. It is not that restaurants like Manjares are rare; they are just difficult to find. You can pay by card or cash. However, it is recommended that you pay with cash. If you would like to pay with money but do not have any on you, there is an ATM one corner away.
The restaurant is located on Calle Capitán Figari, close to Avenida Pettirossi. The best way to reach it is to go south on Avenida Estados Unidos from Avenida Mariscal López or Avenida España and turn left on Luis Alberto de Herrera. You might have to park a corner or two away as there are few options around for a good spot. It might also be more convenient to take a bus or a taxi. Like many small restaurants, it is closed on weekends and holidays. It opens very early and closes at around three in the afternoon. The best time is to go after 1 PM, especially during the school year, as many students, teachers, and even parents are coming to the place to eat there.
Manjares Opening Hours
Monday: 6:30 AM to 3 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM to 3 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM to 3 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM to 3 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM to 3 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
If you want to eat local cuisine in Barrio Pettirossi, Manjares is the place for you!
Look next week for another article about a restaurant in Ciudad del Este!
