Each week, Tommy-Maurice is going to a different restaurant in Asunción. This week, he has been to Ña Virginia, an establishment that has multiple locations, including one in Barrio Vista Alegre.
Last week, I ate with a friend and colleague in one of the most popular restaurants in Vista Alegre, at Ña Virginia. This local establishment attracts many people during lunch, and not only Paraguayans! A lot of foreigners go there to eat some typical cuisine. They do have more than one location, but today, we will focus on this specific one in the southern part of the city. Multiple people, including my colleague, recommended this restaurant, and it is a place you definitely need to go if you want to have the whole Paraguayan experience.
Doña Virginia Benítez Giménez started her empanada business more than 40 years ago. Today, Ña Virginia serves typical Paraguayan food, which includes yes empanadas but also sandwiches, lomitos, hamburgers, pizza, local plates of national dishes like vorí vorí, platters to share, a menu of the day, and many more. I took the beef with mashed potatoes while my friend took the bean soup. The two dishes were accompanied by a plate of manioc and a jar of orange juice. The meat was well-cooked, and the mashed potatoes were perfect! My friend’s soup looked very yummy. I might take it next time! I will definitely come back to the establishment to test the rest of the menu. One time is not enough! If you cannot go to the restaurant, the restaurant can come to you! You can get your food delivered via one of the apps existing in the country. You can also pick it up directly at one of their locations.
When I arrived, the restaurant was full, as clients preferred to stay inside on that day — a hot one — rather than eat outside. You have both options available to you. And even if it looks full, do not worry; there is a place for you somewhere at Ña Virginia, and you will not need to wait. The reason they are always full is their success in the kitchen, making Paraguayan proud of their cuisine and making the foreigners eating there welcome. It is a lovely, family-friendly restaurant, and everyone is invited! They have a welcoming and respectful staff. The ambiance of the place is great! The place is well-maintained and spotless, and the employees are not waiting; the tables are quickly cleaned before the next client arrives.
The prices are very affordable. Splitting the bill, I paid slightly over 40K Guaraníes, which is just over 5$ American dollars or euros for my meat with mashed potatoes, the manioc, and the orange juice. Everything is between 9K Guaraníes (the empanadas) and 75K (the biggest pizzas, for more than one person), which is close to 10 American dollars or slightly over 9 euros. You can easily pay with your foreign cards, as the machines are also designed for clients from abroad.
The Ña Virginia restaurants and the family are also significantly impacting the community, being sponsored of multiple events while winning numerous awards. A couple of years ago, with other companies, they sponsored the Asunción Ecological Nativity Scene in partnership with the municipality. Each year, they are also participating in the Paraguayan Empanadas Day. It is this kind of enterprise we like to go to and put up front.
At the location in Vista Alegre, Ña Virginia has a parking just beside the establishment. If it is full, there is a supermarket, Gran Vía, at the corner, with extra parking spaces. You can also take an Uber, a Bolt, a regular taxi, or a bus as they pass at the corner on Eusebio Ayala. Apart from this location, they also have another restaurant part of the Shopping Multiplaza, and one location in Luque, in the Central Department. To reach the one in Vista Alegre, take Eusebio Ayala and go south on Médicos del Chaco. From España and Mariscal López, you can also turn on Santisimo Sacramento, which becomes Choferes del Chaco, continue south, and it will change name again for Médicos del Chaco. If you live in Barrio Recoleta or Tembetary, it is also within walking distance. You might want to walk returning home after eating some of the best food in Paraguay! All locations are open from Monday to Saturday, from 8 AM to 11:45 PM.
Ña Virginia Opening Hours
Monday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Thursday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Friday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 11:45 PM
Sunday: Closed
If you want to eat in Barrio Vista Alegre, Ña Virginia is the place for you!
Look next week for another article about a restaurant in Ciudad del Este!
