Papelon

Welcoming Venezuelan restaurant on the edge of Footscray Market.

November 18, 2024

1 / 7A selection of South American dishes.Jason South

2 / 7Papelon is bright and welcoming.Jason South

3 / 7Pabellon (rice, black beans, beef and plantains).Jason South

4 / 7The reina pepiada, aka the “curvy queen”.Jason South

6 / 7Tequenos (fried cheese pastries).Jason South

7 / 7Patacon (fried plantain and skirt steak platter).Jason South

Critics' Pick

South American$

When Reveka Hurtado fled Venezuela as a journalism student in 2015, her country was in disarray. Speaking out was dangerous and Chile offered safer harbour. Five years later she came to Australia and started making empanadas to bring in income. A dark kitchen followed, and finally this bright, joyful restaurant.

Puffy cornmeal arepas come brimming with chicken and avocado, and patacon is a shareable plate of fried plantains layered with pulled skirt steak, salad, cheese and salsas. The namesake papelon is a sugarcane drink sold on the streets of South America that teams well with tequenos, the crunchy, oozy fried cheese pastries that are a must at any Venezuelan shindig.

The menu continues to evolve, representing dishes from Mexico all the way to Patagonia, and artist workshops and live music events are in the works.