The lamb, essential in the Turkish bet of Bella Istanbul
Barcelona is a mediterranean city key that, over the years, has been accumulating a multicultural profile increasingly varied. This has been reflected in the many foreign restaurants that open every year in the city -and also in those that have already established themselves as classics-.
Although almost nothing can replace direct experience, it is true that in Barcelona we have it easy to penetrate and travel through the different continents through the sense of taste.
An example is Asian , a continent that -looked at as a whole- probably offers the best cuisine on the planet. from the immense Chinese Food ( with good restaurants in Barcelona ) until the popular japanese food , the Asian palate has been conquering many local diners. But many of the restaurants that flourish in Barcelona are also a haven where immigrants from these countries can reminisce about the food of their land.
In the following list we offer you six restaurants with which your palate will be able to travel from one end of Asia to the other -and, usually, accompanied by native diners at the next table -:
The palate must travel
TURKISH CUISINE: BEAUTIFUL ISTANBUL _(Pg. Sant Joan, 57) _
Although from the outside this place is very similar to the hundreds of kebabs that populate Barcelona, Bella Istanbul is one of the most appreciated by the Turkish residents of the city. In the first place, because its menu is much more extensive and contains dishes that go beyond the durum with fries.
In fact, an essential dish is the sauce tasting , through which we can taste how the spices are mixed with the yogurt, tomato, eggplant or hummus , all accompanied by the classic turkish bread.
It is also advisable to try their lamb dishes , meat in which countries with a Muslim tradition usually stand out. To finish, their delicious baklava will leave us with a good taste in our mouths and the desire to return.
Turkey on the table
THAI CUISINE: BANNA _(Pl. Revolució de Setembre 1868, 15) _
In this low key thai restaurant , decorated with a pleasant dark wood, we will be able to taste several of the famous dishes of this country. Although we will also notice how the local chefs have adopted different influences : precisely, the most delicious dish of the place, beef salad with Xishuangbanna sauce , combines the Thai culinary tradition with the Chinese.
In Banna we can try both the mastery of the wok of your cooks (the noodles are one of the star dishes), like the use of curry sauces (the combination with duck is delicious) and also the use of fruits like pineapple in combination with rice.
The meal can be finished with two good desserts: fried banana with ice cream, or sticky rice with mango and coconut milk.
Banna, authentic Thai cuisine in Barcelona
IRANIAN CUISINE: PERSIAN CORNER _(C/ Floridablanca, 85) _
Decorated in a beautiful and careful way in the traditional Persian style, this Iranian restaurant can reveal a gastronomy -compared to others of Muslim tradition, little known- that unites powerful local flavor with traditions from the Middle East and Central Asia.
Highly recommended are their “polo” rice , such as the exquisite "shirin polo", which combines the flavor of spices with that of meat, pistachios and orange rind.
In the letter we can also find good roast meats and fresh entrees , such as yogurts or creams of chickpeas or aubergines, which differ from other cuisines of the Muslim world by the use of certain spices, citrus fruits and dried fruits that, in combination, they dress up well-known ingredients in entirely new flavors.
Discover Iranian cuisine
VIETNAMESE FOOD: TUTU VIETNAMESE CUISINE _(C/ Clot, 31) _
This little place decorated with endearing drawings of rural life in Vietnam , offers us the best of the fresh flavors of the gastronomy of this country.
Like a good Vietnamese restaurant, pho noodle soup –with its exquisite balance between meat and citrus broth– is the first dish that we should attack.
To accompany her we can go for fresh vietnamese rolls –the use of mint is wonderful–, or for the meats with sauce accompanied by rice.
In each dish, whatever it may be, we will be able to appreciate the balance between flavors to which Vietnamese cuisine gives so much importance. To finish, a Vietnamese coffee –where this play between extreme sweetness and strong bitterness also occurs– will give us the final touch of farewell.
Spring rolls: don't miss them!
KOREAN FOOD: SOBAN BY JO LEE _(C/ Rocafort, 204) _
One of the gastronomies that is experiencing the greatest growth in Barcelona –due, in large part, to its powerful cultural industry– is the korean
A classic like the restaurant Soban by Jo Lee It is both a very good starter for novices and more experienced palates. To get started, a rice bibimbap with egg, meat and vegetables It is a powerful dish that should always be on the table.
As a complement we can go for the "Korean sushi", the so-called kimbap, or the delicious meats of the famous Korean barbecue.
Although, let's remember, every time we go there to eat they will give us several tapas through which we can try different vegetables and flavors , which will efficiently complement the main dishes.
RUSSIAN CUISINE: EKATERINA _(C/ Comte Borrell, 129) _
Despite Russia's political importance, its culinary tradition is little known in the West, beyond vodka or caviar.
Eating at Ekaterina can change many perceptions: there are many people who commit the mistake of thinking that Russian food is not too different from that of Central Europe.
Just trying one of the best Russian dishes, the cake of 'herrings in wrap, we will already realize the particularity of your kitchen.
We will see that, also in the Russian case, the influences are varied. The delicious beetroot soup, the borsch , has Ukrainian origins; pelmeni, ravioli stuffed with meat , have an ancestry that looks towards Siberia.
We can also test The blinis, pancakes with both savory and sweet fillings, or the classic Olivier salad –from which came the quite different Spanish Russian salad–.
Finally, if we are lucky, there will be t homemade napoleon arta , a perfect way to end the meal in this cozy restaurant.
Russian cuisine, far beyond vodka or caviar