This post is part of a larger series on Valencia outlined in the Valencia Trip Report.
Do you know where paella originates from?
Valencia.
In fact, the authentic, most local Valencian paella is made of chicken, rabbit, snails, green beans, and garrofó beans (similar to lima beans). Interestingly, there is no seafood.
Despite trying to order the traditional local version, numerous restaurants we visited kept steering us towards seafood paellas. Sure, the seafood paellas were fantastic, but Bryan was set on at least trying the local dish once before leaving Valencia.
There are few better places to enjoy this traditional dish than at the legendary La Pepica.
La Pepica Valencia - Historic Restaurant
La Pepica is a historic, treasured beach-side restaurant that has been open since 1898 (!). They boast famous past diners, such as Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. Ernest Hemingway was a regular, and even wrote about dining at La Pepica in his memoire. They made a special vegetarian version for Queen Sofia.
We showed up early and although all of the outdoor patio seats (facing the beach) were taken, we still got pretty good indoor seats right next to the window.
Drinks
Of course, we had to get our last pitcher of agua di Valencia.
The Food
We got grilled squid as a starter. Although it was good, it wasn't as tender and amazing as the one we had our first night at Casa Ripoll.
And we finally got to try our local, authentic Valencia paella!
One pan is plenty of food for two people to share (17,50 €). The paella was very tasty, with a nice thin layer of rice and plenty of crispy socarrat (charred crust) which is always my favorite part.
The seafood versions are still my favorite, but this one was very fun to try and also delicious.
La Pepica is also famous for seafood paellas. If I come back, I would certainly love to try their seafood paella, and maybe try for a table right on the beach, overlooking the Mediterranean sea!
La Pepica Valencia
Avenida Neptuno nº 6
46011 VALENCIA
