Casa Vieja
Casa Vieja has been my long time go-to place for my pork-grease fixes. Like most places on Buford Hwy, it has a cult following of office lunch crowd; although their main business comes from fellow Colombians who tend to linger over a leisurely meal.
Case Vieja’s homey and colorful ambiance attempt to imitate its homeland. Scenes from everyday life are depicted in every corner with murals that resemble a studio backdrop. It’s enough to get you in the mood and think you’re eating in a far away place. Add to that a staff that is warm, efficient, and forgiving of a gringo’s lack of familiarity with the Spanish language and you’d really feel like you’ve been transported back.
If you want to get a taste of a typical Colombian cuisine, I highly recommend the Bandeja Paisa, a typical dish from the northwest region. I call it “everything including the kitchen sink“. A steal at $8.50, this one includes just about everything: a grilled skirt steak, fried pork rind, a fried egg, beans, rice, fried plantains, a slice of avocado, and an arepa. It’s an overwhelming sight. But delicious, nonetheless, as I have never found any problems finishing the entire order — of course, I’ve always been a big eater, despite my size. The flavorful steak is pounded flat then grilled. Its simplicity complemented by a good dousing of the fantastic cilantro-vinaigrette sauce (Colombia’s answer to ketchup). The fried pork belly (chicharron) with the rind included is my absolute favorite. It is perfectly cooked to a crisp golden brown. Think of it as a glorified fried pork chop. It’s finger-lickin’ good! The rice and beans are also notches above the usual. Theirs are house made. And tasty. The plantains are sweet and balances the entire dish. The arepa, sadly, is forgettable. It’s chalky and hard. I’ve been eating arepas forever, compliments of family friends who make arepas from scratch and literally hand-carry them on their flight to Atlanta everytime they return from a visit to Bogota. In fact, their cheese-filled arepas are to die for. But I digress.

The Pechuga De Pollo or grilled chicken plate is another solid choice. The flat chicken breast is flavorful and grilled perfectly. It comes with a side salad, rice, and fried sweet plantains.

For something lighter, the steak tacos are a perfect choice. An order gets you 3 corn tacos filled with thick chunks of steak topped with cilantro and onions. It’s the best value on the menu at $4.50 per order which has the same amount of steak as the plates. Not on the menu, the big bowl of steaming chicken rice soup is a great starter. Although be warned that this isn’t the chicken soup you’re probably accustomed to. Theirs has curry, which adds a big punch to an otherwise common fare. I’m not very fond of their empanada as I’ve always loved Cuban empanadas. Casa Vieja’s empanadas are filled with chicken curry stew which is good; just not my favorite type.
For great Colombian food, Casa Vieja is the answer. The food is good, the place is clean, and the service is efficient and friendly.
Insider tip:
Be warned, as servings are huge. Service is good but the kitchen can get slammed during peak lunch hours when a wait on food is normal. Try the fresh fruit shakes — they’re very good and refreshing.
The scoop:
3652 Shallowford Rd NE # D
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 454-8557
I was told that they are closed on Thursdays. Open all other days from 11am to 9pm. Call ahead to be sure.
If you’re familiar with Asian Square on Buford Highway, Casa Vieja is directly behind it on Shallowford Rd.
Technorati Tags: Casa Vieja, Buford Hwy, Shallowford Rd, Colombian cuisine, Bandeja Paisa, arepa, chicharron, pandebono


























