Caracas House the first to bring a taste of Venezuela to Springfield's food scene

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Luis Sulbaran wants to bring a taste of Venezuela to everyone in Springfield. He's doing just that with his food truck, Caracas House.

The truck is at Metro Eats, 2463 W. Sunshine St., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Sundays.

Sulbaran grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, but moved to Springfield when he was 16 years old. After a couple years in Miami, he returned to Springfield to be with his family, and started the food truck because he wanted to do something no one else had.

"It's something different," Sulbaran said. "I love doing it for the people (of Springfield)."

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While Springfield has many food trucks and restaurants representing other Latin American cuisines, Sulbaran is the first to serve Venezuelan food.

"Like every Venezuelan, I miss my food. I miss our customs. We’re far from our homeland. I miss many things, but the thing I miss most is the food, without a doubt," Sulbaran said. "And I know that there are more Venezuelans or Latinos who are settling here in Springfield."

He wants to give everyone the opportunity to try a different flavor. So, where should people start? Caracas House has a vast menu, complete with breakfast, some American staples like hot dogs and burgers, and traditional Venezuelan dishes.

But their specialty is the arepas, a rounded corn cake stuffed with the customer's choice of filling.

"It’s hard to say which is my favorite dish. But I believe that the arepas are the most famous (Venezuelan dish) in the world," Sulbaran said. "I believe our dish is special because we make a very simple corn dough into something magical."

Sulbaran hopes to share Venezuelan culture with everyone who visits.

"I would like, to all the people who are going to read (this article), to invite them to have the opportunity to try something different and to play a little bit with the Venezuelan culture and flavor," Sulbaran said.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Venezuelan native hopes to share food, culture with Springfield