El Ruedo - Poblenou

Poblenou used to be the 'Manchester of Catalonia,' a sprawling landscape of smoking chimneys and clanging iron. Today, the factories are tech hubs and the warehouses are lofts, but on Carrer de Pere IV, El Ruedo is keeping the fire alive in a much more literal sense. This isn’t your standard, sterile rotisserie. This is a brasserie with a Peruvian soul, where the scent of charcoal hits you half a block away and the floors are meant for people who actually like to eat.

Walking into El Ruedo feels like entering a high-ceilinged sanctuary of smoke and grease. It’s got that industrial-chic aesthetic that Poblenou wears so well—exposed brick, metal beams, and a lack of pretension that’s increasingly hard to find in a city obsessed with 'concepts.' You aren't here for a concept; you’re here because someone in the kitchen knows exactly how to handle a bird and a bag of charcoal. The atmosphere is loud, buzzing with locals who know that the best Peruvian chicken in Barcelona isn't found in the Gothic Quarter, but tucked away in the old industrial grid.

The star of the show is the Pollo a la Brasa. This isn't just roasted chicken; it’s a masterclass in patience and marinade. The skin is dark, rendered crisp by the heat of the embers, while the meat underneath remains impossibly juicy, infused with a blend of cumin, garlic, and soy that speaks of Lima more than Las Ramblas. It arrives hacked into quarters or halves, served with thick-cut fries and the mandatory ají amarillo—a yellow chili sauce that provides a slow, creeping heat that’ll make you reach for your beer and then immediately go back for more.

But don't just stop at the bird. The menu leans heavily into the comfort food of the Andes. The salchipapas—a glorious, unapologetic pile of fried sausages and potatoes—is the kind of dish that cures hangovers before they even start. Their croquettes are a surprise hit, particularly the chicken ones that carry that same smoky DNA as the main event. And then there are the tequeños, crispy pastry spears filled with melted cheese that serve as the perfect delivery vehicle for more of that spicy green sauce. It’s honest, heavy, and deeply satisfying food that doesn't care about your calorie count.

Then, there’s the cheesecake. In a city currently gripped by a cheesecake arms race, El Ruedo holds its own. They serve it in various iterations—Lotus Biscoff, Nutella, or Red Velvet—but the base is always the same: a creamy, almost molten center that barely holds its shape on the plate. It’s the kind of dessert that feels like a dare after a half-chicken and fries, but you’ll find yourself scraping the plate anyway.

Is it perfect? No. The service can be frantic when the room is full, and if you’re looking for a quiet, romantic corner to whisper sweet nothings, the clatter of the bar and the roar of the crowd will drown you out. But El Ruedo represents the best of what Poblenou is becoming: a place where global flavors meet local grit. It’s one of the best affordable restaurants in Barcelona for anyone who values flavor over finery. If you want to see where the neighborhood actually eats when they aren't performing for tourists, pull up a chair, grab a cold Estella, and prepare to get your hands dirty.