TV Restaurants

Valencia Luncheria Is Now Valencia Cocina — What Happened After the Show?

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 21 Norwalk, Connecticut

Current status

Renamed

As of October 2026, ctbites.com lists this address as Valencia Cocina; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What the source shows: A CT Bites article dated 2026-02-12 reports the restaurant reopened under a new name, and the business's own website now displays that new name. How we decide a status →

What happened after Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives? 2 episodes

Part 1 — Season 21, Episode 18 Aired

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives revisited Valencia Luncheria, a Latin American restaurant in Norwalk, Connecticut, in the 'Pork Hall of Fame' episode (Food Network, aired 2014-12-26). According to FoodiePie's episode guide, the segment featured the restaurant's Pernil Arepas, Venezuelan corn cakes filled with roasted pork. Food Network's episode page lists Valencia Luncheria among the restaurants Guy Fieri returned to for the pork-themed countdown, following an earlier appearance on the show.

Part 2 — Season 5, Episode 6 Aired

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk, Connecticut, for the episode "Something from Everywhere," which aired 2009-01-12. Valencia Luncheria was a Venezuelan restaurant at 164 Main Street. According to CT Bites, in an article dated 2026-02-12, Valencia Luncheria reopened under the new name Valencia Cocina, with an updated menu and a renovated space at the same Main Street address. The restaurant's own website, still reachable at valencialuncheria.com, now identifies the business as "Valencia Cocina | Venezuelan Restaurant in Norwalk CT." An OpenTable listing for the address likewise now carries the Valencia Cocina name, and CT Bites described the update as a relaunch of the Main Street space rather than a change in ownership.

The episodes Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Episode 18
Aired
Title: Pork Hall of Fame · What was featured: Pernil Arepas, Venezuelan corn cakes filled with roasted pork
Season 5, Episode 6
Aired
Title: Something from Everywhere · What was featured: Venezuelan luncheria fare in downtown Norwalk, Connecticut
How Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurants have fared: 27% closed →

Also in Season 21 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Season 21: 48 of 75 still open · 6 renamed, moved or under new owners

All 18 Season 21 episodes →

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Before you go: Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources we checked 4 references

  1. foodiepie.com https://www.foodiepie.com/list.php?e=Diners-Drive-Ins-and-Dives-Pork-Hall-of-Fame
  2. foodnetwork.com https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/episodes/pork-hall-of-fame
  3. ctbites.com https://www.ctbites.com/blog/2026/2/12/valencia-cocina
  4. valencialuncheria.com https://valencialuncheria.com/
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Record ddd-0179 · checked by Cal Marchetti.