When the news broke, we immediately knew it was something special. Barraca, in Barceloneta, has been crowned as the best restaurant to eat rice in Barcelonès in the summer edition of Joc de cartes, presented by Marc Ribas on TV3. It fills us with pride because it recognizes something we do with passion: taking care of every rice, every ingredient, every detail on the plate.

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The episode that gave us the award

The program Joc de cartes estiu organized a challenge focused on finding "the best arròs del Barcelonès". It visited three restaurants with varied proposals: Maysi in Barcelona, Espai Versàtil in Badalona, and Barraca in Barceloneta. Each one defended its own style of rice dishes with different styles, creative proposals, cooking technique and flavor. Finally, Marc Ribas awarded the victory to Barraca.

The jury valued several aspects: the cooking point, the flavor, the fumet, the cleanliness, the presentation. Our rice was considered superior in taste and technique. 

What made our rice different?

As you could see in Barraca we do not cook rice dishes as simple dishes, each one has a perfected technique, a respect for the Mediterranean tradition and now, with the grill, a nuance that makes the difference.

• The cooking point: the rice was neither dry nor overcooked, you could feel the desired looseness, with a precise texture.
• The socarrat (that golden crust on the base) was positively commented on, something many competitors struggled to achieve.
• The ember was combined with fresh ingredients: seafood, vegetables, seafood, and a balance of smoke, natural sweetness and pure flavor.
• The aesthetics of the dish also had an influence: clean presentation, without artifice, but attractive, that showed care, harmony of colors and respect for the product.

Reactions, tension and recognition

This episode was not exactly calm. There were moments of tension: direct criticism, comparisons and demands among the participants, even reproaches for technical details. But in the end the resolution was clear: Barraca was able to resist the pressure, demonstrate consistency and convince the jury. The award includes public recognition, media repercussion (which is already noticeable) and, above all, the satisfaction of seeing that what we do in the kitchen, each sofrito, each fumet, each rice, has an echo beyond our usual diners.

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What this means for Barraca

Winning Joc de cartes estiu 2025 is not only a distinction; it is, for us, a boost to keep improving. It reaffirms that betting on quality, technique and authenticity (and now the ember) makes sense. It also commits us even more: to maintain those standards, to continue taking care of each rice as if it were the first, knowing that behind it there are many eyes, more demanding than ever.

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The fact that Barraca has been chosen as "the best rice in Barcelonès" increases our visibility, strengthens our reputation and allows us to continue sharing events and celebrations with the certainty that those who choose us get something special.

Thanks to the team, thanks to you

This victory belongs to everyone: the kitchen team, the service team, the dining room, the suppliers, those who take care of every detail, every rice. And of you, the customers, who trust Barraca, who come eagerly, who value the authenticity, the flavor, the experience of sitting at our table.

Looking ahead

This drives us to explore new rice dishes, new combinations and to continue integrating the grill with that unique style that defines us. We will continue to innovate, but with our feet in the seafood tradition that has always been the soul of Barraca.

Because when we talk about rice, and now we can say it with pride, we don't just want to be good; we want to be the best at what we do. And this victory is one more step on that path.