He is the revelation of 2026 so far with a restaurant focused on Valencian ingredients. Manu Yarza is the chef of the year in the Valencian Community.
The chef at Yarza restaurant, located in the Cánovas neighborhood of Valencia, has been named Chef of the Year by the Gastronomy Academy of the Valencian Community.
His career path, however, is not that of someone who arrived out of the blue: after leaving veterinary school, he trained in the hospitality industry and worked in some of the city’s most renowned kitchens, from Oleo (alongside Vicente Patiño and Luis Asensio) to Ca Sento and 534 with Raúl Aleixandre. He was also one of the managers at Gula before it was sold.
Today, his personal project, Yarza, is located at 47 Císcar Street in Cánovas and offers an à la carte menu with an average check of between 70 and 80 euros per person.
The menu revolves around traditional Valencian cuisine with contemporary twists.
The menu combines seasonal and market-fresh ingredients with an extensive selection of recommendations, with the catch of the day as the centerpiece.
The rice dishes (always made to order) are another of his strengths: from arròs del senyoret to Iberian pork rib paella with vegetables, including seafood and mountain-inspired options. Not to mention his cod fritters to whet the appetite.
Yarza is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.