It’s a good thing vacation calories don’t count because you’ll be racking them up like nobody’s business in Colombia. You’ll find a cuisine that is traditionally rich, moreish and utterly irresistible. Modern adaptations are at once innovative and approachable too. Best of all, it’s all incredibly affordable.
What I’m trying to say is… I’m jealous you’re about to embark on an epic gastronomic adventure. And please, do me a favor and partake in all of my favorites that I’ve listed below. I’ll be drooling from afar.
10 Colombian Foods & Drinks You Absolutely Have to Try
Arepas
Think of arepas as fluffy corn flour pockets, cloud-like on the inside and satisfyingly crispy on the outside. Stuffed with every possible filling you could imagine, arepas are a flavor-filled dream and a messy affair. Juices will trickle down your arm and the arepa will fall to pieces, but it’s worth it. Especially those overflowing with caramelized plantains. (*Chef’s kiss*)
They’re everywhere in Colombia, at the fanciest of restaurants and at the most homespun of street food carts. You can’t (and shouldn’t) miss them. Our favorite arepas were from Arepas La Reina in Bogotá, but they’ll be tasty anywhere that offers them fresh off the griddle.
Limonada De Coco
As I’m typing this, I’m also pulling up another browser tab to search for a limonada de coco recipe because it’s been far too long since I’ve had a sip of this nectar of the gods.
At the end of the day, this is a blended coconut-limeade. But coupled with Colombia’s tropical heat and a day’s worth of sight-seeing, it’s nothing short of heaven. Have an extra for me, please.
Campesino
Colombia is famous for its coffee. That much is clear after a stroll through Whole Foods’ artisanal coffee aisle. What’s much less known is that Colombia exports most of its premium coffee, and keeps the second-rate beans for domestic consumption. Although this is changing slightly now, with a new crop of third-wave roasters introducing cafes serving up the best of the best, it’s typically difficult to find top-notch coffee in Colombia.
Campesino is a tasty beverage that kicks Colombia’s black coffee up a notch. It’s black coffee, flavored with panela (raw cane sugar), cinnamon, cloves, and lemon. I loved the one we had at Azahar Coffee in Bogotá, but you’ll find it on the menu of Cafe Juan Valdez all over Colombia too.
Bandeja Paisa
Bandeja Paisa is Colombia’s answer to the UK’s Full English Breakfast, which I’m also crazy about. It usually comes with some variation of baked beans, meat, eggs, plantains, avocado, and an arepa… and yes, you should look for someone to share it all with.
Ajiaco
Ajiaco, oh GOSH it’s delicious. A heaping bowl of ajiaco is what I’d want on a rainy night, a chilly night, an I’m-sick-and-I-want-some-TLC night. The soup is brimming with shredded chicken, potatoes, and corn. It has a punchy tang from guasca, an herb somewhat reminiscent of dill. You drizzle in sour cream and capers – Flavor. Town.
Our favorites were from La Puerta de la Catedral in Bogotá and Mondongo’s in Medellin, but honestly I can’t see how you could come across a bad batch of this anywhere it’s served.
Buñuelos (And Chocolate Santafereño If You Dare)
Plus, other variations of Colombia’s beloved cheesy breads! Buñuelos are beignets’ South American cousin. Deep-fried and subtly sweet, you’ll be tempted to pop one after another into your mouth. They’re a dime a dozen, available at most bakeries and cafes serving breakfast.
Almojábanas and pan de bonos are slightly more savory and flecked with cheese. So good, especially as a side to chocolate santafereño, which I still haven’t validated to not be a prank pulled on tourists. It’s hot chocolate with cheese melted into it, puddled at the bottom. Honestly, much tastier than I would’ve expected!
Trout in Salento
River trout is prolific in Salento, a tiny town tucked into Colombia’s coffee zone. Fresh and buttery, it’s served up in a variety of scrumptious ways. Pan-fried, grilled, blanketed in cheese and garlic, you name it.
You’ll find trout on the ‘menu del dia’ for numerous restaurants. Daily specials come with a main, sides, and juice for an absurdly affordable price, so definitely be on the lookout for these when planning your lunch. I highly recommend hitting up El Rincon de Luci in Salento, where you can feast on all of the above for under $5 per person. Amazing!
Exotic Fruits (And Fresh Fruit Juices)
One of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Colombia and its supermarkets’ fruit aisles are a sight to behold. You’ll come across many colorful, funky, exotic fruits. Some will become new favorites, others… not-so-much. Try them all! (You can sign up for a popular fruit market tour, but my friend Leah and I DIY-ed it by wandering through a supermarket, and grabbing anything unique we hadn’t seen before.)
What I loved even more than the exotic fruits, were the freshly squeezed juices that came from them. Tons of street carts offer cheap juices made for you right then and there, from your choice of fruit. Lulo is a citrus fruit that’s hugely popular across the country. I urge you to sample one, or to try the lulo helado drink at Cafe Magola in Bogotá.
Empanadas
Like arepas, empanadas are a staple in Colombian cuisine, and can be found at humble street carts and high-end restaurants alike. And, I might add, they’re totally addicting.
We nabbed a deep-fried empanada stuffed with egg, chicken, and cheese for $0.70 from a popular street cart in Bogotá. Days later, we were munching on much more expensive ones filled with blue crab and lobster at Carmen in Medellin and La Boliche Cebicheria in Cartagena (so! light! and! crispy!). I still dream about all of the above.
Ceviche
Speaking of El Boliche Cebicheria, that is the very restaurant in which I had the best ceviche of my life. And the thing is, ceviche in Cartagena is good all across the board. You’ll find fresh seafood at most restaurants, and although prices will be higher than inland Colombia, the value is unbeatable.
My theory is that the access to local, fresh seafood + local, fresh fruit = absurdly good ceviche. But don’t take my word for it. Go eat your fill!
BONUS: Chicha
OK so, whether or not you’ll be a fan of chicha will be a total toss up, but I couldn’t leave this fermented corn drink off the list because of its funky backstory. The traditional way of making chicha involves village-women chewing up corn and spitting it back out into buckets to allow the concoction to ferment. Um, pass?
In modern times, chicha does not list spit as an ingredient… although rumor has it if you’re traversing through the country-side, you will be offered traditional chicha. I’ll leave you that one to research further, my friend. In all seriousness, I wouldn’t pass on trying chicha! It’s a little sour, a little sweet, and in my opinion, really tasty.
As you can see, there is so much for your tastebuds to enjoy in Colombia. For food and drink recommendations for specific cities, check out the following travel guides:
- The Walled City of Cartagena
- Best of Medellin, Colombia
- Salento, Colombia Travel Guide
- Ultimate Guide to Bogotá
Eat, drink, and be merry, amigos!
[…] all the senses, but especially to my tastebuds. Good Lord, we had amazing food. In fact, I wrote up a list of the foods you must try if you’re ever visiting the […]