Best Colombian Food: 55 Best Colombian Dishes And Traditional Food In Colombia To Try

We will write about best Colombian food with the best 55 Colombian dishes. Colombian cuisine is not yet world-famous, but one thing is for sure, the food in Colombia is good!

There are also some dishes that are authentic traditional food in Colombia to try and drinks in Colombia! Click here to book online tours in Bogota and Medellin Day Tours

Colombian cuisine has Spanish influences. You can have a budget of $20 USD a day and it can already get you more than enough decent meals in Colombia. If we compare to the other countries in Central America like Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in Colombia can be more expensive.

Read here vegetarian food in Colombia, Colombian breakfast and Colombian drinks.

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Best Colombian Food: Best Colombian Dishes And Traditional Food In Colombia To Try

Traditional Dishes in Colombia

1. BANDEJA PAISA

Bandeja Paisa is one of the most completes dishes in Colombia and the most popular in Medellin area. If you are visiting Colombia’s Antioquia region you’ll definitely have to try. 

Bandeja paisa is a plate rich in protein, carbohydrates and flavor. Bandeja paisa with beans, plantain, egg, vegetables, rice and a piece of meat. Prices are around $4-5 USD in local restaurants.

2. AJIACO BOGOTANO

Ajiaco is my favorite stew in Colombia from Bogota area. Ajiaco is made of chicken and potato soup that locals and tourists just love. This soup is created with 3 different kinds of potatoes and the native herb guascas. Ajiaco comfort food is a good meal when the weather gets cold in Colombia.

3. SANCOCHO

Sancocho is a traditiona; Colombian food. Sancocho is a soup made with chicken, beef, tomatoes, yellow onions, yuca and corn. Sancocho is usually served for lunch or dinner. Prices are around $5-6 USD in a local restaurant.

4. Lechona

Lechona or commonly known as lechón asado is a popular food in Colombia. Lechona is a suckling pig stuffed with yellow peas, green onion, yellow rice, and spices. Lechona is roasted using an outside brick oven for several hours, similar to many other South American dishes.

5. Cazuela de Mariscos

Cazuela de Mariscos is a popular delicious seafood soup in Colombia. Cazuela de Mariscos might come from a Spanish origin, it is a specialty of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Cazuela de Mariscos literally translates to seafood casserole in English.

6. Posta Negra

Posta Negra is a classic and wonderful Colombian meal. Posta Negra is original from the country’s Atlantic Coast. Beef is cooked in a dark sauce with Cola, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, and panela. Posta Negra is a yummy food in Colombia that’s very popular.

7. Carne Oreada

Carne Oreada is a tasty meat dish made from dry-cured beef from Colombia’s region. Carne Oreada is marinated with lime, salt, and beer, then dried for several days in the sun until it’s perfect.

8. Calentado

Calentado is a traditional Colombian breakfast made from simply reheated leftovers from the previous night. Calentado is made of rice, beans, plantains, meat, fried eggs, and arepas. Calentado is also best to serve it with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on the side.

9. Sudado de Pollo

Sudado de Pollo, or also called “Colombian Chicken Stew”, is a traditional chicken dish in Colombia. Sudado de Pollo is commonly served as a main course and it is perfect with white rice. 

10. Chuleta Valluna

Chuleta Valluna is a traditional Colombian dish from the Valle del Cauca region. Chuleta Valluna is a marinated, breaded, and deep-fried pork tenderloin piece. Chuleta Valluna is often served with rice, salad, cassava, fried plantain slices, or bean stew.

11. Arroz Atollado

Arroz Atollado is one of the most popular foods in Colombia. Arroz Atollado is made with pork and sausage risotto in one pot and also has creamy rice with potatoes, succulent pork, and spicy smoked sausage, all combined with a hogao tomato sauce that is extremely delicious. Arroz Atollado is a must-try food in Colombia!

12. Puchero Santafereño

Puchero Santafereño is named after Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia’s capital. Like many other Colombian cuisines, puchero is a Spanish dish. Puchero Santafereo is a delicious and filling stew made with beef, pig, plantains, yuca, potatoes, maize, chorizo, and cabbage.

13. Cazuela de Frijoles

Cazuela de Frijoles is a classic dish of Colombian cuisine that is made from bean soup made with high-quality beans, green plantains, alios, carrots, hogao, and pork hocks. Cazuela de Frijoles is usually served as a side dish in many restaurants in Colombia.

14. Fritanga

Fritanga is a popular type of barbeque that is commonly served as street food in Colombia. A fritanga plate usually consists of chorizo, pork sausage, and various other meats, as well as fried plantains and other vegetables.

15. Sobrebarriga en salsa

Sobrebarriga en salsa is a Colombian popular dish made with flank steak and a delicious Creole sauce. Sobrebarriga en salsa is commonly served as a main course and perfect with white rice. 

16. Mazamorra paisa

Mazamorra is a famous Colombian dish from the country’s Andean region. Mazamorra is a common side dish to bandeja paisa. Mazamorra is usually served with panela or guava paste.

17. Hormigas Culonas

Hormiga culona, or fat-bottomed ants, are a unique Colombian dish from the Santander province. Hormiga culona snack is quite expensive because the ants only leave their nests for one or two days a year, during the rainy season. Hormiga culona is a must-try if you visit Colombia.

18. Mute Santandereano

Mute Santandereano is one of the most popular Colombian soups. Mute Santandereano is a rich, satisfying soup with a thick consistency. There’s a lot of meat, vegetables, beans, and pasta in Mute Santandereano.

19. Pepitoria

Pepitoria is a side dish made with goat intestines, blood, and seasoned rice. Pepitoria is delicious when combined with yucca or goat meat.

20. Mojojoy

Mojojoy is an exotic food and one of the most well-known dishes in Colombia. Mojojoy is a larva of a palm weevil usually served raw. If you like exotic foods, then Mojojoy is for you!

21. Friche

Friche is a stewed goat dish popular in Wayuu communities. In Wayuu cuisine, the intestines and other internal organs are combined with goat blood to make a delicious Friche meal.

22. Rondón

Rondón is a popular Afro-Caribbean-influenced food in Colombia. Rondon is a soup-based made with fish fillet or other seafood, snails, yams, potatoes, yuca, and baked plantains cooked in coconut milk and pepper.

23. Chigüiro

Chiguiro or capybara is a gigantic cavy rodent found in South America. When barbecued, Chiguiro is some of the best barbeque in the world, with a texture similar to pork and a richer, more robust, mildly chewy flavor and this is one of the unique meats in Colombia.

24. Mamona

Mamona is a classic Colombian cuisine from the Los Llanos and Meta regions. Mamona consists of veal, typically grilled over a fire or on a barbecue, eaten with potatoes, plantains, yuca, and aji.

25. Cayeye

Cayeye is one of the Colombian dishes coming from Caribbean Region. Cooked guineos are mashed and blended with refrito, a mixture made with tomatoes, achiote, garlic, onions, and red bell peppers. Cayeye is also known as mote de guineo.

26. FRIED FISH

Fried fish with abundance in the islands, you’d definitely expect the Colombian cuisine to have fried fish especially in the coast. Serving the whole fish, usually, this can be seared or fried fresh and served with lemon and lime and some pepper.

27. ARROZ CON POLLO

Arroz con Pollo is rice with fried chicken. Arroz con pollo is usually served in local restaurants with French fries and salad. Prices are around $6-7 USD.

28. Caldo de costilla

Caldo de Costilla is a savory and aromatic soup from Colombia’s Andean region, made with beef brisket, potatoes, carrots, and spices. Caldo de costilla is a great soup for the winter weather since it’s warm, comforting, and tasty!

29. MONDONGO STEW

Mondongo Stew will hit you differently because of the tripe as its meat. Mondongo stew is delicious because the tripe adds depth to the taste and thickness of the stew. Remember that you could also play around with the tripes. Try to switch it up with goat or pork, some even love to eat it with pork intestines.

30. CEVICHE

Ceviche is served in all parts of Latin America. The raw fish is marinated in lime for 12 hours, so it is no longer so raw. Ceviche usually spends on shrimp, lobster, lemon, cilantro, tomatoes, and plenty of seafood.

Colombian cuisine serves ceviche usually for lunch and dinner as one of the most popular food in Colombia. Prices are around $6-7 USD.

31. CUY (GUINEA PIG FOOD)

Cuy is a large breed of guinea pigs raised for its meat and is considered a delicacy in South Colombia. Prices of guinea pig food are little bit pricey comparing to the other meals in Colombia. A Cuy meal can cost around $7-10 USD per person in a local restaurant!

Food in Colombia: Snacks in Colombia

32. AREPAS DE QUESO

Arepas is the most popular breakfast in Colombia. You can have with hot chocolate. A great way to start a day is with a dish of arepas de queso. Arepas can be found all over the country with cheese, egg and different ones.

But since everyone in Colombia can’t seem to get enough of them, you’re free to eat arepas de queso all day as snack!

33. PAPAS RELLENAS

Papas Rellenas (filled potatoes) is the most popular street food in Colombia. Papas rellenas are made of stuffed potatoes filled with meat, rice or vegetables.

It tastes delicious weather eaten hot or cold, especially with ají sauce. You can find everywhere and almost anytime of the day similar to empanadas. Prices are around $1 USD as street food in Colombia.

34. TAMALES

Tamales as other country to visit in any Latin American country will not be complete without having some tamales. Tamales is a simple dish wrapped in banana leaf, with steam corn dough filled with meat, cheese or vegetables. You can eat as snack or for breakfast. Prices are around $2 USD.

35. EMPANADAS

Empanadas is one of my favorite street food in Colombia. You can find fried empanadas salty with meat, cheese, beans, potato, chicken or fish. There are also sweet empanadas with butter and dulce de leche so delicious too! Prices are around $1 USD.

36. PATACONES

Patacones are deep fried green plantains. Patacones are served as a snack with black beans, guacamole or spicy sauce. Patacones can be a side dish too in Colombia.

37. Aborrajados

Aborrajados is a Colombian cuisine consisting of deep-fried plantains filled with cheese. Aborrajados are also made with batter made of eggs and flour that is used to fry meals, which is similar to fritters.

38. CHICHARRON

Chicarron is fried pork belly served with lime and salt. You can have as a snack or in a dish with yuca and mixed with vegetables too. Prices are around $6-7 USD in local restaurants.

39. Carimañola

Carimañola is a traditional recipe from Colombia’s and Panama’s Caribbean region. Carimañola is similar to an empanada, but the wrapper is made of cassava. Carimañola is commonly served for breakfast, but it can also be eaten as a snack or an appetizer.

40. Pandebono

Pandebono is a Colombian mouthwatering cheese bread that goes well with coffee for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Pandebono is also recognized as el papá (the father) of starchy bread. With a delightful cheese flavor and a creamy shell, this little bread has a sticky crumb.

41. Solteritas

Solteritas is a famous food in Colombia. Solteritas is a crunchy orange fritter made with flour, a touch of vanilla essence and coloring food. You can find Solteritas almost everywhere in the country.

42. Mogolla

Mogolla is a small, slightly sweet Colombian bread baked from wheat flour, whole wheat flour, or cornmeal flour. Mogolla bread is loaded with tiny bits of crispy pork belly in one of the most popular variants, called mogolla chicharrona.

43. Almojábana

Almojábana is a famous Colombian bread that is similar to pandebono in appearance. Almojábanas are made using cuajada white cheese and cornmeal flour, while pandebono is typically made with yuca flour and costeo cheese. Almojábanas are baked until they have a spongy texture on the outside and a golden brown color.

44. Pan de yuca

Pan de Yuca is a tapioca flour-based Colombian cheese bread. Pan de Yuca bread is perfect for an afternoon snack and breakfast with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.

Desserts in Colombia

45. AREQUIPE

Arequipe is Known in most countries as Dulce de Leche. If you like sweet arequipe is a caramel-like dessert made by heating sweetened milk. Common as it may seem, a trip to Colombia would not be complete without it. You will find as street food and in local restaurants. Prices is around $2-3 USD.

46. Chontaduro

Chontaduro is one of the most popular fruits in Colombian streets. With a butternut squash or sweet potato flavor, this Peach Palm Fruit has a floury texture similar to boiled potatoes.

Chontaduro’s color is red to orange, and the flesh is orange with a little pit. Chontaduros are usually added to salads or eaten with honey and salt.

47. Obleas

Obleas are light brown circular wafers with a soft texture. Obleas is a traditional Latin American delicacy made with arequipe, a Colombian caramel, and topped with cheese, jams, sprinkles or fruits.

48. BUÑUELOS

Buñuelos are the most popular Guatemalan desserts is lightly fried dough balls that you can often buy from a street vendor. Buñuelos is often served with syrup flavored with anise.

49. Natilla

Natilla is a thick custard-like dish that is usually served during the Christmas season, particularly in Colombia. Natilla is frequently served with buñuelos which are deep-fried small cheese fritters.

50. Pastel de Gloria

Pastel de Gloria is one of Colombia’s most delicious sweets. Pastel de Gloria is basically puff pastry loaded with cheese, guava paste, and arequipe. These delectable sweets may be found in bakeries all around Colombia and Pastel Gloria are eaten all year round.

51. CHURROS

Churros is a perfect snack in Colombia. Churros is a sweet dough with sugar and chocolate. You can find as street food in Colombia especially in the cities.

52. FLAN

Flan is gold colored caramel custard served with liquid caramel on top. Flan is one of the most popular desserts in Colombia and Latin America.

53. FRUIT JUICES IN COLOMBIA

You must try fruit juices in Colombia. You will find them everywhere as street food. Prices are around $1-2 USD for a small glass depending on the flavors.

Lulo with citrus flavor, Guanabana creamy flavor and one of the most popular. Tomate de Arbol means tomato tree and more options. Just try all of them and choose your favorite one!

54. COLOMBIAN COFFEE

Colombian Coffee is the most popular in the world. You will find many places to visit around Coffee’s Region in Colombia not far from Medellin. The taste is amazing and we recommend you to visit a farm where you will learn about how they pick their coffee where is exported and of course you will try!

Read here Healthy things to eat with coffee

55. BATIDOS (SMOOTHIES)

Batidos (Smoothies) is a drink made with seasonal fruit mixed with powdered milk. Smoothies are made with milk instead of water. Choose your favorite seasonal fruit like mango, banana and papaya. All of them are delicious and prices are around $2-3 USD.

Hope you liked our Colombian food blog post. Let us know if we missed any food in Colombia and which one is your favorite in the list of Colombian dishes.

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