15 Dishes You Need to Eat in Colombia
I was lucky enough to start 2020 by exploring a number of cities and towns throughout Colombia. From the depths of Bogota (the country's capital) to the incredible coffee region that is Quindio, take a look at some of the best bites I savoured throughout my adventure!
Arepas
Medellin, Colombia
I fell completely in love with Arepas long before I actually visited Colombia. As tortillas are to Mexico, so are arepas to Colombia (and even Venezuela as far as I’m aware). Essentially, arepas are corn cakes that can be prepared in many different ways and eaten as a snack, part of your breakfast or as a meal on its own. Before visiting Colombia, I was only eating these as part of a very simple breakfast at home, made from scratch and topped with a bit of butter, fresh cheese and a helping of scrambled eggs. While in Colombia, I also tried them stuffed with a range of different fillings including this braised pork, tomato and avocado!
Ajiaco
@Cervato
Bogota, Colombia
Ajiaco is the national dish of Colombia, with specific ties to Bogota and other areas of the Andean region, so you can’t visit this country without checking it out! It’s a super flavourful and hearty chicken soup that also features potato (actually, three kinds of potato), guasca leaves, and sweetcorn. Usually, this soup is accompanied by a plate filled with rice, a slice of avocado, a helping of capers and something resembling sour cream that you can mix into the soup for added flavour and texture too.
Buñuelos
Medellin, Colombia
Buñuelos are golden fried balls of deliciousness that are typically made from two types of flour - yuca and corn - as well as cheese, milk and eggs. While they are usually eaten around Christmas time, they are so popular that you can find them year-round to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. I saw these in practically every bakery I dipped into and had to resist from buying them every single time so that I could have the stomach space to try different things!
Avoburger
@ L'avocaderia,
Medellin, Colombia
Filled with vibrant graffiti covering the walls, neon signage, a cute patio and avocado-themed merchandise, this is the perfect place for brunch if you love avocados as much as I do!
With the Avoburger, a ripe avocado replaces the traditional bread bun of the burger, and is accompanied by a tender beef patty, sour cream, cheddar cheese, an onion ring and topped off with a touch of BBQ sauce.
Price: 19,900 COP
Canasta Campesina
@ Doña Rosa
Medellin, Colombia
Doña Rosa is a Colombian chain that can be found all throughout the country. They serve up Colombian classics - from the country's infamous Bandeja Paisa (like an amped-up version of an English Breakfast) to Cazuelas (a bowl filled with beans, chorizo, rice, avocado and more!).
When you're feeling peckish, the Canasta Campesina is my favourite go-to snack box! Instead of your usual bread basket in European / American restaurants, Doña Rosa offers this starter basket for two that's filled with mini beef and potato empanadas, chicken pastry and deep-fried cheese sticks.
Price: 9,100 COP
Chicken Wafflemole
@ L'avocaderia
Medellin, Colombia
A typical sweet waffle topped with deep-fried chicken pieces that have been doused in maple syrup, housemade guacamole and pico de gallo (salsa). It's the perfect combination of sweet and savoury!
Price: 22,900 COP
Pacific Sierra & Patacones
@ Restaurante Ostras del Mar Azul
Medellin, Colombia
Tucked away on a busy street in the heart of Medellin, the local family I was travelling with brought me to this quaint hole-in-the-wall that's filled with patrons every day of the week, every meal of the day. It's a minimalistic two-storey restaurant where white tables and plastic chairs and not much else. They serve a range of classic Colombian fare, but the pacific sierra and patacones is their very special signature.
I was treated to a generous portion of fried Pacific Sierra fish (and this is the only place in Medellin that you’ll find the fish prepared in such a way), accompanied by patacones (mashed plantain that's been deep-fried), coconut rice and salad.
Machete Burger
@ Burdo
Medellin, Colombia
Sweet dreams are made of cheese, and Burdo agrees.
If you're in the mood for an indulgent meal, then don't miss trying Burdo's Machete Burger. On a base of artisanal brioche bread, they tower up a beef patty, caramelised onions, avocado, aioli, mustard, ketchup and, finally, french fries! All of this is doused in a melted cheddar cheese, which floods your plate and surrounds the entire cheesy creation.
Price: 29,900 COP
Obleas
Bogota, Colombia
This is not your typical wafer. This is a paper-thin wafer that can be found throughout Colombian cities. They're big, they’re light as a feather, and you can customise them with a variety of different fillings depending on your preference and/or mood. The most common type of filling is just Arequipe - a sweet, caramel spread, but I opted to combine this with both jam and cheese - definitely give it a go!
Mojarra en Salsa de Cafe
@ Acaime
Salento, Colombia
From coffee farms and coffee beans to coffee sweets and coffee sauce - for three days during my trip through Colombia, my life was filled with coffee at every turn. Is there any better way to spend a holiday?
If visiting Salento, you'll also find that coffee is absolutely everywhere - from your drink to your food - and this dish was no exception. Frying up a local Mojarra fish, Acaime douses it in a sweet coffee sauce for added flavour. This wasn't one of my favourite dishes as the sauce was a little too sweet for my liking, but thought it was worth a mention because of the sheer originality and link to Colombia's coffee culture. The dish is accompanied by deep-fried yuca sticks and salad.
Price: 27,000 COP
Bocadillo + Cheese Ice Cream
@ Orso Heladeria
Bogota, Colombia
In Colombia, bocadillo is used in all kinds of recipes. It's a guava paste made from a combination of guava pulp and sugar that is slowly cooked together until it's thick enough to form a block that resembles something almost like a jelly. It can be found everywhere and anywhere, and I just so happened to find it in ice cream, along with cheese, in an artisanal ice cream parlour in Bogota. I absolutely LOVED this flavour. It was the perfect combination of sweet and savoury, the ice cream was perfectly creamy, and the boost of guava really added to the overall flavour palatte.
Price: 5,500 COP
Cazuela
San Jeronimo, Colombia
Cazuela's are my new favourite things to eat! Traditionally made in a cooking pot of the same name, cazuelas are a typical Colombian dish that can be found throughout the country. Each one is unique to the restaurant that you're eating it in, although they do always contain the same key components/ingredients that made it so moreishly hearty.
In any cazuela you order, you'll find beans, chorizo, plantain, chicharron (crunchy, deep-fried pork belly) and avocado. In others, you might also see the addition of a fried egg and hogao (a salsa of onion and tomato) on top just like this one that we tried!
Arroz Atoyao
@ Guatila
Cartagena, Colombia
A taste of the Pacific, and all the protein you could ever need, on one pretty plate - but this is definitely a dish you need to share!
A pyramid of rice that's been cooked with chicken and onion, accompanied by chicharron (crunchy deep-fried pork belly) and a helping of hogao (a salsa of stewed tomato and onion). This combination of flavours and textures makes for a super hearty dish that will satisfy any empty belly after a long day of exploring Cartagena de Indias.
Price: 29,000 COP
Fruit Popsicles
@ Comuna 13
Medellin, Colombia
Chunky fruit popsicles are a must when exploring the city of eternal spring! While traipsing through the huge area that is Comuna 13, it's always a good idea to stop and refuel on these iced fresh fruit treats.
Made in a cute mom-and-pop shop, expect chunky cuts of fruit and lots of flavour! The mango biche ice pop was definitely our favourite - perfectly ripe and sweet - but the added lime juice + salt that they pour into the cup makes for an amazing sweet and salty twist!
Price: 29,000 COP
Patacones
Bogota, Colombia
Walking through the streets of Bogota left us feeling peckish more than we care to admit, but this traditional street eat never failed to let me down!
In Colombia, frying a patacone is like a work of art. It takes know-how to fry it to that crispy on the outside, soft on the inside perfection. Plus, you've got to get the flavour right too. Patacones are made from plantain that is first fried in oil until golden brown, then drained, mashed and flattened before being deep-fried once again. There are a number of toppings you can ask for on your patacone - it all depends on who you're ordering from - but the most typical accompaniment in Bogota is this block of fresh, light cheese!
Fresh Fruit Salad
@Pueblito Paisa
Medellin, Colombia
Fresh fruit played a huge part in my food adventure through Colombia, and I have incredible memories of all the fresh fruit and fresh fruit juices that I was able to enjoy - made from exotic fruits I’d never even heard of: lulo, feijoa, mamoncillo, corozo. While visiting Pueblito Paisa in Medellin, there was a vendor selling cups of fresh fruit and fresh fruit juice - I opted for a cup of shredded mango that was sprinkled with salt and a bit of lime - it was sour, sweet and had such a tang to it! I’ll never forget the taste.