ExploFood · South America
What to eat in Bolivia
Five dishes to try in Bolivia, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Bolivia
Salteña
Baked pastry filled with a juicy, slightly sweet beef or chicken stew.
How to have it: A mid-morning snack sold until about noon; bite the top off and sip the broth so it does not spill.
Silpancho
Thin breaded beef over rice and potatoes, topped with a fried egg and tomato-onion salsa.
How to have it: Cochabamba's signature plate; look for silpancherías near the city centre in the evening.
Pique macho
Heap of beef, sausage, fries, onions, egg and hot locoto peppers.
How to have it: Portions are huge and meant for sharing; go easy on the locoto chilli if you are not used to heat.
Sopa de maní
Creamy peanut soup with beef broth, pasta or potatoes, topped with fries.
How to have it: Served as the starter of the set lunch (almuerzo) in Cochabamba and La Paz market stalls.
Api
Thick hot drink of purple corn, cinnamon and clove.
How to have it: A street breakfast in La Paz and El Alto, paired with a fried pastel or buñuelo.
What to eat next door
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Questions
What food is Bolivia famous for?
Salteña (baked pastry filled with a juicy, slightly sweet beef or chicken stew) comes first on our list, followed by Silpancho, Pique macho, Sopa de maní and Api.
What is the national dish of Bolivia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Bolivia is Salteña: baked pastry filled with a juicy, slightly sweet beef or chicken stew. A mid-morning snack sold until about noon; bite the top off and sip the broth so it does not spill.
Which dishes in Bolivia are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Api. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Bolivia?
Salteña (baked pastry filled with a juicy, slightly sweet beef or chicken stew).
What do people drink in Bolivia?
Api: thick hot drink of purple corn, cinnamon and clove.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.