ExploFood · South America
What to eat in Colombia
Five dishes to try in Colombia, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Colombia
Bandeja paisa
Platter of beans, rice, ground beef, chorizo, pork crackling, egg, plantain and arepa.
How to have it: Medellín's signature lunch; one plate is enough for two light eaters.
Ajiaco
Chicken and three-potato soup with guascas herb, corn, capers and cream.
How to have it: Bogotá's classic, best on a cool day; add the cream, capers and avocado at the table.
Arepa
Grilled corn cake, plain or topped or stuffed with cheese.
How to have it: Eaten at breakfast and as street food; try arepa de huevo on the Caribbean coast.
Sancocho
Hearty stew of chicken, beef or fish with plantain, yuca and corn.
How to have it: A Sunday family meal, often cooked outdoors; served with rice and avocado.
Empanada
Crisp fried corn turnover filled with potato and meat.
How to have it: Sold at street carts all day; dip it in ají, the spicy green herb sauce.
What to eat next door
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Questions
What food is Colombia famous for?
Bandeja paisa (platter of beans, rice, ground beef, chorizo, pork crackling, egg, plantain and arepa) comes first on our list, followed by Ajiaco, Arepa, Sancocho and Empanada.
What is the national dish of Colombia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Colombia is Bandeja paisa: platter of beans, rice, ground beef, chorizo, pork crackling, egg, plantain and arepa. Medellín's signature lunch; one plate is enough for two light eaters.
Which dishes in Colombia are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Arepa. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Colombia?
Empanada (crisp fried corn turnover filled with potato and meat).
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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Tick off every dish you try in Colombia
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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.