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What to eat in Dominican Republic

Five dishes to try in the Dominican Republic, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.

Five dishes to try in the Dominican Republic

  1. Mangú

    Breakfast

    Mashed green plantains topped with pickled red onion.

    How to have it: Ordered 'con los tres golpes': with fried salami, cheese and eggs.

    Read about Mangú on Wikipedia

  2. Sancocho

    Soup

    Thick stew of several meats with plantain, yuca and root vegetables.

    How to have it: Cooked for celebrations and Sundays; served with white rice and avocado.

    Read about Sancocho on Wikipedia

  3. Locrio

    Main dish

    Rice cooked with chicken, pork or seafood in tomato and annatto.

    How to have it: A home and comedor staple; try locrio de pollo at lunchtime.

    Read about Locrio on Wikipedia

  4. Chimi

    Street food

    Burger of spiced ground meat with cabbage and pink sauce in a soft bun.

    How to have it: Sold late at night from roadside chimi trucks across Santo Domingo and Santiago.

    Read about Chimi on Wikipedia

  5. Mamajuana

    DrinkVegetarian

    Rum, red wine and honey steeped with tree bark and herbs.

    How to have it: Served as a shot in bars; bottles with the herbs inside are sold to take home.

    Read about Mamajuana on Wikipedia

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Questions

What food is the Dominican Republic famous for?

Mangú (mashed green plantains topped with pickled red onion) comes first on our list, followed by Sancocho, Locrio, Chimi and Mamajuana.

What is the national dish of the Dominican Republic?

Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for the Dominican Republic is Mangú: mashed green plantains topped with pickled red onion. Ordered 'con los tres golpes': with fried salami, cheese and eggs.

Which dishes in the Dominican Republic are vegetarian?

One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Mamajuana. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.

What street food should I try in the Dominican Republic?

Chimi (burger of spiced ground meat with cabbage and pink sauce in a soft bun).

What do people drink in the Dominican Republic?

Mamajuana: rum, red wine and honey steeped with tree bark and herbs.

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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Dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.