Food · Colombia
What to eat in Colombia
Colombia's food, destination by destination.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sgonzalezb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Arepa de huevo, Carimañola and Fried fish with coconut rice. A corn arepa fried, split, filled with a raw egg (often with minced meat) and fried again, so the egg cooks inside.
Key facts
- Dishes in this guide
- 9
- Destinations
- 3
Dishes to try in Colombia
Try in Cartagena
Arepa de huevo
A corn arepa fried, split, filled with a raw egg (often with minced meat) and fried again, so the egg cooks inside. It is the Caribbean coast's signature breakfast snack.
Where: Street stands in Getsemaní and around the walled city in the morning and evening; La Boquilla's beach shacks.
Try in Cartagena
Carimañola
A torpedo-shaped yuca fritter filled with ground beef or cheese, fried crisp and eaten with suero (a tangy soured cream).
Where: Breakfast stalls, bakeries and street vendors across the city.
Try in Cartagena
Fried fish with coconut rice
A whole fried mojarra or red snapper served with arroz con coco (rice cooked in coconut milk and caramelised coconut), patacones (fried green plantain) and salad.
Where: Beach shacks in La Boquilla and on the islands, and local restaurants in Getsemaní.
Try in Medellín
Bandeja paisa
Antioquia's famous platter: red beans, rice, ground beef, chicharrón (crispy pork belly), chorizo, a fried egg, fried plantain, avocado and an arepa. It is a huge lunch rather than a dinner.
Where: Traditional paisa restaurants across the city, including the long-established chains and fondas in El Poblado and Envigado.
Try in Medellín · Vegetarian
Arepa paisa
A thin, plain white-corn arepa served with almost every meal, often topped with butter, cheese or quesito (fresh cheese).
Where: Every bakery, breakfast counter and restaurant.
Try in Medellín · Vegetarian
Arepa de chócolo
A sweet, thick arepa made from fresh yellow corn, griddled and topped with melted fresh cheese.
Where: Street stalls and markets, and roadside stands on the way to Guatapé and Santa Elena.
Try in Bogotá
Ajiaco santafereño
Bogotá's signature soup of chicken, three kinds of potato and corn on the cob, flavoured with the herb guascas. It is served with capers, cream, avocado and rice on the side.
Where: Traditional restaurants in La Candelaria and La Perseverancia market, especially at lunch.
Try in Bogotá · Vegetarian
Chocolate santafereño
A cup of hot chocolate served with a slice of fresh cheese, which you drop into the cup to melt, plus bread or almojábanas.
Where: Historic cafés in La Candelaria and bakeries across the city, especially in the afternoon.
Try in Bogotá · Vegetarian
Changua
A highland breakfast soup of milk, water and eggs poached in the broth, with spring onion, coriander and pieces of stale bread.
Where: Traditional breakfast restaurants and markets.
Food scene by destination
| Destination | Food experience | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cartagena | Evening street food in Plaza de la Trinidad | Lunch is the main meal for locals, and set lunches are much cheaper than dinner menus. |
| Medellín | Menú del día | Lunch is the main meal; many restaurants offer a set 'menú del día' or 'corrientazo' at midday. |
| Bogotá | Market lunch | Lunch, served from about noon to 2pm, is the main meal; set menus ('corrientazo') are cheap and filling. |
Food experiences
- Cartagena — Evening street food in Plaza de la Trinidad: Arepas, chorizos, hamburgers and fresh juices from stalls in Getsemaní's main square, eaten among locals as performers play.
- Medellín — Menú del día: Weekday lunch menus at local restaurants give a soup, a main with rice, beans, salad and plantain, and a juice for a low price — the best-value meal in the city.
- Bogotá — Market lunch: Eat ajiaco, sancocho or tamales at the shared counters of La Perseverancia or Paloquemao, cooked by long-time market cooks.
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Colombia famous for?
Arepa de huevo, Carimañola, Fried fish with coconut rice, Bandeja paisa and Arepa paisa.