Food · Punta Cana · Dominican Republic
What to eat in Punta Cana
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Punta Cana, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ila Mae Thie, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with La bandera dominicana, Sancocho and Mangú with los tres golpes. Choose a fish from the cooler at one of Macao's shacks and eat it fried with tostones and a cold Presidente, a few steps from the waves. Restaurant bills usually include 18% tax and a 10% service charge; an extra tip for good service is appreciated.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- La bandera dominicana
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Even in all-inclusives, small tips in US dollars or pesos are customary for…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.La bandera dominicana
'The Dominican flag' is the everyday lunch: white rice, stewed red beans and braised chicken or beef, usually with salad and fried plantains.
Where: Local comedores in Friusa and Verón behind the resorts; some resort buffets serve it at lunch.
Dish
2.Sancocho
A thick stew of several meats with yuca, plantain, yam and corn, served with rice and avocado; a weekend and celebration dish.
Where: Local restaurants and comedores, especially on Sundays.
Breakfast
3.Mangú with los tres golpes
Mashed green plantains topped with pickled red onions and served with 'the three hits' — fried salami, fried cheese and eggs. It is the classic Dominican breakfast.
Where: Local cafeterías and many resort breakfast stations.
Dish
4.Pescado frito
Whole fried fish, typically snapper, served with tostones and lime at the water's edge.
Where: Beach shacks at Macao and El Cortecito, and seafood restaurants in Los Corales.
Street food
5.Chicharrón
Crispy fried pork belly or pork rinds sold by weight from roadside stands, eaten with lime and casabe (cassava bread).
Where: Roadside chicharronerías on the way to Higüey and in local towns.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Tostones
Twice-fried green plantain slices, the standard side for fish and meat across the country.
Where: Every Dominican restaurant and beach shack.
Street food
7.Empanadas and pastelitos
Fried pastries filled with chicken, beef or cheese, sold hot from street carts and bakeries as a snack.
Where: Street carts in Friusa and Verón and colmados across the area.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Mamajuana
Rum, red wine and honey steeped in a bottle of tree bark and herbs; a potent Dominican infusion sold everywhere in decorative bottles.
Where: Beach bars, souvenir shops and resort bars.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Morir soñando
'To die dreaming' is a creamy drink of orange juice and evaporated milk poured over ice, a sweet Dominican favourite.
Where: Local cafeterías and juice stands.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Presidente beer
The Dominican Republic's best-known lager, served very cold in large bottles to share, often in frosted glasses.
Where: Colmados (corner shops) and every bar on the coast.
Dessert · Vegetarian
11.Habichuelas con dulce
A sweet cream of red beans with coconut milk, sweet potato, cinnamon and cloves, made especially during Lent and Easter.
Where: Homes and local restaurants around Semana Santa.
Food experiences
Beach-shack fish lunch at Macao
Choose a fish from the cooler at one of Macao's shacks and eat it fried with tostones and a cold Presidente, a few steps from the waves.
Eat outside the resort
Take a taxi to Los Corales or El Cortecito for Dominican and seafood restaurants; it costs little and breaks up an all-inclusive week.
Colmado culture
Colmados are neighbourhood corner shops that double as bars, with music, plastic chairs and cold beer; those in Friusa and Verón show local life.
Cacao and coffee tastings
Excursions to rural farms inland show how Dominican cacao, coffee and cigars are grown and processed.
Quick bites and street food
- Mangú with los tres golpes — Local cafeterías and many resort breakfast stations.
- Chicharrón — Roadside chicharronerías on the way to Higüey and in local towns.
- Tostones — Every Dominican restaurant and beach shack.
- Empanadas and pastelitos — Street carts in Friusa and Verón and colmados across the area.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Tostones, Mamajuana, Morir soñando, Presidente beer and Habichuelas con dulce. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurant bills usually include 18% tax and a 10% service charge; an extra tip for good service is appreciated.
- À la carte restaurants in all-inclusive resorts often need booking on arrival day.
- Drink bottled or resort-filtered water and avoid ice of uncertain origin outside the resorts.
- Prices in tourist areas are often quoted in US dollars; paying in Dominican pesos can be cheaper locally.
- Dinner outside the resorts is relaxed and usually starts from about 7pm.
Tipping
Even in all-inclusives, small tips in US dollars or pesos are customary for housekeeping, bar staff and waiters. Restaurants add a 10% service charge, and an extra 5–10% for good service is common; tip tour guides and drivers too.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
| ¿Qué lo que? | What's up? (Dominican slang) |
| Colmado | Corner shop and bar |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Punta Cana famous for?
La bandera dominicana, Sancocho, Mangú with los tres golpes and Pescado frito. 'The Dominican flag' is the everyday lunch: white rice, stewed red beans and braised chicken or beef, usually with salad and fried plantains.
+Is Punta Cana good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Tostones, Mamajuana and Morir soñando.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Punta Cana?
Even in all-inclusives, small tips in US dollars or pesos are customary for housekeeping, bar staff and waiters. Restaurants add a 10% service charge, and an extra 5–10% for good service is common; tip tour guides and drivers too.