Colombia
Colombian Food Guide for Travelers
Colombian cuisine is hearty, diverse, and deeply regional. Bandeja Paisa is a mountain of food, arepas are daily bread, and the fruit diversity is staggering. From Caribbean ceviche to Andean ajiaco, the food reflects extraordinary geographic range.
Regional Diversity
Bogota does ajiaco. Medellin is Bandeja Paisa. Caribbean coast has ceviche and coconut rice. Coffee region grows world's best. Pacific coast has African influences.
Coffee Culture
World-famous. Visit a finca in Eje Cafetero for tours and tastings. Specialty coffee scene has exploded in Bogota and Medellin.
Fruit Paradise
More varieties than almost any country. Markets sell lulo, granadilla, pitahaya, curuba, zapote. Juice stands on every street: $1 for a large.
Street Food
Empanadas, arepas, bunuelos, chorizos, obleas everywhere. Best near bus stations, universities, town plazas.
Must-Try Dishes
Bandeja Paisa
$$Mountain of food: rice, beans, fried egg, plantain, chorizo, chicharron, avocado, arepa, ground beef.
Contains meat, eggs; gluten-free
Arepa
$Corn dough patties: grilled, fried, baked. Filled with cheese, egg, or meat.
Contains corn, dairy; gluten-free
Ajiaco
$Bogota's chicken and potato soup with three potato types, corn, capers, avocado, cream.
Contains meat, dairy; gluten-free
Empanadas
$Fried corn-dough pockets with beef and potato.
Contains corn, meat; gluten-free
Lechona
$$Whole roast pig stuffed with rice, peas, spices.
Contains meat; gluten-free
Patacones
$Twice-fried green plantain discs with hogao sauce.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free
Obleas
$Thin wafer cookies with arequipe, jam, cream.
Contains gluten, dairy
Lulo Juice
$Fresh juice from lulo: citrus fruit unique to the Andes.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free
Menu Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Arepa | Corn bread/patty | Staples |
| Corrientazo | Set lunch menu: best value | Dining |
| Aguapanela | Sugarcane water | Drinks |
| Hogao | Tomato and onion sauce | Sauces |
| Aji | Hot sauce | Sauces |
| Carne | Meat | Proteins |
| Pollo | Chicken | Proteins |
| La cuenta | The bill | Dining |
Dietary Restriction Guide
Vegetarian
Arepas with cheese, empanadas with potato, patacones, ajiaco without chicken, fruit. Say 'sin carne'.
Vegan
Arepas without cheese, patacones, beans, rice, incredible fruit. Colombian cooking uses little dairy. Say 'sin carne, sin queso, sin huevos'.
Gluten-Free
Naturally very gluten-free. Arepas, empanadas (corn-based), patacones use corn and potato, not wheat.
Common Allergies
Dairy in arepas and ajiaco. Eggs in bandeja paisa. Shellfish coastal. Say 'soy alergico/a a...'.
Ordering Tips
- •Corrientazo (set lunch): soup, main, rice, beans, juice, dessert for a few dollars.
- •Colombia's fruit diversity is mind-blowing: lulo, guanabana, maracuya, feijoa. Try as fresh juices.
- •Aguapanela con limon is the national drink.
- •Tipping: 10% 'propina voluntaria' is suggested. You can decline.