Wetin You Go Chop and Drink for Colombia: Traveler Food Guide

Why Colombian food dey surprise visitors

Colombian cooking na regional one, e get body, e dey built around fresh produce, corn, and meat. Every city get im own special dish, so as you dey chop your way across the country, na half of the trip be that.

Signature dishes wey you must try

• Bandeja paisa - the popular Medellin plate wey get beans, rice, ground beef, chicharron, fried egg, plantain, avocado and arepa. Order am for afternoon; e plenty well well.
• Ajiaco - Bogota chicken-and-potato soup wey dem serve with capers, cream and corn for cob.
• Sancocho - thick soup wey get meat or fish, plantain and yuca, e popular for Caribbean and Pacific coast side.
• Lechona - whole roasted pig wey dem stuff with rice and peas, na Tolima special dish.
• Arepas - grilled corn cake wey dey everywhere; the cheesy arepa de choclo na must-try.

Street food wey dey worth your stop

• Empanadas with aji sauce, e dey cost around 2,000-3,000 COP each.
• Buñuelos and almojabanas - fried cheese-dough snacks wey people like for morning time.
• Arepa de huevo for coast side, with whole egg fried inside.
• Chontaduro - peach-palm fruit wey dem sell with salt and honey for Cali.
• Obleas - thin wafer wey dem fill with arequipe (caramel).

Wetin you go drink

• Tinto - small, sweet black coffee wey dem sell for every corner.
• Fresh juice - try lulo, maracuya (passion fruit), guanabana and mango, for water or milk.
• Aguapanela - hot or cold sugar-cane water, sometimes with lime or cheese.
• Aguardiente - the anise spirit for night outing; Club Colombia na solid beer.
• Refajo - beer wey dem mix with Colombiana soda, na party favorite.

Practical dining tips and manners

• The menu del dia (set lunch) na the best value, e dey cost 15,000-25,000 COP for soup, main food, juice and dessert.
• Tipping: 10 percent propina dem dey usually add; staff go ask if you want am inside.
• Afternoon na the main meal; plenty local spot go don close by mid-afternoon.
• Tap water dey safe for Bogota and Medellin, but na wise thing to drink bottled one for coast side.
• Talk buen provecho and ask for aji if you like small pepper.

Stay connected for Colombia

HelloSIM eSIM go keep you online for maps, menu translation and restaurant booking the moment wey you land, no roaming bill at all.