Arepas

Made of corn dough, arepas are a staple in Colombia. Lightly salted with a mild corn flavor, it is usually eaten with coffee or avena, a cold oat drink.

You can tell an arepa’s quality by:

✔️A soft interior

✔️A lightly crisp outside

Can be found on:

• Street grills
• Markets
• Restaurants
• Food courts
• Bakeries
• Carts

For the best arepas in Cartagena, visit Arepa de Huevo.

Patacones

Made of green plantains, patacones are mildly sweet and often paired with passion fruit juice or coconut lemonade.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️Being very crisp and dry, never soggy

Can be found on:

• Coastal vendors
• Traditional Caribbean restaurants
• Seafood restaurants
• Food courts
• Street vendors

To try patacones, visit La Mulata.

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are a fried treat made of cheese, corn flour, and starch. Lightly salty, cheesy, and airy inside, it is often paired with hot chocolate.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️Its golden color

✔️A hollow, airy inside

✔️Not being greasy

Can be found on:

• Street vendors
• Cafés
• Sidewalk fritter stands
• Small bakeries

To try buñuelos, consider visiting the food stands near Plaza San Diego and Fernandez Madrid Park.

Salchipapas

Very popular in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, salchipapas are fried potatoes and sausage. Salty and savory, it goes perfectly with fresh fruit juice.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️ Crisp, well-fried potatoes
✔️ Sausage that’s hot and evenly cooked
✔️ No excess oil pooling at the bottom

Can be found on:

• Street vendors
• Night food stalls
• Casual takeout spots
• Food courts
• Plazas

Salchipapas are a famous treat at plazas and night food stalls, but you can also find it at Colombitalia Arepas.

Papa rellena

Made of mashed potatoes stuffed with meat and spices, papa rellena is most common in Bogotá and coastal cities. Try pairing it with a fresh fruit juice.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️ A crisp exterior that holds its shape
✔️ A well-seasoned, juicy filling
✔️ No greasiness when broken open

Can be found on:

• Markets
• Local takeout counters
• Street carts
• Neighborhood stalls

To try this dish, visit the famous food stand Los Fritos de Dora.

Chorizo con arepa

Grilled on charcoal or a flat grill, chorizo con arepa has a smoky, slightly spiced flavor. It goes great with a fresh lemonade.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️ Chorizo that’s juicy, not dry
✔️ An arepa that’s lightly crisp outside and soft inside

Can be found on:

• Street grills
• Sidewalk sausage stands
• Night food carts
• Local markets
• Eateries

To try this dish you can go to the famous Donde Magola street stand.

Carimañola

Carimañola is a yucca (cassava) dough stuffed with meat or cheese, usually eaten with coffee.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️A crisp shell

✔️No oil pooling

Can be found on:

• Street cards
• Bakeries
• Coastal food stalls
• Food counters

To try carimañolas, you can visit the street stand Los Fritos de Dora.

Pinchos

Pinchos are grilled meat (usually chicken, beef, or pork) on skewers. Some vendors may add onion, tomato and bell pepper.

Smoky, savory, and lightly spiced, it is usually paired with lemonade or another fresh fruit juice.

You can tell its quality by:

✔️ Meat that’s hot, juicy, and slightly firm
✔️ Even grilling with light char, not burnt spots

Can be found on:

• Night street grills
• Food carts
• Sidewalk stalls
• Plazas food vendors
• Late-night snack stalls

To an unforgettable bite of pinchos, you can visit the stands located on Plaza de la Trinidad.

Butifarra soledeña

This small pork sausage is seasoned with garlic, pepper, and spices. Usually served while still hot, it goes great with a glass of fruit juice.

You can tell its good-quality by:

✔️Being hot, juicy, and slightly firm

Can be found on:

• Street vendors, especially at night
• Sidewalk sausage stands
• Plaza snack sellers
• Food carts
• Snack stalls

The best butirrafas are usually the ones found near Plaza de San Diego and Fernandez Madrid Park.

Obleas

Made of thin wafer and arequipe (dulce de leche), this sweet street food is often eaten alongside coffee.

You can tell its quality by:

✔️ Thin wafers that are crisp, not stale
✔️ Fillings spread evenly, without spilling

Can be found on:

• Kiosks
• Plaza vendors
• Ice cream and candy carts
• Bakeries
• Street dessert carts

You can find the best obleas near Puerta del Reloj.