The flavours you taste in Colombia are sure to enrich your travel experience, and the most authentic eats are usually found served in the street. With tropical fruits, mountains that yield quality coffee and cacao, Andean farmland, and grandmothers whose hands know the secrets of kneading the perfect dough, Colombia invites you to arrive hungry. Consider this your tasting menu of Colombian street food not to be missed. Buen provecho!
1. Empanadas
Easily the most popular Colombian street food, empanadas come in many delicious shapes and forms. These savoury snacks are made from dough filled with cheese, chicken, beef, or vegetables. Empanadas are a popular street food all over Latin America, and in Colombia, they are generally small and fried.
These little pockets of goodness are a staple in the Colombian diet, and because of their popularity, they can be found in any major hub, including Medellín, Bogotá, Cali, and Cartagena. They’re also one of the easiest Medellín street foods to find, and you’ll spot several vendors just steps away from the metro by El Poblado, a popular neighbourhood for travellers.
2. Buñuelos
You won’t have to look too hard for buñuelos, sweet fried balls of dough sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon (or both), because these little treats are sold in parks and roadside stalls all over the country. Buñuelos are a top Medellín street food, and the Sabaneta area is famous for its giant buñuelos. Eat them in Sabaneta Park as you listen to the lively music flooding from the public square.
3. Salted mango
The most popular food in Colombia, especially the type you find on the street, is often fried or meat-heavy. As tasty as those options are, sometimes you need something fresh. When you crave produce, look for slices of green mango sold by street vendors near the beaches and at bus stops. The mango comes salted and spritzed with lime juice for an extra burst of flavour. Salted mango is a Cartagena street food that’s light enough to enjoy in blazing temperatures.
4. Arepas
Arepas look like English muffins made from corn dough. They’re cooked on the grill or sometimes baked over fire for a smoky flavour. Arepas really show off their range through their toppings. For a simple snack, get them with butter or a slice of queso fresco. If Bogotá altitudes or hiking through Medellín’s Parque Arví has your stomach growling, you need the full arepa experience. Arepas can come stuffed with pork, chorizo, ham, shredded beef, chicken, beans, cheese, and avocado—a foodie traveller’s dream come true.
5. Tamales
The best Colombian street food is arguably the tamale. Tamales are cheap, delicious, filling, and available all around the country. Plus, they travel well because they come wrapped in a banana leaf. Tamales come with some variation, but they are all pockets of goodness containing corn or potato filling, shredded chicken or pork, an egg, and a combination of vegetables. Some vendors make them with olives, peas, or carrots. It’s like a small pot pie in a banana leaf.
6. Freshly squeezed fruit juice
After wandering through Cartagena’s colourful old town and Medellín’s sharply inclined walkways, you’re bound to need a tall glass of fruit juice to quench your thirst. Colombia has a wonderful variety of fruits that grow in the country’s tropical regions and in the Andes. When strolling through the streets or any market, you’ll come across trucks that sell cups of mango, pineapple, coconut, orange, tree tomato, and guanabana juice. For a true Colombian treat, try the tree tomato or sour guanabana, which grow in Colombia but are rare elsewhere.
7. Almojábana
Can you ever go wrong with cheese and carbs? Colombia’s almojábanas are a snack that puts bread and white cheese together in a fluffy, heavenly bite. Go into any panadería (bakery) early, and they’ll likely be hot out of the oven. Colombian bakeries are often airy spaces that open onto the street, which makes almojábanas the perfect on-the-go breakfast before a tour of Colombian sculptures, murals, and architecture.
8. Chuzos
One of the most popular late-night street foods in Colombia is chuzo, skewers of meat served with a choice of sauces and straight from a hot, smoky grill. Usually, chuzo is a Colombian’s go-to street food after a night of dancing or sharing a bottle of aguardiente (sugar-cane alcohol) with friends. Grab chuzo with chicken, chorizo, and steak topped with a potato for an authentic Colombian street food dish.
9. Perros calientes
Colombians are fond of a street food that many might associate with New York: the hot dog. But in Colombia, expect to find perros calientes topped with pineapple sauce. These unique hot dogs can be found all over major cities like Medellín or Bogotá, adding a sweet twist to a classic dish.
10. Chunchullo
Colombia lives up to its reputation for sizzling meats straight off the grill. Made with beef intestine, chunchullo is small strips of flavourful meat that’s either grilled or fried. It’s often served with mini potatoes and can be found in many Antioquia province cities, including Medellín and Guatapé.
11. Patacones
If you find yourself around Colombia’s coast, especially in San Andrés Island, Cartagena, or Santa Marta, don’t leave without trying patacones. These plantains are fried, smashed, and then fried again. Patacones can be served alone or with guacamole, cheese, or mayonnaise. The locals refer to plantain as "verde," meaning green plantain, a staple in coastal cuisine.
