Your Pocket-Guide to Colombian Food

This year has been hard for everyone and many businesses have struggled. Most Colombian restaurants are family run and I want to encourage you to support your local Colombians. If you do not know much about Colombian food, no worries! I made this short guide so you can get familiar with the food and know ahead of time what you want to order. I hope this guide will leave you with cravings and make you fall in love with the flavors of one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, all the while supporting these family-run businesses.

Gracias <3

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If you are in the mood for a snack, a refreshing drink, or planning your dinner, this list will guide you. I included the average prices and vegetarian-friendly options (availability may differ per location). At the end I included my favorite places here in North Carolina if you are in the area!

A few things to know about Colombian food:

- Colombians love meat. Many of these dishes will contain meat.

- Colombians don’t typically eat spicy food, which is probably why I have an almost zero tolerance for spiciness. However, if you want to add a kick to your food you can order ají, which is a spicy sauce made of hot pepper, lime juice, cilantro, and a few other ingredients.

Okay, Let's Get Started!

Delicious and Quick On-the-go Bites:

1) Empanadas

My absolute favorite snack are these fried pockets of dough filled with potatoes, a bit of onion, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes, and your option of either chicken, beef, pork, or no meat. Served with ají and sliced lemons. Two or three make a great snack!

Price ~ $2.00

Vegetarian option - empanada with just potatoes

2) Papa Rellena

The name translates into stuffed potatoes and this dish is exactly that, a potato that is boiled, mashed, and molded into a ball, then filled with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and seasonings such as sazón and cumin and finally fried. This is a bit greasy but every bite is worth it. Dip into ají if you wish.

Price ~ $2.00

Almost always contains meat but can ask just in case

3) Arepa with Chorizo, Chicharrón or morcilla

Arepas are corn cakes that are a staple in every Colombian household. There are variations to the arepa depending on the region, but a regular arepa will be served on its own or with melted cheese on top. On the side, you can get chorizo (pork sausage), chicharrón (pork rind), or morcilla (blood sausage).

Price ~ $3.50- $4.00

Vegetarian option - arepa with cheese

4) Plantains with Cheese

That’s it. Fried plantains with melted cheese on top. You can't go wrong with that!

Price ~ $3.50-$5.75

Vegetarian friendly

5) Anything from the bakery

Just as much as Colombians love meat, they love their cheese. If you like bread and cheese as much as I do then you have to get the following bakery items:

1. Buenuelos - cheese fritters

2. Pandebonos or Pan de Yuca - cheese bread made with cassava starch

3. Pan de queso - bread with melted cheese inside

Non-Cheesy bread:

1. Roscón - sweet bread stuffed with guava paste

2. Mantecada - buttered cornbread

Price ~ $1.00-$4.00

Vegetarian friendly

Main entrees

You really can’t go wrong with any entrees that are on the menu, but I will recommend two which are the most popular and that I feel truly capture the diverse flavors of Colombia.

1) Bandeja Paisa

This is Colombia’s national dish and originates from the Andean region of the country. It is the perfect dish if you are looking for authentic Colombian cuisine. The dish contains rice, beans, pork rind, minced meat, chorizo, plantains, avocado, arepa, and a fried egg on top. Yes, it is a lot but it's not overwhelming; all the flavors perfectly blend with each other. I can never finish this plate in one seating, but I am always satisfied and ready for a nap afterwards.

Price ~ $12.99 - $14.00

Not Vegetarian friendly

2) Picada (fried food platter)

If you are looking to try a bit of everything in one dish, this is a perfect choice. It comes with pieces of grilled chicken and beef, yuca, tostones (fried green plantains), morcilla, chorizo, pork rind, papas criollas (small yellow potatoes), and arepa. This is an easily shareable dish, perfect for watching a soccer match or to take to your next get together.

Price ~ $13.00 - $16.00

Not Vegetarian friendly

Refreshing Drinks

1) Soda - Colombiana or Postobon

These are the most popular carbonated drinks in Colombia, hence the soda name: Colombiana. The Colombiana's slogan is "La que tomas en casa" which means "the one you drink at home." The flavor is slightly like a cream soda but with more fizz. Postobon has many flavors but I recommend manzana or apple.

2) Natural fruit juices (made with water or milk

Colombia is home to the world’s most exotic fruits and some of these, depending on the season, might be available near you. My go-to drink is blackberry or passionfruit. I prefer it made with water but they can also make it with milk if you like. Below are the various flavors normally offered:

1. Blackberry - Mora

2. Lulo (citrus, acidic flavor)

3. Passionfruit - Maraguya

4. Mango

5. Soursop - Guanabana

6. Tree Tomato - Tomate de árbol

7. Pineapple - Pina

8. Papaya

Prices ~ $2.50-$4.00 (milk costs extra)

If you're in the area visit these places!

1. Los Paisas - Pineville, NC https://lospaisasrestaurant.com/

2. El Sombrero Bakery - Gastonia, NC https://www.facebook.com/elsombrerobakery/

3. Mi Tierra 2 (Eastway Dr) - Charlotte, NC https://www.mitierracolombian.com/

4. Colombian Cravings - Burlington, NC https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Colombian-Restaurant/Colombian-Cravings-1118455644941113/

I hope you found this pocket guide helpful and are left with the temptation to go to your local Colombian restaurant!