If you happen to visit Bolivia, make sure to try their most famous and beloved street foods. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a list of must-tries of Bolivian street food for all food lovers.
The most popular Bolivian street foods include salteña and llauchas, two kinds of breakfast pastry; anticucho, a traditional historical dish made of cow meat; pasankallas, a sweet snack similar to popcorn; and choripan, an analog of a hot dog with sausage and veggies in the pan.In this article, I will tell you about Bolivia’s most common and delicious street foods that you should certainly give a chance to explore this country’s great food.
1. Salteñas
Up first is salteña, perhaps the best street food of all!
Nothing says street food Bolivia more than salteñas. They sell salteñas everywhere.
A salteña is a delicious Bolivian pastry the locals often have for a tasty and fulfilling breakfast.
You can easily find it in the streets of most Santa Cruz, La Paz and most Bolivian cities, as the traditional dish is widely popular.
Put shortly, salteña is a variation of empanada: it is pastry baked in the oven or deep fried with varied fillings in the most delicious combinations.
They often include spicy minced beef, hard boiled eggs, carrots, peas, potatoes, olives, and, of course, some juicy sauce.
However, you can still enjoy vegetarian salteñas by simply leaving out the meat.
Eating salteñas can be tricky, so here are some techniques the locals use that you can try, too. One is biting off the tip of the pastry and drinking the juice up before proceeding to eat the entire thing.
If you’re uncomfortable with such an eating style, you can tilt your salteña to one side and use a spoon to eat from the other to avoid letting the juice escape.
Oh, and don’t forget the llajua!
2. Llauchas
Llauchas are a common Bolivian street food that is easy to come across in the streets of La Paz.
It’s also a kind of breakfast pastry, so it is easier to catch a freshly-baked one early in the morning. However, they also make amazing snacks or a delicious on-the-go lunch.
Llauchas can be filled with chicken, beef, cheese and vegetables. One could describe it as a pocket-sized pizza or empanada that is easy to grab and eat if you’re in a hurry.
That’s part of the reason llauchas are so popular, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them in peace as a part of your Bolivian food journey.
3. Pasankallas
Pasankallas is a traditional Bolivian dish often compared to popcorn. It is a sweet snack made of corn that is very common in Bolivia.
Made from a local corn kind, it’s quite different from the popcorn we are used to.
Pasankallas is sweet; however, the sweetness varies from place to place. Because the corn is different, so is the flavor.
You can also expect it to be much less crunchy. Still, it’s a street food you don’t want to miss out on.
4. Anticuchos
For all meat lovers and those who are eager to try something new and unique, anticuchos will be the perfect option.
It’s an old recipe for a Bolivian version of kebab, which is one of those street foods you desperately crave early in the morning after a crazy night out.
Classic anticucho is made of cow heart, and while that might sound extravagant, I would recommend giving it a try even if you’re not an adventurous eater.
It’s a dish throughout South America with a history dating back to the 16th century and also a delicious street food you can easily find late at night.
5. Choripan
Finally, for all hot dog lovers, there is choripan: a Bolivian take on this worldwide popular street food.
The choripan is popular not only in Bolivia but in Argentina and throughout Latin America.
It features a sausage with other fillings, mainly veggies of various kinds, wrapped in the pan (bread) with the addition of a delicious Bolivian tomato sauce.
Choripan is visually similar to a French dog but is an authentic Bolivian dish that is great for a mid-day, yummy, fulfilling snack.
6. Sandwich de Chola
Many civilizations, particularly in South America, have a special sandwich that is specific to that nation or area.
Bolivian food is no different. The Bolivian women are thought to be the inspiration for the name of the tasty latin sandwich.
The Spanish word “cholo” (or chola for females) means mixed-race.
And it’s a lovely sandwich that people like to eat for both lunch and dinner.
Traditionally, roasted pork is used to make it most frequently. And the renowned locoto chile hot sauce is used to garnish it with thinly sliced veggies.
The Chola sandwich is the ideal portable meal in every way.
The meat is delicious, the bread is tender, and the vegetables are crunchy and colorful.
It is hardly surprising that street corner shops all around Bolivia sell these sandwiches.
7. Pasteles de Queso
Pasteles de queso are a type of Bolivian pastry that are filled with cheese.
They are typically made with a pastry dough that is filled with cheese, such as cream cheese or queso fresco, and then baked until golden brown.
They are usually served hot as a snack, dessert, or as a part of a meal and are enjoyed by many people in Bolivia and other South American countries.
8. Sonso de Yuca
Yuca is a cassava root. Sonso de Yuca is the mashed version of yuca with cheese.
You can do a few things with Sonso de yuca, like making a pancake or casserole out of the mashed cassava root.
If you make it into a pancake, it is excellent for frying. You could do this in various ways, like flattening it or turning it into balls that you deep fry.
Also, you can bake the cassava cakes or even grill them.
It is cheesy, warm, and a perfect companion to rich meat entrees when you turn it into a casserole.
9. Humitas
Humitas are steamed corn cakes that can be either sweet or savory, depending on what flavorings you decide to add.
The batter for humitas is made using fresh maize paste and is steamed in the shape of parcels wrapped in corn husks.
You can find various versions of the dish in different countries throughout Latin America.
Humitas are popular in:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Ecuador
- Chile
- Peru
Humitas is a Bolivian dish that often goes overlooked, and it deserves more love and attention.
10. Papa Rellena
Papa Rellena is a popular Bolivian appetizer that is delicious and filling enough to act as a complete meal.
You can make this popular Bolivian street food bite-sized or have them extra large for your friends and family.
The best thing about this deep fried dish is that you can experiment with different ingredients to your liking.
Papa Rellena consists of a mashed potato that is stuffed with spicy meat then deep fried. They look like mini boiled potatoes at first.
This dish is an excellent way of using leftover mashed potato and is often served with salsa criollo, which is a quick pickled onion side.
11. Trucha Frita
Bolivian “trucha frita” is a popular fish dish in Bolivia that is made by frying trout fish.
The fried trout is usually seasoned with salt, pepper and other Bolivian spices before being coated in batter and fried until crispy and golden brown.
Trucha frita is typically served with a variety of traditional Bolivian sides, including rice, potatoes and salad, making it a hearty and flavorful meal.
The trout used in trucha frita is usually sourced from the high-altitude lakes found in the Andes mountains, which are known for their crystal-clear waters and abundant fish populations.
The trout is then filleted and prepared for frying, either whole or in smaller portions.
Bolivian trucha frita is a staple of Bolivian cuisine, and can be found in restaurants and homes across the country.
12. Api
One of the most famous Bolivian breakfast meals, api con pastel consists of two essential elements: the api drink and the pastel, or pastry.
The two types of api are api blanco and api morado.
Api blanco is a white corn drink made of the kernels of morocho corn.
On the other hand, api morado is a purple corn drink made of purple corn flour, much like the Peruvian chicha morada.
Api Morado con pastel are are a Bolivian staple combination.
Among the two, api morado’s thick and hearty flavor is the preferred option for breakfast.
It’s so well-loved, in fact, that vendors all over Bolivia start selling it as early as 5 AM each day.
13. Salchipapas
The salchipapa dish is named after its main ingredients, salchichas (sausages) and papas (potatoes).
This popular Bolivian street food emerged as a poor man’s dish.
Hundreds of street food vendors sold it to the lower class economy, and later local restaurants included it in their cuisines.
Later, the Bolivian residents started making their own salchipapas by trying different recipes to recreate homemade variations of the hot dog sausage dish.
14. Pique Macho
Pique macho or Pique a l macho is one of the most famous dishes you’ll find in Bolivian restaurants.
Think of it as being similar to a fully loaded baked potato.
But Pique a lo macho is served on top of french fries rather than on top of a baked potato.
This typical dish comes loaded with ingredients. The pique macho is a genuinely massive plate of food.
It most often includes:
- beef
- french fries
- sausage
- hard boiled eggs
- tomatoes
- olives
- onion
- salt and pepper
- locotos (chili peppers)
There are several versions of how Pique a lo macho was made, but many people attribute it to a group of hungry diners and a kitchen needing to feed them with something available.
However it was born, this South American dish has now become embraced by all; from street food stalls to the best restaurants in Bolivia as one of its most traditional dishes.
15. Charquekan
Charquekan is a traditional dish from Bolivia that consists of dried and salted llama or beef, which is then grilled and served with potatoes, corn, and rice.
The Bolivian llama meat is usually cut into thin strips, seasoned with Bolivian spices, and slow-cooked over an open flame until it is tender and flavorful.
Charquekan is considered a staple food in many parts of Bolivia, especially in rural areas, where it is often served as a main meal during special celebrations and events.
16. Cuñape
Cuñape is a traditional Bolivian food made from corn dough.
It is shaped into small balls and boiled and then filled with cheese or meat.
It is a staple street food in Bolivia but can also be served as a side dish.
Cuñape has a soft, chewy texture and is often flavored with spices such as cumin and paprika and enjoyed by Bolivians of all ages.
17. Escabeche de Verduras
Escabeche de Verduras is a traditional Bolivian street food that consists of common vegetables such as carrots, onions, peppers, and potatoes that are marinated in a mixture of vinegar, spices and herbs.
The sweet pickled vegetables are typically served cold as a side dish or as a vegetarian main course but are commonly sold by street vendors.
It is a popular dish in Bolivian cuisine and is enjoyed for its combination of flavors and textures.
18. Sopa de Mani
Soup is a significant dish in Bolivia eaten daily by many people, most often around lunchtime.
Perhaps one of the most beloved soups in all of Bolivia is Sopa de mani, which roughly translates to peanut soup.
Peanuts are commonly found in many Bolivian recipes as they have been a popular ingredient in Bolivia for a long time.
People make Sopa de mani with or without meat—both are delicious options.
You’ll notice that most cooks use chicken and beef. There are many variations on Sopa de mani and many different garnishes.
The soup is usually accompanied by bread on the side, and people add locoto (hot chiles) for a little extra kick.
19. Bolivian Fruit & Fruit Juices
Bolivia is home to a many exotic fruits. Most can be enjoyed on the streets in the form of delicious fruit smoothies and fresh fruit juice.
Some of the more popular Bolivian street fruits are lúcuma, aguaymanto, and pacay, all known for their sweet and distinctive flavors.
In addition to fresh fruit juice, Bolivian street vendors also offer a range of fruit-based snacks and traditional Bolivian desserts, such as fruit cups and fruit-filled empanadas.
Wrapping Up Bolivian Street Food
In conclusion, street food in Bolivia offers a diverse and delicious array of flavors, textures and aromas that will delight any food lover.
Whether you are looking for a mid morning snack or a full meal, you can find something that satisfies your cravings on the streets of Bolivia.
From savory salteñas and spicy anticuchos, to hearty pique a lo macho, Bolivian street food is an integral part of the country’s rich culinary heritage, and an experience that should not be missed.
So, next time you’re in Bolivia, be sure to venture out and explore the vibrant street food scene, and discover why Bolivian cuisine is considered one of the most flavorful and unique in the world.
Sources
- Suitcase: 10 Must-Try Bolivian Street Foods
- New Worlder: Origins: Anticuchos de Corazón
- Wanderlust: Bolivia’s 10 unmissable street foods
- Tasteatlas: 5 Most Popular Bolivian Street Foods
- Culture Trip: The Best Street Food in La Paz
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.