Colombian street foods are a rich and mouth-watering tradition that embodies the country’s vibrant culture and has gained recognition worldwide.
This culturally diverse nation boasts a gastronomy deeply rooted in its varied traditions, offering a culinary experience like no other.
For an authentic taste of Colombian street foods, look no further than La Perseverancia Market in Bogotá—a renowned destination where talented chefs showcase daily specials inspired by regional flavors.
At La Perseverancia Market, you’ll find an array of stalls serving up iconic Colombian foods, including arepas, empanadas, bandeja paisa, and mote de queso.
This bustling market has become a global hotspot for experiencing the best of Colombian cuisine.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most popular Colombian street foods, exploring their ingredients and cultural significance.
By the end, you’ll be ready to visit La Perseverancia Market and savor the flavors of Colombia’s culinary treasures for yourself.
Colombian Gastronomy & Street Food
Colombia is a country with rich biodiversity as well as cultural diversity.
This has led to a bounty of delicious natural ingredients available locally and different cultural traditions that all contribute to the amazing Colombian kitchen.
Bogota, in particular, is an epicenter of the diverse food traditions from all over Colombia.
As people came to the big city for various reasons, they brought their unique culinary traditions with them.
This diversity makes La Perseverancia Market one of the best places to get an authentic taste of the flavors from all over Colombia.
Let’s get started with the top street foods to try in Colombia. From filling soups to bountiful meat plates to snacks, Colombia has it all.
Let’s see some of the traditional Colombian street foods that come from all over the country.
1. Arepas
Arepas are one of the most famous Colombian foods known around the world.
These delicious treats start as dough made from corn. This dough is pressed into patties and grilled to perfection.
There are a variety of ways to prepare and enjoy arepas.
One style you may find is a filling grilled inside, such as cheese or butter added before the arepa patty is shaped and pressed.
Alternatively, arepas can be grilled plain and then sliced after grilling.
At this point, a wide variety of ingredients can be stuffed inside.
You will commonly find different cheeses, meats, or even vegetarian options like avocado to choose from when ordering.
2. Tamales
Tamales are another world-famous dish you can easily find in the stalls of La Perseverancia Market.
While the exact smell, taste, and style likely depend on the region of Colombia that the cook grew up in, there are some commonalities between all varieties of mouth-watering tamales.
This dish starts with a corn-based dough with meat or another ingredient at the center.
This dough with its stuffing is placed inside a large leaf, likely a plantain or banana leaves.
The sides of the leaves are gathered and fastened, making a little container for the tamale dough inside.
This package is then placed over boiling water in order to steam the tamale within.
When the steaming is done, the leaf is unwrapped, and you are left to enjoy the tasty tamale inside.
3. Bandeja Paisa
Although the national dish of Colombia, Bandeja Paisa is most popular in the region surrounding Medellin.
This hefty platter is an abundant serving of different meats and other staples of the Colombian kitchen.
The portion size can be a bit overwhelming and will certainly leave anyone who tries it satisfied.
A typical bandeja paisa will come with the essentials of rice, beans, ground beef, chorizo sausage, blood sausage, and pork rinds.
In addition to these hearty ingredients, it’s not uncommon for it to be finished off with a fried egg, plantain, or avocado.
4. Ajiaco
Ajiaco is a traditional soup that comes from Bogota itself.
Its trademark ingredients are potatoes, chicken, and corn.
Its flavor is enhanced with the use of onions, garlic, cilantro, and guascas.
If you’re curious about the last ingredient, guascas is an herb that is commonly found in many traditional foods from Colombia and Peru.
When you order up a bowl of ajiaco in Colombia, it will likely come served in a traditional soup bowl known as “chamba.”
It may also come with some fixings on the side, such as rice, avocado, or a little cream.
You can choose to mix these additional ingredients in as you like.
5. Mote de Queso
Mote de Queso is a soup that is commonly enjoyed in the Caribbean region of Colombia.
It is a deliciously filling meatless soup made from yams and cheese.
Its nuanced flavors come from its additional ingredients like onion, scallions, garlic, cumin, and lime.
The cheese traditionally used is called “costeño.” This is a fresh, white cheese typical in Colombia.
In the popular Netflix special featuring La Perseverancia Market, you can see Chef Luz Mary preparing and serving her delicious Mote de Queso from her stall in the market.
This glimpse inside Colombia’s culinary scene is part of a street food documentary series called Street Food: Latin America.
6. Empanadas
Most countries in Latin America have a version of the empanada, and Colombia is no different.
The Colombian empanada is a popular and delicious snack widely available on streets all over the country.
While you may find baked varieties more common in countries like Argentina, they are typically deep-fried and crispy when made in Colombia.
The stuffing of the empanada will likely be shredded meat, such as pork or beef.
It’s also possible to find these with ground beef, chicken, or even potato.
The potato ones are great for vegetarians looking to try this crispy snack.
Empanada dough also begin with corn that is pressed rather thin.
The fillings are placed inside, and the circle is folded over and sealed up around the edges, either with a fork or with your finger.
After frying, you can enjoy your empanadas with a touch of lime or with a bit of hot sauce.
7. Almojabana
Almojabana is a delicious treat that goes perfectly with your morning cup of Colombian coffee or as an afternoon snack.
They are essentially little bread balls stuffed with cheese.
In Colombia, almojábana recipe is made with a special type of cheese called “cuajada.”
In English, it can be roughly translated to “milk curd.” The cheese is mixed directly into the dough before it is balled up and baked.
When these are done baking, they should be golden brown on top. These are particularly delicious when consumed hot.
8. Buñuelos
Buñuelos are another tasty bread ball, but these are deep-fried to perfection.
The outside is perfectly crispy without being too thick, while the inside is fluffy and delicious.
These are particularly popular in Colombia around Christmas time but can be found and enjoyed all year round.
The type of cheese used in buñuelos is different from that of the almojabana.
Here, costeño cheese is used, the fresh, white cheese we saw before in Mote de Queso.
The little balls are fried up in warm oil for a few minutes to give them their perfectly golden brown finish.
9. Sopa de Avena
Sopa de Avena is a traditional soup made from oats.
It has a clear broth, beef, chicken, or vegetable and contains a few hearty vegetables.
It typically has potatoes, carrots, and peas, as well as onion and garlic. If made with vegetable broth, this is a great vegetarian option.
The ingredients are combined and cooked on the stove.
The oats are added to the broth and help to enhance flavor and nutritional value.
10. Lechon
Lechon, which you may also see written as Lechona, is a famous Colombia pork dish.
It is the Colombian version of a suckling pig, where the chef prepares a whole pig to be seasoned and stuffed.
The inside stuffing usually consists of rice but may also be mixed with seasonings or vegetables.
Different regions have different traditions when it comes to how to prepare the stuffing.
When cooking the whole pig, as would be done for big social gatherings, it could take up to ten hours for the meat to be ready.
It’s a slow process that yields a tasty favorite for Colombians and visitors.
11. Obleas
Obleas are a popular sweet snack all over Latin America, and it’s no different in Colombia.
These large, thin, round wafers are the perfect place to put some of your favorite toppings.
Street vendors will be ready with their supply of wafers as well as a variety of toppings for you to choose from.
Although you can choose how you would like to enjoy this treat, it is common to spread arequipe on the wafer and place some shredded cheese, jams, or anything else you would like before pressing the other wafter on top.
This creates a deliciously sweet sandwich to enjoy.
12. Patacones
Patacones, which you may also see written as tostones, are savory plantains fried up to perfection.
They are made just from green plantains, oil, and salt and are fried a second time to give them the perfect consistency.
You can easily find these as a popular Colombian side dish, usually accompanying fish, or as a stand-alone snack.
Top them with a bit of salsa or guacamole for an extra delicious treat.
13. Pandebono
Pandebono is a special Colombian cheese bread made out of cassava flour.
For those unfamiliar with cassava, it is a root vegetable commonly found in areas of South America.
The cassava flour and cornmeal are combined to make a tasty, gluten-free dough.
The cheese is then added, along with an egg. These are then baked until golden brown.
You can see pandebono in several shapes, such as a round ball or in a ring, like a donut.
Try it warm for its most enjoyable flavor.
14. Salchipapa
Salchipapa is a kid’s favorite, but adults all over Colombia still enjoy this nostalgic fast food.
It’s a simple concept: french fries served with hot dogs on top, usually with some sauce on the side.
The hot dogs are usually cut into small pieces, about 2 inches long.
You can find this dish in street food stalls all over the country.
It is also a popular Peruvian street food.
15. Cholado
Cholado is a classic dessert that mixes all kinds of tastes and textures into one big cup.
Perfect for hot weather, fresh fruits are first served on shredded ice.
On this base, sweet condensed milk, passion fruit, and blackberry sauce are liberally poured.
To finish it off, shredded coconut is placed on the top along with a cherry.
This is a favorite Colombian dessert that you can try with any fruit you would like.
16. Chicharrón
Chicharrón is a beloved Colombian street food made from pork belly, celebrated for its crispy, golden-brown skin and tender, flavorful meat.
This indulgent treat is especially popular in Antioquia, where it’s a staple of the traditional Bandeja Paisa, but it’s also widely enjoyed on its own or as a snack paired with lime wedges.
To make chicharrón, the pork belly is seasoned, sometimes marinated, and then fried to achieve its iconic crunch while retaining its juicy interior.
Vendors often serve it freshly fried, making it irresistibly aromatic and satisfying.
Whether eaten solo, as part of a meal, or even tucked into an arepa, chicharrón is a delicious reflection of Colombia’s love for bold, comforting flavors.
Experience the Flavors of Colombian Street Foods
You can’t go wrong when sampling Colombian street foods.
With everything from soups to snacks to desserts, even with some vegetarian options, everyone will find something to love when it comes to the Colombian kitchen.
Remember to stop by La Perseverancia Market the next time you’re in Bogota to try the daily specials of some of the best and most creative street food chefs in Colombia.
Sources
- Amigo Foods: Lechona Colombiana: What Is It & How To Make It
- Amigo Foods: Obleas, Colombian Wafer Dessert Snacks
- Fork in the Road: How to Make Colombian Ajiaco Without Traveling to Bogota
- Netflix: Street Food: Latin America
- My Colombian Recipes: Almojábanas (Colombian Cheese Bread)
- My Colombian Recipes: Buñuelos Colombianos (Colombian Buñuelos)
- My Colombian Recipes: Cholados Colombianos (Colombian Cholados)
- My Colombian Recipes: Colombian Empanadas (Empanadas Colombianas)
- My Colombian Recipes: Mom’s Colombian Tamales (Tamales Colombianos de mi Mamá)
- My Colombian Recipes: Mote de Queso (Colombian Cheese and Yam Soup)
- My Colombian Recipes: Salchipapas (Potato Fries and Hot Dogs)
- My Colombian Recipes: Sopa de Avena (Oatmeal Soup)
- My Colombian Recipes: Pandebono (Colombian Cheese bread)
- My Colombian Recipes: Patacones (Fried Green Plantains)
- Wikipedia: Arepa
- Wikipedia: Bandeja paisa
More Colombian Foods
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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.