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What to eat in Colombia? Top 52 Colombian Foods

Last update: Thu Mar 27 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Colombian Foods

01
Pan de bono
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Pan de bono is a traditional bread consisting of cassava starch, cornmeal or corn flour, queso fresco, eggs, and sugar. The bread is shaped into bagels or balls that are slightly larger than golf balls. Pan de bono is similar to other South American cheese breads like pan de queso, difference being added conr flour or cornmeal, and a hint of sweeteness due to the addition of sugar.


It is usually served warm with a cup of hot chocolate on the side. Some claim that the name pan de bono was created after an Italian baker in Cali who used to yell pane del buono (good bread), while others say that it is named after a place called Hacienda El Bono, where it was first made.

MOST ICONIC Pan de bono

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02

Pork Dish

TOLIMA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.5
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Lechona is a traditional dish consisting of a roasted pig stuffed with onions, peas, fresh herbs, and various spices. The pig is roasted for a long time until the meat is tender and succulent. The dish is usually prepared for celebrations and festivities since one lechona can produce as many as 100 servings.


This unique Colombian delicacy can be found in numerous restaurants throughout the country's largest cities.

MOST ICONIC Lechona

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03

Breakfast

ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.5
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Calentado is a traditional breakfast consisting of last night's leftovers that are simply reheated. It stems from the past, when much of the Colombian population lived in poverty and nothing was wasted. This hearty breakfast usually includes rice, beans, plantains, steak, fried eggs, and arepas.


Some people like to add other ingredients as well, such as sausages or chicharrónes. Nowadays, calentado is typically served on weekends due to the sheer amount of food, and it is recommended to serve it with coffee or a cup of hot chocolate on the side. 

MOST ICONIC Calentado

1
04

Dip

COLOMBIA
4.4
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Suero is a creamy and tangy Colombian sauce or dip made with fermented whole milk, salt, and vinegar or lime juice. It originates from Colombia's coastal region, hence its other, extended name – suero costeño. It is often served as an accompaniment to sausages, tamales, arepas, or plantain chips.

05

Bread Roll

COLOMBIA and  one more country
4.4
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Almojábana is a traditional and Puerto Rican bread (although it is also popular in other countries of Latin America) that is very similar to pandebono. Pandebono is usually made with yuca flour and costeño cheese, while almojábanas are made with cuajada white cheese and cornmeal flour.


Almojábanas are baked until they develop a spongy texture and a golden brown color of the exterior. This small, round bread is traditionally served warm.

MOST ICONIC Almojábana

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06
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Aborrajado is a Colombian dish consisting of cheese-stuffed sweet plantain slices that are battered and deep-fried. Although the name aborrajado means battered, the dish can also be baked or grilled. Aborrajado is traditionally served as an appetizer or a snack, but some people like to add slices of bocadillo guava paste, so this dish can also be served as a dessert.

MOST ICONIC Aborrajados

1
07

Dessert

COLOMBIA and  2 more countries
4.3
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Flan de coco or coconut flan is a delicate dessert that is popular in Colombia, Costa Rica, and parts of the Caribbean. It is typically made with eggs, coconut milk, condensed milk, cream, vanilla extract, and flaked coconut. The dessert is usually baked in small ramekins with caramel on the inside, so when flan de coco is inverted, it has a nice caramel layer on top and on the sides.


Before serving, the dessert is often topped with flaked coconut.

08

Bread Roll

ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.3
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Pan de queso is a cheese bread from Colombia, namely the Paisa region where it is extremely popular. The main ingredients are tapioca flour and grated cheese, but it is the fermented cassava starch that gives these rolls their lightness and volume.


They are eaten for breakfast or as a parva—a quick breakfast snack, either plain or filled with cream cheese or jelly.

MOST ICONIC Pan de queso

1
09
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Both savory and sweet in flavor, arroz con coco is a flavorful Colombian side dish consisting of white rice, coconut milk, sugar, salt, and water. When mixed with raisins, arroz con coco becomes slightly sweeter, while the version without raisins is more savory and traditionally served with fish dishes.


It is recommended to use coconut milk without stabilizers so that it can separate into fat and solids.

MOST ICONIC Arroz con coco

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10
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Picada Colombiana is a traditional dish where a variety of grilled or fried meat and vegetables are served on a large platter. The dish is usually prepared on Sundays for family and friends or at various special occasions and celebrations, but it can also be found served as street food.


Picada Colombiana typically includes papa criolla potatoes, pork, chicken, beef, morcilla blood sausages, longaniza, arepas, guacamole, sweet plantains, chunchullo (fried intestines), and envuelto (corn in husks). It is recommended to season this hearty dish with a squeeze of lime juice, as they usually do in Colombia.

11
Soup
SINCELEJO, Colombia
4.3
12
Wafer
COLOMBIA
4.2
13
Meat Dish
ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.2
14
15
Bread Roll
COLOMBIA  and  one more region
4.2
16
17
Pancake
COLOMBIA  and  6 more regions
4.2
18
Rice Dish
VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.2
19
20
21
Breakfast
TOLIMA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.1
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Rice Dish
COLOMBIA  and  4 more regions
3.8
29
Offal Soup
COLOMBIA  and  4 more regions
3.8
30
Snack
COLOMBIA  and  one more country
3.8
31
32
33
34
Bread
COLOMBIA
3.4
35
Soup
BOYACÁ DEPARTMENT, Colombia
3.0
36
Insect Dish
SANTANDER DEPARTMENT, Colombia
2.8
37
38
39
Soup
BOYACÁ DEPARTMENT, Colombia
n/a
40
Bread
CUNDINAMARCA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
n/a
41
42
43
44
Fruit Salad
VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
n/a
45
46
Beef Dish
ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
3.5
47
48
Vegetable Dish
MAGDALENA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
3.3
49
Feast
ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
n/a
50
Cake
VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
n/a
51
52
Bread
SOACHA, Colombia
n/a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Colombian Food Producers

01

Coffee

SANTIAGO DE CALI, Colombia
4.8
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Café Granja La Esperanza is a leading specialty coffee producer from Colombia, renowned for its commitment to quality, innovative fermentation methods, and cultivation of rare varieties. Founded in 1945, the farm began its journey in the Valle del Cauca region with Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon, and Caturra varieties before expanding to estates such as Las Margaritas, La Esperanza, Cerro Azul, Potosí, and Hawaii.


Their continuous research and refinement of cultivation and processing techniques have made them synonymous with premium coffee and precision fermentation. In 2007, they gained global recognition by growing the Geisha variety in Panama, which won first place at the prestigious Best of Panama competition. 
BEST Café Granja La Esperanza Coffees
02
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La Palma y El Tucán is a Colombian coffee farm, mill, and eco-tourism destination, nestled in the heart of the mountainous Cundinamarca region, near Bogotá. Known for its pioneering approach to coffee production, this farm combines sustainable agriculture, innovative processing methods, and community engagement to create one of the most prestigious experiences in the world of specialty coffee.


Their philosophy is based on the concept of symbiosis between nature and agriculture, where every element of the ecosystem is utilized in a way that promotes regenerative practices and biodiversity conservation. Coffee from this farm is distinguished by its unique flavor profiles, achieved through carefully controlled fermentation processes and meticulous cultivation under the shade of diverse vegetation. 
BEST La Palma y El Tucán Coffee Beans
03
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S. C. A. SAN FERNANDO is an olive oil producer based in Arjona, a town in the province of Jaén, Spain. The cooperative focuses on the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. They employ traditional and modern agricultural practices to ensure the quality of their oil.
AWARDS

EVOOLEUM - Top 100

2024, 2023

BEST S.c.a. San Fernando Olive Oils
04

Beer

BOGOTÁ, Colombia
4.7
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AWARDS

World Beer Cup - Gold

2022

BEST Pola del Pub Beers
05
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Industria Licorera de Caldas (ILC) is a Colombian company based in Manizales, founded in 1905. It specializes in the production of alcoholic beverages, including rum, aguardiente, and liqueurs. ILC is well known for its brands, such as Ron Viejo de Caldas and Aguardiente Cristal.


The company is committed to maintaining high-quality standards and innovation in the production of its beverages. ILC is also recognized for its contribution to the local economy and social development through employment generation and community support.
AWARDS

Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars

2024

BEST Industria Licorera de Caldas Spirits and Liqueurs
06
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Industria Licorera del Cauca is a state-owned industrial and commercial company based in Popayán, the capital of the Cauca Department in Colombia. Its products have gained international recognition, winning awards at competitions such as Monde Selection, confirming their quality and excellence.


As a state company, Industria Licorera del Cauca plays a key role in the economy of the Cauca Department, contributing to the development and promotion of regional products at both the national and international levels.
AWARDS

Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars

2023

BEST Industria Licorera del Cauca Spirits and Liqueurs
07

Wine

META DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.7
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AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or

2020

BEST Finca Manzanares Sl Wines
08

Cheese

BOGOTÁ, Colombia
4.6
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La Ratonera is a cheese producer based in Bogotá, Colombia. Their product range includes artisanal cheeses made from cow, goat, and sheep milk. They place a strong emphasis on quality and traditional cheese-making methods. They offer workshops and tastings to educate the public about artisanal cheese.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2021

BEST La Ratonera Cheeses
09
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AWARDS

Olive Japan - Gold

2023, 2022

BEST La Biodiversa Olive Oil Olive Oils
10

Spirit

BOGOTÁ, Colombia
4.5
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2024

BEST Unión Vichera Spirits
11
Wine
CARTAGENA, Colombia
4.5
12
Spirit
BARRANQUILLA, Colombia
4.5
13
Chocolate
POPAYÁN, Colombia
4.4
14
15
Chocolate
COLOMBIA, Colombia
4.4
16
Tea / Infusion
VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT, Colombia
4.3
17
Spirit
CARTAGENA, Colombia
4.2
18
Pasta
SANTIAGO DE CALI, Colombia
3.0
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 52 Colombian Foods” list until March 27, 2025, 4,198 ratings were recorded, of which 1,972 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Colombian Food