Discovering Bogotá: 5 Must-Try Street flavors in Bogotá

Discovering Bogotá:

5 Must-Try Street flavors in Bogotá

Let's talk about street food! I've always believed that one of the best ways to learn about a culture is through people and street food. Street food reflects what locals enjoy and often eat daily, making it a genuine part of their lives and culture. 

As Colombia's capital, Bogotá welcomes people from all regions of the country, bringing together a  perfect combination of flavors in its gastronomy.

Here are some of the must-try street flavor you should not miss when visiting Bogotá:

1. Arepa

This is the most popular street food in Colombia. Arepas are flatbreads made from corn or cooked flour, with many variations to suit everyone’s tastes. Some types you can find in Bogotá include plain arepas with butter and salt, cheese arepas, arepas filled with egg, meat, or chicken, fried arepas, sweet corn arepas, and much more.

2. Colombian Cheese Bread

Here’s a fun fact: it wasn’t until I traveled outside of Colombia that I realized not everyone loves cheese as much as Colombians do! This is why we have so many types of cheese breads, and the best part is you can find them everywhere—even on the streets. We have deep-fried cheese balls called buñuelos, bun-style cheese bread called almojábanas, and cheese sticks. All of them make the perfect choice for a quick snack.

3. Tropical Fruit

We are lucky to have the chance to enjoy fresh tropical fruit on our streets daily. This is a healthy choice for breakfast or as a snack on a busy day. Bananas, guava, mango, papaya, and watermelon are among the most common selections. You can buy a cup of fruit plain or with yogurt and granola.

If you enjoy citrus flavors, you should try mango biche, which consists of shredded green mango with lime juice, salt, and pepper. It’s a fantastic combination of flavors.

4. Coffee

Of course, we produce some of the best coffee in the world, which is why coffee is an essential part of our culture. People in Bogotá love to grab a quick cup of coffee right on the streets. It is common to see certain areas where cars park just to buy a tinto (as a light coffee is called). There are two types of coffee sellers: the first has a designated spot on the street where people approach to buy coffee, while the second type reaches out to cars interested in purchasing coffee. This last method is often used by taxi and bus drivers.

5. Hot Dogs

In my opinion, my favorite hot dogs are the street hot dogs in Colombia. They are different from the common American ones. In Colombia, there are toppings that create a fantastic mix of flavors. We add onions, cheese, shoestring potatoes, pineapple sauce, quail eggs, ketchup, and mustard. You can even customize your toppings by adding mushrooms, bacon, and more.