Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Columbia, South Carolina, United States

All Topics about Columbia All Cities in United States

1. Bandeja Paisa

A hearty platter from the Paisa region, featuring beans, rice, plantain, chicharrón (fried pork), avena (cornmeal porridge), a sausage, and a steak.

Regional Specialty: Bandeja Paisa is a traditional dish from the Antioquia region, showcasing local ingredients and cooking techniques.
Variety of Ingredients: The bandeja paisa offers a diverse combination of flavors and textures in one meal.
Portion Size: This dish is popular for its generous portion sizes, making it a satisfying choice for those with big appetites.

A comforting soup made with chicken, plantain, yuca (cassava), and various vegetables, seasoned with ajiaco sauce.

Comfort Food: Sancocho is a traditional Colombian soup that offers a warm and hearty meal on a chilly day.
Ingredient Variety: The combination of chicken, plantain, yuca, and assorted vegetables provides a rich and flavorful taste.
Regional Adaptations: While the base ingredients are common across Colombia, regional variations of sancocho exist, such as the Caribbean sancocho with seafood.

A cornmeal flatbread filled with cheese and chicharrón (fried pork) from the Boyacá region.

Regional Specialty: The Arepa Boyacá is a traditional dish from the Boyacá region, showcasing its unique flavors and cooking techniques.
Portable Meal: Its portable nature makes it an easy meal to take on-the-go or enjoy as a quick snack.
Simple Ingredients: Despite its simplicity, the combination of cheese and chicharrón creates a delicious and satisfying taste.

A stew made with seven types of meat, potatoes, corn on the cob, yuca (cassava), and chickpeas, cooked for several hours.

Regional Specialty: The Cocida Santandereana is a traditional dish from the Santander region, featuring its unique cooking methods and ingredients.
Hearty Meal: This stew offers a filling and comforting meal, perfect for cooler weather or large gatherings.
Long Cooking Time: The lengthy cooking process allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a rich and flavorful dish.

Roasted black palm nut served with fresh cheese from the Amazon region.

Regional Specialty: The Chontaduro con Queso is a traditional dish from the Amazon region, featuring local ingredients like black palm nuts and fresh cheese.
Unique Texture: The chontaduro has a unique texture that combines the creaminess of the cheese with the earthy flavor of the roasted nut.
Exotic Experience: Trying this dish offers an exotic and memorable experience for visitors exploring the Amazon region.

Star fruit (carambola) served with fresh cheese, a refreshing snack popular in coastal areas.

Regional Specialty: Carambola con Queso Fresco is a traditional dish along the Colombian coast, utilizing the abundance of star fruit and fresh cheese.
Refreshing Snack: This simple dish provides a refreshing break from spicier, heavier dishes, making it perfect for hot, humid coastal climates.
Seasonal Availability: Star fruit is seasonal in Colombia, so this dish is best enjoyed during the right time of year in coastal regions.

Thinly sliced and deep-fried pork skin from the Caldas region.

Regional Specialty: Chicharrón de Caldas is a traditional dish from the Caldas region, showcasing its unique cooking techniques.
Crunchy and Savory: The chicharrón offers a satisfying crunch with a savory pork flavor.
Perfect Snack: This dish makes for a great snack or accompaniment to other meals, especially in the Caldas region.

Fried fish served with coconut rice and plantain from the Tumaco region.

Regional Specialty: Pescado frito en Tumaco is a traditional dish from the Tumaco region, showcasing its coastal seafood and tropical flavors.
Fresh Ingredients: The freshness of the fish, coconut rice, and plantain creates a delicious and flavorful meal.
Tropical Flavors: This dish offers a taste of tropical flavors from the Tumaco region, making it a unique dining experience.

Slow-roasted pork served with mashed yuca (cassava) and plantain from the Tolima region.

Regional Specialty: Hornado Tolimense is a traditional dish from the Tolima region, featuring its unique cooking techniques.
Tender and Flavorful: The slow-roasting process results in tender, flavorful pork that melts in your mouth.
Hearty Meal: This dish offers a filling and hearty meal, perfect for large gatherings or cooler weather.

Stuffed pig filled with rice, peas, and onions, roasted slowly over a charcoal fire.

Regional Specialty: Lechona de Segovia is a traditional dish from the Segovia region, showcasing its unique cooking techniques.
Flavorful and F filling: The slow-roasting process infuses the pig with rich flavors while providing a filling meal.
Special Occasion Dish: This dish is often prepared for festive occasions and large gatherings, making it an exciting dining experience.

Fried cornmeal turnovers filled with seafood from the Bocachica region.

Regional Specialty: Empanadas de Bocachica are a traditional dish from the Bocachica region, showcasing its coastal seafood.
Crispy and Savory: The fried cornmeal crust offers a crispy exterior with a savory filling of fresh seafood.
Perfect Snack or Meal: These empanadas can be enjoyed as a snack or a meal, making them versatile for different dining occasions.

Rice dish cooked with cocoyambe, a traditional Colombian herb, served in the Tolima region.

Regional Specialty: Arroz con Cocoyambe is a traditional dish from the Tolima region, showcasing its unique herbs and flavors.
Herby and Fragrant: The addition of cocoyambe infuses the rice with a distinct, herby flavor that is both fragrant and delicious.
Comfort Food: This dish offers a comforting meal that showcases local flavors from the Tolima region.

A fried pastry filled with cheese and plantain from the Quindío region.

Regional Specialty: Bocadillo de Quindío is a traditional dish from the Quindío region, showcasing its unique flavors and cooking techniques.
Portable Meal: Its portable nature makes it an easy meal to take on-the-go or enjoy as a quick snack.
Simple Ingredients: Despite its simplicity, the combination of cheese and plantain creates a delicious and satisfying taste.

A sweet pastry filled with fruit and coconut from the Bocachica region.

Regional Specialty: Pastel de Bocachica is a traditional dessert from the Bocachica region, showcasing its tropical fruits and coconut.
Sweet and Tropical: The sweet filling of fruit and coconut offers a taste of tropical flavors from the Bocachica region.
Perfect Dessert or Snack: This dessert can be enjoyed as a sweet treat after a meal or as a snack throughout the day.

A cornmeal-based dish filled with pork and vegetables, wrapped in a banana leaf from the Tolima region.

Regional Specialty: Tamal tolimense is a traditional dish from the Tolima region, showcasing its unique ingredients and cooking techniques.
Flavorful and Savory: The combination of pork, vegetables, and banana leaf infuses the tamal with rich flavors that are both savory and delicious.
Portable Meal: Its portable nature makes it an easy meal to take on-the-go or enjoy as a quick snack.