Colombian Breakfast Can Be Heavier Than Americans Expect

Breakfast was another adjustment.

An American breakfast might mean cereal, toast, eggs, pancakes or something relatively quick.

Colombian breakfast can become much more substantial.

Eggs and arepas are common, but depending on the region and household you might also encounter cheese, bread, meat, rice, leftovers or soup.

Yes, soup for breakfast.

In some parts of Colombia, dishes such as caldo de costilla, a beef-rib broth usually served with potatoes, are traditional morning food.

That may sound unusual to an American.

Spend enough time here and you stop being surprised.

Empanadas Are an Easy Place to Start

If you’re visiting Colombia for the first time and don’t know where to begin, an empanada is pretty easy.

Colombian empanadas are usually made with a corn-based exterior and fried.

Fillings commonly include meat and potatoes, although there are many variations.

They’re inexpensive, widely available and easy to eat as a snack.

Add a little ají if you want more flavor.

Just remember that Colombian ají isn’t necessarily the same experience as the hot sauces you may associate with Mexico.

Colombia Isn’t Necessarily About Spicy Food

This is another difference Americans familiar with Mexican cuisine may notice.

Colombian food isn’t generally defined by heat.

That doesn’t mean the food lacks flavor.

But you’re not necessarily going to encounter chile peppers and spicy sauces dominating every meal.

Condiments such as ají allow you to add some heat yourself.

For me, understanding that difference was part of stopping the comparison with Mexican food and simply appreciating Colombian cuisine for what it is.

Lunch Is a Big Deal in Colombia

One of the best values I’ve found in Colombia isn’t necessarily a particular dish.

It’s lunch.

Throughout Colombia you’ll see restaurants offering a menú del día or set lunch.

For one price, you may receive soup, a main course, rice, salad or another side, and a drink.

The exact combination varies tremendously.

But these lunches can provide a substantial freshly prepared meal without spending much money.

This is one of those everyday aspects of Colombia that tourists staying around upscale restaurant districts can easily miss.

People who actually live here know how useful the menú del día can be.

I’ve Been Impressed With Colombian Restaurants

Restaurants are one of the things I’ve consistently enjoyed while living and traveling throughout Latin America.

Colombia is no exception.

I’ve eaten in expensive restaurants, inexpensive neighborhood restaurants and plenty of places in between.

One thing I appreciate is receiving food that tastes freshly prepared and arrives hot.

There seems to be pride in the preparation.

Of course I’ve had meals I didn’t particularly care for. That’s going to happen anywhere.

But overall, I’ve been impressed with the quality I can get for the money.

The Price Still Gets My Attention

This is especially noticeable coming from Southern California.

A restaurant meal that would cost considerably more in San Diego can often be enjoyed for much less in Colombia.

The exchange rate has changed considerably since my first visit in 2021, and Colombian prices have risen too.

So I don’t look at Colombia as some place where everything costs almost nothing.

It doesn’t.

But I can still go out with my wife, have a good meal, and frequently spend considerably less than I would expect to spend for a comparable experience in California.

That’s one of the everyday advantages I continue to appreciate.

Not Everything Became My Favorite

I think travel content sometimes creates the impression that you’re supposed to love everything about another country’s culture.

I don’t.

There are Colombian dishes I enjoy and others I could happily skip.

There are foods I’ve grown accustomed to rather than fallen in love with.

And that’s perfectly fine.

I don’t expect a Colombian moving to the United States to suddenly love every American dish.

Part of respecting another culture is being willing to experience it without pretending every experience is your favorite.

I’ll eat my plantains.

I’ll enjoy some chicharrón.

I’ll try regional dishes when I’m traveling.

And there are still times when I want something completely different.

That’s normal life.

Colombian Food Changes From Region to Region

This is probably the biggest thing I’d tell someone planning a trip around Colombia.

Don’t decide what Colombian food is after eating in one city.

Medellín and Antioquia give you Paisa traditions such as bandeja paisa.

Bogotá introduces dishes such as ajiaco.

The Caribbean coast brings seafood, coconut rice and other coastal flavors.

Cali and the Pacific region bring another set of culinary influences.

Santander has its own traditions.

And there are many more regional dishes I haven’t experienced yet.

I’m still interested in spending more time in Colombia’s Coffee Region, so there are plenty of things left for me to discover.

That’s part of the fun.

What Should Americans Eat on Their First Trip to Colombia?

If this is your first visit, I wouldn’t try to create some giant checklist and spend the entire vacation hunting down food.

Just eat where Colombians are eating and try things as you travel.

But I’d certainly experience a few classics:

• Arepas — because you’ll encounter them everywhere.
• Bandeja paisa — particularly around Medellín and Antioquia.
• Ajiaco — especially while visiting Bogotá.
• Sancocho — preferably somewhere known for its regional version.
• Empanadas — an easy Colombian street-food introduction.
• Chicharrón — especially if you’re exploring Paisa food.
• Fried fish with coconut rice and patacones — on the Caribbean coast.
• A menú del día — because that’s part of everyday Colombian eating, not merely tourist dining.

And try whatever regional specialty someone recommends while you’re there.

That’s usually where travel gets interesting.

Colombian Food Is Part of Understanding Colombia

After years of traveling and living here, food has become another reminder of how diverse Colombia really is.

The country changes as you move through it.

The accents change.

The climate changes.

The landscapes change.

The culture changes.

And the food changes right along with them.

That’s something I didn’t fully appreciate when my main reference point for Latin American food was Mexican cuisine.

Traveling through Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador and eventually Colombia expanded that perspective.

And I’m still learning.

Final Thoughts

When I first started traveling through Latin America, I had to stop thinking about everything through the lens of what I already knew.

That included food.

Colombian food isn’t Mexican food with different names.

And Colombian cuisine itself isn’t one fixed collection of dishes.

It’s regional, influenced by geography, history, climate and culture.

Some dishes took me a while to appreciate.

Some I liked immediately.

And there are undoubtedly plenty I haven’t tried yet.

But that’s one of the reasons I continue traveling.

I don’t need every place to taste like home.

Part of the experience is discovering what people eat when you’re in theirs.