8 Awesome Street Food Options in Cartagena
Cartagena is Colombia’s answer to culture and the beach wrapped up in one place. Besides the Atlantic Ocean facing landscape, and the colonial UNESCO old town, Cartagena has one more golden appeal. The street food is epic. Here’s your guide to Colombia’s street food golden center.
1) Arepas
Literally the most popular food in Colombia are arepas. These golden disks are a staple of Colombian street food. Made of maize (corn) based dough, they are super simple but absolutely delicious. Get yours stuffed with cheese and butter.
2) Queso Costeño
These cheese puffs are another staple of Cartagena’s street food. Usually served for breakfast, they are simple fried balls stuffed with cheese, yet oddly decadent. They’re like Pringles, once you pop you can’t stop. Get a handful, you wont regret it.
3) Empanadas
You absolutely can’t leave Cartagena without sampling Colombian empanadas. Their empanadas are small, bite sized, deep fried morsels stuffed with something or another. In my opinion the best ones are potato, but you can get it stuffed with meat, chicken, and various types of vegetables. Once you pop you can’t stop.
4) Coco Panela
Boy oh boy do Colombians love their sweets. You’ll find street food vendors all over the city selling an endless abundance of sweets. When I say sweets, I mean SWEETS. Most popular is coco panela, a chunk of unrefined whole cane sugar baked with coconut flakes. Super great, but you’ll definitely need a drink after.
5) Tropical Fruits
Given the tropical climate of Cartagena, you will find all different types of fruits for sale all over the city. Most popular are mangoes and avocado. You’ll find vendors selling cut fruit all over. Great for an afternoon snack, just make sure you’re getting a ripe fruit.
6) Jamon Sachichon
Cartagena’s answer to hot dogs, jamon sachichon is essentially grilled pork hot dog. A little salty with the perfect grill char, pair it with a queso Costeño, arepa, or empanada and you can make a whole lunch. You’ll want more than one, trust me. Super simple but finger licking.
7) Pasteles
You may have heard of pasteles from other Latin countries. The ones in Cartagena are a little different. They’re more like tamales. Wrapped in banana leaves, pasteles are filled with rice and small bits of vegetables (carrots, peas, etc) and bits of pork. Its essentially a meal in in a banana leaf, so make sure you’re hungry.
8) Lemonade
Most times of the year it is very hot in Cartagena. There’s nothing like quenching your thirst with a lemonade while you explore the city. A little tart and not to sweet, street food vendors all over the city have vats of it on ice for sale. Tt’s the perfect drink to have in hand while you wander the small old city streets.
Cautions about Cartagena Street Food
While the street food in Cartagena is super awesome, an air of caution when sampling the city’s outdoor cuisine.
- Follow the Crowds - Eat wherever you see lots of others eating. That way you know you're getting fresh stuff because of the turnover. This is especially important for drinks, as not all water is the cleanest. If there's a crowd, you know its probably safe.
- Don't Get Swindled - Always ask the price of food before you buy it. The good vendors will have their prices posted so you know you're not getting cheated.
- Watch Out For The Picante Aji - Colombian street food sauces tend to be very spicy. Don't load up on it unless you know your stomach can handle it. The fallout is miserable if you can't.
Need Somewhere to Stay in Cartagena?
The best thing about Cartagena is that you can explore the city and enjoy all the best street food and still stay in a beach front hotel. If you’re looking for a great place to stay, check out Hotel Cartagena Plaza in Bocagrande. The location is perfect, and the hotel itself is well worth the value.
Where they excel is in customer service. Literally every person you speak to is friendly and accommodating. In particular, if you meet Alfredo he will complete your stay. The rooms are spacious and clean, and every floor has its own interesting theme. The rooftop pool offers a nice alternative to the beach across the street.
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