
Colombian cuisine has been recognized as one of the best in the world in 2025, according to the ranking by Taste Atlas, the renowned digital platform. In its latest list of the Top 100 Cuisines in the World, Colombia ranks 18th, with a rating of 4.34, surpassing culinary powerhouses such as Argentina, Cuba, and Thailand. This year, Greece secured the number one spot on the list.
Colombian cuisine stands out in the top 20 worldwide
Colombian cuisine has earned a place among the world’s top 100 cuisines, entering the top 20 of the Taste Atlas ranking. The platform, which rates the best traditional dishes globally, also released a list featuring 57 of the most popular Colombian dishes, including desserts, beverages, native products, and traditional meals.
Notable traditional Colombian dishes
Some of the most popular and representative Colombian dishes include:
Arepa (cornmeal patty, a staple in many regions)
Lechona (roast pork stuffed with rice, peas, and spices, typical of Tolima)
Arroz con huevo (home-style dish with white rice, fried egg, sometimes served with ripe plantain)
Calentado (leftover rice and beans reheated and served with egg or meat)
Sancocho (hearty soup made with meat, potatoes, plantain, cassava, and corn on the cob)
Bandeja paisa (abundant dish with rice, beans, ground beef, pork belly, fried egg, ripe plantain, chorizo, arepa, and avocado)
Arroz con coco (rice cooked in coconut milk, typical of the Caribbean coast)
Perro caliente (Colombian-style hot dog with potato sticks, sauces, and grated cheese)
Ajiaco (rich soup made with chicken, different types of potatoes, corn, and guascas herb, typical of Bogotá)
Picada colombiana (variety of grilled or fried meats served with potatoes, cassava, plantain, and arepa)
Pan de queso (cheese bread roll)
Pandebono (slightly sweet bread made with yuca starch and cheese)
Pan de yuca (bread roll made with yuca starch and cheese)
Arepa de huevo (deep-fried arepa stuffed with a whole egg, typical of the Caribbean region)
Arepa de queso (arepa with cheese melted inside)
Hogao (tomato and onion sauce used as a condiment)
Bollo (steamed corn dough wrapped in corn or plantain leaves)
Pan trenza colombiano (sweet braided bread, often with filling)
Suero costeño (fermented dairy product, similar to sour cream)
Changua (milk and egg soup with cilantro, typical of Bogotá)
Caldo de costilla (beef rib broth with potatoes, garlic, and onion, often eaten for breakfast)
@medellinflorece Estos son los 7 platos que sà o sà tienes que probar cuando visites Colombia: • Bandeja paisa • Empanadas • Lechona • Tamal • Sancocho • Pandebono • Arepa de chócolo con quesito Cada uno cuenta una historia, nos representa y te hace sentir en casa, incluso si es tu primera vez en el paÃs. ¿Cuál de estos ya has probado? ¿Cuál te falta? ¡Comenta qué plato agregarÃas a esta lista! Queremos leerte. #MedellÃnFlorece #ComidaColombiana #SaboresDeColombia #PlatosTÃpicos #CulturaColombiana #ColombiaTeEspera #ViajaPorColombia #FoodLovers #TravelAndEat #ArepaDeChocolo #PanDeBono #BandejaPaisa #GastronomÃaColombiana ♬ sonido original – MedellÃn Florece
Traditional Colombian desserts and sweets
Obleas (thin wafers filled with caramel spread, cheese, or jam)
Enyucado (sweet cake made with grated cassava and coconut)
Coconut flan (creamy custard flavored with coconut)
Aborrajado (fried ripe plantain stuffed with cheese and coated in batter)
@sadimiranda Enyucados Super facil, 15 Porciones con esta cantidad de ingredientes. #enyucados #costa #foodtiktok #recetas #challenge #semanasanta ♬ sonido original – Sadi Miranda
Traditional beverages
Among Colombia’s most iconic drinks, known for their tropical freshness, are:
Lulada (refreshing drink made from lulo fruit, with pieces of fruit and ice)
Cholado (shaved ice mixed with fruits, syrup, condensed milk, and fruit jelly)
Refajo (blend of beer and Colombian soda, usually “Colombiana”)
@productossebaseba
Notable native products
Colombia also boasts internationally acclaimed native ingredients, such as:
Coffee (one of the most renowned in the world for its quality)
Uchuva (small, tangy fruit also known as goldenberry or physalis)
Lulo (tropical fruit with a citrus flavor, commonly used in juices)
Papa criolla (small, yellow potato highly valued in soups)
Panela (unrefined whole cane sugar)
Queso costeño (salty, firm cheese typical of the Caribbean region)
Latin america’s rankings
Within Latin America, Colombia was surpassed by:
Mexico (ranked 3rd)
Peru (ranked 14th)
Brazil (ranked 16th)
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