Best Street Food in Latin America: A City-by-City Guide

The best food in Latin America isn't in restaurants — it's on the street. Street vendors who've perfected one dish over decades. Carts that only appear at certain hours. Markets where a full meal costs $2.

Mexico City - **Tacos al pastor** from any trompo vendor — $0.50 each - **Tlacoyos** — blue corn masa boats at street markets - **Elotes** — grilled corn with mayo, cheese, lime, chili

Medellín - **Empanadas** — crispy corn dough with meat, $0.25 each - **Arepa de choclo** — sweet corn arepa with cheese - **Buñuelos** — fried cheese dough balls

Santo Domingo - **Quipes** — fried bulgur wheat with seasoned meat - **Chimichurris** — Dominican street burgers, best after midnight - **Mangú** — mashed plantains, street carts serve it for breakfast

Buenos Aires - **Choripán** — grilled chorizo in bread with chimichurri - **Empanadas** — every province has its own style, $0.30-0.50 each - **Bondiola** — slow-roasted pork sandwiches at street fairs

Cali - **Cholado** — shaved ice mountain with fresh fruit, cream, condensed milk - **Aborrajados** — fried plantain stuffed with cheese - **Lulada** — refreshing lulo fruit drink

Cartagena - **Arepa de huevo** — fried corn arepa with an egg inside - **Ceviche** — fresh seafood with lime, served in plastic cups on the beach - **Cocadas** — coconut candy from palenqueras

The Rule

If a street food vendor has a long line of locals and no English menu, you're in the right place.

Browse Local Friends on Roavi. Find a local who takes you to the street food spots that tourists walk right past.