The Best Bolivian Street Food: 21 Street Side Staples
The street food in Bolivia definitely took us by surprise. In fact, I’m going on record: Bolivian street food is some of the best in all of South America.
If you’re headed to Bolivia, you should be forewarned, you will definitely work up an appetite wandering the hilly towns and cities of mountainous Bolivia. Nonetheless, you are unlikely to lose any weight as you snack your way through Bolivia, the street food capital of South America.
Delicious and unique delicacies tempt you on every street corner throughout the towns and villages of Bolivia, and deep in the warrens of the mercados, small stalls specialize in the various local specialties. Although the Tia’s (aunties) slinging sandwiches and deep-fried dough don’t speak a lot of English, you can easily get by gesturing to various things you might like to try.
Street food culture seems to be woven into the daily life of the locals here and it remains authentic and cheap. Testament to that is the incredible fact that Bolivia is one of the few places in the world where Mcdonalds has failed to set up shop, so popular, affordable and delicious is the street food here.
Admittedly, we didn’t know much about street food before arriving in Bolivia, But, after eating our way through the country we have come to the conclusion that Bolivia is home to some of the most underrated street food anywhere! Some of our favorite memories of traveling through Bolivia by van were pulling over on the side of the road for juicy pork sandwiches de Chola, hunting down the best choripan on the streets of La Paz, or loading up on stacks of salteñas before a long drive.
Discover the Best of Bolivia’s Street Foods with a Local Street Food Tour
the Best Street Food Bolivia
1. Choripan
The choripan is a staple in the street food scene in Bolivia and one of our favorites. The choripan is a tasty chorizo sandwich loaded with lettuce, tomato, pickled veggies and topped with mustard, mayonnaise or both.
Budget options are available for only BOB 3.50 just outside of the central Mi Teleférico station, while fully loaded choripans are found on the top floor of Mercado Lanza near Plaza San Francisco.
Dona Elvira in Mercado Lanza in La Paz has some of the best choripan we had the fortune of stumbling upon, but seeking your own favorite stall is a rite of passage for travelers to Bolivia!
2. Pasteles de Queso
If you are a fan of deep-fried pastry, cheese, and powdered sugar (and who isn’t?), the Pasteles de queso may become your favorite street food in Bolivia.
Fried fresh to order, right in front of you and served up hot, it is the perfect snack when you’re looking for something hot and sweet.
3. Pasankallas
Found throughout markets around Bolivia, Pasankallas are giant puffed corn kernels a little like popcorn. Unlike popcorn, pasankallas are a sweet snack and usually covered in sugar. Originating around Copacabana and Lake Titicaca, this snack can now be found throughout the country.
4. Salteñas
There is a lot to love about this ubiquitous and delicious parcel of Bolivian street food.
Served up on street corners in the early morning, they are the perfect on the go breakfast.
Like the empanadas from Argentina, a salteña is a baked pastry filled with either meat, veggies or both and swimming in its own juices.
Unlike empanadas, the salteña is slightly sweet, and commonly enjoyed with a morning coffee.
It is common practice to take a bite from the corner of the salteña and then drink out the juice before finishing it off. Be careful not to burn yourself when devouring this specialty, though.
Looking for Accommodation in Bolivia? Discover the Best Deals on Yout Favorite Platform
5. Zonzo
Zonzos are made from mashed yuca, a starchy root vegetable similar to a potato. The mashed yuca is mixed with cheese, formed into a corn cob-like shape, and skewered with bamboo before being grilled over coals. This slightly sweet snack is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee. Enjoy zonzo in Santa Cruz and the surrounding eastern region of Bolivia.
6. Tucumanas
The tucumana looks a bit similar to the salteña but it is fried instead of baked. It isn’t as juicy doesn’t include all the juiciness and isn’t sweet.
This popular Bolivian street food can be found throughout La Paz. Tucumanas are normally offered as chicken, meat, or veggie. You can find them at the Mercado Lanza for only 2 Bolivianos or about 25 cents a pop. Can’t beat a deal like that!
7. Sandwich de Chola
The sandwich de chola is another specialty in the street food of La Paz. A piece of pork brined, seasoned and roasted is served up on a sandwich topped with lettuce, tomato, pickled veggies and mustard/mayonnaise. Named after the indigenous women, the cholitas, who originally prepared the sandwich, this is definitely something not to miss.
8. Trucha Frita
Trout grows wild in the rivers and lakes of Bolivia and is also a popular farmed fish. In these regions, and especially on the shores of Lake Titicaca, trucha frita is a common and tasty dish of fried whole trout. Trucha frita can be sampled at the small whole in the wall restaurants in the center of Copacabana.
9. Ispi
Another popular dish prepared from freshwater fish is fried ispi. Orestias ispi are the small fish found in Lake Titicaca. Similar to the small fried whitebait of the Mediterranian, these tiny fish make for a moreish snack. Make sure you try some ispi in Copacabana.
10. Popcorn
You might be surprised to hear that pop-corn is one of the best street foods in Bolivia. Lightly salted and popped to perfection this popular Bolivian snack is widely available and is particularly popular La Paz. Enjoy a bag of freshly popped popcorn while roaming the streets of La Paz for as little as 2 Bolivianos.
11. Jugos
Hot from walking and thirsty from snacking? Grab a fresh fruit juice from the many stalls on street corners or in the markets like Lanza Market in La Paz.
12.Anticuchos
Anticuchos are skewered meat, often beef heart, cooked over a charcoal grill on. Originating on the street corners of Peru. Antiocuhcos have become popular across South America, and Bolivia is no exception. While the primary ingredient might be slightly off-putting, and the texture surprising if you arent used to it the flavour is smoky and meaty and well worth a try if you happen upon a vendor grilling fresh skewers!
13. Papas Rellenas
If you’re not quite sold on the beef hearts then the papa rellena may be an alternative street snack for you.
Potato stuffed with vegetables, herbs and sometimes meat, it is deep-fried and served piping hot from street corners all over Bolivia, (and many other South American countries).
If you are craving something deep-fried, you are sure to love this tasty street food.
14. Humitas
Bolivia’s answer to the tamale is these corn cakes are made from ground corn, onion, garlic, cheese, eggs, and cream and steamed in corn husks. They can be savory and spiced or sweet and flavored with raisins.
15. Llauchas
These traditional empanadas from La Paz are made with cheese and broth and served with a spicy sauce. Family recipes for Llauchas are often a tightly guarded secret.
16. Buñuelos Bolivianos
Buñuelo is a name for a fried donut like pastry throughout Latin America, but the shape and style can vary drastically from ocuntry to country. In Bolivia, when you order a Buñuelo you get thin round fritter that puff up slightly when deep fried. Served with sugar or honey they make for a sweet on the go breakfast or snack!
17. Api Morado
This sweet drink is popular for breakfast in the Bolivian mountains. Made from purple maize, it is simmered with cinnamon and sugar, to create a thick colorful beverage. It often accompanies morning Buñuelos for a sugary kick to start the day. You may also come accross the Api Blanca, made with white corn.
18. Pique Lo Macho
From Canada’s poutine to the Netherlands’ Kapsalon, cultures around the world often have their own take on loaded fries, and Bolivia has too. The Pique Lo Macho takes home made fries and loads them up with beef, sausage, tomatoes, onions and eggs to create a dish that will satisfy those late night cravings.
19. Llama Chicharrones
Street food around the world can often involve strange street meat. In Bolivia, llama is a popular option and can be found chicharron style, fried until crispy.
20. Cuñape
These simple pastries are made from yuca flour mixed with egg and cheese to create a soft and chewy roll, perfect for an on the go snack for long tours or bus rides.
21. Charquekan
A lunch option available from market stalls is the super local Charquekan. Made from dried beef or llama which is boiled and shredded, served with corn, potato and local cheese it is a uniquely Andean dish made from their most abundant foods.
*
These were some of our favorite street food in Bolivia. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for a great sit-down meal in La Paz? Check out our article on Mi Chola for one of the least expensive, fine dining, tasting menus around.
*
Want to save this list of the best Bolivian street food to try for later? Pin it!