Back to grid

Best street food destinations in South America

Back to grid
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
8.1
Italian and Spanish immigrants helped shape the food of this city from the late 1800s. Choripán, a grilled chorizo sandwich with chimichurri, is sold from stalls near the Costanera Sur nature reserve. San Telmo Sunday market has street food and antiques. Empanadas with beef, cheese or humita filling are sold at small shops.
Highlights:
  • 🎭 Tour the grand Teatro Colón and admire its opulence
  • 🎨 Stroll through colorful Caminito Street in La Boca
  • 💃 Watch a passionate tango performance in San Telmo
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
7.4
Locals in this city eat arepas at almost every meal and street vendors grill them with cheese. Buñuelos are fried cheese balls and empanadas are common snacks from carts. Plaza Minorista is a huge market with stalls selling fruit and cooked food. Temperatures stay near 22 degrees Celsius all year.
Highlights:
  • 🌺 Stroll through the Botanical Garden and its orchid collection
  • 🎨 Explore Comuna 13’s colorful murals and vibrant street art
  • 🚡 Ride the Metrocable to Parque Arví for panoramic views
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
8.0
Weekly street markets called feiras are held on different streets of this city. Stalls sell fresh fruit, fish and pastel, a large fried pastry with fillings such as cheese or meat. The Liberdade district has Japanese street food such as yakisoba and taiyaki. Coxinha, a fried chicken croquette, is sold at snack bars.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Admire street art at colorful Beco do Batman
  • 🌳 Relax in vast green Ibirapuera Park with museums
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk vibrant Paulista Avenue, heart of São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
8.1
Portuguese, African and Indigenous traditions all shaped the street food of this city. Pastel, a thin fried pastry, is sold at weekly street markets with sugarcane juice. Beach vendors sell Biscoito Globo snacks, grilled cheese on sticks and iced mate. Açaí bowls and cheese bread are common at snack bars.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic sands of Copacabana Beach
  • ✝️ Stand before Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
  • 🚠 Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for breathtaking views
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
8.4
Compact and historic, this Andean city at 3,400 metres has street food that is hearty and cheap. San Pedro Market has juice stalls, tamales and soups for breakfast. Anticuchos are grilled skewers of beef heart sold from street carts in the evening. Drink chicha morada, a sweet purple corn drink, with snacks.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Stroll through Plaza de Armas and admire colonial architecture
  • 🏔️ Take the train or trek to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu
  • 🧱 Visit the ancient Inca site of Sacsayhuamán overlooking the city
Montevideo
Chill vibes on the Río de la Plata
7.2
Compared with its neighbour Buenos Aires, this capital is smaller and calmer, yet it has a strong grill culture. Chivito is a steak sandwich with ham, cheese, egg and tomato. The Sunday Tristán Narvaja market has food stalls along with antiques and books. On rainy days many Uruguayans eat torta frita, a round fried dough.
Highlights:
  • 🏙️ Visit the iconic Palacio Salvo and nearby plazas
  • 🍽️ Taste local flavors at Mercado del Puerto market
  • 🌅 Stroll along the scenic Rambla by the waterfront
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
7.4
Summers are hot and dry in this city, with highs above 30 degrees Celsius, so cold drinks are popular. Mote con huesillo is a sweet peach and wheat drink sold from carts. Sopaipillas are fried pumpkin dough served with pebre sauce on cool rainy days. Completos are hot dogs topped with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Stroll through the colorful alleys of Barrio Bellavista and enjoy local art
  • ⛪ Explore the historic Plaza de Armas and its stunning cathedral
  • 🚠 Ride the cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for sweeping city views
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
7.1
High in the Andes at about 2,600 metres, this capital is cool, so warm street snacks are popular. Vendors sell arepas, empanadas, tamales and sweet obleas filled with arequipe. Paloquemao Market has fruit stands with exotic fruits such as lulo, granadilla and curuba. Small cups of black coffee are sold from thermoses.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Stroll through historic La Candelaria neighborhood
  • 🏛️ Explore the Museo del Oro with pre-Hispanic gold
  • ⛰️ Take in panoramic city views from Mount Monserrate
Quito
Andean Charm Meets Colonial Splendor
6.9
Set high in the Andes at about 2,850 metres, this city has street food that is cheap and filling. Empanadas de viento are large fried cheese pastries dusted with sugar. Hornado is roast pork served with potato patties called llapingachos, often at market stalls. Mercado Central in the old town has many such stalls.
Highlights:
  • 🌍 Visit the Middle of the World monument and stand on the equator line
  • 🚠 Ride the TelefériQo for stunning Andean mountain views
  • 🏛️ Explore the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site
La Paz
Where Altitude Meets Adventure and Culture
6.6
As Bolivia's seat of government at about 3,600 metres, this city has filling and cheap street food. Salteñas, baked pastries filled with meat or chicken and a juicy sauce, are a morning snack. Api morado, a hot purple corn drink, comes with fried pastries at breakfast stands. Salteñas often sell out by midday.
Highlights:
  • 🌙 Visit Valle de la Luna for surreal rock formations
  • 🧙‍♀️ Explore the Witches' Market for unique local crafts
  • 🚡 Ride the Mi Teleférico cable car for breathtaking city views
Salta
Colonial Charm and Andean Landscapes
7.1
Colonial and relaxed, this city in northwest Argentina is known for small baked empanadas with juicy fillings. Salteña empanadas are filled with hand cut beef, onion and potato and are sealed with a decorative fold. Mercado San Miguel has stalls with humitas, tamales and empanadas. Local peñas serve folk music with empanadas in the evening.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Climb San Bernardo Hill via cable car for stunning views
  • 🚂 Ride the Train to the Clouds, one of the world’s highest railroads
  • 🦴 Visit the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña for mummies
Salvador
Afro-Brazilian Soul on the Sea
6.6
As the centre of Afro Brazilian culture in Bahia, this city has street food with strong African roots. Acarajé is a fried bean fritter filled with shrimp and sauces and sold by baianas in white dresses. The work of the baianas is protected as national cultural heritage. Frying uses dendê palm oil.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Watch the sunset over All Saints Bay from the São Marcelo Fort
  • 🥁 Listen to live samba rhythms on the streets at night
  • 🎨 Explore the colorful Pelourinho district and its colonial architecture
Lima
Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes
7.3
Summers from December to March are warm and sunny in this coastal city, with highs near 27 degrees Celsius. Winters are cool and grey with light mist, so hot snacks are welcome. Anticuchos, picarones and butifarra sandwiches are sold at stalls in Barranco and Miraflores. Surquillo Market has ceviche and juice stands.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Stroll the scenic Malecón along the Pacific coast
  • 🎨 Visit the Museo Larco for ancient Peruvian art
  • 🏛️ Explore the historic Plaza de Armas and Cathedral
Feedback