Where to eat in Cali? Quick guide to street food in our city
May 04 2023
Eating and Drinking 
¡Look at that! Today, July 25, is the anniversary of the founding of our Sucursal del Cielo. And what better way to celebrate than to hit the streets, remembering the blend of cultures we are, and savoring the most characteristic fast food and traditional valluna cuisine with this little guide we’ve prepared for you.
If you’re new to our city or still getting to know it, this selection of places will be useful. So whether you’re on a tourist trip or business visit to our capital of Valle, seize the opportunity to try, sample, and be amazed by these typical Cali establishments that we’re sure you’ll love (some well-known and others less so).
In some cases, we’ll also tell you what you can’t miss in certain areas so you can also try the best street food in Cali in a tour only suitable for adventurous foodies.
We’ve classified these recommendations by city sectors so that depending on where you are or where you’re heading, you can check the activated links below that interest you, and thus be informed not only of what you can find in the area but also the distances from our Spiwak Hotels.
– La Estación del Trigo (Calle 47n #4bn-18): This is the place to hang out with friends and order the spectacular valluna fritters that have made it a famous landmark. Their delicious marranitas, aborrajados, stuffed potatoes, andempanadas are fried on the spot and taste great with local beer Poker. But we also recommend trying an unmissable fried item on the menu: their magnificent cassava cake, a breaded delight stuffed with shredded meat that will leave you in love. Yum!
– Parque del Chontaduro (Cr 5 # 34-00): In Cali, you must try and eat chontaduro, an ancestral fruit from our palm and a delicacy only for those with a refined palate (because if you don't like it, you don't know anything)... In this park, the starting point of the Chontaduro Route, wise men and women from our Colombian Pacific prepare this fruit with love, served whole with salt and honey. But you can also order it as juice and, if you’re lucky, find it in other surrounding establishments as jam, ice cream, dessert, and even arepas!
Never forget to order your freshly made marranita!
– Panadería Montecarlo (in the K8-28 bubble of our Chipichape Shopping Center and also at Avenida 6 #42N-18): With a history of over 60 years in the art of baking, this bakery is famous for its tender pandebono, a star product of its ovens and a symbol of our identity. Pair it with a traditional caleña oatmeal and feel like a local.
– Pandebonitos (Avenida 6 bis norte # 28-57): This visionary business by two siblings of Lebanese-Californian descent came up with the idea of mini-pandebonos. They were so creative that they expanded their pandebono dough recipe to other products served at their successful Santa Monica location, including waffles, baked goods, desserts, and even pizzas! They also offer frozen products for you to take home.
– Panadería El Molino (Avenida 6AN # 26N-11and atour Chipichape Shopping Center): They have been baking bread since 1896 and have several branches in the city, making them a classic in Valluna baking. In addition to baking exquisite local products with deep roots, they also produce wonderful pastries like their Easter colomba, cinnamon rolls, mojicones, Danish breads, cakes, and lemon and carrot cakes. If you see the place is crowded, head to Panadería Kuty (Avenida 6N #27-03), which is just two blocks away and just as good.
– Empanadas de Niko(Calle 30 Norte #4N-35): All their products are 100% corn, with dough made directly from the grain. That's why visitors are delighted with the crispiness of their empanadas, which are not only crunchy but also accompanied by salsas that make you want to devour more and more. Equally addictive are their egg arepas and tostadas, so we warn you: we are not responsible for any diet consequences.
So nice to snack with these pandebonitos!
– Las Quintas de Don Simón (Av 6 # 42-116): This corner spot initially looks like a barbecue restaurant until you notice they also have a bakery. And that's when it gets interesting, because in addition to tempting Valluna snacks, fresh almojábanas and soft pandebonos, they also offer irresistible fried foods like their eye-catching buñuelos, aborrajados, marranitas, and empanadas. It's nice to see them neatly arranged and freshly out of the oven, but it's even nicer to bite into them, devour them, and enjoy them.
– Manjar del Valle(Carrera 1 #52-05): This is for those with a sweet tooth who can't live without dessert. This brand produces the best traditional sweets from our Valle del Cauca, and at their various locations, you can stock up on delicious manjar blanco, cortado de leche, stuffed figs, and mecatos of various kinds. Since they come ready to take away, you can enjoy them in the privacy of your room or pack them nicely to bring back home as a gift.
– La Zarzuela (Av. 6D 36N – 18): Our restaurant within the Spiwak Chipichape Hotel. Although we offer a wide menu of main dishes that blend Mediterranean cooking techniques with regional ingredients and recipes, we remain true to certain traditional preparations such as our Valluna appetizers, including our picada valluna and shrimp empanadas, perfect for sharing with friends on a day like today.
Manjar blanco: a delicacy from our Valle del Cauca
– Amarily Restaurante (Avenida 9 Norte #20-40): The beautiful owner, originally from Bahía Málaga, infuses this place with all the original flavors of the Pacific region. Whether you’re dining in for a grand meal or just for a snack during the afternoon, this spot is a must-visit for its tempting starters and drinks, many featuring chontaduro as the star: chips, cocadas, cakes, and even a mojito made with this unique fruit, perfect for wrapping up a special day.
– El Ringlete (Calle 15a Norte #9N-31): An old house in the Granada neighborhood that offers classic dishes reminiscent of our grandmothers’ cooking, making it a landmark of our gastronomy. They serve fantastic starters, including regional fried foods made on the spot. But here, make sure not to miss the yucca pastry filled with oxtail stew and, especially, Tomás’s bofe. Don’t make that face: you’ll be pleasantly surprised and have your opinion changed about this often-maligned cut.
– Pacífico (Avenida 9 N # 12N-18): Another must-visit for our regional cuisine and a tribute to the ocean that bathes our department's coast. Here, you must try the piangua empanada, smoked fish aborrajado, jaiba buñuelo, and repingachos served with a tamarind chili sauce that is heavenly. Don’t forget to order a sorbet made from badea or borojó, and while you’re there, we suggest exploring the dessert menu. We won’t spoil it for you.
– Platillos Voladores (Avenida 3 N #7-19): Like the previous examples, the most celebrated restaurant in the city might not usually be featured in a guide to the best fast food in Cali. But their chontaduro rolls, shrimp and crab rolls with chili jam, and carantanta with peanut sauce are the kind of exciting starters you devour at lightning speed, which is reason enough to include them in this list. The most indigenous ingredients from southwestern Colombia come together to offer you the most sublime creations of our cuisine… It’s not a spot for chichipatos and requires a reservation because it’s always busy, but it will always be worth it.
– Champús de Lola (Avenida 2 Norte, Local 1-130): Located in the Plazoleta Jairo Varela, in front of the Cali City Hall, it's a joy to order champú from Doña Lola Carabalí, grandmother of AnaRuth and Noralba, who run this small but very popular business. The recipe for this traditional spiced drink made from corn, pineapple, and lulo is one of the best examples of this beverage you can enjoy throughout the city.
Refresh yourself with whatever you prefer: a lulada or a champú. Ahh!
– Obelisco(Avenida Colombia N. 4 Oeste – 49
, and also at the K8-30 bubble at our Chipichape Shopping Center) Just as you'll see our beautiful Hernando Tejada Cat, you must also stop by to eat empanaditas at this place, right across from or rather on the opposite bank of the Río Cali… And you should try all the fried foods they prepare there, from the marranita to the aborrajado andyuca cake. And of course, finish with one of their famous and hearty luladas to truly experience the caleño life. Highly recommended.
– Saludando (Calle 3 Oeste #3A-18): A lovely restaurant focused on healthy artisan cuisine, suitable for diabetics, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten intolerants, as well as omnivores… They use ingredients that are only cultivated in our region. One of their dishes, made with a functional chontaduro arepa from a very original supplier in our capital called Chonta Arepa, is the ideal option to replenish your energy in a healthy way with a food that provides great energy value and is intriguingly made with this fruit so typical of our southern Colombian region.
– La Sanduchería del Escudo (Calle 4 Oeste #3-46): After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, this magnificent establishment (sibling of another great in Valle del Cauca’s dining scene called El Escudo) has joyfully reopened its doors in El Peñón to bring you regal sandwiches you won’t find elsewhere. The longed-for chef María Claudia Zarama, always true to her philosophy of working with local inspiration and evoking ancestry, now presents creations like her Belén de Docampadó burger, inspired by Chocó; her criollo sandwich; or her chontaduro ravioli… Let’s welcome this phoenix back and support it because enjoying a good time at her place is guaranteed.
– Domingo Mercado de Vereda (Calle 4 Oeste #3A-50): This is a delightful store and restaurant that offers artisanal Colombian cuisine and market cooking in a beautifully stocked space with local farmer products and exciting creations by Catalina Velez. Everything here is good: savory and sweet, liquid and solid, for consumption on-site and for take-away… Special mention should be made of this great chef's desserts like the soursop meringue, the Chocolate Devil’s Cake with orange and ginger, the pandebono cake with guava jelly, the borojó granita, and the sorbet made with copoazú. Indulge in the temptation to try one.
– Turk House (Calle 1 Oeste 2-62): It’s true that this is not a Colombian cuisine establishment but rather inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. However, as a caleño fast food venture styled after New York, we recommend it not for its affordable prices but for the delightful flavors and colors of its dishes. Particularly: for its cheese croquettes with tamarillo chili that are to die for… And since you're in the area, it’s convenient...
Why not stop to eat Valluna frituras by the river?
– Tertuliadero La Colina (Calle 1 #48-83): This is the story of a modest neighborhood house, which went from being a small grocery store to one of the most iconic and cherished spots in Cali’s nightlife… This store, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2022, is a gathering place for students, artists, professors, and bohemians who come for a good time of relaxation, conversation, and laughter. All this happens in a dynamic of empanadas and beers that are served non-stop at its always crowded tables, and in an atmosphere filled with nostalgia, curiosities, antiques, and joy accompanied by the lively beat of old salsa.
Night of bohemia and old salsa at Tertuliadero La Colina.
– Mazorcas in San Antonio (Carrera 4C #2A-86): There’s nothing more Colombian than eating roasted corn on the street. But there’s nothing more caleño than biting into this charred corn and pleasantly confirming that it’s made from sweet, yellow, tender corn grown in the region, unlike those bought in stalls from other departments of the country, which use different varieties of this noble grain. At the San Antonio Park, in front of the church, street vendors sell them for you to enjoy on-site while you take in the city’s urban profile from this hill.
– El Zaguán de San Antonio (Carrera 12 #1-29): In a beautiful colonial house is this establishment that stands out not only for the beauty of its setting but also for the countless photographs and autographs of national and international celebrities who have visited this place and proudly adorn its walls, including a portrait and signature of the renowned Anthony Bourdain. It’s the place to spend the afternoon on its terrace with a view, enjoying their delicious puerquitas and aborrajados in good company.
San Antonio: the best place for an afternoon snack
– Oiga Mire Vea (Carrera 10 #1-30): A place where you can also find typical fried foods such as stuffed potatoes, small pork bites, aborrajados, yuca cakes, and empanadas filled with shredded meat. You can enjoy these tastings with luladas with or without condensed milk, regional beers, various drinks, and other dishes like hamburgers, salchipapas, wings, and ribs if you’re not into the traditional Valley-style blood sausage or the typical platter from our region.
– J&J Fritanga (Carrera 10 #3-13): Another classic spot for enjoying Valluna cuisine or a quick bite with friends. Founded by the Otero Llanos family (the same family mentioned in this article as one of the great preservers of maceta tradition), this restaurant is a renowned place in Cali for its famous chunchulos, among other fried foods.
Delicious, sweet, and hot corn on the cob in San Antonio
– Basilia (Calle 8 #23C-17, Floor 2): In the heart of the Galería Alameda market square, you’ll find this monumental and highly acclaimed eatery run by Basilia Murillo, an ambassador of Pacific cuisine. The full menu of this popular restaurant is fantastic, but if you’re just looking to snack, we recommend trying the crab, piangua, and shrimp empanadas, the chocoano pastry, and the classic sancocho dishes this place offers. And if you don’t have to drive, feel free to try one of the ancestral liqueurs made with viche that this place offers for both the curious and aficionados.
– La Caleñita (Carrera 24 #8-53): A shop of beautiful regional crafts that hides a discreet yet special bar inside called Café Mimelao, with delicious fritanga and a shampoo that’s said to be out of this world.
– La Casa del Pandeyuca (Calle 5 #23B – 40): The temple of Cali bakery located on Roosevelt Avenue and, as its name suggests, with a pandeyuca that justifies its name. Although it is a title fiercely contested by other honorable rivals also located in the area, such as the bakery Surtipanes (Carrera 23D #9-52), Panadería Paola (Calle 5 #24C 6) andthe other Panadería Paola (Av. Roosevelt #29-42), which is as good as its namesake.
Let yourself be attended by its owner: the great Basilia
– Apolo Restaurante (Carrera 15 #8-37): In 1962, Fernando Home, the first Colombian player to score two goals against Brazil in the Rome pre-Olympics, left his promising soccer career to invest in his uncles Flora and Luis Carlos's eatery… His admirers, drawn by the achievement and curiosity about this young star’s radical life change, began filling the tables of this establishment, which was founded in 1959 and has since served typical fried foods and the original chuleta valluna of pork loin, highly recommended by all Cali residents.
– Pedro Junior (Calle 8 #23A-67): Just as the legendary Maura de Caldas was a pioneer of seafood cuisine in this part of the city, the uncle of the manager of this place, Don Pedro, was the first to sell ceviches outside the Mercado de la Alameda… Now not a street stand but a two-story establishment with dozens of employees and even live music, it is a place where many go for seafood cocktails and especially: its fish sancocho, a local reference and a remedy for weekend hangovers.
Experience the juiciness of our tender chuleta valluna
– El Oasis (Calle 9 # 36ABis – 38): Everything along the parallel of Calle 9 and Avenida Joaquín Botero Sinisterra (edges of the Panamerican Courts sports complex) is a hotspot for typical cholados from Jamundí: crushed ice drink with a bath of sorbets, chopped fruits, and a drizzle of whatever ingredients you want, from caramel chips to cheese… But this legendary place, which started as one of the many carts you’ll see outside, is the first of those spots we confidently recommend to cool down with this cold dessert from our land… For a more street-style experience, there are street vendors like El Cacique, La India, and El Paraíso, Los Niches, Caliche, among many others.
Enjoy a delicious cholado at the Panamerican Courts
– El Bochinche (Carrera 37 #8-56): If you find yourself craving a different snack or just a meal in this area, an excellent alternative is to visit this place where the pork chop is another of those gastronomic traits that celebrate our Cali identity since 1958. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, it’s a Valle del Cauca dish that we’re sure you’ll enjoy.
Nostalgia and tradition at El Bochinche
Without further ado, we hope this guide helps you enjoy the best flavors of our city in great company.
Happy Cali Day!
Spiwak Hotels: Your safest option for vacation and corporate accommodation in Cali. Located in the Chipichape Shopping Center, in the Zona Rosa of our city, just 5 minutes from the Granada gastronomic district. 493 suites, parking, and 12 rooms for social and business events. We are the largest hotel complex in Valle del Cauca!
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If you’re new to our city or still getting to know it, this selection of places will be useful. So whether you’re on a tourist trip or business visit to our capital of Valle, seize the opportunity to try, sample, and be amazed by these typical Cali establishments that we’re sure you’ll love (some well-known and others less so).
In some cases, we’ll also tell you what you can’t miss in certain areas so you can also try the best street food in Cali in a tour only suitable for adventurous foodies.
We’ve classified these recommendations by city sectors so that depending on where you are or where you’re heading, you can check the activated links below that interest you, and thus be informed not only of what you can find in the area but also the distances from our Spiwak Hotels.
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Click on the marked addresses to navigate the routes and know exactly where to eat in Cali.
In Northern Cali
– La Estación del Trigo (Calle 47n #4bn-18): This is the place to hang out with friends and order the spectacular valluna fritters that have made it a famous landmark. Their delicious marranitas, aborrajados, stuffed potatoes, andempanadas are fried on the spot and taste great with local beer Poker. But we also recommend trying an unmissable fried item on the menu: their magnificent cassava cake, a breaded delight stuffed with shredded meat that will leave you in love. Yum!
– Parque del Chontaduro (Cr 5 # 34-00): In Cali, you must try and eat chontaduro, an ancestral fruit from our palm and a delicacy only for those with a refined palate (because if you don't like it, you don't know anything)... In this park, the starting point of the Chontaduro Route, wise men and women from our Colombian Pacific prepare this fruit with love, served whole with salt and honey. But you can also order it as juice and, if you’re lucky, find it in other surrounding establishments as jam, ice cream, dessert, and even arepas!
Never forget to order your freshly made marranita!
– Panadería Montecarlo (in the K8-28 bubble of our Chipichape Shopping Center and also at Avenida 6 #42N-18): With a history of over 60 years in the art of baking, this bakery is famous for its tender pandebono, a star product of its ovens and a symbol of our identity. Pair it with a traditional caleña oatmeal and feel like a local.
– Pandebonitos (Avenida 6 bis norte # 28-57): This visionary business by two siblings of Lebanese-Californian descent came up with the idea of mini-pandebonos. They were so creative that they expanded their pandebono dough recipe to other products served at their successful Santa Monica location, including waffles, baked goods, desserts, and even pizzas! They also offer frozen products for you to take home.
– Panadería El Molino (Avenida 6AN # 26N-11and atour Chipichape Shopping Center): They have been baking bread since 1896 and have several branches in the city, making them a classic in Valluna baking. In addition to baking exquisite local products with deep roots, they also produce wonderful pastries like their Easter colomba, cinnamon rolls, mojicones, Danish breads, cakes, and lemon and carrot cakes. If you see the place is crowded, head to Panadería Kuty (Avenida 6N #27-03), which is just two blocks away and just as good.
– Empanadas de Niko(Calle 30 Norte #4N-35): All their products are 100% corn, with dough made directly from the grain. That's why visitors are delighted with the crispiness of their empanadas, which are not only crunchy but also accompanied by salsas that make you want to devour more and more. Equally addictive are their egg arepas and tostadas, so we warn you: we are not responsible for any diet consequences.
So nice to snack with these pandebonitos!
– Las Quintas de Don Simón (Av 6 # 42-116): This corner spot initially looks like a barbecue restaurant until you notice they also have a bakery. And that's when it gets interesting, because in addition to tempting Valluna snacks, fresh almojábanas and soft pandebonos, they also offer irresistible fried foods like their eye-catching buñuelos, aborrajados, marranitas, and empanadas. It's nice to see them neatly arranged and freshly out of the oven, but it's even nicer to bite into them, devour them, and enjoy them.
– Manjar del Valle(Carrera 1 #52-05): This is for those with a sweet tooth who can't live without dessert. This brand produces the best traditional sweets from our Valle del Cauca, and at their various locations, you can stock up on delicious manjar blanco, cortado de leche, stuffed figs, and mecatos of various kinds. Since they come ready to take away, you can enjoy them in the privacy of your room or pack them nicely to bring back home as a gift.
– La Zarzuela (Av. 6D 36N – 18): Our restaurant within the Spiwak Chipichape Hotel. Although we offer a wide menu of main dishes that blend Mediterranean cooking techniques with regional ingredients and recipes, we remain true to certain traditional preparations such as our Valluna appetizers, including our picada valluna and shrimp empanadas, perfect for sharing with friends on a day like today.
Manjar blanco: a delicacy from our Valle del Cauca
In the Granada Neighborhood
– Amarily Restaurante (Avenida 9 Norte #20-40): The beautiful owner, originally from Bahía Málaga, infuses this place with all the original flavors of the Pacific region. Whether you’re dining in for a grand meal or just for a snack during the afternoon, this spot is a must-visit for its tempting starters and drinks, many featuring chontaduro as the star: chips, cocadas, cakes, and even a mojito made with this unique fruit, perfect for wrapping up a special day.
– El Ringlete (Calle 15a Norte #9N-31): An old house in the Granada neighborhood that offers classic dishes reminiscent of our grandmothers’ cooking, making it a landmark of our gastronomy. They serve fantastic starters, including regional fried foods made on the spot. But here, make sure not to miss the yucca pastry filled with oxtail stew and, especially, Tomás’s bofe. Don’t make that face: you’ll be pleasantly surprised and have your opinion changed about this often-maligned cut.
– Pacífico (Avenida 9 N # 12N-18): Another must-visit for our regional cuisine and a tribute to the ocean that bathes our department's coast. Here, you must try the piangua empanada, smoked fish aborrajado, jaiba buñuelo, and repingachos served with a tamarind chili sauce that is heavenly. Don’t forget to order a sorbet made from badea or borojó, and while you’re there, we suggest exploring the dessert menu. We won’t spoil it for you.
– Platillos Voladores (Avenida 3 N #7-19): Like the previous examples, the most celebrated restaurant in the city might not usually be featured in a guide to the best fast food in Cali. But their chontaduro rolls, shrimp and crab rolls with chili jam, and carantanta with peanut sauce are the kind of exciting starters you devour at lightning speed, which is reason enough to include them in this list. The most indigenous ingredients from southwestern Colombia come together to offer you the most sublime creations of our cuisine… It’s not a spot for chichipatos and requires a reservation because it’s always busy, but it will always be worth it.
– Champús de Lola (Avenida 2 Norte, Local 1-130): Located in the Plazoleta Jairo Varela, in front of the Cali City Hall, it's a joy to order champú from Doña Lola Carabalí, grandmother of AnaRuth and Noralba, who run this small but very popular business. The recipe for this traditional spiced drink made from corn, pineapple, and lulo is one of the best examples of this beverage you can enjoy throughout the city.
Refresh yourself with whatever you prefer: a lulada or a champú. Ahh!
In the El Peñón Neighborhood
– Obelisco(Avenida Colombia N. 4 Oeste – 49
, and also at the K8-30 bubble at our Chipichape Shopping Center) Just as you'll see our beautiful Hernando Tejada Cat, you must also stop by to eat empanaditas at this place, right across from or rather on the opposite bank of the Río Cali… And you should try all the fried foods they prepare there, from the marranita to the aborrajado andyuca cake. And of course, finish with one of their famous and hearty luladas to truly experience the caleño life. Highly recommended.
– Saludando (Calle 3 Oeste #3A-18): A lovely restaurant focused on healthy artisan cuisine, suitable for diabetics, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten intolerants, as well as omnivores… They use ingredients that are only cultivated in our region. One of their dishes, made with a functional chontaduro arepa from a very original supplier in our capital called Chonta Arepa, is the ideal option to replenish your energy in a healthy way with a food that provides great energy value and is intriguingly made with this fruit so typical of our southern Colombian region.
– La Sanduchería del Escudo (Calle 4 Oeste #3-46): After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, this magnificent establishment (sibling of another great in Valle del Cauca’s dining scene called El Escudo) has joyfully reopened its doors in El Peñón to bring you regal sandwiches you won’t find elsewhere. The longed-for chef María Claudia Zarama, always true to her philosophy of working with local inspiration and evoking ancestry, now presents creations like her Belén de Docampadó burger, inspired by Chocó; her criollo sandwich; or her chontaduro ravioli… Let’s welcome this phoenix back and support it because enjoying a good time at her place is guaranteed.
– Domingo Mercado de Vereda (Calle 4 Oeste #3A-50): This is a delightful store and restaurant that offers artisanal Colombian cuisine and market cooking in a beautifully stocked space with local farmer products and exciting creations by Catalina Velez. Everything here is good: savory and sweet, liquid and solid, for consumption on-site and for take-away… Special mention should be made of this great chef's desserts like the soursop meringue, the Chocolate Devil’s Cake with orange and ginger, the pandebono cake with guava jelly, the borojó granita, and the sorbet made with copoazú. Indulge in the temptation to try one.
– Turk House (Calle 1 Oeste 2-62): It’s true that this is not a Colombian cuisine establishment but rather inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. However, as a caleño fast food venture styled after New York, we recommend it not for its affordable prices but for the delightful flavors and colors of its dishes. Particularly: for its cheese croquettes with tamarillo chili that are to die for… And since you're in the area, it’s convenient...
Why not stop to eat Valluna frituras by the river?
In the San Antonio Neighborhood
– Tertuliadero La Colina (Calle 1 #48-83): This is the story of a modest neighborhood house, which went from being a small grocery store to one of the most iconic and cherished spots in Cali’s nightlife… This store, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2022, is a gathering place for students, artists, professors, and bohemians who come for a good time of relaxation, conversation, and laughter. All this happens in a dynamic of empanadas and beers that are served non-stop at its always crowded tables, and in an atmosphere filled with nostalgia, curiosities, antiques, and joy accompanied by the lively beat of old salsa.
Night of bohemia and old salsa at Tertuliadero La Colina.
– Mazorcas in San Antonio (Carrera 4C #2A-86): There’s nothing more Colombian than eating roasted corn on the street. But there’s nothing more caleño than biting into this charred corn and pleasantly confirming that it’s made from sweet, yellow, tender corn grown in the region, unlike those bought in stalls from other departments of the country, which use different varieties of this noble grain. At the San Antonio Park, in front of the church, street vendors sell them for you to enjoy on-site while you take in the city’s urban profile from this hill.
– El Zaguán de San Antonio (Carrera 12 #1-29): In a beautiful colonial house is this establishment that stands out not only for the beauty of its setting but also for the countless photographs and autographs of national and international celebrities who have visited this place and proudly adorn its walls, including a portrait and signature of the renowned Anthony Bourdain. It’s the place to spend the afternoon on its terrace with a view, enjoying their delicious puerquitas and aborrajados in good company.
San Antonio: the best place for an afternoon snack
– Oiga Mire Vea (Carrera 10 #1-30): A place where you can also find typical fried foods such as stuffed potatoes, small pork bites, aborrajados, yuca cakes, and empanadas filled with shredded meat. You can enjoy these tastings with luladas with or without condensed milk, regional beers, various drinks, and other dishes like hamburgers, salchipapas, wings, and ribs if you’re not into the traditional Valley-style blood sausage or the typical platter from our region.
– J&J Fritanga (Carrera 10 #3-13): Another classic spot for enjoying Valluna cuisine or a quick bite with friends. Founded by the Otero Llanos family (the same family mentioned in this article as one of the great preservers of maceta tradition), this restaurant is a renowned place in Cali for its famous chunchulos, among other fried foods.
Delicious, sweet, and hot corn on the cob in San Antonio
In the La Alameda Neighborhood
– Basilia (Calle 8 #23C-17, Floor 2): In the heart of the Galería Alameda market square, you’ll find this monumental and highly acclaimed eatery run by Basilia Murillo, an ambassador of Pacific cuisine. The full menu of this popular restaurant is fantastic, but if you’re just looking to snack, we recommend trying the crab, piangua, and shrimp empanadas, the chocoano pastry, and the classic sancocho dishes this place offers. And if you don’t have to drive, feel free to try one of the ancestral liqueurs made with viche that this place offers for both the curious and aficionados.
– La Caleñita (Carrera 24 #8-53): A shop of beautiful regional crafts that hides a discreet yet special bar inside called Café Mimelao, with delicious fritanga and a shampoo that’s said to be out of this world.
– La Casa del Pandeyuca (Calle 5 #23B – 40): The temple of Cali bakery located on Roosevelt Avenue and, as its name suggests, with a pandeyuca that justifies its name. Although it is a title fiercely contested by other honorable rivals also located in the area, such as the bakery Surtipanes (Carrera 23D #9-52), Panadería Paola (Calle 5 #24C 6) andthe other Panadería Paola (Av. Roosevelt #29-42), which is as good as its namesake.
Let yourself be attended by its owner: the great Basilia
– Apolo Restaurante (Carrera 15 #8-37): In 1962, Fernando Home, the first Colombian player to score two goals against Brazil in the Rome pre-Olympics, left his promising soccer career to invest in his uncles Flora and Luis Carlos's eatery… His admirers, drawn by the achievement and curiosity about this young star’s radical life change, began filling the tables of this establishment, which was founded in 1959 and has since served typical fried foods and the original chuleta valluna of pork loin, highly recommended by all Cali residents.
– Pedro Junior (Calle 8 #23A-67): Just as the legendary Maura de Caldas was a pioneer of seafood cuisine in this part of the city, the uncle of the manager of this place, Don Pedro, was the first to sell ceviches outside the Mercado de la Alameda… Now not a street stand but a two-story establishment with dozens of employees and even live music, it is a place where many go for seafood cocktails and especially: its fish sancocho, a local reference and a remedy for weekend hangovers.
Experience the juiciness of our tender chuleta valluna
At the Panamerican Courts
– El Oasis (Calle 9 # 36ABis – 38): Everything along the parallel of Calle 9 and Avenida Joaquín Botero Sinisterra (edges of the Panamerican Courts sports complex) is a hotspot for typical cholados from Jamundí: crushed ice drink with a bath of sorbets, chopped fruits, and a drizzle of whatever ingredients you want, from caramel chips to cheese… But this legendary place, which started as one of the many carts you’ll see outside, is the first of those spots we confidently recommend to cool down with this cold dessert from our land… For a more street-style experience, there are street vendors like El Cacique, La India, and El Paraíso, Los Niches, Caliche, among many others.
Enjoy a delicious cholado at the Panamerican Courts
– El Bochinche (Carrera 37 #8-56): If you find yourself craving a different snack or just a meal in this area, an excellent alternative is to visit this place where the pork chop is another of those gastronomic traits that celebrate our Cali identity since 1958. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, it’s a Valle del Cauca dish that we’re sure you’ll enjoy.
Nostalgia and tradition at El Bochinche
Without further ado, we hope this guide helps you enjoy the best flavors of our city in great company.
Happy Cali Day!
Spiwak Hotels: Your safest option for vacation and corporate accommodation in Cali. Located in the Chipichape Shopping Center, in the Zona Rosa of our city, just 5 minutes from the Granada gastronomic district. 493 suites, parking, and 12 rooms for social and business events. We are the largest hotel complex in Valle del Cauca!
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