Traditional South American food: top 20 dishes you need to try

South America is a feast for the senses. Not just through its dramatic landscapes and colorful cultures, but also in its food. Traditional South American food is deeply rooted in Indigenous ingredients, Spanish and Portuguese influences, and global fusion that has evolved over centuries. Whether it’s a humble street snack or a celebratory feast, each dish tells the story of its region, its people, and the land itself.

If you’re traveling with us on a trip to Latin America, food becomes one of the most memorable ways to connect with culture. To get your appetite started, here are 20 traditional South American dishes you need to try.

1. Moqueca (Brazil)

A fragrant seafood stew cooked slowly with coconut milk, palm oil, tomatoes, and cilantro. Traditionally served in clay pots, moqueca has been a coastal favorite for over 300 years. Each region claims its own version, with Bahia’s recipe considered the most famous.

2. Feijoada (Brazil)

Brazil’s national dish is a slow-cooked black bean stew simmered with pork, beef, and chorizo sausage. Traditionally enjoyed on weekends with rice, orange slices, and sautéed greens, it’s hearty, soulful food. Its roots trace back to enslaved Africans who combined leftover cuts of meat with beans, turning simple ingredients into one of the most iconic dishes of South American cuisine.

3. Arepas (Venezuela & Colombia)

Made from cornmeal, these versatile rounds can be grilled, fried, or baked. Stuff them with cheese, shredded chicken, or beans for a snack or meal that’s equal parts comfort and popular street food. Archaeologists have found traces of arepas dating back hundreds of years, showing just how long this staple has been part of South America’s culinary identity.

4. Pastel de Choclo (Chile)

Chile’s answer to shepherd’s pie, this layered casserole combines seasoned ground beef, onions, hard-boiled eggs, and a topping of creamed corn. Sweet and savory in every bite, it reflects the fusion of Indigenous ingredients (corn) with Spanish colonial cooking styles. Served straight from the oven in clay dishes, this dish is both homely and historic.

5. Curanto (Chile)

A communal feast from Chiloé, where seafood, meats, vegetables, and potatoes are layered with leaves, buried with hot stones, and cooked underground. This centuries-old method brings together families and communities, with songs and dances often accompanying the meal.

6. Choripán (Argentina & Uruguay)

A grilled chorizo sausage in crusty bread, topped with tangy chimichurri. Often sold from street carts outside football stadiums, this irresistible snack has been fueling fans for decades. The name comes from a simple mash-up of “chorizo” and “pan” (bread).

7. Anticuchos (Peru & Bolivia)

Grilled meat skewers, often beef heart, marinated in spices and vinegar. Once seen as humble street food, anticuchos are now celebrated at food festivals. Vendors traditionally serve them with potatoes and spicy ají sauce.

8. Pabellón Criollo (Venezuela)

A national dish featuring shredded beef, black beans, rice, and fried plantains. Its balance of savory and sweet mirrors the cultural melting pot of Latin America. The dish was so beloved it even inspired a playful version called “Pabellón con Arepas.”

9. Empanadas

Stuffed pastries filled with meat and vegetables, cheese, or black olives, empanadas are beloved across the continent. Each South American country has its own take, from golden, baked versions in Argentina to deep-fried parcels in Colombia. In fact, empanadas date back to Spain and Portugal, but in South America they became a true street-food staple, often eaten during festivals and gatherings.

10. Humitas (Andean region)

Corn dough steamed in husks, sometimes stuffed with cheese or meat. Similar to tamales, but with distinct seasoning styles depending on the country—savory in Ecuador, sweetened with raisins in Chile. This dish has roots in the Inca Empire, making it one of the continent’s most ancient recipes still enjoyed today.

11. Causa Rellena (Peru)

A layered dish of mashed yellow potatoes, lime, chili, avocado, and chicken or tuna. Served cold and shaped like a terrine, it’s as much a visual showstopper as a culinary one. Its origins go back to Peru’s War of Independence, when women sold potato-based meals to raise funds “por la causa” (for the cause).

12. Ajiaco (Colombia)

This hearty potato and chicken soup is a Bogotá classic, flavored with a local herb called guasca. It’s typically served with cream and capers on the side. The dish is said to date back to pre-Columbian times, making it both a comfort food and a living tradition.

13. Lomo Saltado (Peru)

This Peruvian stir fry of beef, onions, tomatoes, and soy sauce served with fries and rice shows the strong influence of Chinese immigrants on South American cuisine. Arriving in the 19th century, Chinese workers blended their techniques with local ingredients, giving birth to what’s now known as “chifa” cooking.

14. Ceviche (Peru)

Raw fish cured in lime juice with chili, onions, and cilantro. Served with corn, sweet potato, and plantain chips, it’s one of Peru’s most celebrated contributions to global cuisine. Ceviche has such cultural importance in Peru that it’s even honored with a national holiday on June 28 every year.

15. Milanesa (Argentina)

Breaded and fried beef or chicken cutlets, sometimes topped with ham, cheese, and tomato sauce in the style of a “napolitana.” Italian immigrants brought the technique, but Argentina made it its own—so much so that a “Milanesa Day” is celebrated every May 3rd.

16. Coxinhas (Brazil)

Golden, deep-fried croquettes shaped like teardrops, filled with shredded chicken and cream cheese. Legend has it they were invented in the 19th century for a Brazilian prince who loved chicken drumsticks but wanted a snack-sized version.

17. Sopa Paraguaya (Paraguay)

Despite the name (“Paraguayan soup”), this is actually a dense, cheesy cornbread made with onions, eggs, and milk. The story goes that it got its name after a recipe mishap, when extra cornmeal made a soup too thick—resulting in one of Paraguay’s most beloved dishes.

18. Dulce de Leche Desserts (Across South America)

No list of traditional South American food is complete without dulce de leche. This caramel-like confection appears in cookies, cakes, flans, and pastries. Argentina even claims it was discovered by accident when milk and sugar were left simmering too long.

19. Patacones / Tostones (Across the Caribbean coast)

Twice-fried plantains that are crisp, salty, and perfect as a side dish. They’re eaten everywhere from Colombia to the Caribbean, often topped with cheese or served alongside meat and vegetables.

20. Asado (Argentina & Uruguay)

The king of South American barbecues. Cuts of beef, pork, and sausages are slow-grilled over wood embers, accompanied by salads, bread, and plenty of Malbec. The asado is more than food—it’s a cultural ritual, where friends and family gather around the parrilla (grill) for hours of stories and celebration.

What is South America’s traditional food?

South American cuisine is incredibly diverse, reflecting Indigenous traditions, European influences, and African heritage. Staples include corn, potatoes, beans, cassava, and rice, often paired with fresh seafood or grilled meats. Each South American country has its own “national dish,” but across the continent you’ll find bold flavors, vibrant spices, and inventive fusion cuisine.

Which South American country has the best food?

Food lovers debate this endlessly. Peru is world-renowned for its innovative gastronomy and dishes like ceviche and lomo saltado. Brazil offers hearty stews, fresh seafood, and irresistible street snacks. Argentina excels in beef and barbecues, while Chile showcases seafood and comfort food like pastel de choclo. The truth? Every South American country offers flavors worth traveling for.

Travel with Insight Vacations

Travel is the best way to taste the true diversity of South America. On tours like Contrasts of Brazil & Argentina, you’ll not only explore breathtaking landscapes but also enjoy authentic dining moments that bring South American cuisine to life. From sipping Malbec in Mendoza to tasting Brazilian feijoada, you’ll get to savor the continent’s culinary culture as much as its gorgeous scenery.

Which of these dishes have you tried, and which are on your must-taste list? Share your favorites in the comments below!