5+ Best Bandeja Paisa In Medelín: Antioquia's Famous Platter
When visiting the City of Eternal Spring, you can’t miss trying the best Bandeja Paisa in Medellín, as this iconic “paisa” dish originated right here in the Antioquia region.
You won’t have any trouble finding Bandeja Paisa in Medellín – it’s a staple on the menu of virtually every Colombian restaurant in the city.
This article highlights versions of this beloved dish that stand out for their incredible flavors or offer something unique that makes them worth seeking out.
For those unfamiliar, the term Paisa refers to the people of Medellín and the surrounding Antioquia region, so Bandeja Paisa literally translates to “Antioquian dish.”
We hope you enjoy this delicious, calorie-packed dish as much as we do.
Now, let’s dive into what we think are the best Bandeja Paisas in Medellín.
The best Bandeja Paisas in Medellín are:
1. Maru Rico
Maru Rico is a popular local restaurant in Guayabal, known for its variety of grilled meats.
At lunchtime, the restaurant fills up with hungry locals, but thanks to a well-coordinated team of chefs and waiters, the food is served quickly and efficiently.
One of the standout dishes here is the Tipico Frijoles (35,000 COP), which offers a slightly different take on the classic Bandeja Paisa.
The key difference is that the Tipico Frijoles are served with grilled beef instead of the traditional minced beef, a variation we really enjoyed.
While Tipico Frijoles is a common dish in many Colombian restaurants, it is the signature dish at Maru Rico, ensuring you are in for something special.
This hearty dish also includes grilled chorizo, morcilla (Colombian blood sausage), and chicharrón, along with beans, steamed rice, a fried egg, and fried plantain.
Much like the traditional Bandeja Paisa, this dish is a true feast, so be sure to bring a big appetite!
For those looking to explore more Paisa dishes, the Cazuela Paisa (30,000 COP) is another highly recommended option.
Maru Rico, like many of the restaurants featured in this article, is also featured in our guide to the best Colombian restaurants in Medellin.
⭐ Why Maru Rico serves one of the best Bandeja Paisas in Medellin: Their focus on expertly grilled meats takes this classic dish to the next level.
2. Capital Antioqueña
Located just steps from Segundo Parque Laureles, Capital Antioqueña is a popular restaurant specializing in traditional dishes from the Antioquian region.
While the menu is somewhat limited, it focuses on expertly prepared local favorites such as Bandeja Paisa, Cazuela Paisa, Mondongo, and a variety of grilled steaks and chicharrón-based dishes.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated in an Antioquian style, yet it feels a bit more upscale than your average local eatery. This makes it a great spot to enjoy typical regional cuisine in a refined setting—perfect for a special occasion.
That elegance is reflected in the food as well. The Bandeja Paisa here feels slightly more refined than the traditional version, thanks to high-quality ingredients and excellent preparation. The morcilla has a more delicate flavor, the chicharrón is perfectly crisp, the chorizo is not overly fatty, and the minced beef blends beautifully with the rice and beans.
With main courses averaging around 50,000 COP, Capital Antioqueña offers a mid-range dining experience that delivers authentic, high-quality Antioquian cuisine in a clean, welcoming atmosphere with outstanding service.
No, this isn’t fine dining—but if you’re looking for one of the best Bandeja Paisas in Medellín in a well-kept, charming restaurant, this is the place to go.
⭐ Why Capital Antioqueña serves one of the best Bandeja Paisas in Medellin: While other spots may have one standout ingredient, Capital Antioqueña excels in balance, offering one of the most complete and satisfying versions of this iconic dish in the city.
3. La Matriarca
La Matriarca specializes in chicharrón, Colombia’s beloved crispy pork belly.
Since chicharrón is a key component of the Bandeja Paisa, I was curious to see how La Matriarca would elevate this iconic Medellín dish.
For me, a good chicharrón should offer a balance of textures: crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside.
La Matriarca achieves this perfectly, with the added bonus of a subtle hint of smokiness that enhances the flavor without overpowering it.
Another standout component of their Bandeja Paisa is the chorizo.
Unlike many places that overload the sausage with too many herbs, La Matriarca’s chorizo is more refined and balanced in flavor.
There was one small drawback, though: the rice was a bit dry.
This seems to be a common problem when trying the Bandeja Paisa in Medellín.
Despite this, La Matriarca remains a very popular spot for typical Colombian food, with its famous chicharrón at the center of many dishes.
In addition to their Bandeja Paisa, their breakfast options are also worth exploring, some of which are featured in our guide to the best breakfasts in Medellin.
Regardless, we highly recommend you try their Bandeja Paisa.
⭐ Why La Matriarca serves one of the best Bandeja Paisas in Medellin: Their chicharrón and chorizo are exceptional, with subtle flavors and ideal textures that stand out from the rest. There is room for improvement in the rice, but the overall experience makes it a top-tier contender.
4. La Gloria de Gloria
Included in our guide to the best chicharrones in Medellin, La Gloria De Gloria is a classic of local Paisa cuisine.
Famous for serving huge plates of traditional Paisa food, with the chicharrón as the star of the show, this restaurant in Envigado attracts a steady stream of hungry customers.
On weekends, it’s common to wait at least half an hour to get a table.
If you’re looking for one of the best Bandejas Paisas in Medellin, we highly recommend the Almuerzo Completo (48,000 COP).
This massive meal is enough to feed two people and features their signature chicharrón, accompanied by chorizo, fries, minced meat, rice, and a fried egg.
It also comes with a side of morcilla (Colombian blood sausage) and a red bean-based soup.
What makes this Bandeja Paisa truly exceptional is the crispy, oversized chicharrón, which enhances the entire dish.
Be prepared to have a hearty appetite, as the portions are very generous.
Tip: Locals often visit La Gloria De Gloria on the weekends with their families (usually groups of four or more). If you go as a couple, you might be able to skip the line if there’s a free table for two.
⭐ Why La Gloria De Gloria serves one of the best bandejas paisas in Medellín: Huge plates accompanied by their specialty (crispy, colossal chicharrón) make this a must-visit for lovers of traditional paisa food.
5. Mondongo's
One of the most famous restaurants in Medellin is Mondongo’s, and as the name suggests, it’s famous for its tripe soup.
With two branches in the city, both are always packed at lunchtime.
thankfully, the extraordinary staff makes sure your food is on the table within ten minutes.
It’s seriously impressive how efficiently this popular spot is run.
While the main attraction is undoubtedly the tripe soup, many diners opt for the restaurant’s version of the Bandeja Paisa, called Típico Antioqueño (39,500 COP), which is also a lunchtime favorite.
Unlike some heavier versions of the dish, this one feels noticeably lighter, with a more moderate portion of meat and less fat – a great contrast to the meat-heavy Bandeja Paisa served at Maru Rico.
If you’re craving a lighter version of this iconic dish or want to pair it with the legendary Mondongo soup, this is the place to go.
Just keep in mind that that soup is not for everyone, as the soup is made with beef tripe and for most tourists, a bit too adventurous to eat.
⭐ Why Mondongo’s Serves One of the Best Bandeja Paisas in Medellín: A lighter, less greasy version of this hearty dish that pairs perfectly with the city’s most famous soup.
Looking for more food inspiration?
Have a look at our most extensive food article with all sorts of restaurant recommendations in Medellín. From there, you can also navigate to specific