Top 5 Uribia Food: Must-Try Dishes & Drinks

Uribia, that is, the Indigenous Capital of Colombia, so it is a spot just packed with unique culture, especially when you look at its food and drink scene. Very heavily shaped by the Wayuu people, you’re going to discover food that has this amazing mix of desert landscapes and that beautiful Caribbean Sea. You, like your average foodie, will find dishes here that can’t be found anywhere else.

1. Friche: A Wayuu Staple

Friche, now, it is probably the most famous Wayuu dish out there. Often prepared for like celebrations and gatherings, so you know it has to be something special. Now, this flavorful dish is actually goat that is slowly cooked, that is, until it is surprisingly tender, and that’s kind of the whole point. Aromatic herbs and local spices add a very nice depth that makes your tastebuds very happy.

When I went there a few years back, the family I stayed with in Uribia were making friche for a local festival. Watching them, and like your average tourist I was watching very closely, you know, preparing it over this open fire was basically an art. The aroma that was drifting all around the place was absolutely intoxicating! The taste, oh wow the taste, so you get tender goat, these rich spices… basically, this explosion in your mouth, basically! Now, it is an experience, I mean a total culinary experience, that provides, so it does provide, some serious insight into Wayuu culture and tradition.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Wayuu Friche)

Read our full review: Wayuu Friche Full Review and Details

2. Arroz de Chivo: A Flavorful Rice Dish

Right, so Arroz de Chivo translates literally as “goat rice,” so, surprisingly it features goat again. So you get rice dish that is a real heavy hitter when it comes to flavor, it’s also a local fave! Usually the goat meat is tender after being shredded. And then it’s mixed in with that rice, some veggies, local seasonings of course and that results in this delicious hearty meal.

One very hot afternoon, just walking around Uribia, you know like you do when you are seeing the sights, the smells from this little restaurant was pulling me in! I did try the arroz de chivo and oh my days it hit all the right spots. So that goat, which I have to say I wasn’t expecting, but it was like falling apart so tender, that savory rice. It just provides some pretty wonderful comfort food in the Uribia sunshine. Many people say, and I agree with this to a degree, that it captures the essence of coastal cooking, I really can’t deny that, basically!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Arroz de Chivo)

Read our full review: Arroz de Chivo Full Review and Details

3. Arepas con Huevo: A Breakfast Delight

Okay, you probably know arepas, or heard of them anyway, but arepas con huevo is a totally awesome breakfast thing and you can find them all around Colombia, but very Uribia brings its own thing to this little treat. You get this cornmeal cake and then they fry it so that’s crispy, and then they crack a lil’ egg right in the middle. So it provides, yeah it does, that fantastic handheld breakfast that just sets your day off pretty good.

Waking up nice and early to go explore Uribia, grabbing one of these arepas con huevo from a roadside stand so it does become almost like a routine. It does provide you with the hot crispy corn, mixed together with the soft egg inside… Aah, seriously good! That sort of sets the scene as the streets wake up, ready for another awesome day. Eating these in Uribia basically gives you a true taste of Colombian mornings, basically, that’s basically what it does, it delivers!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Arepas con Huevo)

Read our full review: Arepas con Huevo Full Review and Details

4. Jugo de Tamarindo: Refreshing Tamarind Juice

In Uribia that desert sun really can beat down on you, you know, so you have to find drinks which can cool you down fast! Jugo de tamarindo now, that’s made using tamarind fruit so you get sweet and tangy flavor so you can enjoy it. Usually served super cold and really does get you energized right away.

When that sun really gets to you, there isn’t anything much better than finding, you know, one of these little places selling that jugo de tamarindo. This tang is so great when it is really ice cold. It does mean you are up and about again exploring, that desert heat won’t get you down. So yeah, definitely is like one of my favorite ways that I can treat myself while staying cool there.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Jugo de Tamarindo)

Read our full review: Jugo de Tamarindo Full Review and Details

5. Chicha de Maíz: A Traditional Fermented Drink

Chicha de Maíz, is that right? Basically this drink has this super long history running all the way back to the indigenous people from South America. This unique brew comes by starting, that is, by fermenting corn so it gets kind of this lightly sour taste, and yet very refreshing. I mean it still features in a lot of rituals so you get that connection with local heritage as you drink this. Very nice, especially for those keen to check out traditional drinks.

Okay so, you get this invitation to attend one of these local celebrations. Now you’re sat down with this bowl of chicha de maíz so, you get told this really represents hospitality. When I tasted it, yeah that surprised me at first by having this really subtle tang thing happening. Yet this is quite different and unique but one of those great ways so you feel involved, like you are part of, that tradition they have there.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Chicha de Maiz)

Read our full review: Chicha de Maiz Full Review and Details