This is by no means a definitive list of the most famous Dominican dishes, but we picked some of the leading traditional Dominican recipes for the dishes that we think most people would associate with the Dominican Republic.
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- Last reviewed . Published Apr 9, 2023What Dominican food is the most famous?
Most famous Dominican Republic dishes
Mangú con los tres golpes may be among the first dishes people will think of in connection with the Dominican Republic. Mangú, for those who don't already know, is made with mashed boiled green plantains, and Los tres golpes are fried egg, fried salami, and fried cheese.
Sancocho, or its deluxe version, Sancocho de siete carnes, is another candidate for the most famous Dominican dish. It is a thick, tasty soup or stew made with chicken, beef, pork, and root vegetables such as auyama, yautía, and yuca.
La bandera dominicana means the Dominican flag, and it is the daily lunch dish that consists of white rice, red beans, and stewed meat like beef, pork, chicken or fish, each representing one color of the flag. It is often served with a cabbage salad drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, avocado, and tostones. It's definitely the most common, and potentially the most famous.
Tostones, fried green plantains sprinkled with salt, are not uniquely Dominican, but they are a distinguishing feature of Dominican cuisine and are eaten in much the same way as you would eat French fries, as a snack or side dish.
Pasteles en hojas are the Dominican version of tamales, also found in other parts of Latin America, such as Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. They're made with mashed plantains or yuca, stuffed with chicken or meat, and wrapped in banana leaves. Serve garnished with ketchup or hot sauce.
Chivo guisado or goat stew is a popular dish around the Caribbean. The Dominican version of goat meat stew is seasoned with oregano and is also one of the few hot (as in spicy) dishes on the Dominican menu.
Pescado frito or fried fish is an inseparable part of Dominican beach culture, so if you've visited the country, the odds are you've spent some time on our glorious beaches and sampled the flavors of our local seafood. Usually served with tostones or fried potatoes.
Pica pollo is Dominican fried chicken, a favorite street food in the Dominican Republic.
Chimichurri is another standard street food, but unlike its Argentinian namesake, it is not a sauce, but a tasty burger with shredded cabbage, diced tomato, red onion, ketchup and mayonnaise traditionally sold from street stalls.
Pescado con coco or fish in coconut sauce is a delicacy that is served to all visitors to Samaná but is also popular all over the rest of the country. The sauce is made with coconut milk, garlic, red or green peppers, and bija or annatto seeds.
Habichuelas con dulce or sweet cream of beans is an unusual and distinctively Dominican dessert with raisins and spices like nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon, traditionally served during Lent and Easter week (Semana Santa). Foreigners may find the notion of eating sweet beans somewhat strange, but we, with very few exceptions, cherish this traditional dish.
Bizcocho Dominicano or Dominican cake is the ultimate birthday cake. Outside of the Dominican Republic, as well as within the country, this recipe is highly acclaimed as one of the best birthday cakes you are likely to taste.
Majarete is a creamy dessert made with corn and a very traditional Dominican food.
Arepa dominicana is not the arepa you will find in other Spanish-speaking countries like Venezuela and Colombia. It is also made with cornmeal, but the resemblance stops there. The sweet version of Dominican arepa is a spicy pudding with coconut and raisins.
Morir soñando literally means to die dreaming, and this is the name of a fragrant and refreshing drink made with citrus juice, usually orange juice or lime juice, and sometimes chinola (passion fruit), blended with milk.
FAQs
If you ask a group of Dominicans which Dominican dish is most popular, you're guaranteed to get more than one answer, but it's pretty likely the following dishes will keep being mentioned: sancocho, La bandera, and mangú.
La Bandera is famous for being the standard lunch dish that is eaten in millions of Dominican homes and comedores around the country and all over the world. The ingredients, white rice, black or red kidney beans, and any type of meat, and the traditional seasonings, are pretty much universal, so wherever you live, it will be easy to reproduce this iconic Dominican dish.
If we have to narrow it down to staples or ingredients, the most popular foods might include plantains, avocados, chicharrones, and rice. If we're talking recipes, check out our list for ideas.
Outside of the country, several foods may be associated with the Dominican Republic in people's minds. It really does depend. It could be sancocho, mangú, or whichever of our many Dominican dishes they may have encountered through Dominican friends or by visiting the country. If we extend the criteria, we could even include coffee and rum in this category.