10 Dominican Republic Traditional Food You’ll Absolutely Love
The Dominican Republic’s traditional food is one of the many things to enjoy in this Caribbean country.
Read this post to learn about delicious Dominican Republic traditional food recipes. Dominican Republic native food has historical influences and is an homage to all the plants that grow in their rich land.
Sancocho (meat stew) and tostones (crispy twice-fried plantains) are two popular traditional foods in the Dominican Republic. This flavorful cuisine is available in high-end restaurants as well as on the streets.
See also: The History of Dominican Republic’s Independence Day
Food in Spanish Vocabulary
This food vocabulary is useful when you travel to the Dominican Republic.
| English | Spanish |
| please | por favor |
| breakfast | el desayuno |
| lunch | el almuerzo |
| dinner | la cena |
| menu | el menú |
| spicy | picante |
| sweet | dulce |
| savory, salty | salado/a |
| dessert | el postre |
| appetizers | las entradas |
| entree | el plato principal |
Comer and Beber Conjugation in Spanish
The conjugation of the verbs comer (to eat) and beber (to drink) get you ready to practice speaking Spanish.
10 Dominican Republic Traditional Food You’ll Absolutely Love
Ready to dive into the 10 Dominican Republic traditional foods you won’t want to miss?
Hand-picked for you: 10 Amazing Festivals in the Dominican Republic You Want to Take Part In
1. Sancocho – Stew
Sancocho is a national dish in the Dominican Republic with meat, potatoes, plantains, and corn. It’s usually served with white rice.
It’s a lunchtime favorite because it’s starchy, but many enjoy it for dinner before going out for a night on the town. Make sure to try out the sancocho de siete carnes (seven meat sancocho) to have the full experience!
Sancocho is famous in various Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Colombia. The recipe varies from country to country. Dominican sancocho is delicious!
2. Domplines – Dumplings
Domplines (dumplings) is a Dominican Republic traditional food that you’ll definitely want to try out. These culinary delights are usually served with delicious cheese and a salad.
Domplines are easy to make, so if you go to the Dominican Republic, take a cooking class and learn how. In the Dominican Republic, they’re served with herring, salami, and different meats.
Domplines are even breakfast fare in this Caribbean country.
3. La bandera – The Flag
La bandera is another Dominican Republic traditional food. Lunch is the most important meal in most Latin American countries, and the Dominican Republic is no exception.
La bandera means “the flag” in Spanish. The dish depicts the colors of the Dominican Flag (red, blue, and white.) The main ingredients are red kidney beans, white Dominican rice, and beef or chicken. It is usually paired with a salad and tostones (fried plantain chips).
Many locals say that La bandera should always be accompanied by avocados so, try it out when you’re there and see how you like it!
4. Pescado frito – Fried Fish
Pescado frito is another Dominican Republic traditional food you’ll want to try. It’s fried with authentic Dominican spices that make it unique.
This dish is especially popular in Punta Cana, and the best pescado frito is in Macau. This fish is dipped in flour seasoning and deep-fried until it’s golden. Hot pescado frito is served with tostones, lemon, and white Dominican rice. It’s a simple but delicious meal to try if you like fish.
5. Mangú – Mashed Plantain
Another famous Dominican Republic traditional food is mangú, mashed plantains. To make this delicious breakfast or side dish, boil green plantains and mash them in the water they were boiled in. Then sauté them with red onions cooked in apple cider vinegar.
People also top mangú with queso frito (fried cheese), any kind of meat, or fried eggs. Mangú is available almost anywhere in the DR for breakfast.
6. Mofongo
Mofongo is a Dominican Republic traditional food that is well known in the Caribbean Sea. It has chicharrones (deep fried pork skins), fried plantains, and garlic mashed together in a pestle and mortar.
You then take the mixture and shape it into a bowl, fill it with meat, and top it with sour cream. People serve it as a side dish or a main dish served with tostones.
Foodie’s Truck Bavaro has a mofongo that many travelers say is the best. They serve several traditional foods and drinks in the Dominican Republic that you’ll definitely want to try out.
7. Tostones – Crispy Twice-Fried Plantains
Tostones might be one of my favorite foods of all time. And the best tostones ever are in the Caribbean. This is a Dominican Republic traditional food made from plantain slices that are mashed and fried twice. Served with salt, they make the best crispy meal or snack. They’re versatile for dinner, lunch, or even breakfast!
Tostones are popular in the Dominican Republic. Almost everyone who tries tostones loves them immediately!
8. Arroz dominicano – Dominican Rice
Arroz dominicano is a Dominican Republic traditional food present on almost every table in the Caribbean country as a side dish or a main course. This white rice is commonly served with pigeon peas, mango, chicken, noodles, seafood, vegetables, and more!
Other dishes with rice in the Dominican Republic are Moro de habichuelas (rice and beans) and arroz asopao (gumbo.)
9. Habichuelas con dulce – Sweet Beans
Habichuelas con dulce is a sweet and delicious Dominican Republic traditional food for Lent and Easter. It’s boiled and pureed beans with condensed milk, evaporated milk, sweet potato, coconut milk, cinnamon, butter, sugar, clove, anise, raisins, and nutmeg.
Like many other Dominican recipes, desserts reflect the Dominican Republic’s rich history. The wheat flour and spices they use are from Europe but they mix them with tropical fruits like coconut and corn.
10. Empanaditas y pastelitos – Empanadas and Hand Pastries
Everyone loves finger food! These empanaditas y pastelitos have become a Dominican Republic traditional food. Empanadas are popular in many countries in Latin America.
Pastelitos are little cakes that go well with coffee, tea, or juice. These pastries are flour-based and usually filled with meat, chicken, mango, or guava. Make sure to try them when you go!
Eat and Learn Spanish in Dominican Republic
Food is a huge part of a country’s culture, and the Dominican Republic is no exception. It’s great to get excited about food and try all the flavors that Latin America has to offer while practicing your Spanish-speaking skills.
Spanish continues to grow immensely in the U.S. By learning Spanish, you gain the ability to teach your children Spanish or set a family goal to become fluent together. What’s more, learning a language helps you improve your cognition and decision-making abilities. It’s educational, beneficial, and fun!
Sign up for a free trial class before your trip to the Dominican Republic and be ready to order your favorite dish and chat with the locals. Learners of every level are welcome, including total beginners. Check out our programs, prices, and testimonials to find out more.
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