MedellínA Colombian staple, Ajiacos & Mondongos does what it says on the tin. It specialises in traditional dishes like ajiaco, a chicken and potato soup hailing from Bogotá and mondongo, a soup made from tripe and slow-cooked vegetables. A laid-back yet popular restaurant, Ajiacos & Mondongos has welcomed some of Colombia’s most famous musicians, politicians and artists to enjoy its traditional dishes.

When you walk into a restaurant and see its walls covered in thank-you notes from famous Colombians, framed photos, and awards, it’s a clear sign that you’re about to experience something special. This particular restaurant specializes in two classic Colombian dishes: Ajiaco and Mondongo, though they also serve a much-loved third dish, Cazuela de Frijoles. The limited but perfected menu is what makes this place a true gem in Medellín’s culinary scene.

Ajiacos y Mondongos originally opened in 1991 with the goal to make customers feel like they are visiting a Colombian home with recipes that have lasted for generations along with pleasant and cordial service. Being true to its roots, this restaurant has a simple menu with only three traditional Colombian dishes. Each is made with fresh ingredients and a number of products used are reportedly grown by the restaurant.

I come straight here when I need a hearty lunch or comfort food pick-me-up. The cazuela de frijoles (bean stew) is one of the most legendary in Medellín while the ajiaco, a three-potato and chicken stew complete with potato, capers and corn, is a Colombian classic and powerhouse hangover remedy when you ask for ají picante. The only other menu item is mondongo, classic beef tripe soup served with banana and rice.

Route 1: Cultural Medellin Besides being internationally recognized for its industrial and urban innovation, Medellin breathes art and culture. º If you’re looking to visit Medellin’s most traditional cultural sites, stop first at the Plaza Botero. Overlooking the Museum of Antioquia’s main façade, the square is the city’s epicenter of art and culture and a must-see for tourists.

This little place is open lunchtimes only, and it serves just three things, all at the same (pretty low) price. There’s ajiaco (chicken soup with potato and corn), or there’s mondongo (tripe soup), or there’s cazuela (a chowder-like soup, elsewhere usually of seafood, but here made with beans). This is not a fancy place, but they do what they do, and they do it well.

Se especializa en platos tradicionales como el ajiaco, una sopa de pollo y papa originaria de Bogotá y el mondongo, una sopa hecha con callos y vegetales cocidos a fuego lento (...) Un restaurante tranquilo, pero popular, ha dado la bienvenida a algunos de los músicos, políticos y artistas más famosos de Colombia para disfrutar de sus platos tradicionales”.

We prefer local hole-in-the-walls over polished restaurants that serve international fare. The latter seemed to be more dominant in Poblado but there are hidden gems that serve amazing food like Ajiacos y Mondongos. Open since 1991, this humble restaurant offers just three things on their menu – ajiaco, sopa de mondongo, and cazuela de frijoles.

Another popular restaurant for a fantastic taste of traditional Colombian food is Ajiacos y Mondongos. Located on Calle 8 not far from Parque Poblado it’s a pretty small restaurant that fill up quickly at lunchtime. Loads of photos on the wall would suggest this place is famous locally amongst Colombians.

You have to love a restaurant with only three options on the menu. Two of them are in the name and the third is a frijolada, the traditional bean stew that comes with fried pork belly, diced meat, avocado, rice, and crisps sprinkled on top for good measure. Oh, don’t forget the arepa, of course.

This family-run, hole-in-the-wall lunch joint strewn with religious artifacts oozes character and local color. It’s also one of the best places in town to get acquainted with classic Antioquian dishes; while you may try to resist, no one should leave Medellín without tasting the…

Una elección popular en Laureles, Ajiacos y Mondongos es conocido por sus exquisitas sopas colombianas como el Ajiaco y Mondongo. La dedicación del restaurante a las recetas tradicionales e ingredientes frescos lo hace una visita obligada para la auténtica cocina colombiana.

It’s been this way since 1991 with little changing in the interim. An obligatory pitstop for out-of-town celebrities when they’re in Medellin, this ultra-traditional eatery close to Parque Poblado offers the best ajiaco in town.

One of the best places to experience an authentic Colombian meal is Ajiacos y Mondongos, a little hidden away converted house in El Poblado that has been serving some of the best traditional food in Medellin since 1991.

Specializing in traditional Colombian dishes like ajiaco, mondongo, and sudado, this place is a must-visit. 📍Location: Calle 8 #42-46, El Poblado📲 Instagram: @ajiacosymondongos

Description: Famous for its Ajiaco and Mondongo soups, people all out of Medellin and beyond visit this local eatery for these soups. More information about this restaurant

Ajiaco is a heavy, potato-based soup that originated from Bogota. Additional ingredients include shredded chicken, corn on the cob, capers, and cream.