10 Foods or Dishes You Should Try if You Visit The Dominican Republic
My recommendation of foods and dishes to try if you visit the beautiful country.
Some of my fondest memories of the Dominican Republic were during my first visit with my late grandmother in 2008. It’s a trip I’ll never forget. My family's home country and nationality. I remember it being a bit of a culture shock for me. The minute I landed, though, I was hooked. The vibe and atmosphere were reminiscent of my home, New York; fast, people on the move, fast walking, hustling, and busy.
Some of the best memories I had of the Dominican Republic were of the fantastic food. I’m what you call a “foodie.” Food is life, and the Dominican Republic was my mecca. It was an interesting exploration of some local traditional foods and recipes similar to those from my relatives who cooked Dominican-style cuisine back at home.
With that in mind, I’ll be giving, in no particular order, my 10 best-recommended foods and cuisines you should try if you visit the Dominican Republic.
Before we begin, be sure to check out my 10 food recommendations if you visit Colombia:
1. Morir soñando
This is a classic and isn’t exactly food. It’s a drink. My grandmother made this for me, my sister, and my cousins when we were younger. A refreshing combination of equal parts orange juice and milk, mixed with a tablespoon of vanilla extract, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and ice on the finish. This drink is a staple in the Dominican Republic and goes great with breakfast.
The simple genius of this easy-to-make yet delicious drink is what makes it so appealing. If you cannot visit the Dominican Republic and want to make this from home, the ingredients are easy to find, cheap, and easily attainable. Please note, though, that the order in which you make this drink is critical.
You want to get any cup you use to drink. Fill the cup halfway with orange juice. Then you add 3 tablespoons of sugar to reduce the tanginess of the orange juice and make it sweeter. After that, add one tablespoon of vanilla extract. This gives the drink a nice flavor contrast and smooths out the drink's sweetness, so it doesn’t feel like you’re drinking pure sugar. Next, you want to get milk (if you’re lactose intolerant or can't drink milk, almond milk, or other milk alternatives work well, too), slowly incorporate the milk with a spoon as your pour with your other hand. This is so that the orange juice and milk don’t separate. They should be emulsified together.
Lastly, you want to add a couple of ice cubes, as this refreshing drink is meant to be drunk cold. Voila! If you follow these simple steps, you have yourself a delicious Morir Sonando. Enjoy!
2. Tostones
The green plantains from the Dominican Republic used to make this dish are a vibrant and beautiful color. They are fresher than the plantains you or I have had outside of the Dominican Republic.
Tostones are a delicious twice-fried side dish. The plantains are cut into bias (diagonal) pieces then pre-cooked (fried the first time) until they reach a light gold color. Next, the pre-cooked plantain pieces are flattened with a tostonera. Once the pre-cooked plantains are flattened, they are finished off in the second fry until golden brown.
Tostones are the perfect and popular side dish in the Dominican Republic and can be found in almost any local restaurant or small cafe.
3. Pica Pollo
You’re probably wondering what the f*** is Pica Pollo? I assure you that Pica Pollo is some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever try in your life. Dominican fried chicken has a distinct and unique flavor that is hard to describe. It has a bit of a sweet finish on the palate combined with the savory seasoning and saltiness. It was the best-fried chicken I’d ever had in my life, and I consider myself a connoisseur.
Pica Pollo can be found in almost any local restaurant near you in the Dominican Republic and is a delicacy you won't be disappointed in trying during your stay.
4. Sancocho
Sancocho is a meaty and vegetable stewed soup that is slow-cooked. It’s a hearty and delicious meal that is typically served with a side of white rice, lime, and avocado. You can add a dash of hot sauce for extra flavor and spice. The soup features a variety of at least 7 different meats, including pork.
If you’re a non-pork eater, this stewed soup is still worth your while with beef and chicken. It’s a delicious blend of flavor, texture, color, and contrast all in one bowl.
5. Mofongo
Many of you are familiar with this dish as it is very popular in the United States. The famous La Casa Del Mofongo in Washington Heights, New York, a part of New York with a high Dominican population, Mofongo is a trendy food and theme.
Mofongo is a combination of fried plantain, meat (Traditionally made with pork, but you can substitute), garlic, salt, and olive oil mashed in a wooden pilon and then served. It comes with a side of braised meat broth that completes the dish and brings out the garlic and plantain flavor.
6. Kipe
Kipe is what we call a fritura in the Dominican Republic. It is made with fried bulgur wheat stuffed with meat, peppers, and green olives. Many street vendors and local small cafes have Quipe in the Dominican Republic. It’s a cheap and quick finger food option that you can enjoy while you site-see in the beautiful country.
7. Arozz, guandules, y pollo guisado / Rice, stewed pigeon peas, and stewed chicken
Another classical dish. The combination of the stewed guandules with the white rice is good enough on its own. If you’re a vegetarian, a side of tostones to go along with the white rice, stewed guandules, and a side of avocado would be a great substitute for this dish. For those who eat meat, the stewed chicken is to die for (figuratively).
The seasoned chicken is seared off, then finished off with water and tomato paste until reduced into a nice semi-thick sauce. The gorgeous color of the meat and sauce packs a powerful flavor punch that is the perfect combination for the white rice and stewed guandules. The traditional spices and seasonings from the Dominican Republic make eating this dish there a unique experience.
8. Fried fish from Boca Chica
There’s nothing better than eating good food in paradise. That’s exactly what it's like when you visit the beautiful beach called Boca Chica, a town near Santo Domingo city. The clear blue water on the beach is a breathtaking sight next to the table and chair setups where you can enjoy a cold beer or delicious meal.
In Boca Chica, one of the first things you'll notice is the outdoor fried fish stands with a variety of different fresh fish that is marinated in seasoning. At the stand, you can personally point out the fish that you want to be fried and served to you. The smell of the seasoning and fried fish is amazing, but the taste is even better. If you love the beach, sun, beer, and great food, Boca Chica should be at the top of your list for places to visit in the Dominican Republic.
9. Helados Bon
This one brings me to the good times in my first visit with my Grandmother. I’ll never forget the day she brought me to this top-rated Dominican ice cream Franchise. It features a smooth and almost buttery-like textured ice cream and a variety of different flavor options. You can have it on a cone or cup, but the Ice cream is good enough to enjoy on its own without a cone. If you’re a “foodie” like me, you’ll appreciate the refreshing, smooth, not overly sweet delicacy.
10. Dulce de leche
For those of you that like to bring back souvenirs or treats for loved ones back at home, Dulce de leche is a fantastic option. Dulce de leche is slow-simmered milk with sugar and is made in a variety of different ways and forms depending on what you are using it for. This candy hits close to home for me because anytime milk was going bad, my grandmother would use the bad milk to transform it into dulce de leche.
The Dominican Republic has many souvenir-themed candy stores with lots of unique and traditional sweets. Dulce de leche milk fudge is the best one of them all, in my opinion. Even if you don’t have a “sweet tooth,” I would still recommend this candy because it isn’t too sweet, has an addicting chew texture, and can be kept in your fridge to be indulged over time.
