15 Worst Rated South American Street Food

Hormiga culona are world famous fat-bottomed ants, an unusual delicacy from the department of Santander in Colombia. Originally harvested by the Guane Indians as a protein source, today it takes about five hours to gather the ants from their nests in springtime. Their bottoms get soaked in salted water, then they are fried for about 45 minutes and strained, while the wings get removed by hand. The snack is sold on numerous street corners, made with the addition of wine, or toasted with salt, while some upscale restaurants make their own gourmet versions of the dish. Providing a unique taste and flavor of Colombia, ants' bottoms can get seriously expensive due to the fact that they come out of their nests for only one or two days in a year, during the rainy season. They taste like peanut shells, salty and crunchy, and are sometimes also compared to pork rinds. The ants are large and always female, while some believe that they have aphrodisiacal properties, so hormiga culonas are sometimes even given as a wedding gift. Although it is an unusual food, the ants are believed to prevent high cholesterol in blood and are full of protein and Vitamin B, making it an unusual, yet healthy snack.Expand

Tortilla santiagueña is a type of flatbread consisting of wheat flour, melted cow fat, and coarse salt. The dough is typically baked on a parrilla until nicely brown. A classic Argentine treat, these tortillas are typical for the north of the country, but are especially popular in Santiago del Estero, where they are sold as street food on almost every corner. They are consumed hot, either on their own or with a ham and cheese filling, and usually accompanied by a cup of mate.Expand

Bollo is a traditional bun that can be made with corn, yuca, or potatoes. The bun is also very popular in Panama in Spain. Typically, it is served for breakfast, when it is accompanied by cheese on the side. All along the Colombian coast, bollo can be bought from numerous street vendors who are selling it freshly prepared from corn leaves in which the buns were wrapped before cooking, although it can also be easily found in various supermarkets.Expand

Cuy frito or cuy chactado is one of the oldest traditional Peruvian dishes that has been consumed since Incan times. It is made with guinea pigs, which are obviously not kept as pets in Peru – instead, they are fried to crispy perfection. The fried guinea pigs are said to taste similar to chicken (or as a cross between rabbit a chicken), but with a fattier flavor. The head is also edible, and that's the favorite part for many people. Cuy frito is usually eaten with your hands, and it's recommended to keep some napkins on hand as things can get a bit messy while eating it. This dish is typically served in cuyerías with corn on the cob, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, salsas, and salads.Expand

Sanduíche de chola is a Bolivian sandwich filled with roasted pork, salsa, llajua sauce, and vegetables such as carrots and onions. The ingredients are usually tucked inside large sandwich buns. This sandwich is mostly eaten in the afternoon and paired with a cold beer on the side. The word chola in its name refers to cholitas, the indigenous women who typically sell it on the streets of La Paz.Expand

Humitas is a dish popular throughout South America, especially in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. The dish consists of corn cakes that are cooked in corn husks. In Argentina, humitas are usually made with corn, onions, and spices, and depending on the region, milk, red peppers, cheese, and spring onions might also be added to the combination, which is wrapped in corn husks and boiled. In Ecuador, humitas are steamed and are usually made with ground corn, eggs, onions, and variable spices. The Chilean version adds basil and butter to corn and onions, and their humitas are boiled or baked. In Peru and Bolivia, people also prepare sweet humitas with added cinnamon and raisins. Regardless of the varieties, humitas can be found at almost all corner stores and food stalls throughout these countries.Expand

X-Tudo is an unusually tall burger originating from Brazil. Although not much is known about its invention, this burger (which means with everything or cheese everything when translated) has no fixed ingredients, but it always has many toppings. They often include beef patties, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, melted cheese, sausages, and fried potato sticks or shoestring potatoes. This mammoth of a burger is typically served in paper trays, and eating it is no easy feat – most people can't get their mouth around it because it's so huge, which makes for a messy eating experience.Expand

One of the most omnipresent local dishes in the Paisa region of Colombia is the traditional arepa paisa, made from soaked threshed corn that is shaped and grilled until golden brown. This crispy and luscious corn cake can be eaten on its own, served as a side dish, or stuffed with variable fillings such as cheese, meat, or eggs - you can eat it with whatever choice of filling you want. The versatility of the arepa paisa is only matched by the love the locals have for it - a typical breakfast in this region is centered on it (topped with butter, salt, and slices of cheese), and sometimes the dish is part of all meals of the day! And because you can find arepa paisa at every supermarket, street vendor or restaurant, there's always a perfect one available at all times.Expand

Pancho is an Uruguayan hot dog made with a sausage in a pan de Viena bun. The sausage often sticks out from the bun as it is usually longer than pan de Viena. Experts say that the pancho is all about the toppings, which vary depending on the region and vendors. Some of the favorite toppings include corn, mustard, cheese, onions, and salsa golf, which is a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup. If you're making pancho at home, it is recommended to serve it with a side of french fries.Expand

Plato paceño is a traditional dish consisting of a combination of lima beans, potatoes, corn, and fried cheese. In La Paz, it is typically consumed for lunch or dinner. Although the dish typically does not contain meat, there are many Bolivians who disregard the rules and put some meat such as grilled beef or pork on the plate. Locals also like to add the famous Bolivian hot sauce called llajua to plato paceño in order to add some spiciness to the meal.Expand