Dominican Republic food: get a taste of the Caribbean

Trying the Dominican Republic traditional food is an essential part of any trip to the island. Influenced by cuisines including African, Taíno and Spanish, it’s a great way to get to know the local culture in depth.

To taste the flavors of this island, you’re going to need to apply for a Dominican Republic eTicket. You need it to enter and to leave the country. 

Key ingredients of the Dominican Republic food

The food of the Dominican Republic includes basically every single food group. Some typical ingredients found in Dominican Republic traditional food are: plantains, yuca (cassava), seafood, rice, corn, wheat, beans, potatoes, mangos, bananas and oranges.

Staple dishes of the Dominican Republic food

Arroz con habichuelas (rice and beans)

Rice and beans (arroz con habichuelas) is a typical dish of Dominican Republic food. As the name hints, this Dominican dish consists of rice cooked with beans (red kidney beans or black beans).

It can be eaten as a side dish or as a main course. 

Tostones

Tostones, also called fritos verdes, are a staple of not only Dominican Republic food, but of all the regional cuisines of the Caribbean.

They are smashed and twice-fried slices of unripe plantains. Tostones can be eaten as a side dish or on their own. 

Sancocho

This Dominican Republic traditional food is a stew, eaten in special occasions and festivities. The ingredients are usually meats and vegetables mixed with herbs and spices. Although there are multiple versions of Sancocho (for example, a seven-meat stew!), it’s usually served with rice and avocado. 

Pollo Guisado (stewed chicken)

Pollo Guisado is a very common dish of Dominican Republic food, and a typical Dominican lunch. 

It’s basically a chicken stew served over rice, flavored with vegetables like onions, tomatoes and bell peppers. Delicious!

La Bandera Dominicana (the Dominican flag)

This dish is the perfect symbol of Dominican Republic food. The name translates to “the Dominican flag”, so it’s no surprise that it’s the national dish of this Caribbean island. 

Eaten primarily for lunch, it’s made with rice (the white in the Dominican flag), meat (the blue) and stewed red beans (the red). Besides those basic ingredients, it can also be served with others such as avocado, tostones or even a salad.

Los tres golpes with Mangú (the three strikes with mangú)

Los tres golpes (the three strikes) is a typical breakfast in Dominican Republic food. It’s served with mangú, which is the Dominican word for pureé. In this case, it’s a green plantain mangú.

This dish is as filling as it gets: the three strikes are fried cheese, fried salami and fried eggs, served with mangú and onions. What better way to start the day?

Sweet Dominican Republic traditional food

Habichuelas con dulce (sweet beans)

A bean-based dessert? Don’t be afraid to try it: it’s delicious! It’s basically impossible to pinpoint which ingredients are in habichuelas con dulce, every cook has their own recipe. It can be made with a red bean pureé mixed with condensed milk, coconut milk, butter, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and many more ingredients. It’s a typical Easter dessert, made to be shared with loved ones. 

Bizcocho dominicano (Dominican cake)

The bizcocho dominicano is a typical dessert featured in all kinds of celebrations (birthdays, weddings, etc). It has a pineapple filling, flavored with vanilla and orange juice, and a meringue icing (called suspiro or “sigh” in the Dominican Republic).

Tres leches cake (three-milk cake)

This dessert is a staple of not only Dominican Republic food, but of Latin American food as a whole.

It’s a sponge cake bathed in whole milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk (there are the three milks!). It’s topped with whipped cream or suspiro icing. A sweet treat for the ages!

Dominican Republic food: typical drinks

Discover the beverages representative of the Dominican Republic. If you’re interested in trying our alcoholic suggestions, be aware of the fact that the legal drinking age is 18.

Rum

Rum is the most popular alcoholic drink in the Dominican Republic, and also one of the country’s main exports. You definitely have to try the local brands, which can be drunk on their own or in cocktails (like daiquiris or Cuba Libre, made with Coca-Cola). It also makes for a great souvenir!

Brugal is the most commonly found brand. Some others worth trying are Barceló, Kirk and Sweeney, Bermudez and Quorhum.

Presidente Beer

Presidente is the local beer of the Dominican Republic. Since it’s better served ice cold, it’s the perfect drink for a hot Caribbean day. Don’t leave without trying it at least once!

Mamajuana

This popular Dominican drink traces its origins back to the Taínos, the native inhabitants of the island. However, Mamajuana was originally a non-alcoholic drink: it was the Spanish who added the alcohol.

Nowadays, Mamajuana is made with herbs and tree bark, all soaked in rum, red wine and honey. It’s believed to have healing properties, helping digestion and blood circulation, but it’s also seen as an aphrodisiac! Try it to see for yourself. 

Morir Soñando (to die dreaming)

This non-alcoholic drink was created in the Dominican Republic. It’s made with orange juice and evaporated milk (an innovative combination!), mixed with sugar and ice. Sometimes it’s drunk as a snack instead of accompanied with a meal.