The Dominican Republic offers a wide variety of succulent dishes. The delicious blend of Spanish, African, and Taino cuisines abounds in a variety of fresh products and spices, offering exotic flavors that will leave you asking for more!
Dining in Punta Cana
Most visitors in Punta Cana stay in all-inclusive hotels and even though these hotels provide an excellent array of choices for the most demanding palates, you shouldn’t miss going out to the local restaurants and trying some of the traditional Dominican recipes. Whether you first try them at your hotel’s Dominican Night or if you step outside and enjoy a truly unique dining experience, these dishes are not to be missed!
Below I have selected some of the Dominican favorites you should include in you “must try” list:
Mangu
Made of mashed plantains with butter and onions. This dish is the Dominican “mashed potatoes”. It is usually served for breakfast along with fried or scrambled eggs, bacon, or fried meat.
La Bandera (The Flag)
This national dish is a popular combination of white rice, red beans, fried plantains, vegetables, and broiled, grilled, or fried chicken or meat.
Sancocho
Famous in all the hotels in Punta Cana, a heavy stew made with several different types of meat, plantains, and roots. It is usually served with white rice and avocado. Add a few drops of hot sauce (Tabasco-sauce) to kick it up a notch on rainy days.
Locrio
An adaptation of the Spanish paella, usually made with pork or chicken.
Mofongo
Contains cooked and mashed plantains mixed with garlic and bacon that are formed into a ball and fried.
