local street vendors: "don't miss the kebab guy" El Cocuy Restaurant Tip by richiecdisc

There were a few other places to eat in town but they were all pretty empty which to me is not a good sign so on the few occasions we didn't eat at Villa Real we ate vendor food in the main square. This mostly consisted of deep fried items like empanadas and arepas which were quite good. They were very busy and walking into one was a bit daunting at first since as gringos you just stand out so much in a town like El Cocuy. Surely, they must wonder why you don't go to a proper restaurant since we can obviously afford it but once they see you enjoying their “cheapie” food they seem to warm up to you.

Favorite Dish: Most of these “shops” are now permanent though only open in the evenings but there is one guy who sells kebabs from a makeshift stand also only in the evenings. These were very good and we got to be good customers since we would generally eat at least two each. It probably was extravagant for them but they weren't very big and by western standards were very inexpensive. It was only 5200 COP (less than $3) for four kebabs and two arepas. He was very welcoming and always found a little spot for us to sit and eat our goodies.

Comparison: least expensive
Directions: On the main square
Price: less than US$10
Rating: 5
Theme: Street Vendor