Aruba has a surprisingly sophisticated gastronomic scene considering its tiny size. In fact, it is influenced by more than 90 different cultures and nationalities whose culinary heritage is highlighted across the 200+ fine dining restaurants on the island, as well as the numerous snack spots, canteens, and cafes. Nevertheless, some dishes and flavours are deeply rooted in the daily lives of the Arubans while others are more challenging to find. In any case, it is well worth the effort to track them down and pamper your taste buds with them. Here are some of the local flavours that your palate will thank you eternally for sampling.
Stobas
Another word for Aruban stews, stobas are comfort food made with goat or beef meat that is only found in restaurants specifically serving traditional cuisine, such as the Aruba Experience Cafe in Oranjestad. Nevertheless, many new restaurants and cafes are now entering the picture, offering interesting additions to the already appealing dish.
Pastechi
These stuffed, deep-fried, half-moon pastry pockets that hide a delicious treat inside them, be it tuna, chicken, beef, ham, or chop suey filling, are a favourite grab-and-go staple that is primarily eaten in the morning hours as part of a hearty, energy-boosting breakfast. It is also a cheap and handy snack that can easily accompany you to your outdoor endeavours.
Keshi Yena
Some people refer to it as the national dish of Aruba and is a meat-based casserole dish prepared with leftovers and baked with Edam Cheese in profound quantities. You may also find a keshi yena version stuffed with seafood that is less popular than its meat counterpart; yet, just as traditional!
Sopis
Despite being a tropical island, sopis (soups) sit on a pedestal in the Aruban cuisine, especially those made with fish (the type of fish used depends on the catch of the day). However, tripe soup (sopi di mondongo), alongside yambo (gumbo-style soup with okra and a slightly sticky texture) and sopi di pampuna (creamy pumpkin soup with salted beef and annatto seed) are equally mouth-watering!
Keri Keri
The original recipe calls for shark meat. Today, it is prepared with any firm whitefish. The dish uses leftover or flaked stew fish that’s combined with green pepper, tomato, celery, onion, basil, fresh basil, and achiote (sauteed annatto powder). You can find it served as is or with a staple like rice.
Pan Bati
Translated as smashed bread, it is a tasty pancake made with corn flour that you will see dipped in soups or used to soak up sauces. Some restaurants prefer to serve it either deep fried or hot with butter or covered in Dutch cheese (melted).
Typical Sides
Fried plantains (hasa), beans and rice (arroz moro), and funchi (cornmeal polenta) are all popular sides that usually come topped with melted cheese, black pepper, and sea salt, creating strong, lifelong ties with anyone that tastes them.
Ayacas
A Christmas Aruba staple with as many recipes as the local families that make it, this dish is now a treat available to everybody at spots like Taste My Aruba. It is a blend of ham, chicken or other meats that is spiced and mixed with ingredients like cashews, prunes, pickled onions, raisins, and olives, before it’s folded into a funchi envelope!
Siboyo Tempera
When mixing spicy Madame Janette peppers and slivered marinated onions, the Arubans give birth to an appetising, tangy, side condiment that goes exceptionally well with all Aruban dishes. That is if you can handle its fiery hot (though, a tad sweet, too) ingredients, of course! To make your culinary experience even hotter, you can add some pica, a popular local hot sauce, made from spices, green papayas, and killer hot Madame Janette peppers.
Food Trucks in Aruba
Getting your food after a crazy party from a food truck is something common in Aruba. This is why you can find great BBQ-to-go until the early morning hours (usually outside the tourist strip). Besides the food trucks serving a lip-smacking mix of salt fish, pork chops, chicken, ribs, and Johnny cake, there are also bread food trucks serving tasty fare to go across the island.
Sweet Treats
Kesio is a flan or crème caramel that is featured in almost all Aruban restaurant menus. Other popular desserts and sweets are cocada (a fudge-like coconut candy made with lime juice, brown sugar, and grated coconut), treats made with cashews, senchis (meringue kisses of various colours), and bolos (thin layer cakes with pistachio, cashew nut, or ponche cream).
Fish & Seafood
Fried or grilled fish (pisca hasa), either a whole fish or fillet, spiced with herbs (such as the local basil called yerba di hole) and paprika, and topped with red sauce made with tomato, onions, and peppers is a common dish served at most seaside restaurants.
In some of them, you may even watch the fishermen bring their catch from the pier straight to the grill of the restaurant! Others have their own deep sea charter that you can book with them and taste your catch onboard the vessel! As for seafood, fresh prawns, jumbo shrimps, and rock lobster are steamed or grilled to please delectable palates.
Food Traditions and Final Bits About the Aruba Dining Scene
That aside, any farmer’s market, such as Santa Rosa Farmers Market, is a great place to sample local products. Finally, the Food Truck Festival is an annual celebration where everybody participating can sample all the BBQ-to-go fare in a single spot with plenty of local beer and live music in the background.
Regarding food prices, they are slightly higher in Aruba than on the mainland, which is typical for a Caribbean island.
Aruba has a surprisingly sophisticated gastronomic scene considering its tiny size. In fact, it is influenced by more than 90 different cultures and nationalities whose culinary heritage is highlighted across the 200+ fine dining restaurants on the island, as well as the numerous snack spots, canteens, and cafes. Nevertheless, some dishes and flavours are deeply rooted in the daily lives of the Arubans while others are more challenging to find. In any case, it is well worth the effort to track them down and pamper your taste buds with them. Here are some of the local flavours that your palate will thank you eternally for sampling.
Stobas
Another word for Aruban stews, stobas are comfort food made with goat or beef meat that is only found in restaurants specifically serving traditional cuisine, such as the Aruba Experience Cafe in Oranjestad. Nevertheless, many new restaurants and cafes are now entering the picture, offering interesting additions to the already appealing dish.
Pastechi
These stuffed, deep-fried, half-moon pastry pockets that hide a delicious treat inside them, be it tuna, chicken, beef, ham, or chop suey filling, are a favourite grab-and-go staple that is primarily eaten in the morning hours as part of a hearty, energy-boosting breakfast. It is also a cheap and handy snack that can easily accompany you to your outdoor endeavours.
Keshi Yena
Some people refer to it as the national dish of Aruba and is a meat-based casserole dish prepared with leftovers and baked with Edam Cheese in profound quantities. You may also find a keshi yena version stuffed with seafood that is less popular than its meat counterpart; yet, just as traditional!
Sopis
Despite being a tropical island, sopis (soups) sit on a pedestal in the Aruban cuisine, especially those made with fish (the type of fish used depends on the catch of the day). However, tripe soup (sopi di mondongo), alongside yambo (gumbo-style soup with okra and a slightly sticky texture) and sopi di pampuna (creamy pumpkin soup with salted beef and annatto seed) are equally mouth-watering!
Keri Keri
The original recipe calls for shark meat. Today, it is prepared with any firm whitefish. The dish uses leftover or flaked stew fish that’s combined with green pepper, tomato, celery, onion, basil, fresh basil, and achiote (sauteed annatto powder). You can find it served as is or with a staple like rice.
Pan Bati
Translated as smashed bread, it is a tasty pancake made with corn flour that you will see dipped in soups or used to soak up sauces. Some restaurants prefer to serve it either deep fried or hot with butter or covered in Dutch cheese (melted).
Typical Sides
Fried plantains (hasa), beans and rice (arroz moro), and funchi (cornmeal polenta) are all popular sides that usually come topped with melted cheese, black pepper, and sea salt, creating strong, lifelong ties with anyone that tastes them.
Ayacas
A Christmas Aruba staple with as many recipes as the local families that make it, this dish is now a treat available to everybody at spots like Taste My Aruba. It is a blend of ham, chicken or other meats that is spiced and mixed with ingredients like cashews, prunes, pickled onions, raisins, and olives, before it’s folded into a funchi envelope!
Siboyo Tempera
When mixing spicy Madame Janette peppers and slivered marinated onions, the Arubans give birth to an appetising, tangy, side condiment that goes exceptionally well with all Aruban dishes. That is if you can handle its fiery hot (though, a tad sweet, too) ingredients, of course! To make your culinary experience even hotter, you can add some pica, a popular local hot sauce, made from spices, green papayas, and killer hot Madame Janette peppers.
Food Trucks in Aruba
Getting your food after a crazy party from a food truck is something common in Aruba. This is why you can find great BBQ-to-go until the early morning hours (usually outside the tourist strip). Besides the food trucks serving a lip-smacking mix of salt fish, pork chops, chicken, ribs, and Johnny cake, there are also bread food trucks serving tasty fare to go across the island.
Sweet Treats
Kesio is a flan or crème caramel that is featured in almost all Aruban restaurant menus. Other popular desserts and sweets are cocada (a fudge-like coconut candy made with lime juice, brown sugar, and grated coconut), treats made with cashews, senchis (meringue kisses of various colours), and bolos (thin layer cakes with pistachio, cashew nut, or ponche cream).
Fish & Seafood
Fried or grilled fish (pisca hasa), either a whole fish or fillet, spiced with herbs (such as the local basil called yerba di hole) and paprika, and topped with red sauce made with tomato, onions, and peppers is a common dish served at most seaside restaurants.
In some of them, you may even watch the fishermen bring their catch from the pier straight to the grill of the restaurant! Others have their own deep sea charter that you can book with them and taste your catch onboard the vessel! As for seafood, fresh prawns, jumbo shrimps, and rock lobster are steamed or grilled to please delectable palates.
Food Traditions and Final Bits About the Aruba Dining Scene
That aside, any farmer’s market, such as Santa Rosa Farmers Market, is a great place to sample local products. Finally, the Food Truck Festival is an annual celebration where everybody participating can sample all the BBQ-to-go fare in a single spot with plenty of local beer and live music in the background.
Regarding food prices, they are slightly higher in Aruba than on the mainland, which is typical for a Caribbean island.