The food is good in Bolivia -- it's just not terribly varied. The diet here is rich in meat, corn, and potatoes. For breakfast, it's common to eat salteñas (either chicken or beef, spiced with onions and raisins, and wrapped up in a doughy pastry shell). In most towns, you'll find vendors selling them on nearly every street corner. It's also very easy to buy freshly squeezed orange juice on the street. Most typical Bolivian restaurants offer similar menus with local specialties such as ají de lengua (cow's tongue in a chili sauce); picante surtido, which consists of sajta (chicken in a chili sauce) and saice (chopped meat in a chili sauce); and silpancho (a very thin breaded piece of veal with two fried eggs, onions, and tomatoes). Chuño putti (dehydrated potatoes mixed together with milk and cheese) is a popular side dish. Usually, these restaurants also offer more international fare such as filet mignon, pineapple chicken, pasta, and omelets. In La Paz, there are a good variety of ethnic restaurants, including Japanese, Korean, French, German, and Italian. Outside La Paz, pizza and pasta are as international as it gets. To combat altitude sickness, many people drink mate de coca, which is tea made from coca leaves. Tri-mate tea, a combination of three herbal teas, is also a popular after-dinner drink. Fresh fruit is the most popular dessert. Flan (egg custard) is also available at many local restaurants. Meals are listed according to Very Expensive, $20 and up; Expensive, $15 to $20; Moderate, $10 to $15; and Inexpensive, under $10. Prices shown don't include beverages or tax.
