Vibrant street art, lush mountain landscapes, and a palpable, infectious sense of renewal define this eye-opening exploration of a nation fiercely stepping out of its dark past. Filmed in 2008 for the fourth season of No Reservations, this journey through Medellín and Cartagena actively works to dismantle the tired, sensationalized narratives of violence that long plagued the country. The culinary landscape here is a joyous, hearty celebration of indigenous roots, Spanish influences, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, bursting with fresh tropical fruits, massive plates of pork and beans, and incredibly vibrant coastal seafood. The narrative angle is profoundly optimistic, focusing on the resilient, beautiful people who are reclaiming their streets and their culture through the universal language of food. It is a powerful, deeply moving tribute to the sheer willpower and the spectacular, unpretentious flavors of a rising nation. Dive into this essential guide to the markets and eateries that define modern Colombia.
In 2008, when Bourdain traveled to Colombia for season four of No Reservations, the country was still shaking off decades of violent reputation and emerging as a vibrant, complex culinary destination. Colombian food is incredibly diverse, defined by its dramatic geography—from the fresh, vibrant coastal seafood of Cartagena to the heavy, calorie-dense mountain fare of Medellin designed to sustain grueling physical labor. His angle was a celebration of this profound transformation. He wanted to document a nation looking inward, embracing its own indigenous ingredients and traditional recipes rather than imitating European trends. He plunged into the chaotic energy of the Bazurto Market in Cartagena, seeking out the brightest, sharpest ceviches, and then traveled up to the Andes to tackle the notoriously massive, heart-stopping bandeja paisa. It was an exploration of a culture that uses food to connect with its past and fuel its optimistic future. Let’s map out the essential, unapologetic spots that defined his Colombian journey.
When Anthony Bourdain visited Medellin and Cartagena, Colombia on his show No Reservations, he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased in a convenient list.
This is No Reservations, season 4, episode 12. It first aired on July 14, 2008.
READ MORE: ANDREW ZIMMERN BOGOTA: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS
DISH – Ceviches – Anthony Bourdain Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
Anthony Bourdain had ceviche, octopus in corozo sauce and langostino with Cuban sauce.
“Nice, and the colors are amazing, I love that. Damn that’s good, I love that sweet, spicy, little bit of sour and that um…orange taste, it’s really nice.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
La Cevichería
Calle Stuart por el hotel Santa Clara Calle 39 #7 14, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
DISH – “Colombian Market Food” – Anthony Bourdain Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
Anthony Bourdain sampled some market foods like mangoes, oranges and caimito then they went to a stall and ate seafood rice, turtle and turtle eggs.
“Unfortunately I found out later that gamera here is actually like endangered. But turtle’s been a part indigenous cuisine here for so long, that endangered or not, they still eat it.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
Bazurto Market
Mercado Bazurto, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
DISH – “Colombian Street Food” – Anthony Bourdain Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
They had chunchurria – pig intestines that are deep-fried – with a cornmeal cake topped with cheese and condensed milk. They also had pig’s ears.
“Anywhere you go in the world, where there’s an enlightened food culture, you find someone on a street selling pig parts and beer. Cheers to that, love it here.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
Medellin, Colombia
NOTES
The exact name and address of the street food stall is unknown.
DISH – “Traditional Colombian Dish” – Anthony Bourdain Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
They had different kinds of chorizo of different regions, rice soup with different toppings like shredded beef, avocado and bits of sweet plantain, grilled steak with salsa on top, fish wrapped in plantain topped with shrimp and passion fruit sauce and Aguardiente.
“I’m very excited by what you’re doing here. I think the best thing that’s happening in gastronomy right now is this kind of looking inward. This is the best food, if you don’t respect and love these…these traditional recipes in your country then there’s…then there’s no future. We should celebrate this.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
Queareparaenamorarte
Carretera vía Las Palmas, La Fe, Retiro, Antioquia, Colombia
Antioquia, Colombia
NOTES
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
READ MORE: ANDREW ZIMMERN CARTAGENA: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS
DISH – Calentao – No Reservations Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
They tried empanadas – a pastry with spicy meat and potato filling in a crispy cornmeal crust – and calentao made of leftover rice and beans, fried egg, arepa with cheese, fried plantain and meat.
“This makes the grand slam at Denny’s feel like a carrot stick.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
Plaza Minorista José María Villa
Cl. 55 #57-80, La Candelaria, Medellín, La Candelaria, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Medellin, Colombia
DISH – Bandeja Paisa – No Reservations Colombia
WHAT IS IT?
Anthony Bourdain visited Brasarepa located in Medellin, Colombia.
They had bandeja paisa, a famous dish made of beans, rice, fried egg, chorizo, chicharron, avocado and meat.
“This is good, I’m liking this food. But I’m not gonna make it all the way through.” -Anthony Bourdain
WHERE IS IT?
Brasarepa
Medellin, Colombia
NOTES
Unfortunately, the exact address of this restaurant is unknown.
READ MORE: COLOMBIA: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON PARTS UNKNOWN
This 2008 episode was pivotal in showing the world a different side of Colombia—one defined not by conflict, but by immense culinary richness and resilience. Bourdain’s enthusiastic embrace of dishes ranging from street-side chunchurria to the intimidatingly large bandeja paisa highlighted a culture that eats with genuine joy and zero
The Colombia episode remains one of the most culturally significant and emotionally resonant chapters in the entire series, perfectly illustrating food’s unique power to heal and unite a fractured society. By focusing on the incredible warmth of the locals and the spectacular bounty of the land, the show successfully challenged viewers to rethink their outdated, heavily biased perceptions of the nation. The joyous, overwhelming experience of tackling a massive Bandeja Paisa stands as a beautiful metaphor for the country’s own larger-than-life spirit and enduring resilience. It is a brilliant testament to the transformative power of travel and open-mindedness. Let this vibrant, flavor-packed adventure serve as the ultimate catalyst for discovering the magic and the magnificent culinary heritage of Colombia.
