Colombian food is having its moment in Australia: who cooks it and where to try it
27 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
In twenty years Colombian cooking went from nowhere to restaurants in every capital city. The stories behind it and where to try it in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Twenty years ago it was almost impossible to find a bandeja paisa in Australia. Today there are Colombian restaurants in every capital city, and the food isn't just for the community any more: more and more Australians order arepas, empanadas and grilled cuts.
SBS Spanish gave an episode of its food series to this moment, with three people who lived it from the kitchen.
The stories behind it
Frank Torres is one of the pioneers: he opened El Dorado when hardly anyone in Australia knew what Colombian food was. Juan Camilo Berbeo, a chef and butcher, specialised in Colombian cuts and opened Berbeo Bar & Grill in Melbourne in 2019. And Verena Puello Leal, from Cartagena, has been cooking for Melbourne since 2019 with Donde Mama, a family business.
All three agree on the hard parts: finding the ingredients from home (arepa flour, certain chillies and cuts of meat) and winning over customers who have never tried the food. Opening a food business in Australia is expensive and competitive, and many close along the way. The ones still going got there by pairing the family recipe with service the local crowd understands.
One country, many cuisines
Saying "Colombian food" is like saying "European food". The coast brings fish, coconut and patacón; Antioquia, the bandeja paisa and beans; the Valle, sancocho and pandebono; Bogotá, ajiaco. That's why two Colombian restaurants can look nothing alike.
Where to try it
Melbourne
- Berbeo Bar & Grill: grilled cuts with Colombian flavour, in the CBD.
- Del Alma in Prahran: arepas and home cooking.
- Costeñísimo in St Kilda East: Caribbean-coast food.
- Que Chimba Mor in West Melbourne: pasteles and empanadas.
Sydney
- Bucara Street Food in Ultimo: Colombian street food.
- Entre Parceros in Ashfield: traditional recipes.
Brisbane
- Sabores CBD in Spring Hill.
Is your favourite Colombian spot missing? Look it up in the Latinhood directory or add it yourself.
With reporting from SBS Spanish.
