Food in Aruba: 10 Must-Try Local Dishes You Can't Miss

Aruba’s cuisine is a delightful journey of flavors, a testament to the island's rich cultural heritage and diverse influences. If you've ever wondered "What food is Aruba known for?", we’ve got you covered with this top 10 of Aruba’s culinary favorites and must-try local dishes, desserts, and drinks:

·  Pastechi

·  Keshi yena

·  Funchi and pan bati

·  Sopi

·  Stoba

·  Pisca hasa

·  Ayaca

·  Aruba’s snacks

·  Cocada and bolo

·  Aruba Ariba

Best food in Aruba: A traditional must-try!

Our One happy island is not only known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife but also for its mouthwatering cuisine. Popular food in Aruba, including fresh seafood caught in its clear waters and exotic fruits grown on the island, offer a delightful blend of flavors. They reflect the island's Dutch, African, and Indigenous roots, showcasing a diverse culinary heritage. This blend of flavors contributes to what many consider the best food in Aruba. Are you curious what the national dish of Aruba is? It’s keshi yena, a savory stuffed cheese dish filled with chicken, canned tomatoes, green olives and other flavor bombs.

We’ve enlisted more traditional Aruban dishes below, each of them telling their own story of our island’s past and present. And should you be interested in making these must-try local favorites yourself, here’s an overview of Aruba recipes. Get ready to go on a culinary adventure - and pick which dishes you would want to sample while you’re here.

1. Pastechi – Aruba’s golden breakfast hero

Pastechis are crescent-shaped fried pockets of pastry with a slightly sweet, flaky dough. Although pastechis have the same shape and color, a pastechi can be filled with different ingredients: cheese, beef, chicken, tuna, or even Indonesian-style chop suey. You’ll find Aruba’s most popular pastechi snack everywhere, from bakeries to food trucks. For something extra, check out Huchada Bakery or The Pastechi House in Oranjestad.

Where to try it:

·   The Pastechi House [Oranjestad] – Local favorite with classic fillings

·   Huchada Bakery [Santa Cruz] – Big portions, fresh every morning

·   Bright Bakery [Santa Cruz] – Old-school, no-nonsense flavors

2. Keshi Yena – Stuffed cheese casserole

Keshi yena is a classic Aruban casserole. This favorite dish consists of spiced meat or shredded chicken, olives, and raisins baked in a crust of Gouda or Edam cheese. Some restaurants swap in seafood or vegetarian fillings. For the real deal, try it at Papiamento or The Old Cunucu House.

Where to try it:

·   Papiamento Restaurant [Noord] – Served in a garden setting with heritage vibes

·   The Old Cunucu House [Palm Beach area] – Traditional-style recipe

·   Gasparito [Noord] – Local art gallery meets Aruban comfort food

3. Funchi Fries and Pan Bati – Treats made from cornmeal

Funchi is Aruba’s version of polenta. These local treats made from cornmeal are served in various ways. Funchi comes either creamy, grilled, or fried. One of the most favorite Aruba snacks is funchi fries, the local spin on potato fries. As a potato replacement, funchi is cut then fried, and served the same as regular fries, only slightly thicker. A great place to try funchi fries is Local Store in Noord.

Other food in Aruba to try is pan bati, a slightly sweet flatbread with a fluffy texture that pairs perfectly with stoba (stews) and sopi (soup). Are you wondering what pan bati means? Pan is the Papiamento word for bread and bati means beaten, so literally translated pan bati means beaten (flattened) bread.

Where to try it:

·   Kamini’s Kitchen [San Nicolas] – Comfort food with Caribbean flair

·   Gostoso [Oranjestad] – Affordable and authentic

·   Zeerover [Savaneta] – Great with fried fish

4. Sopi – Soups that hit different

An absolute local favorite is sopi, translated: soup. From hearty beef and goat to fish-based broths and pumpkin purées, Aruban soups bring bold, home-cooked flavor. While a variety of soups are available in Aruba, including international favorites such as French onion soup an specialty soups such as Surinamese saoto soup and peanut soup, traditional local soups to try are:

• Sopi di Mondongo - made from diced tripe slow-cooked with fresh vegetables 

• Sopi di Pisca – made from fresh fish and can be spicy when it contains Madame Jeanette (green pepper)

• Sopi di Pampuna – a creamy soup made from pumpkin, tomato and onion in a broth base 

Where to try it:

·   The Old Cunucu House [Palm Beach area] – Known for their soups

·   Peanuts Restaurant [Oranjestad] – Local spot with rotating daily soups

·   Local food trucks – Look for weekend specials in San Nicolas

5. Stoba – Caribbean stew

Make sure to have a taste of Aruba’s flavorful stoba, or stew. There are different stews in Aruba, based on various protein. A traditional stew and local favorite amongst Aruba dishes with an impactful bite is cabrito stoba, goat stew. A more common stew in Aruba is beef stew. For seafood lovers Aruba’s conch stew is a must-try. This stew consists of slow-cooked conch (calco stoba) in a savory tomato-based gravy. These tasty Aruba dishes are traditionally served with rice, funchi, or pan bati. Want to try to create a stoba at home? Here’s a list of traditional Aruba recipes.

Where to try it:

·   Kamini’s Kitchen [San Nicolas] – Goat stew (cabrito stoba) with homemade flair

·   The West Deck [Oranjestad waterfront] – Great view, great stews

·   O’Niel Caribbean Kitchen [San Nicolas] – Known for local classics and calco stoba

6. Pisca Hasa – Straightforward fried fish

Pisca hasa is the Papiamento term for lighty fried fish, usually the catch-of-the-day. Therefore, pisca hasa can differ per restaurant and per day, as the fish used will depend on the fresh catch. Fried fish is often a local fish such as grouper, red snapper and mahi mahi.

Pisca hasa is usually served with plantains, pickled onions, and local sides such as pan bati. Zeerover in Savaneta is the go-to restaurant for pisca hasa. It’s no-frills, fresh, and unforgettable.

Where to try it:

·   Zeerover [Savaneta] – Locally caught fish, fried on the dock

·   Fish House Aruba [Varadero] – Seafood with a harbor view

·   Red Fish [Eagle] – Casual and consistent local favorite

7. Ayaca (Hallaca) – Holiday tamale hybrid

Ayaca is a traditional dish, originally from Venezuela, that is also known as hallaca. In Aruba the ayaca became synonymous for the Holidays. A hallaca, or ayaca, is made with cornmeal dough and filled with seasoned meats, olives, raisins, and capers. The stuffed dough is folded together, then fully wrapped in banana leaves and tied together with roasting rope. No wonder in Aruba ayaca became a Christmas-season special, as it truly looks like a wrapped present on your plate. You’ll spot ayacas during the holidays or at traditional events.

Where to try it (seasonal):

·   Home-based vendors in December – Ask locals or markets

·   Papiamento Restaurant [Noord] – Occasionally on holiday menus

·   Ritz-Carlton [Palm Beach] or Renaissance [Oranjestad] – On holiday buffets

8. Aruba Snacks – from balchi di pisca to bitterballen

Arubans love their snacks, so you won’t have to venture out far to have a taste of some of the island’s most popular snacks. Typical Aruba snacks are pastechi (nr 1 on this list), funchi fries (nr. 3 on this list), balchi di pisca (fried fish balls), cala (black-eyed pea fritters), and bolita di keshi (fried cheese balls). You’ll be able to taste these Aruba snacks at local eateries, bakeries, snèks and bars.

Balchi di pisca are often available at Aruba restaurants serving traditional fish dishes such as Fish House Aruba, and Pika’s Corner. An all-time local favorite is a Dutch snack called bitterballen (deep fried meatballs, filled with ragout and covered in breadcrumbs). These Aruba snacks are best enjoyed with a cold local beer such as Balashi or Chill. Bitterballen usually are also part of a ‘snack platter’ that often consists of a mix of Aruba snacks and Dutch bites including frikandel, chicken nuggets and vlammetjes (spicy fried snacks). Sweet snacks to try are Dutch poffertjes, the miniature version of pancakes.

Where to try them:

·   Dutch Pancake House [Oranjestad] – For Dutch snacks (poffertjes) and sweets

·   Café The Plaza [Renaissance Marketplace] – Classic Dutch-Aruban bites

·   Local bars like Local Store , Café 080 or 5 O’Clock Somewhere – Beer and bites combo 

9. Cocada and Bolo Borracho – Aruba desserts & sweet treats

Aruba knows how to finish a meal. Tastes vary and the best dessert in Aruba comes in different shapes and forms. From refreshing locally made gelato, to sugar-rich sweets and rum-drenched cakes. Try typical Aruba desserts like bolo borracho (rum-soaked sponge cake), kashupete (cashew cake), a rich cake with cashews, milk, rum and brown sugar, and quesillo (Aruban flan), made with eggs, sugar, condensed milk and evaporated milk. A wide variety of local cakes and other Aruba desserts is listed on the menu of local restaurants, at bakeries and supermarkets. Typical local sweet treats are cocada (coconut candy) made with brown sugar, water and fresh coconut juice, and stroopwafels (waffles with caramel filling).

Where to try them:

·   Bright Bakery [Santa Cruz] – Grab-and-go sweets

·   Caribbean Bakery [San Nicolas] – Homemade local sweets and Aruba desserts

·   Wilhelmina Restaurant [Oranjestad] – Upscale versions of local desserts 

10. Aruba Ariba – The local cocktail

Aruba Ariba is the island’s signature drink. This fruity, tropical cocktail from Aruba was created in 1963 and has been a local favorite ever since. The Aruba Ariba cocktail combines vodka, rum, crème de banana, and fruit juices like pineapple, orange, and cranberry, with a splash of grenadine and a garnish of orange and cherry. Chances are, Aruba Ariba will be offered at your favorite beach bar, on a happy hour menu, or at a bar-hopping experience such as Kukoo Kunuku.

Where to try it:

·   Hilton Aruba [Palm Beach] – Original birthplace of the Aruba Ariba cocktail

·   Bugaloe Pier Bar [Palm Beach] – Great drinks with a sunset view

·   MooMba Beach Bar [Palm Beach] – Party vibe, cold drinks, toes in the sand

·   Basically anywhere on the island

Exploring Aruba's food scene is an integral part of your travel experience. Each bite offers a taste of the island's rich history and diverse cultural influences. From the savory Patacon to the sweet Cocada, the best food in Aruba is a delightful journey of flavors that goes beyond the dining table, offering insights into the island's traditions and way of life.