Mondongo's — Restaurant in Medellín

I recently visited Mondongo’s, a well-known restaurant located on the bustling Calle 70 in Medellín, surrounded by countless bars and restaurants. Despite how busy the area was, I was pleasantly surprised to find a table almost immediately. The service was fast, and the staff was attentive throughout my visit.

I wanted to try as many dishes as possible, so I ordered the “Típico con Mondongo,” a combination of bandeja paisa and mondongo. For drinks, I had a refreshing limonada natural, and for dessert, I chose the traditional mazamorra.

Let’s start with the highlight: the mondongo. It was absolutely phenomenal — rich in flavor, perfectly seasoned, and served with fresh cilantro on the side. It instantly took me back to the flavors of my hometown, Ayacucho in Peru. It was, without a doubt, the star of the meal, and rightly so, given the restaurant's name.

As for the bandeja paisa portion, it was a bit of a mixed experience. The chicharrón was flavorful and tender, the fried egg was cooked perfectly (not too runny, not overdone), and the sweet plantain was spot on. The rice was as expected — simple and consistent.

However, the carne molida was disappointing — dry and lacking flavor. The frijoles were just okay, nothing particularly memorable. Considering the price point, I felt that this portion of the dish didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Finally, the mazamorra was underwhelming. It was cold, bland, and honestly, not worth ordering. In my experience, the best mazamorras are found in tiny roadside towns, where they’re made with care and tradition — this one just didn’t come close.

If I return to Mondongo’s, I’ll definitely stick with just the mondongo — it’s truly exceptional and worth the visit. As for the bandeja paisa and mazamorra, I think there are better versions to be found elsewhere in Medellín, both in terms of...

I came for the mandango and ended up getting a typical platter of rice beans meat and Maduro plantains. The mandango was pretty authentic and I enjoyed it. It was a smaller bowl with the platter but still quite a bit. More than any human could really eat. Drinks were pretty good as far as the Jugos. I went with a native Colombian and he was saying that this place is really too expensive for the typical Colombians. Obviously he didn't think it is as good as his local food stalls and his mother's food but he said it was very good. For me it was authentic enough and I really enjoyed it. The reason I liked it is it was comfortable. It was away from the street. It was a bit secluded and upscale as far as Columbia is concerned. Unfortunately we came about 1/2 hour before it closed and I know they wanted to get out but they were very kind and gracious. The waiter was amazing. The food was incredibly good for what it was. I highly recommend this place. This is a comfort zone for traveling Americans. It's not too expensive even for Colombian standards. It's a great meal it's a safe meal it's a comfortable meal it has amazing service. It has really really good food. Traditional foods you're going to want to taste. I would highly recommend this to any of my friends or family to make sure that this is either the first meal they get or at least one of their meals. As far as parking, my Colombian friend was able to park his motorcycle right out front with a ticket person on the street and he was able to watch it from the balcony. I wish I could have spent more time there but I didn't want to be rude and keep the poor people who were working all day, late. So we ate and got out of there. Tip was included. We just really...

TOURISTS & FOREIGNERS: DON’T LEAVE MEDELLÍN WITHOUT COMING HERE

If you’re in Laureles, Mondongos is the place to eat. No shade to the Poblado location, but the one in Laureles hits different. This was probably my fifth or sixth visit — and it keeps getting better.

Las porciones son enormes, los precios son absurdamente bajos, y el sabor es de otro nivel. The first dish I ever fell in love with here was the ajiaco — a comforting chicken soup loaded (and I mean loaded) with meat. They don’t skimp. It comes with a banana and half an avocado the size of your head. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

But my top-tier pick? Los tres medallones. Three tender cuts of filet mignon, cooked perfectly, served with that signature banana and avocado combo. Delicioso, y lo mejor de todo: el precio. I’m pretty sure it cost under $20 — maybe even less. In the U.S., you couldn’t get half of that for the same price.

Don’t skip the fresh juices. I’ve tried guanábana, mandarina, mora — all amazing. You really can’t go wrong.

Y si hablamos de servicio, este lugar brilla. Colombian hospitality is always solid, but at Mondongos Laureles, you’re getting five-star attention in what feels like a casual neighborhood spot. Every staff member is kind, attentive, and genuinely present.

Today, I want to shout out Juan Carlos Ramírez, un verdadero caballero. He was kind, thoughtful, asked all the right questions, and made sure everything was perfect. Mondongos, you’ve got a gem of an employee.

So please — be respectful, tip well, and trust me when I say: this is one of the best local experiences in...