Andrés Carne de Res Chía
Colombian restaurant · Chía ·
Theatrical celebration of Colombian food, revelry, and dance
Theatrical celebration of Colombian food, revelry, and dance
"This place’s fame surpasses borders, and for good reason. It specializes in grilled meats and typical Colombian dishes: Plan to share so that you can sample the arepas de choclo (sweet corn cakes), papas criolla (Colombian potatoes), chicharrones, lomo al trapo (cloth-wrapped grilled beef), and plátano maduro relleno de queso y bocadillo (baked plantains stuffed with cheese and guava). The rest is pure fun: live music, over-the-top decor, and improv actors. If you want to party, Saturday is the best night (and the toughest reservation). It’s well worth the 45-minute drive to Chía for the true experience in one of Colombia’s most unique restaurants, though the Bogotá location will give you a good approximation of the original." - Liliana López Sorzano
"A countryside asado outpost located in La Calera at a higher altitude than the city; it's a destination-worthy barbecue experience that requires a longer car trip and is best scheduled later in your visit to avoid worsening altitude symptoms." - Lesley Suter
"A legendary, theatrical dining destination known for an over-the-top, kitschy atmosphere and hearty meat-centric fare; menu highlights include abundant grilled and braised meats, juicy braised chicken with baked potatoes served alongside ají criollo, and indulgent calentaos." - Juliana Duque
"Founded as a roadside grill in 1982, this vast, eccentric destination—part restaurant, part nightclub, part theme park—has become a theatrical celebration of Colombian food and revelry. Recommended repeatedly by chefs and diplomats alike specifically for its arepas and dancing, it sprawls across multiple buildings and dining rooms, seats thousands, employs hundreds, and features supervised kids’ areas, a dog daycare, hammocks for sleeping off excesses, a rock-climbing wall, roaming performers, multiple dance floors and a DJ booth. The kitchen, led by Marco Antonio Beltrán Rodríguez, turns out consistently excellent traditional dishes: stellar empanadas and delicate papas criollas; arepa de choclo, arepa de maíz and atorreja de maíz; hearty soups like ajiaco and cuchuco de trigo; a salt-crusted beef tenderloin and other robust meats; spicy shrimp ceviche; crisp pork belly; and a long dessert list that includes meringue cake with guanábana and bright lulo juice. With a 76-page menu covering ceviches, dozens of plantain preparations, offal, an extensive spirits selection and even tobacco offerings, the place resists being a watered-down clubstaurant and instead acts as an exuberant, uncompromising ambassador for Colombian cuisine and nightlife—intense, convivial, and unforgettable, especially given the altitude-driven propensity to drink more than you expect." - Ryan Sutton
"For an unforgettable night out, venture to Andrés Carne de Res in Chia, about an hour outside the city. You will be greeted with a shot of tequila at the door before feasting on steak, ceviche, and aguardiente." - Travel + Leisure Editors