Beyond Tourist Traps: Eating Like a Local

One of the greatest joys of traveling is discovering local cuisine. However, many travelers end up eating at tourist restaurants with inflated prices and mediocre food. The best restaurants in any city are rarely in traditional tourist guides: they are in the neighborhoods where locals live and eat.

Whether you are looking for the best ajiaco in Bogotá, the perfect feijoada in São Paulo, the most authentic tacos in Mexico City, or a charming restaurant in Valletta, Malta, these tips will help you find authentic dining experiences anywhere in the world.

1. Use Local Discovery Platforms

Digital tools are your best ally for finding authentic restaurants. Encontrable is a platform specially designed to discover verified local establishments, including restaurants, cafés, and bars recommended by both residents and experienced travelers. Unlike large review platforms where anyone can leave an opinion, Encontrable focuses on the quality and authenticity of each recommendation.

Before arriving at your destination, spend time exploring the dining options available in the area. This will allow you to have a mental map of the places you want to try and optimize your time.

2. Observe Where Locals Eat

The oldest and most effective rule for food-loving travelers: if a restaurant is full of locals, the food is probably good. This applies worldwide:

  • In Colombia, the most popular corrientazos in Pereira and Bogotá usually have lines at lunchtime. That is a good sign
  • In Brazil, per-kilo restaurants in São Paulo packed with local workers at noon offer incredible variety at fair prices
  • In Mexico, taco stands with the longest lines are invariably the best. Locals know where the good food is
  • In Malta, restaurants outside the main tourist areas of Valletta offer authentic Maltese food at a fraction of the price

3. Ask the Right People

Not all locals will give you the same recommendations. These are the people who usually have the best gastronomic knowledge:

  1. Hotel receptionists: They know travelers' tastes and usually have balanced recommendations between quality and price
  2. Taxi or app drivers: They spend all day touring the city and know hidden gems in every neighborhood
  3. Baristas and coffee shop owners: They are usually passionate about gastronomy and know the local culinary scene
  4. Local market vendors: In markets like Paloquemao in Bogotá or the Municipal Market in São Paulo, vendors know the best nearby restaurants

4. Explore Local Markets

Markets are the gastronomic heart of any city. Besides buying fresh ingredients, many markets have food stalls offering traditional dishes prepared on the spot:

  • Paloquemao Market in Bogotá: exotic fruits and typical Colombian dishes
  • Municipal Market in São Paulo: the famous mortadella sandwich and tropical fruits
  • San Juan Market in Mexico City: unique ingredients and high-quality prepared food
  • Marsaxlokk Market in Malta: fresh fish directly from fishermen and Mediterranean dishes

5. Move Away from the Tourist Center

A general rule that works in almost every destination: walk 10 to 15 minutes away from the main tourist spots and you will find significantly better and cheaper restaurants. In Bogotá, for example, moving away from the tourist area of La Candelaria toward neighborhoods like Chapinero or Teusaquillo will reveal an incredible dining scene.

6. Look for Signs of Authenticity

These indicators usually signal an authentic restaurant:

  • The menu is handwritten or on a chalkboard
  • There are no excessively produced photos of dishes at the entrance
  • Staff primarily speaks the local language
  • Prices are reasonable and similar to what locals pay
  • The venue has a diverse clientele in age and profile
  • There is a house specialty that everyone orders
According to a study by Food & Travel magazine, travelers who eat outside tourist areas spend on average 45% less and report 70% higher dining satisfaction than those who limit themselves to tourist restaurants.

7. Leverage Technology in Your Favor

Besides Encontrable, which is your best tool for discovering verified local establishments, you can complement your search with:

  • Local social media: Search for city-specific gastronomy hashtags on Instagram
  • Local food blogs: Every city has food bloggers who know every corner of the culinary scene
  • Facebook groups: Many cities have groups dedicated to restaurant recommendations where locals participate

8. Try Street Food with Criteria

Street food is a fundamental part of the gastronomic culture in Latin America and many other destinations. In Colombia, empanadas and arepas on the street are delicious. In Mexico, street tacos are legendary. In Brazil, the acarajés of Salvador are unmissable. The key is to look for stalls with high food turnover (that means the food is fresh) and where you see many local people buying.

Discover more about the gastronomy of each destination in our gastronomy section. If you are planning a culinary trip, do not miss our destination guides and the travel articles with complete recommendations for each country.