Burger Market - American Food - Bogota, Colombia

I thought there was no better place for hamburgers in Colombia than "Hamburguesas El Corral". After several recommendations from friends, last weekend I went to Burger Market, not once but twice, and it turned to be a great gastronomical experience!! I haven't seen on a menu so many different types of hamburgers: Angus meat, Turkey, Cajun, Tuna, Salmon, Veggie, Quinua, etc. They all seemed delicious, it is really difficult to make a choice, specially because all the ingredients are perfectly chosen and free of fertilizers. Their slogan is "Natural just the way you want it".

Additionally the chef Daniel Kaplan is an expert on meat: starting on the breed and raising of the animal  and continuing with the maturation process and meat cuts. 

On friday night I shared with my friend a Turkey and a Veggie burger. It was 10 pm o a little bit later, our order took around 40 minutes to arrive, and the service was poor. Maybe because of the time, it took so long, but if they open until 1 am, this should not happen.  Fortunately the food was amazing: the turkey burger with mayonnaise and BBQ sauce was awesome, there is no place in Bogota where you will find such a tasteful (no red meat) hamburger, and the size is just perfect. The veggie burger composed by a big mushroom mayonnaise and avocado is also delicious, specially the the guacamole gives it yummy taste.  For a healthy hamburger meal this two types of burger are the best combination ever! I finished my evening thinking I had to come back for lunch to taste a Angus meat hamburger.

On Sunday I woke up thinking on nothing else than Burger Market. I invited two different friends, they both ordered the turkey burger and loved it. I had to eat the hamburger that has the chefs name: Angus meat, onion rings, bacon, tomatoes and lettuce. The taste of this burger is amazing and the meat is juicy and tender. Order your hamburger with "papas rusticas" or onion rings.

The restaurant is spacious and the decoration is really nice. I want to go back a thousands times; and taste every single hamburger, steak, ribs or chicken in the menu. Two thumbs up for the owner and chef of this restaurant!

Address: Carrera 14 No. 83-53. Zona Rosa.
Telephone:  2579047
Monday to Wednesday 12 m.   to 10 p.m.
Thurday to saturday until la 1 a.m.
Sundays 11:30 a.m to 6 p.m.

Ternera a la Llanera or Mamona - Los Llanos (Villavicencio), Colombia

 

The Ternera a la Llanera or Mamona is the typical food of Los Llanos Orientales in Colombia. Los llanos are conformed by the following departments: Meta, Vichada, Casanare and Arauca. Last weekend I visited this beautiful area; 3 hours away from Bogota you will find Villavicencio which is the capital city of "El Meta". This is a place with gorgeous country sites, amazing landscapes, a great variety of vegetation, hot weather  and many different animals like cows, horses, birds, etc.

You will find this dish on different restaurants placed on the road. Tender meat from a small cow is cooked on a type of bonfire, which gives it a smoky flavor. Generally the side dishes are boiled yuca and potato, also you can also ask for "aji" which is made with avocado and creole chili peppers which gives this a spicy and delicious flavor.

First, you can stop in any restaurant and ask for "la pruebita" a small piece of meat so that you can taste it. Second, if you like it you can ask for a portion (prices vary between 10,000-25,000 pesos which are USD 5 to USD 13 ). And third, enjoy your meal and indulge it with some "refajo" the combination of beer with Colombiana the typical colombian soda.

My recommendation is to ask for the thinner, not fatty, part of the cow. It tastes better and it is easier to eat it.