Foreign Food Entrepreneurs Invest in Colombia, and Thrive!

Colombia is a sought-after destination for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to share their culture and food in an extremely diverse, welcoming and apparently profitable market. In Colombia, restaurants from various nations offer exquisite dishes that provide an authentic taste of their gastronomy. ColombiaOne explored the stories of four such international cuisine restaurants in the country.

International cuisine in Bogota: ‘Salonika’ traditional Greek food

Giorgio Sitaras, a Greek entrepreneur, came to Colombia eleven years ago with his brother to open a Greek restaurant in Cartagena after realizing that “there was a lack of great offerings of this cuisine in the country.” After its success, he decided to open “Salonika,” his restaurant in the popular Parkway area of Bogota in 2017. “Colombians loved Greek food. Who wouldn’t?,” Sitaras says.

After spending several years on the coast, Sitaras adopted a noticeable “costeño” accent, typical of the region. He is a fan of Colombian food and explained: “Here, it’s a different style of cuisine, which I also love, but it’s different. They use more corn, which we don’t use as much.” While he recognizes there aren’t many similarities between the two cuisines, he explains that “there are some similar things, like the meat, the potatoes, the vegetables.”

The best-selling items at Salonika, “are the Gyros, made from meat on a vertical rotisserie that cooks slowly. They also love Tzatziki and Greek salad. We offer what could be called Greek fast food.” Regarding the ingredients for his dishes, Sitaras explained that it used to be challenging to find them, but now it’s easier. “Greek yogurt, olives – it’s not very difficult nowadays,” he said.

Sitaras recently opened his new restaurant, Pylio, specializing in Greek pastries expanding international cuisine in the Parkway area. The site features a delightful array of offerings, including their celebrated baklava—a sweet delicacy filled with finely chopped nuts, soaked in syrup, and adorned with dried fruits.

‘Chapati Halal’, a 100% Pakistani food in Medellin

Ziauddin Ahmad, a Pakistani man, opened his restaurant, Chapati Halal, six years ago in Mall Vegas 10 in El Poblado, Medellin. Ahmad came to Colombia 29 years ago to work with a handmade carpet business. After a year and a half of traveling between both countries, he finally settled in Bogota, where he lived for 18 years, before eventually settling in Medellin.

His restaurant, derives its name from “Chapati,” a famous bread in Pakistan, and “Halal,” indicating that the food adheres to Islamic dietary laws. Chapati Halal offers authentic Pakistani cuisine, prepared “100% the way it’s cooked in Pakistan,” Ziauddin explains.

Ziauddin admires the Colombian culture, and the Colombian people, notably for their amability. “Here, it’s great. You know who your neighbors are, you greet them, and you ask them questions. The culture here is beautiful.” He also expressed his fascination with the Colombian soup, “Sancocho”.

He highlights the stark differences between Pakistan and Colombia: “In Pakistan, there is no alcohol, no nightclubs, and no casinos, which are abundant here.” Far from his land, he also misses the four seasons in Pakistan, where “each season brings an abundance of different fruits, unlike here.”

Authenticity is paramount for Ziauddin. “Here food is cooked the same way as in Pakistan.” This bet seduced the Colombian clients. Three dishes in particular are favored by his customers. First is Biryani, “A mix of basmati rice, which is imported. It can be with chicken, lamb, or beef. People love them.” The second dish is stewed lamb, known for its unique flavor “not found elsewhere in Colombia.” Third, Ahmad highlighted his imported lentils stewed with cheese, “excellent for vegetarians.”

‘Spizzica’: Authentic Italian food in Cali, Colombia

Italian Umberto Terzi arrived in Colombia in 1994 and ventured into the food business with Italian ice cream. Between trips back and forth to Italy, he and his wife, Maria Fernanda Lopez, a native of Cali, “started looking at a few businesses we had in mind, and then we ended up setting up an Italian pizzeria (Spizzica) in 2012.”

“From day one, we did very well,” Terzi said. At one point, they had four locations in the city, but the pandemic forced them to close two of them in malls. “Fortunately, we’ve recovered from that dark period,” he explained. Today, his restaurant operates in two places in Cali. “We just remodeled the original site, our main location, which has allowed us to achieve everything we’ve done in these 14 years,” Terzi explains.

Spizzica, widely known for its variety of typical Italian dishes offers delights ranging from its famous pizza to sandwiches, panini, pasta, and cappuccinos. “With the latest renovation, we added an ice cream showcase, and we also prepare meat dishes for those who want protein,” Tezzi explained.

The Italian entrepreneur shared his perspective on international cuisine in Colombia, saying, “It has grown tremendously. Many years ago when I arrived, options were minimal.” Moreover, Umberto Terzi highlights, “For Italians, food is culture. Cooking is about enjoyment in preparation, eating, and sharing. Sitting at the table with friends or family and eating together is one of life’s pleasures.”

‘Oppa Asado Coreano’: Pioneering foreign and Korean food in Medellin, Colombia

Han Min Lee, better known as Brandon Lee, is a Korean entrepreneur who quit his job at Samsung to backpack around the world. During his travels, he fell in love with Colombia and eventually settled in Medellin.

Inspired by a friend’s suggestion to open a Koren restaurant after preparing him a simple Korean dish, Brandon conceived the idea to open ‘Oppa Asado Coreano,’ a restaurant specializing in Korean BBQ. With legal assistance from a Colombian lawyer friend, his project became a reality, and the restaurant is celebrating its seventh anniversary this year.

Initially, Brandon faced challenges as many Colombians were unfamiliar with Korean cuisine, often mistaking it for Chinese. However, he saw this as an opportunity to introduce them to authentic Korean flavors. Oppa Asado Coreano offers traditional Korean BBQ, and other popular dishes such as Bokkeumbap (fried rice), Korean ramen, and Bibimbap (a typical Korean bowl).

From the beginning, Lee had a clear vision of what he expected from his restaurant: “My goal is to become the first Korean restaurant franchise in Colombia, one that everyone will recognize. When people think of Korean BBQ in Colombia, I want them to think of Oppa Asado, just like how Frisby is known everywhere.”

Reflecting on his connection to Colombia, he added, “Colombia is my second home, though I cannot say if I will reside here indefinitely. I aspire to create a lasting legacy so that I can be remembered as the trailblazer who introduced Korean cuisine to this country.”