What is Menu del Dia in Colombia? Inexpensive Lunch for a Set Price

Menu del Dia is an inexpensive lunch option at many restaurants in Colombia. This is at a set price and typically includes meat, rice, soup and a drink

This fixed price lunch reported was originally a Spanish tradition and law, which was a menu created to offer an affordable, filling and nutritious lunch option for workers.

This lunch special can also be called “Ejecutivo” menu in Colombia. This lunch special is normally offered from noon to about 2 pm and often includes a soup or salad, a main meal, drink and sometimes, a dessert.

The aim of this fixed-price lunch menu is to offer well priced meals, while still having good quality food.

Lunch special promoted on a chalkboard outside a restaurant

Menu del Dia in Colombia

This lunchtime option is available small family run restaurants throughout Colombia and the menu is often displayed outside on a chalkboard like in the above photo.

These lunchtime specials can be a cheap but good quality with prices typically ranging from about 8,000 to 20,000 pesos ($2 to $5 USD).

Also, there are some well-established chain restaurants in Colombia starting to offer lunch deals to compete with the small local restaurants.

Ordering this lunch special will give you one main dish (such as beef, pork, chicken or fish) with soup or salad and drink, and some restaurants even provide a complimentary dessert!

Now, let’s take a look at a couple of examples in Sabaneta.

There are over 50 restaurants within walking distance of Parque Sabaneta with Menu del Dia lunch specials

Menu del Dia in Sabaneta

I live in Sabaneta, which is the smallest municipality in Colombia. There are over 50 restaurants in Sabaneta that offer Menu del Dia.

Two of my favorites for lunch specials in Sabaneta are at Ladrillo y Verde and Restaurante San Miguel.

Ladrillo y Verde is a popular restaurant in Sabaneta with good food that is a hidden gem not discovered by many foreigners yet.

Ladrillo y Verde is an open-air hidden gem restaurant located in Sabaneta, which has some good food and a nice open-air ambiance. This restaurant has inexpensive lunch specials available for only 12,000 pesos (about $3 USD) plus offers deliveries in Sabaneta.

Inexpensive Menu del Dia lunch special for only 12,000 pesos at Ladrillo y Verde

At Ladrillo y Verde the lunch special includes a choice of fish, beef, pork or chicken and comes with a small salad, soup or beans, rice, French fries and a juice of the day.

Restaurante San Miguel is located near popular Parque Sabaneta in Sabaneta. It is located across the street from the Markepaisa grocery store.

Inexpensive lunch special for only 11,900 pesos at Restaurante San Miguel

Restaurante San Miguel has lunch specials for only 11,900 pesos (about $3 USD), which include a choice of beef, pork, chicken or chicharron, with soup or beans, rice, a small salad, fresh avocado and juice.

This is just two examples in Sabaneta. There are over 50 more. And throughout the Medellín metro area there are probably thousands of restaurants that offer lunch specials.

For example, we previously looked at Saladpan and Café Cliché in Laureles that have Menu del Dia lunch specials.

The Bottom Line: What is Menu del Dia in Colombia? Inexpensive Lunch for a Set Price

The button line is that Menu del Dia is an inexpensive lunch option found at many restaurants in Colombia. This is a lunch at a set price and typically includes meat, rice, soup and a drink, with a price normally between $2 to $5 USD .

In addition, we included Menu del Dia in our list of cheap things found in Medellín for expats.

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