Recovery-Friendly Restaurants in Medellín
Soups, smoothies, and soft foods to keep you nourished while your mouth heals.
The first few days after veneers, implants, or oral surgery, you'll be living on soft foods. The good news: Medellín's food scene has you covered. Colombian cuisine features incredible soups, and El Poblado's international restaurants offer everything from smoothie bowls to pasta. Here's where to eat when chewing isn't an option.
Soups That'll Actually Fill You Up
Mondongo's
📍 Calle 10, El Poblado (Edificio Ovni) • 💵 $6-10
A Medellín institution since forever. Yes, Pablo Escobar ate here, but forget that—focus on the soup. Order the ajiaco: a rich chicken and potato soup that comes with a massive tray of toppings (avocado, rice, cream, capers, corn, arepa). It's $7.50, serves two people comfortably, and is perfect recovery food. Skip the tripe soup (mondongo) unless that's your thing.
Perfect for: Days 1-3 of recovery
Nino e Pastino
📍 Near Parque Lleras • 💵 $8-15
Italian comfort food with excellent soups and pasta. Their tomato soup is creamy and satisfying, and the pasta dishes are soft enough for tender mouths. Fresh, tasty, and the desserts are worth saving room for once you graduate to semi-solid food.
Perfect for: Days 2-5, transitioning to softer solids
Ganso & Castor
📍 Multiple locations including near MAMM • 💵 $8-14
French bistro style with a Colombian twist. Great tomato soup, sandwiches (when you're ready), and an excellent breakfast menu. The minimalist design creates a calm atmosphere for recovery days. Multiple locations around the city.
Perfect for: Breakfast/lunch any recovery stage
El Herbario
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $12-20
Upscale but worth it for the vegetable-focused menu. Their soups are creative and filling—try the coconut curry or the daily seasonal option. Also excellent salads (ask for soft-cooked ingredients) and risotto. Not fully vegetarian, but veggie-forward.
Perfect for: Nicer recovery meal, any stage
Smoothies & Juice Bars
When even soup sounds like too much work, liquid nutrition is your friend.
Betty's Bowls
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $6-12
Tropical smoothie bowls that are basically a meal in a bowl. Acai, pitaya, mango—blended thick so you can eat them with a spoon (easier than drinking through a straw post-dental work). Also offers toasts and lighter options. Vegan items clearly marked.
Best order: Acai bowl with soft toppings (banana, coconut)
Natto
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $8-14
Health-focused spot popular with the fitness crowd. Smoothies, fresh juices, acai bowls, and light meals. Everything is beautifully presented and genuinely tasty. Perfect for those watching nutrition during recovery.
Best order: Green smoothie or protein-boosted smoothie bowl
Cosechas
📍 Multiple locations • 💵 $3-6
Budget-friendly juice chain with locations all over Medellín. Fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, and fruit bowls. Nothing fancy, but reliable and affordable when you need quick nutrition. Great watermelon lemonade.
Best order: Custom fruit smoothie, no ice (less cold sensitivity)
Breakfast & Brunch Spots
Pergamino
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $8-15
Widely considered the best coffee in Medellín, but also excellent food. Scrambled eggs are soft and gentle on healing mouths. Pancakes, waffles (let them cool and soften), and smoothies round out the menu. Great atmosphere for lingering during recovery days.
Best order: Scrambled eggs or pancakes with coffee
Crepe & Waffles
📍 Multiple locations • 💵 $6-12
Colombian chain with a great mission (employs women from difficult circumstances) and reliably soft food. Crepes and waffles are gentle on healing mouths. Ice cream too, when you're ready for cold foods. Multiple locations including malls.
Best order: Soft crepe with fruit
When You're Ready for Real Food
By days 4-5, most people can handle softer regular foods. Here's where to graduate to:
Alambique
📍 El Poblado (hidden entrance) • 💵 $15-25
Colombian food with a creative twist in a gorgeous jungle-like setting. Portions meant for sharing. Live music many nights. The elevated comfort food is perfect for celebrating the end of your liquid diet. Rooftop terrace available.
La Causa
📍 Carrera 33, El Poblado • 💵 $15-25
Peruvian fusion with amazing sushi and ceviche. Soft fish that doesn't require aggressive chewing. The ceviche is fresh, flavorful, and gentle. Save this for when cold foods don't cause sensitivity anymore.
Mistura
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $18-30
Japanese-Colombian fusion sushi. Soft rolls, nigiri, and sashimi—all gentle on healing mouths. Multiple locations around Medellín and other Colombian cities. Great for a celebratory meal when your new smile is ready to show off.
Vegan & Vegetarian Options
Veg Station
📍 Calle 10, El Poblado • 💵 $6-10
Vegan Colombian food since 2014. Green smoothies, rice and veggie plates, and soft-cooked meals. Affordable and healthy. Perfect for plant-based eaters during recovery.
Lentaja Express
📍 El Poblado • 💵 $5-9
Vegan lentil and chickpea burgers, plus quesadillas and nachos. Ask for softer preparations during recovery. Handmade and organic focus.
Delivery Apps
Some days you won't want to leave your hotel. Download these before your trip:
- Rappi: The dominant delivery app in Colombia. Restaurants, groceries, pharmacy items—basically everything
- iFood: Another popular option with good restaurant selection
- Domicilios.com: Local alternative
Most El Poblado restaurants deliver via these apps. You can order soup from Mondongo's, smoothie bowls from Betty's, or pharmacy supplies without leaving your recovery cocoon.
Recovery Eating Timeline
What to eat when:
- Day 1 (procedure day): Room temperature liquids only—smoothies, lukewarm soup broth, protein shakes
- Days 2-3: Soft foods at room temperature—mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soft soup with small pieces
- Days 4-5: Soft regular foods—pasta, soft-cooked fish, rice dishes, thoroughly cooked vegetables
- Days 6+: Gradually return to normal eating, still avoiding very hard or crunchy foods
Foods to Avoid
- Hot temperature foods: Can increase swelling and bleeding risk (let things cool)
- Crunchy/hard foods: Chips, nuts, raw carrots, crusty bread
- Spicy foods: Can irritate surgical sites
- Acidic foods: Citrus, tomatoes in excess (can sting)
- Straws: Suction can dislodge blood clots after extractions
- Alcohol: Thins blood, interacts with pain medication
Grocery Stores for Recovery Supplies
If your accommodation has a kitchen, stock up:
- Éxito: Large supermarket chain, good selection
- Carulla: Upscale grocery with quality prepared foods
- D1: Budget option for basics
- Jumbo: Another full-service option
Look for: yogurt, bananas, avocados, eggs, soft bread, instant oatmeal, protein powder, soup packets.
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