Have you ever had that crucial moment in the middle of the afternoon when your stomach is growling and you know you need a snack ASAP? The answer is always yes; we've all had it. But your cravings are not the ones you can find in an office vending machine — plain chips are great and all, but they don't compare to a great empanada, a quipe, or even a bag of Takis. It's a fact you and I know to be true: Latin American snacks are just way better. Proof is ahead in our list of the best sweet and salty snacks Latinx love to eat.
Taínos
These cookies are sold all across Latin America and come in different flavors including this vanilla cookie dipped in sprinkles.
Quipes
Quipes are dough filled with ground beef and are usually sold in street stands or bakeries. We suggest adding a touch of hot sauce to make them a bit spicy.
Barrilete
If you're ever in the mood for a soft treat, this taffy will hit all the right spots.
Croquetas
This savory snack is just fried, breaded bits of either ground ham, codfish, or chicken.
Serenata de Amor
It's a Brazilian cashew candy filled with chocolate and "pure love," as the name suggests.
Tequeños
Get ready to say OMG. These fried cheese sticks are addictive. They literally melt in your mouth as you take a bite.
Vero Mango
If you're looking for a touch of sweet and spicy, then this is the snack for you. It's a chili-covered, mango-flavored lollipop.
Choco Break
The best part about this little chocolate treat is that it comes with an array of fillings like strawberry, dulce de leche, and cookie crumbles.
Pão de Queijo
It's literally cheesy bread in the shape of a ball, and it's the fluffiness that we can't get away from. They are sold across Brazil in stands and even some restaurants.
Bon Bon Bum
Sometimes all you need is a lollipop as a snack. This Colombian version comes in different flavors like mango, passion fruit, tangerine, and more.
Empanadas
Empanadas can come with all sorts of fillings (cheese, shrimp, chicken, beef, the sky is the limit!), and that's the best part.
Frunas
We all love Starbursts, but this Latin American version is so much better (sorry, not sorry). These chews come in big packs or are sold individually at bodegas.
Ajonjoli
Ajonjoli is sweet, salty, and crunchy. The bite-size snack is made with sesame seeds and honey.
Papas Rellenas
Balls of mashed potatoes filled with ground beef, onion, chopped olives, and peppers — yep, yep. This is one snack that will fill you up instantly.
Maní Moto
These peanuts are sweet and salty, so they're great for a midday snack.
Takis
These rolled-up tortilla chips come in an array of flavors — and none of them disappoint.
Pinchos
All you have to do is marinate some meat, grill it, and put it on a stick with a slice of bread on top. Yum!
