Yaroa

Yaroa is a common Dominican food that originated in Santiago, and is made from fried potatoes or mashed root vegetables or a tuber such as plantain or yuca, then layered with meat and then cheese. It is often added on top. Beef, pork, chicken, or a combination of meats is a common part of the dish. There are many versions across the country.

The dish is often sold by street vendors in food trucks since it is relatively quick and easy to prepare, aptly served as a takeaway, and is a common street food often eaten by young revelers at night in a styrofoam container. Prior to its inception, the chimichurri burger and di perna sandwich (pork sandwich) were street food staples to eat at night.

The name is derived from a neighborhood in Santiago. At first, it was served in a hooded neighborhood called El Iejido, then in the area around the Santiago Monument by street vendors around 1999. The popularity spread to the point where a popular Dominican fast food chain now serves the dish. Now they can be found internationally in places like New York City and Lawrence, Massachusetts.

It has been compared to Canadian fries and cheese fries.