| Yaroa | |
| Country: |  Dominican Republic |
| Region: | Latin America, Caribbean |
| Type: | Fast food |
| Main Ingredient: | Root vegetable, meat, cheese, condiments |
Yaroa is a Dominican street food that originated from Santiago.[1] [2] [3] It is made from French fries or a mash of a root vegetable or tuber such as plantain or yuca, then layered with meat and then cheese.[1] [4] [5] Condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard are also often added on top.[3] Beef, pork, chicken, or a combination of the meats is a common part of the dish.[1] [3] There are many versions throughout the country.[3]
Street food vendors in food trucks often sell the dish.[3] Because it is relatively quick and easy to prepare, it is suitably served as a fast food.[5] It is a popular street food often eaten by young revelers at night in a Styrofoam to-go container.[3] [6] Prior to its creation, the chimichurri burger and sandwich de pierna (pork sandwich) were the main street foods to eat at night.[4]
The name is derived from a neighborhood in Santiago.[1] At first, it was served in a hood neighborhood called El Iejido, then at the area around the Monument of Santiago by street vendors at about 1999.[4] [5] [7] The popularity spread to the point where a popular Dominican fast food chain now serves the dish.[4] Now it can be found internationally in places such as New York City[6] and Lawrence, MA.[8]
It has been compared to Canadian poutines, loaded fries and cheese fries.[4] [6]