It is a modern or contemporary dish that emerged in fast-food spots in Santiago de los Caballeros in the late 1990s, achieving wide acceptance and strong nationwide consumption today.

Its main base is layers of boiled (salcochados) ripe plantains or fried potatoes, topped with beef, ground or shredded chicken, melted cheeses, and drizzled with ketchup and mayonnaise. Another version is made with shredded pork leg.

The history of this dish is recent and tied to the city of Santiago de los Caballeros. The Toribio brothers, Jose and Oliver, in their fast-food business Oche a tu gusto in Santiago, are credited with its origin. Oliver, the creator of the yaroa, states that it was first made in 1999 and that in 2000 it was released to the public as the Dominican dish of the new millennium.

Toribio used to recount that the famous dish was born one night when he asked his wife what she wanted for dinner. She replied that she wanted something different, because she was tired of always eating the same thing. Oliver took several ingredients he had at the business, including fried potatoes, meat, and grated cheese, prepared them, and served them to his wife. While she was enjoying the dish, a customer and friend arrived, and upon seeing it, asked for the same. The customer loved it.

When they asked what the dish was called, Oliver said it did not have a name. Right away, Danilo Mesa, a friend of the couple, suggested calling it Yaroa, in honor of the town where Oliver’s wife was born, for whom it was first prepared. From that night on, Oliver and his wife adopted the name as the official one.

In addition to the ingredients mentioned, Oliver said it can also be made with fried potatoes or mashed ripe plantains (mangu), shredded pork, chicken, ground beef, or combinations of these meats, accompanied by condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, and, of course, cheese covering the dish.
Regarding the name, it is important to note that Gurabito de Yaroa is a section of the Yasica Arriba Municipal District in Puerto Plata. In that community there is also a river called Yaroa.

On August 22, 2023, Oliver, the creator of yaroa, passed away, leaving an unforgettable mark across the country. He was a pillar who kept his family united through love and a passion for Dominican cuisine.