By We all have our reasoning for traveling, be it seeing family who lives on another continent, venturing on that hike you waited years to get a permit for, or catching a concert of your favorite artist in an exotic destination. My reasoning has always been simple: I TRAVEL FOR THE FOOD! My belly and its voracious appetite has led me to some really unforgettable places, leaving me with memories that will last my lifetime. In this post I wanted to scratch the surface of the amazing dishes I devoured on my Latin America tour and the places those meals took me. Sit back, loosen that belt a bit and hang on for a culinary ride in the rich and savory.
I want to thank my parents for bestowing upon me an iron gut with the added benefit of not being allergic to any one particular food group. Ya’ll the real MVP of my traveling journeys. With that said lets dive into some of the must eats during my last stint abroad that included visits to:
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Peru and
- Bolivia
GUATEMALA
Starting off with a banger that was my culinary stop of Guatemala seemed quite unfair. I spent a month traveling through this sublime country, half of which was spent living at a homestay. This meant having access to some amazing home cooked meals courtesy of my homestay mother, Maria. I love anything flavorful with spices for a good kick and she never disappointed. She whipped up everything from traditional pepian stew (my damn favorite), tostadas topped with fresh greens, homemade tamales (three was never enough), and a bowl of caldo de res on those chilly nights.
My favorite dishes were when she would mix it up for us during lunch and dinner time. Hosting international travelers day in and out she wanted us to taste a bit of home with a mix of Guatemalan flair. Often we would see new dishes of fried meats (usually chicken and fish) accompanied by stir fried veggies of the local variety plated next to steaming rice. All of this served with fresh tortillas from the local vendors for both dipping and being a vessel from plate to mouth. Did I mention she makes her own hot sauce that kept me salivating at the mouth? Ever get a chance to stay at a homestay I highly suggest you don’t think twice.
That isn’t to say Guatemala isn’t known for its other foods, be it traditional or not. Some of the best ceviche I’ve had was a hole in the wall in Antigua (El Peroleto) that I’d pass by every day for two weeks until I decided to go in. Was it amazing? You bet your ass it was. If you find yourself here chat it up with the abuelita, and thank her for that amazing octopus and shrimp ceviche.
Continuing north to Flores and the tiny island now known for hosting its many backpackers you’ll find Bistro Puertas del Cielo where Bernie is the man to see. I wouldn’t have known about this gem at all had it not been for many backpackers recommending it time and time again. Naturally I had to visit of course and in tow were all my new mates I’d befriended along the way.
Bernie is somewhat of a legend of gastronomy in these parts, a Michelin worthy restaurant without the wait or price. He simply asks you what flavors you like, kind of veggies you’d eat, and sauces that stick out to you. Afterwards you’ll be sitting to a dinner he and his small team crafts on the spot in their small kitchen. If you’re lucky the man himself will sit down and explain the rhyme and reason for his dishes and a few of his adventures. On this evening I had a filet mignon with blue cheese sauce that was simply chef’s kiss. This was one of the best experiences I’ve had while eating on my travels that I could recall in recent memories.
That was until I checked myself into the Dreamcatcher Hotel located on Rio Dulce. Could it have been any more picturesque: a floating hotel on a river that emptied itself into the Caribbean? When you’re eating perfectly cooked Argentinean steaks by candlelight with roasted potatoes and tomatoes accompanied by egg plant lasagna, then yes, it can. The owner was super welcoming and by all standards a great chef. I would chalk this up as fine dining with extra flair, once in a while you have to treat yourself. Exactly what I did without hesitation.
Unassuming ceviche that slapped so hard. 
Say hi to her for me if you go! 
Dinner at Bernie’s … filet with blue cheese sauce and roasted veggies. Unforgettable. 
The man, the myth, the legend himself. 
Argentinian steak at a floating hotel on a river, what an experience. 
Fine dining in a floating restaurant: check!
Pro Tip: Eat all the fried chicken you can … seriously some of the best I’ve had in a LONG TIME.
HONDURAS
I spent the bulk of my time in Honduras on the island of Utila so it’s safe to say I didn’t get my fill of local fare. What I did do was stuff my face with baleadas every day! A local dish that involves a huge flour tortilla stuffed with anything you can imagine, within reasons of course, we’re not animals here. My usual go to would be beans, avocados, a protein (usually carne), topped with ample veggies and a super dousing of hot sauce. At less than $2 per it was HARD to beat for daily sustenance.
No visit to the island would be complete without a jaunt over to RJ’s. There’s some mystique to a place that only opens three days a week and every other day at that. I ordered up their T-bone steak with all the fixing and left thanking the universe I had worn expandable shorts. If you’re fiending some home cooking step over the Roxy’s Place where you can count on a different lunch menu every single day. I can’t recall what exactly it was that I had on my visit to Roxy’s, but her hospitality and warm aura pulled me in without hesitation and left me feeling more than satiated. The island vibes are hard to dismiss when it comes to serving up food that speaks to your soul.
A few must eats have to be their fried seafood, conch snail soup, and mondongo (tripe soup.) I realized how closely related some of the foods I ate during my stay is compared to that of my own country. Take the above mentioned for instance. Using parts of the animals not too many people think are appetizing and incorporating parts no one even though about using. That’s the type of food that speaks to me and my hungry belly.
EL SALVADOR
When I think of El Salvador two things come straight to mind: surfing and pupusas. Being in the ocean, surfing some breaking waves, followed by stuffing my face with endless amounts of pupusas is definitely the way to spend an afternoon. If you haven’t had these stuffed tortillas then you’re missing out. I won’t say I ate my weight in chorizo and queso pupusas while I was there but who am I lying to? These fried stuffed delights are things I dream about these days. From carne to pollo, fried beans to loroco, spinach and greens for the vegetarians it’s enjoyed by everyone. Got a big appetite? Get the loco serving which ends up being the size of your face. Served with a chilled tomato sauce accompanied by pickled greens on the side you can get stuffed to the gills with a few.
Being a country who’s biggest tourism pull is surfing you aren’t going to have to try hard finding seafood. I bided my time until reaching the El Tunco area to drown myself in shellfish, raw conch, and everything fried from the ocean. From baked lobster to a seafood stew, you’re going to want to loosen the pants a bit before diving deep into dinner by the ocean. You can’t get fresher than straight off the boat and into the steamer. Don’t forget to try the seafood pizza, ok!
Something I didn’t realize was just how much of a sweet tooth Salvadorians really had. I spent days indulging in aircon cafes with sweet blended coffees and teas while munching down on quesadilla (cheese cake), and tres leches (amazing!) Need something local to wash it down with? Then look no further than a cold glass of horchata which is a sweet rice and almond beverage. That should keep you cool enough in the hot summer sun.
BOLIVIA
I wish I had more time during my stay in Bolivia to discover all the amazing foods going down in this part of the world. Sadly, with a turbulent week ahead of me I made the most of what little time I really had before going back into Peru. This isn’t to say I didn’t eat my fill with recommendations from other travelers before me. Granted not everything I ate was of local origins, but rather a smorgasbord of things I was missing while still abroad.
First up was a full Irish breakfast … in La Paz? Why of course! Recommended to me by some mates I met in Peru, the Lucky Llama Irish Tavern is the place for a hefty meal after a red eye flight. Salty, meaty and a carbonated beverage to wash it all down with. Perfect. Keeping with something rather local I also tried the Indian food La Paz had to offer. Who would pass by spicy curry with llama in it? Not this guy. Head over to Curry House and ask for the dish spicy, you’ll see the owner smile ear to ear when you do. Want to skip the curry and get a burger instead? Cafe del Mundo boasts a solid llama burger you got to try. A bit drier, the meat, than what I’m used to in the states, the serving size will help quell any hungry belly. A place I REALLY wanted to try but couldn’t make it to is Bolivian Popular Food! Boasted as one of the better gastronomy experiences in La Paz if you got the time you ought to go! Opened only a few hours for lunch until the food runs out, you know it’ll be worth it. Report back if you go!
The remainder of my meals consisted of homecooked lunches and dinners prepped on my tour of the salt flats. Although not in the traditional sense I had the opportunity to enjoy what our guides cooked up for us during our adventure. A few of the things I missed out on were definitely the saltenas, a street food icon in these parts consisting of baked dough filled with various meats and a sweet or savory sauce. They also make their own versions of beignets, bunuelos, accompanied with a super thick api morada (corn based drink) served hot for those chilly nights. My waistline can thank those for its size increase.
PERU
By the time I had gotten to Peru my hunger for Asian flavors was at an all time high. You could say the msg monkey on my back was having the fit of the century. In conjunction of being excited for all the trekking I was about to embark on, the first order of business was finding an Asian joint in Lima. What? You flew to Peru to eat … Asian food? Listen, yes, I did.
Chifa (Chinese) cuisine is BIG in this part of the world. With their influence dating as far back as the 19th century it’s not hard to see that reflect in the local gastronomy scene. In and around Lima’s Miraflores district I had no issues of getting my fix of the traditional flavors of my childhood. I dove deep into udons and noodle soups while I was at it. Trust me, it isn’t exactly the same as back home, but worth it when you haven’t had it in as long as I had.
Did someone say fusion? As much as I hate this word the Peruvian/Chinese food combo slaps. Lomo saltado is something everyone’s got to try. This popular fusion dish sees tender beef stir fried with onions and peppers mixed with fries (potatoes did originate in this part of the world after all!) over rice. Hominess with style is what I’d call this plate. Don’t forget to try their papas a la Huancaina (potatoes in spicy cheese sauce which is FIRE), and anticuchos de corazon (chicken heart skewers) for a touch of that street food I know and love.
A visit to Peru is NOT complete without a deep dive into their seafood scene. Ceviche is BIG in this country let us not forget it. From raw fish dressed in a very sour dressing accompanied with corn and sweet potato to seafood soups and chowders they got you covered. Dishes ranging from traditional ceviche to ceviche mixto, arroz con camerones (rice with shrimp), to pariheula (crab stew), and pulpo al olivo can make one salivate at the mouth.
I found the best spots for seafood during my stay was always in the market restaurants. If you’re in Lima definitely check out El Rinconcito De Alex as it has been by far the best spot I found. Cheap, fresh, and delicious it had me coming back for seconds and thirds. If you want something more on the popular side within the Miraflores neighborhood swing by to Punto Azul and grab yourself a big serving of ceviche. A perfect in-between balance would be a visit to Restaurante Cevicheria Las Gaviotas boasting a SUPER unassuming spot serving up delicious meals at a solid price point. Alright, one more on the seafood train you should visit is Lobo De Mar where I got my first serving of ceviche and it was all over from there.
When speaking of traditional Peruvian dishes it’s hard not to address the elephant in the room. Down in these parts they do consume cuy, which is guinea pigs. As a person who wants to try everything at least once, I chose to skip this local delicacy. I saw one too many cuys on a stick in the markets that it stop becoming appealing in any sense of the word. Something about still having teeth attached I couldn’t do it.
On the opposite animal spectrum they also consume alpaca and llamas here, naturally. Both of these I tried in various iterations whether it was steaks, still weird to say, or burgers. Both animals were something I was NOT expecting to consume, but I was glad I did because the meat were in fact delicious. Dreaming of the alpaca ossobuco style.
I can’t finish off the Peru section of this blog without mentioning pisco sours! Arguably their national cocktail of choice and I can see why. A play on whiskey sours using their pisco wine/spirits distilled in country (hard to find in the states!) It’s both refreshing, relieving your taste buds from all the spices you in the ceviche, and a proper boozy afternoon in the sun type of drink. Want something non-alcoholic? Grab yourself a carafe full of chicha morada! Known as the purple drink, NOT THAT PURPLE DRINK, comprised of purple corn, fruits and spices that has been cooked down and the remaining elixir is quite magical. Think mulled wine, without the wine. I got a glass every chance I could to fend off the heat at lower altitudes!
P.S. let’s not forget about the PERUVIAN CHOCOLATE! If you’ve been reading along you’d know during my Peru stints I took a chocolate making class where you can learn all about its history. Of course making it was the draw as I left the class not only more knowledgeable about chocolates as a hole, but some sweets tucked away in my back pocket.
P.P.S. don’t forget to take a cooking class and show your friends back at home what you learned from your gastronomy adventures abroad!
One thing I wish I did more of during that trip was to eat more! Sadly, I did have a few bouts of traveler’s tummy during this stint than my last one in SE Asia. Overall I was incredibly happy with what I got to introduce my taste buds to. Not only were the meals themselves delicious, but the people I met along the way, sharing those meals in places not our own, was the worthwhile draw.
To my mates still abroad traveling, and those at home, this next meal is for you!
theroamingnoodle 
This article is truly a delicious visual feast! The author vividly presents the unique culture and flavors of Latin America through rich food experiences, making readers feel as if they are there. The detailed descriptions of each dish are mouthwatering. I look forward to seeing more of your travel shares, continuing to take us on a journey through the world’s cuisine!
LikeLike