Hey there, fellow foodie travelers! Today, we’re in El Salvador, talking about food! There are so many cool things to do in El Salvador, and all that sightseeing will definitely help you work up an appetite. If you want to experience El Salvador traditional food, there are some really good meals and drinks in El Salvador that we recommend trying.
Pupusas
Probably the most famous El Salvador food is a pupusa. It’s like the Mexican gordita; two tortillas with a filling in the middle. You can choose which type of tortilla, as well as what you want inside your pupusa. Beans, chicken, and cheese are popular fillings. Ask the locals you meet for their favorite pupuseria.
Beans & Rice
Beans and rice are major staples of El Salvadoran cuisine. They will be served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes, they are even served together. Hopefully, you don’t have an aversion to rice or beans because you will see them a lot. You may need a break from them by the end of your trip.
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Plantains
Plantains are another staple in El Salvadoran cuisine. If you haven’t tried plantains, they are similar to bananas and are very common in Central American countries. We’ve had plantain juice, stuffed plantains, fried plantains, and plantain chips. They’re also used in similar ways that we use potatoes in the United States.
Seafood
The seafood in El Salvador is fantastic. Snapper is very popular, as are prawns and shrimp. You also really should try the ceviche; it’s fantastic and super fresh, especially if you are on the coast. (Don’t worry if you don’t like seafood, there is also plenty of chicken and beef!)
Fruit and Fruit Drinks
Fresh fruit is plentiful in El Salvador, and you’ll have fantastic fruit and fruit juices. Liquidos is fruit and milk blended together, and they are delicious! Chances are, there will even be fruits you’ve never heard of, so take a chance and try something new amongst the Salvadoran fruit!
I really like the limonada con hierbas, which is a fresh lemonade with herbs mixed in. Chan is another fruit drink we enjoyed, although it is very sweet. Most of all, we recommend drinking horchata in El Salvador.
Whatever you do, don’t drink the tap water in El Salvador!
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Vegetables
Vegetables are also featured heavily in El Salvador cuisine. One of the most common is yuca, and you’ll see it in many different dishes. One of our favorites is yuca frita and chicharrones, which is a very popular snack that’s often something you’ll order with drinks between lunch and dinner.
Coffee
Neither of us is a coffee drinker, but we make an exception in El Salvador because the coffee is so good. So, whether you are a coffee drinker or not, make sure you try the coffee in El Salvador!
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We thought El Salvador food was pretty good, and it’s so cheap! You won’t believe how much food you get for your money in El Salvador. Also, note that dinner is on the earlier side here. Unlike Europe and larger cities where dinner is eaten very late, dinner in El Salvador is usually around 6 or 7:00. Looking for more tips on travel in Central America? Check out some of these other blog posts!