Hey there, fellow foodie travelers! Today, we’re in Nicaragua, talking about food! There are so many cool things to do in Nicaragua, and all that sightseeing will definitely help you work up an appetite. If you want to experience traditional Nicaraguan food, there are some really good food in Nicaragua that we recommend trying. Remember, this is Central America, so that means every meal will likely feature beans and rice, aka Gallo pinto. Even breakfast!
Seafood
If you are visiting Nicaragua beaches, you should definitely have fresh seafood! Corvina is a popular fish served here, and you’ll also see ceviche on a lot of menus. Seafood across Central America is fantastic!
What to Know Before You Visit Nicaragua
Jalapeno Steak
The beef is pretty good in Nicaragua, and I like to have a “jalapeno steak.” It’s a steak smothered in a spicy, jalapeno sauce. It’s spicy but really tasty! If you like spice and you are craving steak, you have to try it!
Nacatamal
This is a tamale wrapped in a plantain leaf. (You don’t eat the plantain leaf!) Like Mexican tamales, there are many variations of this tamale. You might find rice and pork, or potatoes and beef. We even had some from a gas station, and they were delicious!
Nicaragua Street Food
If you get sick of Gallo pinto, Nicaragua has a lot of great street food. They even have things like hot dogs and hamburgers, and the French Fries are actually really good! Our favorite street food in Grenada is the Quesillo. It’s a tortilla filled with white cheese, spices, and crema. It’s messy and delicious! We also had something called vigron, which is a yucca base with chicharron on top. You’ll also see pupusa and elote, but my favorite street food in Nicaragua is tostones. These are fried plantains with cheese and they are super tasty!
How to Eat Cheap and Well While Traveling
Empanada
Another popular Nicaragua street food or snack is the empanada. I think every culture has this food – whether you call it a calzone, or pierogi, it’s very similar. An empanada is a doughy pocket baked with filling. Often it’s rice and beans, or cheese and meat. Empanadas are a great on-the-go snack that you can buy almost anywhere on your Nicaragua vacation.
Nicaragua Alcohol Drinks
There are two brands of beer that are local to Nicaragua. Tona and Victoria. They are both good, but I find Tona to be a bit smoother and easier to drink. You should also try Flor de Cana, which is the local rum made in Nicaragua. A Nica Libre is a rum and Coke, and they also make lots of frozen mixed drinks with rum.
Nicaragua Non-Alcohol Drinks
The first rule of drinking in Nicaragua is you do not drink the tap water! Bottled water is everywhere, and you can also get the usual international soda brands you drink at home. With so much fruit grown in Central America, there is a lot of fresh fruit juice to drink.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
We found that Nicaragua food was pretty good, and it’s so cheap! We often ate for $2 or $3 per person, including drinks! If you’re not sure what to order, ask your server to recommend something. Our Nicaragua vacation was one of our all-time favorite family trips; we can’t recommend it highly enough! Looking for more tips on travel in Central America? Check out some of these other blog posts!