What and where to eat in El Salvador? Typical dishes

For many people the essence of every culture lies in its cuisine, a reflection of many different influences. For this reason, gastronomic tourism is becoming more and more popular and food is considered a key point in planning our travel itinerary. If you feel the same way and you are organizing a trip to this wonderful country, you probably wonder what are the typical dishes of El Salvador.

In that case, you don’t need to look any further. Here is a list of dishes that you should not miss on your trip, so that you get to know the Salvadoran culture and its gastronomy. Of course, pupusas, the national dish of the country, should be the first thing you try when you arrive. Keep reading!

What are the typical dishes of El Salvador?

1. Pupusas, national dish of El Salvador

Pupusas are not only one of the most typical dishes of El Salvador. Since 2005 they are also its National Dish and one of the symbols of the country.

Pupusas consist of corn tortillas filled with different ingredients such as cheese, refried beans, pork scratchings or loroco, an edible flower typical to Central America. The dough is hand-kneaded and filled with the chosen ingredients. Then, it is flattened to give it the shape of a tortilla and cooked on a hot griddle. They are served hot with a tomato and chili sauce and cabbage salad or other pickles.

Pupusas are very popular throughout the country and can be found in the street stalls throughout the cities, as well as in restaurants.

2. Salvadoran Tamales, one of the most typical dishes of El Salvador

There are different traditional tamale recipes in El Salvador that vary in flavor, ingredients and preparation. The corn tamale is one of the most popular. It is made of tender ground corn and mixed with lard, salt and sugar. Another type of tamale is the chicken tamale, filled with shredded chicken, potatoes and carrots, and wrapped in banana leaves. Another traditional tamale of El Salvador is the bean tamale, filled with refried beans and wrapped in bijao leaves. There are also tamales pisques, without meat but with cheese, and tamales de chipilín. In these tamales they use chipilín, a native plant, along with cream and mozzarella cheese.

These are some examples of the different varieties of tamales that you can try in El Salvador. If you don’t have time to try them all, you should at least choose one and taste its flavor and unique texture.

3. Sopa de Patas (or Cow’s Feet Soup in English)

The “sopa de patas” is another typical dish from El Salvador. This traditional dish consists of a thick and hearty soup made with beef feet, vegetables, spices and herbs. The feet are simmered for several hours until they become soft and jelly-like. This gives the soup a unique and pleasant texture. Additional ingredients, such as yucca, yam, onion and coriander, are added to the soup, giving it a delicious flavor and smell. The “sopa de patas” is considered a nutritious and delicious dish, perfect to regain strength after an intense day of travel.

4. Fried yucca

Fried yucca is a typical dish from El Salvador, and other countries such as Honduras. You can’t miss it on your trip because of its delicious flavor and consistency. It usually consists of boiled and fried yucca accompanied by pork cracklings or other types of meat. The yucca is cut into pieces and boiled until tender, then fried in hot oil to give it a crunchy texture on the outside and soft on the inside. The chicharrones, fried pork chunks, are served with the yucca when they are well browned and crispy. This dish is usually served with a spicy tomato, chili and onion dressing, known as “chimol”, very popular in other dishes as well. Yucca with chicharron is a very tasty dish and, although abundant, is served as a starter in menus.

5. Indian chicken soup

The other classic soup of Salvadoran gastronomy is made of Indian hen, a local fowl. In addition to the hen, they use other ingredients, such as vegetables, spices and aromatic herbs. The hen is simmered for several hours so that the meat softens and releases its flavor into the broth. Vegetables, such as carrots, celery, onion and chayote, are added to the broth to complement the flavor of the meat and add a touch of freshness to the soup.

This soup is served hot and often they add rice, avocado and tortillas to make it more filling. Chicken soup is considered one of the most comforting and nutritious typical dishes of El Salvador, served on cold days or, traditionally in this country, as a home remedy to relieve a cold. A delight!

6. Empanadas, one of the most delicious typical sweet dishes of El Salvador

Empanadas are one of El Salvador’s typical dishes, as well as its most delicious dessert. Although there are different ways to prepare them, the banana is the ingredient that can never be missed.

First, they boil bananas with the tips cut off beforehand. Then, they peel and mash them to make a dough that will be filled with a delicious dense mixture of milk, cornstarch, sugar and cinnamon. Once the empanadas are filled, they are well sealed and fried over high heat in abundant oil. Finally, they are left to cool before serving. Normally they are accompanied with more sugar if desired and a coffee or other beverage.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Where to eat the typical dishes of El Salvador?

Surely all these recipes have worked up your appetite and now you are wondering where you can try them. Here are some restaurants you should add to your travel itinerary:

• Street food: One way to connect with the local culture and try the local dishes is by eating street food. When you travel you will see that in El Salvador there are many street food stalls where they sell, among other things, the famous pupusas. Although it is a good option to have a snack without needing a reservation or to spend a few hours in a restaurant, street food has its risks. So we encourage you to follow your judgment and common sense before ordering food anywhere.
• Rancho Alegre: This pleasant restaurant on the shores of Lake Coatepeque is a perfect place to try the typical dishes of the area, have breakfast or enjoy the evening with a cocktail and live music. In the restaurant there is also a natural pool where you can have a swim. The price of breakfast is around 6 € and lunch does not exceed 20 €.
• Cadejo Brewing Company: This is one of the most famous pubs in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Although it is not known for having many Salvadoran dishes on the menu, you can try its delicious craft beer and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the place. Average price: 6-14€.

What should I know before a trip to El Salvador?

• The official currency of El Salvador is the United States dollar (USD)
• Always carry cash on you, not all stores and restaurants accept credit cards
• Although water is usually safe to drink in the main cities, be cautious and ask your accommodation about the safety of the water in the area.
• Although many of El Salvador’s typical dishes, such as pupusas, are common throughout the country, each region has its own. Ask your accommodation for recommendations on restaurants where you can try the best local cuisine.
• Avoid eating at street stalls and preferably drink bottled water.
• Beware of possible food intolerances, not all restaurants have an allergen menu.
• Many Salvadoran dishes can be quite spicy, such as chiles rellenos and pollo con tajadas. If you’re sensitive to spicy food, ask for advice at the restaurant before ordering your meal.
• Cover yourself for medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to organize a trip to El Salvador

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the suggestions from the app into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we listed in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the typical dishes of El Salvador that you have eaten on your trip.

If you have doubts on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to El Salvador