A Food and Drink Guide to Guatemala: What to Eat and Drink

Why Guatemalan food surprises travelers

Guatemalan cooking blends Maya ingredients like corn, beans, squash and chiles with Spanish influences. Meals are hearty, slow-cooked and built around handmade tortillas. Eating well here is cheap: a filling comedor lunch runs about 25 to 40 quetzales (around 3 to 5 USD).

Signature dishes to try

• Pepián the national dish, a dark, smoky stew of chicken or beef thickened with toasted seeds and chiles, served with rice and tortillas.
• Kak'ik a fiery turkey soup from Cobán, spiced with achiote and coriander, deeply Maya in origin.
• Jocon a bright green chicken stew built on tomatillos, cilantro and green onion.
• Tamales wrapped in banana leaf, softer and richer than Mexican versions, eaten on Saturdays and at Christmas.
• Hilachas shredded beef simmered in tomato and chile sauce.

Street food and snacks

• Tostadas crisp tortillas topped with guacamole, salsa or black beans, sold from carts for a few quetzales.
• Rellenitos mashed plantain stuffed with sweet black beans and fried, dusted with sugar.
• Chuchitos small corn tamales with tomato sauce, a classic market snack.
• Elote loco grilled corn slathered with mayo, ketchup, mustard and cheese.
• Garnachas mini fried tortillas with mince, cheese and pickled onion.

Drinks worth ordering

• Guatemalan coffee among the world's best, especially from Antigua, Huehuetenango and Atitlan. Try it at a local cafe rather than instant.
• Atol de elote a warm, sweet corn drink sold from street stalls; atol blanco is the savory version.
• Licuados fresh fruit blended with milk or water.
• Gallo the iconic national beer; Ron Zacapa is a world-class aged rum.
• Rosa de Jamaica chilled hibiscus tea.

Practical dining tips

• A comedor is a small family eatery and your best bet for authentic, cheap meals.
• Markets like Chichicastenango are great for street eats; choose busy stalls with high turnover.
• Tipping around 10 percent is appreciated; check if propina is already added.
• Drink bottled or purified water and ask for bebidas sin hielo if unsure about ice.
• Lunch (almuerzo) is the main meal, typically served midday.

Stay connected in Guatemala

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