Top 10 Street Food You Must Try In Guatemala

street food in guatemala
Nina
Nina 
Published
| 4 min read

Street foodies won’t miss the opportunity to try exciting Guatemalan cuisine. There is always a simple joy in exploring a wide range of flavors in different Guatemalan dishes. Combining Mayan traditions with colonial influences and inspirations, Guatemalan cuisine gives you the perfect opportunity for a memorable food adventure. Whether you are looking for a quick meal, combining your tour with food adventure, or just wanting to taste all the best offers in this country, the Guatemalan street food scene has got your back. There is a whole bunch of salty, sweet, savory, and even spicy options waiting to be explored. It’s now time to be a foodie wanderer. Check out this article and see our list of the best street food you must try in Guatemala.

1. Pupusas

Pupusas by Roland Tanglao
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roland Tanglao used under CC BY 2.0

Guatemala is consistently known for making delicious pupusas. Just like Colombian or Venezuelan arepa, pupusas are small round disks that are made with cornmeal or rice flour and filled with plenty of ingredients, from beans to cheese and pork scratchings. This food is best paired up with tomato salsa or “curtido” (a spicy cabbage slaw), and is traditionally eaten with bare hands.

Visited this place?

2. Dobladas

Dobladas
Source: Photo by user Josué Goge used under CC BY 2.0

Another versatile Guatemala dish that will tickle your senses is “Dobladas”. It can be eaten at any time you want. This dish is a combination of Maseca (corn flour), cilantro, chili powder or cayenne pepper, and the most important ingredient is cheese. If you choose to prepare this dish during breakfast, you just have to serve it together with delicious beans and scrambled eggs. During lunch, it is best accompanied by a salad and soup. Whatever time of the day you prefer, a wonderful Guatemala culinary experience is guaranteed.

Visited this place?

3. Guatemalan Tacos

¿Qué tal unos tacos para hoy viernes? Los esperamos!

Posted by Doña Juana Guatemalan Restaurant on Friday, 26 July 2019

Who on earth does not know tacos? I bet Mexican tacos will ring the bell when you heard the word ‘tacos’. Believe it or not, another interesting and delicious taste of tacos can be found in Guatemala. Let me warn you. Guatemalan tacos are not the same as Mexican tacos, so expect a different kind of taste. Guatemalan tacos are deep-fried, stuffed with meat or potato, and served with chili sauce, tomato sauce and steamed cabbage. Sometimes, toppings like avocado sauce (Guacamol), grated cheese, and chopped parsley are added.

Visited this place?

4. Rellenitos

Rellenitos
Source: Photo by user Josué Goge used under CC BY 2.0

One of the most popular desserts in Guatemala is Rellenitos. It resembles a Guatemalan sweet doughnut. Rellenitos are sweet mashed plantains cooked with a combination of cinnamon, chocolate, and refried beans. They are egg-shaped balls that are being fried up and served with either honey or powdered sugar as toppings. This dish is good to eat while strolling and exploring the beauty of Guatemala, as it is easy to find and carry.

Visited this place?

5. Chuchitos

Chuchitos
Source: Photo by user Josué Goge used under CC BY 2.0

Chuchitos the star of the occasion. This delicious dish is a traditional Guatemalan-style tamale. Do you know the word ‘chuchitos’ means 'little dog’ in English - sounds cute and tasty at the same time? Because of its popularity, this dish is easy to find. Chuchitos are being sold at Guatemala’s local markets and street corners. It is made of warm corn masa dough filled with tasty pieces of meat like chicken or pork, plus chili sauce and mild tomato sauce. To enhance the flavor, grated cheese is added on the top.

Visited this place?

6. Elotes

We have another Guatemalan recipe for you! Elotes Locos. These are a street food staple and you can try them at home...

Posted by The Foodies' Kitchen on Wednesday, 6 September 2017

Elotes is quite a popular street food in the country. It is a traditional food that you can easily find anywhere. It is basically grilled ears of corn, topped with mayonnaise, cheese, and ketchup. This is a simple dish that can satisfy your hunger and very affordable, too. Should you want to make one, the ingredients are so simple and the process is easy.

Visited this place?

7. Tostadas

Start off with some guatemalan style tostadas today :)

Posted by Cafe Kacao on Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Another Guatemalan street food that can make your day is tostadas. It is a taco shell topped with plenty of ingredients, from tomato sauce to fresh white cheese, from avocado to beetroot, or beef and chicken. Often times, they are made of guacamole, refried black beans, and salsa. Tostadas are one of the stars during Guatemala traditional festivities, as it is served as appetizers or snacks.

Visited this place?

8. Garnachas

VIERNES Listos para una buena comida y entretenimiento! Hoy Maya Gutela desde las 8pm! Guatemalan #foodporn Garnachas w/ a #michelada of course!

Posted by Amalias Guatemalan Restaurant on Friday, 18 January 2019

If you can’t get enough of tacos, here is another Guatemalan dish that resembles one. Garnachas are simply tortillas topped with a variety of ingredients, including salsa, meat, grated cheese, garlic, cabbage and onions. Garnachas is satisfying and you can get full in just two to three bites. Don’t miss this street food when you are in Guatemala.

Visited this place?

9. Chiles Rellenos

Chile Rellenos
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user w:en:Double.reed used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Chiles Rellenos is a famous Guatemalan dish. Anywhere you dine in Guatemala, you will always find Chiles Rellenos as part of their menu. The main ingredient of this dish is chili pepper, which gives an exquisite flavor to the dish. What sets apart Guatemalan Chiles Rellenos version is its unique character, which includes the golden coat in fluffy egg batter. It is served as the main course at lunch and dinner, and best accompanied with guacamole, rice, and tasty corn tortillas.

Visited this place?

10. Enchiladas

Enchiladas Guatemaltecas.
Source: Photo by user Gaby used under CC BY 2.0

Mexican enchiladas are delicious, but Guatemalan enchiladas should not be missed, too. Made with tostada (fried or toasted tortilla) with plenty of vegetable toppings, from onions to beets to lettuce and more; plus a sprinkle of Queso Seco (Guatemala cheese) or Parmesan cheese, Guatemalan enchilada is another delicacy that will make up your day. This traditional and delicious dish is being served on the table since the 18th century.

Visited this place?

Satisfying Guatemalan street food

Planning to see the beauty of Guatemala while having elotes locos? Feeling hungry and your bus is about to leave? Worry not! Guatemalan street food is convenient, delicious, and satisfying. Above all, it’s always best to make time and explore the rich culinary scene of Guatemala.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Nina aspires to live life to its fullest and yearns to journey abroad with her loved ones. She believes in her inherent artistic nature and embraces the motto that "God is good all the time" as her...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Guatemala
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.