El Salvador is the Central American country where you eat best for the least money. That's not an opinion \u2014 it's a budget.<\/em><\/p>\n The pupusa<\/strong> is to El Salvador what the tortilla is to Mexico \u2014 except here, it's a complete dish. A thick corn (or rice) cake, stuffed, cooked on a plancha in front of you. The classic fillings: revueltas<\/strong> (red beans + cheese + chicharr\u00f3n), queso con loroco<\/strong> (cheese + loroco flower, a unique taste found only here), frijol con queso<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Each pupusa costs between 0.25 and 0.75 USD depending on the place. Three pupusas + a horchata = a meal for under 2 USD. You find them everywhere: markets, roadsides, family pupuser\u00edas. The best are often the most anonymous \u2014 a plancha under a tin roof, a line of locals.<\/p>\n The The D\u00eda Nacional de la Pupusa<\/strong> is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. Biggest-pupusa contests are held across the country. It's not folklore for tourists \u2014 it's a real popular celebration.<\/p>\n El Salvador has produced coffee since the 19th century \u2014 it was the top export before the civil war. Today, the country has repositioned itself on specialty coffee<\/strong>. The Apaneca-Ilamatepec and Santa Ana regions produce high-altitude arabicas (1,200-1,800 m) with floral, fruity profiles.<\/p>\n The Pacamara<\/strong> variety \u2014 a Salvadoran cross between Pacas and Maragogype \u2014 has become a star of international competitions. You'll find it in the specialty caf\u00e9s of Ataco, Juay\u00faa and San Salvador. A Pacamara espresso costs 1-2 USD on site \u2014 ten times less than in Paris.<\/p>\n Visiting a finca cafetalera<\/strong> on the Ruta de las Flores is a must. Several offer 1-2h tours with tasting: you follow the bean from tree to cup. Salvadoran coffee doesn't yet have the fame of Costa Rican or Colombian \u2014 it's a matter of time.<\/p>\n Salvadoran street food is diverse and cheap:<\/p>\n Yuca frita con chicharr\u00f3n<\/strong> \u2014 Fried cassava with crispy pork and curtido (fermented cabbage). Found in every market. 1-2 USD a portion.<\/p>\n Tamales de elote<\/strong> \u2014 Sweet tamales made from fresh corn, wrapped in corn husks. Soft, fragrant, perfect at breakfast. 0.50 USD each.<\/p>\n Nu\u00e9gados de yuca<\/strong> \u2014 Cassava fritters bathed in panela syrup (unrefined cane sugar). The quintessential street dessert.<\/p>\n Atol de elote<\/strong> \u2014 A thick hot drink made from fresh corn, sweetened with cinnamon. Comforting at altitude on the Ruta de las Flores.<\/p>\n Horchata salvadore\u00f1a<\/strong> \u2014 Different from the Mexican one: here, it's a blend of morro (j\u00edcaro) seeds, cacao, cinnamon and sesame. Refreshing, nourishing, unique to El Salvador.<\/p>\n The The Mercado Central de San Salvador<\/strong> is the biggest and most chaotic \u2014 a labyrinth of stalls where you find everything, from pupusas to medicinal herbs. The Mercado de Juay\u00faa<\/strong> (weekends) turns the village square into a food festival: skewers, soups, ceviches, sweets.<\/p>\n \u00c0 Suchitoto<\/strong>, the market is smaller but high quality \u2014 organic produce, artisanal cheeses, local coffee. On Sundays, producers from the surroundings come down to town.<\/p>\n My advice: never eat in a tourist restaurant in El Salvador. The best food is in the streets and markets. The country hasn't yet been reformatted by mass tourism \u2014 the flavors are intact.<\/p>\n The Pilsener<\/strong> is the national beer \u2014 a light lager, everywhere. The Toronja Salva Vida<\/strong> (grapefruit) is an addictive local soda. The Kolashampan<\/strong> (sugarcane soda) divides opinion but is worth a try.<\/p>\n When it comes to alcohol, Tic Tack<\/strong> (cane aguardiente) is the popular spirit. More refined: Ron Cihuat\u00e1n<\/strong>, a Salvadoran rum aged in bourbon barrels that is starting to win international competitions. The distillery can be visited near San Salvador.<\/p>\n Find our Travelogue Salvador<\/a> and us 7-14 day itineraries<\/a> to plan your trip.<\/em><\/p>\nThe pupusa: national symbol and a complete meal for 0.25 USD<\/h2>\n
Salvadoran coffee: among Central America's best<\/h2>\n
Street food: a gastronomic tour for 5 USD<\/h2>\n
The markets: where everything begins<\/h2>\n
Drinking in El Salvador<\/h2>\n
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