Places to eat in Nicaragua

We spoke with the Chef/Owner directly. He came out to explain all the dishes on the menu and gave his personal recommendations. The staff were super friendly and our experience was absolutely delightful.

Favorite Dish: We had an octopus dish for our tapas, and it melted in our mouths. I've never had octopus that tender and full of flavor before. We had the medallion steaks for our main course and they were equally as good. We had the bread pudding for dessert, which was a little better than average, but nothing to write home about. The best thing about our meal is that it cost roughly $20 (US). We'd easily pay 3x-5x times as much for a similar meal in San Francisco.

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I'm visiting Nicaragua very often, since I think it is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

The last time I went I discovered a fantastic restaurant near the central plaza of Granada. El Jardin de Orion, a perfect place to hide from the hot and dusty streets of Granada where you can enjoy beautiful wines and very tasty food for a very descent price. The owner speaks 4 languages and knows how to spoil his guests.

I would advise everybody to go and taste!

Favorite Dish: Gazpacho; Ricotta ravioli with freshly prepared vegetable sauce; Profiteroles with hot pure Nicaraguayen chocolate;

The products are fresh (pasta and vegetables) and the meals are presented in an attractive way.

Owners are Frankie(Gringo) and his wife Valentina (Nicaraguan). They are just finishing up the final stages of putting up a 3 story, 10 room hostel with bar. It is located right on the beach of Masachapa. Ask anyone where the Gringo Bar is and they'll get you there. Its next door to the Ebenezzer Restaruant which is better known to the locals since it has been here for 6 years. Cold beer, killer sunsets and cool people to visit with. Rooms are cheap, something like $10/night.

Favorite Dish: Toñas...lots of them.

LaRocque restaurant and bar is the newest in this sector of the Pacific Coast. It is located behind the Vista Mar Hotel. Any taxi or caponera (bike taxi driver) will be able to direct you. Great menu of high quality food selections from North and Central America. The owners are Luke (Canadian) and Margarita (Nicaraguan). Relaxing setting with a deep pool at bar's edge. Highly recommended.

Favorite Dish: Chicken Fajitas. And if you have been away from the States for a long time, like me, hands down-best damn hamburger in Central America. Tres leches desert is muy yummy.

El Tecer Ojo is a really nice restaurant. The service is very friendly, the decor is warm and inviting, the prices are reasonable and the food is varied and good.

The first time I ate there, I had the Pescado Samurai and the next time I had the Ensalada Cangrejo and Pescado con Vino y Ajo. They were both excellent meals, but the best was the Pescado Samurai - fish cooked Asian-style with soy sauce. The eclectic menu has plenty of vegetarian choices too.

The food is really nothing to write home about, its typical pub food. But if you need a nice lunch or some food to go along with your cervecas then this might be an option for you. We chose a table at the front of the pub which opens up to the street. Its a busy area and a great spot for people watching. We were entertained watching older Gringo's flirt with the younger Nica girls who were selling snacks nearby. Kind of reminded me of "Farangs" in Thailand. "Farangs" are to Thailand as "Gringos" are to Latin America. As for the food...it was fine and went well with my beer(sss).

Favorite Dish: The domestic beer of Nicaragua.

We were very pleased with our yummy meals at Tele Pizza. The food was great! Probably the best we had in Nicaragua. Seating is around the courtyard of a traditional Spanish colonial house with fountains and lights strung across the courtyard. The ambiance is nice & social. There is a good mix of local people and tourists here at Tele Pizza. The service staff is friendly, prices very reasonable, and ambiance is fun! We had pizza and wine

Favorite Dish: Pizza and wine...and maybe a glass or two of Nicaraguan beer.

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Being a strict vegetarian (no flesh/meat/fish/chicken/etc.) is a real challenge considering Nicaragua is not known for it's cuisine.
The recommended choice for a vegetarian would be gallo pinto - the national dish of Nicaragua however if you are like me and detest greasy/oily foods you might avoid this as I did. When eating at any local Nicaraguan food establishment, I ordered an a la carte menu of rice, beans, maduros (plaintains) and papas fritas/French fries with a white creamy onion sauce containing peppers.
To avoid boredom, I alternate my selections with Nicaraguan pizza with cheese and jalapenos which was quite good along with some pasta dishes. There are a few Mexican restaurants however they are a far cry from Mexican food served in the U.S. or Mexico so don't expect the same.

Favorite Dish: If you plan to travel around the country, you might pack several boxes of energy bars to supplement your meal intake.