Food

One of those classic general store–restaurants where everyone stops in to catch up on the local gossip, Comedor Central (6 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon.–Sat. and on Sun. morning) on the square is a good place for snacks, breakfasts, light meals, and beers. Breakfasts and the comida corriente go for $2.

One of the most popular places to eat with locals is
Las Baleadas (7 a.m.–3 p.m. daily), an outdoor café six blocks south of the central park and then a half-block west. Las Baleadas seems to be where all the city’s taxi drivers take their lunch. In addition to countless variations of the ever-popular baleada, there is a daily hot plate selection. Lunch here will set you back US$1–2 a plate. Olman, the man who runs it, couldn’t be nicer to foreigners and is always happy to help out.

For a classier meal, try Restaurante Acuariun (closed Mondays) across the street from the Valle house, serving dishes such as seafood soup and breaded shrimp. Tío Rico (9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., open until late Fri.–Sat.), on the main west-running street in town, two blocks from the Panamericana, has burgers, meat, and seafood (US$2–6 a plate) in a relaxed setting. Friday and Saturday nights it turns into one of Choluteca [1]’s best places for a drink and some dancing. Paseo Metropolitano is kitty-corner from Tío Rico’s, and its pupusas and pinchos are two for one on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For a change of pace, Hong Kong has standard Chinese fare in a relatively upscale environment for US$4–8 a plate.

Licuados Frutas Tropicales (7 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat.), five blocks south of the central park, is the best place in town to grab an ice-cold drink, either a licuado or a fruit-filled natural. For US$1–2 they will mix anything you want in a blender with juice and ice. They often have most everything on hand (orange, banana, watermelon, apple, papaya, carrot, etc.), although some fruits are seasonal. Another great drink is morro, made from semilla de jícaro (calabash seed) and sold on the street in little plastic baggies with straws.

The best supermarket in town is Maxi Bodega next to Pizza Hut on the Panamericana.