When you are in Gracias, you will find an abundance of food ranging from the local fare to the international cuisine in places like in-house restaurants and roadside eateries.  As can be expected from a colonial city of the Spanish Empire in the olden days, you will find a strong Spanish influence with a healthy dose of African and indigenous touches thrown in.  And as befits its slowly growing reputation amongst international tourists, the restaurants also offer international cuisine with a North American and European bent.

Local Foods

You will find that Hondurans love their coconuts especially in their foods.  In fact, more than any other Central American country, Honduran food uses coconut in all things possible from the savory meat dishes to the sweet desserts.  In restaurants serving local food, you can choose from a wide variety of fried fishes, meat dishes, seafood galore, rice recipes and vegetable concoctions flavored with spices like spicy jalapeños and pungent pickled onions.  You may also taste the various kinds of soups like mondongo soup and bean soup mixed with cabbage, plantains and yucca, which are served with corn tortillas.

Don’t forget to taste the staples of tamales and baleadas. Tamales are filled with a variety of fillings from meats to sliced chilies, which are very popular as comfort food. Baleadas are wheat flour tortillas filled with anything from mashed fried beans, crumpled cheese and cream (simple baleada) to scrambled eggs, sausage, chicken, pork, hot sauce and avocado, to name a few (mixed baleada).  It many ways, it resembles a pizza.  And if you get thirsty, let the Honduran national beer be your lifesaver. In fact, it is called Salva Vida meaning lifesaver!   Of course, soft drinks and mineral water are aplenty too.  Most hikers even drink from the cool spring water when hiking through the forests of the Celaque Mountain National Park without reporting any ill effects.

Just to name a few of the dining establishments in Gracias offering local foods, you can choose from Piscinas Ada with its fish specialty, Elvira’s Cafeteria inside the Hotel Posada de Don Juan, Rinconcito Graciano offering freshly cooked meals made from natural ingredients and the in-house restaurant of Hotel Guancascos.

International Fare

Again, the welcome presence of more foreign tourists in Gracias has lead to the small boom in dining establishments offering international fare.  Just to name a few of these restaurants:

• Restaurant La Fonda – Selections range from the typical plate to a la carte, often at competitive rates.  You will enjoy good service and good food from 10 AM to 10 PM.
• Reposteria Y Pizzeria “La Esquisita” – With a fine selection of pizzas and pastries, this is the place to be if you have a hankering for fast-food or you have a sweet tooth to satisfy.
• Colinas de San Cristobal – Good selections of pizza, chicken dishes and hamburgers complemented by very clean premises and personalized service.

When you are in Gracias, your stomach will definitely have something to be thankful about.  And you will certainly need the delicious sustenance after your trips to the Celaque Mountain, the churches, the fort and the hot springs, all of which are must-sees in the town of Gracias.

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