These five restaurants, all located in the capital of Honduras, are the best places to dine in the city.
When you think of restaurants in Honduras, the words "eclectic," "epicurean," and "gourmet" may not be the first words to come in mind. But surprisingly, there are several restaurants in Tegucigalpa that serve up delicious cuisine with an international flare if you just look in the right places.
5. El Patio. This is arguably the best place to go to for a taste of authentic Honduran food. While not the best restaurant in Tegucigalpa, El Patio offers a variety of Honduran typical food for a very reasonable price. Dishes such as anafre (cheese and bean dip melted in a clay pot and served with tortilla chips), pinchos (a Honduran shish kabob) and of course plenty of beans and rice. There are two locations on Boulevard Morazan to choose from.
4. Nifu Nifi. Also located on Boulevard Morazan, Nifu Nifi serves up delicious Argentinean-style food complete with a salad bar. Meat is the key word here because they do serve up lots of it. Each cut is grilled to your liking and served up hot to your table. They also serve seafood and fish. After 8pm, this place starts to get really busy so it's best to arrive before then.
3. Gino's Pasta Café. Almost everything is handmade at this genuinely down-to-earth Italian restaurant, including the sausages and dessert. When I asked the owner what isn't handmade, he mentioned the ice cream, which is made by Kobs, an ice cream company owned by his wife's family.
The best way to cook up good Italian food is to use simple and classic quality ingredients. Gino’s accomplishes this goal with many of its dishes including the spaghetti with pomodoro sauce - one can taste the chunks of tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and basil in each bite. Simple, yet exquisite.
Outdoor eating is available.
2. La Cumbre. If you're visiting Honduras, I would recommend coming here with friends who know the area. Why? Because getting here is an adventure of its own, full of twists, turns and unmarked roads. But once there, you'll understand why dignitaries – military, political and business leaders – go here during their visit in Tegucigalpa.
For one thing, the view is awesome. On a clear night, all of Tegucigalpa can be seen from the restaurant balcony, possibly the best view of the city. La Cumbre is noted for its European/German specialties, as well as some local favorites. Reservations are recommended.
1. Usami. The food at this Japanese restaurant is so good that it's not uncommon to see a congregation of the Japanese community – including the Japanese Ambassador to Honduras – eating here on a regular basis. Owned by a Japanese man and his Honduran wife, Usami strives for authenticity in its dishes.
Sure you can order "commonly" known Japanese dishes such as gyoza, tempura and chicken teriyaki, but why not order some of the more authentic dishes like katsudon donburi (breaded pork cutlet over rice and egg) or agedashi dofu (deep fried tofu in a delicious soy sauce broth). While there are two other Japanese restaurants in Tegucigalpa, the Japanese community I've spoken with wouldn't dare dine at any other place except for Usami.
***********
Interested in Honduras? Check out the following articles:
