Guatemalan food is a flavorful and healthful option at restaurants.
In Chicago, there are many restaurants that call themselves Guatemalan. Many of these restaurants are actually Mexican restaurants, but some of the eateries serve authentic Guatemalan food. Guatemalan food is less heavy and less spicy than Mexican food. The most Guatemalan-specific foods you can find at restaurants are desserts and non-alcoholic specialty drinks.
Mayan Sol Latin Grill
The Mayan Sol Latin Grill is a Guatemalan restaurant that has a "bring your own beer," or BYOB, policy. The restaurant does not serve liquor and charges $3.50 if you bring alcohol. The restaurant also features karaoke and a Spanish guitarist on the weekends. The main dish is a $45 entr e called "The Parillada" that combines steak, T-bone, ribs, chicken breasts, pork chops, sausage, shrimp, a baked potato, corn on the cob, plantains, guacamole and garlic bread. The average price for a regular entr e is $15, as of December 2010. The hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thurs and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday. The restaurant is not open Mondays.
Tanzitaro American & Mexican Grill
The owner Juan Jimenez is also the chief chef of this restaurant. The restaurant specializes in grilled steaks, chicken and seafood. The restaurant serves meals with recipes from Latin countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. The bar serves specialty tequilas and many beers from Latin countries. Some examples of specialty tequila drinks are the tuna cactus margarita and the mango margarita. The average price for a Guatemalan appetizer is $5, and the price range for all entrees is $11 to $25, as of December 2010. The Guatemalan dishes are less expensive than the American and Mexican dishes at Tanzitaro. The restaurant's operating hours are from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Restaurant El Tinajon
The El Tinajon has been around for two decades and is well-known for serving Guatemalan-specific foods. The restaurant is a bit smaller than the previous two mentioned, but it also much cheaper. The tamarind and rum cocktail is a specialty drink served at the full bar along with various Guatemalan beers. The food at this restaurant does not have any Mexican characteristics. There is plenty of seafood to choose from, such as grilled tilapia, grilled shrimp and seafood soup. Most entrees are priced under $10. The restaurant also has a dessert menu featuring the celebrated mollete bread pudding. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Tuesday. It opens at 11 a.m. every day it is open. The restaurant closes at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and closes at 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Tags: Guatemalan food, American Mexican, average price, December 2010, from Latin, from Latin countries
