646010 Wed Aug 19 19:58:16 -0700 2009 5 56 South America 0 4961044 I'll be driving from the SF Bay Area to Guatelmala. This is a place to store suggestions for eating in Guatemala that might originate from other trip segements. Wed Aug 19 19:58:16 -0700 2009 10264 rworange 1 4967186 (continuing the thread from the Mexico Branch) RW, I've actually been to Escuintla (passed through the town but didn't stop to eat). And as a tourist attraction and on the scale from 1 to 10, it gets a 1--at best. But I live in Richmond and it gets a zero, I'm sure both towns are fine places to grow up in and live there. We were spending a week in Antigua and drove down to Palín to see the "world's largest ceiba tree," visit the zocalo and enjoy market day (Wednesday). The street food and the town in general were great fun. If you make side trips on your own, you might consider going up there, it's not far at all. We wound up going through Esquintla because it looked like the fastest way back to Antigua was through Esquintla and then taking the "new road" up to Antigua. Unfortunately the new road was not completed and our car (with the two of us and our two traveling companions) just couldn't make it up some of the steep hills on the old (dirt) road and we had to backtrack and return via Palín. I don't know your route from the Mexican border to Escuintla, but I can guess. We spent most of three weeks in Guatemala traveling all over the country but we stayed in mostly typical tourist towns and tried to eat "upscale" food (yeah right!). So we're hardly reliable reporters. The four of us were not especially taken with Guatemalan food, finding it mostly derivative and underwhelming--compared to Mexican food, for example. And we did venture out to sample food from just about everywhere we went. But we truly enjoyed our time in Guatemala, the people and sights were wonderful and we would love to go back again. Here are some places we liked which might be on your route: Antigua: Café la Condesa; Posada de Don Rodrigo; Restaurante La Escudilla; the restaurant in the hotel of Hotel Convento Santa Catalina; La Fonda de la Calle Real (the Cak-Ik was very good). Quetzaltenango: Royal Paris (an alleged "French Bistro" which actually had rather good food at a very reasonable price). The many, many other places we ate at would be well off the route you'll be taking unless you'll be going into Guatemala City or "Gringotenango." Fri Aug 21 18:49:13 -0700 2009 4961044 68247 dlglidden 2 4967221 Yeah, I knew long before I even met my husband ... knew his relatives first ... that Escuintla isn't much. I've know this family from the mid 90's and for all the meals together I still can't really describe Guatamalan cuisine because as you mentioned, it seems derivative. I do like the rolls called Francais though ... a lightly crusty, yeasty French roll , as implied. They do make those terrific Central American type of tamales that are wetter than Mexican. Last Christmas some friend of the family made the most amazing one with a whole chicken leg in it. Also it depends on where you are from in Guatamale. Cak-ik isn't part of the cuisine from that particular town. Thanks for the tips. I know we will be definately going into Guatamala City because of needing to complete paperwork. Fri Aug 21 19:09:05 -0700 2009 4967186 10264 rworange 3 4969293 There are zillions of restaurants in Guatemala City, but here's a slightly unusual one I can highly recommend. It's an unabashedly Mexican restaurant across the street from the Holiday Inn: Hacienda Real. The ambience is excellent, as is the food. I had a very flavorful pork dish with a grilled ear of corn on the side and the others had a medly of soft tacos that were interesting and quite good and came with an assortment of various salsas that were outstanding. It isn't Guatemalan food, but as we've said, just exactly what the hell IS Guatemalan food? Sat Aug 22 22:08:51 -0700 2009 4967221 68247 dlglidden 2 5013506 I like the restaurant in the Panza Verde Hotel in Antigua, the chef is Swiss if he's still there as I went a few years ago. Tue Sep 08 10:01:31 -0700 2009 4967186 66022 bronwen 1 5085791 Two rules: 1. Eat in the markets. 2. If any doubts, refer to rule 1. Wed Oct 07 11:02:58 -0700 2009 4961044 36661 Sam Fujisaka