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El Salvador, a hidden gem in Central America, offers a vibrant culinary scene that reflects its rich culture and history. From the bustling streets of San Salvador to the tranquil beaches of La Libertad, the flavors of El Salvador foods are a delightful blend of indigenous ingredients and Spanish influence. Here’s a guide to the top 15 traditional dishes you must try when visiting this beautiful country.

15 Foods to Try in El Salvador

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: pupusas on a brown tray

1. Pupusas

Pupusas are perhaps El Salvador’s most iconic dish. These thick corn tortillas are typically stuffed with a variety of fillings, such as cheese (queso), beans (frijoles), or pork (chicharrón). Often served with a side of curtido (a pickled cabbage slaw) and salsa roja, pupusas are a staple food at street stalls and restaurants. 

The best part? They are deliciously versatile, allowing you to customize them to your taste. It is the most popular food in El Salvador!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: fried yucca with chicharron

2. Yuca con Chicharrón

Yuca con chicharron is a hearty dish that features boiled yuca (cassava) served with crispy fried pork belly. It is often accompanied by fresh tomato sauce or salsa, which adds a zesty kick. Yuca’s starchy texture pairs perfectly with the richness of the chicharrón, making it a filling option for lunch or dinner.

​If you’re avoiding meat or pork rinds, order Yuca Frita (fried yuca). It’s a tasty alternative to French fries!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: elote loco

3. Elote Loco

Hear me out on this one! This unique food is an ear of sweet corn grilled or boiled on a stick. The corn is topped with mayonnaise, mustard, salsa negra (Worcestershire sauce), ketchup, and grated cheese. You’ll find elote loco at food stands in the tourist destinations. Give it a try!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: tamales

4. Tamales

Tamales are a traditional Mesoamerican dish made from masa (corn dough). They are filled with various ingredients, such as meats, vegetables, or cheese, and wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed. Salvadoran tamales are served for breakfast or special occasions, often accompanied by a side of spicy salsa. The texture and flavor vary depending on the filling, making each tamale a unique experience. Try the Salvadoran banana leaf tamales if you’ve tried others in Latin America.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: empanada de lethe
Admittedly, it’s not my best photo! This empanada de leche was disappointing.

5. Empanadas

Salvadoran empanadas are different from their counterparts in other Latin American countries. These turnovers are typically made with a corn-based dough filled with sweet or savory ingredients. A popular version is the empanada de frijoles, filled with refried beans and often served with a sprinkle of sugar. For a sweet treat, try the empanada de leche filled with creamy custard.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: ceramic pots with atolls

6. Atol de Elote

Atol de elote is a warm, comforting drink made from fresh corn, milk, and sugar, thickened to a creamy consistency. This traditional beverage is often enjoyed as a snack or breakfast item, especially on cool mornings. The corn’s natural sweetness and the milk’s richness make it a delightful treat that showcases the local ingredients.

Other Central American countries like Guatemala also serve Atol de Elote. If you’re not a fan of the corn flavor (it wasn’t my favorite), you can order an atol made with fruit juice or even hazelnut.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: sandwiches pan mata Ninos

7. Pan Mata Niños (Panes Chucos)

So this sandwich doesn’t really kill children! It is, however, a favorite after a night out partying and drinking and is available from street vendors located near popular bars. 

A skinny roll is stuffed with slices of ham or soy meat, topped with curtido (pickled cabbage), and mayo, ketchup, mustard, and chile. It is sometimes toasted or grilled, but it is supposed to be a great late-night snack! 

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: shrimp ceviche

8. Ceviche

Ceviche is a popular dish along the extensive coastline of El Salvador. It is made from fresh seafood such as fish or shrimp cured in citrus juices, typically lime juice. Mixed with onions, cilantro, and tomatoes, this refreshing dish is a perfect appetizer or light meal on a hot day. Each coastal region may have its twist on ceviche, so be sure to try different variations during your visit. This was one of the best ceviches I’ve ever had!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: pastelitos

9. Pastelitos

You may think these are empanadas, but in El Salvador, these tasty fried treats are called pastelitos. They’re often filled with meats (especially chicken) or potatoes and served with a side of curtido (a pickled cabbage slaw). They’re easy-to-eat street food.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: tres leches cake
Photo by Multicultural Family Recipes

10. Tres Leches Cake

For dessert, you can’t miss tres leches cake, a moist sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream. This decadent treat is often topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, making it a perfect ending to any meal. Its rich and creamy texture is a delight for dessert lovers and a local favorite.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: canoas de platoon

11. Canoas de Platano

Often sold at food stalls, these fried plantains are split open, topped with sweet cream, and sprinkled with cinnamon and raisins. They’re an easy way to get a sweet treat!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: nuegados

12. Nuegados

Salvadorian cuisine’s answer to donuts is nuegados. These dough balls are generally made of corn flour, fried, and sprinkled with sugar. They are frequently served with a light cinnamon syrup. They’re perfect with a cup of coffee!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: torta de elite

13. Torta de Elote

Torta de elote is featured as a dessert on many Salvadorian food menus. But this isn’t a thick cornbread like those served in the U.S. South – instead, it is lighter, fluffier, and sweeter! Dip some in your chocolate caliente!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: hot chocolate in blue cup

14. Chocolate Caliente

Whether or not you’re a coffee drinker, another alternative hot drink is a delicious cup of hot chocolate. What makes it different from the hot chocolate in the U.S.? It is creamy and rich, just like the country’s chocolate. While it can be made with hot water, it tastes better with hot milk.

15. Seasonal Fruits

One of the great ways to sample local flavors is to explore the local markets. You’ll have such an opportunity if you take the Ruta de las Flores.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: jojotes de corona

Jojote de Corona

This small fruit is celebrated in a festival on Cerro Verde in late October. You should give it a try. You eat them with the skin on. The ones with red or yellow skin taste sweeter—like a combo of citrus and mango. On the other hand, the green ones taste tart, and locals sometimes sprinkle salt on them.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: annonas

Annona

This strange-looking fruit tastes just like what you would expect tropical fruits to taste like—like a combination of banana, pineapple, and peach. The consistency is hard to describe—kind of fluffy or creamy. It’s absolutely worth trying!

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: loroco

Loroco

This local edible flower appears in September and October and is used in various items—from pupusas to Pizza Hut pizzas! One writer described the taste as a combination between mild broccoli and squash. It’s a healthy herb that will add unique flavor to so many dishes, so enjoy it while you can.

El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler | image: sampler platter at Casa 1800
Appetizer Platter at Casa 1800 – Frijoles, Sausages, White Cheese, Fried Tortillas

Final Thoughts on Salvadoran Food

El Salvador’s culinary landscape is a treasure trove of flavors to explore. From the beloved pupusas to the sweet indulgence of tres leches cake, these 15 dishes represent the heart of Salvadorian cuisine. El Salvador food is as fresh as it is delicious.

When you visit this vibrant country, savor each bite and embrace the rich flavors! You can find many of these items at street food stands or on menus that include “menu tipico.” One fast food restaurant that is the best place to try many of these items is Mister Donut, with a buffet-style offering so you can pick exactly what you want. My pupusas were made to order!

While El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America, its cuisine is big-hearted! I found El Salvador to be an underrated food destination, and I hope you do, too!

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Happy travels,
Annick, The Common Traveler

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El Salvador Foods to Try | The Common Traveler shares 15 can't miss foods and drinks to try during your trip to El Salvador. Most of these can be found at street vendors or markets, so sticking to a budget will be easy!