Flavors of the world: Our favorite food spots in Antigua

Antigua is a place where you can backpack on a budget or blow all your money on fine dining and luxury boutique hotels and spas. Since we're traveling on a small budget, we had to be careful not to go overboard in Antigua. Fortunately, it's definitely possible to stay in this tourist hot spot for a while without burning a lot of cash on food if you avoid the expensive, ex-pat dominated restaurants. You can check out the municipal market for a huge variety of fresh produce, meat, and fish, and head to the supermarket La Bodegona for other affordable groceries. Cheap and tasty street food is also available in Antigua. In particular, the vendors in the small park next to Iglesia La Merced offer some quick, delicious, and inexpensive snacks and meals. 

But a frugal food budget doesn't mean we never eat out. It just means we make it count when we do go to restaurants. Luckily, we found some pretty incredible places that satiated our appetite in Antigua. Here are our top food recommendations that are sure to please your taste buds without hurting your wallet.

Samsara

The intersection of 6a Calle Oriente and 7a Avenida Sur

From the time we arrived in Guatemala, we were told over and over again that we needed to go to Samsara in Antigua. Described to us as a vegetarian and vegan Middle Eastern-inspired menu, it was not to be missed. Quinoa salads, hummus plates, veggie bruschetta, and zucchini carpaccio are just a few of the dishes to choose from, and this place does not disappoint. We loved our hummus sampler and zucchini panini so much, we had to go back again another night for round two. Though we have temporarily suspended our vegetarianism for this trip to sample local foods, Samsara was a whole new veggie experience that blew our minds and is sure to convince some meat-lovers that vegetarian food can be incredible. If you're looking for something delicious and healthy, make sure to grab a bite to eat here.

Toko Baru

The intersection of 6a Calle Oriente and 1a Avenida Norte

A Middle Eastern and Indian restaurant, Toko Baru serves up enormous portions of falafel, lentils, and curries. After traveling around Central America for a while, the lack of variety and spice definitely got to us, and these flavors satisfied the craving. The thing we kept raving about was the garlic yogurt sauce that's served with the falafel and lentil patties. We loved it so much that we doused our entire plates with this creamy goodness. Healthy, filling, and something for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, make sure to put Toko Baru on your Antigua eats list.

Rincón Típico

No. 3, 3a Avenida Sur

The outside of this place seriously understates how big the inside is. So unassuming, we accidentally walked by it on our first try. Unlike the two restaurants above, Rincón Típico is a traditional Guatemalan eatery with a simple daily menu of three or four selections (they serve breakfast and lunch). You choose your meat (this is not a vegetarian-friendly place) and get a big serving accompanies by two sides, tortillas, and a drink. Rebecca's roasted chicken was perfectly salted and crispy, and Jared's beef, pork, and chicken stew was so savory. This eatery was the best Guatemalan food we had during our time in the country.

Randy's Sausages

5a Calle Oriente between 6a Avenida Sur and 5a Avenida Sur

We're both the kind of people who love simple menus with only a few well-curated selections to choose from, and that's exactly what you get at Randy's. These homemade sausages are seasoned and cooked to perfection and then topped with a selection of condiments. Washed down with a cold beer, it's a great place to grab a bite after walking around the city all day.

Patatas Frites

6a Avenida Norte between 1a Calle Poniente and 2a Calle Poniente

This list has gotten a lot less healthy than where it started, and while we're not proud to admit that we exclusively ate french fries for a couple of meals, this place hit the spot when we wanted something savory and a little greasy. Choose from one of their many combos or create your own masterpiece from a selection of different fries, toppings, and sauces.