What's the food like in the markets in Nicaragua?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
The food in Nicaragua is pretty similar to other food in the region. There are some specialties like Cabayo Ballo and Vigaron, but many of the food types you see in other countries of Central America are common here as well. Plantains are popular as is rice and beans. Grilled meats are fantastic and the fresh seafood along the coast is unparalleled. Stop any fisherman or lobster diver and they’ll show you their fresh catch for sale. A lobster for US $5 and fish for...
The food in Nicaragua is pretty similar to other food in the region. There are some specialties like Cabayo Ballo and Vigaron, but many of the food types you see in other countries of Central America are common here as well. Plantains are popular as is rice and beans. Grilled meats are fantastic and the fresh seafood along the coast is unparalleled. Stop any fisherman or lobster diver and they’ll show you their fresh catch for sale. A lobster for US $5 and fish for less than US $1 per pound is the norm.
Fruit stands abound in Nicaragua. Along most highways and even in the street corners you can buy tangerines, mangos, fresh roasted cashews, oranges, papayas, and a host of more obscure fruits and vegetables.
Grocery stores in Nicaragua include a Price Mart which is similar to a Costco or Sam’s in the US. La Union and La Colonia are the typical U.S. style grocery store with everything from a meat and deli counter, to seaweed wrappers for sushi, to fresh baked bread, cakes and pies.
Posted January 19, 2014
Estefanía Calvet
The food in Nicaragua has a uniqueness, even though it is similar to the food in all of Central America.
You can go to the markets and find a lot of typical food. Every market has its specialty, like for example, the Oriental Market (Mercado Oriental), the biggest Asian market in Managua. People recommend the soup places in the Huembe Market in Managua. The Carne en Baho, a marinated beef dish with steamed with...
The food in Nicaragua has a uniqueness, even though it is similar to the food in all of Central America.
You can go to the markets and find a lot of typical food. Every market has its specialty, like for example, the Oriental Market (Mercado Oriental), the biggest Asian market in Managua. People recommend the soup places in the Huembe Market in Managua. The Carne en Baho, a marinated beef dish with steamed with plantains and yucca is very popular there, too.
In León, in the Central Market, you can find the best carne asada (grilled meat), cosa de horno (food made in the oven) and the fresco de cacao ( an icy cacao and milk drink).
As you go to every city, you´ll find the markets with different specialties and traditional food.
Posted May 11, 2014
Marissa Gabrielle Lolk - Jireh Dental Care
The food in the markets from the street carts in Nicaragua is pretty good but it’s not as clean as in the States because they are not really about quality control. It could be a little bit fly-ridden and maybe some unidentified specimens might fall into the food but I have to say I am guilty of eating in the markets here. You should just have common sense about it and know if the food is just too dirty. If the food looks pretty okay and the lady selling it doesn’t look like...The food in the markets from the street carts in Nicaragua is pretty good but it’s not as clean as in the States because they are not really about quality control. It could be a little bit fly-ridden and maybe some unidentified specimens might fall into the food but I have to say I am guilty of eating in the markets here. You should just have common sense about it and know if the food is just too dirty. If the food looks pretty okay and the lady selling it doesn’t look like she is wiping her face and grabbing the food at the same time, then that’s fine. I’ve had people take money from me and then grab my food so it’s just about where you are at in your life and what you are willing to negotiate with. I would a thousand times take a little bit of food with a little bit of sweat in it than take high fancy food because you don’t know if they touched their faces, either. I really don’t care. Maybe I became that way.If I’m hungry and if I see it on the street, then I’ll eat it. But I do draw the line. If there are flies or something gross and there is a gutter right by then I won’t do it. But I have eaten from street carts and I’m not going to stop. I don’t get sick. I know people who get sick but again you have to use your common sense. If it looks way too dirty then don’t eat it.
(Food market, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted April 27, 2016
Barry Oliver - Surfing Nahua
In the city of Chinandega or Managua, you’ll almost feel like you’re in the market in the US- it’s pretty similar. The fruits and vegetables sections are even better than in the US. Nicaragua has great fruits and vegetables. I have friends who hated tomatoes in the States because they’re picked green and are then filled with chemicals and sent to supermarkets. I come to Nicaragua and there’s this plump, red, juicy fresh tomato that looks like it’s...In the city of Chinandega or Managua, you’ll almost feel like you’re in the market in the US- it’s pretty similar. The fruits and vegetables sections are even better than in the US. Nicaragua has great fruits and vegetables. I have friends who hated tomatoes in the States because they’re picked green and are then filled with chemicals and sent to supermarkets. I come to Nicaragua and there’s this plump, red, juicy fresh tomato that looks like it’s from another world. There are also exotic fruits you don’t see in the US that you’ll find in the markets in Nicaragua. The standard foods that you’d find in the US, you’re also going to find in the market in Nicaragua, but you’re going to find a better fruits and vegetables section.
You can also go to other places in Nicaragua to get your food. There are local tin shack markets in Nicaragua that are huge. The biggest tin shack market in Central America is in Managua. You can buy anything in that market- any fruit and vegetable you want. You can find anything you want in these tin shack markets and the prices are just ridiculously low- about a quarter of what you would pay in the US. The last time I was there, they had a helicopter engine for sale.
There are farmers’ markets available as well. Usually, before I go up to northern Nicaragua, I pull on to the city of Chinandega. It’s like a drive through market where there are vegetable stands on the side of the road, you pull up and get everything you need. You can get the bananas, oranges, exotic fruits, and all kinds of good food that you want, and then be on your way. It’s a 3-minute stop and you’re moving on, which is nice and convenient. The farmers’ markets have good prices and quality goods.
(Market in Chinandega in Northern Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted May 3, 2017