‹ The dishes of every country › The Americas

What to eat in Guatemala

The 10 best dishes in Guatemala

Maya cooking: corn, chili and cacao.

Pepián
No. 1: Pepián · Photo via Wikipedia
Pepián1

Pepián

Best: Antigua

A thick stew of roasted seeds, chilies and chicken, the national dish.

Kak'ik2

Kak'ik

Best: Cobán

A red turkey soup with chilies and coriander.

A photo like Jocón3A photo like it

Jocón

Eaten all over Guatemala

Chicken in green tomatillo sauce.

Tamales colorados4

Tamales colorados

Eaten all over Guatemala

Red tamales wrapped in banana leaves for Christmas.

A photo like Chuchitos5A photo like it

Chuchitos

Eaten all over Guatemala

Small tamales of corn dough with tomato sauce and chicken, wrapped in corn husks.

Fiambre6

Fiambre

Best: Everywhere on Nov 1

A cold salad of dozens of meats and pickles for the Day of the Dead.

Pupusas7

Pupusas

Eaten all over Guatemala

Thick corn cakes stuffed with cheese, beans or pork, served with cabbage slaw.

A photo like Rellenitos8A photo like it

Rellenitos

Eaten all over Guatemala

Mashed plantain filled with sweet black beans and chocolate, fried and dusted with sugar.

A photo like Shucos9A photo like it

Shucos

Best: Guatemala City

Hot dogs with guacamole and cabbage.

Atol de elote10

Atol de elote

Eaten all over Guatemala

A warm, sweet drink of fresh corn and cinnamon, sold in the evening.

Where to eat in Guatemala

Chef is checking the restaurants worth it here, one by one, and posts each once it's confirmed open. See the list so far

Eat your way through Guatemala

Tell Chef when you're going and he'll lay out the days: the dishes, the markets, a walk and dinner, with places that are open.

Next door

BelizeRice and beans
El SalvadorPupusas
HondurasBaleada
NicaraguaGallo pinto

Every country

Photos: each dish's lead photo on its Wikipedia article (license and author on Wikimedia Commons); "a photo like it" is a food photo of the same kind, not that dish. Cook it opens a recipe in Chef Amazing, or Chef writes one for you. Picked by Chef Amazing, November 2026.

Chef Amazing remembers every place you ate, keeps the lists friends send you, and helps you cook it at home.

Our founder's story · For chefs and food creators · Privacy · Terms