The Best Honduran Food To Try On Your Next Honduras Cruise

Catracho Cuisine: What Is Honduran Food?

The food in Honduras is beautiful and known for being fresh, and there’s a reason why. Honduran cuisine is sourced from the famously stunning landscape and sparkling coastline, making it a fabulous way to engage with not only the culture of Honduras but also the terrain. For this reason, I’m a big proponent of culinary tourism as a travel writer: What better way to connect with a destination than by tasting it? So, if you’re seeking cultural immersion in port, and you happen to be on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Honduras, go grab a bite.

Some of the common ingredients of Honduran cuisine include rice, beans, seafood, meat, plantains, yucca, coconut, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, corn and tropical fruit. Fans of food from other Central and South American countries might recognize this lineup — for example, these were all core staples for me when I lived in Brazil. 

However, the unique Honduran cooking methods used most commonly give the food a distinct look and flavor that separates it from others in the region. In Honduras, meat is often fried, beans are boiled, banana leaves are used for steaming, coconuts are transformed into milk, seafood is stewed, meats are grilled, comal cooking reigns supreme and starches are served fried or mashed. 

The cuisine of Honduras is built on a rich tapestry of influences that likewise distinguish the foodway. The unique landscape, tropical climate, agricultural setup and cultural background of the country have all had a hand in shaping Honduran food.

Next time you’re sampling food in Honduras while on a cruise to Roatán or the Banana Coast, consider the many elements that it took to make it. When you eat Honduran cuisine, you’re engaging with the largest landscape, history and culture.

Honduran Vegetarian Food

5. Catrachitas

Large round corn tortilla chips meet refried beans, cheese and other toppings for a delightfully salty snack. These are great to try in the cities, especially from roadside stands. 

6. Montucas

These slightly sweet Honduran tamales can be made with veggie, cheese or protein fillings. San Pedro Sula is a great spot to find it.

7. Sopa de Frijoles

This bean soup is nostalgic for many, featuring hearty fillings and fresh toppings. Find it at family restaurants in Roatán.

8. Tajadas

I love these long and narrow fried slices of plantains for their crispy texture, meaty interior and tropical flavor. Try it in La Ceiba, a port city on the Caribbean.

Honduran Meat Dishes

13. Pastelitos

As portable little fried meat pies, these are great if you love savory snacks. For a truly authentic experience, order it from local eateries in places like La Ceiba. 

14. Honduran Enchiladas

These are Honduran tostadas, despite the name, featuring layers of meat, vegetables and other traditional tostada toppings. Roadside stands in cities like Tegucigalpa are the best places to find this.

15. Tamales Hondureños

Protein, roots and vegetables are stuffed into masa dough before being steamed in banana leaves. This is a great market treat, so if you’re visiting one somewhere like Santa Rita de Copán, make sure to have it on your radar. 

16. Plato Típico

This is a typical Honduran meat plate, featuring a protein, rice, beans, tortillas, salsas and plantains. It’s also the national dish of Honduras. Try it in the Bay Islands or La Ceiba.

17. Tacos Hondureños

If you love fried food, you’ll love these little rolled-up fried tortillas stuffed with meat and served with salsa. Food stalls in Roatán are a perfect place to find these.

18. Pollo Chuco

If you want a showstopper, this fried chicken hunk on top of curtido, plantains and salsa will do it. Vendors in locales like San Pedro Sula are the best spots to sample this delicious Honduran dish.

Honduran Beverages

22. Horchata de Morro

This drink involves round morro seeds, rice, peanuts and spices like cinnamon. Try it at a San Pedro Sula market. 

23. Pinol

Ground corn, spices and cocoa come together for this warming drink. It’s a great find in Tegucigalpa, especially at local markets.

24. Café Hondureño

No Banana Coast cruise would be complete without a sip of Honduran coffee — get it black for maximum espresso flavor. Try it in the growing region, like in Copán or Santa Bárbara, for the freshest cup of joe.

25. Monkey Lala

Ice, equal parts Kahlua and Bailey's, vodka, dark rum, coconut cream, chocolate syrup, banana and pineapple juice make for a really fun drink. Pair it with a Roatán beach day.

26. Gífiti

This indigenous drink includes local roots, herbs and rum. Getting it at a village is a really authentic way to go, but otherwise, head to La Ceiba to try it.