Los Chapines Restaurant

11/06/09

Delicious, welcoming, authentic!

by Caridad123 at Citysearch

I just found this place for lunch today and loved it! I lived in Guatemala for a while and the food, marimba music and textiles decorating the restaurant took me right back!

The food was VERY authentically Guatemalan, but somehow still better than most Guatemalan food I've had. The waiter made a point of telling us the ingredients were fresh with minimal grease and oil used in cooking. And the menu has enough variety (including Mexican and Salvadoran dishes) to please even people who aren't sure what to expect.

I enjoyed the Chicken Dobalditas with rice and beans. It was big enough that I had leftovers, and only cost about $5 before the tip. The complimentary chips and salsa were also excellent -- more Mexican than Guatemalan, but so good with warm, fresh chips and a chunky but mild salsa.

I am definitely going back -- next time for pupusas!

• Pros: Quality, authentic Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Mexican food
• Cons: Decor may a bit too sparse for gringos