Eating Out

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San Salvador is an interesting city in a number of ways.

Although I was born there, I've spent the vast majority of my life in Los Angeles, a city whose population and geographical size easily dwarfs San Salvador many times over. Sometimes these differences subconsciously cause me to be at least mildly surprised by some of the things I see around San Salvador, especially when I also compare it to other similarly sized cities I've visited during my life.

One of these things relates to the dining options available in San Salvador. 

Living in Los Angeles, one gets spoiled by the diversity of options one has available. After all, Los Angeles, is home to the largest population of expatriates from a variety of nations, including El Salvador, Japan, South Korea, Armenia and others. This translates into one being able to sample aspects from a lot of different cultures, including their foods.

San Salvador also offers a wide assortment of quality eats, perhaps even more diverse than some smaller cities in the States or Canada. I theorize the reason for this relates to the diplomats that are in town, and local businesses needing to cater to their needs. Lets take a moment to highlight some culinary styles you should expect to see, and continue on to share some important tidbits relating to the dining experience in San Salvador.

As you make your way around town, don't be surprised to see these culinary choices:

Japanese

Italian

Middle Eastern

Peruvian

Argentine

Taiwanese

Chinese

Mexican

American

Spanish

And various others...

Of course, there is no need to specifically call out the fact that there are tons of places serving traditional Salvadoran dishes. For now, we won't discuss specific restaurants or their quality. Lets focus on the fact that variety exists and our next point, some of the norms one should expect while visiting local dining spots.

Lets talk drinks.

Pan & Company is the only restaurant chain in El Salvador that I currently know of which offers free refills. Perhaps this is the norm wherever it is you call home, but in the States, when one orders a soft drink, it is assumed that refills are included with the price. Not so in El Salvador, so bear that in mind if you are accustomed to chugging down 10 Cokes with your meal, because you will be paying for 10 Cokes, not just one.

Do you take Visa?

Some of you might remember my post about cash being king. It couldn't be any truer at dining spots. A number of them will outright not accept any credit or debit cards. If you are not planning on paying with cash, check in advance that cards are accepted to avoid any post-meal embarrassments. 

Manic Mondays.

Monday through Wednesday tend to be slow nights at most restaurants around town. Take advantage of this tidbit as many offer specials to lure customers. Some are advertised, while others not. It is worthwhile to ask as they are often 2 for 1 deals. Furthermore, many of those same specials include additional discounts if you pay with cash. 

Oh, waiter!

If there is one thing that Salvadoran restaurants are not known for, it would be speedy service. The general lifestyle in San Salvador, and El Salvador as a whole, is a lot less of a rat race than what one might be used to from living in places like Los Angeles or New York. As such, every aspect of living in El Salvador moves at a similar pace, including the service one receives at a restaurant. Be prepared to raise your hand or gesture at your waiter to get attention, whether it would be to get your bill or order another entree. And if you are in a rush, learn the art of patience or don't eat out.

Don't wipe on your clothes.

Restaurants of all kinds and sizes tend to be stingy with napkins. My theory as to why is that it is some sort of cost reduction technique. Anyhow, it is something I personally find annoying because it is often less napkins than you need. For example, 1 napkin to eat 3 pieces of fried chicken. Try to compensate for it by carrying a couple of napkins in your pocket/purse at all times. You never know when they may come in handy. 

Told you so.

Lastly, if you are going to eat food prepared by street vendors, heed the following warnings:

* Buy only from vendors that you see on a regular basis on the same spot.

* Stand close to them so as to watch the preparation process.

* Wash whatever isn't already washed and can be washed.

* Know the location of your nearest pharmacy.

Now that you know what to expect, be sure to check back for some suggested places to visit!

UPDATE: I meant to mention a word or two about tipping but it slipped my mind at the time of originally writing this post. Tipping as a general habit is not extremely common, especially at places like the neighborhood pupuseria. That being said, some establishments do include the tip in the bill, a flat 10%, regardless of the number of members in your dining party. Thus, it is prudent to check your bill to avoid double tipping.