Lets be honest being Vegan while traveling could be a struggle from time to time. Whether it be “will i be eating a salad with s/p and chips tn” or “i have so many options it’s overwhelming “. Which i’ve experienced both when traveling but not in Guatemala. I was shocked to have options and alternatives in cafes, restaurants and bars. Coming from someone who has grown up in a very limited vegan friendly hometown to living in one of the most friendliest city in the country, aka PNW, i can say i can adjust and make do. But in Guatemala it was fairly easy to find what i like and adjust to my options. Considering I was there for a month going into it was definitely nerve wracking but doing research, asking locals, also staying in the “self care/ hippy town” of Lake Atitlan probably helped alot. Some restaurants thats stood out to me was Samsara with delicious food that leaves you feeling satisfied and great afterwards. Café & Bakery IXCHEL, with its variety from vegan chicken tacos to bowls and pancakes. To Circles with their smoothies and breakfast perfect for on the go and of course their delicious coffee. I wish I had more to time explore more restaurants on the lake but the few that I got to go to is Delhi 6 which is Indian cuisine and definitely hit the spot after craving it for so long during this trip. I got the chana masala and vegetable samosas they have multiple vegan options and definitely the hype. Pita Sabij in San Pedro was absolutely the most amazing pita bread and hummus I've ever had. It was so fresh and pita was perfectly pillowy and soft, 10/10 forsure. Next places are in Antigua. First off is Kombu ramen restaurant, and let me clarify that I have my top ramen spot already but this definitely beats it out of the park. Lets start off with its variety of vegan options I got tantan which was needed after hiking a volcano. The broth was flavorful and the noodles definitely freshly made and cooked. At first I had thought there was enough toppings but definitely wasn’t needed with the flavor the broth and noodles had. Could’ve still used some sort of protein like tofu but they actually didn’t have that as a option which i feel could’ve made it more filling. My second favorite was El Bowl for a more refreshing and healthier option. I had gotten a Mediterranean bowl with tofu, it was exactly what i needed and just the right amount, i also got the cauliflower bites which were delicious in flavor and loved that I could choose the sauces.
Overall Guatemala is amazing for vegans if you’re thinking of going most places have vegan options you can always ask if you’re unsure! There are so many restaurants and I wish I could have tried but that just means i have to go back soon.
