It’s been a long-held belief that, when traveling, you’ll find the best food just by wandering through streets and checking out the places the locals are eating at. I know many travelers do this and that it’s not really a secret. But it’s the truth.
Weeks before I headed to Roatan, Honduras, for the first time, an acquaintance gave me a list of places to eat at — I am sure all of them are lovely and also offer up tasty food, but I did not go to any of them. Instead, I found myself returning every day to a local hole-in-the-wall restaurant that seemed popular among locals. At least, every time I was there, many locals who worked at the nearby hotels packed the tiny space. I didn’t necessarily intend to return every single day, but I found myself craving the food hours after finishing my meal — which, to me, speaks volumes of how good it was.
Walking back along the beach, having just finished my first dives of the trip, I noticed a little sign for Dana’s Place. It’s a bit off the beaten path, down a side alley and tucked away behind a building, the not-quite-a-restaurant but not-quite-a-food-stall eatery (the word I’m going with) has a rustic charm. The walls are filled with old photos and marine relics and the two wooden tables offer a communal style of dining.
While it does take some time to get the food, it was well worth it.
The first day, I tried their chicken and rice. It was incredible, though I can’t figure out why, because it was just fried chicken and rice. But it was easily some of the BEST fried chicken I’ve had. The true standout, however, was the Honduran Flauta Tacos. The sauce was savory, sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy. It was also smothered all over the lightly fried flautas made with chicken cheese and some cabbage on top.
I’ve found myself getting more and more food from the eatery each day—yes, I can eat a lot of food—because it was so tasty. Literally stuffing myself until I can’t eat another bite.
I have no doubt, that once I’m back in the States, I will both crave these flauta tacos and be unable to find something that measures up (which will inevitably make me a little crazy). But that’s just what excellent authentic food does.