EAT IN ASIA / Destinations / Other destinations / Northern america / Dominican republic
Where to eat in the Dominican Republic?
Are you hungry? Do you want to try something new? Or maybe you would prefer to go with something well known? Read this post and find an ideal place for you!
What are you looking for to eat?
The first thing, that you have to remember about is, that depending on what you would like to eat, you should go to another place. There is no one single rule or answer to the question – ‘Where to it in the Dominican Republic?’. The place you should choose is strongly related to the type of the meal you want to have. Whether that is a traditional, local meal; whether a Western-style one. On the other hand, there is a set of other factors like looking for a no meat meal, vegan, only with seafood or raw. Finally, whether you have to go with a special diet-restricted meal and you have to be sure that some ingredients are excluded. All these factors will definitively favorize some or other places.
At the end, eating is strongly related to drinking. And that is the next thing, you should take under consideration while choosing your place for the meal.
Where to eat a traditional food in the Dominican Republic?
If you are looking for a traditional, Dominican meal, there is no better place than a comedor. It is local, definitively serving classics that are favorized by Dominicans. Comedores are serving not only a really fresh food, but also meals that are home-made. It is also a place where you would be able to eat the most traditional Dominican meal – La Bandera. In comedores you will meet local people and you will be able to observe their everyday life. Here, you will meet all society classes. Starting from physical workers, through governmental and national services, and ending on the business class. All of them will go to comedores to have their local lunch.
In these small canteens you will get everything that is the best in the Dominican cuisine. Known under the name of La Bandera (the flag) or plato del día, daily lunch meals are served between about 11 AM and 4 PM. Opening and operating hours may vary from place to place. The lunch is served till the last portion is available and from the moment, the first dish is prepared and ready to be served. So, actually, the same place can have another opening and closing hours of the lunch depending on the chief and the cocking process. So, being in the Dominican Republic, do not stick to hours. Here, everything follows its own speed. You cannot change it. Just accept it and be prepared, that working hours are just like a recommendation of the arrival time and not a real food serving time.
TIP: Choose comedores!
Where to eat Western-style meals in the Dominican Republic?
If you are looking for something Western style, there is no better option, than to have it either in the capital, Santo Domingo, or in any other touristic place. Go to Punta Cana or Bavaro if you are staying in the Southern part of the island. Or visit Puerto Plata and Samana’s popular spots like Las Galeras and Las Terrenas.
Only these places will allow you to get something comparable to what you know. These towns or cities offer a good quality food for almost all tastes. Italian, French, German, US, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian and many more. Regional cuisines are widely available, and I must admit, their standard is quite high. Depending on the budget you have, go to the restaurant that meets your needs. Prices in these touristic places are relatively high. It means, these meals are a couple of times as expensive as local meals from comedores.
The difference between these two places is also huge. While the quality of the food is comparable considering the freshness and taste, the general standard cannot be compared. Comedores are furnished and equipped very basically. Their toilets are of a poor quality. There is usually no menu, and the staff is hardly ever speaking English.
Meals are also smaller in restaurants with an international cuisine than in local canteens. The way of serving them is also much more sophisticated in places targeted on tourists. So, if you are really hungry, and do not care about the way of serving your meal, it is much better to go to comedores. Not only will you meet local people and get a real local food, but you will also leave that place with a really full stomach. I might even say, that if you just eat regular portions, these served in comedores will exceed your expectations. Of course, most of their size is made by a huge amount of rice, but still, it is something that soothes your hunger.
Pizzas, burgers, sushi and all that type of food can be found, as I said, in all touristic places. They will be either cheaper or more expensive. Smaller or bigger. Run by Dominicans or by foreigners. Whatever you want, you will get.
But if you are in a small place, a small village or city, do not expect them to be there too. Although pizza and KFC-style chickens are very liked, Dominicans prefer their own cuisine. They will choose their local pica pollo and empanadas, instead of going to a pizzeria.
TIP: If you are looking for a pizza, sushi, burgers, steaks or for an international cuisine – go to touristic, beach places like Punta Cana, Bavaro, Las Terrenas and Las Galeras or to the capital - Santo Domingo!
Where to eat vegan meals in the Dominican Republic?
If you are vegan, then it is much more complicated. Actually, unless you go to a specialized restaurant or to a Western one, it is highly probable, you will not find anything for you.
Although many dishes might seem to be vegan or at least vegetarian, I doubt in it. Even if you ask owners about it, most of them would admit that it is vegan without even knowing whether it is true or not. And it is not because they want to lie to you. Such a question might be so weird for them, they would not know what to answer. Another option is, that it would be a big surprise for them not to want some basic products like eggs or chicken.
All that is not because they are vicious or because they want to sell the maximum. Nothing like that. Dominican people are extremely helpful, good-hearted, and willing to give you all the best. This misunderstanding or, in your understanding, cheating, or lying to you, might be caused either by their lack of knowledge, or just because they would like to give you all the best. Even they serve you an almost vegan dish, they would try to improve it in their way, and add some salsa that is basing on meat or dairy products. And all that is because they would like to serve you the best meal they can. Try to understand it. Most of them think in another way, however, hardly ever they have bad intentions. You have to remember about it. They love life and they love eating. They would like to share their passion with you.
So, keep it in mind before you get angry and start a conflict.
TIP: If you are looking for a vegan meal, go to specially dedicated restaurants in Santo Domingo, or prepare it by yourself!
Where to eat fish and seafood meals in the Dominican Republic?
The best place to have a fresh fish, prawns, squids, crabs, and ceviche is the seaside. Especially early in the morning when fishermen return from the sea. Head to the beach early in the morning and spot the place where they gather and sell these products. Some of them sell whole packages of different types of mariscos (seafood) and some of them sell it per pound (libra). Fish is either sold as a whole one, or already prepared, cleaned, and cut in smaller parts. All that depends on the size of the fish and on the work that is needed to be done before preparing it.
Prices are reasonable but remember that this sort of food is still expensive in the Dominican Republic. Although it is cheaper than in other Western or European countries, it is still quite expensive, so do not expect very low prices. Of course, the price depends on what you want to buy but, generally speaking, all kind of seafood is more expensive than fish.
TIP: There is no better place to buy a fresh fish or seafood than from the fisherman at the seaside!
Where to eat raw-food meals in the Dominican Republic?
If you are looking for something fresh and healthy, then there is no better option than to spot a local food market. Although not all areas have their own market areas, there is a lot of places you might get it. Depending on what you are looking for exactly, you should go to a specialized place.
Local food markets are usually opened only during morning hours, so it is better, you do all your shopping before going for a tour or for sightseeing. Do not postpone it or do not leave it for the evening time, as that is very probable, that they would already be closed.
Local market areas with small and big stalls offer everything you might like to buy and might need. Starting from very basic vegetables like tubers and plantains, through so popular seasonal and worldwide well-known vegs like carrot, onion, cabbage, and tomatoes, to finally end with all area specific vegetables like chayote, okra etc.
Apart from that, there is a plenty of fresh fruits. Bananas, oranges, limes, pineapples and mangoes are only some of them. Exotic fruits like sapote, noni, starfruit and Brazilian cherries appear seasonally, and are definitively worth trying.
So, if you love preparing your food at home, the Dominican Republic will be a good place to go. Start your day early in the morning, and head to the local market. On the way, grab a shot of a local coffee and start shopping. Chat with people, spend time with them and make friends. Dominicans are extremely friendly and they like socializing. After a couple of days, they would know you and recognize you well. In consequence, you will not be anonymous for them, and they will sell you products of the best quality. Finally, come back home, prepare your healthy meal, and enjoy life.
In case, there is no local market in the place you are staying, another option is to buy fruits and vegetables from small vendors with trolleys. These vendors usually do not offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but usually specialize only in some of them. To buy what you need, you will need to go to many smaller sellers and pick from them one by one what you need. For example, one will sell plantains and tubers. Another one, will be selling tomatoes and onions. Finally, others will have their trolleys full of oranges, pineapples, avocados, or mangoes. As these fruits and vegetables usually come from their own gardens, they are freshly picked and not preserved with chemicals. They are healthier, much more organic and what is important, your every fruit bought from them, will support these people.
Remember, that even though some fruits and vegetables do not look ideally and are not as well-shaped as in supermarkets, their quality is much better.
Finally, if you are in a hurry and need a fresh snack, go to a local colmado to get a banana or avocado. Although not all of these places might have them, most of them sell at least some seasonal and basic vegetables and fruits that come from private gardens.
TIP: If you are looking for a raw-food meal, go to a local market and buy seasonal products from local farmers!
Where to eat dietetic meals in the Dominican Republic?
Well, if you are on a diet, it is better you prepare everything on your own and from products you know very well. Diet specific restaurants, if exist at all, are only both in the top touristic places and in the capital. What means, that in case you are not staying in one of these places mentioned above, you might not get anything that suits you. Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Plata, offer some places where you could have your lactose free or gluten free meal but the number and the selection of them is very limited.
Santo Domingo is the best place if you have to strictly follow your diet. Not only the choice between different restaurants and bars is the widest but also because the capital has bigger supermarkets with international dietary products.
TIP: If you are looking for a dietetic meal like a lactose free or gluten free, go to specially dedicated restaurants in Santo Domingo, or prepare it by yourself!
