Fast Food Phenomenon

It doesn't take long in Guatemala to realize the country loves its fast food. On almost every block in Guatemala City, you can feast your mind and stomach on a number of fast food options. Think Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, McDonalds, even Little Cesar (which I thought was extinct!). Most of the fast food joints seem similar to US versions, but on a bigger scale. Just the other day I saw a 2-story Taco Bell! In the US, Taco Bells are usually tiny little stores joined with KFC.

At the posh mall in Guatemala City, the food court is also subjected to fast food take-over. You'll find your Sbarros, Taco Bell (again), Quiznos, and so on. It's like I never left the US. But one thing you can find here in Guate and not in the US is POLLO CAMPERO. Get excited! Pollo Campero is a national fast food chain started here in Guatemala. Essentially it sells chicken (kind of like KFC without the mashed potatoes and other southern sides). I know that doesn't sound exciting, but it's actually delicious. Being in Guatemala, I of course had to try the local food including Pollo Campero. I went in with very little expectations. The menu isn't very extensive, so I decided to order your basic extra crispy sandwich with fries and a soda. My total: Q35 (about $4.5). A few minutes later my food was ready. I opened the foil on my sandwich and saw, much to my delight, some lettuce. This was a good sign. There also happened to be chicken (duh), tomatoes, onions (maybe), and some special mayonnaise. All in all, it was delicious. The fries (and diet coke) were also yummy. See picture below for a look.

I asked one of my co-workers about the Guatemalan fascination with fast food. He said fast food was actually a fancy kind of food here. When people go to places like Pizza Hut, they are going out in style because the prices at these places aren't really that different than the US. That means, for a typical Guatemalan, fast food places are actually pretty expensive. 

In addition to the endless array of US fast food chains here in Guatemala, you can also find US restaurants. So far, I've seen an Applebee's and Chili's. Hope this gives you a glimpse into Guatemalan fast food. Blog soon (get it? instead of talk soon...my little joke).

Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan KFC (but better!)