When you head to an important city, you can always tell where the VIPs head to wheel and deal. The food is top notch, the atmosphere is pampering and there’s something a little remote or hidden about it, even if it’s hidden in plain sight.
La Doña is El Salvador’s capital lunch destination and I was very happy to have been hosted to experience it!
The restaurant’s building is architecturally significant Beaux Arts era, I’m going to guess that it was previously a bank. You go upstairs onto a shaded patio that overlooks downtown, steps away from the National Palace. There’s a bar above it, they say a popular place for a nightcap. ’80s music plays in the background.
La Doña’s menu is a mix of North American with authentic Salvadoran, what they call “typicos”.
Again, they give consideration to mocktails, using fresh local juices.
I started things off with the local shrimp cocktail. Their shrimp are as big as fish! Simple, fresh, great.
They have a chart of how they cook their steaks, but be aware: the Salvadorans nevertheless love their steaks a lot more rare than you might usually order. So, order accordingly.
There’s a section on the menu where they designate different cuts accompanied by Salvadoran sides, “typicos”. They’re all served with refried beans, guacamole, Argentine chorizo, fried plantains, cheese and if you choose, freshly made tortillas.
The meal gave me insight as to Salvadoran cooking that proved true throughout my whole visit: they salt their food a lot less than you’d experience in a USA restaurant and their cuisine is seasoned, not spicy.
Luxe & Down-Home Cuisine/Culture/Travel/Style 