One of the best things about vacation is the food. Even before I get to my destination, I’m checking out restaurants and menus. On my recent vacation to Aruba, my friend Sara, who is the best planner ever, made reservations for us at several places. If you ever wanted to know what to eat in Aruba, I’m going to help you out.
There are so many choices of places and types of food to eat in Aruba. From steak, to Italian, to Mexican, Cuban, and of course seafood. You can also check out Traditional Food in Aruba: 19 Must-Try Dishes, for suggestions.
“Aruba’s culinary wealth is based on an eclectic combination of cultures ranging from indigenous Arawak Indian and Spanish, to African, French, and Dutch. Over the years, Aruban cuisine has evolved into a scrumptious fusion of these cuisines, thrilling the taste buds of locals and tourists alike. The best way to experience the unique flavors of the island is by eating where the locals eat. Forget hotel dining and try rubbing elbows with native Arubans at these four delectable joints. Let’s eat like a local in Aruba!” From Beach, where you can find specific local restaurant recommendations.
You can also see more photos from my Aruba vacation HERE.
Calypso Shrimp from Passions on the Beach
Calypso shrimp is Aruban ratatouille, jasmine rice, and a spicy coconut red curry creamy sauce. It was delicious! And the dish was made even better with an up-close view of the sunset, along with my feet in the sand while eating it.
Savory Dutch Pancake from The Dutch Pancake House
This was so good I couldn’t eat it fast enough. If you want to get a seat for breakfast at The Dutch Pancake House, you better get there early. We got there before it opened and grabbed a seat. No one seemed to mind. They serve a variety of food, but like their namesake, Dutch pancakes are their specialty. They serve both sweet and savory pancakes. For me, I’ll always choose savory over sweet, and picked one with ham, onions, mushrooms, and cheese. You can check out their pancake menu HERE.
Goat Cheese Creme Brulee from Papillon
Hear me out. Goat Cheese Creme Brulee. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s all that and more. It’s described as Crème of goat cheese with caramelized apple, walnuts, and a reduction of balsamic. I had never seen anything like this before and had to try it. It was absolutely delicious. I had this at Papillon, the French restaurant with a Caribbean flair. We loved it so much, we ate there twice!
Ceviche a la Papillon
I haven’t really eaten much ceviche in my life, but we decided to try it, and it was one of my absolute favorite foods!
“Grouper and shrimp marinated in lemon and lime juice with cilantro, Madame Jeanette peppers and red onions served with sweet potato and puffed corn.”
Canard a Passion
I haven’t had duck in AGES, and I’m so glad I decided to get it. It’s “duck breast, seared on the skin, served with roasted sweet potato mash, orange passion fruit sauce and a chocolate drizzle.” WOW it was delicious. I know the addition of a chocolate drizzle may turn some people off, but it was a subtle touch that I appreciated.
Red beet Risotto aux champignon
I know most people aren’t fans of beets, but I’m a HUGE fan. I love a good beet salad! I also appreciate beets being incorporated, and the star of a dish. Again, the presentation is a little lacking, but what it’s missing in appearance, it makes up in flavor. With the mushrooms on top, it was a really earthy dish that was delicious.
“Creamy red beet risotto with sauteed mixed mushrooms, served with Parmesan shavings and mesclun.”
Blackened Corvina Sandwich from Mangrove Beach Bar & Fish Shack
I love a good fish sandwich. And having it served right to my beach chair? Perfection. This was corvina fish, it was blackened and had a spicy mango salsa on it. Incredible!
