How to Order Breakfast at a Dominican Restaurant

Mangú with onions

You've probably heard of rice and beans with a side of plantains, but have you ever had a typical Dominican breakfast? You can eat a huge, filling breakfast for less than $5 at a Dominican restaurant, but you've got to know what to order. Here's a guide to some of the typical dishes you'll have to choose from.

Instructions

1. 

   Check the menu. Often Dominican restaurants have a steam tray up front with prepared food ready to serve. See what's fresh, You can expect to see a dish called Mangú, which is mashed plantains with fried red onions. Sometimes yuca is offered as an alternative. Yuca is casava, and it's a starchy vegetable, similar to a potato. It's delicious fried with garlic and topped with some onions. Either yuca or mangu can be ordered with a side of fried white cheese.

2. Once you have your base of mangú or yuca, add some meat. Salchichon (salami) and longaniza (a chorizo-like sausage) are popular. Many people order scrambled eggs along with their mangú.

3. Try more exotic choices. For a real change of pace, order your eggs scrambled with salted codfish (bacalao) or herring (arenque). Sounds weird, but it's delicious. If you want something comforting but not as heavy, you might be able to find avena caliente, a sweet, hot oatmeal drink.

4. 

   Don't forget the coffee. If you order a "cafe con leche" or a "cafe express," you will get a Dominican version of a cafe au lait, made with strong coffee or espresso and steamed milk.