First Time Trying Honduran Cuisine in NOLA for Thanksgiving! 🍛

On Thanksgiving eve, I searched near Lakeside Shopping Center and found a highly-rated, affordable Latin restaurant—perfect for a family food adventure! Beraca Restaurant sits close to the mall but is a bit hidden, with a modest sign and a cozy, Christmas-decorated interior. 🎄✨ The menu is mainly in Spanish (with English notes), so as first-timers, we ordered based on photos and the server’s helpful suggestions. We picked four dishes (though their seafood curry soup wasn’t available that day). After about 30 minutes, everything arrived at once—a whole table full of deliciousness, leaving us wondering where to start! 😋 • Fajitas (Universal) - All meats stir-fried ($25.00) A mix of beef, chicken, shrimp, onions, and bell peppers served with rice. Familiar flavors, lightly spiced—very approachable for most palates! • Pastelitos De Carne (Regular) - Fried "dumplings" (3 for $10.00) 🤩 These golden-orange pastries were crispy, filled with savory meat—like giant fried empanadas or dumplings! Served with salad, dipping sauce, and pickled peppers. So flavorful, though the taste might not be for everyone. • Burritas Catrachas (Regular - $10.00) "Catrachas" is what Hondurans call themselves! It’s a soft tortilla filled with grilled beef, refried beans (a Latin staple!), and grated white cheese. Lightly seasoned, with sweet fried bananas on the side—beans and cheese work surprisingly well together! • Campesino (Regular - $14.00) 🍌🥑 A classic Latin platter with grilled meat, fried plantains, avocado, refried beans, cheese, and more. The meat was tasty, though the plantains here were milder than expected. First Impressions 😊 A fun and budget-friendly experience! Kids mostly stuck to plain rice and tortillas though 😅. Two Honduran staples stood out: refried beans (frijoles) and fried sweet plantains—often served as sides or even main components. Sweet-and-savory combos are common here—interesting to try occasionally! It’s a four-day Thanksgiving weekend now 🦃. Some friends are off to Houston, and the neighbors are hosting a lively family gathering with singing and laughter 🎶. The holiday spirit is strong here, with turkey giveaway events around town. We’re planning to cook the turkey we got from work—first time making one, so recipe tips are welcome! 👩🍳❤️ #Thanksgiving #HonduranFood #LatinCuisine #FoodExploration #NOLAEats #GlobalFlavors #FamilyMeal