The Best of West End Restaurants
The charming, funky beach town of West End has around 30 restaurants and bars. There are so many options, from high end gastro pub fare at Oasis to street feed tacos, it can be impossible to choose where to go. Below is a quick review of most of the food offerings in West End. They are listed in geographical order starting on the east side and working west. The restaurants not on the list haven’t been forgotten; I just haven’t eaten there. My favorites are listed listed in red.
$ – around $8-12 per main dish | $$ – around $15 per main dish | $$$ – around $20 -$25 per main dish | $$$$- Over $30
Cafe de Palo $$ Located in the hotel Posada Las Orquideas, this cute cafe is a great place to water the ocean and graba coffee, juice, or tea. They also have breakfast and lunch options that while tasty are a little overpriced. The setting can make the prices worth it though. They also do a drink happy hour.
Stowaway $$-$$$ The newest West End restaurant, this small but delicious restaurant offers up an ever changing menu of Mediterranean inspired small plates. The juices and frozen sangria are so refreshing. The food is delicious and the setting is lovely. It can take a while so don’t expect a quick meal. Great vegetarian options.
Lorettas $$ A great place for island style cooking. The menu has all the favorites: stewed chicken, whole fried fish, etc. They have a limited number of tables and are very popular so get their early. They also do lovely lunch specials for under $10. Go early as they sell out fast.
Lily Pond House $$ This charming restaurant is located on the road to Half Moon Bay Cabins. The setting is great for a romantic meal and the prices are very reasonable. They have chicken, pork, steak, seafood, and a whole lot more. I love the grilled pork chop with their delicious garlic mashed potatoes.
Argentinean Grill $$$ An institution in West End, they have great steak. The grilled tenderloin with chimichurri is enough to fill you up and take home for breakfast the next day. The twice baked potato is my favorite side. The pastas and grilled seafoods are mediocre. Stick with grilled meats. Try their home made chimichurri sauce on your steak; it is awesome!
Sundowners Beach Bar and Restaurant $ Located on the beach on Half Moon Bay, this place is a must go. Everyone that has been to West End has been to Sundowners. A great mix of locals and tourists alike, there is no better place to watch the sunset with a drink in hand. Or come during the and use their beach chairs and order lunch. In addition to wraps, sandwiches, and bar food, they have the best hamburgers on the island. They serve lunch and dinner every day. They also show most major sporting events including hockey.
Beach House Restaurant $$S – $$$$ Located upstairs in the Beach House, the yellow house on the beach next to Sundowners. This charming lounge serves up decent but expensive food. I find the menu short on any local ingredients. Examples include salmon risotto, imported tuna tataki, and a charcuterie board. They do have a good cocktail and the views of the sunset are fantastic. They do have a very good Sunday Brunch.
Silversides $$$-$$$$ Located upstairs from Coconut Tree Dive Shop at the entrance to West End. This is elevated pub fare with globally inspired dishes. They also have a killer cocktail menu. It is also one of the few places with an actual lunch menu.
Bean Crazy $ Coffee shop with mediocre food offerings. The coffee and sweets are really good. The food is average. The 2-for-1 sushi on Thursday and Friday is not the best but it will satisfy a craving. It is air conditioned and has good wifi.
Sandy Buns $$ This lovely bakery and restaurant serves up BBQ, Tex Mex, burgers, and sandwiches. Their food is absolutely delicious and the portions are massive. I love the chicken enchiladas and the veggie sandwich. They also have good breakfast. Open for breakfast and lunch M-F. The lunch lines can be long!
Pura Vida $$ – $$$- A Costa Rican restaurant located inside the Gelato place. This cute beachfront restaurant serves up Central American favorites such as fried pork belly on cabbage salad, ceviches, and coconut fish stew. The sangrias are good and are 2-for-1 on Wednesdays. The kitchen is not fast so don’t expect a quick meal. But the wine based cocktails including a prosecco and gelato float help pass the time.
Gingers $$- $$$$ Located on the beach, this great Tex -Mex, burger, seafood joint has delicious food. All of the food is amazing. They have a few vegetarian options but their real specialty is fresh fish. They are one of the few restaurants that serves up fresh catch fish and they do it well. Their blackened wahoo is one of my favorite meals on the island. They also serve lionfish when available. On Sundays, they have live music during the day. Try a frozen mojito while catching some sun on one of the beach chairs.
Cannibal Café $ The best Mexican food on Roatan. They have tacos, huge burritos, giant quesadillas, chimichangas, tostadas, chips and salsa, bean dip, and much more. The chips here are divine. The make their flour tortillas from scratch and then cut and deep fry them to make the chips. Try the Worth every Calorie! If you are up for a challenge, eat 3 of their huge burritos in one sitting and they are free. They also have lionfish tacos and a good breakfast menu.
Drunken Sailor $-$$ This restaurant has fantastic pizza and a rotating menu of delicious Italian specials. They do pizza by the slice as well as whole pizzas. They have home made pastas that are very really, really good. The sangria is delicious. They are also open late. The pizza doesn’t do well as take away as it gets soggy quite quickly. But its delicious to eat in.
Blue Marlin $ – $$ Lunch and Dinner every day but Sunday. Their lunch menu has all the typical items: sandwiches, burgers, etc. But they also have great bar snacks such as tator tots, buffalo chicken taquitos, and more. The food is good and reasonably priced. The bar gets lively at night, especially for Karaoke Thursdays and Party Friday.
Café Escondido $ Located above West End Divers, a comfortable atmosphere and quality items for a great value! In addition to their Asian rice and noodle bowls (the Teriyaki is my favorite) they have salads, soups, sandwiches, great breakfasts, and more. In addition they also have Espresso drinks, Ice Coffees, Fruit Smoothies, Cocktails, Local Beers, cocktails, etc. Open for Breakfast and Lunch. Closed Wednesday. Great vegetarian options.
Thai Place $$$-$$$$ It is not cheap and the food is inconsistent. It used to be great but the quality has gone downhill and the prices have gone up by 30%. It is $20 – $30 per entrée which is a lot to pay for Thai food.
Splash Inn $$ Italian Restaurant with grilled meats and seafoods. The food is so-so.
Pizza Picasso $ mediocre pizza at best but large portions
Booty Bar $$ This somewhat tacky bar serves up surprisingly good food during the day. They do have great wings and an over the water seating area which is nice. The wings are quite popular. Don’t go for a quiet late dinner as the music can get really loud.
Island Culture Food $ – Located just after Booty Bar and before Anthony’s Chicken, this small blue building with a deck serves up traditional island food at great prices. The menu changes daily but specials include oxtail, stewed chicken, fried marinated pork (think pork confit), and more.
Anthony’s Chicken $ Good grilled chicken and typical Honduran food. The jerk chicken is not Jamaican jerk chicken but it is delicious. Quick and reasonably priced but it is pretty popular, especially later in the night, so you might have to wait a bit for a table.
Chuchiaso $ It’s a great quasi street food / sit down restaurant. It’s a physical building but with common street foods. They have tacos, pupusas, grilled meat platters, and Honduran fare.
Roatan Chocolate Factory $ – $$- Amazing desserts, great hot chocolate and ice cream. The chocolate is grown in Honduras and made on sire. They do good breakfasts and lunches for reasonable prices plus lovely passionfruit wine spritzers.
Seawiches $- Cozy lunch spot for small plates and great sandwiches. They have a large selection of vegan and veggie options. The place turns into a cocktail lounge at night with delicious drinks and a cool vibe.
Papusa Place $ Just after seawhiches is another quasi street food / sit down restaurant. They have amazing Pupusas which are a highland Honduran and El Salvadorean dish that is like a stuffed tortilla but so much more interesting. Think taco calzone. Definitely a must go!
Happy Harry’s $$ Or whatever name they are calling it now. The owner is under arrest for pedophilia and human trafficking. His wife is running it and keeps changing the name. DO NOT GO THERE.
Rotisserie Chicken $ The name says it all. They have rotisserie chicken and great sides. It is inexpensive, quick, and delicious. I believe a whole chicken and 2 sides is around $15. It is a favorite among West Enders. You must get the coconut rice and beans. The hot sauce is also fabulous and they have the best desserts. Go early as they run out of chicken by 6:30.
Cognacs Pizza – $$ Great American style pizza and chicken wings. The best pizza place in West End. Portions are large and the quality si always good. They have gluten free pizza as well.
Sunset Grill – $$ – $$$ Located just at the entrance to Sunset Villas, this beach restaurant has chairs you can use for free. They have a huge menu with decent food. I ate there once and that was enough for me.
Tequila Jacks – $$-$$$ Located in Brisas Del Mar, this place serves up really good elevated bar fare. The jalapeno poppers are not to be missed and the burgers are delicious. The pool is a great spot to spend an afternoon or sunset. The margaritas are delicious.
Titas Pink Seahorse $ – Located a few minutes walk down the beach from Tequila Jack’s, this local and expat favorite is always fun. It’s an almost ramshackle but totally charming beach bar that could only exist in Roatan. A great place to watch sunset, grab a drink and a burger for a feel of the real West End.
Luna Beach- $$$ about an 8 minute walk down the beach past Tequila Jacks is Luna Beach Resort. They have a coffee shop with good juices and breakfast as well as a beachfront restaurant. The food is good but expensive.
Just Outside of West End:
Crisp – $$ A salad, juice, and poke bowl place located outside West End in the turquoise mall. They have delicious salads and the poke bowels are great. They have AC and wifi. They also do fresh pressed juices which are a rarity on the island. Great vegetarian options.
Junior’s Pizza $$– Located next to the green mall just outside of West End, this arsenal pizza place makes delicious pies. The seating area is very cute but limited. It is BYOB. Follow them on Facebook for opening hours as they change frequently.
Pazzo- $$-$$$ head outside of West End at the round-about and take a right. The restaurant is on the right hand side. Great Italian with homemade pastas, bread, desserts. It is one of my favorite restaurants. The menu changes all the time. And reservations are recommended as they run out of tables and food most nights. 9889-1732. BYOB
Oasis Restaurant – $$-$$$ Outside of West End about 1/3 of the way before the turning to West Bay, this restaurant is amazing. It has an ever changing menu that includes things like Chipotle ribs, blue cheese gnocchi, curries, and more. Their menu is fresh and inspired and the food is delicious. They also have a great cocktail menu and yummy desserts. Reservations are recommended as is a taxi there and back. Ask me about making a reservation for you as they will sometimes include free dessert for everyone. Great vegetarian and vegan options. 9484-6659
Street Food
Some people are too afraid to try it. Mistake! Street food is not to be missed and most is only $5 per plate! I do ask you to bring your own plates and forks with you, even if they are just paper plates. Most of the street vendors use Styrofoam and plastic, much of which ends up in the ocean.
*Miss Jenny Across from Jackson’s Market and next to Captain Van’s Scooter Rentals, Jenny serves up delicious traditional island style food for lunch. Her menu changes every day but she usually has stewed pork, oxtail, grilled beef, BBQ Chicken, and occasionally picked crab. It is served with a choice of sides including potato salad, rice and beans, coleslaw, pasta, and plantains. About $5.
*Pork Taco Man In the evenings until late night, he opens in the parking lot of the little mall next to Cannibal Cafe. There is another one next to Coconut Tree. 3 Tacos or 2 Gringas for $6. It is a very good late night meal, especially after a few drinks.
*Mexican Grill Guy Located in an actual building just before Anthony’s Chicken, they make delicious plates of typical Honduran food plus tacos and grilled chimichurri pork. He is also one of the few street food vendors that uses real plates instead of plastic and Styrofoam. Plates from $5.
*Baleada Lady – Located just before the Chocolate Factory, she makes delicious baleadas (home made tortilla with refried beans, your choice of grilled meat, and pickled onions). Plus she has the best hot sauce and pickled onions in West End. And all for under $2.
*Keith Woods– Open for breakfast and lunch, he has a wooden thatch hut on the beach in front of Woody’s Grocery on Half Moon Bay. Great typical island BBQ: chicken, beef, or pork with beans, rice, pico de gallo, etc. He also has great fish. He buys fish off the local fishermen when available and he grills it right there. It is one of the only places with seafood that hasn’t been frozen. They also have fresh made juices from local fruits from his garden: hog plum, tamarind, mango, soursop, and nance are among my favorites.
