When you think of Latin cuisine, tacos, nachos, and other familiar Mexican favorites may be the first dishes that come to mind. But the flavors of Latin America reach far beyond any one country or culinary tradition.
Spanning 20 sovereign nations, Latin America is home to an extraordinary range of cuisines shaped by Indigenous traditions, regional ingredients, migration, and generations of family recipes. From savory pupusas and slow-cooked meats to bright ceviches and perfectly seasoned rotisserie chicken, every region brings something distinctive to the table.
In SeaTac, you can experience many of those flavors in the Global Dining District—a vibrant, four-mile stretch of more than 30 restaurants, cafes, and markets boasting the extraordinary cultural traditions of one of the most diverse cities in the Northwest.
Below, we visit two excellent examples of these rich traditions; one serves the hearty, comforting flavors of El Salvador, and the other has perfected the art of Peruvian rotisserie chicken.
Las Palmas
Walking into Las Palmas feels like walking into the kitchen of a dear friend. Its jute-wrapped light fixtures glow warmly against the cozy booths, sheltering families as they enjoy a slow dinner of excellent food and unwind from the day.
Specializing in Salvadoran cuisine, Las Palmas’ specialty dish is the Pollo Crema De Chipotle, a creamy chicken dish with just a dash of heat.
The first bite immediately tells you why this dish is so popular. The grilled mushrooms add an earthy floor to the depth of the cream as the sweet onions punctuate the tender chicken, and the chipotle adds a gentle heat that rounds out the flavor of this delicious meal.
Served with savory yellow rice and dollops of fresh guacamole and sour cream, Pollo Crema De Chipotle is comfort on a plate.
If you’re leaning towards seafood as your entree, the Pescado Frito is an excellent choice.
The outer skin of the fish is spiced, salted, and crisped to perfection, forming the ideal foil for the sweet, tender flesh underneath. A drizzle of lime gives it punch, cooled by the neutral palette of refried beans and yellow rice.
Las Palmas also offers a Mexican fusion menu, blending Salvadoran flavors with traditional Mexican dishes.
The chicken chimichanga stands out particularly.
Stuffed generously with succulent chicken, the crisp outer shell and soft cheese melt in your mouth as the mild red sauce lands on your taste buds, rounding out every bite.
Like the other dishes, the chimichanga is served with a side of salty yellow rice and dollops of guacamole and sour cream that add additional depth to this already fantastic entree.
Las Palmas is perfect for a quiet, weeknight meal, but it also has a fully stocked bar where handmade cocktails are crafted, live music, and a calendar of events.
If you’re looking for a lively night out or just some good, home-cooked food, Las Palmas should be on your list of must-visit stops in SeaTac.
San Fernando Chicken
San Fernando has taken classic Peruvian chicken and elevated it as their showpiece, building their menu around what they know they do well: roasting chicken that will knock your socks off.
San Fernando’s slow-roasted rotisserie chicken is available as a whole chicken, half a chicken, or a quarter, slow-roasted until the marinade has sunk deeply into the crispy skin and the meat is practically begging to fall off the bone.
Served with a side of golden fries and your choice of beverage, the large, airy dining room gives you many comfortable seating options, or you can simply put your order in at the counter and take a minute to soak in the upbeat music playing and relaxed atmosphere while you wait for your meal.
While chicken is the signature dish at San Fernando’s, they also offer an array of additional Peruvian cuisine, including Lomo Saltado, a dish of stir-fried sirloin, bursting with tender flavor, and served with grilled onions and tomatoes over a bed of fries and a side of white rice.
You really can’t go wrong with this menu. Any entree you choose is cooked from scratch, served with warmth, and deeply satisfying.
Pull up a chair
SeaTac may span just ten square miles, but within the Global Dining District, the flavors of Latin America feel wonderfully expansive. From comforting Salvadoran classics to bold Peruvian favorites, and so much more, there’s always something new to discover—and plenty of reasons to come back hungry.
So pull up a chair. Your next great meal is waiting.
There’s more to explore! Las Palmas and San Fernando are just two stops along the Global Dining District’s four-mile stretch of world flavors. Choose your next adventure at GlobalDiningDistrict.com.
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