10 Best Guam Foods and Dishes
Famous Food Locals Love to Eat in Guam
Guam’s people are known for their hospitality and their food. The island’s cultural diversity is reflected in its cuisine, and a lot is derived from Mexican and Spanish dishes. The best foods and dishes in Guam can be spicy or sweet, or a unique blend of both, but they’re always hearty and sure to feed the soul as much as the stomach.
You can expect entrees of succulent seafood and chicken with mouthwatering sauces and sides. Guam is known for its red rice, which is as flavourful as it is colourful, and any meal might also include a soup or stew, flatbread and a delectable custard cake for dessert. So, what are the best Guam foods and dishes?
1. Chamorro-style red rice
Colourful staple dish
Ideal para: Alimentação, Grupos, Famílias
A traditional dish that originated in the Pacific Islands, Chamorro-style red rice is anything but boring, and a party in Guam isn’t really a party without the dish. The rice gets its colour from annatto or achiote seeds, which are soaked in warm water that’s then used for cooking the rice.
Recipes vary, but the dish often features chopped onion, bacon or bacon grease, garlic powder and other seasonings. Chamorro-style red rice is a perfect foundation dish, and pairs well with Guam-style BBQ and tasty chicken kelaguen.
Chamorro-style red rice
2. BBQ
Ribs and chicken with a sweet, and sometimes spicy, glaze
Ideal para: Alimentação, Famílias, Vida noturna
Most BBQ meals in Guam feature ribs or chicken, or both. Island-style ribs typically are made with soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar and spices, and the marinade is used on pork ribs, beef short ribs and chicken. The result is a sweet and tangy meat entrée that’s sure to get your mouth watering. Some chefs choose to kick up the spiciness factor with peppers.
Most BBQ meals in Guam will feature several dishes, including red rice. You’re also likely to find any number of ingredients like bananas, aubergine and shrimp in coconut milk. For dessert, a Guam BBQ might feature Latiya, which is a type of custard cake, doughnuts or pumpkin turnovers.
BBQ
3. Fina’denne’
A spicy and versatile condiment
Ideal para: Alimentação, Grupos
Fina’denne’ is a spicy condiment that is a staple of Guam cuisine, and translates to ‘made with pepper’ in the native language. A fina’denne’ with a soy sauce base is typically served with red meat, pork and chicken dishes while a lemon- or salt-based fina’denne’ with vinegar often accompanies fish-based dishes and lighter fare. Optional ingredients include onions and tomatoes.
Either drizzled over entrees or rice or placed in small saucers for dipping, Fina’denne’ is an ideal accompaniment to any Guam dish. It’s also sometimes called Chamorro special sauce by the locals.
Fina’denne’
4. Chalakiles
A rich, chicken-based soup
Ideal para: Alimentação, Econômico
Chalakiles is a popular comfort soup in Guam that is relatively easy to make. Like red rice, the soup gets its appetising reddish colour from annatto or achiote seeds. The classic recipe calls for chicken, onion, garlic, chilli peppers, vinegar and toasted rice, among other ingredients. Different recipes may also feature coconut milk or add crabmeat for a tasty twist.
The stew is typically served hot and is often paired with more white rice on the side, making it very heart and filling. It’s the perfect dish for a cold or rainy day in Guam.
Chalakiles
5. Lumpia
Typically wrapped with a wide variety of fillings
Ideal para: Alimentação, Famílias
Lumpia are like egg rolls or spring rolls, but their pastry wrappers are thinner and more delicate. They are typically served hot and fresh straight from the fryer, but it’s not uncommon to find them eaten unfried and cold or at room temperature. Most often, lumpia are served as an appetiser or snack, making it the ideal street food.
Lumpias are traditionally made with ground meat, usually pork, cabbage and other vegetables. In Guam, lumpia is sometimes wrapped in romaine lettuce instead of pastry, which is especially refreshing in the summer. Fina‘denne’ serves as a great dipping sauce.
Lumpia
6. Tamales Gisu
Red and white tamales with 2 different flavours
Ideal para: Alimentação, Famílias, Grupos
Tamales gisu is a variation of the beloved Mexican street food, but it is unique in that each half is flavoured differently. The orange-reddish half is coloured by annatto seed extract and gets its flavour from meat such as bacon or chicken. The white, starchy half doesn’t usually have a meat flavour but is no less delicious.
Traditionally made with corn meal and corn flour, the tamales gisu is usually wrapped in aluminium foil, though sometimes a banana leaf is used, and then steamed and served warm. They’re a popular side dish at many of Guam’s festivities and family gatherings, so sampling them is a must.
Tamales Gisu
7. Kådu
Comfort soup with varying ingredients
Ideal para: Alimentação, Famílias
Kådu is a rich soup or broth, and it can be made with a variety of proteins and vegetables depending on what’s to hand. The more popular forms of Kådu usually feature chicken or shrimp, and is typically made with coconut milk and plenty of fresh vegetables. Kådu can also be made with beef or oxtail, which is simmered for 8 to 12 hours to ensure it melts in the mouth.
Kådu is very much a part of Guam’s culture, and different recipes have provided comfort for generation after generation. It is typically served as a main course, even on hot days, and is often paired with steamed rice and fina’denne’ sauce.
Kådu
8. Kelaguen
Meat or seafood prepared with lemon juice
Ideal para: Alimentação, Grupos, Vida noturna
Kelaguen is another popular staple dish in Guam, very similar to ceviche. Many varieties of meat are used in assorted kelaguen recipes, but chicken, beef, shrimp and fish are often used, as is Spam. Traditionally, acids from the lemon juice cook the raw meats without needing heat, except for chicken which is cooked first. However, many modern chefs will lightly cook some of the meats to prevent food-borne illness.
Kelaguen is a favourite at parties in Guam, and sometimes several varieties of the dish will be offered to guests. Along with lemon juice, kelaguen might contain green onions, grated coconut, and peppers. It’s especially tasty served up over rice or wrapped in tortillas.
Kelaguen
9. Latiya
A custard cake flavoured with cinnamon
Ideal para: Alimentação, Famílias, Grupos
You can’t leave Guam without sampling latiya, a traditional dessert that is often served at parties, fiestas and gatherings. The foundation of latiya is cake, and recipes may use sponge cake, pound cake or even carrot cake for extra flavour. The cake is baked to perfection and sliced before being covered with a rich and creamy vanilla custard. Eggs can be included in the vanilla custard to make it richer in flavour.
The custard is allowed to soak into the cake slices or can be layered if preferred. Whatever the recipe though, latiya isn’t complete without a dusting of cinnamon. You won’t be able to resist going back for seconds, or even thirds.
Latiya
10. Titiyas
A flatbread that takes many forms
Ideal para: Alimentação, Foto, Econômico
A frequent staple food, titiyas are a versatile flatbread that are used in Guam much like tortillas in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. Through the years, titiyas have been made with flour, corn and even Federico nut, which is toxic but can be treated and made into flour.
Flour titiyas are a cross between a tortilla and baked bread and are thicker than their Mexican counterpart. Alternatively, titiyas are also often made with coconut milk, adding a little sweetness, and typically served with chicken kelaguen, butter or cheese. If you can find someone making authentic titiyas, it’s a joy to sit and watch the dough being prepared.
Titiyas
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