Because sometimes you just need to buy a coffee without getting out of your car.
In the United States, the drive-through is a staple of urban and suburban life, but in Nicaragua, formal drive-thrus are just slowly growing. This does not include street food stands, which are a topic for a whole other post.
I've been collecting a list of Managua's drive-thru restaurants, mostly for those moments in life when both of my kids have synchronized their naps, and those naps just happen to be car seat naps.
But first, a story...
After I had my first child, born in Managua, my mother in law came to stay with us and help take care of me, post-C-section, and the new baby. She was so helpful and wonderful with us, but she helped me adhere closely to the Nicaraguan tradition of the post-partum diet - namely, a strict diet of tortilla con queso, oatmeal, verduras cocidas, pollo a la plancha, frutas, and tibio (IYKYK, and if you don't, lucky for you).
After about two weeks, I vividly remember craving something - ANYTHING - sugary. One day, I had to take my newborn daughter to an appointment, and I snuck out alone with her in her car seat (check out this post for more on car seat culture, or rather lack thereof, in Nicaragua). She promptly fell asleep, and my plan to go pick up some junk food was almost foiled. Fortunately, I remembered that there was a Pops ice cream drive thru in Las Colinas, and I took a detour to pick up what I will always remember as the BEST chocolate shake of my life, and E was none the wiser in the back seat.
Drive-thru Restaurants in Nicaragua
I've collected a list of drive-thru restaurants in Managua where you can pick up food, coffee, or dessert without getting out of your car. Most of them aren't the healthiest, but most drive throughs aren't exactly known for their nutritious foods...
Casa del Café
Sucursal Norte Donde fue Casa Pellas, Km 12 Esquipulas, Plaza Familiar Carr. a Masaya
National coffee chain that serves coffee, pastries, and more
Café Las Flores
Plaza Cobirsa Km 6 Carretera a Masaya, Centro Entheos Km 13 Carretera a Masaya
National coffee chain that serves coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and more
Pops Ice Cream
Uniplaza 1ra Entrada Las Colinas
Costa Rican ice cream chain
Auto Café Pronto
Gasolineras UNO, various locations
Drive thru coffee and snack shop associated with the UNO gas stations
Burger King
Km 4.5 Carretera a Masaya
International burger franchise
McDonald's
Drive thrus at Plaza España, Metrocentro, and Bello Horizonte locations
International burger franchise
Carl's Jr
Galerías Santo Domingo
International burger franchise
Little Caesar's Pizza
Plaza Familiar Carretera a Masaya
International pizza franchise
Tip Top
Drive thrus at the Veracruz and Las Colinas locations
National fried chicken chain
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