When it comes to gastronomy, Mexico stands out as a vibrant and diverse culinary destination. Mexico offers some of the best meals in the world. From homemade street food to high-end gourmet restaurants, Mexico offers a wide array of flavors and traditions that reflect its rich cultural heritage. In larger cities and tourist destinations, Mexican chefs are making a wide range of international dishes.

Traditional Mexican Cuisine:

Mexican cuisine is known for its bold, complex flavors and diverse regional variations. Classic dishes like tacos, tamales, enchiladas, and pozole showcase the unique blend of indigenous Meso-american and Spanish influences. Mexican cuisine also features an extensive use of spices, fresh herbs, and a variety of chili peppers, adding depth and complexity to its dishes.

Street Food Culture:

Exploring the street food scene in Mexico is a must for any food enthusiast. Vibrant markets and bustling street corners offer an abundance of authentic and affordable options, such as elotes (grilled corn on/off the cob), tlayudas (large tortillas topped with various ingredients found in Oaxaca), gorditas (corn-masa stuffed), and tacos Al pastor (flame cooked pork). Sampling these street foods provides a genuine taste of local flavors and culinary traditions.

• Sanitation and cleanliness is always a top concern with any street food. Food sickness can happen.

• Make sure the food server is not the money handler, or the person wears gloves each time to handle money.

• When plastic plates are used, they should covered in wrap for each meal, since they can not be washed each time.

• Some street vendors have a small counter to eat eat or small stools to sit. For others, it’s standing only.

• Observe where the locals eat. The locals will know which vendors have the best dishes and where they are not getting sick.

Regional Specialties:

Each region of Mexico boasts its own culinary delights. For instance, coastal areas like Baja California is famous for fish tacos, the Yucatán Peninsula is renowned for their seafood dishes and Cochinata Pibil, Pueblo Magico - Real (Mineral) de Monte specializes in Cornish pasty, while central regions like Oaxaca and Puebla are famous for their moles, chapulines, and complex sauces. Many regional specialties are Pre-Hispanic dishes you should research and seek out. Travelers can embark on a culinary journey through Mexico's diverse landscapes, savoring distinct flavors and ingredients unique to each area.

Regional specialty food guides: Food Republic - Gusto Mexico - Points and Travel - Sazon Experience - Spices Inc - Travlinmad

Drink guides: Amigo Foods - Points and Travel - Taste of Home - Velas Resorts

Eating Out Experiences:

In Mexico, dining is not just about the food; it's also about the ambiance and sense of community. From lively cantinas serving antojitos (snacks) and drinks, to upscale restaurants offering modern interpretations of traditional dishes, Mexico serves a wide range of dining experiences to suit every palate and budget.

• Meal times and duration may be different than home. If the place is empty or closed, it may be an off time. In tourist areas, meal times blend together.

• When eating out, I will read Google restaurant reviews and then go & look. You can search for highly rated places only. If I see a high rating and alot of reviews, then this is an indication of a great restaurant.

• If it’s prime dining time and the place is empty, keep looking. Some of our best meals are street food vendors or restaurants where we have walked by and went in. They were busy & we had a great meal.

• Traditional food markets / mercados are a great places to find regional specialties and everything in between. Mercados food stalls will be very busy and every one will try to get you to sit down to theirs.

• The latest trend is multi-restaurant food halls (mercados) with a range of specialty menus. Los Cabos, Mexico City - Roma, Oaxaca.

• In the tourists areas, the prime-location restaurants are often not your best meals. The ambiance and location is what you are paying for. When a restaurant is hidden off the beaten path, the owners need to work harder to bring in the locals and tourist alike. The meals are often better quality and cheaper. Use Google Maps and select highly rated restaurants…and then go for it!

• Coastal tourists restaurants will have a menu in Spanish and English. Locals restaurants will be in Spanish only. As a rule of thumb, If the menu is available in English or restaurant accepts credit cards, the prices will be higher. Study your Spanish menu guides.

• Your phone with cell service & Google Translate app is a great tool. Google Translate features a camera option where your phone translates the Spanish menu to English. Online menu guides: Wikipedia - Mexican Mercados - Holy Tequila - Feather & The Wind - Wandering Wheatleys - Travel Mexico Solo - Will Fly For Food -

• When you are walking past someone eating and catch their eye, the polite phrase is: provecho (enjoy your meal).

• When they are drinking, the phrase is: salud (cheers, to your health).

• Meals last for hours and start much later in the evening. Your waiter will never end your meal with a check, so you must say: la cuenta (the bill) when you are ready. If you pay with a credit card, they will bring you the credit card machine.

• Unlike other countries, you will not find many bar/restaurants where you can sit at the bar and enjoy a drink or a meal. Table seating and group meals is the norm in Mexico.

• Tipping guidelines

• I enjoy these cooking shows to be always learning: Rick Bayless - Pati’s Mexican Table - Luz Media

  Provecho!