We are major foodies and when we travel, sampling all the local dishes and flavors is a absolute must. Food in Mexico is some of the best we’ve ever eaten and we want to showcase some of our favorites here in this article.
While tacos reign supreme on our list, unsurprisingly, there’s so much more to Mexican food than this global street food dish. Follow us as we delve deeper into Mexican cuisine.
Go Back: Mexico Travel Guide
1. Tacos in Mexico City
Mexican tacos have exploded in popularity all over the world. Who hasn’t yet come across a taco truck near their home?
Barbecued meats, juicy salsas, warm tortillas, and just a dabble of chili peppers; what’s not to love?
And nowhere else in Mexico are the tacos better than in Mexico City. Tacos come in all shapes and sizes, but we love the small ones best; the ones that fit perfectly in the palm of your hand.
Street tacos aren’t hard to find in Mexico City. Just roam the streets and you’re bound to find vendors showcasing their delectable meat selections cooking on an open pan, simmering in oil.
Hey, nobody said street tacos were healthy!
Simply walk up and point to each cut of meat you want and tell them how many tacos you want. The best part of ordering small tacos is that you get to sample all the different cuts of meat without feeling overly full.
2. Carnitas Tacos in Quiroga, Michoacán
Carnitas tacos is just one of the many types of tacos in Mexico, but nobody does carnitas better than in Michoacán. Translated to mean “little meats”, carnitas tacos originated in Michoacán state. So it’s only reasonable that this state takes it’s carnitas very seriously.
The best carnitas cooked over a slow flame at least 3-4 hours before being served. By that time, the pork is juicy and tender. Easily pulled apart, chopped into small pieces, and served on a tortilla.
In Quiroga, a town just west of the state capital of Morelia, up to 30 different vendors line the street selling their unique carnitas recipes to pedestrians passing by. Some of the vendors have been selling carnitas cooked in their family traditional recipe for generations, since the turn of the 20th century.
Not all carnitas taste the same. Different vendors use different recipes. Our advice is to take your time and visit multiple vendors.
Come with an empty stomach!
3. Barbacoa en Consomé in Oaxaca
“Barbacoa” means to slow cook a piece of meat over an open fire. And no where is barbacoa cooked better than in Oaxaca. Though you can simply have the meat served to you on a tortilla (a la taco), we recommend having the barbacoa served to you as a stew (“en consomé”).
Peering inside, the barbacoa pot looks like an entire pig or goat was maliciously chopped up, thrown in the pot, and sadistically boiled. If you look carefully, you could identify the ribs, parts of the jowl, intestines, liver, and kidneys.
Nothing goes to waste in a barbacoa pot.
For taco lovers, fear not. You can still ask to be served a side of tortillas, cilantro, and onions. So if you want, you can still construct your own DIY tacos.
4. Menudo in Pátzcuaro
Not for the faint of heart, Menudo is a stew that predominantly features the stomach lining of a cow, or “tripe”. If cow innards makes you queasy, then you may want to take a hard pass. Or if you’re lucky, there might be other, more regular, cuts of meat included. But tripe is usually the main event.
It can be a bit hard to chow down on just cow tripe, so we like to put our tripe pieces on tortillas and spoon on healthy amounts of chopped onions, cilantro, and lime juice.
Fun fact: Menudo is reported to be a hangover cure. So menudo is often served during the weekdays and consumed after a hard night of partying the night before.
5. Chilaquiles (aka Mexican Nachos)
If you grew up eating nachos slathered in american cheese at the movie theaters and at ball games, then Mexican chilaquiles is your salvation.
Talk about a substantial upgrade.
Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican breakfast consisting of deep fried tortillas pieces. The tortilla chips are then slathered in salsa, cheese, and a hodgepodge of other toppings to create a delicious breakfast.
Chilaquiles might look like informal street food, but the dish is often served even in fancy hotels and restaurants. One time, our chilaquiles even came with a poached egg on top.
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6. Bonus: Chapulines
A snacking favorite for many in certain regions of Mexico, Chapulines are toasted grasshopers and seasoned with lime juice, salt, and garlic.
We tried some in Oaxaca and while Chapulines are far from our favorite mexican food, we’re glad we gave it a try.
Sprinkle some on your homemade tacos for that added protein boost. 🙂
Thanks For Reading!
We hope this post helps inspire you to sample a wide range of foods on your own trip to Mexico.
If you’re looking for more information on Mexico, visit our Mexico Travel Guide.
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