Ok, for a while I keep telling myself to write this post but I kept forgetting. People often ask me to recommend a good "mexican restaurant" in the area, whether in HZ or Cancun Downtown. Here is the problem, Mexican Food Restaurant, is a marketing term that doesn't mean much here in Mexico. Outside of Mexico, they have "Mexican Restaurants" that offer some of the classic Mexican dishes, but while in Mexico you have many more choices than any one single restaurant can cover. If you want a good "carnitas" tacos you would go to the one stand on Nader street before 11 am. If you want good pozole you would go to a restaurant behind the ADO bus station, if you want good Yucatecan Food you would go to Emiras in front of Mercado 28. If you want good tamales you would pick them up next to Soriana on Andres Quintan Roo Blvd after sunset. All the items I mentioned above are "Mexican Food", yet they are all very very different. Sure you can find some restaurants here in Cancun that offer all different type of Mexican dishes like carnintas, barbacoa, pastor/adobado, tamales, relleno negro, etc but these restaurants are not as good in flavor as those that mostly specialize in one item. This even holds true for Mexican junk food. If I am in the mood for quesadillas and sopes I go to one place that only sells those, if I want rolled tacos (flautas) I go to another place, etc. Now, not only is the food better at the specialized places, it is also much more fresh. That said, most of the traditional dishes here in Cancun are much better than else where in the world, but for those that have traveled around Mexico, we find the "mexican food" in cancun not to be as good. Cancun is a relatively new city, less than 40 years old. Because of this there isn't really a local/traditional flavor of the area. The closest thing we have to "local food" would be yucatecan food which is great. Yucatecan food is based mostly on chicken and pork, and the classics are Cochinita Pibil, Lomito, Pok Chuc, Relleno Negro, Salbutes, and Panuchos. Now in general for good "Mexican" eats you have to venture outside the hotel zone. Don't be afraid to eat a place where you see lots of "mexicans" but very few (if any) tourists. Usually the places outside the HZ packed with Mexicans are the best spots. Some of my favorite spots here in Cancun are (in no particular order): Pescaditos Las Quekas de la Costa Tacos de la Nader Cheesters (ok so this is actually a pasta place but it rocks) El Bucanero (they serve sting ray tacos) Tacos Rigo Tacos Arabes Israel Carnes HC and/or JR del Norte (most of the Carnes HC became JR)
Gracias, Manny 4 of us are coming back in Feb. 2010 for a 4th, and 6th visit to the area....and your list helps make our to-do list......thanks for those suggestions....we will be looking for those places....are they on the "MapChicks maps" ? If not, point out the cross streets please.....
I have heard much about mapchicks maps, but I've never seen one. In fact since I get so many questions regarding her maps I am contemplating on purchasing a set so I can finally see what are some of the great goodies she includes. Pescaditos - Located on Yaxchilan street next to Pericos. If you do go to pescaditos, after walk across the street and take the one stree next to the school. This will take you to el parque de las palapas where they often have cultural events (dance shows, contests, etc) on the weekends. At pescaditos I always order an order of pescaditos, an order of pescadillas and a chaya with pineapple drink. Less than 90 pesos. Las Quekas de la Costa They have about 4 locations. The first one (the only one I have eaten at) is on Avenida La costa right off of Coba. If you take the R2 bus from the Hotel Zone, ask the driver to drop you off at Avenida La costa. When you get off the bus walk on that street, and you will see Las Quekas. Here I always order one sope and one quesadilla both of them of "chicharron prensado" Tacos de la Nader - This is actually no the name of the place. This is not a sit down place, it is just a taco stand on a corner. When you come out of the HZ into downtown, the first street is Bonanpack, and the 2nd major street is Tulum Ave. Nader street is in between these two streets. The tacos are almost right in front of Diabilitros (a local restaurant bar). They only sell carnitas here. If you get there early enough (before 9am) you might have your choice of buche, nana, etc. If you get there after 9am more than likely they will only have "surtido" which means you get a mix of what ever is left (all is pork). Each taco costs 10 pesos, but they are huge. I am not a small guy, and 2 tacos are good for me, in fact I make 4 tacos out of the 2, since they do give you two tortillas with each taco. Cheesters (ok so this is actually a pasta place but it rocks) - This place is great. EVERYONE that I have taken there has been extremely pleased. It is a true local hang out, only tourists I've seen there have been the ones I have taken myself. To get here make it to Las Quekas in la Costa. Right across the street there is an Oxxo, take that street, and you will see a park, on the other side of the park you will see the restaurant. It is painted yellow. I have tried pretty much everything on their menu, and it is all great! I do recommend one person orders a pasta and the other a salad, then you share El Bucanero (they serve sting ray tacos) - El bucanero is on Tulum Ave on the parking lot of Mega, which is right across the street from the ADO station. Tacos Rigo - I don't remember the name of the road where this place is. One of the cross streets is Palenque, and the other road is the one that leads to Mercado 28. Best I can describe it is that it is on Palenque in the street that is between Chichen Itza and Coba/Xcaret. Here they have a large selection. When they started their menu was much smaller, but as they have grown so has their menu. Tacos Arabes Israel - They have two locations that I know of. One is right next to pescaditos on Yaxchilan street, however the food there is not as good as the one on Chichen Itza and Palenque. Here I usually order a Hawian Taco arabe and a Norteno Taco arabe at 20 pesos each Carnes HC and/or JR del Norte (most of the Carnes HC became JR) - They have different ones. The one easiest to find would be on Coba right next to a Blockbuster and an Electra (electra big yellow building) (if you go straight out of the hotel zone you would be on Coba Ave). If you want a fancier setting, then look for the HC on Kabah Avenue. Now if you are looking for something more specific, like pozole, barbacoa, pancita, cochinta, etc feel free to contact me and I will gladly give you some suggestions.
Great post! And now I am hungry with no decent "Mexican food" options. There is a place here in upstate NY that makes an extremely delicious cochinita pibil. It rivals some of the best that I have had in Mexico. Needless to say, I eat there quite often. Getting out of the hotel zone is very good advice. When my wife and I travel anywhere we always try to get away from the tourist crowds and see what a place is really like. Usually, that means eating a whole bunch of great food. Finding the restaurants, carts, shops, etc that are crowded with locals is always a good bet. Heck, it's good advice at home as well. The best places to eat are usually more busy than places that are not so good.
Tacos Rigo is in SM 30 at the corner of Palenque and Xpuhil. I love this place. You can get some interesting things to eat. If you go with 3 or 4 people you may want to order by weight, like half a kilo or a kilo of barbacoa or whatever you choose. It still comes with all the sides. To drink, try what we call Aguas Frescas. My favorite is Agua de Jamaica, sort of a hibiscus tea, served cold. Agua de Horchata is good but it has a "different" sort of flavor. It is a rice based drink, looks like milk, served cold, and slightly sweet. You can get "aguas" at any decent local place. First time I ever had Horchata was in 2004 and I was attending a memorial service in the home of the family whose husband/father had passed away. It was night, dark and the service was over. The custom is that after the service you eat and drink. I was asked if I wanted "agua" which at the time meant "water" to me. I was handed a styrofoam cup. I was slightly preoccupied with the event and the people around me. Thinking I was about to take a big swig of water I took a big hit from this cup and about gagged. Not because it was unpleasant, it was just a big surprise and certainly not what I expected to hit my lips. And it was a taste I had never experienced. What a shock. Now I drink Horchata all the time. I love the Super Carnes mentioned as being between Elektra and Blockbuster on Coba. The cross street is Palenque. When you get off the R-2 bus at the Walmart stop, look to your right for the stop light. Across the street at the light you will see the big yellow Elektra. Super Carnes is next to Elektra. Try the Arrachera which is my favorite. It comes in a "package" with a drink, your choice of baked potato or grilled onion, tortillas, half an avocado and a hot as fire roasted chile. Although the HC Monterey on Kabah is fancier, it is not as good as the one by Elektra, that is called Super Carnes, unless they have recently changed their name. I just don't care for the quality of this place. Some of the items they clearly buy at Sams or Costco, especially a couple of things that kids like to eat, as well as some of the vegetables that are clearly frozen. If you are a tourist and looking for a variety of Mexican dishes, I would suggest La Parilla on Avenida Yaxchilan. It is across the street from Perico's (presently this place is closed) and a couple of blocks farther away from Coba. I will say that most locals, well me in particular, don't frequent La Parilla. It is a bit pricey compared to out of the way places we can get to and it is a bit too touristy for me. But it is a good place, fun and you will enjoy it for sure.
