Veracruz
This informal place on the corner sits inside the Posada del Emperador. There's a M$50 menú del día, but dishes such as sopa azteca (soup with avocado,…
Must-see restaurants in Mexico
Inland Michoacán
An understated little spot with soft music, low lighting and folk art scattered within its stone walls. The specialty here is pizza, which, while not…
Chiapas
Excellent freshly made pastas and pizzas are served in an atmospheric old-world dining room of wood-beamed ceilings, stained-glass lamps and decorative…
Guanajuato
This tiny spot is one of the cheapest eats for those on a budget. It's a hole-in-the-wall with a few tables and whips up excellent and oh-so-fresh…
Zacatecas
'Cheap and good' is how the locals describe this long-standing, cafeteria-style eatery. This means buffet style (as much as you can eat and as many plates…
Cancún
Specializes in regional Mexican cuisine, offering great value in its menú del día (fixed two-course meal). If pollo en mole poblano (chicken smothered in…
Acapulco
One of Acapulco’s most exclusive restaurants, Kookaburra is memorable for specialties including spaghetti with caviar or shrimp in tamarind mole sauce…
Zihuatanejo
A hearty and inexpensive breakfast or lunch is available in the market, which has rows of comedores (counter eateries) serving such gastronomic delights…
Western Central Highlands
This very pretty little restaurant just west of the main square has great cocktails but serves fairly ordinary, relatively pricey enchiladas, tacos and so…
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
The simplest of restaurants intended mainly for a local clientele, this seafood hole-in-the-wall next door to Hostal Emilia serves plentiful plates of…
Guadalajara Region
If you're looking for a break from Mexican food, head for Manix, which serves up American-style barbecue, chicken and steak, with pasta and pizza thrown…
Veracruz
A full restaurant inside the Hotel Florida, Los Quijotes serves up the normal roster of Mexican dishes, including steaks and enchiladas. There's also a…
Mazatlán
Diners at spacious sidewalk tables enjoy hearty Mexican meat and seafood dishes here on Mazatlán's loveliest square. A popular choice is the filete…
Zacatecas
Furnished in the hues of Mexico – bright purples, yellows, pinks and oranges – this casual spot is the place for Mexican cuisine. Come when the locals do…
Todos Santos
Locally loved for its hearty plates of Mexican food, shrimp in garlic butter, fresh soups, tasty tacos and delicious breakfasts, Miguel's is a modest…
La Paz
Under the mighty mounted buffalo head, eat a carnivorous feast that includes hamburgers, rib eye steak and grills. Lightweights can opt for the fish of…
Mérida
Close to the city center, El Trapiche has cheap Mexican eats in a casual environment. It bills itself as the best pizza joint in town, but it's actually…
Alameda Central
Working-class chilangos line up for their share of Spanish paella valenciana, made fresh daily and patiently ladled out by women in white bonnets. Jesús…
Central Pacific Coast
A youthful crowd meets here for generously served meals and coffee. The street level is set up in an intimate café style; upstairs the vibe is more that…
Veracruz
There are actually two Pergolas, both near the main drive-by of Avenida Oriente 6. Which one you choose is a toss-up; both offer no-nonsense Mexican food,…
San Miguel de Allende
This unpretentious hangout is a great choice for home-style Mexican cooking with superb chili sauces. Try the inexpensive set lunch (M$120) or the…
Taxco
On the 2nd floor of the Hotel Casa Grande, this popular pizza-and-pasta place serves food and drink until midnight. You can watch the action on Plazuela…
Morelia
South of the center, this massive none-too-salubrious market bustles with vendors hawking everything from DVDs to watermelons, and is a good place to grab…
South of Mexico City
Whether you want a meat-free quinoa-topped tostada (crispy tortilla), pizza, soy burger, set lunch, avocado 'prawn' cocktail or simply good-value healthy…
Laguna Bacalar
Highly recommended by locals and expats alike, this streetside palapa (thatched-roof) place prepares breakfast and a set menu of home-style Mexican…
Acapulco
The house specialty is the molcajate, a large basalt stone bowl overflowing with grilled meats and veggies, avocado slices and cheese. They also do beef…
Tapachula
A number of clean and popular comedores are hidden upstairs at the Mercado Sebastián Escobar, dishing out mammoth plates of cooked-to-order Mexican street…
Tapachula
A refreshing change from Mexican food, this decent and long established (previously called Long-Yin) Chinese restaurant serves over-sized portions of…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
This long-time tortas (sandwiches) and juice joint on a pedestrian street is a cute and good-value choice for typical Mexican food and no-frills…
Guadalajara
Enjoy craft beers and chapatas (Mexican sandwiches) underneath the watchful eyes of Emiliano Zapata – a pop-art-style mural of the Mexican revolutionary…
Tapachula
Navigate your way past the delicate piles of cakes and macarons and settle in for a good blood-pumping espresso at this air-conditioned cafe that’s good…
Guanajuato
With a 1st-floor view out over the comings and goings on the square below, this is an enjoyable place to tuck into some reasonable, if not mind-blowing,…
Veracruz
The jovial proprietor often calls innocent bystanders over to this alfresco thatched-roof affair, the last structure on the town's main road and just…
Querétaro
Situated on the pretty plaza, this eatery has been here for a quarter of a century. It's reliable for excellent steaks and a variety of pastas and seafood…
Todos Santos
Barajas Tacos is an excellent palapa-roofed taquería (taco stall) serving delicious fish tacos, carnitas (roasted, shredded pork), and papas asadas …
Tijuana
For years this cozy Italian restaurant has been serving generous portions of reasonably priced pizza and pasta. Head to the back and you’ll feel like the…
La Paz
Touristy, but this is the only restaurant on the ocean side of the malecón, between Calle 5 de Mayo and Constitución. It offers great views you can enjoy…
Puebla
If the main Ranas restaurant across the road is too fancy, this small sister diner does the trick for top-notch tacos al pastor, a kebab-like dish of…
Chetumal
Simple and laid-back spot that serves great espresso and food. A favorite with Chetumal’s student and intellectual set, it’s a good spot to chat with…
Isla Mujeres
Aside from the hearty breakfasts here, you get a bird's-eye view of the boardwalk scene from the restaurant's upper deck. And Jax is probably one of the…
