Eating and Drinking in Mexico

Do not miss the chance to go to Panaderia Madrid (calle 5 de Febrero, one block off the main plaza in downtown Mexico). This is a very old and typical bakery, they will usually have fresh bread twice a day, but if there are a lot of customers they will bake as many as four times a day. Asian food restaurants are abundant, and the quality is good, and caters from cheap Chinese cafeterias to luxury, expensive and very good Japan food. (Korean, Japanese and Chinese are most common, Indian, Thai and Indonesian can be harder to find).

There are many "Puestos" (street stands) selling "Tortas" (filled bread rolls similar to a sandwich) or tacos, but caution is advised since some places may lack the necessary hygiene. If you feel like trying this, look for places with lots of people, popularity is generally proportional to quality. For a quick snack you can always try a ‘tamal’ (steamed corn dough with chicken or pork) bought on the street or specialised shops, accompanied by a cup of Atole (hot corn starch drink), which is the breakfast of the humble on their way to work.

By trying some of this street food, you may (or may not) find some of the most unique and genuinely Mexican dishes you've ever had. From these vendors, you may find tacos, burgers, bread and almost any kind of food and service you would imagine.

Look out for the following bites:

• Chicharron - Deep fried pork skin. Quite crunchy and if well-prepared slightly oily.
• Enchiladas - Chicken or meat stuffed soft tortillas covered with green, red or mole sauce. Some may have melted cheese.
• Tacos - Tortillas filled with meat (asada (steak strips), pollo (shredded chicken), carnitas (fried shredded pork), lengua (tongue), cabeza (meat from cow skull), sesos (cow brains).
• Tamales - corn dough shell with meat or vegatable fillings. Tamales Dulces contain fruit and/or nuts.
• Tortas - Fancy mexican sandwich. Bread is fried lightly, meat fillings are same as tacos, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, onion, mayonaise and avocado.
• Quesadillas - Cheese or other ingredients grilled in between tortillas.
• Mole - Mild to medium spice sauce made with cocoa and a hint of peanut over meat, usually served with shredded chicken. ('Pollo en mole')
• Pozole - Chicken or pork broth with hominy corn, spiced when served with oregano, lettuce, lemon juice, radish, chopped onion, dried ground chile and other ingredients, usually served with a side dish of tostadas, fried potato and fresh cheese tacos.
• Gorditas - corn patty stuffed with chicharron, chicken, cheese, etc. topped with cream, cheese and hot sauce.
• Guacamole - crushed avocado sauce with green serrano chile, chopped red tomato and onion, lemon juice and fried tortilla slices "totopos".
• Tostadas - fried flat tortilla topped with fried beans, lettuce, cream, fresh cheese, sliced red tomato and onion, hot sauce, and chicken or other main ingredient.
• Huaraches - a bigger version a gordita.
• Sopes - corn patty topped with a wide variety of ingredients such as chicken, cheese, etc. and hot sauce.
• Carnitas - deep fried pork meat.
• Chile en nogada - A big green Poblano chile with a beef or pork apple stuffing, covered with a white nut sauce and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds which happen to be red. The three colors represent the national flag and the dish is served nationwide around Mexican Independence Day 16th September.
• Barbacoa - Sheep meat cooked with maguey leaves in a oven made at a hole in the ground.
• Sopa de Tortilla - tortilla chips soup
• Chilaquiles - tortilla chips with green tomatoes sauce, usually served with chicken or eggs.

Whatever you do, don't leave without trying:

• Tacos al pastor
• Enchiladas Suizas
• Pozole
• Quesadillas

Also try asking for the "platillo tipico" of the town, this is a local speciality not found elsewhere, a variation, or the birthplace of a recipe, also consider that most of the recipes change from place to place, like tamales, in the south are made with the banana plant leaves, and in the Huasteca region tamales are very big, one is OK for a complete family!

Tips Tipping the waiter is expected, usually being 10- 15% the standard for all restaurants. You can tip less or leave no tip at all for poor service.  Another charge of 15% IVA (added value tax) is also added, but should not be mistaken for a service charge.

In Mexico, there is no difference in prices if you sit inside or outside, it is the same if you eat at the bar or sit at a table.

General Tipping rules

Tipping is a way of life in Mexico. It is always a good gesture to say a special “thank you” to those people who are working to make your holiday a success. It is not only customary, but also a real “must” to tip the local guide and driver. It is equally customary to tip porters at airports, bellboys, chambermaids and waiters.

Traveller’s Tips

It is better to cash travellers’ cheques at a bank or at a Money Exchange Bureau, than at hotels or shops. However, for smaller amounts, the difference of exchange rate is negligible.

Even though Euros are beginning to be accepted as common currency, it is best to carry a reasonable amount of US dollar notes (small denominations are of most use).

Check the price of long-distance telephone calls from hotels before making calls. They are expensive, and the hotel usually adds an extra charge. We recommend buying instead telephone cards ($100.00 pesos) for making your long distance calls from a public phone.

Never leave any personal belongings unattended.

Drink

The typical Mexican place to go to drink is the cantina, a bar where food is usually free, and you pay for drinks (exact policies and minimums vary). Cantinas serve a wide range of Mexican and foreign drinks, prices are usually reasonable compared to prices in the US, and you'll be continually served various Mexican food, such as tacos (you should ask for 'Botana').

If your tolerance for Mexican music (mariachi or otherwise), smoke-filled rooms, and lots of noise is low, however, this might not be your kind of place. Cantinas are open moderately late, usually past midnight at the very least. However, some cantinas, like La Victoria, near the Plaza Garibaldi, have a familiar atmosphere and also open at midday for lunch.

In addition, there are bars of the kind most travellers will be used to, many of these play a combination of Spanish- and English-language rock, electronic music, and some Latin/Caribbean music. These also close around 3-4 am.