Mexican Food and Drink Guide: What to Eat and Drink in Mexico

Why Mexican food is unmissable

Mexican cuisine is on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, and one bite explains why. Flavors are built on corn, chiles, and centuries of regional tradition, so the food in Oaxaca tastes nothing like the food in Yucatan or Mexico City.

Signature dishes to try

• Tacos al pastor marinated pork shaved off a vertical trompo, topped with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. A staple in Mexico City taquerias.
• Mole a deep, complex sauce. Oaxaca alone has several, including the famous mole negro made with chiles and a touch of chocolate.
• Cochinita pibil slow-roasted pork marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaf. The pride of Yucatan.
• Chiles en nogada a poblano chile stuffed with picadillo, topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate. Seasonal, around August and September.
• Pozole a hominy and meat stew, served red, green, or white with radish, lettuce, and lime.

Street food worth seeking out

• Tamales corn dough steamed in husks, sweet or savory; the classic Mexico City breakfast is a tamal in a bread roll, the guajolota.
• Elotes and esquites grilled or cup-served corn with mayo, cotija cheese, chile, and lime.
• Quesadillas and tlacoyos from a comal, often filled with squash blossom, huitlacoche, or beans.
• Tortas hefty sandwiches on crusty bread, a cheap and filling lunch.

Drinks, with and without alcohol

• Mezcal and tequila both from agave; sip mezcal neat to taste its smoke. Tequila comes from the Jalisco region.
• Agua fresca light fruit waters like jamaica (hibiscus), horchata, and tamarindo.
• Tejate an ancient Oaxacan corn and cacao drink, often sold in markets.
• Micheladas beer with lime, chile, and spices, served over ice.

Practical dining tips and etiquette

• Street stalls with long local lines are usually the safest and best.
• A typical taco costs around 15 to 25 pesos; eat several.
• Tipping (propina) of about 10 to 15 percent is standard in restaurants.
• Salsas can be deceptively hot. Ask which is picante before drowning your taco.
• Carry small cash, since many stalls do not take cards.

Stay connected in Mexico

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