Travel

A Culinary Journey Through Mexico: The Best Dishes, Desserts, and Dining Experiences

GVI

Posted: March 9, 2023

Mexican cuisine is known for its bold flavours, vibrant colours, and diverse ingredients. It has become increasingly popular around the world, with many people drawn to its unique and delicious dishes. If you’re a foodie who loves exploring new cuisines, Mexico is a must-visit destination. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best Mexican food, from regional specialties to street food, fine dining, desserts, and drinks.

Regional Mexican food

Mexican cuisine is rich with regional diversity, with each state offering its unique dishes, ingredients, and cooking styles. One of the most intriguing aspects of Mexican cuisine is the variety of regional specialties. These dishes showcase the flavours and ingredients that are unique to each state, making for a diverse culinary experience.

In Oaxaca, for example, the regional specialty is mole, a complex sauce made with more than 20 ingredients, including chilli peppers, spices, nuts, seeds, and chocolate. It’s often served with chicken or pork and is known for its rich and deep flavours.

In Yucatan, cochinita pibil is a popular dish that’s slow-cooked in citrus juice, achiote paste, and other seasonings. The result is a succulent and flavorful pork dish that’s often served with pickled onions and tortillas.

In Puebla, chiles en nogada is a patriotic dish that’s often served during Mexican Independence Day celebrations. This dish features roasted poblano peppers that are stuffed with a mixture of ground meat, fruit, and spices, then topped with a creamy walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. The result is a colourful and flavorful dish that’s sure to impress.

Other regional dishes worth trying include pozole from Jalisco, ceviche from Baja California, and tamales from Chiapas. Each state has its unique flavours and ingredients, so make sure to explore the local cuisine wherever you go.

Street food and markets

Mexican street food is a vibrant and essential part of the country’s food culture. On almost every corner, you can find delicious and affordable snacks that showcase the bold flavours and vibrant colours of Mexican cuisine.

Tacos are perhaps the most iconic Mexican street food, made with soft corn tortillas filled with a variety of meats, vegetables, and toppings. Other popular street foods include tamales, which are steamed corn dough filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk. Elotes, which are grilled or boiled corn on the cob smothered in mayonnaise, cheese, chilli powder, and lime juice, are also a must-try.

In addition to street food, traditional markets are an essential part of Mexican food culture. These markets offer a vast array of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and other ingredients, as well as prepared foods and snacks.

One of the largest and oldest markets in Mexico City is Mercado de la Merced, known for its wide variety of food and non-food items. Mercado San Juan in Oaxaca is another bustling market with a focus on local ingredients and traditional Oaxacan dishes. Mercado 28 in Cancun is a lively market with vendors selling everything from fresh seafood to handmade tortillas.

Exploring the street food and traditional markets in Mexico is a great way to experience the local cuisine and immerse yourself in the culture. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite from a street vendor or browsing the stalls in a bustling market, you’re sure to discover new flavours and culinary delights.

Fine dining in Mexican restaurants

While street food and market stalls offer a unique and delicious way to experience Mexican cuisine, the country also boasts a thriving fine dining scene. Many Mexican chefs have gained international acclaim for their innovative and creative approaches to traditional Mexican dishes.

One such restaurant is Pujol in Mexico City, led by renowned chef Enrique Olvera. Pujol offers a sophisticated and modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine, with dishes like mole madre, a seven-year-old mole sauce served with crispy tortillas, and octopus with black garlic and habanero chili.

Another notable restaurant is Quintonil, also located in Mexico City. Chef Jorge Vallejo uses local and seasonal ingredients to create innovative and visually stunning dishes like grilled avocado with escamoles, a type of ant larvae considered a delicacy in Mexico, and huazontle, a type of Mexican green, with sheep’s cheese and pasilla chili.

Outside of Mexico City, Biko in Guadalajara is another fine dining destination worth visiting. Here, chefs Mikel Alonso and Bruno Oteiza combine Basque and Mexican flavours to create unique and flavorful dishes like huitlacoche ravioli with pumpkin seed sauce and black truffle, and sea urchin with avocado and cilantro foam.

Fine dining restaurants in Mexico offer a unique opportunity to experience traditional Mexican flavours and ingredients in a new and exciting way. While these restaurants may be more expensive than street food or market stalls, the experience is worth it for food lovers looking to explore the depth and complexity of Mexican cuisine.

Mexican desserts

Mexican desserts are a delicious and diverse array of sweet treats, often featuring traditional ingredients like chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. From rich and decadent cakes to refreshing fruit-based desserts, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth.

One of the most iconic Mexican desserts is churros, deep-fried dough pastry that’s coated in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate sauce for dipping. Another popular dessert is flan, a custard-like dessert made with eggs, milk, and sugar, and topped with caramel sauce.

Chocolate is also an essential ingredient in many Mexican desserts, thanks to the country’s rich history of cacao cultivation. Mexican chocolate is often flavoured with cinnamon, and it’s used to make a variety of treats, including chocolate tamales and champurrado, a thick and comforting hot chocolate.

Other desserts worth trying include tres leches cake, a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk and topped with whipped cream, and arroz con leche, a sweet rice pudding flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla.

For something a bit more refreshing, try a paleta, a type of Mexican popsicle made with fresh fruit and water or milk. Some popular paleta flavours include mango, coconut, and tamarind.

Whether you’re in the mood for something rich and decadent or light and refreshing, Mexican desserts offer a wide variety of options to satisfy your sweet tooth. Don’t forget to try a few during your culinary adventures in Mexico!

Whether you’re a food lover looking to explore new tastes or a traveller looking to experience the culture and traditions of Mexico, the country’s cuisine is sure to impress. So next time you’re in Mexico, be sure to indulge in the flavours and culinary delights of this vibrant and delicious cuisine.

Speak to us about special offers

Adventure is calling. Chase that feeling!

Save up to 15% when you book and pay by 31 July

Apply

what’s up next?

Raja Ampat: Indonesia’s Diving Paradise

Discover Raja Ampat, Indonesia's diving paradise in the Coral Triangle. Explore rich marine life, pristine waters and unique dive sites like Misool and Cape Kri.

GVI

Posted: July 10, 2024

Read the article