The best restaurants Yucatán Peninsula

Timetable

Meals are eaten later than in France, rather like in Spain. Breakfast can be taken directly from the market or on the street corner, where there is no shortage of stands selling fresh fruit juices and salads(coktel de frutas). Breakfast can be taken until 10 or 11 a.m., depending on your profession. For those in a hurry, a few tacos to be devoured standing in the street around the puesto (street stall) that makes them will do the trick. La comida (lunch) is the main meal of the day. It's never eaten before 2 p.m., often at 3 p.m. and even later; it can go on forever. Popular restaurants known as fondas usually only open for breakfast and lunch, and close around 5pm. Cena (dinner) is not very common in country villages where, because of the late lunch hour, it sometimes consists only of hot chocolate and pan dulce. The habit of dining out in the evening is not particularly widespread, except perhaps in towns where European habits have been introduced.

Budget & Tips

To eat local and cheap, turn to the fondas, puestos or comedores of the markets. In all cases you can eat for the equivalent of 3 or 4 euros for a full meal, to be paid in cash only. The fondas, also called cocina económica, where the working and middle classes mix, are small restaurants offering hearty and often tasty family cuisine. You can find the real Mexican flavours there, so be careful with the chillies! Puestos are street stalls where tacos or burritos are prepared and eaten standing in the street. These are convenient when you are hungry or need to eat quickly. Taquerías are small restaurants or shops that specialize in making tacos. You will find a wide variety, it is ideal to try new flavors for cheap. Finally, you can also have breakfast or lunch in the comedores, which are grouped together in the market area. Everything is prepared on the spot with fresh products from the market. Be careful with the hygiene conditions, which are sometimes limited.

Concerning the restaurants, there are of course all prices and the variety of dishes is greater. The more chic and touristy the area, the more difficult it will be to find cheap establishments. In most restaurants you can pay by credit card, especially in the tourist areas.

What costs extra

In restaurants and cafés, it's customary to leave the waiter at least 10% of the final bill, and 15-20% if you're really satisfied with the service. It's important to respect this rule, as waiters in Mexico don't necessarily have a fixed salary: their income therefore depends entirely on the tips they receive from customers. For those who choose to pay by credit card, don't forget to fill in the " tips " or " propina " box. As not all tourists visiting Mexico are familiar with this rule, some restaurants sometimes add the tip to the bill, to ensure that foreign customers don't forget the propina. The French have a bad reputation in this area. They are said to be " codo ", meaning "elbow" (the gesture of touching one's elbow with one's hand): used to not tipping in France, they are probably less generous than Americans and Canadians.

The local way

In Mexico we say: desayunar como un rey, comer como un principe y cenar como un mendigo (breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a beggar). Indeed, breakfast and lunch are traditionally much more substantial than dinner. The desayuno often includes juice or fruit salad, eggs or a portion of meat and tortillas. For lunch, in the fondas, the famous comida corrida is served, a three-part menu of the day. You can choose between two soups as a starter, two or three guisados (meat dishes in sauce) as a main course, and finally a small dessert, all accompanied by an agua de fruta. In the trendier neighborhoods, this formula has survived with the appearance of fondas that offer more elaborate dishes inspired by international cuisine, often with vegetarian dishes.

Mexicans are also in the habit of snacking between meals on snacks that are often quite fatty, accompanied by a refresco (soda) in fluorescent colours: tacos, quesadillas, tamales, green mangoes slathered with chilli and chamoy, corn on the cob covered in mayonnaise... As a result of these poor eating habits, Mexico now has the highest obesity rate in the world, ahead of the United States: 32.8% of Mexican adults are obese, and 70% are overweight. Obesity in Mexico remains strongly linked to poverty, as the vitamin T diet (tacos, tortillas, tortas) has the advantage of satiating hunger, while being very economical, making it accessible to poor families.

To be avoided

Don't be fooled by the color of chilies - whether red, yellow or green, they can be extremely hot or very mild - color and appearance are deceiving! And when you order pizza or snack portions in bars, don't do it just for yourself. It can be frowned upon in Mexico to order only your own portion without inviting other diners to share it. Finally, gentlemen, if you're dining with a woman, don't offer to share the bill, as you risk losing a good part of her esteem.

Kids

Children are always welcome in cafés and restaurants, even those serving alcohol. Mexicans are used to going there with their families, so no worries there. For the little ones, high chairs(silla comedor or silla para niños) are often available in upscale and mid-range establishments, as are children's menus (often with many quesadilla options). If this isn't the case, don't panic, portions are generous in Mexico and you'll certainly be able to share your dish with your little one (again, beware of the chillies!). Changing tables are also sometimes available.

Smokers

Smoking is prohibited inside restaurants, as well as outside on the terrace or in front of the establishment. Smoking-only areas are rare, and are off-limits to minors.

Tourist traps

Check your bill carefully when paying, there are often mistakes, voluntary or not. The 10-15% tip is sometimes included, so check this too, to avoid paying a double tip.