What to eat Mexico? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Mexicans have a very different rhythm of life from the French. First of all, you can eat at any time of the day, on the go by ordering a few tacos in a puesto, these street stalls that attract people from 8am, or in a comedor if you are walking in a market. The main meal of the day is lunch, called comida. It is eaten quite late, around 2pm, and is relatively hearty. Many restaurants do not open until 1pm, unless they offer breakfast. Finally, dinner is a traditionally light meal, which is taken around 9pm. This does not prevent restaurants from opening for dinner and serving it as early as 6 or 7 pm. Note that more and more establishments offer continuous service and stay open all day or all afternoon.

Mexico is a wonderful place to treat yourself without breaking the bank. A meal in a nice restaurant in town will rarely cost you more than $250 per person. In the fondas, small restaurants serving inexpensive traditional cuisine, you can easily get away with less than $100 for a full meal. As for the street food stalls, the smell of which makes us salivate all day long, you'll easily find enough to satisfy a small hunger for less than $50. Of course, Mexico also boasts a number of excellent restaurants serving refined cuisine that can be accompanied by fine glasses of wine. In such establishments, dishes can cost $300 or more, which is still quite affordable.

It is customary to leave a tip in restaurants and cafés, in the order of 10 or 15% (up to 20% if the service has really won you over). If you pay by credit card, the waiter will ask you if you want to leave a tip(propina in Spanish) when you pay, in which case the amount will be added directly on the terminal. If you pay with cash, you can leave the tip on the table after you have paid.

One of the things you'll notice in Mexico is that the portions served in restaurants are gargantuan! In fondas as well as in taquerías and trendy mid-range restaurants found in the cities, it's best to avoid ordering too many dishes, even when the menu makes you salivate. If, despite your best efforts, you can't finish your plate, it's common practice in Mexico to ask for a doggy bag. Simply let your waiter know that you'd like the rest of your meal to go (" para llevar ").

If you fancy a cold drink to accompany your meal, avoid ice cubes at all costs, as tap water can make you ill. Similarly, to avoid trouble, don't ask for a glass of water, ask for a bottle of water. Water is purified at source and is supposed to be drinkable, but it's not uncommon for it to be contaminated before it reaches the tap.

Children are welcome in all restaurants and cafés. Mexicans are used to going out with their families, and most establishments are equipped with high chairs, and sometimes even games or a toy corner. Some also offer children's menus. Generally speaking, it's very easy to eat out with small children.

In Mexico, smoking is prohibited in all enclosed spaces, including restaurants. The ban sometimes extends to the terrace, although it is almost never explicitly stated. Some establishments still offer smoking areas, especially in rural areas, but this is becoming increasingly rare.

Tourist restaurants sometimes include the tip directly in the bill, simply because many foreigners (especially Europeans, where tipping is not widespread) tend to forget to leave one. The same applies if you're a group of six or more, in which case the tip is often automatically included. Check your bill carefully before paying, and if the word propina appears at the end of the bill, the tip has already been taken into account.

Cafés are open every day, especially in the city, often from 8am until early evening. Bars open in the late afternoon and may stay open until 1 or 2 am. However, since they also serve food, cantinas usually open at lunchtime and do not close until 11pm or midnight. Some bars offer a happy hour when they open, especially on weekdays.

Like food, drinks are cheap in Mexico, although prices are higher in tourist areas. For a beer, expect to pay between $20 and $50 (local and craft beers are the most expensive). For a fresh fruit juice: around $30. For a coffee: $20 for a black coffee, $50 for a cappuccino. For a cocktail: around $170. In bars, beach clubs and cafés where the waiter comes to your table, it is advisable to leave a small tip of $20 per drink (or 10% of the bill).

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. You will not automatically be asked for your ID card in bars unless you look younger than your age.

You can't get much more local than the cantinas, bars that were once only frequented by men who came here to drink alcohol, eat botanas (small dishes to nibble on, similar to tapas) and play dominoes or cards. The days when women were forbidden to go there are fortunately over, but the cantinas have kept their old charm and popular atmosphere. The capital Mexico City alone has several hundred of them, some of which have remained faithful to tradition and others which have been modernized to attract a gentrified clientele. For an authentic experience, El Tío Pepe, La Faena and Salón Tenampa are all located in the historic centre of Mexico City.

Parents may bring their children to places that serve alcohol.

Smoking is not allowed indoors, either in bars or cafes. Don't try to light a cigarette on a terrace either, it's not something that is done in Mexico. Cigar bars are the only places where it is still possible to smoke indoors.

Always check your bill before you pay, especially the number of drinks, and make sure that the tip has not been automatically included.