Food in Yucatan is like nothing you would have had before. It is infused with such heady flavours, and smells and tastes very different – it is a gastronomic journey that you will remember for a long time!
Our Yucatan Restaurant Guide is a great introduction to the fabulous food and cuisine of the Yucatan. Listed below are contact details for some well respected local Yucatan restaurants and providers. We will continue to regularly update the page with new contacts. A great place to try Yucatecan cuisine is in the local marketplaces, Yucatan shopping districts and in your hotel.
Food & Cuisine in Yucatan
In Merida you get a fusion of traditional Mayan and continental cuisines. Strong Mexican flavours are noticeably absent because Yucatan has not had much contact with the main land through much of its history. While the dominant influence has been an ancestral Mayan one, waves of European immigrants brought their own distinct manner of cooking. The arrival of Syrian and Lebanese people in Merida also added a new element to the local food.
Out of this cauldron has come out a blend of flavours and hues especially startling since the fiery habanero chili is a staple ingredient. A mouthful of the delicious stuffed cheese will show that Yucatan food is like no other.
Mexican Cuisine
Tamales: Yucatan has its own version of tamales which is different from the Mexican one. Mexico has a sweet tamales where mole sauce and poblano chillies are wrapped in cornhusks whereas in Yucatan banana leaves are preferred.
Enchiladas: These too can be made in many ways but they all have the essential corn tortillas which are moistened with a sauce made of green tomato or mole chilies, as your taste dictates. The tortillas are then filled with meat or chicken and rolled up. These are now placed in a casserole between layers of cheese, cream and sauce. The topping is made of onion rings and grated white cheese.
Chilaquiles: This popular breakfast dish has wedges or strips of tortillas which are fried and served in a casserole layered with green or red tomato sauce. Lashings of cream decorate the top. Shredded chicken, which is sometimes added, makes this a hearty meal.
Local Cuisine
Locals love Pollo Pibil, which is chicken that is baked in a wrapping of banana leaves after being marinated in a mixture of achiote and sour juice of oranges spiced with cumin, garlic, pepper and salt. When this dish is made with pork, it is called cochinita pibil. For lunch or dinner there is the mild panuchos and salbutes made without the obligatory chillies. Here pre-cooked tortillas are served with slivers of chicken on a bed of lettuce and onion. In Salbutes, the tortilla is filled with refried red beans while Panuchos is plain.
Poc Chuc has juicy slices of grilled pork accompanied by a sour sauce and pickled onions. Frijol con Puerco has pork and beans made the Yucatan way. In this, cubes of pork is cooked along with black beans and served on a bed of rice sprinkled over with cilantro, onion and radish. For a substantial Yucatan style breakfast try Motul-style eggs which consists of tortilla, fried eggs and refried beans all covered generously with a coating of tomato sauce, chopped ham, peas and grated cheese. Some fried banana on the side and the dish is complete.
