Apr 04, 2014

Let me begin by stating, for the record, I love Mexican food. Seriously love it. Spicy Mexican food was what snapped me out of eating from the kids menu.

The food I experienced in Mexico was good, but not as spectacular as I was hoping for. As a group we did eat a large variety of good ‘ol street meat. From tacos and tortas to empanadas and gorditas. Everything we had was good and certainly authentic, but nothing was truly exceptional.

The two standout dishes were found at local carts on poorly lit corners a couple blocks from the main drag. The sort of places your family is hoping you don’t go to avoid sticky fingers or a trip to the hospital to get your stomach pumped. Well of course those were the first places we went while looking for cheap eats. Anyway the beef tortas and ‘mixed’ tacos (I didn’t dare to nor did I want to ask what the mix was made of) were awesome. Served by friendly locals on plates covered in plastic bags (means zero cleanup) for super cheap prices – like less and a dollar.

Another great find was the 8 peso ($.65) empandas a few doors down from the ADO Bus terminal. A kindly older woman, who obviously just finished cooking for her two kids sitting at the only table, takes her time preparing and cooking your empanads. This is definitely not for the impatient tourist trying to catch a bus connection. The two empandas we ordered took nearly ten minutes to be ready, but was worth every moment we waited.

The dough was perfect, crunchy yet soft, the meat (we had chicken) was flavorful and the sauce and cabbage put on top added the necessary heat and freshness. It doesn’t get much better than that.

For the adventurous eater, pig ‘parts’ tacos can be found on Sattelite Sur half a block from the central avenue. The tacos were filled with a chopped mix of ear, heart, liver, snout, tongue and intestine. Plus more I couldn’t see or recognize. These were as good little tacos that had I not know what was in them I would have just thought they were normal pork. Well except when you crunched through a bit of pig ear cartilage.

The neighboring cart was selling chicharrón gorditas. These were ok, heavy and greasy. It doesn’t help that I am fairly certain it gave me a case of the trots for 36 hours.

 

 

If you are up late and need a snack, head to Sattelite Norte where a line of carts will be waiting for you until 3am. The empanadas were solid and still cheap (10 pesos). Each cart in the line had a healthy clientele base of locals just finishing up their shift and taxi drivers needing to grab a bite to eat.

 

All-in-all the food of Tulum was good, not great. The prices were low and the meat was varied. A nice start to a whole new world of local foods.

 

 

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