Good authentic Mexican food!!
Why?
The food is great. Try it all! It might take a couple of days to really get to try almost every thing the market has to offer. Want some real tacos? Ask for some "barbacoa" tacos or "tacos al pastor". In the mood for something warm and soupy? Try "pozole", "menudo" (the last one is made out of the stomach of a cow and it's spicy, it DOES WONDERS when you're hungover, trust me) and one of the specialities of the region "birria" (that's a spicy stew, traditionally made from goat meat or mutton, but occasionally from beef or chicken). YOU DON'T GO TO JALISCO AND NOT TRY BIRRIA. There are also "quesadillas", "flautas" (deep fried tacos covered in red or green salsa (the green is great!), chilaquiles (tortilla chips covered in either red or green sauce with shredded chicken, cream and white cheese) and enchiladas.
One of the best things you can have to drink while in Mexico are the so called, "aguas frescas", they're usually made out of fresh fruits and water, just that (imagine a very very dilluted smoothie). They're absolutely refreshing and tasty. You can't go wrong with: "jamaica" (hibiscus), "lima", "lemon", "coconut", "tuna" (prickly pear -when in season), "sandía" (watermelon), "melón" (cantaloupe) and "horchata" (a mixture of water, rice, cinammon, sugar and sometimes milk is the best one to drink if you're eating something spicy, a bit like when you drink lassi at an Indian restaurant) .
Also! You'll probably hear a lot about "Tortas Ahogadas" (a sorta mini baguette with pork smothered -literally drowned- in salsa). Some might like the texture of dunken bread in salsa, some might not. To find the best place to eat them, ask the locals.
Sweet tooth?
Try some "pan dulce", literally, "sweet bread" and "café de olla",that is, coffee with cinnamon and piloncillo.
For whom?
Everyone, just keep in mind that if you're a group larger than 4-5 people, it might be a bit difficult to find so many empty seats, but it isn't impossible.
It isn't suited for business meetings or romantic dates.
There isn't a playground or a special area for children, so they might have to seat at the table and maybe get a bit bored with the grown-ups.
Vegetarians/vegans?
As you will probably discover in Mexico, there are not really vegan options offered by any restaurant (there might be some, but do not expect everywhere and everyone to know or understand the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian) but you can try and veganize something by asking it without cheese or cream (eggs however are kinda hard to avoid).
Vegetarians are sure to find some option for them, "flautas" for example, deep fried tacos filled with smashed potatoes or "chilaquiles" without chicken. Vegans might be able to eat these things too, just order these two things without cheese nor cream, and obviously no chicken either.
Any tips?
Because this is a market, the waiters are usually also the cooks, that is, you are not expected to leave a super big tip, but they are appreciated.
You can ask a lot of thing to go "para llevar, por favor" and eat them at your hotel.
In Mexico, even though you might not speak fluent Spanish, just saying "hi, please, thank you" ("hola, por favor, gracias") can go a long way and you might get some extra food! read more
