What is the best local food in Cancun?
Best local food in Cancun, downtown Cancun and the entire state of Quintana Roo are home to many
culinary cultures.
In this list, we leave aside the restaurants in the Hotel Zone and focus on presenting you with the best local food in the city. Let us begin!
Seafood
Seafood is one of the many typical dishes that you will find in Cancun, and it is precisely here where it is best enjoyed.
Here you can enjoy the famous shrimp cocktails, fish, the famous and traditional shrimp or fish ceviche, chile water, tostadas and many, many more presentations.
Among the most delicious seafood dishes that we most recommend you try is the famous Tikin Xic, fish marinated with achiote and sour orange paste and some rich shrimp breaded with coconut.
Tacos al pastor
It is impossible not to relate the tacos al pastor with Mexico.
However, these famous tacos do not originate from Mexico, in fact, they are an adaptation of the Lebanese shawarma.
We swapped the lamb for pork, the Arabic bread for corn tortillas, and added chili peppers, Mexican spices, and a sweet touch with pineapple, becoming what is known today as a taco al pastor in Mexico.
Taste different kind of tacos with City and Taco Tour
Cochinita Pibil
The Cochinita Pibil is a traditional dish from Yucatan and popular in Cancun.
But, what is the cochinita pibil? It is a delicious dish based on pork marinated in achiote, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an earthen oven.
And that’s not all, the cochinita pibil is presented in many ways, such as tacos or tortas. This dish is one of the best local Mexican foods to try while in town.
Papadzules
One of the favorites in Cancun and throughout Quintana Roo.
The famous and traditional Papadzules are a dish of Mayan origin of the gastronomy of Yucatan. The name means, according to the Mayans, the food of the master.
It is made with tortillas, egg, and habanero chile. It has common and cheap ingredients, however, it is its method of preparation that makes this dish unique and delicious throughout the region.
Sopa de lima (lime soup)
A delicious and traditional soup of the Yucatan gastronomy.
Lime soup is a dish based on chicken broth, seasoned with oregano, cumin, cloves and sour lime, the star ingredient.
It is traditionally served with strips of fried corn tortillas, chicken, habanero chili, tomato, bell pepper, cilantro, and tortilla chips. Its flavor is so refreshing and delicious that you will surely love it.
Spicy or not spicy food in Mexico
Mexico is full of exotic flavors that you can enjoy, some can be a gastronomic adventure and others can be a spicy odyssey. Always remember to ask your waiter or cook if the food is spicy. If they tell you that it is not spicy, it means that it really is spicy. And if they tell you that if it is spicy, then it is very spicy. So ask for your food without spicy to avoid that experience. An experience that the vast majority of Mexicans enjoy every day.