Take-Out Food
This is an area in which you will have to snoop around on your
own, but your efforts will be richly rewarded.
Cocinas Económicas
Delicatessens in the Hotel Zone offer adequate sandwiches, but
the real finds are in what are called "cocinas económicas"budget
kitchens -- found all over downtown Cancun. These sometimes have
tables that you can sit down and eat at, but they specialize in
home-style Mexican cooking to take out. They will sell you plastic
Tupperware-style containers, or you can bring your own. The food
is all prepared fresh daily and is usually gone well before Noon.
There is a typical cocina económica on Nader behind San Francisco
de Asis. Portions of meat dishes are rather small, but prices are
always low. $3 a person will buy a nice meal.
Café Club
Av. Tankah, a few blocks in from Av. Cobá. $3-$6.
A long-time favorite. Vegetarian dishes a specialty. Classic comida
corrida. Recommended by Jorge Rishmuy.
Pizza
DOMINO'S is pretty much the same here as it is in the United States.
The telephone numbers change from time to time, so we have to refer
you to one of the local guides.
Roast Chickens
Pollos al carbon--chickens spit-roasted over wood or charcoal--are
sold in all the principal markets of Cancun. The best are awesomely
delicious and even the ordinary ones are quite good. Use your nose
and your eyes and try to get there when the chickens are coming
off the spit. About $4 for a whole chicken, usually served with
tortillas, onion relish and refried beans.
Rosticería La Jarocha
Mercado 28 $4 for a substantial chicken with tortillas, rice and
green sauce.
When stuck for a meal, we always opt for a chicken from La Jarocha.
Tamales
Tamales are the staff of life for many a Mexican family. The prime
ingredient is always masa -- corn dough with meat, vegetables, cheese
or chiles steamed in a corn husk or a banana leaf. Sweet tamales
consist of sweet-flavored masa with raisins steamed in a corn husk.
Coladas are mild-flavored Yucatecan tamales in wrapped in banana
leaves. Tamales are sold right out of the steamer streets all over
Cancun. Since they are cooked steamed at high temperature they should
be safe to eat when fresh. We have no problems recommending:
Tamales El Paisa
Av. Yaxchilán, corner of Supermercado Genny Open from 7
PM until all are sold.
Top-notch street-side tamales stand.
The kids always jump for joy when we bring home tamales from El
Paisa.
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