In our previous article you could find all the basics for breakfast. Now it's time to head over to lunch and snacks!
You can find these things starting at about noon and the end time depends on the owner.
Changing rate while typing this blog post: 22 MXN = €1 or 18 MXN = $1
Comida corrida
Comida corrida or menu of the day (menú del día) is the most economic way of eating in Mexico. In the big cities it's especially popular since it is a fast and cheap way of eating. It consists out of a soup, a main meal (meats, chicken... depending on the offer), a drink and if you're lucky also a postre (dessert). When we were in Oaxaca we had a couple of real toppers. For example in the city center close to the zocalo we ate a menu for only 40 MXN per person (less than €2) including all of this:
Soup with pasta in it
Grilled meat with a small salad, rice, pasta and tortillas (why they do all three, nobody knows)
A slice of cake
1 liter of agua fresca (guayabana) for two persons
You could never eat all of this at home for that price. So if you are able to go a bit out of your comfort zone, you can have a delicious meal for an excellent price.
Lunch basics
Taco's: A round tortilla that they use as a base and that can be filled with anything. They always top the meat with onions and corander plus salsas and lemons are provided everywhere. There are a lot of different ones. Here are a few of the most common so you can find your way the first time you try it:
Al pastor = Layers of pork cooked on a vertical spit, same principle as a kebab. Sometimes with a bit of pineapple
Chorizo = Fresh pork sausage seasoned with vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper, thyme, allspice, cloves, and a whole lot of guajillo chiles
Campechano = Beef and chorizo chopped and blend together
Longaniza = Also a sausage like chorizo but a bit spicier
Barbacoa = A long braising cooking method for sheep
Cabeza = Steer head, slowly cooked or grilled
Carnitas = Pork shoulder
Cecina = Beef or pork that’s been salted and pounded thin, then allowed to dry somewhat before being cooked on a comal.
Chapulines = Small grashoppers toasted until crunchy
Cueritos = Pig skin
Lengua = Beef tongue
Pescado = different kinds of fish tacos Normally you will pay about 7 to 12 pesos per taco if you buy them per piece. Most of the time they also have an offer if you take 5 pieces at once. Cheapest ones we've ever found were at Central de Abastos in Oaxaca: 2 pesos per taco al pastor or only 10 eurocent per piece!
Tortas: A Mexican sandwich. You have them in a cold and in a hot version. I always prefer the hot version because then they serve it with a nice crunchy grilled bun. Garnishes such as avocado, chili pepper, tomato, and onion are common and every kind of meat you can think of are used in these tortas. Prices go from 10 MXN for the basics with only cheese or ham up to 50 MXN for the real special ones. Most of the time we paid around 15 - 20 MXN (a bit less than €1).
Tostadas: A fried Mexican tortilla. You can eat them like that, but if you order them in a stall, they top it with whatever you can think of. Meat, vegetables, cheese... you name it and there will be probably a version of it available.
Huaraches: A bit the same principle as a tostada but with a slightly thicker long oval base but first always covered with beans. Prices from 15 MXN (only salsa ans grated cheese = sencillo) to 70 MXN for the ones covered with a lot of meat.
Sopes: the same as a huarache but round instead of oval.
Snacks everywhere!
Chips: Most of the time you can find them in parks or just outside of the metro entrance/exit. They have a variety of different chips (mostly the flavor is the same, only in a different shape to my opinion) and they top it with chili sauce. Some vendors also have lime and other salsas on the side. When we were walking in the La Merced of Mexico city we found the walhalla for the chips addicts. Al the vendors in the street buy their chips in large amounts to resell them in small bags on the streets. We were doubting about buying one, but that would have been a little overkill... Instead we bought a "smaller" bag of chips in Oaxaca, also in a shop for reselling. Normally a small bag on the street will cost you from 5 to 10 MXN. We bought this entire bag that for only 33,5 MXN (about €1,5) = bargain!
Chicharrón: Fried pig skin! Not the most appealing delicacy if you ask me, but very popular here in Mexico. Once you've tasted it, it's not as bad as it's sound but it stays a greasy snack. The best taste is if you top it with a bit of lime for the acid part of it. In some restaurants you an find it as a side dish with guacamole.
Raspas: Also known as raspados, is a kind of snow cone. Shaved ice topped with syrups.
Churros: Fried-dough pastry-based snacks, that is sometimes made from potato dough. You can find them in a lot of places, from the metro in Mexico City where you can find them for 1 MXN to 2 MXN a piece to the streets in other villages in different price ranges. If your lucky you can also see rellenos, which means filled. They fill the churros with lechera (condesed milk), cajeta (caramel), chocolate, marmelade... Then the prices variate between 12 MXN to 18 MXN a piece.
Palomitas: known as popcorn. You will find these in a lot of places and in a lot of flavors going from the normal sugary or buttery ones to cheese, fruit ... You will pay about 5 MXN for a small bag to 25 MXN for a large cup.
Jicaletas: a slice of jicama on a wooden stick covered with powdered chili and lots of Chamoy hot sauce on top. Some vendors also have more fruity powders to put on top. Not our favorite one, but it's the most healthy option. Prices from 7 MXN to 10 MXN for the bigger ones.
Nieves: A sort of ice-cream but water-based. You can find them in a large amount of flavors, so everybody can find his liking.
