There’s no doubt that Yucatán stands out for its vibrant culinary scene, but this goes far beyond the sophisticated restaurants and bars in boutique hotels, Culinary Corridors in Mérida’s Centro, or the shopping malls in northern Mérida.
Yucatán is also full of relaxed and delicious little spots, where long sleeves and closed shoes are a rare sight. Here, you’re much more likely to find locals in t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops, enjoying a good snack or a full meal where the bill is your order slip and cash is king. Every Yucateco has their favorite spot. Today, we’re sharing those of various members of the Yucatán Today team.
Carlos A.: Café Louvre
For as long as I can remember, if my family is hungry and craving tortas, we head to Café Louvre. Our obsession with this café started with my grandma. When she was about 13 or 14 years old, she used to visit their old Centro location, as it was on her way to see her dad (my great-grandfather) at work. Her favorite torta was half a French loaf with pork leg, turkey, ham, cheese, and egg. That torta still exists, it’s called the “Súper Louvre con huevo (Super Louvre with egg)” and costs $170 pesos.
What I love most about Café Louvre is that their sandwiches are very generously filled. If you’re not a big eater, you can have half for dinner and the rest for breakfast the next day. My favorite is the “Superclub,” made with sandwich bread and bacon. It costs $165 pesos, and I always add a small bag of “Spanish” (homemade) potato chips for an extra $5 pesos.
Calle 21 #75 x 12 y 14, Colonia México, Mérida
Tel. 999 927 5899
FB: Café Louvre
Mon. - Sat. 8 am - 11 am & 6 pm - 10 pm
Gonzalo: Tacos Pensiones (Don Tony)
At this street stand (with over 30 years of experience), you can enjoy México City-style tacos with classic fillings like suadero, pastor, red and green chorizo, tripe, and beef head tacos. Every order comes with grilled onions and nopales, along with their matching salsas. If you’ve never tried them, you should know that Mexico City-style tacos are a cornerstone of the city's vibrant street food scene, where simplicity, high-quality meat fillings, and carefully chosen toppings are the stars.
You’ll find Tacos Pensiones at Parque de la Cuarta Etapa de Pensiones, on a corner in front of The Ascension of the Lord Parish, from 7 to 10:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. Don’t be late: fillings sell out, and lines are common.
My personal favorites (and my recommendation for you) are the “Bombas” (suadero, tripe, chorizo, pastor) and the “Campechanos” (suadero, chorizo).
Tacos cost $24 pesos, the same as drinks.
FB: Tacos Pensiones
IG: tacospensiones
Goretty: El Amigo Kalimán (Centro de Mérida)
Among the lights and bustle of Paseo de Montejo, surrounded by museums, banks, and cafés, you’ll find a corner many Yucatecos immediately recognize: Kalimán’s hot dog stand.
Right in front of Casa Díaz, this iconic cart sets up daily at 7 pm, offering classic hot dogs and his famous creation: the “platívolo,” a ham and cheese sandwich loaded with all the toppings and ingredients of a hot dog. For me, it’s a must after an evening walk in the area. Since childhood, I remember how excited I’d get for a delicious plativolo from Kalimán, just hoping the line wouldn’t be too long. He started this business in 1971, and although he’s no longer around, his son now runs the show, keeping the tradition and flavor alive.
Everything costs $25 pesos—a hot dog, plativolo, or drink. A street craving with over 54 years of history, flavor, and heart that you definitely need to try.
Paseo de Montejo x calle 37, Centro
Todos los días, 7 - 10 pm (aprox.)
Maggie: Las Tres Margaritas (Temax)
This small, family-run restaurant has been serving diners in the town of Temax for 25 years. It was originally founded by Mr. José Hernán Adrián Aban and his wife, Leydi Margarita Ayala Escalante. Today, the business is run by their daughter, Doña Austria, along with her husband and daughter.
The restaurant is named after the three women in the family who share the name Margarita: the grandmother, the daughter, and the granddaughter. If you visit in the morning, you’ll find tortas, panuchos, tacos, doraditas, pasta salad, Russian salad, and even club sandwiches. Everything is delicious and has a unique homemade touch, but my personal favorite is the crispy pork torta. The best part? You’ll pay less than $50 pesos for anything on the menu.
Starting at 11 am, Las Tres Margaritas serves full meals. The menu changes daily, but common dishes include Yucatecan-style beef, quick-seared steak, relleno negro, relleno blanco, stuffed pucheras, and tripe stew. The only dish available every day is the breaded pork with beans and rice. Meals are sold by portion: a full order costs $85 pesos, and a half order is $50 pesos. If you’d like to dine in, a half order with a soda and tortillas costs $75 pesos.
Las Tres Margaritas
Mercado Municipal de Temax: Calle 28 x 33, Centro
7 am - 2 pm
Cel. 999 200 2590
Ralf: Cocina Económica Segovia (Umán)
In the bustling Mérida satellite of Umán, a surprisingly short distance and deceptively tedious long drive from Mérida, is my favorite stop for street food: Cocina Económica Segovia. This unassuming spot is located two blocks from the main square and a block from the Uman market on the main street, which is also the highway to Campeche.
Cocina Economica Segovia stars an all-female cast of characters and the best relleno negro salbutes ($16 pesos each)I have had anywhere. The freshly fried tortilla is as puffy as a pastry and crackles crisply when you bite into it. The topping of slow-cooked relleno negro is—cliché alert—seasoned to perfection. And you get a little shot glass of extra caldo, the magical elixir that the turkey or chicken topping your tortilla has been luxuriating in; I like to take a sip of it with every mouthwatering bite.
I stop here when driving to Uxmal and have done so often enough that when I walk in, the owner, who is a little hard of hearing, literally yells to her kitchen staff, “¡Ahí viene el güero! (Here comes the blonde guy!)” I order my standard two salbutes and savor every bite. A most delicious and very local breakfast.
Cocina Economica Segovia
Carr. Mérida - Campeche x calles 23 y 25, Umán
Regina: Esquites El Arcoíris (García Ginerés, Mérida)
Among the many food stalls at Parque de las Américas, it’s impossible to ignore El Arcoíris. I must confess that, like many others, I first tried it about a decade ago, drawn by rumors of nightly long lines. From my very first visit, their esquites became my favorite, thanks to the over 50 different toppings they offer. These range from common snacks to some rather unusual options: on my most recent visit, the choices included spicy lentils.
For the best experience, order an esquite “with everything”—in our region, that means cream, mayonnaise, cheese, lime, and chili. Depending on your cup size, you can then pick 2 or 3 toppings from an enormous variety: peanuts, chips, spicy charritos, seeds, spicy gummy sweets, and more.
My go-to toppings are Japanese peanuts, pineapple gummy candies, and spicy chips.
Prices range from $45 to $80 pesos, depending on cup size.
Esquites El Arcoíris
Parque de las Américas: Av. Colón x calle 20, García Ginerés
Sara: Taquería Jefe de Jefes (Los Pinos, Mérida)
I could write an entire article about Jefe de Jefes and still not cover it all. What started as a daytime car wash and modest taco stand by night has grown into a super cool hotspot with deserved fame.
These days, the menu is so varied and tasty that each of my friends has a different favorite. Prices run between $90 and $150 pesos (sans kilos). My picks: the alambre bombardero (a fiery mix of pastor, steak, chicken, and cheese), tacos with cheese crust and arrachera, the cheese chicharrón with guacamole…I could go on forever, really.
But beyond the menu, Jefe de Jefes is that reliable spot: perfect for a family Sunday, a hangover cure, or a random stop, it’s got its magnetism. And no matter when you go, there’s always, always a crowd. Because it’s that good.
The best part? The place keeps growing without losing its soul. More lights, better decor, a cooler vibe. It’s great to see how it keeps evolving. Bottom line: if you haven’t been, now’s the time.
Avenida Yucatán #270, La Florida
Tel. 999 286 4310
IG: taque_jefedejefes
Lun. - mié. 10 am - 2 am
Jue. - sáb. 10 am - 3 am
Domingos, 10 am - 1 am
Sharon: El Taco Árabe Guilos
I’ll start this recommendation with full honesty: at least once a week, I eat dinner at El Taco Árabe Guilos. Yes, it’s that good. And no, I’m not paid to say it (though I wouldn’t mind).
The menu is broad and tasty, with classics like guacamole or frijoles charros (bean stew), but the standout is their handmade flour tortillas and tostadas, a nod to original pita bread.
To start, there are nachos with arrachera or pork chop, and then the stars: arab tacos. You can order them plain (just meat, $25 pesos) or load up with up to two toppings ($29 pesos). Options like cheese, chicharra (crunchy pork rind), rajas, mushrooms, bacon, chorizo, or pineapple.
My favorite combo always includes cheese (non-negotiable), and the second topping depends on my mood: sometimes bacon, sometimes chicharra…but honestly, any combo is worth it.
Now the real hero: their sauces. You’ll always find red salsa (don’t fear it, it’s not too spicy), onion with habanero salsa, straight habanero salsa, and the crown jewel: garlic cream sauce.
Do not skimp on the garlic cream, seriously. To me (and my picky taste buds), it’s one of the best in Mérida: thick, well-seasoned, never cloying. A delight.
They have two locations: the original in Colonia Brisas, and a newer one in Plaza Malak. So now you know, take a visit, and get ready to return multiple times.
Calle 41 #414 x 20, Col. Las Brisas
999 161 6426
999 161 6427
IG: @tacoarabe
Sharon: Lonchería Don Beto
If you're planning a visit to the Lucas de Gálvez Market soon, there’s one thing you simply can’t miss: trying the delicious, tradition-filled bites from Lonchería Don Beto.
This little spot has been there since 1995, thanks to the talent and seasoning of María Inés Martínez González and Roberto Mena Pacheco, a couple who decided to express their love in the form of snacks that have won over generations. They’ve always been in the heart of the market and, nearly 30 years later, they’re still a must-stop place.
I first came here holding my grandparents’ hands, and just one bite of the bean polcanes was enough for me to know this place would be part of my life. Since then, Don Beto has had a permanent spot on my favorites list.
On their menu, you’ll find cheese empanadas, mushrooms with cheese, potatoes with chorizo, ground beef, and the classic chaya with cheese. They also have tortas with salad, chicken, or ham and cheese, but if you ask me, the real stars are the polcanes. They make them with beans or pork crackling, and serve them with a generous spoonful of red salsa (don’t worry, it’s not spicy) and a good portion of finely chopped romaine lettuce. If you like heat, they’ve got spicy salsa too—add to taste.
Best of all, it’s still a family business. So if you drop by, there’s a good chance you’ll run into Don Beto, Doña Inés, or someone from their family. If you do, send them a greeting from me… and don’t leave without enjoying a polcán in my honor.
Alicia: Panadería Montecristo
Honestly, I try to stop by Panadería Montecristo as little as possible. The problem is, for me at least, it's simply impossible to leave without at least two pastries I'd firmly decided not to buy.
With 36 years of history (which they just happen to be celebrating this August), this family business has transformed from a neighborhood convenience bakery into a destination in its own right: people now come here specifically for excellent quality bread. Their "pan francés" is particularly special, with big, plump loaves that are incredibly soft and fluffy ($12 pesos); they're truly unmatched. But for people like me, who are happiest when eating bread, their pan dulce presents a delightful dilemma: they're all so good, and most of them are priced around $15 pesos. For me, the must-haves are always the concha (the classic white one or, for something more chocolatey, the Nutella version) and the queso deysi tuti—the perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Calle 22 x 7, San Antonio Cinta
Tel. 999 278 4659
Written in collaboration by Sara Alba, Carlos Argüelles, Sharon Cetina, Ralf Hollmann, Maggie M., Alicia Navarrete Alonso, Gonzalo N. González, Goretty Ramos and Regina Zumárraga.
First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no. 452, in August 2025.
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