Eating out in Mexico is…. A little different than in Europe. Probably also than in any other first world country. I’m German, so I’m used to certain standards of cleanliness and what a good restaurant or a place where you can get decent food that’s good and tastes good should look like. It’s like codes that you know. In Mexico, however, other codes prevail. Completely different ones. If you go for the fanciest, cleanest and most European, American or whatever looking place, I promise you it will be more expensive and at the same time worse than you could have. In Mexico, most of the places that are really good look like nothing. They are usually not very big and sometimes they are served by older ladies who then show off their skills – absolutely delicious! Also, you shouldn’t necessarily go for the busiest place – the most crowded. Simply because everything in Mexico is full at peak times – although the expensive places aren’t 😀 But jokes aside. The best and most amazing places to eat are usually the most inconspicuous places of all. Valladolid is no exception. I’ve been to this market 3 or 4 times – the first time almost with more luck than sense – and it hasn’t disappointed me once. Super tasty and really cheap!
I still remember how my hostel mates and I were really hungrily looking for food and it felt like there was very little or nothing left open. We had asked at our hostel where we could get a good and cheap Mexican meal. The directions were okay, but not really accurate, so we ended up standing in front of this building that really didn’t look like anything. I even remember that I only saw the taqueria at the very end of the market by chance and we went in more to like see if it was by chance the right one. We thought ‘Hey, this could theoretically be it.’ Inside, almost everything was already closed. Tables and chairs were deserted. Everything was tidy. Only two shops were still open at the very back. One taquería on the left, one on the right. Because we hadn’t seen any names, we compared the prices. Almost the same. And then I asked the guy behind the counter straight ahead and at the same moment finally saw the sign with his name. We had found it.
As we didn’t know how many tacos would fill us up, we each got a round first. The guy – super nice – recommended a few things to us. Including the tacos with crunch. Honestly, guys? I have rarely eaten a better taco in my life. The meat was tender and perfectly plucked, the taco was crunchy and the whole thing cost just 35 pesos for 4 tacos. It was…. Really insanely good! I mean, we even shared another portion (and no, after 3 to 4 tacos you’re actually really full – at least I was – but I was so hungry…. I had 6 that day :D). I don’t think I need to mention that we came back. PS: he also had really cool drinks that were super tasty and fresh. I remember a horchata de coco – I’ve only had a better one in Chiapas. 😊
Should you go to this market? You definitely should. No matter where you go, it will be very tasty and cheap. And if the taquería isn’t open at the moment – which can happen – head to Lonchería el Amigo Casiano (the one in the picture).