Traditional Mexican Foods: A Culinary Exploration of Classics and Regional Delights

Mexico’s rich culinary heritage is a mosaic of ancient traditions and modern flavours, blending indigenous ingredients with European influences brought by colonization. From street food staples like tacos and gorditas to regional specialties like moles and tejunio, Mexican cuisine offers a diverse and vibrant array of dishes that cater to every taste. Below, we explore some of the country’s most iconic traditional foods, from savoury meals to sweet treats and even refreshing beverages. There's no way to cover everything, so I've picked some of the most common dishes you can find on a national level.

Savoury Serenity

1. Tacos: Mexico’s Most Famous Dish

Tacos are perhaps the most iconic and widely recognized Mexican dish. They consist of a tortilla (usually corn or flour) filled with a variety of meats, vegetables, or even seafood, then topped with fresh salsa, cilantro, onions, and a squeeze of lime. There’s no limit to the fillings that can be used. Popular options include:

• Tacos al Pastor (Mexico City): Pork marinated in achiote, cooked on a vertical spit, and served with pineapple, onions, and cilantro.

• Tacos de Carnitas (Michocán): Pork slow-cooked in lard until tender and served with fresh toppings.

• Tacos de Suadero (Mexico City): Beef from the lower chest of the cow, grilled and served with onions and salsa.

Seasonal Highlight: In the colder months, tacos de suadero and tacos de canasta (steamed tacos) become popular, offering comfort during the cooler weather.

2. Gorditas: Thick and Flavorful

A gordita is a thick tortilla stuffed with a variety of fillings (think pita style), such as cheese, beans, potatoes, or meats. They’re often fried, making them crispy on the outside while soft on the inside.

Regional Varieties:

• In the north, they’re often filled with asado (grilled meats) or chicharrón prensado (pressed pork crackling).

• In the south, gorditas might be filled with tamarind, sweet potato, or cheese and poblano peppers.

3. Chicharrón: Crispy Pork Skin

Chicharrón refers to fried pork skin or crackling, a beloved snack or garnish in Mexican cuisine. It can be served crispy as a standalone snack or mixed into dishes like tacos, gorditas, and sopes. In some regions, it’s served as chicharrón prensado (pressed chicharrón), where it’s cooked with sauce and used as a filling for gorditas or tacos.

4. Quesadillas: Cheesy Childhood Delights

A quesadilla is a tortilla filled with cheese and other ingredients, then folded and cooked until crispy. While cheese is the classic filling, quesadillas can also contain mushrooms, squash blossoms, or even cacti (nopales).

Regional Specialties:

• In Mexico City, quesadillas often include fillings like chicken tinga, chicharrón, and cactus.

Watch out 👀: it might sound crazy, but in CDMX, make sure to ask for your quesadilla with cheese!

• In Oaxaca, quesillo (Oaxacan string cheese) is a popular filling.

5. Mole: A Complex, Flavorful Sauce

Mole is one of the most intricate and flavorful dishes in Mexican cuisine, often consisting of a variety of chilis, nuts, seeds, spices, and sometimes chocolate. Each region has its take on mole, and there are several well-known varieties. I have a whole article dedicated to Mole if you want to go check it out.

6. Alambre: Think Mexican Stir Fry

Alambre is a delicious grilled meat dish often made with beef, bacon, cheese, and vegetables. The ingredients are traditionally grilled together in a pan and served with tortillas, salsa, and guacamole.

7. Tacos Dorados: Crunchy and Savory

These are crispy fried tacos rolled and filled with meats (often beef, chicken), potatoes or beans and garnished with lettuce, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. The frying process gives the tacos a delicious crunch, making them a popular street food.

8. Carnitas: Slow-Cooked Pork Perfection

Carnitas is various cuts of pork slow-cooked in its fat until it becomes tender, flavorful, and easy to shred. The dish is a favourite for tacos, gorditas, and tamales and is especially popular in Michoacán. It’s often served with lime, cilantro, and salsa.

9. Arroz Mexicano: Mexican-Style Rice

Mexican rice, known as arroz a la Mexicana, is a fragrant, flavorful dish made with long-grain rice, tomatoes, garlic, peas, diced carrots and onions. It’s a perfect side dish for many traditional Mexican meals, such as tacos de carnitas or mole.

10. Chilaquiles: Quite Possibly my All Time Favourite

Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican breakfast or brunch dish known for its comforting flavours. They consist of corn tortillas cut into quarters, lightly fried, and simmered in a red or green salsa. Common toppings include crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese, sliced onions, avocado, fresh cilantro, and sour cream or crema. To make the dish heartier, proteins like shredded chicken, eggs, or beef can be added. Often served with sides such as refried beans and sometimes rice, they offer versatility that caters to different tastes. Bonus: They are widely considered a great hangover cure.

Delicious Mexican Desserts

1. Mazapán: Sweet Peanut Treat

Mazapán is a traditional Mexican candy made from ground peanuts and sugar. It has a crumbly texture and is a popular snack for children. While simple, it’s sweet and savoury, making it a favourite across all ages. They say that when you can open the mazapán without it crumbling, you've become a true Mexican 😉

2. Pan Dulce: Mexican Sweet Bread

Pan dulce is a broad category of sweet pastries found in almost every bakery in Mexico. Some popular types include:

• Conchas: Sweet bread shaped like a seashell with a sugary topping.

• Cuernitos: Croissant-like rolls that are soft and buttery.

• Orejas: Flaky, puff pastry shaped like ears, often covered with sugar.

Pan dulce is typically eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with hot chocolate or coffee.

3. Pan de Muerto: Day of the Dead Bread

Pan de muerto is a traditional sweet bread prepared for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It’s often flavoured with orange and decorated with dough shaped like bones. This bread is often shared during the celebration to honour deceased loved ones. To learn more about Día de los Muertos, you can read my article Experiencing the Magic of Day of the Dead.

4. Flan

A creamy caramel custard dessert with a smooth texture and a glossy caramel topping. It's a favourite at celebrations and family dinners. Tequila-infused flan is famous in Jalisco, giving it a unique twist.

5. Tres Leches Cake

A moist sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. Often topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits.

6. Churros

Deep-fried dough pastries sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, often served with a side of chocolate or caramel dipping sauce.

7. Pan de Elote

A sweet corn cake made from fresh corn kernels, milk, and sugar, with a moist and tender texture.

8. Arroz con Leche

Mexican rice pudding is made with rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon, often topped with raisins or additional spices.

9. Cajeta

A caramel spread or sauce infused with goat's milk is enjoyed as a topping for crepes, ice cream, or as a filling for pastries.

10. Cocadas

Sweet coconut candies or cookies, made with shredded coconut, sugar, and condensed milk, often baked to a golden hue.

11. Nieves, Helados and Paletas

• Nieves: Traditional Mexican waters are frozen into a sherbert-style dessert, flavoured with natural ingredients like tamarind, mango, or guava.

• Helados: Traditional Mexican waters are added to milk and heavy cream to make delicious ice creams.

• Paletas: Mexican popsicles made from fresh fruits and creamy bases, offering both sweet and spicy flavours.

Traditional Mexican Drinks

1. Horchata: Refreshing Rice Drink

Horchata is a sweet, creamy beverage made from rice, various milks, almonds, and cinnamon. It’s a staple drink in Mexican cuisine, often served cold alongside spicy dishes to balance out the heat. It’s particularly popular in the summer months.

2. Jamaica: Sweet Hibiscus Tea

Jamaica (pronounced “ha-my-kah”) is a tart, refreshing drink made from dried hibiscus flowers, which are steeped in water and sweetened. It’s commonly served cold and is a favourite during the hot Mexican summers.

3. Hot Chocolate: Thick and Rich

Mexican hot chocolate is thicker and richer than the typical version. Often made with cinnamon, vanilla, and chilli, it’s traditionally served with a side of pan dulce. It’s particularly popular in cooler months.

4. Tejuino: A Refreshing Fermented Drink

Tejuino is a traditional drink from the western states of Mexico, made from fermented corn, sugar, and lime. It’s often served with ice and topped with a pinch of salt, making it a refreshing drink during warm weather, but I'll admit it's an acquired taste😅.

Adult Beverages 😎

5. Tequila: We all Know This One

If there's anything people think of when it comes to Mexico, it's tacos & tequila. Originating from the state of Jalisco, tequila is a pungent alcohol made from only blue agave plants, boasting a long and complex history.

6. Mezcal: If You Don't like Tequila, Good Luck with This One

Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit known for its rich, smoky flavour, derived from the heart of the agave plant. Unlike tequila, mezcal can be produced from a variety of agave species, offering a diverse range of taste profiles. The production process involves roasting the agave hearts in earthen pits, which imparts a distinctive smoky character. Essentially, it's tequila on steroids 🤷‍♀️.

7. Pulque (Central Mexico): A Drink Fit for the Gods

Pulque is a fermented drink made from the sap of the maguey plant. This prehispanic delight has a thick, viscous texture and is often flavoured with fruits like mango or pineapple and has been making a comeback in recent years.

8. Micheladas

A michelada is a popular Mexican drink that combines beer with various ingredients, such as salt and lime, to create a refreshing and flavorful cocktail. It's often enjoyed as a hangover remedy or simply as a refreshing beverage on a hot day. Micheladas can vary widely in terms of ingredients and proportions, allowing for personal customization based on taste preferences. Some of the crazier varieties I've seen have included soya sauce, clamato, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, gummy bears, and even fried shrimp.

Conclusion: A Rich Tapestry of Flavors

Mexico’s traditional foods and drinks reflect a deep connection to its diverse geography, history, and cultural influences. Whether you’re enjoying tacos al pastor in Mexico City, indulging in a sweet piece of pan dulce with a cup of horchata, or savouring the complex flavours of a regional mole, each dish tells a story of local traditions, seasonal ingredients, and regional pride. Exploring the culinary landscape of Mexico is an essential part of understanding the country’s vibrant heritage— so eat up!