50+ Best Yucatan Foods & Mayan Dishes in Mexico [2023]

Want to try some traditional Yucatecan foods?

You’re in the right place because I’ve lived in Mexico since 2018, including three years living in the Yucatan Peninsula city of Merida Mexico.

Considered the Cultural Capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, Merida is one of the best places to learn about and eat, traditional Yucatan foods — and believe me, I ate my fair share of it 🤣

The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southeastern Mexico, is home to the country’s largest Mayan population.

Inhabitants of the land long before Mexico was, well, Mexico, the Mayan influence on Yucatan foods is part of what makes this regional cuisine so unique to the rest of Mexico.

From street food snacks to main dishes, desserts and even Yucatan drinks, these are the 38 must-try Yucatan dishes in Mexico, plus 10 yummy Yucatan drinks and 6 of the most-used Yucatan spices.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

1. Cochinita Pibil: Most Popular Yucatan Food

The king of Yucatan foods, cochinita pibil is essentially a slow-roasted pork dish of Mayan BBQ.

This beloved dish is made with marinated cochinita (suckling pig) that’s wrapped in banana leaves and slow-roasted underground in an oven called a pib — hence the “pibil” in cochinita pibil.

On its own, cochinita isn’t spicy; the flavors come from the achiote and naranja agria marinade.

When served, you’ll get a side of habanero pepper salsa, which is very spicy, and pickled red onions (never raw or cooked onions). These are central condiments in Yucatan cuisine and come alongside many dishes.

Wondering where to find the best cochinita pibil restaurant in Yucatan? It’s a popular Merida Mexico food, so those in the know might direct you to Manjar Blanco and/or La Chaya Maya, two of the best Merida restaurants.

📺 Seen the Cochinita Pibil Chef’s Table Netflix episode?
If not, check out Chef’s Table: BBQ on Netflix (Season 1, Episode 4) to see cochinita pibil Mayan prepared the traditional way by Chef Rosalia Chay Chuc in her remote Yucatan pueblo of Yaxuna, Mexico.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

2. Pollo Pibil (Chicken Pibil)

Pollo pibil is made the same way as cochinita pibil — but using chicken instead of pork.

Though cochinita is one of the most popular Yucatan food recipes, nowadays not everyone eats pork, so this is a way to enjoy the flavors but not the suckling pig meat.

While you won’t find it everywhere, some places do offer pollo pibil to accommodate those who don’t eat pork meat. Note: You’ll sometimes see this listed on menus as pollo ticul.

🐔 Looking for other Yucatan chicken dishes?

Mexico is undeniably a pork-heavy county, but there are other a lot of turkey dishes and some chicken dishes you might see. A great option if you don’t want pork is pollo en escabeche oriental.

Escabeche is a preparation that involves marinating the protein in a lot of vinegar and spices, resulting in big, bold flavors.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

3. Papadzules: Best Traditional Mayan Food

You may be wondering if there are any Yucatan vegetarian foods.

In all honesty, there aren’t many, but for vegetarians traveling to Yucatan Mexico, you’ll definitely have to try the papadzules (pronounced pa-pawed-zool-es).

Papadzules are part of ancient Mayan gastronomy, and still eaten in their original form in Yucatan today. In fact, you won’t see any “Best Mayan food list” that doesn’t prominently feature this dish!

It is made with enchiladas (rolled tacos), which are filled with boiled, chopped egg, and topped with two sauces — a pepita salsa, or pumpkin seed sauce, and chiltomate, a mild tomato salsa.

traditional Yucatan Foods

4. Poc Chuc

First thing’s first: The correct pronunciation of poc chuc is pock chook, and now let’s talk about what it is.

Now that that’s out of the way, you’re probably wondering, What is poc chuc? Though a seemingly simple dish, it is one of the most authentic Mexican pork recipes.

Poc chuc is a thin pork filet that’s only seasoned with naranja agria juice, then grilled. It lets two of the central and most important Yucatan ingredients shine — pork and naranja agria (sour orange).

Poc chuc comes served with the typical condiments, like habanero salsa and pickled red onion, but also some other accompaniments.

These include frijol con puerco, a slow-cooked, rich Yucatan pork and beans stew, and chiltomate, a non-spicy, charcoal-roasted tomato salsa.

traditional Yucatan Foods

5. Queso Relleno

Queso relleno, meaning “stuffed cheese,” is a more modern dish — and actually, heavily influenced by the European and Dutch expats and immigrants who moved to the Yucatan.

Never knew there were European influences in this regional Mexican cuisine? You’re not alone — but this beloved Yucatecan fusion dish is made with Edam cheese, a well-known Dutch cheese.

Edam is a large ball of cheese, prized more for the softer cheese towards the center than for the harder edges of the ball.

However, clever Mexican chefs put the often-discarded outer shell to good use, and queso relleno was born.

After the Edam ball is hollowed, it gets stuffed with different ingredients like pork, olives, hard-boiled egg, onion, raisins and pumpkin seeds.

The newly-formed ball gets wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until the cheese semi-melts. It is topped with a red and a white sauce.

In my opinion, queso relleno is the best thing to eat in the Yucatán Peninsula.

It’s more common in Yucatan State, but you might find it in certain places in Quintana Roo State, so be on the lookout in Cancun or Playa del Carmen Yucatan restaurants.

You might even find it in foodie cities like NYC or San Francisco at authentic Yucatan restaurants. If you Google “Yucatan food near me,” you might also find a place nearby that’s serving it.

traditional Yucatan Foods

6. X’catic Relleno

Chili x’catic is a long, bright yellow chili pepper, similar to a banana pepper. ( 🤔Curious about the xcatic pronunciation? It’s pronounced ish-ka-teek.)

It is a bit spicy, and used most often in crema de chili x’catic, a creamy dip you can find in most grocery stores. 

X’catic relleno, or stuffed x’catic pepper, is an x’catic chili that’s cut lengthwise down the middle, and filled with a mixture similar to that of queso relleno (#5 on the list).

Some of the ingredients you’ll see include pork, olives, onion, and pumpkin seeds; this is what’s called a picadillo, or meat hash.

🌶️ Is X’catic Relleno the same as a Chili Relleno?

Sort of — Chili relleno is the more popular version of x’catic relleno, which is found all over Mexico and in many U.S. Mexican restaurants.

If you’re familiar with chiles rellenos, or “stuffed chilis,” which are made with a poblano pepper, x’catic relleno is basically the same dish, but with a chili x’catic instead of chili poblano.

traditional Yucatan Foods

7. Lomitos de Valladolid

While Yucatan Mexico food is regional, some are even more local to one specific city.

Lomitos de Valladolid is one such dish, originating in the pueblo magico (magic town) of Valladolid, Mexico — an up-and-coming travel destination that’s considered one of the safest cities in Mexico.

This dish consists of slow-roasted pork in a garlic tomato sauce that has just a hint of chili. Because of the long and slow cooking process, the meat comes out incredibly tender and juicy.

It is often served plated with a hard-boiled egg in the center of the dish, which adds a great flavor. 🍳 Best Yucatan foods pro tip: If you’re an egg fan, ask for two hard-boiled eggs.

traditional Yucatan Foods

8. Castacan: Yucatan Pork Belly

As you have noticed by now, the main protein in Yucatan cuisine is pork. This one isn’t very common outside of the Yucatan Peninsula, so you might be wondering, What is castacan?

Castacan is a Yucatecan pork belly preparation, where the meat is slow-cooked in its own lard and then baked to crispy perfection.

It is often compared to chicharron, though castacan is crispier. You can find chicharron all over Mexico, but castacan is a Yucatan dish that you won’t see outside of this region.

For bacon lovers, castacan (AKA chicharron yucateco) is a must-try — though be aware it’s often made only on weekends.

At traditional chicharronerías (chicharron cafes), you can order castacan yucateco in a torta (sandwich), in salbutes and panuchos, and also by the kilo to make your own tacos.

traditional Yucatan Foods

9. Lechon al Horno

Lechon is slow-roasted pork, popular in the Philippines and much of Latin America.

While it’s not exactly an endemic Yucatan dish, it is one you can get everywhere in the Yucatan nowadays.

💡 Yucatan Food Tips: Ask for “lechon con cuerito” to get a piece of the crispy skin with your order.

Traditional Yucatan Foods

10. Carnitas

Like lechon, carnitas aren’t a Yucateco food per se; they actually come from Michoacán State near Mexico City. However, they are well-loved in Yucatan, and you’ll find them all over.

Carnitas are essentially chunks of fried pork — and as you may have noticed, the Yucatan loves a good pork dish, so you’ll find carnitas michoacanas throughout Yucatan.

traditional Yucatan Foods

11. Tzic de Venado (Salpicon) 

Salpicon de res is popular throughout Mexico. It is a shredded meat dish that’s often served cold, along with different veggies.

You can think of salpicon as a Mexican salad, as the meat is combined with tomatoes, avocado, onions, radish and cilantro.

There’s a version of salpicon in Yucatan called tzic de venado, which is made with venison (deer) instead of beef.

Salpicón yucateco, meaning “Yucatan style salpicon,” is something you’ll rarely find outside of Yucatan cities like Merida, Valladolid, Izamal and Campeche City.

💡 Yucatan Foods Tips: You might see this dish spelled as dzic de venado or tsi’ik de venado, but they all refer to the same food.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

12. Sopa de Lima: Best Yucatan Soup

Sopa de lima (lime soup) is a favorite among Yucatan Mexican foods.

It is a simple chicken or turkey and vegetable soup, but the lima yucateca (Yucatecan lime) gives it a unique citrus flavor.

Limas yucatecas in this soup taste different from the limes in the United States, and are larger in size.

While there are variations on how it’s served, many places top the soup with deep-fried tortilla strips for some crunch.

Even on a hot Yucatan Peninsula day, this soup is somehow very refreshing — maybe because it’s one of the lighter dishes in traditional Yucatec food.

traditional Yucatan Foods

13. Relleno Negro

Relleno negro is a stew-like dish made with wild turkey meat in a recado negro (black recado, or spice mixture). Don’t let the look fool you; it’s one of the most delicious Mayan recipes.

Relleno negro is traditionally cooked in a turkey broth, but some people use pork or chicken broth.

Its jet-black color may look weird at first, but this is a really delicious Yucatec dish that gets its color from roasted chili peppers — so this black sauce is really not so “adventurous” after all!

Black recado is made from charred chile de árbol (tree chili), or chile ancho in milder versions. The ashes are ground down into the recado negro.

The recado spice mixture is added to turkey stock and turkey meat, then slow-cooked into a stew. It comes served with a hard-boiled egg.

traditional Yucatan Foods

14. Relleno Blanco

There are actually three recados, or spice mixtures, in Yucatan cuisine.

They are recado negro (black recado, seen in the dish above), recado rojo (red recado, used with cochinita pibil), and recado blanco (white recado). Recado blanco is the least common of the three.

In fact, you’ll rarely ever see it on menus in even the best Yucatan restaurants — so if you find it, consider yourself lucky.

The two main dishes you’ll see made with recado blanco are relleno blanco, a white stew similar to relleno negro but with light-colored chilis, and puchero, a rich pork stew.

It is also rubbed on the outside of things like poc chuc, as a way to season meat before grilling or cooking it.

traditional Yucatan Foods

15. Frijol con Puerco (Pork & Beans)

Traditionally, frijol con puerco was only served for lunch on Mondays, though if you visit Yucatan restaurants that cater to visitors, like these restaurants in Merida Mexico, you can get it all week.

Still, if you arrive too late in the day, even the restaurants will run out.

Frijol con puerco is similar to pork and beans in the U.S., but the meat is left in large chunks. Since it is slow-cooked, it does fall apart if you cut it with your fork.

Yucatan frijol con puerco uses pinto beans, which can also be left whole or sometimes mashed down a bit.

A beloved and hearty Yucatan lunch, head to a cocina economica and eat it with the locals on Monday.

More popular with locals than visitors, cocinas economicas are great places to enjoy authentic Yucatan foods for cheap. At most, you will see their daily specials advertised as menu del dia, or menu of the day.

traditional Yucatan Foods

16. Crema de Chaya

In Yucatan, a crema is a room-temperature soup made with cheese and cream — hence the word crema in the dish’s name.

Yucatan cremas are heavy for some, but for fans of cheeses and rich foods, they are a must-try.

They’re often made with other ingredients added, like mushrooms, asparagus and corn. One of the most popular versions uses chaya (AKA “tree spinach”), which is one of the most popular Yucatan vegetables.

Traditionally served at weddings and birthday parties, you’ll also find crema de chaya in some Yucatan restaurants.

traditional Yucatan Foods

17. Polcanes

Polcanes (pronounced pole-khan-ess) are Yucatecan food fritters, often served as an appetizer or antojito (snack).

They are a mixture of masa (corn), pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and ibes (white beans) that’s all macerated together, stuffed with a filling (usually potato and turkey), and fried.

traditional Yucatan Foods

18. Pibihuas (Pibihuajes)

There’s a similar version of polcanes called pibihuas (pronounced pee-bee-wass) that are usually only found in the Valladolid pueblo magico (Mexico magic town).

These are essentially the same dough used with polcanes, but they aren’t stuffed before frying.

Rather, after the dough is fried, it gets split lengthwise down the middle, opened up slightly, and then stuffed with a filling.

Since these are common in Valladolid, Mexico, you’ll usually find them stuffed with another local delicacy, lomitos Valladolid, or even cochinita pibil.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

19. Tamales Vaporcitos: Yucatan Tamales

Fans of traditional Mexican food have likely heard of and even eaten tamales. These are an ancient, prehispanic staple food made with masa (corn dough).

Throughout much of Central Mexico, your tamal will be steamed in a corn husk, but in Yucatan, this is done with a banana leaf.

There are a few Yucatan tamales you can only find in this part of Mexico — like tamales colados, pib (AKA mucbipollo or pib yucateco), brazo de reina, and vaporcitos.

In Yucatan, vaporcitos are the most common type, so much so they are usually called tamales yucatecos outside of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Yucatan vaporcitos use a pretty standard tamal masa mixture for a base.

They are sometimes stuffed with a protein, sometimes not, before being steamed in a banana leaf (instead of corn husk), and served topped with a good amount of salsa.

traditional Yucatan Foods

20. Tamales Colados

Tamales colados and tamales dzotobichay (info below) are unique because the masa (corn dough) is strained before the tamales get steamed, resulting in a smooth consistency.

Traditional tamales colados are stuffed with meat and often topped with a rich, gravy-style sauce.

traditional Yucatan Foods

22. Pib (Mucbipollo)

If you’re traveling to Yucatan during Hanal Pixan, the Mayan Day of the Dead holiday, don’t pass up the chance to try pib (AKA mucbipollo).

This is a crispy, baked tamale, that almost looks more like a casserole than a Mexican tamal, as it gets cooked in large sheets.

💡 Yucatan Foods Tips: For Yucatan visitors, you’ll probably just want a single pib tamal, not a whole pan of it! Be on the lookout for chachacuahs or tamales enterrados, meaning “buried tamales,” for a single serving of pib.

Yucatecan pib is a locals’ favorite — and something you’ll rarely (if ever) see outside of Yucatan Peninsula.

It is only made and sold from about mid-October to early November to coincide with the Día de Muertos holiday. 🌺💀🌺 Head here for more info on Day of the Dead in Mexico.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

23. Salbutes: Yucatan Tacos

In Mexico, you’ll always be able to find authentic Mexican tacos. However, in Yucatan, you can also change up your tortilla style with salbutes and panuchos (up next on the list).

In short, a salbut or salbute is a puffy fried tortilla instead of a standard, flat tortilla.

traditional Yucatan Foods

24. Panuchos: Yucatan Tacos

A panucho is a tortilla that’s been stuffed with mashed, refried black beans, then fried. Like a salbute, it comes with meat and all the same toppings, but the refried beans add another layer of flavor.

In Yucatan, panuchos are just as common as tacos — and maybe even more beloved!

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

25. Huevos Motuleños: Yucatan Breakfast Foods

Stay with me here — because this dish looks kind of strange — but it’s a hearty, delicious Yucatan breakfast you won’t find much outside of the region. In fact, it’s one of the best Yucatan specialties!

Huevos motuleños (pronounced way-voes moe-two-len-yoz) is an egg breakfast from the pueblo of Motul, Mexico.

💡 Yucatan Foods Tips: The best place to try huevos motuleños is in Motul, at Doña Evelia Huevos Motuleños in the Mercado Municipal. In Merida, you can try them at many places, including La Casta Divina Merida.

The dish starts with tortillas laid out on a plate, then pureed black beans and sunny-side-up eggs are placed on top. Peas, sweet plantains and diced ham (vegetarians can omit that) are then added.

Finally, the whole dish gets smothered in salsa roja (mild red salsa).

traditional Yucatan Foods

26. Chilaquiles

It’s not exactly a Yucatan food, but it’s definitely one of the most popular Mexican breakfasts of all time!

Authentic chilaquiles start out with a plate of totopos (tortilla chips). These are covered in red or green salsa, or even mole sauce, and topped with a fried egg or meat, cheese and crema.

traditional Yucatan Foods

27. Longaniza de Valladolid

Longaniza Valladolid is a dense, smokey sausage from the city of Valladolid, Yucatán.

You can find it served on its own with some salsa and veggies as an accompaniment or with scrambled eggs at breakfast time.

For fans of sausage and smoked meats — this is a must-try! 

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

28. Kibbis: Yucatan Street Foods

Mexico had an influx of thousands of Middle Eastern (mostly Lebanese) immigrants in the late 19th Century.

Over time, these expats combined their cooking techniques and flavors with Mexican flavors and foods to create delicious fusion foods — like tacos al pastor and kibis (sometimes spelled as kibbis yucatecos or kibbes).

Similar to kibbeh in the Middle East, Yucatan kibis (pronounced kee-bees) are eaten as an appetizer or street snack. You can find kibis, one of the most beloved Yucatan street foods, from vendors for about 25¢ each.

Kibis are diamond-shaped and served either hollow to stuff with a cabbage salad mixture or stuffed with ground meat or queso de bola, which is similar to Edam cheese.

Unless otherwise noted, kibis are fried, though some restaurants make a more healthy baked version.

traditional Yucatan Foods

29. Marquesitas: Yucatan Crepes

When the sun goes down, the Merida marquesitas vendors come out!

This nighttime treat is essentially crepe that’s cooked a little longer so it crisps up, and you can eat it by hand. It is then stuffed with different toppings and served warm.

You can order one with a variety of toppings, but traditional Yucatan marquesitas have Nutella and queso de bola. While this might sound like a bizarre combo, it’s a nice sweet and savory mix.

However, you can also get your Yucatan maqruesita with things cajeta (caramel), lechera (sweetened, condensed milk), and/or fruit jams.

It comes in a ball with a red waxy outer covering, similar to the Dutch Edam cheese. In fact, this cheese emigrated to Merida and the Yucatan along with groups of European settlers more than a century ago.

traditional Yucatan Foods

30. Tortas (Sandwiches)

One of the most famous Mexicans sayings is to make sure to get your daily dose of Vitamin T.

Though most assume the “T” implies only tacos — it also stands for tamales and tortas. As far as Mexico street foods go, the torta (sandwich) is just as important as the taco.

While tacos are one of the most common Mexican lunch foods, many eat tortas for breakfast.

Different tortas are popular in different parts of Mexico, but they all tend to use the same bolillo bread. This soft hoagie roll is one of the most beloved and best Mexican breads.

Among the best Yucatan tortas, you’ll want to get yours with the meats local to this region.

These include tortas de cochinita pibil (cochinita pibil tortas), tortas de lechon (lechon tortas) and tortas de poc chuc (poc chuc tortas), which you’ll find at most local mercados (markets).

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

31. Botanas: Yucatan Tapas

Botanas in Yucatan are similar to tapas in Spain. They are basically small plates of food that you get for free as long as you’re drinking in a cantina.

You don’t really get to choose what botanas you get, but if there’s something you received and loved, you can always ask for more of it. As long as you keep drinking, the botanas will keep coming.

Here are seven of the most unique and most famous Yucatan botanas.

1. Sikil Pak

This ancient Mayan food is very delicious and among the best Yucatan botanas. It is a roasted tomato and pepita (pumpkin seed) salsa, with very little habanero pepper added in for just the slightest kick.

It has a strong umami taste and can be addicting — you’ve been warned!

2. Xnipek

Another unique Yucatan salsa you might get with botanas is xnipek (pronounced shh-nee-peck, and sometimes spelled xnipec). This complex salsa is made from habaneros, tomatoes, sour oranges, garlic and roasted onions.

3. Brazo de Reina Tamale

Brazo de reina, which means “the queen’s arm,” is a tamal made with masa dough that’s mixed with chaya, a local dark green veggie, which turns the masa green.

It’s then stuffed with chopped hard-boiled eggs and topped with sikil paak salsa.

4. Codzitos

Yucatecan codzitos are essentially just rolled, fried tortillas — similar to a taquito — but not stuffed with anything.

They are one of the most common Yucatan botanas and come smothered in salsa, crema (sour cream), and queso fresco (fresh cheese).

5. Yucatan Guacamole

Yucatan avocados are larger than more commonly sold Hass avocado. The avocados in Yucatan are similar to Florida avocados (AKA Hall avocados), which are large with bright green skin.

They are more watery than Haas avocados, resulting in a thinner guacamole. This Yucatan guacamole is also sometimes made with zucchini puree.

6. Higadillo Entomatado (Liver)

Even for those who may think they’re not a fan of liver, give this one a try. Higadillo (AKA higado entomatado or higadilla yucateca) is made with sautéed liver and onions, and a lot of roasted tomatoes.

The umami in the tomatoes cut through the strong liver taste, resulting in a perfect and filling beer snack. Personally, this is my favorite of all Yucatecan botanas in Merida.

7. Empanadas de Chaya

You’ll find empanadas (hand pies) throughout Mexico and much of Latin America.

One of the most popular Yucatecan empanadas you’ll find is empanadas de chaya. These are made with chaya, a perennial dark green veggie, and queso de bola or Edam cheese.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

32. Pan de Cazon: Yucatan Seafood Dish

Pan de cazón means “dogfish bread,” and it’s sort of a Yucatan seafood lasagne. It’s made with alternating layers of fried corn tortillas and flaked dogfish, then smothered in a tomato sauce.

Dogfish is common in the Yucatan and similar to a codfish, but with a milder, sweeter flavor. It is definitely a Merida Yucatan food that you won’t find many places outside of this geographical area.

🐟 Wondering, What is dogfish?

Dogfish (AKA dogfish sharks or dog sharks) is a type of small shark, sometimes referred to as tiburoncito (meaning “small shark”) in Mexico.

It is a whitefish with a mild, slightly sweet flavor that firms up when cooked — like cod in Fish & Chips.

traditional Yucatan Foods

33. Ceviche de Pulpo Frito

Ceviche de pulpo frito means “fried octopus ceviche,” and it does use pan fried octopus instead of uncooked seafood, but the same diced veggies and lime juice in any Mexican ceviche.

For some, they’ll shy away from this because it’s not “traditional ceviche Yucateco,” but that’s a mistake!

Though pan-fried, ceviche de pulpo frito is still a lighter, refreshing Yucatecan seafood dish.

The cooked octopus adds some heat to the veggies and lime juice, which brings out their flavors even more, for one of the best ceviches you’ve ever tasted.

If this sounds too out of your comfort zone, be on the lookout for castacan de pulpo, or octopus castacan. It is a lighter version of traditional castacan that uses pork and is a must-try for seafood lovers.

traditional Yucatan Foods

34. Tikin Xic (Dry Fish)

Tikin xic (pronounced tee-keen-sheek) means “dry fish,” but don’t let the name fool you — this is a juicy, flavorful dish.

It is a whole fish that’s marinated in achiote paste and naranja agria, then wrapped in a banana leaf and baked under a wood fire, which imparts a smoky flavor.

While it has likely been adapted in modern times, the “dry fish” preparation makes tikin xic among the best traditional Mayan dishes still served today.

Best Yucatan Food Dishes

35. Flan: Yucatan Dessert

You’ll see flan all over Mexico, but you’ll rarely (if ever) go to a Yucatan restaurant that doesn’t have flan on its dessert menu.

Most Mayan Mexican food fans have heard of and/or tried flan, but this custard dessert topped with caramel sauce is something you must try in Mexico to appreciate.

traditional Yucatan Foods

36. Nieves (Sorbet)

Nieves means “snow,” and it’s basically a sorbet, or cross between an ice cream and shaved ice.

They are often made with fresh, local fruits or sweet ingredients like chocolate, and sold in local mercados (markets) or on the street by vendors.

With so many great tropical fruits that grow locally in Yucatan, try a pitahaya (dragon fruit), maracuya (passion fruit) and nieves de mamey (sapote).

If you’re not feeling super adventurous, there are always classics like coco (coconut), chocolate nieves and mango nieves.

For a fun, boozy variation, be on the lookout for mezcal nieves in specialty shops.

traditional Yucatan Foods

37. Dulce de Papaya

When you have a sweet tooth, dulce de papaya will cure it! This popular Yucatan dessert is a papaya that’s slow-cooked in water, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.

It is served cold, soaked in syrup, and accompanied by ice cream, coconut, vanilla cake, or chunks of queso de bola cheese.

traditional Yucatan Foods

38. Caballero Pobre

Caballero pobre means “poor cowboy,” but this Yucatan dessert is actually very rich in flavor.

It is sort of a dessert version of French toast, and also similar to torrejas, a popular dessert found throughout Latin cuisine. Many caballero pobres come served with ice cream on top, though some don’t.

Best Yucatan Drinks

BONUS: 10 Best Yucatan Drinks

Beyond all the delicious traditional food in Yucatan Mexico mentioned in this article, you won’t want to miss all the yummy drinks.

Here are the Top 10 Yucatan beverages you’ll want to try when visiting.

1. Piña con Chaya

Chaya is a popular veggie, used in many Yucatan foods — but also the piña con chaya drink. Sometimes called “Yucatan tree spinach,” chaya is a superfood.

It can have a semi-bitter or earthy taste, like spinach, but the sweetness of the pineapple cuts through it in this drink.

Best Yucatan Drinks

2. Agua de Tamarindo

Agua de tamarindo, or “tamarind water,” is made with tamarind fruit — one of the most beloved flavors in both Mexico drinks and Mexican candy.

It is tart and tangy like an orange but also very sweet with some hints of cinnamon.

Best Yucatan Drinks

3. Agua de Jamaica

Agua de jamaica — pronounced haa-mike-kuh, not Jamaica like the country — is one of the most popular Mexican teas.

It’s made with dried flor de jamaica (hibiscus flowers), and you’ll find it everywhere from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Best Yucatan Drinks

4. Horchata

Sometimes called Mexican rice milk or Mexican rice water, horchata is consumed all over Mexico. Horchata is a thick and creamy drink that’s made with rice, sugar and cinnamon.

As Yucatan food is often on the spicy side, this cool, sweet drink really cuts through some of that spice.

Love sweet drinks? There are some similar Yucatan drinks you’ll want to seek out in addition to horchata, like these:

• Coconut champola: Basically a fruit milkshake
• Machacados: Shaved ice with condensed milk and crushed fruits

Best Yucatan Drinks

5. Aguas Frescas

Aguas frescas, meaning “fresh waters,” are one of the Yucatan drinks people flock to on hot days to beat the heat!

Many things can be classified as agua fresca, including horchata and jamaica (the last two Mexico drinks mentioned), though they can also be made with fresh fruit.

Best Yucatan Drinks

6. Michelada

There aren’t many Mexican beer cocktails out there, but the michelada is among the best.

A traditional michelada is made with your choice of beer (both dark and light beer works), Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, assorted spices like Tajín, fresh lime juice and a tamarind rim.

As micheladas are very popular, different places prepare them with slightly different variations.

For this reason, they’re often compared to Bloody Marys, with each restaurant and cocktail maker adding their unique spin to the classic recipe.

For a stronger spin on the Mexican michelada, be on the lookout for the Bloody Maria, which is basically a michelada or Bloody Mary but made with tequila or mezcal instead of beer or vodka.

Best Yucatan Drinks

9. Tepache

Tepache (pronounced tep-pach-ay) is something often made only in people’s homes and then sold by vendors on the street.

However, in recent years, this has become quite popular outside of Mexico, and you can even buy tepache in a can on Amazon!

It is a fermented drink made with pineapple peel, cinnamon sticks and water and kept in a sealed jar for 2-5 days to fully ferment.

Best Yucatan Drinks

10. Xtabentun

Xtabentun (pronounced shtab-en-tune) is an ancient Mayan liquor that’s been made for thousands of years.

It consists of anise seed and honey made by bees that collect the nectar of xtabentún flowers. Rum is added to the mixture, and it all ferments to create smooth, sweet xtabentun.

To drink, many locals have it straight up or poured over ice. In some of the upscale cocktail bars in Merida, you might even see xtabentun cocktails on the menu, like the Xtabentun Paloma.

Some people add it to their coffee or even make a Mayan Coffee, which is coffee, a shot of tequila and a shot of xtabentun.

If you’re traveling soon, xtabentun makes one of the best Yucatan souvenirs to bring home.

traditional Yucatan Foods

Yucatan Foods: Spices & Flavors

As the Yucatan Peninsula has more of a tropical climate compared to much of Mexico, the foods that grow in this region are unique — and also give this food its distinct Yucatan flavors.

Among the staples in Yucatan cooking there’s naranja agria and achiote.

However, there are other things that make this traditional Mexican cuisine unique, so check out the list of six Yucatán ingredients below.

1. Naranja Agria (Sour Orange, Seville Orange)

Naranja agria grows all year in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the size of a medium orange, with a tangerine-like flavor and bumpy skin.

Sour oranges are used in many typical Yucatan foods, including poc chuc and cochinita pibil. Outside of the Yucatan, they are known as Seville oranges.

traditional Yucatan Foods

2. Axiote (Achiote, Annatto)

Pronounced ahh-she-oh-tay, axiote is made by crushing the seeds of the Bixa orellana shrub.

This evergreen plant is native to Yucatan and used in many traditional dishes — like cochinita pibil, considered by many as the king of Yucatan food dishes, and in the recado rojo spice mix.

Axiote, an Aztec word, goes by other names outside of Mexico, including annatto and achuete. It has a flavor close to that of a red peppercorn but with a bit more bitterness and a mild peppermint scent.

Besides adding flavor, it gives dishes like cochinita pibil their red color.

🌿 Curious about other Mexican spices? The hoja santa, or Mexican pepper leaf, is a unique alternative to black pepper. Considered a “secret ingredient” in traditional Oaxacan food, it’s worth a try.

traditional Yucatan Foods

3. Chaya (Tree Spinach)

Chaya comes from the Cnidoscolus chayamansa tree, which is native to the Yucatan Peninsula.

The tree grows all year long, so chaya (AKA Mexican tree spinach) is always available and used in many dishes, like crema de chaya, empanadas de chaya and brazo de reina.

traditional Yucatan Foods

4. Habanero Chili Peppers

Among the hottest peppers used in Mexico are habaneros, popular in Yucatan food.

When dining, you’ll get a side of habanero salsa, to add as much (or as little) as you want.

🌶 Wondering, Is Yucatán food spicy? Most of it is actually not very spicy on it’s own. However, when you add even a few drops of habanero salsa — Yucatan foods can get very spicy, very quickly.

5. X’catic Chilis

A more mild, though still a bit spicy, Yucatan chili pepper is the x’catik chili. They look like a bright yellow-green banana pepper and have a slightly sweet flavor.

traditional Yucatan Foods

6. Yucatan Recados

Recados are essentially mashed up spice mixtures, which you’ll find in nearly all Yucatan traditional foods.

An essential part of Yucatan food, you can buy them in local markets when you don’t feel like making your own.

To make a recado, you grind down a specific mixture of spices, then add water or liquid to create a thick paste.

Recados are used as the base for most popular foods in Yucatan and come in three colors.

The colors include recado rojo (red), recado blanco (white, which can look like a light green color), and recado negro (black). They’re all used for different Yucatan food preparations and dishes.

Yucatan Foods Guide & Frequently Asked Questions

While Yucatecan food is found in other parts of Mexico, it comes from the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico and has Caribbean and Mayan food influences.

traditional Yucatan Foods

Cochinita slow-cooked pork is arguably the most delicious food from Yucatan. It is slow-roasted in an underground oven for about one day and makes for incredibly juicy, tender meat.

traditional Yucatan Foods

👩‍🍳 Looking for cochinita Yucatan recipes?

Check out this well-rated version on Kiwilimon, one of the biggest recipe sites in Mexico for comida yucateca (Yucatan food) and other regional foods.

traditional Yucatan Foods

traditional Yucatan Foods

Of these, corn was the most important ingredient because they used it to make masa (corn dough), which was then used to make tamales, tortillas and more.

The most common proteins used were turkey and local wild game, but eventually, the Spanish brought over other meats, like pork.

However, one of the most unique Yucatan breakfast dishes is huevos motuleños (#24 on this list), which originate in the small town of Motul Mexico.

Final Thoughts: Traditional Yucatan Foods in Mexico

While you’ll find familiar Mexican ingredients used in Yucatan food, like masa (corn), chili peppers, tortillas, beans, onion, tomato and lime, Yucatan cuisine and what many consider “Mexican cuisine” are quite different.

That’s right: Yucatan cuisine is different from Mexican food.

For years, it took a backseat in Mexico’s culinary hierarchy — though that’s changing. Thanks to features in Netflix shows like Taco Chronicles and Chef’s Table: BBQ, Yucatan Peninsula foods are more popular than ever. 

Staple foods and flavors from Yucatan, like axiote, chaya and naranja agria, only grow in this part of Mexico — so even tacos taste different in the Yucatan Peninsula.

In this article, I hope you learned about some new food and the dishes and ingredients that make up traditional Yucatecan cuisine.

For foodies, you can’t go wrong eating anywhere in Mexico, though the food in Yucatan has its own distinct set of flavors. For the best Yucatan food, head to Merida, the capital city of Yucatan State.

Best Yucatan Food Tours & Yucatan Cooking Classes

While I have lived in Mexico since 2018, I’m not originally from Mexico or the Yucatan Peninsula — and the person you really want guiding you to the best Yucatan foods is a local.

When you visit Yucatan, consider taking a food tour or cooking class with someone who has been eating this amazing cuisine all their life, and knows Yucatec Maya food well.

• See all the Best Yucatan Food Tours
• See all the Best Yucatan Cooking Classes