When you think of Mexican food, taco is the first word that comes to mind. And for good reason. They are incredible. In the Yucatan peninsula region of Mexico, ingredients like cochinita pibil and the habanero pepper make the tacos stand apart from the rest of the country.
Cochinita pibil is a slow roasted pork that is cooked for over 20+hours underground and is a trademark food of Mérida. Cochinita may be the star, but there are tons of different options for taco lovers. Read on to find out which are the best tacos in Mérida and where you can find them.
🌎 BROS TIP: Sunday is like a holiday in the Yucatan for cochinita pibil. Cochinita takes a very long time to prepare and cook. As a result, it is traditionally served once a week on Sunday. Get it while it’s fresh!
Taqueria La Lupita
La Lupita is located inside Mercado Municipal No 2. Walk right past all the food vendors trying to lure you to their tables outside. The real treat is inside at La Lupita.
Specialty
Taqueria La Lupita is famous in Mérida and was recently featured in the Netflix Series “Taco Chronicles” in an episode dedicated to the aforementioned cochinita pibil. So you can guarantee that anything you try on the menu will leave you impressed. But of course, get the cochinita here. It is phenomenal and the flavor will blow you away.
Cost
- 2 Cochinita pibil tacos (26 pesos)
- Huevos motuleños (70 pesos)
- 2 Carne asada panuchos (30 pesos)
- 2 Chaya con piña juices (40 pesos)
TOTAL – 166 pesos ($4.15 USD each)
Wayan’e
Wayan’e has 2 locations in Mérida, and you already know the Bros hit up both. One location is north of the city center and the other is east of the city center. This place quickly became one of our favorite spots for breakfast or an early lunch due to its wide variety and hospitality. They even hooked us up with t-shirts!
Specialty
You really can’t go wrong, but be sure to get here early. Once they run out of food they close up shop and their menu options will get narrower the later you show up. The move is to get the castakan/chilibul/queso taco. This particular combo is not listed on the menu (the owner recommended it to us after we showed up for the 4th time). Act like you’ve been there before and just order it. Trust us.
Cost
- 2 Castakan/Chilibul/Queso tacos (44 pesos)
- 2 Poc-chuc tacos (30 pesos)
- 2 Pollo al cilantro tacos (30 pesos)
- 2 Orange/coconut juices (38 pesos)
TOTAL – 142 pesos ($3.55 USD each)
Taqueria Puerto Mixe Oaxaca
The Bros know a good meat stick when they see one, and we knew we found a good place after one look at the guy cutting up the fresh meat next to the flame. These are for sure some of the best tacos in Mérida that nobody knows about, located in the Cortés Sarmiento neighborhood.
Specialty
The al pastor, chorizo, and campechanos are the way to go. Try both the maiz (corn) and harina (flour) tortillas. Don’t sleep on the tortas either. The tortas here are large and the bread is fresh and on point.
Cost
- 2 flour campechanos tacos (40 pesos)
- 2 corn chorizo tacos (24 pesos)
- 2 corn al pastor tacos (24 pesos)
- 2 Coca Colas (26 pesos)
TOTAL – 114 pesos ($2.85 USD each)
Mercado San Benito
Mercado San Benito is located directly next to Mercado Lucas de Galvez. There is a long stretch of tables and meat on vertical rotisseries outside. When you find meat on a spit with locals feasting all around you, you are in the right place.
Specialty
This one is real simple. Get the pastor. It’s the best al pastor we had in Mérida. Taco or torta? Get both!
Cost
- 2 Al pastor tortas (30 pesos)
- 2 Tacos al pastor (16 pesos)
- 2 Tacos carne asada (16 pesos)
- 2 Coca colas (30 pesos)
TOTAL – 92 pesos ($2.30 USD each)
Taqueria El Amanecer
Located inside the great Mercado Lucas de Galvez, this is not only an amazing taco (or torta), but it’s a fun place to eat as you can watch the hustle and bustle of the market as you chow down on some of the best tacos in Mérida.
Specialty
When the setting is in the local market and the menu is super simple, this is a good sign. Go with the taco especial or torta especial. It’s what everyone is ordering and in our opinion, it’s the only thing to order. The marinated pork is insane and you’ll get two different cuts of meat on your taco or torta.
Cost
- 2 Tortas especiales (60 pesos)
- 2 Tacos especiales (30 pesos)
- 2 sodas (30 pesos)
TOTAL – 120 pesos ($3.00 USD each)
🌎 BROS TIP: Tacos are great, but it’s only the surface of Mexican food in Mérida. Check out the salbutes, panuchos, tortas, relleno negro, sopa de lima and chilaquiles to just name a few.
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Traveling to Mexico or Latin America? Check out our posts on:
- 5 Reasons Mérida, Mexico Is A Great Digital Nomad Destination
- What You Should Know Before Visiting the Tulum Ruins
- How to Visit the Yellow City of Izamal for $5
- An Unexpected Mayan Spiritual Experience in Uxmal
- How to Get from Mérida to Chichén Itzá
- Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Dzibilchaltún
- What You Can Get for $10 in Mercado Lucas de Galvez
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