1. Tacos Borrachos – La Paz
I kept looking for a reason to not make a street cart number one on our list of Best Restaurants in Puebla, Mexico but I simply couldn’t find one. Easily the place we visited most frequently on this list, they are dishing out one of our top 3 favorite tacos ever. Easily winners for the best cemitas too, which Puebla is famous for. Located right off of Avenida Juarez on Blvd Atlixco, by the fountain, this cart is open late into the night and can provide you with some much needed nutrition/grease after a night of drinking. We easily would put down 8 tacos and a cemita…each. Not because we were still hungry mind you, rather, we couldn’t stop ourselves because of how damn yummy everything was. If you are in Mexico and tacos are important to you, make it a point to come here at least once during your stay.
Recommended Dish – The only things you can get. I avoided the nopal (cactus) but besides that everything is good. Get a couple of each (longaniza and carne asada) and then some combinados as well. Beware, the orange salsa is probably the best hot sauce I’ve ever had, but its legit. 3 drops per taco is sufficient and I’m not being facetious.
HINT – This is a street cart so don’t head here if you are a health inspector. Also note that regular hours don’t apply to them so arriving at dinner time towards the end of the week is probably your best shot not to miss them. Closed on Sundays last we knew.
2. Moyuelo – Av. Juarez
Moyuelo is the sort of gem that remains hidden in plain sight. The small, professionally rustic space provides a nice oasis within a row of fist-pumpingly loud clubs that line this section of Avenida Juarez. I was pleasantly surprised at how good of a job the place did suppressing the thunderous reggaeton from all sides, especially since the whole front of the restaurant is open to the elements. The professional staff and serious chefs don’t play around much at this spot, but that is because they take their food and drinks seriously. No ingredient is wasted and no combination hastily thought out. Everything works, as unconventional it might seem. It is one of the most consistently envelope pushing and delicious restaurants I’ve been to, period. This place is perfect for someone looking for a slightly exotic, traditional meal but prepared and presented with more of a fine-dining establishment’s perspective. Though don’t worry, no black tie apparel is required.
Recommended Dish – The chalupas de camaron were an exquisite appetizer that will get you started off on the right foot. Pair that with some of their house mezcal and you can let your gut take you from there.
HINT – I would suggest going earlier in the night as the clubs surrounding the restaurant can start to fill up and spill onto the streets. If you’re not a party-goer it can be a little disrupting/uncomfortable if you have to navigate through those crowds. This is reserved mainly for weekends and old scared white people.
3. El Mural de los Poblanos – El Centro
One of my first, great meals in Puebla came from this restaurant. I had seen it in tv shows, read about it online, and been recommended to come here by friends; so needless to say my expectations were high. To my surprise, those expectations were exceeded the first and every time I’ve been there. I thought my initial enamoration with the place might be my wanderlusting gringo heart tricking my taste buds into enjoying the food that I had so hoped I would. After the honeymoon stage with Puebla came to an end however, El Mural has still been able to thoroughly impress me. A sense of family hangs over the dining room, even though it leans more towards an elegant experience. The open air building with the beautifully lit walls really lets you soak in what makes a great Poblano night, great.
Recommended Dish – Traditional fare here is absolutely the way to go. Besides getting invited to someone’s abuelita’s house outside of the city, I don’t know if you can find better homestyle Poblano cooking. The moles have strong flavors that excite the palate, but are definitely a new taste to the visiting gringo and can get some getting used to. The albondigas de cordero are a safer, equally delicious choice. If you are looking for something more exotic and are here in the correct season, don’t pass up the escamoles (ant larva). It sounds awful but is legitimately one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Soaked in butter and garlic, everything that’s good about these are what make escargot delicious as well.
HINT – Definitely take a look at the Platillos de Temporada to see what is in season. The aforementioned escamoles and Chile en Nogada are two of my favorites.
4. La 3ra Ronda – La Paz
La 3ra Ronda is a traditional Mexican restaurant with a bit of a twist, both in its dishes and its overall presentation. It does a great job of pairing its food with the environment it creates as well. Rustic, open, and a little quirky, the vibes this spot gives off are great from the moment you walk in. A walkaround bartender (and sometimes bar for that matter) will provide you with excellent drink options and recommendations. You’ll be presented with an eclectic variety of salsa in which to dip your slightly well done, old school tortillas. A mini solo cup of delicious elotes is provided on the house to each diner afterwards, and this is all before you have made up your mind on what you want your main course to be. The menu here is quite large so you shouldn’t have any problem finding something for everyone, though if I were you I would definitely go for something more traditional.
Recommended Dish – Clearly a perfect combination and the first drink that jumped off the menu at me is their Habanero Pineapple. I really don’t know if you can ask for a better drink than this on a warm Mexican evening. Foodwise, the tlacoyos are to die for and if you eat as many as I think you can, you might get close.
HINT – Try to get an inside table if you can. The “outside” area doesn’t have the same atmosphere and can quite loud if you get stuck with the mariachi band out there, especially if a nearby table is drunk and requests a few songs in a row…
5. Cuetzalan Mio – La Paz
This breakfast place is one of the best that I have been to in the world. Almost every dish I have had here is just as, if not more delectable than the last. The place gets busy quickly, so either call ahead and put your name on the list or get there early/late (when the crowd has thinned). It’s especially worth it if you enjoyed the nightlife earlier that morning. I think they created one of the top 5 hangover meals for the morning after (Los Voladores – a chile based red soup with eggs, chunks of Oaxacan cheese and tortilla shredded into it). The service is great and the atmosphere lively, though the decor seems a bit cliche to me, they do actually serve some of the best, truly traditional plates in Puebla.
Recommended Dish – Besides the aforementioned Voladores, El Itacate is a great sampling of all the plates so you can find out what you like best. As I am always for trying new things during my travels, any time I can grab a sampler of something I’m nearly sold right away. It helps that everything included in this sampler is exquisite. Their “Chocolate” drink is a less sweet/more delicious hot chocolate and their “Green Juice” is a sure fire way to replenish whatever vitamins/fluids/mental stability you lost the night before.
HINT – Try to grab a seat towards the window as the cool Poblano breeze just adds to the healing qualities that this restaurant offers.
6. La Casa de Frida – San Pedro Cholula
This generic, authentic, Mexican restaurant is tucked away down an alley, hidden from the droves of tourists wandering around the San Pedro area. I know that the word “generic” doesn’t rile up a lot of excitement for a given suggestion, but when you are visiting a foreign land, a lot of the time that is exactly what you are looking for. What is “generic” to the locals is foreign and exciting to the visitors, and this place provides the good stuff that the locals love. So even though you aren’t going to be getting a modern twist or a specialty dish here, you will be able to order with confidence up and down the menu; all the meanwhile knowing that you are going to be getting the real deal. A colorful atmosphere with a professional wait staff and live music to boot, this is a great midday lunch break or early evening dinner destination during your Cholula part of the journey.
Recommended Dish – The asador (grill) is out in the open, so a nice option to order a juicy steak and watch it get cooked for you. Personally though, if it’s not a super hot day, I’m a big fan of the Sopa Azteca (Tortilla Soup). It’s super flavorful and one of the more traditional meals you can get on your vacation.
HINT – There is a small Mezcaleria located even further back in the alley that we mention in our Best Bars in Puebla page. Definitely worth checking out after a satisfying meal here, especially because you’ll probably be able to throw back a couple more shots with a full stomach.
7. La Textileria – La Paz
This is one of my personal favorite spots in the city, especially to take visitors when they come through. Though I don’t necessarily think it makes it into the absolute best tasting foods in the city (maybe in the top 10% vs. top 5% or something), I still enjoy the dining experience through and through. The mix of a unique atmosphere, some nostalgic memories (as this was one of our first dinners out), and a distinct menu provide solid reasoning to bring all our guests here and recommend it to you. I will say that this might be the premier spot in Puebla when it comes to the budding gastronomic cuisine culture, and that alone is worth the visit and might be why some of the more daring dishes don’t quite hit the mark. If you order one of the go-to anchors of Poblano cuisine though, you will not be disappointed. In fact, their chef actually won an award for best Chile en Nogada, the hands down most famous staple from Puebla.
Recommended Dish – Their Filete Flameado is a great communal dining experience that comes with a show, though be wary if you are not a salt fan as the entire thing is encased in it. Their Chapulines (grasshopper) Tacos are quite delicious and an easier route to saying you have tried them than full, out of a plastic bag off the street, but more respectable than the aforementioned sauces. Finally, their cotton candy/espresso combination allows the sweet haters of the world to be able to indulge in the once unreachable enjoyment of dessert.
HINT – Make a reservation as they will turn you away sometimes without one…even if the dining room isn’t full. They also have a pretty solid beer/wine menu that you have to specifcally ask to see.
8. Sur 82 – La Paz
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Puebla in terms of taste alone. The chef has created a menu containing a mix of upper scale dishes that pull from Mexican and Italian cuisines. I always get a pasta dish while I am here because it’s difficult to find a good one in other places, even the so called “Italian” restaurants. The fresh ingredients are perfectly distributed and the sauces are always rich and satisfying. To possibly add a bit of weight to this recommendation, I grew up in New Jersey where we were never short on superior Italian restaurants. I believe that Chef Carlos Zorilla has produced a legitimate equal to the famous cuisine of my home state, which is saying a lot for a small, unassuming spot in the middle of Mexico. Their eclectic mix of sandwiches, desserts and platos fuertes round out a formidable selection of dishes. If you have more than a few days to spend in Puebla and want a break from the traditional Mexican comida, I highly suggest you make Sur 82 your choice for that meal.
Recommended Dish – The Alfredo con Camarón dish is a step above. With some massive, perfectly cooked, juicy, never ending shrimp, you really can’t go wrong. An impressive take on the anchor that is alfredo sauce (not too heavy and a smooth taste) along with quality pasta and vegetables make this an almost must for the heartbroken Italian within you.
HINT – Take a look at the decent choice of artesenal beers that they have to choose from, as the bar/cocktail options aren’t the most extensive.
9. Casa Nueve – San Andres Cholula
Part art gallery, part restaurant, part music venue, Casa Nueve stole my heart from the minute I walked in the door. We had just spent a decent chunk of time bouncing around Container City and stumbled into a building from which we heard music and laughter. The perfect break from the in-your-face bro-party atmosphere that we just arrived from. The intimate surroundings made for the perfect late night meal/nightcap. A band with an alternating male and female lead were playing at the “far” end of the room and exuded the perfect volume and tone to fit the setting. I returned numerous times since then to ensure it was not my intoxicated nostalgia that secured this analysis for me and the place has proven its charm time and time again.
Recommended Dish – I suggest the Croquetas as an appetizer, the Medallón de Res al Horno for dinner, and a cup of Mezcal to go with them.
HINT – Check out the calendar to choose a day with an artist that looks entertaining and different to you. Their quirky attitude is reflected in their band choices and it presents you with the opportunity to experience something different and fulfilling. Also, they have movie nights which, for the Spanish speakers, is a great different way to enjoy a solid meal.
1o. Casa del Mendrugo – El Centro
A very interesting venue that is definitely more than just your everyday restaurant. First of all, the setting is gorgeous. The designer definitely knew what they were doing. An open roof and strong clean environment gives off the feel of fine dining in a comfortably romantic and upscale setting. The exposed brick, live band, and human bones provide a little more of a colloquial feel to the establishment. As if the immediate dining backdrop wasn’t enough for you, there is a whole museum that you can briskly enjoy after the meal (where the bones come in). Containing multiple ancient artifacts and stirring stories about the immediately surrounding area and its history, it is definitely worth a look. As if that weren’t all enough to entice you, the food is actually quite delicious as well. With a eclectic menu for the region including cured meats, creative tapas, and their own beer, you will be seeing a side of the Poblano restaurant scene that is nowhere near commonplace.
Recommended Dish – I love picking multiple dishes and sharing amongst friends and family, and this place provides a great option for doing so since the first two pages of its menu are made up of charcuterie options, tapas, and appetizers. If that is not your thing, go for one of the chicken dishes or the Menu Completo so you don’t have to spread the wealth.
HINT – Breakfast is supposed to be outstanding here as well, so if you don’t have time to make it here for dinner, you still have a chance at the experience earlier in the day. Also, their website lists the types of performers that will be there on given nights, so take a look first to see if any specific date stands out to you.
11. PIKI Market – San Andres Cholula
PIKI Market is actually a collaboration of culinary experiences that have come to share a common space in which to competitively enhance each other’s growth. That is to say…it’s a food court. An impressive standalone food court with funky decorations, communal seating, twists and turns, and some of the best “fast food” that you can get though. I love coming here with a group because each person can go to a different place and then reconvene to battle for who made the best choice. I understand that the terms “fast food” and “food court” may scare away some of you self proclaimed foodies, but flee not! Though there are some scattered chains throughout the place you can also get a sampling of some of the traditional, albeit abnormal flavors of Puebla right here. There is also a diverse selection of booze to go along with your meal. Loved ending a day of walking around Cholula here to fuel up before heading out for the night.
Recommended Dish – Magenta has a solid craft beer selection and Mezcalita has a tasty chapulines sauce for their awesome tlayudas that will provide a loophole for the wimps who can’t stomach the full thing. If you’re one of said wimps, at least you can technically say you tried them.
HINT – The bar in the middle on the top is a great spot for inconspicuous people watching and creating stories in your head about all the little SIMS living below you…if that’s your thing.
