Califa

This upscaled version of a taco stand no doubt sets the standard for quality tacos and impeccable service. Located in hip Condesa, A favorite for discerning afterparty munchers, Califa is open from around mexican lunch time (2:00pm) until late/early in the morning (5:00am).

Appetizers include "jugo de carne"; a delicious thick and spicy beef broth and "frijoles charros"; a soup-like preparation of beans with bacon, onions and peppers sided with freshly made "tostadas"; tortillas grilled to a crunchy state.

Favorite specialties include thin sliced grilled steak on a fresh-made tortilla topped with grilled cheese. To compliment your tacos you can always depend on ripe and flawless avocados and seasoned grilled onions. An assortment of freshly-made salsas are diligently set at the table upon arrival.

Tacos al pastor and gringas are the spicy mexican version of middle eastern shawarma; a 50 pound skewer of thin-sliced pork rubbed with spicy achiote that rotates side to a grill that slowly cooks to perfection the outer layer of the skewer. Top that with grilled cheese and onions and you have a gringa.

Vegetarian options include grilled cactus leafs and a variety of molten cheese combinations like mushrooms or peppers.

Caramel custard and sweet pot coffee round up a perfect late night meal.

Altata 22 (Alfonso Reyez near to Nuevo Leon)

Restaurants Morelia - Emilianos

So what are the Restaurants like in Morelia ... I do not want to compare the italian food here with Austria, since Austria has excellent italian Restaurants, which are super hard to beat.

I think the Emiliano's is a nice place to hang out with friends. They have a lot of mexican dishes such as arrachera and guacamole or shrimps (deep fried like tempura with a cocktail sauce). These dishes were all very tasty and even the Pizza tastes fine. I was pleasantly surprised this time because last time I tried their pesto dish I was I guess a little disappointed because I felt like having a dish with basil, but they did not have basil and replaced it with cilantro which of course tastes completely different.

We paid around 15 USD per person.

Emilianos

Artilleros del 47 No.1643

Morelia 58260

Tel 443 315 1035

Restaurants Oaxaca -El Asador Vasco

This is a spanish Restaurant just by the city center (Portal de flores).

The main dishes were all very delicious and cost around 120 pesos. They also have specialities such as Chapulines con Guacamole (grasshoppers with Guacamole). The chicken with almond sauce was very tasty, as well as a nice and creamy sauce. Generally the food was all very good, but I prefer the La Casa de la Abuela which is just around the corner.

El Asador Vasco is a restaurant with a normal conservative table cloth decor and good service. The attraction of this restaurant is the nice view on the Zocalo.

Portal de Flores Num. 10

Tel. 514 47 55

www.asadorvasco.com

Restaurants Oaxaca -La Palapa de Raul

This is a local Restaurant where local people from Oaxaca go if they want delicious and authentic Oaxacan food. It is worth the drive 10 minutes outside of Oaxaca city center.

The food that we ordered was:

Cochinita Pibil (120 pesos) and Mole Almendrado (105 pesos)

Both were very delicious and with a whole array of herbs. The Cochinita had a strong cumin flavour which was outstanding. The Mole was a tiny bit spicy, but very enjoyable. 

The staff is friendly and the simple decor is inviting.

Maria Magarita Beristain Maldonado

Camino Analco No.2 Tlalixtac de Cabrera

CP.68270 Oaxaca Tel. (951) 5175 450

Restaurants Cancun Mexico - Thai (recommendable)

I think this is one of the best places to go if you are in Cancun and not such a fan of the American Restaurant chains and you are looking for something a little different. Even though it is in the middle of a large shopping plaza, it does not feel like it at all. You can have a romantic evening as a couple or a chilled evening with friends listening to lounge music. I find it is nice for both!

This place certainly has a nice ambience. If you sit next to the entrance and coming at around 20:00, you may see dolphins swimming past the window of an aquarium behind you. The nicest spot is on the water. They have little individual palapas (each has its own table and sofa) built over the beautiful lagoon.

We tried all three soups Tom Yum  Goong (a clear soup with prawns, mushrooms and coriander leaves), Tom Kha Gai (coconut based soup with chicken and mushrooms) and Arawan (cucumber stuffed with pork). They were all flavourful. If you like sour flavours, the Tom Khai is a nice choice. The Arawan is the most original combination of ingredients. Pad Thai is very often mediocre, over-cooked noodles, but I find that this one was surprisingly good! The green curry and yellow curry dishes were not exciting, but very good as well.

The service is good.

Main courses vary but are around $10-20. The total bill per person was around 400 pesos (exchange rate at the time was around 15 pesos per dollar, so in dollars it was 26US).

La Isla Shopping Center, Local B-4

Cancun

Tel 998 144 0364

Restaurants Playa del Carmen Mexico - The Glass Bar (recommendable)

Every time we go there the food and service are consistently good.

This is a little bit more fancy restaurant. They bring a tiny (5cm wide) starter, which are compliments of the house. In one occasion they brought a beef tatar creation; in the end they brought a platter of tiny cookies, coffee truffles and other cookies.

We had a nice Arugula Salad, Spaghetti with a simple tomato sauce and a Risotto with shrimps. All the dishes are simple, but with fresh ingredients and a delicious flavour.

Another time we tried a lentil soup with crabs and balsamic vinegar, which was very filling, as well as delicious. It was a nice idea to add the balsamic vinegar - it gave the dish a nice twist. The tortellini with beef and a pumpkin sauce was a straightforward dish (hardly any spices), but worthwhile.

This place also has a nice selection of wines and Prosecco.

The service is very good. They immediately see when one has finished a dish and take away the plates. One never has to look for the waiters to come, which frequently happens in Playa del Carmen, since there are always a lot of tourists.

We spent around 375 pesos per person for a starter and a main course (exchange rate at the time was around 15 pesos per dollar, so in dollars it was cheap at $25).

Calle 12 No.218

Esquina 5 Av NTE Col. Centro

Restaurants Playa del Carmen Mexico - Yaxche

This is a traditional Mayan Restaurant. 

We had Mayitas de pollo which are delicious chicken fajitas with a delicious guacamole. 

The Cochinita Pibil which is pulled pork steamed with spices and served on banana leaves. Even though it was a pork dish, it was not at all oily/fatty.

One could sit outside next to the road. The ambience is basic (table cloth and candles) and the service is good.

The main dishes are around 130 pesos (at the current exchange rate that is around $9)

Address:

Calle 8 Nte Num 135 Local 5

Entre 5TA y 10A av. Col Centro

Playa del Carmen