BLT: MiVida bread. El Tucan sandwich.
Prices are on the
rise, especially at the restaurants in San Miguel. It use to be that you could
get a great lunch for under 100 pesos. Now, you have to hunt for one.
Blame it partially on
the VAT which increased to 16% on January 1st of this year.
We consolidated some
of our previous posts to make it easier for you and added the prices but we
also talked to many of the restaurants in San Miguel over the past month and
asked what they had on their menu for under 50 pesos ($3.84) and also for 100
pesos ($7.68) or less.
Over the next few
weeks, you'll get 80 places to go for a deal.
You may be surprised
that some of the places on the list are ones that people assume are expensive.
They're actually not when you consider the quality of the food and also that
many portions are big enough to share.
Yes, we like splits
and are listing them as an alternative to those places who serve mediocre food
or use less than standout ingredients. To us, food quality matters.
Do we have any tips
when it comes to keeping within a food budget when eating out?
1.
Eat your meals out
during the day instead of at night. Breakfast is a deal and comida is also much
less than ordering a dinner. On the average, lunch menus are 25 percent cheaper
than dinner menus.
2.
The best way to
guarantee a bargain is to cut out the alcohol. Some people I know have at -home
cocktail parties before they go out and stick with one glass of wine with their
meal. I try to stick to water instead of soda or tea. It's healthier for you.
3.
We also split portions
so suddenly a 170 peso meal is just 85 pesos. Good at half the price.
San Miguel doesn't
have Michelin-starred restaurants but it does have some great places where
owners pay attention to quality, safety, consistency and you, the customer.
You know who they are.
You frequent them and although repeat guests account for only 15% of a
restaurant's customer base, they usually provide at least one third of the
revenue. Isn't it nice to know your pesos matter?
There are plenty of
ethnic options in the way of three and four star restaurants, street carts,
dives, pop ups, and hole-in-the-walls. We love them all.
Here are our best
picks for eating-out-on-a-budget in San Miguel.
If we missed one of yours,
send me an email (susan@cupcakesandcrablegs.com) and we'll make sure we visit it before we
update this list again.
Next Week: Part ll: STREET AND MARKET EATS and
Part lll: UNDER 100 PESOS.
Stay tuned and Buen
Apetito!
UNDER 50 PESOS:
FOOD AND WINE FESTIVALS:
Sabores San Miguel
Parque Juarez
Coming up this weekend
on June 13, 14 and 15th. Don't miss it. Many of the restaurants in town
participate so you'll get to sample their best food.
The festival is very
organized. Bites are just 20 pesos each.
Submit your best photo
from the festival to me (susan@cupcakesandcrablegs.com) and you can win a lunch at The Restaurant.
Cava Sautto Wine Fest
Hotel Sautto
This event is on my A
List of festivals. The cost? A mere 50 pesos considering you got a 200 pesos
credit in the liquor store redeemable for products.
Held February.
RESTAURANTS:
El Tucan
Hernandez Marcia's 56
Three plastic tables,
a stove at the door, and a long hallway that hasn't been painted in years. This
place is your classic dive.
What it does have?
Really good food at a fair price. More importantly, everything is cooked fresh.
You'll not find any food sitting around here.
Their signature dish
is Flautas covered with loads of fresh vegetables. My go-to dish.
5 for 30 pesos.
Alex cooked in Chicago
for 11 years and speaks perfect English.
When I told him last
year that I wanted to learn how to make mole, he said he did too. Do you know a
Mexican chef who doesn't know how to make mole? I didn't. Enter Alex's mom who
taught us both and he's been perfecting the recipe ever since.
He'll actually cook
anything you want. Last week I brought him a small loaf of Mivida's bread (6 pesos) and for 22 pesos
he made me the best over-stuffed-full-of-bacon BLT that I've had since last summer.
No worry about food
safety. I've eaten there 30+ times and have never been sick.
I vote this place the
Number 1 dive in San Miguel.
Most everything on the
menu is under 50 pesos.
La Parada
Recreo 94
At one of San Miguel's
best restaurants, Chef Alexandra Gutt creates great Peruvian food with
international accents.
Are you surprised that
all of the ceviches run 25 pesos for the small portions except the Salmon with
snow pods, seaweed and cucumber is 35 pesos? What a deal.
Most menu items are
under 100.
Big enough portions to
slit are the ribs for 195 pesos or chicken livers 115 pesos. Both are flavorful
and cheap at half the price.
Cash only.
La Pozoleria
Calzada de Luz 51A
Now this is real
Pozole! Just 38 pesos for red or green. Can't decide which I like better.
You can also get a
great tortilla or chicken soup for under 50 pesos.
I ask for a lot of
meat in my soup and Dulce and Maria always oblige with a double dose.
They also make an Agua
of the Day. Today it was watermelon.
La Felguera Fusion Restaurante
Cuna de Allende #7
Hotel Posada Carmina
This courtyard has
beautiful white lace umbrellas and is usually loaded with tourists.
Just standing outside
you want to go in. Birds roam freely and there is also a bubbling fountain that
makes this space very calming.
My family loved this
place for the atmosphere, the margaritas and the bacon.
Happy hour daily with
2x1 Margaritas. 50 pesos.
They are known for
their Breakfast where most items are under 100 pesos. I had a plate with 2
fried eggs, bacon and beans for 50 pesos.
Most breakfasts come
with Bolillos. Skip the butter.
Delica Mitsu
Calzada de la Luz 49
It's amazing what
really fresh ingredients can create. I've been back three times now and have
selected the Bento - 2 Selections: 45 pesos all three times.
Menu changes up.
3 dishes for 65 pesos.
El Zaguan Bed and Art
Zacateros 12
This cute little Bed
and Breakfast makes a thin like-I-like-it cheese and spinach omelet. 40 pesos.
Most breakfast items under 50 pesos.
Really nice courtyard
experience.
Tamales Oaxaquenes
Calle Ancha de San Antonio
Wrapped in a banana
leaf Chicken and Mole Oaxaca style tamale. 15 pesos. Friends who have eaten
here give it a two thumbs up.
La Mansion del Bosque
# 65 Aldama
Great value breakfast
was just increased from 45 pesos. Still a deal at 55 pesos. This is a full
breakfast with fruit, eggs or pancakes or French toast.
Great place to hang
out after a morning run in Juarez Park.
La Mesa Grande
# 49 Zacateros
What's not to love
about these tasty English Muffins for only 6 pesos each?
They will surprise you
every day with something different in their selection of baked goods. Wish they
would offer a baking class.
The 60 peso lunch =
Homemade thin crust pizza slice and your favorite Mexican beer.
Baja Fish Taquito
Calle Mesones #11-B
This little place has
been getting a lot of good press lately and is now Number 2 on Trip Advisor.
He gets all of his
fish from Celaya. Tacos 15-25 pesos.
Medium Shrimp Cocktail
90 pesos. Another eat for under 100 pesos.
Muro
# 10B Loreto
As advertised, this
soup is the best in town. Azteca just 50 pesos.
They also have a lunch
special and for 99 pesos you can get soup, an entrée, drink and dessert.
Cumpanio
Correo 29
Better than the ones
you've eaten in Paris Crossiants for just 14 pesos. Pair it with a Conga for 50
pesos. A Conga is a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink to which you can also add
liquor. It's a combination of pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine and
grapefruit juice. I'm addicted to both.
Many other bakery
items for under 50 pesos and breakfast for under 100.
I always sit in the
coveted seats near the window and greet my neighbors as they go by.
Great staff and
friendly place to just hang out with no specific agenda.
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Cafe Monet
Zacateros 83
Coffee + pancakes,
French toast or steel-cut oatmeal for just 40 pesos.
Ask them to soak the
bread in the egg mixture a bit longer when you order the French toast.
Good place for both
meeting and watching people.
Carmen's
Two doors down from Cafe del Sol on Ancha de
San Antonio.
Good food with
vegetables, rice and beans or salad for 45 pesos. Agua Fresca just 5 pesos. Fish
or Arrachera for 50 pesos.
Mexican soul food and
so inexpensive.
Petit Four
Mesones 99-1
Plenty of sweet treats
for under 50 pesos. They also serve coffee drinks and sandwiches made with the
house-baked baguettes.
This one, made with
tomato, buffalo mozzarella and olive oil is just 40 pesos.
Mivida
Hernández Macias 97
Yes, we've already
established that we can live on bread alone.
So who can beat these
prices for the best bread in town?
Focaccia 30 pesos
Ciabattita 6 pesos
Baguette 22 Pesos
Mini-Baguette 6 pesos
chao ban
Pila Seca 16
This 3 week old
restaurant deserves high praise for it's healthy food made from the freshest
ingredients.
I had the Jitomate
Mozzarella, a Tomato, balsamic, mozzarella, basil, olive oil cold soup for 38
pesos.
Many items priced
under 100 pesos including this Vietnamita Summer Roll for only 68 pesos.
Interesting and
charming owner from Mexico City.
The Jardin…
There are the
restaurants around the Jardin that most of our out-of-town guests love but go
just for a beverage and the Mariachi music.
Don Tomas Restaurante
Cerveza 42-48 pesos
Lemonade or Naranjada
31pesos
Cappuccino 37-42 pesos
with Ice Cream
Bella Italia Restaurante
Lemonade 30 pesos
Beer 35 pesos
Vino 65 pesos
Coffee 30 pesos
Cappuccino 35 pesos
Restaurante Del Jardin
Beer 40 pesos
Tequila 70 pesos
TUESDAY MARKET:
Note: There are 3 sections to Tuesday Market.
Section 1 is located closest to the old Gigante, Section 2 is in the center and
my favorite place to explore for hidden treasures, Section 3, is at the very
end where the buses enter the market.
Aisle 1 is the bus side. There are 9 aisles
not counting the outside aisle which you should definitely not skip. There are
some fun and lively vendors on those outside aisles.
Rodriquez Family Barbacoa
Section 3, Aisle 3
I love Barbacoa for
breakfast so The Rodriguez Family Barbacoa stand is usually my first stop. I
get a half cup of the caldo without vegetables and extra Barbacoa and then load
up with the just chopped cilantro, onions and of course lime. 20 pesos.
Ceci Gorditas
Section 2, Aisle 8
Gorditas Tradicionales
Colon or Ceci has some of the best Gorditas at the market. Stuff them full with
any one of the 14 fillings they have on the menu. 13 Pesos.
Tacos Lupita Tacos
Section 3, Aisle 2
At Tacos Lupita, just
look for the cabeza and grab a seat. At this point you have to specify which
part of the head you want to try.
The last time I was
there, it was cheeks, brains and eyes. Quite a tasty combination for 8 Pesos
each.
Bautista Brothers Carnitas
Section 2, Aisle 1
More often than not
someone is bringing out a fresh tray of Carnitas or I have a perfect sense of
timing. Whatever it is, I always get the ribs.
This place to me is
carnita perfection. They offer them in a torta or a just made tortilla.
Ribs 38 Pesos. Torta
26 Pesos. Taco 9 Pesos
Don Santos Bistec Tacos
Section 2, Aisle 1
You'll always be
fighting the crowds at this taco stand where beef is the standard breakfast
fare.
I had them last week
and was amazed at just how flavorful they are. 8 Pesos.
Cecina
Section 3, Aisle 3
You have to prepare
this dish on a sunny day which is almost every day in San Miguel.
These thin strips of
beef are cooked with salt and hung out to dry in the sun. They are served in a
tortilla with fried onions and topped with French fries. The combination cuts
some of the salt and they can be totally addictive. I didn't love them actually
until I ate them for the third time. Third time’s a charm.14 Pesos.
Also at this stand?
Some of the best green sausage you've ever eaten.
Fried Fish Dinner
Section 2, Aisle 1
70 Pesos
Section 1,Aisle 6
40 Pesos.
There are a couple of
places to get a great fried fish. One is not necessarily better than the other
so check them first before you buy.
HEALTHY OR YUMMY:
Fresh Squeezed Juice
Section 2, Aisle 8
This is the freshest
just-squeezed juice around. A wide variety of fruits are used but my favorite
is the pineapple. You can have them made in any combination you like.
20 Pesos the first
time. Last week they charged me just 10 pesos.
Did they decide I'm
finally a regular?
Aguas Frescas
These flavored waters
are loaded with fresh fruit and are so refreshing.
A bargain at just 15
Pesos.
Potato Chips
Section 2, Aisle 7
The girls give them to
me just out of their fryer too but you have to ask for them that way. I always
give them tip.
Sprinkle liberally
with salt and you have your portable snack ready to explore the rest of the
market. 20 pesos a bag.
Churros
Section 2, Aisle 7
This is one of my
favorite vendors at the market and his sales effort is always rewarded as I
rarely pass him by without buying something. 20 pesos a bag.
IF YOU WANT TO DRINK YOUR DINNER:
Hacienda de Guadalupe
Hildago #4
After a great dinner
at home, you can go for the 2 x 1 Margaritas at 60 pesos or 30 pesos each.
Dance lessons Thursday
night at 6 PM. 2 hours for 50 pesos.That will burn off the calories.
Have a Mexican Beer
Most Restaurants Around San Miguel
9 months ago, I was
not a beer drinker but now, there is not one Mexican beer I don't like.
Quench your thirst at
25-30 pesos in almost every restaurant in town.
Give me a choice on a
hot sunny day and I will pick a cold brew over just about anything else.
Come to think of it,
do we have hot days in San Miguel?
Gato Negro
Mesones 12
My perfect
introduction to San Miguel was the classic bar Gato Negro, where the landmark
cantina dates back to 1921.
You can get plenty
here for under 50 pesos.
It's a classic but
you'll be drinking instead of eating...and we've been known to do that.
IF YOU JUST WANT DESSERT:
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La Buena Vida
Hernández Macías 72, C
Want dessert only? For
under 50 pesos you can get Brownies,doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls.
The best in town? The
brownies are so delicious, I'm good on a chocolate fix for at least a week.
Thrifty Ice Cream
Celaya #3-A
OK. Just ice
cream?
When it comes to sweet
treats, I will always choose ice cream first. Why? I grew up with high quality
ice cream.
This scoop is just 27
pesos for a single. 49 pesos if you're double dipping.
Or better yet, a half
pint of Ambrosia from Bonanza. Split
just 26 pesos.
Buen Apetito!