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Cocina Economica
If you have always wondered what those small, "front room"
restaurants are serving up at midday, and if you have wondered where
the working people of Merida eat, let us introduce you to the concept
of "cocina economica," or the inexpensive kitchen. This
is Latin America's version of the corner diner, the neighborhood
café, or the local deli, with an emphasis on homemade food.
This economical lunch hour dining experience is a wonderfully inexpensive
way to sample the range of Yucatecan specialty dishes the way the
locals prepare and eat them. A cocina economica is usually run by
one or two women from the neighborhood, sometimes in the front room
of one of their houses. It is open only in the middle of the day
for several hours and everything is fresh for that day. The cooks
have shopped and prepared that morning to bring you a real home-cooked
meal. So don't be shy… step in out of the glare of the day
and see what's cooking.
Two or three different dishes are featured each day. On Mondays
in Merida, Frijoles con Puerco (a dish of beans and pork) is almost
always on the menu. On Fridays you will usually find Pescado empanazado
(breaded and fried fish). Other days you might find:
Lomitos: steak sautéed in a tomato, onion, chipotle sauce.
Potaje de lentejas: lentil stew with several different meats.
Albondigas con fideos: meatballs with noodles in a savory broth
Pollo en Escabeche: chicken in another savory, slightly picante
broth
Pollo en Mole: chicken in a dark, chocolate-based spicy sauce, served
with rice
Chilis Rellenos: chilis stuffed with either meat or cheese
Pozole: a hominey stew with an array of condiments
All meals are served with tortillas and depending on the dish, with
rice and beans. Prices vary but rarely go above $30 pesos. In some
cases you can order a half portion.
If you feel like eating
at your home or hotel room, you can usually ask for your meal "para
llevar" (PAR-uh yeh-VAR), or "take out." Many a Merida
housewife uses the cocina economica as an extended kitchen, bringing
the dish of the day home where their own special touches are added
to the meal.
The Cocina Economia usually does not have
a liquor license although occasionally they are able to sell beer.
The more usual fare includes the ubiquitous Coca Cola, horchata
(rice-based drink), Jamaica (pronounced "hah-MY-kah",
a hibiscus drink), and sometimes fresh fruit juices.
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A typical 'cocina economica' featuring 'comida casera' (home-cooked
food), advertising three dishes.
Here are some of our personal favorites and several recommendations
from other aficionados. We are always looking for more places to
explore so please don't hesitate to tell us about your experiences.
Ivonne's - Calle 53 between 62 and 64 on the south side of the street.
Cocina Santiago - Calle 70 at 55
Daphne's - Calle 61 close to 54
D'Al's - corner of Calle 53 and 54 -is open longer hours and serves
beer with a full menu including breakfast.
Hotel San Jose - Calle 63 between 62 and 64 serves cocina economica
dishes as well as a full menu.
Mary Soco's - Calle 47 at 66 (see photo)
¡Buen provecho!
To read in Spanish click here 
Read more about:
Botanas
Campechan Cuisine
Yucatecan Cuisine
Tequila
Margaritas
Restaurant Listing
Restaurant of the Month
Nightlife in Merida
Cooking School
Visit our map:
Map of Merida Historical Downtown
Map of Merida Downtown
Map of Merida City
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