A few weeks ago, I wrote a deep dive into the best Mexican Street Food to sample on your next trip to Mexico City. Even with all my advice, some people might be a little hesitant for fear of getting sick. As mentioned in the previous post, although some people do get sick when eating street food; it’s often not from the food itself. But from not washing your hands before eating! So always be sure to wash your hands (or carry hand sanitizer) before sampling any kind of food on the street!
But if you’re just looking to dip your toe into street food, as you’re a little hesitant to eat an entire meal, Mexican Street Snacks are a great alternative! Plus, these snacks can really fill you up if you manage to sample a little bit of everything. Below are a few of my favourite Mexican Street Snacks! Keep your eyes out for these reliably delicious and traditional treats.
My favourite treat is always found at the fruit vendors. Their food carts are always easy to spot as they feature vibrant red or striped umbrellas. Underneath, their glass front carts are filled with brightly coloured fruits like watermelon, mango, pineapple and papaya.
After selecting what kind of fruit you want the vendor will ask you if you want the traditional toppings. This includes; lime, salt and chilli. I know what you’re going to say, “salt and chilli on fruit?!” and I know it sounds strange, but if you’ve never tried it, you need to try it at least once. The salt contrasts the sweet fruits so perfectly! And the hint of spice adds another level of flavour.
Another topping often drizzled on top of the fruit is chamoy. Chamoy is a savoury condiment made from pickled fruit. The flavour is salty, sweet, sour, and spiced with chilis. It’s wonderful and something you need to try at least once!
Chicharron can be found in two different varieties. One is a large piece of pigskin, which has been deep-fried. It looks like a giant piece of foam insulation, but I promise it’s more than edible. Chicharron also comes in a bite-size variety if you prefer not to eat one large piece. The fried skin is doused in chilli sauce and freshly squeezed lime juice. (You’re starting to see a pattern with the lime and chilli aren’t you?)
Duritos (not to be mixed up with Doritos) are pinwheel-shaped snacks. They are definitely the most adorable of all the Mexican Street Snacks. The treat is made from deep-frying a wheat-based batter into these cute little shapes. They are crunchy and very addictive. Top it with hot sauce and lime to crank up the flavour.
Also found at the chips stands is a dish called Dorilocos. This invention was actually made right here in Mexico City in recent years. It consists of a bag of Doritos sliced open and topped with various fresh ingredients. These can be anything from carrots, cucumber, peanuts, radishes, corn, and peanuts. Then you can add sauces like chamoy, Valentina and of course a fresh squeeze of lime. It’s eaten with a fork and looks like a chip salad!
For something a little more simple, hit up the Papas stands. Papas are freshly made potato chips. There is really nothing like fresh potato chips and these really make bagged chips seem so sub-par. Once more, they are offered with a topping of hot sauce and lime if you want.
On a hot day, the best thing you can get is a cool Paleta. These are frozen fruit bars made with fresh and natural ingredients. They are made with either milk or fruit juice base. You’ll often even find chunks of fresh fruit, like strawberry and mango, inside the pop. My favourite has got to the mango and chilli!
When I first walked around the Parque Mexico in La Condesa, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a man pushing a huge blue cart chock-a-block full of sweets and nuts. I have the world’s largest sweet tooth and couldn’t resist walking about to see what was on offer. I was a bit shy, as I didn’t know how to order. But after just pointing to a few items, he placed them in a bag and handed them over to me for what felt like pennies! The candies were mostly fresh, save for a few outliers, but more than worth what I paid.
You can also usually find some candies pre-packaged and, therefore, a set price. Easier for people who don’t speak much Spanish. We would pick these pre-packaged sweets up anytime we saw them, trying to get a taste of every different flavour. While the candies are the easiest to identify, you should try so many other things. Red chile plantains, cinnamon almonds, roasted pumpkin seeds and more can all be found on these carts!
Mexico is known for their super unique candy. Found at busy parks you’ll always find lots of vendors selling brightly packaged sweets. If you’ve never tried Mexican candy before, you need to give them a try. They are all so cheap you don’t have much to lose. One of the most popular varieties is tamarin-based snacks. Look for brands like Tama-Roco, Pulparindo or Pelón Pelo Rico. For the most part, they contain a sweet tamarind paste combined with other flavours. Tamarind candy has a sweet and sour taste and I found it pretty addictive. There is also Salsaghetti which is watermelon candy in the shape of spaghetti noodles. And it comes with a packet of “sauce” which is, of course, made of more tamarind paste.
Often seen next to the prepackaged tamarind candies are empty plastic cups with a bright yellow straw covered in thick red paste. This is a Banderilla Tamarindo, a straw-covered in a sweet, spicy tamarind paste and rolled in chilli powder. They are used to drink the famous mangonadas that are sure to cool you down on a hot day! The mangonadas are made from fresh mangoes chopped into a puree. Then the purree is layered inside the cup with chamoy and topped with more fresh mango. As a final flourish, a sprinkling of Tajín (chilli lime salt) is added. All of this is drank through the huge Banderilla Tamarindo. It’s something you can only find in Mexico and a must-try if you see one!
A simple yet delicious treat is the La Molienda. La Molienda is a coconut candy bar in the colours of the Mexican flag. An excellent choice for almost anyone but a real hit with kids. Plus, the fun colours make it all the most enjoyable to eat.
Perhaps the most famous Mexican candy is the Vero Mango. Vero Mango a mango-flavoured candy lollipop, in the shape of a mango. But as these candies can never just be that simple, the lolly is then covered in chile powder! The sweet and spicy balance out perfectly.
Everywhere you look, you’ll see these colourful paddle-shaped lollies hanging off the street vendors’ umbrellas. Often held up by vibrant clothes pins. The flat lollipops are placed between plastic wrap as they are actually fairly malleable. They are called Slaps and are the Mexican version of a fruit roll-up. A sweet fruit leather made with pectin. To eat them correctly, once they are out of the plastic, wrap them around the stick like a lollipop or else you’re in for a mess! They taste just like a jolly-rancher.
Mazapanes de la Rosa are peanut-based sweets. They are famous for the fact that the crushed peanuts and sugar just crumble upon biting into the little disk. But that crumbly texture is also what makes them such a delight to eat. They are light, sweet and nutty. Absolutely delicious!
Ok, now I know Takis has become popular out here in North America in recent years but for many Europeans or people who just might not have tried them before Takis are a must. Takis are a rolled corn tortilla chip known for the spciy and intense flavouring. There is something about corn chips that just hits different and I have to say, I prefer a Takis over Doritos any day! In Mexico there are lots more flavours than in the States so definitely keep your eye out for those unique tastes.
Pepitorias were one of my favourite discovering while visiting the historic Dulceria de Celaya candy shop in the Historic Centre. And I was thrilled to see after trying them that there were available all over at these street vendors. Pepitorias are made of crunchie wafers, in a rainbow of colours, and sandwiched between honey or caramel. They are then decorated with little pumpkin seeds that poke their heads out of the wafers. So cheap and so delicious!
While the trendy Churrería El Moro is known for the world’s best churros, and rightly so, that doesn’t mean it’s the only place where you can find them. Usually found on the weekends or holidays, churro vendors can either be found pushing their large cart of hot oil and dough or seen with their baskets of freshly made churros walking around the park. They are so cheap and really delicious even if they weren’t made right before your eyes. Covered in cinnamon sugar, they are a delight, and you won’t be able to stop eating at just one!
I hope you enjoyed this little guide of my favourite Mexican Street Snacks. Let me know in the comments what your favourite street snacks were or any foods you want me to cover next!
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