Valladolid is a city rich in culture and with an abundance of dining and eating opportunities. With a selection of delectable foods and dishes from the town, and the local Yucatan region on offer, we have 10 of the best and most famous delicacies and plates available, and where you can find them here…
Valladolid is a city in Mexico’s eastern state, the Yucatan, a region with a wealth of culture and history. The area and city draw many Mayan traditions from the pre-Hispanic era into their modern culture, and cuisine. Some of the delectable dishes available use traditional cooking techniques and utilize ingredients that are often locally grown, and sourced in the area. Citrus fruits, maize, pork, chaya, and achiote, as well as other ingredients, are often used in much of the cuisine in the Yucatan, and Valladolid.
1. Longaniza de Valladolid
One of the most popular delicacies to try upon a visit to Valladolid is the Longaniza, this long and thin, smoked, pork sausage is one of the most favored dishes in Yucatecan cuisine. Typically prepared with achiote (giving it a bright red color inside), garlic, onion, pepper, and cloves. This pork sausage has been prepared since the nineteenth century, originally made with venison, it has an aromatic and unique flavor of spices and chili. Longaniza de Valladolid is often served with breakfast in scrambled eggs (huevos con longaniza), crumbled in tacos, or as a whole sausage, with a side of refried beans, and a salad garnish. At Restaurant Zaci they have a lot of regional foods on offer, and sometimes have someone traditionally preparing tortillas by hand for you to watch. Why not try the longaniza here, with a side of guacamole, and some tortilla chips? Enjoy the atmosphere, and views of the gorgeous freshwater cenote.
2. Lomitos de Valladolid
Another original recipe from, and famous in the city of Valladolid is Lomitos de Valladolid. This is a dish that delivers a lot of flavor, it's a popular and traditional plate and easy to find in the city. Lomitos de Valladolid Is prepared using pork loin (usually cut into small cubes), with crushed tomatoes, chilies, and garlic, it is typically garnished with a chopped boiled egg and served with a side of refried black beans. It can also be served in tortillas, as tacos. You can find Lomitos de Valladolid at several restaurants in the city, we recommend a visit to Yum Ka'ax El Buen Sabor, with lots of regional food options available on their menu, you can try this dish here, it's yummy, and you can get it for a great price. Order a selection of different things to try here during your visit.
3. Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil pronounced ‘kow-chee-nee-tah’ (cochinita - meaning baby pig, and pibil - meaning buried), is one of the Yucatan’s most famous dishes, typically served in the region at the weekends. This slow-roasted pork dish is like pulled pork, but even tastier! Originating in the Yucatan, this Mayan-influenced recipe is prepared originally with a baby pig, marinated in achiote paste and sour orange juice before being wrapped in banana leaves, and slowly roasted, traditionally in a pit dug into the ground. Some people still stick to the original methods of preparing this dish, while others will slow roast pork in the marinade in more modern ways today. Cochinita is often served in tacos, a torta, or in other ‘antojitos’, Mexican street food style snacks, such as empanadas, panuchos, and salbutes. Add pickled, purple onions, and a big splash of habanero sauce for an extra kick. Why not head to the food market, opposite the main square for a breakfast with cochinita at one of the food stands? Or check out the famous food cart El Tigrillo, always found with a long line for their flavorsome cochinita.
4. Papadzules
Papadzules, the Yucatan region’s answer to enchiladas, is a traditional breakfast dish that is said to be of ancient origins. Papadzules, pronounced ‘papa-tsu-les’, are made by dipping corn tortillas in the dish’s green sauce, then filling them with hard-boiled eggs, and rolling them, before being covered in the green sauce made from pumpkin seeds, and epazote (‘Mexican tea’ - A herb native to Mexico). They are then topped with a sauce made of tomatoes and chili. We recommend the papadzules at the restaurant El Sazon de Valladolid, located four blocks from the city’s main square.
5. Chaya
Chaya, or Mexican spinach as it is also referred to, is a leafy green vegetable, often used in regional cuisine in the Yucatan and Valladolid. You can find agua de chaya, empanadas de chaya, scrambled eggs with chaya, and so much more. We recommend you try the Crema de Chaya at the restaurant Las Campanas opposite Valladolid's main square and the cathedral. This soup is a great, healthy appetizer, and a yummy way to try Chaya.
6. Marquesitas
In Valladolid’s main square, you will find the park, Parque Francisco Canton, which comes alive with locals relaxing in the late afternoon, and into the evening, you will also find some street food vendors … and the MUST try delicious, crunchy crepe-like marquesitas. Marquesitas pronounced ‘mar-kay-see-tas’ are a street food snack from the region that are prepared at a small cart on a unique waffle/crepe-like iron. These sweet and savory snacks and prepared with a batter that is poured onto the iron, and pressed together, while being turned over a flame. Fillings typically available to choose from include Edam cheese, condensed milk, Nutella, caramel, and bananas, once the filling is added on top, the marquesita is rolled up into an easy-to-easy, handheld snack, for you to enjoy on one of the park’s famous ‘Love Seats’. Go for a mixture of sweet and savory, with Nutella and Edam cheese in your marquesita, this blend is a favorite for locals.
7. Sopa de Lima
Chicken soup with a citrus kick, Sopa de Lima, or lime soup in English, is a very popular dish from the region. This fragrant, lime-flavored soup is created with local limes (those specifically grown in the Yucatan region) and is usually made with shredded chicken (sometimes turkey), onions, spices, chiles, and cilantro and tortilla chips on the side. This combination of ingredients in this dish, and the local limes that are used in it, make it a popular soup for many, and it can be found at restaurants, and the food stands in the market. Try the sopa de lima at the restaurant El Atrio del Mayab, a traditional Mayan restaurant in the heart of the city, with a cute courtyard area to relax and enjoy their regional cuisine.
8. Panuchos
Panuchos are a type of antojito (Mexican street food style snacks) from the Yucatan region and popular in Valladolid. Panuchos, pronounced ‘pan-ew-ch-ows’, are the Yucatan’s tacos. These refried tortillas are stuffed with refried, black beans, and topped with meat (cochinita and chicken are popular), as well as tomatoes, pickled red onions, and sliced avocado. You can find panuchos at many of Valladolid’s loncherias, and restaurants. We recommend heading to La Selva, the perfect location to try some regional antojitos. This local restaurant is delicious and budget-friendly.
9. Salbutes
Salbutes, similar to panuchos, are a taco-like antojito from the Yucatan region. Salbutes, pronounced ‘sal-boot-ey’, are made with a deep-fried tortilla that is also typically topped with meat (cochinita and chicken are popular), cabbage, pickled red onions, sliced avocado, and tomato. The main difference is that there are no refried beans with salbutes. When you are at La Selva trying a panucho or two, why not order some salbutes here too? … For a filling, and economical meal.
10. Poc Chuc
Are you looking for a mouthwatering BBQ/grilled taste while visiting Valladolid? Poc Chuc (poc - meaning to toast, and chuc - meaning charcoal), is a traditional recipe, with a Mayan name that refers to the way that the meat (typically pork) is cooked over fire. This dish is typically prepared by marinating a filet of pork in a mixture of sour orange juice, and achiote paste, before being cooked over a grill. The pork is served with onions, rice, tortillas, and beans. In front of the main square in Valladolid, you will find El Meson del Marques, a restored colonial mansion that now acts as a hotel, and restaurant with a beautiful courtyard to dine in. Go here for their Poc Chuc, it is raved about by many.
