If you are on a budget while travelling around the city, here is a selection of restaurants that you can go to without spending a lot of money on food.
According to Roaming Around The World, which is a blog run by an American couple dedicated to explore the wonders the world has to offer, these are the best restaurants and street food a tourist would love to eat at in Mérida.
Wayan’e:
As stated by this couple, this is by far their best -and favorite- restaurant in Mérida to eat tacos. Wayan’e does not only specializes in tacos, but it also has a wide variety of Mexican -mostly regional- food. “The Wayan’e location with closest walking distance to Merida Centro has a pleasant ambiance with tables in a courtyard setting. The original location, Northeast of the center of town, is a counter service joint on the street that retains a more rustic charm”, the article says.
The location to this counter service joint is: Calle 15 92-E por 20 y 18, Itzimná.
Wayan’e tacos
Photo: Google
Parque Santiago
While being in Parque Santiago, you will find several street vendors and local -as well as regional- street restaurants. However, the couple tried several dishes, but decided that the best were Turkey tacos and “Sopa de Lima” (Lime soup).
Location: Calle 70 #63, Centro.
Sopa de Lima
Photo: Roaming Around the World
Plaza Grande
On Sundays, Mérida has what we call “Mérida en Domingo” (Sunday in Mérida), where tented restaurants and local vendors set up their tables and sell regional food along Calle 60 [Centro]. “Pick one, sit at one of the plastic tables, and get ready to chow down on some delicious local street eats”, they say.
Lucas de Galvez Market
As its name says, it is mostly a market where they sell anything from clothes, to vegetables, as well as food on-the-go, but you can also sit down and eat what they are offering. The couple recommends you to try the ceviche, and to just enjoy the chaotic atmosphere a local market has.
Location: Calle 65 y 69 x 56 y 56 A, Col.Centro
Gorditas Doña Gorda
“I’d be remiss not to mention this conveniently located gordita shop right in the heart of Merida. It’s nothing too notable but the tasty gorditas are good for a quick bite when wandering around Plaza Grande”, they say.
Location: Corner of Calle 61 & 60
Best Value Restaurants in Mérida
This couple not only visited streed food stands and cheap restaurants, but they also found great places to eat at best-value price.
Las Vigas
According to them, this restaurant is perfect for people on a budget, as you can get great quality food for under $3 dollars. Nearly everything on their menu meets that range. They recommend you to try the “fall-off-the-bone ribs that are smothered in a mouthwatering sauce”. Beers are also pretty cheap, and even if it is not the best restaurant in Mérida, it does have one of the best-value prices in the city.
Location: Plaza Grande on Calle 63, between 62 & 64. Just look for the stairwell leading above Los Arcos Hotel.
Eladios Bar
According to them, “come here to fill up on the free botanas (snacks) that come with the purchase of a beer. The food, itself, is nothing to write home about …but it’s free, plentiful, and decent enough. Order a single beer and an unfathomable six plates of complimentary foodwill also be whisked out to your table. It’s for these generous botanas, which eat like a meal, that put Eladios onto our list of best value restaurants in Merida.”
Location: You can find a lot of Eladios Bars around the city, but the one the couple recommends is the closest to Centro, which is at the corner of 59 & 44.
Botanas (snacks)
Photo: Roaming Around the World
The couple listed more restaurants on a mid-range budget, as well as a couple of gourmet places, in case you want to spend a little more and try something different. You can see the whole article here.
SOURCE: Roaming Around the World
