Take note, because in this guide I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about “cocinas económicas”. These are the best places to have lunch in Mexico City. Most locals go to have lunch to cocinas económicas.
In Mexico City it’s possible to eat delicious and healthy food if you’re on a budget (as many Mexicans constantly seem to be) thanks to “cocinas economicas “, “fondas” or “fonditas” (Economic kitchen / Economical kitchen / Budget food) as people call them. They are small, homelike, family run restaurants that you can find in every neighborhood, often inside markets or as houses modified to serve as restaurants.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that cocinas economicas are the go-to-places for locals to have lunch. Simply put, in fondas you get value for your money.
Ccocinas económicas’ Open Hours
Keep in mind that Mexicans always have lunch at 2 or 3 PM, never earlier. Therefore, Fondas serve lunch from 2 to 4 PM. It’s not likely that fondas will have lunch ready before that time. And, if you show up at four, it’s possible that either they will have run out of many dishes or that they will already be closing for the day.
What kind of food do fondas serve?
Fondas are not typical restaurants. In fonditas there is a 3-course menu called comida corrida, which slightly changes every day. In other words, there are some fixed dishes but you’ll find different options depending on the day you visit.
The menu Guide to cocina economica
When it comes to the menu, it can get tricky. It’s usually written on a whiteboard by the entrance. Often, the server will expect you to know what’s on the menu. In case you don’t, they’ll kindly remind you what’s there to order.
Menu breakdown
You don’t need to panic, I’ve prepared a guide to explain what’s on the menu (in most the cases, anyway).
Starter:
Depending on the day of the week, the starter can be different. Generally, you’ll find two of the following options:
Sopa de fideos (noodle soup).
Consomé (chicken soup).
Crema (vegetable cream soup).
Lentejas (lentils).
Second course
For the second course there are usually only two or three options:
Arroz (rice), ensalada (salad) or espagueti (pasta).
Last course – guisado (stews)
There is more variety when it comes to guisados:
Enchiladas (folded tortillas filled with shredded chicken and bathed in green or red salsa, served with sour cream and chopped onion).
Cerdo en salsa verde (pork in red or green salsa).
Pollo con mole (chicken bathed in mole).
Minalesa (thin, breaded steak).
Tortitas de pollo: chicken cakes bathed in salsa.
Tortitas de atún: potato and tuna cakes.
If you don’t like any of the guisados, you can always ask for an extra amount of money a pechuga a la plancha (grilled chicken breast with salad or fries), flautas dorados (fried chicken tacos), or a milanesa (thin, breaded steak).
Extras
Along with your food, you’ll be provided with a small bowl of salsa, tortillas, bread, and fruit water (lime, jamaica, orchata, or tamarindo).
Desert
Although not always provided, you might get a small portion of jelly, a chocolate bar, or a marshmallow.
Prices
The basic menu is around $70 -120 pesos ($4 – 6 USD). The prices can go up from approximately $10 – 20 pesos if you ask for a grilled chicken breast or a milanesa (when it isn’t included in the day’s menu).
Etiquette
It’s not mandatory, but, when arriving and leaving, many people say: “buen provecho” or “provecho” to people eating next to you. This is just a way of being friendly and nice. “Provecho” roughly translates as: enjoy your food.
How to spot a cocina economica
It’s relatively easy to find a fonda, they’re almost everywhere. Most of the time they’re on the street (or across the street) and they have a sign that says the name of the place. On the inside they look like restaurants, there are tables, chairs, and waiters. Some other fondas are inside markets, and they’re usually all together. It is difficult to recommend a fondita because the city is just too big and there are loads of fonditas spread across the city (and the country).
Useful phrases to use at fondas
You can expect the waiters to ask:
¿Qué le vamos a dar? or ¿Qué le damos? = What will you have?
¿Para empezar? (what will you have for your first course?)
¿Después? = then?
Or they might just ask:
¿sopa de verdura o consomé? (In this case, the same process repeats for each course. i.e. ¿enchiladas o milanesa?).
When the waiter picks up a dirty plate:
¿Le retiro?
Ask for the check:
¿Cuánto es? or La cuenta, por favor.
Some cocinas económicas in Centro Histórico
¡Buen provecho!
We hope this guide to cocinas economicas, the most affordable restaurants in Mexico, will help you to feel more comfortable next time you visit a fonda, the best place to have lunch in Mexico. And don’t forget to wish your neighbor “buen provecho”. Enjoy your food!
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