Querétaro’s restaurants and gastronomy are as rich and diverse as the region and its culture. Tasting regional delicacies, such as enchiladas Queretanas, is an essential culinary experience when visiting the city.
Learn what dishes you shouldn’t miss and the perfect Querétaro restaurants where you can taste them.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Restaurante Las Monjas
Situated in an old house in the center of town, this restaurant has lots of local tradition and regional bites. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant has many dishes with peculiar names. While many people wouldn’t choose to order caca de zorra (fox poop), it’s actually a delicious corn, bean, and chili soup—a delight to the taste buds.
Ask the waiters to give you a tour of the place. They’ll tell you why it’s called Restaurante Las Monjas (The Nuns Restaurant), and its roots as a beatero (religious shelter) trace back to the 18th century.
El Mesón de Chucho el Roto and Restaurante 1810
These two restaurants neighbor the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the Centro Histórico (Historic Center). As the sun sets, the terraces of Restaurante 1810 and El Mesón de Chucho el Roto are infused with the merry atmosphere of the square.
Both are a meeting point for locals and visitors alike, and their menus offer typical dishes like enchiladas Queretanas: tortillas stuffed with a stew of chicken (or an option for cheese, at Restaurante 1810), carrots, potatoes, and dipped in a guajillo chile salsa. In the evening, outside of these spots, musicians merge to entertain the diners.
Quesos VAI
The state of Querétaro is a national leader in artisanal cheese production, and you can visit the farms where they are produced. One such farm, Quesos VAI, is located about 40 minutes from the city, and is well worth the trip.
For authentic Mexican delicacies, try Oaxaca, panela, or ranchero cheeses, though their interpretation of provolone is also marvelous.
Mercado “La Cruz”
Officially named Mercado Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez but known as “La Cruz”, this market is the definitive place to taste the most popular flavors of Querétaro. Inside are two unmissable spots.
Gorditas El Güero y Lupita is the most famous place to try traditional gorditas de maíz quebrado (a type of the signature thick corn pocket made with cracked corn). There are three varieties for the large ones: cheese, migajas (scraps or crumbs), or a combination of both. The migajas refer to the scraps that remain in the pan when carnitas (pork fried in its own sauce) are cooked.
Boasting decades of tradition, Don Chamorro is the perfect place to try a taco de chamorro, which wraps up seasoned pork knuckles fried in lard. Add a few drops of salsa for impeccable results.
La Mariposa
To get a sweet taste of Querétaro, there’s nowhere better than La Mariposa. This cafe and eatery has been delighting Queretanos for over 80 years, and is still owned by the family that opened it. It’s had a long evolution full of sweet flavors.
It started as a spot for tamales and atole (a brewed corn drink), jamoncillo de leche (a traditional caramel candy), and jams with local fruits. In the ’40s, the family began serving up pastries, candies (including some in handmade piñatas), and mandejado (a traditional Queretano ice cream). It transformed in 1962 to a cafe serving tortas and sandwiches alongside a lineup of ice cream and handmade sweets. The best sip in the city might just be a malteada de mantejado (a Queretano vanilla milkshake with extra vanilla).
La Mariposa makes their special dishes in-house with tried-and-true family recipes, and it shows.
Shall We Close With a Few Nun Farts?
Pedos de monja (nun’s farts) is the silly name for arguably the most famous chocolates in Querétaro. The chocolate shop El Palacio del Chocolate makes some of the city’s best, though you can find these treats all across the city.
This name is also a type of Catalan cookies that have little to do with these chocolate truffles. But these chocolates are made with chocolate ganache covered in a chocolate shell, and they are delicious. Above all, they are a good souvenir to take home and “translate” to friends.
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