Querétaro is not quite yet on people’s radar and we’re not really sure why. It is such a beautiful city and one of the safer areas of Mexico to explore. We were fortunate to have our local friends take us around and show us the best restaurants in Querétaro to eat at. We love going where locals go as it really gives you an authentic experience and true feel for the area.
The Best Restaurants in Querétaro for Foodie Experiences
The following is a list of our favorite authentic Querétaro restaurants that we ate at:
La Mariposa
When we first arrived to Querétaro we had been on the bus for 3 hours so we were very hungry. Our friends asked us where we wanted to eat, but of course we asked for their suggestions as we wanted something truly authentic. Their recommendation? La Mariposa.
Louise was excited as it had actually been on her list of restaurants in Querétaro to try. La Mariposa is located in the beautiful downtown area which has lots of old-style buildings and cobblestone roads. The restaurant also has an old school diner feel, which we love.
The menu was pretty simple but very traditional.
Louise ordered the enchiladas with chicken, and I had tacos with chicken.
Unlike some of the street tacos we had in Mexico City, these were actually hard shell. What makes these hard shell tacos so amazing is the shells are deep fried in house so they are warm and perfectly greasy. Inside they fill it with soft shredded chicken, lettuce, and top with sour cream.
They brought us sides of hot sauce which were very spicy so I really enjoyed it. Louise’s enchiladas were perfectly prepared. Most enchiladas I find have too much sauce. Theirs were perfectly covered so the tortillas weren’t too soft, and the flavor was balanced with the chicken and queso fresco. On top they also had soft cooked potatoes and carrots.
We were pretty tired from traveling so we decided to order cafe con leche with our dinner. Whenever they serve you cafe con leche they come out with the hot coffee and ask you how strong you want your drink. We stopped the server at about 1/4 cup as any more might be too strong.
If you are still craving something sweet after your meal, La Mariposa has a traditional sweet shop attached to it!
Want to know where to find all these restaurants in Querétaro? Check out the map at the end of this post!
Barbacoa Don Cuco III
The following morning we went for breakfast at Barbacoa Don Cuco III. This restaurant is just outside the city at what looks like a truck stop. Our friends said this was the best barbacoa in Querétaro and we totally agree!
Barbacoa is lamb that is slow cooked in the ground for several hours and chopped so you can eat it with corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, salsa and of course a squeeze of lime.
They also serve soup made with the drippings of the lamb, carrots, onions and lots of salt.
I’d have to say this was one of my favorite meals I had in Querétaro as the meat was so soft from the slow-cooking process. In the back you can actually see the pit they use to cook the lamb.
In the front window you can see them chopping the meat and even the skull of the lamb which they display so you know it’s fresh. Keeping it simple really lets you taste the flavors. I wish I would have had more, but our friends said we were going to be eating a lot that day so we tried to save room.
Planning a weekend trip from Mexico City? Check out our post on Taking the Mexico City to Querétaro Bus
Restaurante El Oasis
Our lunch was at the base of Peña de Bernal at the Restaurante El Oasis. This restaurant has a beautiful view of the town, and is right at the base of the hike to the mountain.
We wanted to try something different so we ordered cactus. How they cook it is over an open grill until the outside is nice and charred and the inside is nice and soft. They cut out just the inside and dice it into small pieces. It really doesn’t have much flavor, but the texture is similar to zucchini.
After mixing with onions and flavoring it with some salt they serve it back in its skin. You can eat it plain, but they recommended filling tortas with the cactus. It was delicious.
The tortas are corn like pancakes that they fill with cheese and fry on a flat top griddle. The tortas come in all different colors, depending on the type of corn they use. The grainy, crispy texture of the outside goes great with the cheesy and soft cactus on the inside. Of course you can add some salsa. We really liked the cactus, but it was that much better with the tortas.
La Michoacana
This is a chain ice cream shop that we saw all over Mexico. They have all kinds of flavors of popsicles and ice cream. It’s really refreshing when you are getting too hot from walking all over!
If you are looking for delicious desserts in Queretaro, La Michoacana is a great choice!
Street Food
Between restaurants, we snacked along the way, stopping at various street vendors and food carts. From ice cream, to esquites, to fresh baked pastries, and even a bag of bugs – don’t be afraid to try the street food!
If you are looking for a unique foodie experience in Queretaro then you’ve got to try the fried crickets!
Taco Veloz
For dinner we went to one of our friend’s favorite street taco stands from growing up in Querétaro. It is definitely a hidden gem despite looking like a hole in the wall. I was so full from eating all day that I was having a little bit of a stomach ache but I had to try these street tacos.
Our friend ordered us cow ankles first. It was very good. The bone was very big, but it had really soft meat, lots of fat, and cartilage that you pulled off and ate with the tortillas. This is the type of street food I love – the less expensive cuts, cooked perfectly.
We had to have a quesadilla which was made with the same small tortillas they used for the tacos, but fried til crispy. By the end I was so full.
Louise still had room for dessert, of course. Just outside the restaurant there was a street cart serving flan, so she had to get one.
Mercado La Cruz
The following morning I was feeling much better and was feeling well enough to eat again. We drove to the local market and had some of the most delicious tacos for breakfast. If you are looking for the best breakfast in Queretaro that is super affordable, head here!
The stand we went to was in the middle of the market, which reminded me of La Boqueria in Barcelona. Luckily we were with our friend who knew the owner and we were able to sit down and just enjoy whatever they ordered.
The first taco had chopped chicken and white beans. It was so simple but so delicious. They grill the tortillas on the flat top before filling it with the chicken and the beans. And the beans were cooked to the point that it was soft, but still whole. I think they must have cooked it with a little sugar as it had a sweet flavor to the beans.
The second taco I had was filled with beef, the sweet white beans, and a green salsa made with tomatillos, jalapeños, and avocados. This was the best of the three we had there.
The last taco I had was filled with chicharon and the sweet white beans. Now the chicharones weren’t crispy anymore because it was cooked in a liquid so it was soft and falling apart. This was still very delicious.
We didn’t try the quesadillas here, but the children had them, and they looked like they were thoroughly enjoying them.
Karnes en su Jugo
The last place we ate at in Querétaro was Karnes en su Jugo. This was a little fancier restaurant but still totally affordable.
When you first sit down they serve you some starters which are crispy tortillas, white refried beans, and salsa.
The main dish is tender beef on a skillet, topped with bacon. Of course you eat it with tortillas, onions, cilantro and lime. The beef was almost like ground beef but you could tell it was just finely sliced and cooked till tender. And the bacon on top added a crispy texture and added flavor. How you can go wrong with bacon?
We also ordered micheladas to wash down the salty beef. Micheladas are made with your beer of choice (Corona for me) and Clamato juice. It’s like a Bloody Mary with beer instead of vodka.
Louise never seems to be too full for dessert so she ordered something sweet again. It was a great ending to our culinary eperiences in Querétaro.
Luckily we had a great local guide to take us to all these awesome foodie spots. We really got a local feel for the city and food. We highly recommend visiting Querétaro and eating at as many of these local spots your stomach can handle.
Map of the Best Restaurants in Querétaro
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The food looks absolutely delicious! I’d love to try the grilled cactus and the grilled pancakes.
Wow! All of this food looks incredible! Thank you for compiling such a great list! This makes me so keen to visit Mexico! Your pictures are excellent 🙂
Love this! The food in Mexico is amazing, and your pics are awesome!
Oh my. I’m staving now. Your descriptions and photos are perfect.
Inlove when you have locals to show you where to go. Also loved that you guys tried cactus. It looked so good. Also glad this city is off the tourist radar. I better go before everyone reads this. Lol.
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