Food

What to eat

Guanajuato’s signature dish is enchiladas mineras (“miners’ enchiladas”): tortillas dipped in a mild guajillo sauce, folded, and served with fried carrots and potatoes, plus chicken and crumbly cheese. It is cheap, filling and everywhere, and it is the one local plate to order first.

Beyond that, this is a student city, so the food that defines it is casual and inexpensive: tacos, guacamayas (a local bread roll stuffed with chicharron and salsa), tortas, pozole, and street antojitos. Save the fancy plaza dinners for atmosphere, not for the best food.

Where to eat

• Mercado Hidalgo. The market fondas are the honest introduction: enchiladas mineras, comida corrida, tacos and fresh juice for very little. Eat away from the main entrance where the students go.

• Around the university and small plazas. Plaza San Fernando and the streets by the university have the best value casual food and a good evening crowd, with less markup than the Jardin de la Union.

• Jardin de la Union. Beautiful place for a coffee, a beer or a slow breakfast under the trees. The food is fine and priced for the view, so come for the setting and eat serious meals elsewhere.

• Guacamayas stands. Grab one from a busy street cart as a snack. This is proper local eating.

Rough prices (approximate)

• Market fonda plate of enchiladas mineras or comida corrida: low, in the range of a very affordable lunch.
• Street tacos or a guacamaya: pocket change each.
• A sit-down dinner on the Jardin: several times the market price for the atmosphere.

Prices shift, so treat these as ballpark; the site confirms specifics separately.