Guanajuato, Mexico Introduction

Mexican Eating Customs: Meals

Like in Spain, you can expect to eat your meals in Mexico on what seems like a delayed schedule- possibly due to centuries of Spanish influence. To help you adjust, here's a quick run-down of what to eat and when to eat it!

El desayuno (Breakfast)

• Between 7:00am and 10:00am
• Breakfast in Mexico can range from a simple cup of coffee to a huge spread featuring "huevos rancheros" (corn tortillas filled with fried egs and a sauce of chili, tomato & onion).
• Popular breakfast foods include sweet breads, tropical fruits, toast, granola and yogurt.

La comida (Lunch)

• Between 1:30pm and 4:00pm
• In Mexico, lunch is the main meal of the day- expect to eat a lot!
• La comida typically consists of an appetizer, a soup or salad and the main course: seafood, meat or poulty, rice and/ or beans and of course some hot tortillas.
• Get ready to chat before, during and after eating, as lunch tends to be a leisurely meal

La Cena (Dinner)

• Between 8:00pm and 9:00pm.
• Eaten in the evening, la cena is the lighter meal of the day in Mexico, often consisting of soup or tacos.

Mexican Eating Customs: Tipping

By law, a 15% IVA (value-added tax) is tacked on to all restaurant checks. However, unbeknownst to many European travelers from countries in which gratuities are included in restaurant tabs, in Mexico this isn't the case. So, unless you want to risk angering a few waiters, the rule of thumb is to leave behind a 15% tip.

Mexican Eating Customs: Celebrations

Whether it be a family party or a national holiday, food - particularly those infamous "tamales" - plays a major role in pretty much every Mexican celebration. One of Mexico's most important holidays, "El Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), places a huge emphasis on food. Families bake or buy special sweet bread known as "pan de muertos," or bread of the dead.