Welcome to Querétaro!
Whether you're a first time visitor, or a new resident, finding the best places to eat, sleep, and explore can be a challenge! Here you'll find a few recommendations, with more being added regularly. These are some of our favorite restaurants in and around the the city. Provecho! And please let us know what you thought about our recommendations if you have the opportunity to try them.
EAT HERE: (Eatery Recommendations)
Zaika - Part 1
Looking for amazing Indian food in Querétaro? 🥘 Zaika is THE place to go. 📍Zaika is an absolutely wonderful experience - actually, one of my favorites since living in the city for more than seven years. 💞
Zaika is tucked away in a mixed business/residential area. In fact, you would never know a fabulous restaurant is hiding behind the gate of the big green house. 🏠 Zaika is reservation only, so make sure to call before you go. ☎️ All the tables are located on the patio, and we loved the open-air dining experience.
Zaika is tucked away in a mixed business/residential area. In fact, you would never know a fabulous restaurant is hiding behind the gate of the big green house. 🏠 Zaika is reservation only, so make sure to call before you go. ☎️ All the tables are located on the patio, and we loved the open-air dining experience.
To be honest, we fell in love with everything about Zaika! 💕 The menu is seasonal and rotated weekly. The chef/owner Vinod introduces himself to each table, explains the day’s menu, and is generous with his time in answering questions and making recommendations. 🙏🏽
Laura, Vinod’s wife, is equally warm and hospitable. We left feeling as if we had made new friends!
Now about the food...OUTSTANDING! We ordered the spiced prawns, chicken masala, lamb vindaloo, roti, rice, and an eggplant dish that I sadly can’t remember the name of! Everything was FABULOUS! 🤤
The portions aren't huge, so don’t be afraid to order more than you think you’ll need. Trust me. You won’t regret it. 🔥
We give Zaika a solid 10 out of 10🌟!
El 9 Yucateco
El 9 Yucateco has been a family favorite for more than 10 years due to its fresh, tasty and consistently delicious food served at a reasonable price. We love this place so much, that David and I chose to eat here with friends and family after our civil wedding ceremony. 👰🏻❤️🤵🏻 We knew it would be a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Celebrating with family after our civil ceremony.
Located in the neighborhood know as Jardines de la Hacienda, El 9 is one of several restaurants owned by the same individuals all specializing in food from the Yucatan peninsula. Each restaurant has its own particular atmosphere and food focus. El 9 is clean, large and bright, with simple décor and can usually be found full of couples and families enjoying their main meal of the day together.
The service is peppy (albeit a bit too efficient at times - the food tends to come out quite fast so lingering over appetizers doesn't happen unless you are very specific with your server) and the menu boasts a nice range of salads, regional plates, tacos, soups, and appetizers. 🥙🌮🍲 We find the portions to be perfect for a lunch or light dinner. I think of this restaurant as a no frills experience. It's all about good food, and good service at a good price; nothing fancy.
Some of our favorite dishes include the Pollo Pok-Chuk (chicken breast seasoned with garlic and other spices), the Sopa de Lima (a chicken and rice soup), the Chili Relleno (a poblano pepper stuffed with gouda cheese), Tacos Cameron 9 (breaded and fried shrimp tacos) and the Tacos Norteños (incredibly delicious grilled steak tacos). David is a huge fan of the chamorro (tender, fall of the bone pork shank) dishes either served Pibil style (a classic dish from the Yucatan where the pork is roasted in achiote, vinegar, and a variety of spices like cumin, lime, garlic, oranges) or served natural.
Salbutes Especiales featuring Relleno Negro.
We recently tried the Salbutes (a thin, crispy corn “pocket” stuffed with different fillings) and would highly recommend adding those to your order. They are just as delicious as they are pretty. We sampled the Salbutes Especiales which included Relleno Negro, a highly representative dish from the Yucatán that fuses Mayan and Spanish gastronomic heritage, and absolutely loved them.
The restaurant also has a fully stocked bar so you can pair your meal with tequila, mezcal, beer, or a cocktail of your choice.
I was shocked to discover that I don't have a ton of photos of the food. I guess it's been such a staple in my life, I haven't done my usual “documentation” of every bit I've consumed here! You can, however, find some good photos of each of their dishes on their website here.
We hope you enjoy the simple goodness of El 9 Yucateco as much as we do! 💕
We give El 9 Yucateco 8 out of 10🌟.
