I’ve been so excited to write this one for you guys! And I know this is going to be controversial, but I DON’T care, Holbox was one of my favorite places for street food in the whole of Mexico! I am literally dribbling at thinking about those birria tacos!
So I really hope you enjoy this foodie guide to the BEST places to eat in Isla Holbox, and you know I’ve got the best cheap eats covered too.
STREET FOOD
I’m not saving the best to last like most people, I’m jumping straight in with the best and that’s street food! When you get to Isla Holbox, you will soon be aware of ‘the square’. The middle of the town in the shape of a square with the basketball courts in the middle. At night, this is where you will find all of the street food vendors. They are all set up on the road going around the square. Be aware that they are not open during the day, they only open in the evenings, usually around 8pm. There is a lot to choose from but these are the top winners in my opinion!
Tacos Arrambes
This is my all time favourite. Instead if your usual tacos, these tacos arranges are made on a bread that I can only describe as pitta bread. The meat is unbelievably good, and he cooks it on top of cheese so it all melts together. Then you can help yourself to an array of sauces, chipotle mayo, bbq, cool mayo, picante etc. Each one of these tacos cost around $45 MXN.
Birria tacos -
There were the best birria tacos I have had in my life without a doubt. Maybe I’ve not traveled enough haha, but just trust me on this one. Yes they taste as good as they look!
Marquesitas
A Mexican desert made from rolled up crepes with filling, super cheap and good! So many people eat these traditionally with cheese and chocolate, not for everyone but definitely worth tasting.
Cheap eats!
Who doesn’t love good food for a low price? No one? Thought so! That’s why I spent weeks walking around the island to pile together the best cheap eats Isla Holbox has to offer!
Las Empas Holbox
You know it’s going to be good when it’s a little hole in the wall, and the guy behind the counter is singing and playing guitar. I am guilty of going here everyday. I am also guilty of shouting ‘HOLA’ at the guys that walk around the beach and sell them too. Yes you can buy these empanadas on the beach too. A couple of people walk around and sell them so you don’t always have to go to the little shop. Priced at $45 for one, these Argentinian empanadas are the best I’ve had!
Empanadas la conquista
This is another empanada restaurant, but made the Mexican way. What I love about this place is that it is made to order, so the food is super fresh, the menu is painted on the wall, and the empanadas are only $20 MXN per one. Oh it gets better, they bring you a sauce pot holder with limes, sauces, and chopped up onion and cilantro for toppings!
La Gelateria - Nuestros Inicios
For Ice Cream you have to visit Nuestros Inicios! What started as a tiny ice cream van and turned into one of the islands most popular ice cream parlours, they really have come a long way! And the ice cream is so good with so many flavours.
La Chozita del Purux
A small yet amazing restaurant that serves traditional Mexican dishes, also very good when traveling on a budget! It’s open from 8am-6pm.
Tacos Queto
A local Mexican restaurant that’s open from 5pm-11pm. Honestly this place is SO good, and you can grab tacos for around $25MXN. They also bring the little salsas and dips, with chopped onion and cilantro for toppings.
Restaurant y Pizzeria Edelyn
This place is famous for it’s lobster pizza! A bit on the higher price, but if you go with other people to share it works out quite good. They also have good local Mexican food. Open from 1pm-11pm.
Other top places! Medium priced
Roots
Italian food. Pizza and pasta. I ate here twice and both times were amazing! The pizzas are huge and can easily feed 2 people, they also give you 3 different dips for free along with your pizza. I would say the price is on average with other standard meals at a restaurant in Holbox, you’re looking at around the $250 MXN mark, around £10. Open 12pm – 11:30pm
The Foodie Market
This is the perfect place if your with a group and you all fancy something a but different, hence the name foodie market. They have around 5 different stalls inside the one big open restaurant. From sushi to burgers, to tacos and pasta! And often there is live music, bonus! Open 1pm – 10:30pm
Alta Gula
A gorgeous Argentinian restaurant that I’m guilty of going too at least 5 times and only ordering the exact same thing! The pollo Milanesa sandwich. My favourite part about this restaurant is the tray of 5 homemade sauces they serve with every order. Open 1:30pm – 11pm
Tachali
A sweet little hole in the wall that sells amazing coffee, sandwiches and bagels. Open 7am-7pm
Clandestino coffee shop
A gorgeous cafe that is famous for it’s coffee, and the food is amazing too! Also it’s one place that has A/C so you can escape the heat! There’s actually 2 coffee shops, one is called Clandestine and the other is called ‘another Clandestino’. Open from 8am – 8pm
Painapol
Very famous on the island, so go and put your name down so you can get a table as it get’s very busy! The food is amazing, the drinks are spot on, but the people make it so special! Opens 8am-3:30pm, then reopens at 6pm – 10pm.
Palenque is a small town situated in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Visited for its UNESCO world heritage site, Zona Arqueologica ruins.
Isla Holbox is without a doubt, in my top 3 favourite places in Mexico. And to think i never knew it existed