Don't just stick to quesadillas because you don't understand some words on the menu. There is much to enjoy here, with fruits, vegetables and assorted dishes from Mexico an exciting experience for your taste buds. Get ready to sample local delicacies en español.
Achiote: A red paste made from annatto seeds
Aguacate: Avocado. It's not just for guacamole; it tastes great on a burger too
Ajo: Garlic
Al horno: Baked
Asadero cheese: A white cow's milk cheese, also known as Oaxaca cheese
Asado: A roast
Atún: Tuna — always a great choice in Los Cabos
Batido: Shake. Try any made from local fruits
Caldo: Broth. One of our favorites is caldo de pescado — fish broth with pieces of freshly caught Pacific offerings
Carne a la Tampiqueña: Grilled strips of beef
Carnitas: Shredded pork
Cerveza: Beer, one of Mexico's main exports. Some of Mexico's most popular brands include Dos Equis (XX), Tecate, Sol and Corona
Ceviche: Pieces of raw fish "cooked" in lime juice and mixed with spices, tomatoes and onions
Chilaquiles: Corn tortillas cooked with cheese, sauce and chilies; typically a breakfast dish
Chiles: Chili peppers. If you have the time, there are more than 200 types of chilies, ranging from very mild to five-alarm hot
Chiles en nogada: Chilies stuffed with ground meat, served with a walnut-based cream sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds
Chipotle: A mega-hot smoked jalapeño pepper
Churro: Deep-fried dough with star-shaped edges coated with sugar and cinnamon. It's most often served with thick hot chocolate
Damiana: an herb liqueur considered an aphrodisiac
Enchiladas suizas: Chicken enchiladas in a cream sauce
Flauta: A long thin deep-fried taco; its name comes from its resemblance to a flute
Frijoles: Beans, a main staple in Mexican cuisine, come in several varieties and are served with just about everything.
Guacamole: A dip or side dish made of mashed avocado (aguacate) and mixed with onions, tomatoes, chilies and lemon juice
Guajolote: Turkey
Huachinango: Red snapper, often cooked in a variety of dishes. One of the most popular is huachinango a la veracruzana — seasoned and cooked in a tasty red sauce with tomatoes, olives and onions
Huevos divorciados: Literally, divorced eggs. One egg with red, one egg with green chile sauce
Huevos rancheros: Eggs with chile sauce
Huitlacoche: Known also as corn smut, maize mushroom or Mexican truffle, this is a fungus that grows inside corn kernels. Its taste is somewhere between a mushroom and sweet corn, and is often used in soups and quesadillas
Jugo de naranja: Orange juice
Kahlua: The most well known brand of Mexican coffee liqueur
Langosta: Lobster
Lengua: Cow or pork tongue, often served stuffed or in tacos
Licuados: Smoothies
Limón: Lime
Margarita: Mexico's national drink: tequila, Controy and lime juice served on the rocks in a salt-rimmed glass or blended with ice
Mariscos: Shellfish
Mole: A dark, rich sauce made with chocolate and a variety of spices and chilies
Mescal: Liquor made from the juice of various types of agaves
Nopal: A tasty cactus used to make a number of dishes. Its fruit, the tuna (prickly pear) is also used in several recipes
Pescado: Fish
Picante: Spicy — beware!
Postres: Desserts
Pozole: A soup made of hominy, pork, chilies and spices
Refrescos: Sweet juices made from rice, flowering plants, tamarind, lime and more
Refritos: Mashed beans fried in oil or lard
Sangrita: Drink made of orange juice, grenadine, chile and tomato juice
Sopa de tortilla: Tomato-based soup with fried tortilla strips
Sopa de arroz con pollo: Chicken soup with rice
Tamal: A corn husk stuffed with masa, meat or beans; masa is dough that surrounds your choice of filling, traditionally pork
Tequila: Liquor from the agave plant
Vainilla: Vanilla; Mexico's variety is considered to be the most fragrant
Xtabentun: an anise-flavored, honey-based liqueur
Yuca: Cassava; this root vegetable is similar to the potato and is often sliced and fried like French fries or stuffed with ground meat
Click here for a quick list of bars and restaurants in Los Cabos to help you plan where to eat, dine, party and drink.
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