Feeding ourselves has been almost as unpredictable as planning where to go the next day. We’ve sampled some tasty things and some not-so-tasty things, and I think you’ll be surprised about which came from where.

First, let me introduce you to our friend, the panadería. I have learned to fall in love with these flour-filled heavens, especially when they have clearly posted instructions.

All the biggish supermarkets we visit have them. The Mega stores (think Walmart, but multi-story) also have magnetic shopping cart escalators! I swear we’re both in our twenties and did not spend the escalator ride playing with the magnetic wheels and watching the cart stay put. Oh wait, we did.

Speaking of chain stores, here are a few that caught our eye. Here’s an unassuming Burger King… with home delivery.

These chicken stores are everywhere. We keep meaning to try one, but get distracted by taco stands.

Then there’s this place. Hola, Engrish!

These will look familiar, if a bit nostalgic. Coca Cola is everywhere in Mexico. They sponsor a lot of restaurant signage along with Corona and Modelo, and people still use the glass bottles. They always keep them to return for some cash back.

Daniel discovered this bag-o-goodies in an Oxxo convenience store. It’s a mix of about 8 different snack chips, including chorizo-flavored Fritos. There goes our sodium intake for the day.

Ah, our trusty little taco stands. Nothing more than a palm frond or tin roof supported by some sticks, whatever plastic furniture and utensils are available, and some really tasty food. They’re everywhere in along the West Coast, but I realized today that they’re becoming more infrequent. This upsets me.

This one was actually pretty well-equipped. It also had the best tacos we had eaten so far, just outside Las Glorias. Three for 20 pesos, which equates to $1.50 USD for a good meal.

The taco stand’s big brother is the roadside patio restaurant. We’ve seen these operated out of people’s houses, on empty lots, or just scraped together on the side of the road. And they always have tortillas. Fresh, delicious, made-to-order tortillas. This one is in Playa Luces near Acapulco.

This here is the best meal we’ve had in Mexico to date, eaten in just such a place: a lady’s backyard, overlooking the creek below. No menus to speak of, just chance. It was our first time bravely saying “lo que hay” (“whatever there is”) when asked what we wanted. We ended up with pork stewed in a spicy broth, beans, fresh salsa, fresh goat cheese, coffee, and the most delicious tortillas I’ve ever eaten. I said as much, so she kept making them. 45 pesos each, or about $3.50 USD. If you’re ever near the Colima volcano in La Becerrera, go to Doña Esther’s.

Another good meal, this one in a tourist restaurant in Mazatlán. It’s one of the few tourist places I’ve ever been that earns high marks from me. Most tourist spots have the worst food, usually both bland and tough to chew. But this place was good. Still doesn’t match Doña Esther’s tortillas, though.

But the view was good…

And the servers made us smile. Plus, the place was so darn colorful I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

So we’ve covered supermarkets, chain restaurants, taco stands, roadside restaurants, and tourists spots. What else? Oh, there was this building in the old town center of Tequila. It’s in the market district and is probably the inspiration for modern-day food courts.

Or if you want a little more CRAZY with your market day, try the central market in Guadalajara. It’s a three-story building the size of a mid-size mall, and it’s absolutely packed with stalls selling everything and anything, including food.

The tortas calientes were huge! As big as my head! And smothered in some kind of secret sauce, inside and out! We watched her make more as we were eating, and she used the stuff to coat the bread on the griddle. Some relative to mayonnaise.

Speaking of the market, it was a smorgasbord of photo ops. Nuts and dog food and jamaica for tea…

Dried herbs, not dried herbs, fruits and vegetables in mountains of color. Oh boy, Guadalajara and this market deserve their own post.

Afterwards, we got ice cream for… I don’t remember. Really cheap, probably around 50 cents USD.

Then we walked home with our purchases: some leftover sandwich (because I can’t eat things the size of my own head), a new Panamericanos bumper sticker, and some really cheap produce for soup that night.

I’d say acquiring good food is going well, and I’ve managed to avoid the pig heads, tripe, and chicken legs. So far.

Posted from Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.