The Biggest Red Flags That You're At A Tourist Trap Restaurant In Mexico

Mexico is an intoxicating, magical land that seems to have it all. While many flock to its pristine beaches to unwind and soak up the sun, such as this little-known town on the northern tip of the Yucatán, part of what makes the place so attractive is the cuisine. Known for its variety of flavors that often bring a spicy kick, Mexican food runs the gamut from simple street tacos to its national dish, mole poblano, which uses up to 40 separate ingredients (depending on who you ask). 

The fare in Mexico also varies incredibly by region. Whether it's fresh seafood in Sinaloa, spicy birria in Guadalajara, or the Indigenous-influenced dishes of Chiapas and Oaxaca (one of the world's top-ranked cities) you'll find widely different flavors and approaches in all parts of the country. Each region puts its own stamp on Mexican cuisine.

This food is served everywhere in Mexico. However,  you aren't always guaranteed the best value or quality –– especially in places that see a lot of foreign visitors such as the resort towns of the Pacific coast and Cancún, or even the more posh parts of Mexico City. Tourist trap eateries abound in certain parts of the country. Just like in Europe, there are ways to sniff them out to guarantee the most authentic culinary experience during your next trip south of the border. Look for these warning signs.

We all know that Spanish is the main language in Mexico (spoken by over 94% of the population), but it's by no means the only one. In fact, along with Spanish, there are more than 69 official languages, including Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, and Chol. While 69 different languages is indeed a lot, one that isn't included among that tally is English.

Even though Mexico hasn't embraced English officially, it is the main language of international tourism, which is the lifeblood of many communities in the country. This means that a lot of Mexicans working in the hospitality and tourism industries have learned at least passable English, and this is most reflected in restaurants.

If you come across an establishment with signage –– or more importantly, menus — in English, know that you've entered a tourist trap. Any authentic restaurant in Mexico worth its salsa will likely only operate in Spanish. If your Spanish is rusty or even nonexistent, just bust out your phone, scan the menu with a trusty translation app, and enjoy your meal.

While there are many ways to look out for tourist trap restaurants while traveling, avoiding an eatery packed with non-locals is a good rule of thumb, especially in Mexico. If you pop your head in the door and see that most of the tables are occupied by non-Mexican travelers, you should probably make a U-turn and look for a different place. Anywhere that almost exclusively serves foreign tourists is probably going to be overpriced and may not deliver when it comes to quality. After all, locals will be able to judge their own cuisine better than visitors, so there is less of an incentive to make the food as good as it can be in order to cater to international tastes and expectations.

This doesn't mean you have to be the only tourist in the place. There are plenty of good neighborhood joints that may be mentioned in guidebooks or are featured on websites such as Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Google Reviews. These places can happily serve both locals and those who are just passing through and wish to experience authentic food cooked by people who take deep pride in their work. Do your homework, or better yet, follow your nose. You're better off avoiding any spots mobbed by your fellow tourists.

Sure, enjoying a meal while sitting outside on the top of a building is a seductive idea, but this is often where you'll be paying more for the view than the actual food. These types of places — known as terrazas — are plentiful in certain parts of Mexico, especially near the Zócalo, Mexico City's main square. They're also full of tourists, though many may not all be American, since Mexico also sees plenty of visitors from other places in Latin America as well as other parts of the country.

This also goes for places on the beach. While you may be tempted to grab a table and watch the sun dip behind the watery horizon from that seaside establishment with a prime location, you could be sacrificing flavor for ambiance. This isn't a cardinal rule, though. There are times when you may be perfectly willing to choose a restaurant exclusively for the stellar view –– but just know what you're getting into. The best spots are almost always at least a few blocks in from any famous attractions — often on narrow sidestreets — and usually offer little more than great food cooked up by experts with generations of knowledge and know-how.

Anyone who grew up eating Mexican food in the United States knows the joy of the free basket of tortilla chips delivered to your table as soon as you sit down, along with salsa for dipping. This is the Mexican-American version of unlimited bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. But real travelers know that's not really done in Italy, so you can assume that free chips and salsa also aren't a thing in Mexico. While some restaurants catering to tourists may drop a chip basket on your table gratis, more authentic places likely will not.

This is not to say that chips and salsa aren't an option. They will be on the menu at some spots, and your server may even ask you if you'd like them, but you'll have to pay extra. However, this may guarantee that instead of half-stale chips that have been sitting around for days, you'll get nice, crispy fresh ones –– as well as a variety of salsas with varying levels of spiciness to choose from.

Tacos are found everywhere in Mexico: served up at humble street carts, as well as in taquerias and restaurants of all levels and price tags. Some of these places also have Michelin stars. From carnitas to suaderos to asada to al pastor, tacos are as Mexican as mariachi and sombreros. But how much should you pay for the county's most famous, ubiquitous little wrap? It depends on who you ask, and more importantly, where you are.

In most places, the average price for street tacos is about 20 to 25 pesos (a little over $1 USD), though this shoots up in trendier neighborhoods such as Roma Norte and La Condesa in Mexico City, where you may pay double or triple. Sit-down restaurants will always charge more. How much depends on what's inside as well as the size, but if you're paying more than 40 pesos for one simple taco, you just may be in a tourist trap.

While Mexican food has a reputation for spiciness, the heat usually doesn't come from the dish itself. Most of the fire is contained in the salsa, which means you can add as much or as little as you want, depending on your taste and heat tolerance. Salsa just means "sauce" in Spanish, so it should come as no surprise that there are at least 14 varieties, and not all of them are blazing hot. Some can be quite mild, while others — such as habanero salsa — are practically atomic.

Any legitimate restaurant in Mexico will offer more than one salsa to spice up your meal, and most should have at least a little bit of a kick. On the other hand, your typical tourist trap will probably only have one or two to choose from, and they may be tepid at best. This will tell you all you really need to know. To get even more out of your time in Mexico, make sure to avoid these other common mistakes.