12 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Decorated with brightly colored papeles picados and tables with Talavera tile tops, friendly and traditional Antojería Nacional is a bit of a contrast with the many hip and modern spots in this neighborhood of Cholula close to the campus of Universidad de las Americas. The specialty of this hugely popular spot is traditional street food—tortas milanesas, chicken pelonas, chorizo gorditas, and more.

Across the street from the dramatic spires of Parroquia de San Andrés Cholula, this simple sandwich shop serves delicious versions of classic tortas as well as Puebla's beloved version of these hearty sandwiches, the cemita. Try it with chicken milanesa (with thinly pounded and breaded chicken) or local sausage with all the fixings, including cheese, avocado, jalapeños, and chipotles in adobado sauce.

The colorful flagship branch of the popular ice cream and sorbet parlor stands out for its beautiful displays of Day of the Dead figures and other sculptures and crafts. You'll find an encyclopedic menu of flavors, including local fruits and vegetables (date, mango, mamey, beets, corn) and other distinctive options like coconut with chiles, pine nut, rose petal, and tres leches.

Be prepared to wait for a table, especially on weekend evenings, at this hugely popular no-nonsense restaurant just off Plaza Borda that's famous for pozole. There are three options---green (available only on Thursday and Saturday), red (served only on Thursday), and white, the classic version that's on the menu daily. These rich and hearty soups, especially if you order a large portion, are quite filling, but if you aren't completely full, save room for an order of queso fundido or chicken tostadas.

Duck into this minimalist-chic third-wave coffeehouse for a hot or cold sip to take with you on your walk to the Zona Arqueológica de Cholula. Baguette sandwiches, salads, and other light fare is served alongside a menu of coffee and espresso featuring locally roasted beans.

Break up your explorations of Pueblo's Centro Histórico with perfectly crafted single-origin coffee or cold brew featuring locally roasted beans from acclaimed Subversivo Roasters at this hip little café around the corner from the colorful Sapos Alley. There are a few tasty food items, too, including flatbread with cheese and ham.

Although the food is consistently good---omelets, chilaquiles, tamales with mole sauce at breakfast, and salads, pastas, and pizzas in the afternoon—the best reason to dine in this home that once belonged to famed silversmith William Spratling is the elegant setting. The high-ceilinged dining room and terraces of the gracious colonial building exude old-world charm, and tables have wonderful views of the town's red-roofed homes. The restaurant closes at 6 pm, making it an option for only for very early dinners.

In a low stone building on a tree-lined street, this unassuming café is overlooked by most travelers but is always packed with locals. The series of small dining rooms means it won't be hard to find a quiet table. The delicious traditional fare includes such dishes as chicken broth with creamy avocados and strips of cactus flambéed with bits of onion and chilies. Ask your waiter if there's caldo de habas, a bean soup with strips of cactus; it's something of a local specialty, and is quite tasty. Open until 8 pm, and quiet after 6, it's best for breakfast and lunch.

You can gaze out over the lake and the town's red rooftops at the Michoacana, which is just a short walk from the zócalo. It's one of the town's best sources of regional fare and a great place for a family meal—and open from 9 am to 11 pm 365 days a year. You can't go wrong here—all the typical Mexican plates you'll recognize are available, but the house specialties include a terrific chamorro (lamb shank) and pre-Hispanic dishes that you won't find everywhere else, such as chapulines con cebolla y chili de arbol (toasted grasshoppers with onion and a spicy red chili sauce), and escamoles a la mantequilla (ant eggs lightly fried in butter).

A few blocks south of the Zócalo, there's often a line outside at this beloved ice-cream parlor known for rich and creamy frozen treats. Favorite flavors include avocado, cajeta, and hibiscus.

This cavelike restaurant might only be open on Friday and Saturday, but it has unforgettable regional cuisine and a fun atmosphere with live music. Even simple items like the salsas and frijoles (black beans) are intensely flavored. There's an exquisite sopa de setas (soup of oyster mushrooms), or you could try the signature dish, enchiladas de picadillo con mole de olla (ground beef and raisin enchiladas with a savory local mole).

Just above the market, with a view of the main plaza, this plant-filled restaurant makes delicious regional cuisine served by a friendly staff. The envueltos de mole (chicken-filled tortillas covered in a thick, smoky mole sauce) are an excellent choice if you want to take a break from walking around the market and enjoy a snack. There is often live traditional music at lunchtime.