3 Best Restaurants in Zacatecas, San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

This diner is trimmed with paintings and sketches given to the owner by famous people who've eaten here, including a small acrylic by Rafael Coronel. Sip a strong Turkish coffee while watching the locals flood in for breakfast. The chilaquiles verdes (fried tortilla strips smothered in tangy green sauce and white cheese) comes with a basket of pastries and bread. Mild enchiladas zacatecanas are filled with cheese, onion, and chili, and topped with cream. Traditional café fare like hamburgers, sandwiches, and fruity shakes is available for lunch.

There are 25 steaming plates of traditional Mexican dishes to choose from at this rustic, full-buffet diner. Lunch will likely include Spanish rice, beans, pollo en mole (chicken in mole sauce), fresh salads, and aguas frescas (fruit water). Prices are reasonable. Hours are 8:30–12:30 for breakfast and 1:30–7 pm for lunch and early dinner.

Much loved by locals, Doña Julia makes dozens of varieties of gorditas day and night—it seems there's nary an hour when the place isn't full of people, in part because of the rock-bottom prices. In the wide-open entrance to the simple shop, you'll watch a woman shaping your fresh tortilla with her hands before putting it on the open fire. Many fillings are available, such as delicious regional specialties like beef tongue, rice with mole (a rich dark sauce, not an underground animal), rajas con queso (chili strips with cheese), and cactus. There are other locations around the city, including one on Avenida 5 de Mayo.