Merida Food Tour: Local Markets, Street Food & Yucatecan Cuisine

It was an amazing experience, Jorge was a great guide, he showed us every place and told us interesting facts about local food and local culture. We really loved it. He asked us about food allergies and every place was carefully selected, so it’s safe to eat.

The guide George was very approachable and informative with a jovial personality. Made the tour very pleasant as well as very tasty.

My husband and I took this tour with Jorge our first full day in Merida which was an AWESOME choice I would recommend to all! The Yucatan has so much food unique to this region that we were not familiar with. Jorge was super friendly and knowledgeable of both the local food and Mérida history. He took us all through the two largest markets in Merida which were an absolute maze to navigate and a blast with a local at our side. We tried all the unique local foods with a focus on fresh hand prepared foods with all natural ingredients - all which were delicious. This made navigating meals and menus so much easier and enjoyable and set a baseline for what natural, fresh prepared food should taste like and gave us a deep appreciation for how much Mexicans value these qualities in their food. Thank you Jorge for an incredible food tour and introduction to Mérida.

We had a fantastic time on this food tour! Most of it was done at Luis galves market and the market is huge and therefore intimidating so we really appreciated Milo leading us through and having us taste his favorite items. The food selection was all 10/10. We do food tours in most cities we visit and this was the best one we’ve ever done. Literally everything we tried was fantastic and highlighted the Yucatán region. You can tell Milo is passionate about food and gave us tons of interesting info on both the region and the food. We would recommend this tour!

I love doing food tours in new cities and this truly was one of the best! Milo and Jorge were so knowledgeable about the history and cuisines. You could tell they were well liked by their vendors as well. The food was incredible!

What a fun and authentic experience! Jorge was so knowledgeable and engaging. Walking around the market and seeing all of the vendors and tasting all the delicious Yucatán food was incredible. We had a teenager and a 10-year-old who also loved every minute.

What an amazing experience! Our guide Jorge was a wealth of experience, explaining the history and culture behind many of the Yucateca foods. We have already returned to two food stalls since taking the tour 2 days ago. I cannot recommend this tour enough!!

Jorge was very knowledgeable and friendly. I appreciate that he was able to find a vegetarian option at each food stop along the way. I was very full by the end— almost passed on dessert.

Thanks again Jorge & Emilio! We had a great afternoon with you two. They showed us local food, asked for preferences & made sure we are well fed and hydrated :) We had great and interessting conversations about the food, ingredients, the city & life here in Merida.

Completed our tour with Andi and she is amazing! I have a major disability with limited mobility and Andi made sure at no point my disability limited or took away from the experience. Every food vendor she took us to was great. She explained each meal very well, properly set expectations and always made sure we were comfortable and taken care of. At the end of the tour we had a thunderstorm and she made sure our ride accommodations were good. I'd recommend Andi 100x, she's the definition of a beautiful person both inside and out.

Jorge was great! Very Knowledgable on the local cuisine. He had great recs for how to get around the city, reach Progresso, and even where locals would go if they needed a medical consultation. He guided us through the whole experience, it was great.

Jorge was fantastic! Brilliant relationships with all theblocal vendors. A true authentic experience. He was wonderful chat. Fair warning it's a lot of food! Admittedly I was a little rough in the morning but Jorge was super accommodating having some of the items to go so I could have it later! Highly recommend. I wish I did this on the first day I arrived so I knew what to get throughout my trip.

Jorge made our food tour in Merida unforgettable. Since he’s a cook himself, his passion for the dishes really shined through — he loved digging into how everything was made and what ingredients gave each bite its flavor. He was so thoughtful about spice levels too, making sure everyone in our group could enjoy the food comfortably. Touring the local markets can feel intimidating if you don’t know your way around, but Jorge made sure we got the full range of a genuine local experience. I’m sure we never would have tried the food and drinks we did without him guiding us. He never rushed us either, checking in along the way to make sure we were having a great time. Thanks Jorge!

Was met on time by George (sorry, can’t spell his Spanish name). Went to several places to experience the local cuisine. You know they were good, as there were always many locals eating there. Every dish was fully explained in what you were eating and its history. Just to mention again what I put in the title- come hungry, lots to eat.

Jorge was great! He made sure that we got enough food and had time to ask questions and even talked about Mérida in general and not just our food tour. Accomodations can be made for those with preferences and sensitivity to exclude certain foods and add at different stops. I was surprised how much food we would get. COME HUNGRY! The fee was a comfortable price and I felt I got my money's worth. Jorge even had umbrellas for the sun and ponchos in case it rained. Meeting was easy at the letters of Merida. Mostly it is inside the two large markets nearby the Plaza Principal de Mérida. You are shown the "real deal" stalls and how every food item is hand crafted and fresh. We only had two people in our group and it's best that way because the spaces you visit are kind of tight. During your three hours tour, you get to experience some great food stalls and taste the local foods prepared freshly!

We did the evening food tour of Mérida. Jorge was a wonderful guide. All the places we went to had phenomenal food. I highly recommend this tour.

This was an excellent tour. We went to 7 different places. They were all places I would never have thought to try if I was by myself. Everything was covered by the price I paid for the ticket and I was offered seconds. However, one serving was usually more than enough. Good portions of food were offered. While I did not like 2 of the places we went to, there was one dish that made up for those 2. Relleno Negro with turkey was one of the best dishes I've had in my life. This tour is well worth the price. The tour guide would give relevant pieces of information regarding the food and the places you'll be visiting.

We had a wonderful time tried some great food and drinks we likely wouldn't have found on our own our guide Alex was kind and gave us great info on every place we stopped

was an excellent tour the guide jorge was awesome. very knowledgeable and friendly . would def recommend going on this . all the food we tasted was very good

Great food, great culture, immersive experience, true Mayan culture in the heart of Merida! Andrea, our guide was PERFECT! Thank you!

Jorge was an enthusiastic, knowledgeable host who showed us the best food in Merida's markets. Don't forget to go hungry before the tour as you'll eat plenty on the way. Our host was really friendly and kept us engaged all the way around.

We spent 3 hours with Adrienne and she was great. Took us to taco spots in the market.

We booked this within two hours of the tour and we were absolutely thrilled we could be accommodated. Jorge was such a wonderful guide, patient and very knowledgeable about the culture and the symbolism of the meals. This was the best food we’ve had during our stay. I loved that we could see similarities with our own culture. If you’re looking to see the real Merida through the lens of food, this is your go to.

This tour is a great way to see and learn about the culture, people, and of course food of Merida. Our family loved getting a behind the scenes perspective of Merida that we never would have gotten by ourselves.

Second tour through the market in Merida -but we enjoyed it just as much! Our guide was excellent, as was the food! All travelers to Merida should discover this place - delicious food at a fraction of the cost of the restaurants.

What an incredible tour! Jorge was our guide and every detail of the tour was thought out. Hit seven food stops and tours through both markets. He had great insight on the vendors, the history and the conversations were amazing. The food was phenomenal! A perfect way to try a bit of everything and get an overall view of the local cuisine. Definitely had some bites that I would not have known about to try and they ended up being my favorite. (Looking at you El Rello Negro and Fresh Soursop Juice). 10/10. Would absolutely recommend.

Jorge was the sort of friendly informed guide you need for a tour like this. He handled the logistics, knew all the fruit, vegetable and restaurant information and handled all our questions with a smile. He guides you through the local market without offending local people while giving you a glimpse of how life here is lived

Thanks to Jorge for navigating us through this very interesting and delicious food experience. This tour brought us to two main markets, Lucas De Galvez and San Benito, both are packed with things to see, smell, and taste -- possible sensory overload someone on their own. The Lost Taco Food Tour allowed us to experience firsthand everything before us without any hesitation or doubts. I especially appreciated Jorge's explanation of the history of the ingredients and how to use them in your own cooking. He did a great job at keeping us engaged and informed throughout this pleasantly lengthy tour (3+ hours, without any rush and with opportunities for second helpings). From start to finish, Jorge kept things interesting and informative. The food stops themselves were well thought-out, so that we were not stuffed (no shortage of food!) before the end. The markets are busy, and we were immersed into this part of daily life for the locals. You will have no regrets for this excellent food tour. Thank you Jorge for making it so memorable.

My boyfriend and I took Jorge’s tour on our anniversary and it was such a wonderful way to spend the day! We throughly enjoyed all the spots we got to try and the knowledge that he had to share! Overall a yummy and enjoyable experience!

Ive been to Merida before but this time I was with a friend who is a very picky eater. Andrea, our guide, was excellent at explaining every step of our tour. You will discover great food prepared for and eaten by locals. Nothing fancy, just plain deliciousness. Andrea was very flexible and swap eateries when we expressed interest in fruits and vegetables. We learnt lots of details about spices used, cooking methods and ended our 2:30 hrs tour with a very full belly and plenty of cool pics

My husband and I did a private tour with Jorge and he was absolutely wonderful. I don’t eat much meat and Jorge was great at accommodating me as well as my husband who loves meat. He really took his time explaining the cooking processes and herbs that gave each dish so much flavor. He gave use history of old market as we walked by on our way to the huge new one. He knew all the best stops and we had a great time. Thanks for a great start to our time here in Merida.

If you are looking for someone who really knows their food and their way around the maze markets of Merida, then Alex is the man for you. He was so knowledgable about all the different stalls in the market, and you could tell how he has built up a relationship with all the food providers that we spoke to. We had seven different meals, some of which I would never have heard of, and would never have tried had I not been on the tour. Funny, entertaining, personal and insightful, it was an experience which not only amplified my experience in Merida, but one that I will recommend to anybody visiting Mexico.

We had a wonderful time with Andy. She was very knowledgeable, pleasant and informative. The food was delicious as well. As a professional chef of 25 years, I highly recommend the tour.

Our guide, Andrea, was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive to any needs or questions we had. We would have been completely lost and would have missed out on a great experience.

Absolutely—here’s a polished, ready-to-post review you can use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had a wonderful food tour with Jorge from Lost Taco in Mérida. He took us through the Mercado and did an amazing job explaining the foods, traditions, and culture of the Yucatán. Jorge is incredibly knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. His English is perfect, and he was so kind and respectful to the local vendors, which really added to the authenticity of the experience. This tour gave us a much deeper appreciation for Yucatecan cuisine and culture. Highly recommended!

We had a fabulous time eating with Jorge this afternoon. By the end, we were stuffed and had a real appreciation for Yucatecan food and culture. Jorge met us in the central plaza and took us to the Mercado. That market is huge and full of stalls selling all locally grown, organic foods. We started with fresh fruit juice - absolutely delicious - which we carried around and sipped. The drinks were huge! My husband and I both had the dragon fruit, my sister had soursop. We never would have known to try those drinks and they were so refreshing. Jorge explained everything to us. He was so interesting and well informed. He was patient with our myriad of questions. This food tour went so beyond tacos and enchiladas. We had a pibil made with turkey that had been marinated in a red paste made with achiote seeds wrapped in banana leaves and slow cooked in a pit. We had a sopa limon - which is actually lime to us. The soup had rich chicken broth, shredded chicken, tomatoes, onion, fried tortilla, avocado and probably many more ingredients and seasonings. This soup is famous in the Yucatán and for good reason. It was so good. I can’t list all the food we had. I know we had panuchos and classic pork al pastor. This is one of the reasons we travel. To learn about the local food and people. Jorge talked about each dish, how it was made, how the people in the stalls use only local ingredients, grow their own chickens, roast their own meat and have made these dishes for generations. Thank you Jorge for a wonderful and delicious tour. We never would have known what to order or which stalls to go to. I highly recommend!

If you're a mexican and especially yucatecan food fan, look no further! Not only the food was varied, fresh and delicious, but the whole experience of walking among the very people that make these amazing dishes happen *literally* from scratch was amazing. We had a great time with Alex as you can tell he really knows and enjoys all the dishes we tried. Also, he took his time to make sure we understood the whole meal preparing processes and where every ingredient come from, making it an even more rewarding experience. I would recommed this tour everytime!

We had a wonderful food tour with Jorge as our guide. He was so informative about the food-making process, the ingredients, and the culture behind them. Everything we ate on our seven food stops was delicious. Jorge was quite friendly and accommodating. He easily switched back and forth in Spanish and English to meet the needs of our group. We highly recommend this tour.

Guide never showed up despite the tour been booked and paid for. We had planned our whole day around it, no apology or refund yet received

Really wonderful experience! Jorge did a great job showcasing local and authentic cuisine. I definitely recommend this tour to anyone that's loves a fun, interesting and delicious experience! :)

Jorge our guide was great! Knowledgeable and able to adjust to our needed pace. We enjoyed the accommodations to our diet as well.

Jorge was an excellent tour guide, very informative, authentic and took exceptional care of us. Highly recommend asking for Jorge if your scheduling a tour.

This was a great food tour! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We were treated to foods we have never heard of and would not have been able to guess our way to if we tried. The guide was able to explain what the ingredients were, proper pronunciation of dishes, and their history. I would’ve eaten most items twice but I wanted to be able to try everything on the tour. We were fed plenty!

What a great day! We found it very informative and learned so much about authentic Yucatán cuisine and cooking techniques. The food finds were amazing.

Jorge was very knowlegable about the food and local history. Food was excellent. Thank you very much for waiting on us.

If you love Mexican food, you absolutely need to book this tour! I had so much fun going around the Merida’s markets with Alex, and Im so happy to have experienced street food with the locals. I never would’ve found out about these spots otherwise. He can also customize the tour to your preference, and I never felt rushed or pressured to eat anything I don’t feel like. I greatly appreciate Alex’s culinary background and genuine relationships with the vendors, everyone was so lovely and nice. He has amazing recommendations, will go the extra mile to make sure you’ll have a great time. Everything is included in the tour, all you have to do is show up with an empty stomach! (Pro tip: you will eat enough for 2 meals 😂 hand sanitizer/wet wipes will come in handy ✨) Highly recommend exploring Merida with The Lost Taco!

Our guide was Alex. He was excellent, tolerant, caring, kind, and a very pleasant conversationalist. He took us to taste great Mexican food and many types of food and explained everything. Highly recommend. He spared no expense. It was very tasty, interesting, and fun.

A very nice and personal food tour. They even adapted and went out of their way to accommodate to my food allergies and personal wish to try something that normally is not part of the tour. We went to places where not many tourists go. Definitely worth it.

We did a food tour in merida. Tasted local food and drinks. The guide was exceptional good and we could tell he was a real foodie. The real mexican food and not the typical tex mex food.